In the surrounding air of impure sentiment, the heavens of nightfall opens to reveal a grand celestial expanse of gleaming brilliance that is the accretion of a million stars.
But the luring magnificence of such beauty is a mockery of the despondent feelings that have etched complacently into the heart of one ninja.
Rin does not take notice of such infrequent beauty. Her mind is unattended and her body is a walking corpse of inadequacy.
Deidara has long moved on from the incident, and is already mounting his impatience on a whole host of other insignificant matters. Whether this behaviour is reminiscent of something to complain about, Rin does not know.
"We've wasted so much time stopping here and there. That fucking leader is going to kill me," he complains loudly.
"Senpai, I'm sure the leader-"
"What would you know, Tobi?" Deidara interjects, "You know, this three-tail is supposed to be yours to capture. I did my fair share."
"It's teamwork, senpai," Tobi corrects.
"Teamwork? I already caught that one-tail and now with you on my team I'd probably be the one who has to catch that bloody three-tail as well, hm."
"But-"
"Keep it shut Tobi, clearly…"
But Rin does not hear the rest of those words. Her mind sways in heavy thoughts of her earlier failure, yet the severed contact with reality is what shuns her from emitting feelings.
Lost in her own vacant world, she is unaware that Deidara has long ago ceased complaining and is contently slumping by a nearby tree.
"Your thoughts are hurting you," says a soft voice.
When she turns, Tobi is already making himself comfortable beside her.
Bizarre as it may be to hear her words reiterated back at her, she finds them comforting.
"I don't know," she answers solemnly.
His gaze is transfixed on something far away in the distance.
"Death is inevitable. Some see it too fast, others see it too slow."
He gives a rough sigh, then continues.
"Time is an interesting concept. People are always racing against a never ending race, and even with that, time will always win. Some people may think they have the upper hand but because time eventually takes what they love most, whether it be a loved one or the purity of life itself, it will inevitably win. Nevertheless it is how you choose to let it win that determine its level of success. That is how I think of it, Rin."
He speaks as if he is theorising a breakthrough. But he frames it well, so well that she can link his words through her empty vacant mind to the core of her empty vacant heart.
"Then what do you suggest people do if time always win?" she asks quietly.
He is silent for several seconds.
"I don't have a universal answer to that. People shape their lives in their own ways in accordance to the amount of time they have. When it comes to the day where time takes what people cherish most, it is what they choose to believe and choose to do, that determines their victory."
"Their victory? But people cannot win."
"Yes, in the sense that time will eventually take what they cherish most. That is its only victory. But people have a choice. Time will always win the game, but people can determine whether it gets the prize. So how will you shape yours?"
She does not answer.
Tobi - his presence is so deeply and inscrutably comforting, she can no longer remember the feelings of tension that accompanied him during his times of hostility.
For a long time she stares into the empty vastness of a blackened forest. Her mind submerges itself in the warmth of Tobi's reassuring words. And just like that, the desolate reality dissipates into a swirl of nothingness.
Thank you.