I tried to steady his breathing, to calm myself so I could think everything through, but my brain was in overdrive. My brain was in overoveroverdrive. How, why? How, why, how, why?! It defied all logic that anyone in the universe could ever come up with, and it muddled me. No one muddled me. No one but...Obito. One after another, thoughts flew into my mind, racing out just as fast.

It can't be him. He's dead. Obito's dead. Under the rock, crushed. I'm his eyes. Sharingan. His, mine. Rin. Minato-sensei. I've been talking to the memorial stone for years. He's dead. No... Sharingan on the right eye. Scars. But the Rinnegan?

A hurricane of senses that came from the heart was stirring up, tearing thoughts into little fragments that were big enough to make sense, but small enough to be insignificant. My whole life, I realised, has been...a lie. When I joined ANBU because there was nothing else but me. When I quit ANBU because I lost me. When every morning I spent hours sitting in front of the memorial stone, pouring my heart out. Pouring my heart to someone I thought was a friend, whom I thought dead. Put simply, I was dismayed. I felt cheated, for I had just wasted my life away grieving.

I don't want this confrontation, I decided. Fear opened up a yawning chasm in my stomach.

Somewhere in the distance, people were talking. Or were they yelling?

"Kakashi-sensei, who's that? Hey, answer me, dattebayo!"

... Impossible, unthinkable.

"Kakashi, you all right?"

... Somehow this is an illusion of some sort.

"Kakashi, snap out of it!"

"Answer me Kakashi-sensei! Who the hell is that creeper? Gai-sensei, he won't answer me, -ttebayo!"

... It is, right? Someone tell me it is! I was desperate, to the point that my heart was denying what my brain knew was true.

...

"Hey, Kakashi..." A deep and rough but unmistakable voice said sullenly. "Congratulations on having a retarded jinchuriki, an arrogant asshole of an Uchiha and a dumb and typical teenager as your first team. I...brought you a little present to commemorate it, a little late in arrival just like last time, granted, but still a present. I hope you like it." The man's mouth quirked up in a sadistic slight smirk.

Hearing that voice saying those words snapped me out of my thoughts. I raised my gaze to stare at him. Staring at him standing there with his destruction all about him. Seeing that crazed smile and the madness in those eyes. Those frighteningly cold eyes that showed his delight and glee in this situation. Red and purple orbs that boasted of their powers. Was this really him?

Beside me, Gai swore, saying in a harsh whisper, "God.. Obito... The man is insane!"

"Lost for words?"

When I kept silent, he continued.

"You're filth, Kakashi. Dirty, disgusting filth." There was a pause as Obito glared down at me. "You liar! You said you would protect her! You promised!" He was screaming now, his face contorted. The grotesquely scarred portion of his face was hideous. I was reminded of a beast. "But no-ooo. I'm the oh-so-great Kakashi and I give promises to no man. Are you feeling that great now? Are you?!"

This is not the Obito I knew. This can't be happening, it just can't be. My world was falling apart. Brick by brick, layer upon layer of cement, I had built for myself a base for my life. One I could come back to when I had lost myself. It was what raised me up and everything, everything in my life was inspired by it. And now... Now it faded away into the wind, having been nothing more than an illusion.

Obito was now talking to Naruto. "-last obstacle. After I have the kyuubi, the world will have eternal peace. Imagine it, Naruto. There will be no wars, no crimes. Peace. World peace! You could be popular. You could be anything you like, even have your mum and your dad. ... You'd like that, won't you?"

Hearing this, I jerked my head around. Naruto's eyes were wide and I wondered what was going through his head. Then he stuck his chin up stubbornly, saying, "I won't fall for your tricks, dattebayo! Everything would be a lie then, how would that be nice? And...if you're really looking for world peace, you wouldn't cause all this destruction!" He looked around sadly.

Hearing this, Obito nodded slowly, seemingly annoyed. "Well, then, I guess I have to..."

"Obito!" I snapped sharply. Three pairs of eyes turned to me. "Don't do this... Are you sure this is what you want? This whole world to live in a lie, forever? Think for a moment, what if y-"

"A happy lie!" interrupted Obito just as sharply, "Don't be silly Kakashi. Of course this is what I want. I've thought about it for 17 years; I'm quite sure now."

I was lost for words, dismayed.

Gai nudged me, saying, "Kakashi, don't waste time anymore. He's not who he was. We have to stop him before it's too late!"

Naruto agreed, "Yeah, Kakashi-sensei! Whoever he is, he's mad! Come on, the fate of the world rests in our hands, dattebayo!" (Yes, Naruto acting cool again)

Somewhere deep inside me, I let go of something. Whether it was a renewed spark of hope, a tender raw wistfulness or whatever, it faded away. Another piece of me lost itself in the dark abyss of life. Resigning myself, once again, to sadistic fate, I said, "Let's do this. Naruto, use..."

Yes, I know chapter 600 is already out ._. I forgot to publish this but ah, heck. And, yeah, it doesn't have much substance. Just Kakashi's point of view on this. Chapter 599 was so heartrending when it was revealed that the Tobito theory was true /3

Un-betaed. Review on the writing? (: