[Mei Terumī: “So Madara Uchiha is still alive.
Ōnoki, do you really have to get that worked up?)”**
[Ōnoki: “You’re too young.
You have no idea just what Madara Uchiha represents…”**
[First Raikage: “Let’s just keep watching the video…”**
The footage continued.
“What the heck…?
You lock me up in a place like this just to tell me a bunch of nonsense.”
Obito lay on the bed and let out a quiet sigh.
“I’m sorry.
I shouldn’t have brought up your bathroom habits…” White Zetsu said, giving an apologetic salute.
“That’s not what I meant.”
Obito interrupted him.
“I’m talking about what Madara said.
What does he mean by ‘cutting off the bonds of causality’?”
“Madara is way too old-fashioned.
That’s no way to explain things to a kid.”
Tobi waved his hand with a teasing grin.
“To put it simply, it’s about abandoning the troubles of reality and escaping into a dream filled with happiness.”
“A dream?”
Obito looked even more confused.
“Because it’s a dream, anything is possible.
You could even bring the dead back to life,” Tobi said playfully.
“That’s right.
We’d use a Genjutsu to create one enormous dream world and make everyone enter it!
“Or rather…
force everyone into it.
That’s a more accurate way to put it.
And they’d stay there for the rest of their lives…”
Zetsu struck one bizarre pose after another as he explained.
The corner of Obito’s eye twitched.
“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.
I don’t understand a word of it…”
“With someone as powerful as Madara, anything is possible.”
“It’s just that he’s too weak right now to accomplish anything himself, so preparations have to be made,” Zetsu said casually.
“Is that so?
I’m not interested.”
Obito glanced at Madara, who sat slumped in his chair, then looked away.
“More importantly…
I’m getting out of here.”
His tone was unwavering.
Supporting himself with one arm, Obito slowly lowered himself off the bed.
“I have to get back to Rin and Kakashi…”
“Huh…?”
Tobi stared at him in confusion.
“I need to get this body moving again.”
Obito forced himself to his feet and began inching forward.
He looked like a cripple, one hand pressed against the wall as every single step demanded all the strength he had.
Cold sweat poured down his body.
Scenes from his days on Team Minato flashed through his mind.
Back then…
Rin had always been the one who smiled at him.
No matter what, he had to escape.
Just as that determination surged through him, his body trembled violently.
He was about to collapse when Zetsu stepped forward and caught him.
Obito froze, breathing heavily as he silently looked at Zetsu.
Yet the memories of the past continued to replay in his mind.
Inside one room, the walls were covered with photographs of Rin…
[Hashirama Senju: “Madara, what exactly are you trying to accomplish?!”**
[Madara Uchiha: “Hmph.
Even if I told you, none of you would understand…”**
[Tobirama Senju: “Hmph!
What did I tell you?
Those damned Uchiha can never be trusted!”**
[Uchiha Izuna: “My brother must have his reasons!
I trust him completely!”**
[Uchiha Tajima: “Hmph!
My son, Madara Uchiha, possesses the makings of a true emperor!”**
[Rasa (Fourth Kazekage): “Wait…
I still don’t understand.
What exactly is Madara’s plan?”**
[Minato Namikaze: “Obito…
are you still carrying out Madara’s plan?”**
[Nohara Rin: “Obito, come back!
Madara is definitely deceiving you!”**
[Hatake Kakashi: “Obito…
I’m sorry…”**
[Uchiha Obito: “Hmph.
Whatever you say now…
it’s already too late.”**
The video continued.
Fragments of Obito’s childhood memories flooded his mind one after another.
Time slowly passed.
No one knew how long it had been.
Every day, Obito struggled to walk.
His mangled body had finally begun growing a new arm.
Although he still looked painfully thin…
Compared to before, when he could barely stand, he was finally able to walk on his own.
“Hooray!”
White Zetsu cheered happily at Obito’s recovery.
Seeing that sincere celebration, Obito couldn’t help but feel a trace of warmth.
Soon, another memory surfaced.
Holding a framed photograph, Obito leaned in, intending to kiss Rin’s picture.
Then…
He suddenly froze.
Slowly raising his head, he found Kakashi staring at him with his trademark dead-fish eyes.
[Kurotsuchi: “Pfft!
I completely lost it at this part!
??(???*)”**
[Sakura Haruno: “Eww…
Obito is kind of creepy…”**
[Ino Yamanaka: “Seriously, Kakashi?
Were you so bored that you started spying on Obito?”**
[Hinata Hyūga: “It really does feel like Kakashi-sensei had way too much free time…”**
[Hatake Kakashi: “That’s not the important part…
Obito, are you really alive?
Can I see you?”**
[Hatake Kakashi: “Obito!
Say something!!”**
[Rasa (Fourth Kazekage): “Stop simping already.
This Obito is definitely a scumbag.)”**
[Suigetsu Hōzuki: “Wait…
isn’t Kakashi a guy?”**
[Mangetsu Hōzuki: “Don’t tell me those two are into each other???”**
[Uchiha Obito: “???”**
The footage continued.
Obito tested control over his reconstructed arm.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
He flipped through the air several times in succession before effortlessly catching pieces of wood he had thrown skyward.
It was obvious that he had completely adapted to his new body.
The memories of his childhood continued to replay.
Driven by those precious recollections, he relentlessly pushed through one rehabilitation exercise after another.
Before long…
Obito was no longer merely walking.
He could run, leap across rooftops, and scale walls with ease.
Another warm memory surfaced.
During a mission, Obito had fallen into an enemy trap and cut his palm.
Afraid that Rin would worry, he hid the injured hand behind his back.
But she noticed anyway.
“If you’re hurt, don’t pretend you’re fine.”
Rin pouted in annoyance.
“I’ve been watching you the whole time.”
Obito suddenly jolted awake from his bed.
Clenching his fist tightly, he murmured,
“I’ve adapted…
Soon I’ll be able to see you again, Rin…
Kakashi…”
Just then—
A loud crash echoed through the cavern walls.
Obito immediately stood up, excitement flashing across his face.
“I just went outside to scout the area!”
Zetsu shouted anxiously.
“The Rin you mentioned and that idiot Kakashi are in serious trouble!”
“What happened?”
Obito’s expression darkened.
“They’ve been surrounded by Kirigakure shinobi!
They’re completely outnumbered!”
Without another word, Obito leapt off the bed.
Unable to control his newfound strength, he shattered the bed beneath his feet.
He charged toward the stone wall and threw a punch.
Boom!
The wall cracked apart in a massive spiderweb pattern.
At the same time, his reconstructed arm dissolved like liquid and fell away.
Grabbing his injured arm, Obito gasped for breath.
“Your body still isn’t strong enough to smash solid rock.”
Zetsu dropped down from above.
“I have to save Rin and Kakashi.”
Obito gritted his teeth.
“Wear my body.”
As Zetsu spoke, his own body melted into a white fluid that rapidly wrapped around Obito.
“Aren’t you Madara’s subordinate?”
Obito looked at him in surprise.
“Is this really okay?”
“You said you wanted to save Rin and Kakashi, didn’t you?”
Zetsu simply shook his head.
Obito clenched his fist.
“…Thank you.”
A cold wind howled through the cavern.
Obito drew back his fist.
His heart thundered in his chest.
With all his strength, he slammed his fist into the wall.
BOOM!
The stone wall exploded apart.
Countless fragments rained to the ground as thick clouds of dust filled the cavern.
“So…
while still connected to the roots, he managed to borrow the power of the forbidden Statue.”
Watching from within the wall, Zetsu’s eyes flashed with a hint of cold calculation.
[Kabuto Yakushi: “I see…
Things are getting interesting…”**
…
(From this point onward, the story is nothing but peak moments—stay tuned!)