That shout struck like a bolt of thunder, snapping Kakashi out of his daze.
He hurriedly let go, his face filled with regret.
But because he released her so abruptly, and Rin had been struggling with all her strength, the moment she lost support, her body pitched forward. She staggered, then fell straight toward the ground.
Fortunately, as an experienced jonin, Kakashi's reflexes were incredibly fast.
He immediately reached out with both hands, trying to catch Rin before she hit the ground.
However, to Kakashi's complete shock, Rin suddenly shoved him away with all her strength.
Caught off guard, Kakashi was pushed back several steps. Meanwhile, due to the recoil, Rin fell hard onto the solid ground.
Kakashi's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at her, a surge of indescribable shock and worry rising in his chest.
He quickly stepped forward and asked anxiously, "Rin, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
Rin only let out a muffled grunt and sat crouched on the ground.
As Kakashi moved closer, Rin suddenly screamed, "Don't touch me!"
The sudden shout froze his outstretched hand midair, as if time itself had come to a halt.
Rin lowered her head, her body trembling slightly, and fell into a long silence.
After a while, she sniffed softly and spoke in a hoarse voice, slow and unsteady, "I don't like you anymore. I don't want to see you again. Let's… cut ties."
The words hit Kakashi like a lightning strike, turning his face deathly pale.
"Why?"
Even he didn't know what he was really asking, was it why Rin would suddenly make such a resolute decision?
Or what he had done wrong to end up like this?
Memories surged up like a tide. Kakashi recalled how he once believed he had hurt Rin, feeling unworthy of the pure and deep affection she held for him.
Then, after Rin was revived, the vast age gap between them became an insurmountable chasm, leaving him hesitant and conflicted.
He had planned to face his feelings once Rin turned eighteen, but he had never expected things to end up like this.
'Could it be that my constant hesitation truly hurt her so deeply that she no longer wants to see me at all?'
Kakashi felt as if a piece of his heart had been torn out, leaving nothing but emptiness. A boundless sense of loss clung to him like a shadow.
He stood there in a daze, his eyes hollow, as though his soul had left him, utterly lost.
Nearby, Rin stood still like a statue, silent and unmoving. A suffocating stillness filled the space between them, as if time itself had frozen.
Drip! Drip!
The crisp, rhythmic sound of water droplets echoed clearly through the quiet corridor.
Kakashi's sharp ears caught the faint sound, and his heart clenched, 'Is that water hitting the ground?'
But when he saw Rin's slightly trembling shoulders, a sharp pain surged through him.
'Rin… is crying.'
Since her revival, this was the first time Kakashi had ever seen her like this, so fragile.
The pain came crashing over him like a tidal wave, nearly drowning him.
He instinctively took a small step forward, wanting to get closer, to offer her some warmth and comfort.
But at that moment, Rin cried out in a trembling voice, "Don't come over…"
Those three short words cut through him like a blade, stopping him in his tracks.
Now, Kakashi could clearly hear the choking sobs in her voice.
She wasn't wailing, she simply covered her face tightly with both hands, her body slightly hunched forward, suppressing her cries.
Only the occasional soft sob escaped, revealing the sorrow buried deep inside her.
Kakashi stared at her in disbelief.
In his eyes, Rin had always been strong and gentle, someone who could face any hardship with a smile.
But now, she was crying like a helpless child, and the sight made his chest ache so badly he could barely breathe.
It was only natural he had never seen this before.
Because right now, Rin was acting.
Not far away, in front of the barrier department, Rengoku's clone had one hand pressed steadily against a formation, continuously transmitting instructions through it to Yamanaka Inoichi on the other side.
Using his unique jutsu, Yamanaka Inoichi skillfully delivered those instructions directly into Rin's mind.
They could have simply placed the task on Yamanaka Inoichi, but Rengoku was also testing the formation.
Standing beside the clone were Namikaze Minato and Karin.
This Minato was the original body, while the one maintaining the formation had already been replaced by a shadow clone.
Minato and Karin were both keeping watch, checking whether anyone was near Rin and Kakashi.
In the completely cleared corridor, if any chakra appeared, it would most likely be Obito or Black Zetsu.
And if someone bearing a Flying Thunder God mark showed up, then there would be no doubt, it would be Obito.
Rengoku continued instructing, ["Keep sobbing softly, then say this."]
["I've liked you since I was little. Even if I had to die, I wanted to die by your hand."]
["Even after coming back to life, I still like you, from when I was little to now."]
["I already gathered… all my courage, and still all I got from you was… cold shoulder."]
["I'm so tired. I don't want to like… you anymore."]
["I… shouldn't have come back to life. There's nothing in this world… worth me staying for anymore…"]
The same words slowly came out of Rin's mouth.
As a medical ninja, stimulating her own tears was child's play for Rin.
However, the lines were far too cheesy. Rin was not the type to act coy or melodramatic.
So when she repeated Rengoku's words, she stumbled slightly over them.
Fortunately, her heartbroken appearance masked it well enough that even someone as perceptive as Kakashi didn't notice anything off.
After all, this was the first time Rin had ever cried because of him. And in such utter despair.
At this moment, Kakashi's mind was in complete chaos, utterly unable to make sense of anything.
As the saying goes, the child who cries gets the candy.
Rin had always given the impression of being understanding, gentle, and graceful.
But now, seeing this girl, who usually always wore a smile, suddenly reveal such heartbreak and disappointment, Kakashi felt like he was utterly unforgivable.
So, without hesitation, he quickly stepped to Rin's side and began explaining anxiously, "Rin, it's not that I don't like you…"
"I… I just…"
At that very moment, just as Rin was secretly delighted to hear Kakashi say "it's not that I don't like you", Rengoku's stern voice rang in her ears, ["Rin, Obito is heading your way. Get ready."]
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