"Clang..."
"Detected host consciousness restored, system rebooting..."
"System reboot complete, data recovering..."
"Ding... Data recovery learned successfully!"
"Ding... Unlearned data recovery failed to save!"
"Huh? Didn't I already die?"
In a daze, Lin Nan's consciousness gradually cleared, feeling like he had just woken up from a deep sleep.
The feeling of his heart being gouged out by that cunning old Obito, who charged forward for love, seemed to have happened just moments ago.
Could it be?
This system still works in the underworld?
Speaking of which, after I died and went to the underworld, I wonder if the boss there is Eastern or Western.
The Western one, I don't know what I could copy. The Eastern one, on the other hand, could copy some spells and the like.
I wonder if I can copy the Book of Life and Death...
Vaguely, Sun Ming seemed to hear a voice.
"Summoning Jutsu: Edo Tensei!"
His vision was like a curtain being drawn back, yet it was still blurry.
Wait, why is it still in Japanese?
Did I descend into the Japanese underworld?
He just said Edo Tensei?
Damn it, no way...
"As a forbidden jutsu that only the Second Hokage and Lord Orochimaru could use, allowing me to revive the deceased for my own use, I am now the third person, and I have surpassed my predecessors!"
Then Lin Nan heard a sinister and eerie voice.
"So what?" followed by a low, authoritative voice.
This voice, Lin Nan would never forget even in death.
That bastard Obito.
When Sun Ming was dying, this guy was still rambling: "You could have continued to be my pawn and served Akatsuki, but your factors are too unstable; what awaits you is endless darkness..."
"I want to join forces with you!" said the sinister voice.
"Join forces?" Obito was somewhat disdainful.
"Here we have Itachi, Sasori, Deidara, Kakuzu, Nagato, and Ko Rin! Each of them is a top expert, and though dead, their value after death is undoubtedly the greatest; of course, my pawns are not limited to these."
This plot, could it be?
Listening to the sinister voice, after Lin Nan's consciousness cleared, he guessed the identity and the general plot unfolding at the moment.
Kabuto, now presenting himself to Obito as Orochimaru's perfect successor, was preparing to wade into the waters of the Fourth Great Ninja War.
"I buried Lin Nan's corpse in the deep sea, how did you manage to revive him?" Obito's voice was tinged with a hint of confusion and a strange gravity.
"Indeed, the immense water pressure made it impossible for me to enter the deep sea, much like Jiraiya who returned to the sea after the Battle of Amegakure, but I have my ways of obtaining his bodily tissues at other times. After all, within Akatsuki, Ko Rin was not exactly a person who gave one peace of mind, was he?"
What do you mean I don't give you peace of mind?
It seems that this Kabuto kid still hasn't been beaten enough by me.
Lin Nan grumbled inwardly. Although his consciousness was clear at this moment, he had no control over his body, as if confined within a shell that did not belong to him, and even his vision was just a blur.
If it weren't for the system, he might not even have this much consciousness, at least not now.
"You should be well aware of Lin Nan's abilities. Someone like him should not be here..." Obito's voice was cold, with a hint of killing intent.
Kabuto said dismissively, "I naturally know, but anyone I control is also under my command. You don't need to worry about this, Uchiha Madara!"
"Can I take this as a threat?" The killing intent grew more intense, Obito was clearly angered.
"No, no, if Ko Rin is considered a threat to you, then..." With a clap of his hands, "Summoning Jutsu: Edo Tensei."
Immediately, another coffin appeared.
As the coffin lid opened, Obito's voice began to tremble: "You brat, where did you find him?"
"As I said before, you don't need to worry about this, Uchiha Madara!" Kabuto smiled fearlessly.
"How do you wish to join forces?" Obito calmed down slightly.
"I only want Uchiha Sasuke! In return, I will provide all the assistance."
"Sasuke?"
"Lord Sasuke, as the young and free blood of the Uchiha clan, there is research that Lord Orochimaru could not complete, which I wish to finish for him. However, please do not misunderstand, I merely wish to pursue the purest truth of ninjutsu!"
Lin Nan had no interest in the conversation between the two. What he cared about now was how he could break free from Kabuto's control.
This would inevitably require the power of the Uchiha.
I've been Edo Tensei-ed?
How interesting!
Edo Tensei users, create bodies through Edo, summon the souls of the deceased, possessing immortal life force, infinite stamina, and chakra.
In other words, immortality plus unlimited chakra.
Doesn't that mean my only weakness is gone?
Happiness comes too suddenly?
Kabuto, I really need to thank you.
My era.
Is it finally coming?
"Agreed, I will join forces with you, but one of the conditions is that he, Lin Nan, cannot join this war, or at least cannot appear in the war!"
However, Obito's sudden statement instantly shattered Lin Nan's active thoughts.
And then Kabuto's words were like pouring a bucket of cold water on Lin Nan.
"Of course, if you mind!"
Obito left, and Lin Nan's heart turned cold by half.
"Ko Rin, the owner of Akatsuki's Ring of Sky, in other words, we are also inheritors of Lord Orochimaru. Your abilities, why do they make this Madara so wary?"
In his blurry vision, Lin Nan seemed to see a person standing before him.
"I'm going to have some fun with you!"
Lin Nan, if he could control his body, would have shivered.
However, Obito's words just now had truly frightened Lin Nan.
Not going to the battlefield, wouldn't all his fantasies be shattered?
Lin Nan felt like his heart had turned to ashes.
Kabuto kept his promise to him and brought Lin Nan to participate in the pre-war battles on Turtle Island.
In this battle, Deidara's consciousness was restored by Kabuto, but Lin Nan's was not.
In a state akin to being suppressed by a demon, Lin Nan was manipulated by Kabuto like a walking corpse, experiencing the prelude to this so-called Fourth Great Ninja War.
Lin Nan's consciousness was hazy throughout the entire process. The more he wanted to break free from the restraints, the more severe the hazy sleepiness became. In the end, Lin Nan gave up.
He thought the excitement belonged to others, and he could only watch.
However, when the Great Ninja War finally broke out, Lin Nan was still deployed to the battlefield by Kabuto.
Lin Nan was pleasantly surprised by this.
A few days prior, Kabuto had taken bodily tissues from Lin Nan and researched them all night without finding anything conclusive.
Perhaps after playing around with them for days, Kabuto didn't find anything special about Lin Nan, so he felt at ease letting Lin Nan leave.
After all, he was a combatant.
After all, Kabuto had sent the failed products he resurrected to the battlefield before he was proficient with Edo Tensei.
Under Kabuto's manipulation, Uchiha Itachi carried Nagato, and Kakuzu carried Lin Nan away from his lair.
Lin Nan could feel his senses recovering, but he had no control.
Is this the air of freedom?
Is this the dawn of hope?
Kabuto, you're really something!
I really thank you from the bottom of my ancestors' hearts!
You are practically my reborn mentor...
So, you understand...