Tobi didn't move. He stood observing this new incarnation of Uzumaki Naruto, or Shizuka as he called himself now. It was fierce and intense. Shizuka's eyes were transfixed on Tobi. Those eyes, a cross between toad and fox, they had seen things, were seeing things, that not even Tobi could imagine. Or maybe he could, but he chose to see those things differently.
Shizuka seemed in control, kept a balance, of himself, the Kyuubi and nature all at the same time, but there was something about the control that felt dangerous. The red splotches of Chakra slowly dripping off of Shizuka, and the skin that burned and healed almost at the same time showed that the control was dangerously thin. Not much interference would cause Shizuka to lose control over the hatred-driven monster inside of him. There was something wild in Shizuka's eyes that pushed hard against his control.
Tobi wasn't sure whether to push Shizuka over the edge or to let Shizuka keep the control; both seemed to find their own unique dangers and both seemed capable of great destruction. For a moment his confidence seemed to lessen. Formidable. Driven. Dangerous. The man before him wasn't what Tobi thought he would be. Was it even possible for him to take on Shizuka?
But Tobi had a resolve that not even Shizuka could shake. Something was planted deep inside him and with every beat of his heart, he was reminded of his purpose for this life. Shizuka had ruined enough of his plans. He needed to be stopped. Tobi... No, Obito needed to make sure plans were still possible. He couldn't bear the heartbreak of losing Rin. Not after all this time. Not after everything he sacrificed already. For a moment his eyes were drawn to Kakashi. That was another sacrifice he had been willing to make.
The moment his eyes left Shizuka, Shizuka moved. It was like he sensed Tobi's lapse in awareness and with incredible speed, he was upon him. Tobi was barely fast enough with his Kamui to avoid the dangerous blows, but what was even more worrying was the fact that Shizuka seemed very aware of the fact that his hits wouldn't land. Slowly the realisation dawned on Tobi that Shizuka knew. He knew the weak spot of the Kamui. That's how he damaged Tobi's mask before. It wasn't that Tobi had allowed it to confuse Shizuka; Shizuka had already known the moment he could do damage.
Tobi gulped, realising Shizuka was driving him to the point where he couldn't use the Kamui anymore. It would be a mere moment, not even a second, but with Shizuka's speed, he would be capable of hurting Tobi. With each passing second, they got closer to the five-minute mark, and Tobi needed to decide his course of action before then. An uncontrolled beast would be easier to handle than a sentient beast. After all, he had controlled the Kyuubi before...
Actions followed his thought faster than was wise. They weren't thought out, but the time pressure was too much. He stopped his Kamui, catching Shizuka's first and using the given momentum to twist his body and let his knee collide with the side of Shizuka's face. It was sudden, catching Shizuka off-guard and crashing him into the wall.
Time froze in apprehension, Tobi hoping the hit was enough to imbalance Shizuka's control, and Kakashi wanting Shizuka to be alright. There was a pressing silence, only disrupted by settling dust and stone as it crumbled down.
It was like a dam broke. A flood of chakra, burning everything, pressing down on Tobi and Kakashi and leaving them breathless. Next, the gleam of red eyes slowly emerging through the settling dust, focussed solely on Tobi. Even now Shizuka was in control. The hatred of the Kyuubi wasn't strong enough to compete with Shizuka's will to protect. Kakashi, Konoha, the world, it all came down to this. Shizuka stood at the beginning of misery and was able to prevent it. He felt Kyuubi push against his mind once more and suddenly he seemed to relent, giving Shizuka an even greater grip on his power than before.
The shift in balance and control did not go unnoticed. Tobi took a step back. The sheer pressure radiating off Shizuka was far beyond that of just the Kyuubi. He knew. There was no uncertainty left. He had made a mistake forcing Shizuka's hand. He wouldn't survive this. Tobi's breath was uneven and he felt like he couldn't control his body. Why did it turn out like this? Madara promised him, left no doubt that it could be done, that his wish could be fulfilled, and now this man was crushing his resolve without even moving.
Tobi gritted his teeth and took a stand. Shizuka was in the way here now, so Tobi just needed him to be not here until the moment he did need the Kyuubi to complete the plan. He grinned behind his mask. Yes, that was a solution. It would mean he couldn't use Kamui until then because Shizuka was sure to destroy him as soon as he did, but for now, it would mean a victory.
Shizuka crouched, his muscles tremored from the force as he placed one hand on the ground to brace himself. The other he raised in the air collecting red and blue chakra and compressing it into a tight black ball.
In an instant, the whole world seemed to move again. It was all incredibly fast yet it seemed to go in slow motion at the same time. Shizuka launched himself with an incredible speed and at the same moment, Tobi activated his Kamui in an attempt to catch Shizuka in it. Shizuka was prepared for this. Of course, he was. He had been caught in this before, but that time he didn't have the strength and speed he had now. It was hard to avoid the Kamui. It was even harder trying to do that while dragging a Bijuudama. But not impossible.
Shizuka used the limited space in the cavern to alter his path, using the walls to guide him and chance direction. Tobi barely had the time to turn around and end his Kamui. He watched wide-eyed as the Bijuudama closed in on him and he realised he wasn't going to be fast enough to fully close it. And he couldn't phase while the Kamui was still active. There was no opportunity to avoid the oncoming blast either. He was...
Tobi saw more than felt it at first. The Bijuudama sank into his chest, into his heart. Something shattered deep within him as his flesh was torn asunder, burned away by pure Chakra. Shackles broke, and a mere moment of freedom was all he got to realise what he had done. What he would have done. His eye met Shizuka's and he found a painful amount of understanding and a silent promise to let him die as Tobi, and let Obito's death remain the moment the rock crushed him.
The pain was an afterthought, but that didn't make it less intense. It became all-consuming as he fell to the ground. Tobi barely registered colliding with the floor, barely registered the coldness creeping into his body in exchange for his blood. His mind was consumed by the pain. Enough so to render him powerless. There was nothing left.
A moment of clarity let him focus on his surroundings. All he saw was Kakashi. Kakashi looking astonished, revolted, and relieved. Kakashi was relieved he was defeated, that he was dying. The way Kakashi sat there, one leg slightly pulled up, one hand behind him in support and the other raised. It was exactly the same as the moment Obito was crushed by the rock all that time ago. Tobi couldn't help but smile. It was over. It was enough. "Rin..." He muttered. "I'll be right there... You better make us wait, Kakashi..." Tobi wasn't sure if his words even had any sound to them. He didn't feel like he had the breath to actually say anything, but that was alright. He had said it...
Tobi's body slumped as the life left him. At the same time, all the strength seemed to drain from Shizuka. The resolve, the build-up nature chakra and the Kyuubi's chakra all receded, leaving just Shizuka in an exhausted body to stop himself from falling. He did. Barely. He remained standing and after a deep breath walked over to Kakashi.
Shizuka kneeled next to Kakashi. He extended his hand to touch Kakashi's face but stopped and blinked, pulling his hand back a bit. He turned it around to look at it. It was red. Soaked. Sticky. Filthy. Covered in blood. Obito's blood mixed with all the blood he had shed throughout his short life. The blood of someone precious to Kakashi added to his guilt. His eyes widened as he stared at his hand. The hand of a monster and he had been about to use that same hand to touch Kakashi. He withdrew his shaking hand, grabbing his wrist with his other and pushed them against himself. Tears were stinging his eyes and he swallowed hard.
The thought he so easily rejected before now came crashing down. Obito could have been saved. He had murdered someone because they had scorned him. He had killed only to gain something for himself. There was no other way to describe him than a monster, and yet all he wanted right now was to hold Kakashi, to make sure Kakashi was alright and find comfort in Kakashi's arms. He didn't have that right, he knew that. He shouldn't be here. He didn't deserve to be here. Maybe it would be best to disappear after this. Maybe there was a place for him after death.
Kakashi placed a hand on his, scaring him out of his thoughts as he flinched. He looked up to meet Kakashi's eyes and he felt himself crack. He was so selfish, but he needed Kakashi too much. He felt his lips tremble and tears roll down his face, but he kept himself back. He wanted to dive into Kakashi's arms so badly, but Kakashi was the one supposed to get rescued. He was too weak, too selfish. He needed... 'Kakashi...' He mouthed his silent plea. 'Help me...'
Kakashi didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Shizuka, to hold him tight and give him the time he needed, even if he didn't fully understand why Shizuka broke down like this now. The strong arms felt like a shelter to Shizuka. At the same time, it didn't diminish his guilt; it just made it stronger. He was abusing Kakashi to find comfort for himself. "It's alright. I'm here." Kakashi said, tightening his hold. "We'll be okay."
This was so unfair...
