(Send powerstones please) “Obito…
you’re alive?” Kakashi’s words struck Obito like a bolt of lightning.
His entire body stiffened.
He figured it out.
What do I do now?
For a moment, Obito’s mind went completely blank.
There was no joy at being recognized by his old friend.
Only panic.
White Zetsu’s earlier warning echoed through his head.
Silence them.
“What do I do…?” Obito stood frozen in place, completely at a loss.
“Obito?” Rin turned toward him in disbelief.
“You really are Obito?!” His thoughts raced.
Worse, he could already feel White Zetsu preparing to act.
Obito immediately growled under his breath, “White Zetsu, don’t do anything.
I’ll handle this.” White Zetsu paused.
His voice sounded strange.
“They already know who you are.
How exactly are you planning to handle it?” But inwardly, White Zetsu was already reassessing the situation.
The plan failed again.
Kakashi is much stronger than the intelligence suggested.
Still…
this might be useful.
If either Rin or Kakashi dies here, Obito may awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan anyway.
With that thought, White Zetsu began moving again.
“They only discovered my identity!” Obito spoke rapidly, anxiety clear in his voice.
“They still don’t know anything about Madara or the other information we agreed to keep secret.” “If you attack now, you’ll be the one exposing everything!” White Zetsu didn’t stop.
Obito could even feel him beginning to summon his clones.
Anger exploded inside him.
“If you dare touch Rin, I swear I’ll reveal everything I know, even if it kills me!” White Zetsu froze.
This time, he truly stopped.
Madara doesn’t have much time left.
Obito is essential to the Eye of the Moon Plan.
We can’t afford to turn against him yet.
We’ll have to find another opportunity later.
“If the information leaks, don’t blame me for what happens, Obito.” White Zetsu’s voice turned cold.
Then he fell silent.
Obito finally breathed a little easier.
Slowly, he raised his head.
Most of his body was still wrapped in White Zetsu, leaving only one eye visible through the mask.
He looked at Kakashi and Rin with an expression far too complicated to describe.
“Kakashi…” “I didn’t think you’d actually recognize me.” He wanted to smile.
He couldn’t.
Obito was alive.
Kakashi’s mind buzzed.
For several seconds, he couldn’t think at all.
The answer he had been desperately searching for was finally standing right in front of him.
And yet, now that he had found it, he had no idea what to say.
If Obito had survived…
Then where had the real Obito been all these years?
What had he been doing?
Only now did Kakashi realize that uncovering the truth had not simplified anything.
It had made everything even more confusing.
He drew a slow breath.
“It’s really you?” His voice carried a trace of disbelief.
“Obito…
why didn’t you return to Konoha?” “Why didn’t you contact us?” “Yeah.” Rin stared straight into Obito’s exposed eye and slowly stepped toward him.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” “Didn’t you know everyone missed you?” “Don’t come any closer!” Obito suddenly shouted.
Rin froze.
She stared at him, stunned.
Kakashi’s expression changed immediately.
“What are you doing, Obito?!” He could hardly believe it.
Was this really the same Obito he remembered?
The Obito who could never refuse Rin anything?
He had actually shouted at her.
“I…” The instant Obito saw Rin’s expression, panic flashed across his face.
Then White Zetsu whispered, “Obito, we don’t have much time.” “Konoha reinforcements will be here soon.” Obito closed his eye for a moment and sighed.
When he spoke again, however, his words were firm.
“Rin.
Kakashi.” “You need to leave.” “Pretend you never saw me.” Kakashi’s gaze sharpened.
“You’re not coming back to Konoha with us?” Rin clearly sensed something was wrong as well.
She stared into Obito’s eye.
There was too much emotion there.
Struggle.
Pain.
And determination.
Kakashi saw it too.
Obito was terrible at hiding what he felt.
That only made Kakashi more worried.
Obito…
what happened to you?
What could possibly make you refuse to return to Konoha?
Then Kakashi noticed another change.
His eye widened.
Three tomoe…
Obito’s Sharingan had evolved into a fully matured three-tomoe Sharingan.
At the same time, Kakashi felt the Sharingan in his own eye reacting.
A memory surfaced.
Something he had once read about the Uchiha Clan.
The Sharingan evolved most readily under intense emotional stimulation.
Kakashi’s gaze hardened.
So, Obito…
You don’t really want to say this, do you?
He took a deep breath.
His purpose for entering this Scenario had never changed.
He had come here to discover whether Obito survived.
Now he had his answer.
The next question was even more important.
What had happened to Obito after Kannabi Bridge?
And who was behind him?
“Obito.” Kakashi stared straight at him.
“I know those aren’t your real feelings.” “Come back to Konoha with me.” “As long as we return to the village, we can find a way to solve whatever happened to you.” Obito only shook his head.
“It’s too late, Kakashi.” “The person I am now…
can’t go back anymore.” Madara’s face flashed through his mind.
Obito understood his situation all too well.
There was no simple path back to the life he had lost.
“I see.” Kakashi sighed.
“That’s unfortunate.” Then he raised the short sword in his hand.
His expression turned deadly serious.
“Because even if I have to break both your legs…” “I’m taking you back to Konoha.” Obito stared at him.
For a second, he looked genuinely offended.
Then anger erupted.
“Kakashi!” “Do you seriously think I’m still the same person I used to be?!” His Sharingan burned brightly.
“I’m stronger than you now!” “I’ve already surpassed you!”