[Kirigakure ANBU: “I don’t know why…
but I’ve got a bad feeling about what’s about to happen.”]
[Itachi Uchiha: “Something isn’t right…”]
[Sasuke Uchiha: “Itachi!
I’ll kill you someday!!!!”]
[Itachi Uchiha: “My foolish little brother…
you’re still not worthy of killing me.”]
[Sasuke Uchiha: “Shut up!
My Sharingan has already evolved to two tomoe!!!”]
[Uchiha Sarada: “So this is what Dad was like when he was little…”]
The video continued.
“Kakashi…”
“Take Rin…”
“…and get out of here.”
Obito’s voice grew weaker with every word.
“The enemy reinforcements…”
“…will be here soon.”
Kakashi lowered his head.
His eyes had lost their light.
“Obito…”
Rin held Obito’s hand tightly, unwilling to let go.
“Go!!”
Summoning the last of his strength, Obito gently pulled his hand free.
Kakashi immediately grabbed Rin and pulled her away.
Then—
His expression changed.
His pupils contracted.
Shinobi were converging from every direction.
Dozens of Iwagakure shinobi rapidly formed hand seals.
“Earth Release: Earth Split Palm!”
They slammed their palms onto the ground.
The earth fractured violently.
The entire cavern shook.
“Rin!”
“Grab onto me!”
Kakashi shouted.
After giving Obito one last reluctant look, Rin took Kakashi’s hand.
BOOM!
The cave ceiling collapsed.
Countless boulders buried Obito beneath the rubble.
“Obito!!”
Rin cried out in despair.
“I finally became friends with Kakashi again…”
“But…”
“I never got the chance to tell Rin how I felt.”
Feeling the crushing weight surrounding him, Obito laughed bitterly.
The earth slowly swallowed his body—
Like the shell of a Tailed Beast consuming its prey.
“I wish…”
“I could stay with everyone…
just a little longer.”
The screen faded to black.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Explosions echoed across the forest.
Smoke blanketed the sky.
Kakashi and Rin barely escaped and landed atop a giant tree stump.
Rin looked up—
Her pupils contracted.
Without them realizing it…
They had already been surrounded.
Iwagakure shinobi stood on the cliffs above, looking down at them.
Kakashi breathed heavily.
“Damn it…”
He glanced back at Rin.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly formed hand seals.
“Obito…”
“This is the jutsu…”
“…that you helped me complete.”
Chiiiii—!
The sound of a thousand birds filled the air.
Lightning Blade formed in Kakashi’s right hand.
“Oh?”
“Even now, you still have the will to fight?”
One of the Iwagakure shinobi sneered.
“No wonder you made it this far behind enemy lines.”
“You’re tougher than you look.”
Another nodded in approval.
“Rin…”
“I’ll hold them off.”
Kakashi steadied himself.
Lightning Blade crackled in his right hand.
A kunai rested firmly in his left.
Despite staggering from exhaustion, he kept his eyes locked on every enemy around him.
[First Tsuchikage: “Can they really break through this encirclement?”]
[Ōnoki: “Unlikely.”]
[Hatake Sakumo: “If it’s Kakashi…
he’ll find a way.”]
[Might Guy: “That’s right!
Kakashi will definitely win!”]
[Hatake Kakashi: “Don’t worry…
we won.”]
The video continued.
“But…”
Rin looked anxiously at the boy standing in front of her.
“Obito entrusted you to me.”
“So even if it costs me my life…”
“I’ll protect you.”
Kakashi’s eyes never left the enemy.
“Kakashi…”
Rin hesitated.
“Rin.”
“Obito loved you.”
“He cared about you more than anything.”
“That’s why he wanted to protect your life.”
Kakashi never turned around.
Tears welled up in Rin’s eyes.
“Then, Kakashi…
I…”
Before she could finish—
Kakashi interrupted her.
“I…”
“I was the one who wanted to abandon you.”
“I’m the scum.”
His voice was calm, but filled with regret.
He looked toward the enemies descending from above.
His gaze turned ice-cold.
“Run, Rin!!”
The screen went black.
The scene changed.
“…Am I dead?”
Kakashi slowly opened his eyes.
Above him was a brilliant full moon.
“Where am I…?”
He looked around in confusion.
“You’re awake.”
Minato’s gentle voice answered him.
“Sensei…”
“How…?”
Kakashi asked.
“The formula engraved on this kunai…”
“It’s connected to my Space-Time Ninjutsu.”
“I used it to teleport us.”
Minato took out his special kunai.
The Flying Raijin formula was clearly engraved on its handle.
“The enemies…?”
Kakashi asked immediately.
“I’ve already dealt with all of them.”
Minato shook his head.
“Rin!”
“Where’s Rin?!”
Kakashi asked anxiously.
Minato silently pointed into the distance.
The two fell quiet.
“I’m sorry…”
“I didn’t make it in time.”
“Rin has already told me everything.”
Minato lowered his head apologetically.
In the distance—
Rin stood beneath the moonlight.
Her hands were clasped behind her back.
The evening breeze gently stirred her hair.
No one knew…
What she was thinking.
The video came to an end.
Then an elderly narrator’s voice echoed.
“The Third Shinobi World War lasted for many long years.
Countless nameless heroes gave their lives to bring it to an end.
And many others earned everlasting glory, their names becoming legends throughout the shinobi world.”
The scene shifted.
The Kannabi Bridge collapsed beneath a massive explosion.
Kakashi stood at the broken bridge, his expression unreadable.
“One hero had his name engraved upon the Memorial Stone.
The other would later become known throughout the nations as Kakashi of the Sharingan.”
The camera slowly transitioned through several scenes.
Finally—
It stopped before a weathered memorial.
A bouquet of fresh flowers rested quietly at its base.
[Tobirama Senju: “Strange…
Did Obito really die after all?”]
[Hashirama Senju: “Little brother, I think you’ve been overthinking things.)”]
[Itama Senju: “Exactly.
Big Brother, you should apologize to Obito now…”]
[Uchiha Obito: “There’s no need…”]
[Madara Uchiha: “Ahem…”]
[Deidara: “Hmm!
What’s with all the coughing?
Is the Ghost of the Uchiha finally dying?”]
[Hidan: “Ghost of the Uchiha?
Hah!
I’d say he’s not even half as strong as Kakuzu!”]
[Kakuzu: “…”]
Akatsuki Hideout
Kakuzu stared at Hidan and Deidara’s messages.
The veins on his forehead bulged.
He wanted nothing more than to strangle the two of them.
Have those idiots completely lost their minds?
That’s Madara Uchiha they’re talking about!
How am I supposed to compare with him?!
[Rasa (Fourth Kazekage): “By the way…
who exactly is this Kakuzu?
Does someone like that really exist?”]
[A (Fourth Raikage): “He even claims he fought the God of Shinobi?
Hmph.
Maybe the so-called God of Shinobi wasn’t that impressive after all.”]
[Ōnoki: “You’re still too young.
You don’t understand what Madara Uchiha and the First Hokage truly represented.”]
[Hanzō of the Salamander: “Heh…
the older you get, the more you fear death.
Looks like you’re no exception, Ōnoki.”]
[Ōnoki: “Hmph.
Whatever you say, at least I’m superior to a turtle who hides in its shell.”]
[Kurotsuchi: ]
(The next arc begins Obito’s descent into darkness.)