AN: The big chapter ten. Finally reaching double digits with this fic.
Last chapter, the Kazekage used an original attack I made up called Kamiyari(神槍)or "Divine Spear". It was heavily inspired by Lancer's Noble Phantasm, Gae Bolg, from the Fate/Stay Night franchise.
I went back and forth for a while on whether or not to show some of the other fights and perspectives happening throughout the village, but I decided against it in the end. I will still cut away from Obito's perspective in the future when it's relevant, but I thought it best to keep the focus on him and his journey as much as possible.
Obito
Chapter 10 - The Man with the Truth
Senju Hashirama landed in front of Rin and I.
The resurrected First Hokage had just pinned down Nine-Tails for us, stopping him before he could go on another village destroying rampage. However, just because he did that didn't mean he was on our side.
No, he had been revived by Orochimaru with the purpose of destroying the village himself. So it stood to reason that if he was here now, it was to further that aim. In the legends, he was supposedly capable of controlling Nine-Tails too, so it had to be assumed that was his true aim in reigning it in.
"Hashirama!" The pinned Nine-Tails roared, although it was hard to tell if it was in anger or surprise. I had no doubt there was quite a bit of built up resentment regarding the First Hokage, who had been the first to ever put a Tailed Beast inside a human, thus creating the Jinchuriki system as we know it today.
"He sure is a rowdy one, huh? He must be in a good mood." Hashirama didn't even glance at Nine-Tails, instead staring directly at Rin and I while laughing loudly and full of energy.
"What… is going on?" I asked. There was no way the First could be capable of such speech and personality. I watched it as Orochimaru placed a seal into his skull specifically to suppress such things, turning him into a mindless killing machine along with his younger brother.
"Hmm…?" Hashirama responded to my question by making a complicated expression, tilting his head and folding his arms. "It's kind of hard to explain, so I'll skip all the complicated bits. Basically, I am no longer a bad guy. Or something like that. Of course, I like to think I've always been one of the good guys, it's just that I was revived to be bad. Depending on your perspective, I suppose." He went silent and nodded happily to himself as if that explanation solved everything. Hell, he looked proud even. I don't think he had any idea that his poorly strung together words left us more confused than anything.
"...Did you understand any of that?" Rin whispered to me, having otherwise gone completely still. Unlike me, she hadn't even seen our predecessors get revived, so she was even more behind on the uptake than I was. Having said that-
"Not a word." I replied bluntly. It kind of felt like he was trying to tell us he wasn't our enemy anymore, but there were so many steps removed to get to that point that I truly didn't know what to make of it. On the one hand, it seemed like it could be a tactic for buying time. On the other, someone as powerful as the First shouldn't need to resort to such things. So it seemed like he might be genuine, if only incomprehensible.
"Hahaha…" The First laughed dryly and awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head and inclining himself ever so slightly in an apologetic bow. "Like I said, I never really was good at all the complicated stuff. That's why I always needed-"
"Me." A new person finished that train of thought, speaking from directly behind us. It took every fibre of self-restraint for me not to yell out loud and stab behind me with a kunai. Not that I was likely to hit my mark even if I was- the Second Hokage standing behind us with both hands on his hips and shaking his head slowly at his brother. "I figured this was going to happen so I came to check things out, but it's worse than I thought. Aniki, you finish up with the Nine-Tails while I explain the situation."
"Okay…" The First agreed readily enough, but his previous cheer and optimism were all but gone, as his shoulders slumped and he let out a long sigh. "I could have figured out how to explain it if you just gave me a few more minutes…" He grumbled.
"Huh!?" The Second snapped loudly, appearing far more like the big brother in my eyes. Hashirama quickly uttered a spring of apologies before dashing off to the still restrained Tailed Beast. "That's what I thought." Tobirama clicked his teeth, black irises finally turning his attention to Rin and myself. "...It would appear I'm in the debt of not just one, but two Uchiha today." He remarked.
"I'm sorry?" I asked him to clarify. It was more or less obvious by this point that they were no longer enemies, but there were still too many blanks in what had happened between the time I last saw them and now. Nevermind that not even all that much time had passed. Of course, in that same amount of time I had unleashed a Tailed Beast and clashed with the Kazekage, so things were moving pretty quickly all around it would seem.
"I believe his name was Shisui?" Tobirama looked purposefully at my Mangekyo Sharingan. "He used a Genjutsu he called the Kotoamatsukami to break me free from the curse that Orochimaru had bound us under. As the creator of Edo Tensei, it was child's play for me to then undo the restrictions also placed on my brother. With our personalities and full power restored, we quickly brought things to a conclusion over there. So you have nothing to worry about, your friends and Saru are safe for now."
Finally, everything was becoming clear. It was ironic, really. The trump card Orochimaru had prepared ended up being his biggest downfall and would likely lead to a swift conclusion to this little invasion. Having the power of three Hokage on our side- two of them essentially immortal, was certainly uplifting to say the least.
"As soon as we had things wrapped up over there, we came to back you up here, but it seems that for the most part you have things under control." Tobirama nodded over to Nine-Tails, or rather what was left of the Tailed Beast as it was being forcibly withdrawn back into Naruto's seal.
It was incredible, even without the key sealed in my arm and the First was able to repress the monster fox so effortlessly. It truly was completely different from me.
"Actually, you guys really saved us just now." I admitted in contrast to the Second's praise. "I really didn't know what I was going to do about Nine-Tails until you and your brother showed up. It's entirely possible I had made a huge mistake and only caused more problems for the village. So really, thank you." I inclined my head towards Tobirama.
As I spoke, Rin ran off towards an unconscious Naruto. There didn't look to be any kind of external wounds, but we had no idea what kind of side-effects there might be to completely unleashing Nine-Tails like we had. The fox had admitted himself that they didn't have a perfect link, but just what exactly did that mean in the greater scheme of things? Either way, Gaara and Fu had technically been in the same boat and both of them just appeared out for the time being, so it stood to reason Naruto was much the same.
Tobirama regarded me silently for several seconds and I almost got the impression he was sizing me up. If he was, it would seem I didn't pass whatever internal metrics he was grading me on, because he then let out a disappointed sigh. "You certainly seem different from what I imagined you as. Seriously, what is Saru thinking- considering you for the position of Fifth?"
In that moment, I remembered what the Third had so boldly declared not just in front of Orochimaru, but the predecessors and myself included. I felt my face heat up as I quickly tried to mutter an apology. "N-No, I'm sure that was just a misunderstanding. There's no way he is actually considering me. It was just mind games with his student or something."
If anything, this only seemed to upset the Second more who stomped on the ground strongly enough to cause small cracks to appear in the earth beneath his feet. "Are you really an Uchiha!?" He yelled at me. "Show some spine, damn you! And to think, you also have some of my brother's cells attached to you..." He paused, looking at the small forest I had recreated over the previously destroyed terrain.
"It was you that rode the Nine-Tails into battle, was it not?" He asked, voice softer and almost apologetic this time. "And you who defeated the Kazekage manipulating the One-Tail. Both of these are feats worthy of anyone who is one day to take the title of Hokage. Don't devalue your own accomplishments so readily or no one will ever be willing to take you seriously."
"Ah…" I mumbled an agreement just out of instinct, but that seemed to trigger his anger again and his face once again contorted into that stern expression so much like the one carved into the Hokage monument.
"Don't think this means that I acknowledge you!" He shouted. "I was against Madara becoming Hokage back then and I'm against one of his descendants becoming Hokage now! Nevermind that you have my brother's Jutsu!"
"Tobirama, that's enough of that!" Hashirama returned, this time the one hollering out and acting like the proper older brother. The Second glared at his brother, but respectfully obeyed his order all the same. Certainly a complicated siblingry these two had.
"Sorry about that, please don't pay him any mind!" The First addressed me directly now, smiling in that awkward way that was simultaneously trying to apologize and also put me at ease. "My little brother doesn't want to admit it because of his pride, but he's actually quite interested in you. Not many people have both Uchiha ancestry and the Mokuton Jutsu, after all."
"No, no. It's quite alright." I said quickly, trying to ignore his praise. "He's right, after all. Someone like me- becoming Hokage… I mean, there are just so many others more deserving of that honor." Off the top of my head, I could name several people. Kakashi, Shisui or even my Master, Jiraiya. There were so many more capable candidates.
It was the First's turn to frown as he looked over at me. It would appear I wasn't a disappointment to just one, but both of the previous Hokage. "Come with us." He said. "There is something I would like you to see… a sight that is very special to me."
"You can't be serious?" Tobirama scoffed, but a single glare from his big brother silenced any further complaints he had. "...Fine." Instead he relented with those simple words. "It's the same as always and you'll do what you want. Nevermind that it's me that has to be the one to make sure you get there."
"Hahaha, harsh as always!" It was hard to tell if Hashirama was laughing or weeping at his younger brother's harsh criticisms. The fact that he was able to simultaneously seem like he was doing both was even more astounding when you thought about it. Nevertheless he bounced back quickly enough, grinning at me as he pointed over to the Hokage monument. "I hear from Saru that you're pretty fast! Why don't we see who is faster between you and my brother?"
"You mean…?" It took me a couple seconds to figure out what he was implying, but it fairly quickly became evident he was asking me to have a race with the Second Hokage. A man capable of using the same Flying Thunder God technique as my own teacher.
Before I could answer, my eye immediately darted over to Rin and Naruto, the former having lifted her adopted son into her lap as she evaluated his physical condition. The First seemed to follow my gaze, making a small noise of realization. "Bring them with us. When the three of you are ready just give us the all clear and we'll begin." It was becoming very apparent to me why the Second was so tired around his brother and his antics.
Of course, like his younger brother, there was no way for me to just refuse the request. So with a reluctant sigh I started to jog over to the two Jinchuriki. Even if he said he was going to give us time, there was no way I could keep the previous Hokage waiting. Nevermind that I wasn't even sure we had time for this. There was still an invasion going on… although all the enemy leaders had more or less been dealt with if what the Second said was true.
Which meant we probably had a little bit of time, if the only thing left was mop-up duty. So I should be able to give Naruto a proper glance-over with that time. I was pretty worried about him, despite the fact that my head was jumbled up with a dozen other things at the moment.
"So… how is he?" I asked Rin as I approached the two of them. Up close and I could see now that Naruto's skin was burnt and red pretty much all over. It didn't look life-threatening, but more like he had just been out in the sun too long without any kind of sunscreen. That was only his external injuries though and while that appeared superficial at best, I had no idea if we had just majorly screwed up his seal or even worse, his chakra network.
Rin must have noticed my worries, because she gave a gentle smile and patted the ground next to her. "He's fine. As you can see- a little burnt but that appears to be the worst of it. Nothing abnormal with his chakra except that it's pretty much spent. Which might be a first for him. Otherwise he's just mentally exhausted and so he appears to be asleep." It was good to know it wasn't something like a coma.
"That's a relief." I crouched down next to Rin where she had just indicated and before I was even aware of it myself I was running a hand through Naruto's blond locks. "This kid really is nuts. To willingly go through with the transformation despite not knowing what might happen…" I was the last one that should be saying that, the whole thing having been my idea. Yet Naruto hadn't hesitated for even a second and instead went all in on the plan. Truly his mother's kid.
"You can say that again." Rin huffed, looking simultaneously worried as his guardian yet proud of him for his bravery. She truly was just like his older sister in everything but blood. "Just like someone else I know." She then mumbled, glancing sideways at me. It was hard to tell if she was condemning me or complimenting me, so all I could do was awkwardly laugh.
"Yeah, well it all usually works out for types like us. It did this time too." I said, feeling more like my past self than I had in a long time. I don't think the current usual me would have been able to say a line like that, but somehow it felt natural as the words left my mouth. As if this was how I was supposed to be.
"The heck?" Rin giggled, trying to stifle her own laughter. "I'll get mad, you know!" Despite saying that she didn't seem angry at all, if perhaps a bit exasperated. "You know it's always me that has to look after you boys when you overdo it, right? So for my sake too, try and be a little less reckless, maybe?" Just now and her words reminded me of the Second and what he had said to his brother.
Was I more like the First than I thought? And not just because I had his cells, because this was how I had always been as a kid. What a terrifying thought that was.
Thinking about them caused me to glance in their direction. Hashirama saw me looking immediately and waved back at us, hand swinging exaggeratedly over his head with a huge smile splitting his face. The Second merely sighed and pretended he couldn't see it by looking the other way. Despite this they stood side by side, the younger brother resting his hand on the elder's shoulder so they could move at a moment's notice.
"So… the previous Hokage, huh?" Rin asked, having followed my gaze. "I would say that's pretty insane, but compared to what we just did I can't say anything is too surprising at the moment." No kidding, I couldn't help but silently agree. A triple invasion, Tailed Beasts, undead Hokage, and Orochimaru at the center of it all. This had been one hell of a day already and it wasn't even over yet.
"Yeah…" I mumbled, still not entirely sure I believed that they were real myself. Nevermind I had actually been around when they were brought back. "They said they want to show me something, so sorry about this but I'm gonna have to bring you and Naruto along. Can't just leave you two in the middle of the village, after all." I knew Rin would be fine, but I wasn't exactly sure it was a good idea to be moving Naruto through dimensions in his present condition.
Despite my worries, Rin shook her head. "It should be okay, so long as we're just moving a little bit." I almost wonder if a part of me had been hoping she would refuse, because if she had it would give me a reason to as well. I didn't even know what it was the First wanted to show me, but I was afraid… terrified that it would be the final crack that would tear down this wall I had been guarding for the past five years of my life.
"Alright, hold on then." Instead I could only sigh as I placed a hand on her shoulder. I then nodded to the two brothers. A moment later they were gone, teleporting to the top of the Hokage monument. I activated Kamui at the same moment, the world distorting and getting sucked away before being replaced by a view of the village from above.
"You really are fast!" Hashirama laughed loudly, placing both hands on his hips and throwing his long hair back. "Did you see that, Tobirama? Saru wasn't joking about his talents… as fast as you are, with the same Mokuton Jutsu as myself, and finally an Uchiha that isn't following in Madara's curse of hatred! He's a perfect candidate for the Fifth Hokage, don't you think?"
"Tch," It would appear I still had yet to earn the respect of the Second, despite his brother's over-the-top praises just now. "If it was a race then I still beat him here…" That or he was just sulking…? That certainly seemed to be the case as he crossed his arms and turned away from me. Perhaps he was just upset that his brother was complimenting an Uchiha so much? Yeah, that had to be it. Cause there was no way that he was jealous of me.
Pushing that aside for the moment I began to walk over to the two of them. "So, what is it you wanted to show me?" We were standing now atop the head of the First Hokage. Something which seemed to please the man himself immensely. He turned, looking down over the village and spreading his arms wide as if to encapsulate it all.
"This is it!" He proclaimed, voice booming with pride. Although I think the image was somewhat ruined as I looked over the war-torn landscape below us. The area where the Tailed Beasts had just clashed was painfully obvious, the entire landscape having been completely reshaped. There were no more forests in that plot of land, just freshly dug up dirt and rocks.
Meanwhile, fire and smoke dotted the numerous populated areas. A section of the wall that guarded the village had been torn down, appearing to have been run down by some giant summoned monstrosity- although whatever had caused it was nowhere to be seen. What's more, the sound of conflict could still be heard. Kunai clashed, metal on metal reverberated out and reached us up here. The occasion elemental jutsu was visible, some of the more powerful Shinobi clearly throwing around their weight.
That all being said, it really did look like the chaos was winding down. If anything, it was only a small handful of the perpetrators who didn't yet seem to be aware that the fight was already lost. Even from up here and I could see the enemy had all but mostly surrendered. No doubt word of their losses had destroyed morale and the will to fight was gone to all but the most blood-thirsty.
"...Right." I deadpanned, not really understanding what was so great about this sight at the moment. I had come here many times and while I could normally appreciate the majesty of our village, there seemed to be a lot less to appreciate at the moment.
"You don't get it…?" Hashirama's arms sagged and his head fell dramatically, his once enthusiastic voice clearly conveying his dismay at not having his message be received.
"As if anyone could understand what you're trying to say considering the current circumstances!" Tobirama yelled, at least appearing to understand my plight. Of course, his harsh words only seemed to deepen his brother's depression as the First sank to his knees and buried his face between them. "Seriously…" The Second continued to groan aloud.
He pointed down at the village, turning to glare at me as if this whole thing was my fault. "You gave your life to protect the Leaf, did you not!?" He yelled, his voice causing me to immediately straighten my posture and stand at attention.
"Yes, of course." I replied without thinking. Not that there was anything to think about. It went without saying that I would give my life for the village if I thought it would make a difference. If my life could maintain its existence for even a second longer- then I would gladly throw myself into the jaws of death.
"And why is that?" Tobirama asked me. "Is it because your clan is down there? Would you give your life so the Uchiha can continue to flourish under the protection of the village?" Now that I thought about it, the previous generation of Hokage likely had no idea about the Uchiha Incident and as such had no way of knowing what our clan had been reduced down to. Not that there was any time to inform him about this now and even if the clan had been as it was, it's not like my answer would change.
"No, that's not it." I shook my head, glancing towards the Chunin Exam arena. At the place where Itachi, Shisui, Kakashi, Gai, the Third Hokage, and so many other of my trusted comrades were. "This village is… it's my home." I struggled to find the words to describe what the village truly meant to me. It wasn't that I didn't know what was important about it, but rather there were too many important things here to condense it down into just a few simple words. Nevertheless I had to try.
"Not just because I was born here or because my family is here. But my whole history… everything that came before me. All the things I'm hoping will come after…" I glanced backwards at Rin and Naruto. At the woman I loved as she watched over her adopted son- my student. She was looking back at me, our eyes meeting briefly.
"The village itself is my family… I guess." Just like how Rin had taken in and protected our teacher's son, I too wanted to be able to do that. For everyone here in the village. That was what Minato-sensei taught me. This was the true meaning of Hokage. I suppose when I heard him say that, it had left an impression on the young me- a boy that had never known his own parents because their lives had been claimed by war when I was still a baby. So the idea of having a whole village for a family… it just sounded really nice.
"So you understand after all!" The First had bounced back, listening to my answer seeming to have once again renewed his spirits. What an exhausting guy to be around. He smiled at me, but this time not that exaggerated goofball-like smile of before, but one that was warm and heartfelt. "My dream for the title of Hokage has nothing to do with power or lineage. The only thing that matters in the end is the heart. You… and every single person down there that risked their lives today for the village- any single one of you is worthy of the title."
"..." I opened my mouth but no words came out. Any single thought I had died on the tip of my tongue as a million different reasons to reject him flew across my mind. Yet in the end I could say nothing to such a simple sentiment.
Was the title of Hokage really something that easy to him? I had spent my whole life building it up in my head as some grand, ultimate prize. But to the man that created the position, it was something anyone was worthy of.
Tobirama let out a long sigh. "If only reality were that easy, Aniki." He smiled, for perhaps the first time since I met him. It was a smile completely unlike his brother's- nostalgic and full of melancholy. "For only one person can be Hokage during any given generation, so it's not enough to say anyone with the right heart can take the position. Having said that…" He turned once more to look at me and his stern frown once again returned.
"The Hokage is a position that you do not get to choose for yourself. My brother attempted to reject it and wanted Madara to have it. I too was unsure of taking the hat after my exceptional brother was the one to wear it before me. Saru was prepared to sacrifice himself for the mission when I gave him the role." He paused and let out another deep sigh. "It would seem every person that ever ended up becoming Hokage didn't think of themselves as the one for the role. You're the same, are you not?"
"That's…" While it was true I still didn't think myself capable of the role, the Second's words suddenly reminded me of something Itachi recently said to me. About how the Hokage is someone acknowledged by everyone, and the only one no to acknowledge me was myself. His words echoed once again in my mind, as crystal clear as the day he said them.
"Perhaps you are as my brother says," The Second lifted his arm, extending a single finger that pointed solely at me. "The perfect candidate for the Fifth Hokage." It would seem that impossible had just happened, the Uchiha-hating Second Hokage acknowledging someone like me as a potential successor.
"...Why?" I asked, not of him in particular. It would be more accurate to say I was questioning the universe itself. Why was it that everyone seemed so intent on trying to tell me I should take the position? Why did everyone wait until I had already given up to decide I was worthy? Nevermind that none of them knew of my greatest sin against the village.
In response to my question, the First let out another loud burst of laughter. "You really are an interesting guy, you know that?!" He was the last person I wanted to hear that from. "Tobirama just told you why, didn't he? And maybe it's true that I'm sometimes a little naïve, but I don't think that means I'm wrong either. The title of Hokage is something for anyone that calls this village their home."
I clenched my fists, turning away from the previous Hokage. But instead I found myself once again looking over the village. The sounds of the battle were all but gone now. The invasion was good and over, our forces having come out on top. We were victorious… thanks to the efforts of every single Shinobi here, myself included.
Was this really okay? For someone like me to watch over the village? To not be the one looking up at the Hokage monument, but instead staring across the Land of Fire. Would my one Sharingan eye be enough to intimidate the enemy? Was the promise I made to Rin and Minato-sensei something I was allowed to wish for again?
Everything around me had already given me the answer to this question: It was fine. I wasn't some unredeemable villain. Certainly I had made mistakes along the way, but it seemed like every Hokage that came before me also felt this way. It was fine not to be perfect, because the Hokage wasn't perfect to begin with. Something I don't think I ever realized until just now.
"Become a splendid Hokage, Uchiha Obito." Hashirama said as he looked over the same view as I did.
What was it his eyes saw when looking at the village below him, I couldn't help but wonder. Had the village turned out how he wanted? Were there things he wished he had done better… No- that was exactly the point of everything they said until now. Of course there were things he wished had gone better. If there wasn't then he wouldn't have become Hokage in the first place.
"Well then…" He continued, a tone of finality in his voice. "With everything wrapped up it would seem it's time for us to go."
"Indeed," Tobirama agreed promptly, before I even had a chance to understand what they were talking about. "Give our regards to Saru, would you?" It was only when they both looked at me again that I knew this was their way of saying goodbye.
They were going to undo the Edo Tensei- and the thing binding their souls to the mortal plane.
I thought about calling out to them, telling them not to go just yet. It felt like there were a million more things I wanted to ask them. There was still so much they could do for the village. The invasion had only just ended, after all! What's more, they were asking me to say goodbye to their student and successor, when I'm sure he would want to hear those words directly.
Yet despite all this, I knew they were making the right decision. In the first place they weren't supposed to be here. Doing as much as they had already was more than we could rightfully ask for. Cleaning up the village was a job for the living. Not a couple zombies that had conveniently been brought back to our realm, nevermind the original intent behind their twisted revival.
"Yeah…" So I said the only thing I could, allowing them to leave on their own terms. "Thank you… for everything." I'm sure my words carried with them the weight of the whole village. At least that's what it felt like.
A white light had enveloped both Hokage, their outer skin beginning to crumble and fall apart as if dust, rather than human flesh. The two of them continued to watch over the village until the very end… and I looked down at it with them. In a matter of moments they were gone. And the one watching the village from atop the First's head was only myself.
In the absence of all noise, the gentle breeze sounded more like a torrential gale. It tousled my short black hair and rustled the leaves of every tree for leagues within my sight. I swallowed the lump building in the back of my throat, taking in the breath-taking sight that every Hokage gazed upon. It truly was… majestic.
What was this weight on my shoulders? Was it the burden that every Hokage realized they would have to bear when they took on the role? To know that they were the one responsible for all the lives located directly below these cliffs?
Yet despite this weight now placed upon my shoulders, it felt like the one in my heart was slowly beginning to lift. That was because… I wasn't alone. Not truly. Both when it came to the duties I might inherit or physically atop this rock.
"You okay?" Rin asked as she took her place beside me. For the moment she had left Naruto to rest behind us. Not that the blond knucklehead seemed to mind, his peaceful snores audible from here. I was envious of him really, as a nap sounded really good about now. If only as an escape from this conversation.
"I'm fine," I lied, although I'm not sure why I bothered. Rin could see when I wasn't telling the truth from a mile away. Nevermind that I still had some external injuries from the previous battle, but that wasn't what was truly bothering me and she knew that. Because that wasn't what she had been asking about.
"Yeah… I mean, of course you are." Rin said, despite seeing through my lie. She crossed her arms behind her back and stretched her neck to look up at me, beaming with a smile of child-like innocence. "I mean, why wouldn't you be? Lord First and Lord Second just acknowledge you as the rightful successor for the Hokage. That promise you made to me… you can keep it. You can actually do it!"
"Rin…" My lip trembled as I looked back down at her. Her brown eyes sparkled back up at me, assuring me that I could tell her anything. She was the first one that truly believed in me. The one that hadn't laughed at me or told me it was impossible. Despite the fact that she had no reason to believe I could do it, she truly had accepted that I could reach this place. "...Why is that?" I asked her. "What made you think I could become Hokage?"
She tilted her head, as if my question was strange. Yet her smile didn't diminish in the slightest and she spoke as confidently as I once had been able to. "Isn't it obvious? I believed in you because you were serious. You truly believed you could become the Hokage… no one else I met before had been able to do that. Everyone respected the Hokage, but not like you did. You didn't see the Hokage as some kind of superior… but as a goal." It was almost like I could see the reflection in her eyes.
She was recalling the scene of me as I first proclaimed myself the Hokage… and I could see how I looked from her eyes. That brightly smiling, dopey kid that pointed at himself and declared without a doubt in his mind that he could become Hokage.
"You know, Obito…" She giggled at me as if we just shared some kind of inside joke. "I always thought that when you said that… you were really cool!" I was taken aback. How could I not be? To hear Rin say that I, of all people, was somehow cool? Not Hatake Kakashi, but the drop-out of our class, Uchiha Obito, was somehow the cool one.
"Rin, I…" There was another pause as I stumbled on my words. What was it I even wanted to say right now? The goal was right in front of my eyes. I had been stumbling in the dark for how many years now, but in the end I had finally managed to reach my destination. The words of everyone propelled me forward, offering me the encouragement needed to take those last final steps.
All the previous Hokage, my team, my clan, my former classmates, and the future generation walking behind me. Every single one of them had acknowledged me. The only thing left...
"Hmm?" Rin asked, prompting me to say what it was we both knew I had been wanting to say for a long time now. I felt my breath hitch, my voice getting caught in the back of my throat. Yet despite this I pushed through anyways and finally made the declaration I hadn't been able to in years.
"I want to become the Hokage, after all!"
My shout echoed off the cliff behind us and reverberated into the village. I was finally able to say it again. The Uchiha Obito that had a dream worth chasing was finally back. And the Rin that had been cheering me on from the beginning was still by my side.
"Yep!" She pumped both fists and tears gathered in the corners of her eyes as she continued to smile at me. "Go for it Obito! Become the greatest Hokage this village has ever seen… it's a promise!"
"...Yeah." I agreed. A promise, one that I would definitely make good on this time.
That should have been the end.
However, in that moment I allowed myself to forget one thing: The shadow of that man which still loomed over me. And he wasn't about to let me forget. Uchiha Madara may have been dead, but his will had still been pulling at strings for a long time now, just waiting for me to finally drop my guard- To finally think it was okay to be happy again.
"I'm glad to hear that!" Yahiko called out to us from above, standing on top of the cliff that the Hokage monument had been etched into. "If that's the case, I will go ahead and consider you already the Hokage for this conversation and we can discuss the next steps accordingly."
Rin and I spun around, neither one of us having detected their presence until now. Just how in the world had he managed to conceal himself from us- two Sensory-type Ninja- while also being within earshot of our conversation?
I might have even asked him that, but a million other things also flew through my mind in the same second as I took in the sight of Yahiko standing above us. Next to him was Konan… and in her arms the corpse of Ajisai- no doubt killed during the invasion. But even that barely registered, merely being stored into the back of my mind as an afterthought. Because there was one other person with them.
My Master, Jiraiya.
Yahiko was holding onto him by his mane of long white hair, that alone being the only thing supporting my barely conscious master. His face welted and bruised, beaten-in to the point of neigh unrecognizability. And stuck in his back was no less than a dozen black rods, several of which were located directly in his spinal column. His legs were incapable of supporting himself, kept only aloft by Yahiko who tugged roughly at his hair.
"Master-" My voice cut off as I barely managed to catch myself. But it was too late- I had just given the nature of our relationship away with that single word and Yahiko hadn't missed it. His reaction was similar to my own, displaying clear shock at my unintended proclamation.
"Master, you say?" He let out a small bark of ironic laughter. "Well now isn't that interesting. So you're Jiraiya-sensei's latest attempt at finding a Child of Prophecy then, are you? Now I see, no wonder I felt like we had so much in common."
"Jiraiya...Sensei…?" Like Yahiko's own surprise, I was just now starting to connect the dots about his relationship to my Master. I had heard before that Jiraiya had taken on training three orphans from the Hidden Rain, but he had told me himself that they had died a long time ago. Yet it would appear that wasn't true at all… and those very students of his were here in front of me now.
"That's right." Yahiko confirmed. "Like you, we were once students of Jiraiya… until he abandoned us to die, that is." The spite in his voice was unmistakable and his emotions momentarily got the better of him as he tightened his grip on Jiraiya's hair. My Master let out a gasp, the pain momentarily returning his consciousness. "Oh… sorry, sorry!" Yahiko looked momentarily shocked, but then a moment later let out a laugh as if he made a simple slip. His composure returned and he once more looked down at me. "Now then… where were we?"
"You were talking about what to do next." Rin saw the opportunity to interject herself into the conversation, gesturing to me as she said the next words. "With Obito acting as the Hokage, you wanted to discuss how to move forward. So what exactly is it that you're intending?" Her eyes continued to dance between the two of them atop the cliff and Naruto- who was still sleeping peacefully about halfway between us.
"Ah yes, thank you for reminding me." Yahiko smiled at Rin as if genuinely grateful to her. You could almost mistake his demeanor as actually peaceful if not for him holding onto the beaten and bloody form of my Master. "So Obito… from one leader of a village to another, can you look me in the eye and still tell me that we are capable of understanding one another?"
"...I'm not Hokage yet, Yahiko!" I shouted back at him, taking a hesitant step forward. This seemed to put Konan on edge who raised several fingers in indication to unleash a preemptive strike. I held my hands up, trying to show I meant no immediate harm. "In the first place, let's not talk as two leaders… but how about as two students of Jiraiya?" I didn't really know a lot about Yahiko, only having talked with him a little during the matches before.
However, even during the brief interaction I could tell he had a strong sense of justice. If I only tried to talk to him as a representative of the Leaf- a village that had caused the Rain much pain in the past- then this conversation wasn't going to go anywhere. I had to appeal to him from a more neutral ground, one where we could both see eye to eye.
"Hmm…" Yahiko smirked, as if already able to see what I was thinking. "So I wasn't wrong about you, after all." He declared, coming to some conclusion of his own making. "Scars tell a lot about a Shinobi… don't you think so, Obito?" He once again was focusing on the wounds I had received when a stone had crushed half my body. At the same time, his hand reached over his heart, hovering over some wound I couldn't possibly see. "How much pain must you have had to endure… I would wager it's even greater than ours."
"Yahiko!" Konan suddenly scolded, her words pulling him back from whatever tangent it was he had been about to go down. He looked shocked, her yell seemingly snapping him back to his senses. The longer this conversation went on, the more I started to suspect how truly unhinged Yahiko actually was.
"Right… sorry." Yahiko laughed at himself, running a hand through his spiky orange hair. "Here's the thing, Obito." His smile slipped and his demeanor once again changed completely, taking on the form of some business-man with a sales pitch. "I told you when we first arrived that we were here to see if we can finally understand each other… and I'm afraid that it appears your village has failed our evaluation."
Damn it. It would seem my plan to talk to him as two individuals hadn't gotten through to him after all. I already knew that the moment this became about villages that we were going to lose any kind of common ground. There was too much history there and this invasion didn't exactly paint any of us in a good light.
"What kind of evaluation are you even using?" For now I had to try and buy us some kind of time, so I tried switching tactics. "Perhaps it's something we could sit down and talk about in detail? Because I'm sure you must have misunderstood a few things."
"Is that so?" Yahiko sneered, anger briefly flashing for the briefest of moments. "What part am I misunderstanding here?" He gestured to the corpse of Ajisai in Konan's arms. "The part where our student was murdered in a three-pronged invasion against your village? An invasion instigated by Orochimaru- a former member of your own village, no less. Or perhaps I'm misunderstanding the part where you unleashed Tailed Beasts and resurrected Hokage to fight in this unholy crusade of yours? The depravity of your village… it's only grown worse since the previous war, wouldn't you say?"
"Orochimaru may have been from the Leaf originally but he is no longer representative of one of us!" I shouted in vain. It was becoming more and more apparent that Yahiko had already made up his mind on this matter. Whatever he had decided, there was very little I could do to change it now. Especially since he had witnessed me being the one to unleash the Nine-Tails and say goodbye to the Edo Tensei versions of the previous Hokage.
"So in the end you would attempt to dodge responsibility for the actions of your village too?" Yahiko sighed as if disappointed and shook his head. "Well, I cannot say I'm surprised. After all, if you were really to become Hokage then our clash would have been inevitable either way. Your village has grown too powerful and conceited… so it's time you are all reminded of something that you seem to have forgotten."
"And what is that?" Rin asked, chakra flaring dangerously. At any moment she might unleash her Tailed Beast. She was hardly the aggressive type, but with Naruto at risk of getting caught in the crossfire she couldn't afford to be indecisive now.
Battle was looking more and more inevitable. I readied my Mangekyo, prepared to use it to grab Naruto and then Jiraiya. I was going to have to count on Rin's offensive abilities to keep them busy enough to buy me time in that case.
Yet the man in front of us did not appear threatened at all. No, he barely even seemed to register us anymore. Instead thinking about something far away from here.
"Pain." Yahiko said this one word, purposefully and with intent. His eyes then gazed to the sky above us and he raised his arms as if calling upon God. "The one to remind you of this sensation will not be me, however. No, the one to cast judgement… shall be him."
Rin and I whirled around, following Yahiko's gaze up to the sky. And there floating above us all, approximately above the center of the village was a lone figure. It was only when I saw this shape did everything begin to click into place for me. I only hated that it took me this long to connect the dots.
In the first place wasn't it weird that Yahiko was the one holding onto the beaten form of my Master? The last time I had seen him he had left to go chasing after the red-haired man. A man I had myself identified as being from the Rain, no less. If Jiraiya had truly found this man and tried to attack him, then Yahiko's anger was only all the more justified as we had been the ones to initiate the first strike. That was how he could go from aiding me in battle earlier to condemning me now.
Because the one floating above the village- the one that had defeated Jiraiya in one-on-one combat- was the red-haired man himself. My Sharingan focused on him and I finally got a look at his eyes- purple with concentric circles. That by itself made them unique, but that wasn't all. No, it was the sinister chakra resonating from them that truly tipped me off.
This was what I had sensed that night when I first saw him.
These weren't his eyes- but another's.
The moment this realization hit me was the same moment he unleashed his attack.
There was a surge of chakra and a shift in gravity. The center of the village collapsed in on itself, as if something massive had fallen upon it. The destruction didn't stop there, spreading out and encompassing nearly the whole village.
My one eye almost mistook it for an illusion, for there was no immediate sound. That came only after, the destruction hitting Rin and I like a shockwave. The terrible cacophony of death and mayhem assaulted our eardrums as the wind carried with it a gust of dirt and debris that completely hid the remains of the village from me.
Just like that and the Village Hidden in the Leaves was no more.
There was no warning to everyone below that their end was coming- just as they were celebrating a victory no less. The gap between the casualness of it and the cruel reality was so massive that my brain couldn't even comprehend it. Like the whole thing was just some bad joke.
In a matter of seconds, this one man with red hair had managed to do what Orochimaru was incapable of doing after years of groundwork and preparation. Or so it would seem at first glance anyways.
He had reduced most of the village to a simple crater, flattening all standing structures and pushing the debris up to the outskirts of where it gathered like a mountain of trash. There was no way even a fraction of the village had survived this assault just now.
At least, there wouldn't have been if Rin and Isobu didn't have anything to say about it.
The moment the red-haired man had unleashed his Jutsu, they had also unleashed their own. Red chakra completely enveloped Rin, the sinister aura taking the approximate shape of Isobu, three tails whipping wildly behind my childhood friend. The chakra boiled and bubbles burst within it. Rin let out a shout- that I at first took for pain but realized only a moment later it was exertion. Whatever it was she was trying to do I had no idea, but that applied to the enemy as well.
"Paper shuriken Jutsu!"
"Suiton: Jet-stream Jutsu!"
Konan and Yahiko both abandoned the people they had been holding, casting their bodies aside as they formed the seals and unleashed their Jutsu. A burst of water and a barrage of paper projectiles closed in on Rin's back.
"Mokuton: Wood Wall Jutsu!" Neither attack got close, a thick barrier of interlocking wood barricading Rin and myself in. The moment I unleashed my Jutsu and my vision wavered. I slipped down to one knee and let out a pained gasp. My chakra… it was nearly spent.
I'd been running all over the place with Kamui and throwing around my strongest techniques from the moment this invasion started so I shouldn't be surprised, but the true extent of what I had done today was only just now starting to catch up with me.
Rin wasn't faring much better, collapsing down to her hands and knees, breathing as ragged as if she had just sprinted a marathon. The chakra cloak around her flickered and began to waver, looking at any moment like it might give out. Whatever it was she had done… it had been enough to nearly drain all the chakra of a Tailed Beast.
Down below, amidst all the rubble and debris, I saw movement. Not just in one section, but around the whole ring that made up the edge of the freshly formed crater. From among the wreckage there were hundreds- no, thousands of people pushing their way to the surface.
Covering every single one of them was the same red chakra cloak that was also wrapped around Rin.
"When did you even have the time to…" I wasn't even sure if what I was seeing was possible. What Rin had done was give out a piece of Isobu's chakra to nearly every single person in the entire village. Then she utilized a phenomenon that scholars commonly referred to as the Shadow-Clone Principle.
Basically, even if you split up your chakra, as long as you keep a little bit of that separated chakra there without letting it be extinguished, when you then start to infuse chakra to regain control, all the other dispersed chakra pieces also begin resonating.
So when Rin resonated with her Tailed Beast cloak and called out to all those other dispersed flames of chakra, they all gained a protective layer of chakra as well. Effectively saving the lives of anyone she had given that chakra to.
"I've been… placing a small piece… of Isobu's chakra…" Rin could only form a couple words at a time between gasps for air. "Inside every single person that I've ever healed. For the past five years now I've been doing this."
"Five years!?" I shouted. The thing was, even in that amount of time the fact that she had gotten to this many people was incredible. I always knew because of our exchanged letters that she worked double-shifts and even made house calls to the elderly, but had that all been with this purpose in mind? Just on the off-chance she would one day be able to save them like this?
Unlike me, who ran away from the village, she had been here this whole time, thinking of a way to protect them all. This was on top of raising Naruto no less.
"Suiton: Jet-stream Jutsu!" There was no more time for surprise than that as Yahiko's jutsu tore through the wooden barrier I had created. He and Konan had leapt down from the cliff above and were falling towards us, prepared to finish us while we were both in our weakened states.
They never got close. Rin gave one last yell, the chakra tails behind her whipping dramatically and generated a gust of burning hot wind. The gale caught our aggressors, halting and reversing their advance. With two loud grunts they were blown out of sight, but I imagined not for long. That attack by Rin just now hadn't been meant to harm them, but buy us time. No matter how little.
"Obito…" The last remaining remnants of Rin's chakra cloak faded away. "Take care of Naruto for me." That was the last thing she said, her consciousness failing with the cloak. She collapsed completely, not even able to catch herself as her face hit the hard rock below. In exchange for saving everyone and buying me a chance to get to her adopted son, Rin had spent every bit of chakra she and Isobu had.
"Yeah, leave it to me." I promised. There was no way I could let her down. In the first place, this wasn't a battle in the strictest terms. I only had to grab my allies and run. That was the only win condition I needed to clear. And while I didn't have the chakra to use any more wood techniques, my Mangekyo wasn't nearly as taxing on my reserves.
I turned to Naruto, who was still sleeping peacefully while blissfully unaware of everything that had happened since he'd gone under. Just how much was today going to try and take from us? Despite unleashing the Tailed Beasts and the previous Hokage our village would still get reduced to this state? This was because the Rain trio had been smart and waited until we dropped our guard, hitting us while we were blind and had already spent our trump cards.
No, not the Hidden Rain but just that one man. Before I could move to grab Naruto there was a crash. And then standing between my student and I was the one that was responsible for everything: The Red-haired man.
"You?" He asked, apparently recognizing me from that night when we sat next to each other at the ramen stall. There was a brief moment where the both of us froze up, and in that split second the two of us analyzed our options.
"Nagato!" Yahiko shouted from behind, stumbling back to the edge of the cliff. "Don't give him time to do anything! He's got some kind of Jikukan Ninjutsu!" It would appear that the jig was up for me. The red-haired man that I now knew as Nagato turned in reaction to Yahiko's shout. And in that moment in which he was distracted I attacked.
"Bakufu Ranbu!" I unleashed as much fire as my current chakra levels allowed for, twisting that fire as it came out with Kamui and turning it into a destructive torrent capable of drilling through anything in its path. I still didn't know how powerful this Nagato character was, but if those eyes truly did once belong to that man then I couldn't afford to hold back.
Besides that, there was no way he wasn't exhausted after unleashing that Jutsu to crush the village just now. It didn't matter how strong you were, that kind of technique had to be draining for the user. So anything I did would be fine, just as long as I could get him to back off and give me space to get to Naruto.
This is what I mistakenly believed.
"Gakido!" Nagato shouted over the roar of my flames. The torrential blastwave failed to do any damage at all, instead getting smaller and smaller as Nagato appeared to catch it with his hand. My Sharingan immediately realized what was happening, able to see as the chakra that had fueled my attack was absorbed.
So not only had my Jutsu failed to do anything, but I was in fact helping restore his previously spent chakra. Nagato wasn't done yet either. In the same movement that he was absorbing my chakra with one hand he formed a seal with the other.
"Shurado!" It was hard to describe what happened next. Two mechanical arms sprouted out from Nagato's right shoulder. These mechanical pieces were made of all kinds of components and technology I didn't recognize… I would even go as far to say it was beyond anything we were capable of creating with our current knowledge.
One of those arms unleashed a barrage of missiles right at me. I activated Kamui, simply allowing the missiles to fly past me and harmlessly into the sky behind where they exploded. If no one knew we were here before they would now after a display like that and I would have reinforcements in a matter of minutes.
If I could make it that long.
For at the same time one of his arms had been targeting me, the other one had aimed at Rin. This arm had taken the shape of a canon, but what it discharged wasn't any kind of physical artillery. No, it was some kind of lightning or maybe even just pure chakra. My Sharingan couldn't even distinguish what the energy beam was made of, but I didn't need to know what it was to know it was dangerous.
Rin had no chakra to protect her… and if that beam hit then that would be it for her. She would die.
I had seconds to do something or the person that just saved everyone was going to be killed. Any more wood style techniques were beyond the little chakra I had left, but I still had my Sharingan. The only problem was… I couldn't use it to save both of us. Either I used the vortex power of my eye to absorb Rin and dump her safely into the alternate dimension… thus leaving myself vulnerable- Or I saved myself and allowed Rin to die.
My Jutsu activated before the thought process behind all this was even complete. The world bent away and Rin was dragged into Kamui. It wasn't quite fast enough, the beam collided into me just as Rin disappeared completely but before I could cancel out the technique. There was an explosion and a blinding flash.
What happened next I wasn't quite sure. My body flew like a ragdoll through the air and the whole world spun around several dozen times a second. Then it all came to a sudden halt, the blue sky above me becoming the only thing visible.
For a moment I thought I might be dead. The taste of copper in my mouth and dull headache quickly squashed that notion. "Ow…" I grumbled, rolling off my back and onto my stomach. The hard rock beneath me felt warm and inviting, asking me to just let everything go and fall asleep against it. I couldn't do that just yet though. Not with Naruto and Jiraiya still out here. They were in danger… and I had to save them.
"You really are awesome, you know that?" Yahiko asked me, his feet coming down to land just in front of my face. "You and I really might have been able to understand each other if you hadn't been born in the Leaf and me in the Rain." For perhaps the first time, I think I heard some form of regret in his tone. As I was, it was impossible for me to turn my head up to see what kind of face he was making.
"Either way, I respect you Uchiha Obito. And it's because I have respect for you that I'm going to allow you to live." Those words just now, it was like he was saying them to justify the action to himself. Those were words for his own sake, not for mine. He began to walk away, his footsteps growing smaller and smaller as my consciousness wavered. "That being said, we can no longer allow your village to have control of the Jinchuriki. Nine-Tails is especially dangerous… so you'll have to understand that we'll be taking him with us."
"...Naruto." I called out to my student, my voice barely over a whisper. Even just that much exertion was more energy than I had to spare and blackness creeped in at the edges of my vision.
"What should we do with Jiraiya-sensei?" Nagato asked. For someone as powerful as him to not be the one in charge… just how strong was Yahiko? No, I got the feeling this wasn't a matter of power between the two of them. I also couldn't hope to understand their complicated relationship, not without knowing about their past.
"Let him live with the pain you've given him. He nor anyone else in the village is in any shape to come after us now anyways." I could barely see it as Yahiko bent down and picked up the still sleeping form of Naruto. As he crouched into my vision I could tell though- The conflicted emotions running across his face.
Yahiko was the man in charge, but I got the feeling he wasn't actually the one on top here. There was too much inconsistency about him and the way he had been acting. I would have thought he had split personality caused by some kind of trauma going by our earlier conversation, but there was another, simpler explanation. One I knew all too well.
It couldn't have been Jiraiya that set them on this path, but there was one other I could think of. If he really had found a way to continue manipulating things from beyond the grave then it made sense even. And if anyone could do it, it would have been thatman. Yet his hold over them wasn't perfect, or Jiraiya and I would be dead already.
The three of them were still standing on the edge, and all it would take was that one push to send them over. Hell, if it hadn't been for Rin just now saving the lives of everyone and they would have become unredeemable. As it was, there was still a chance. If I had just tried to talk to them more… no, if I tried right now I might still be able to stop things before they went any further. Because I might be the only one able to do it.
"..." No words left my mouth and instead I gave a ragged cough, blood spitting out and dying the rock beneath my cheeks red.
"It's a miracle he's alive." Konan noted, looking down at me. "He took a direct blow from Nagato's attack and yet… it looks like he's actually recovering." She didn't know about the Zetsu cells which were the cause of my miraculous healing abilities. Yet even those had limits and I was far beyond them already. My life wasn't in danger so long as I was left alone, but I wasn't making any final stands here either.
I knew that and yet I tried to rise anyways.
It didn't work and my body merely laid there, like a puppet with its strings cut.
"I'm sorry." There was a whisper just above me. The red-haired man apologized, but what he was apologizing for I could only guess. For flattening the village? For harming our teacher? Or was it…
"Don't…" I pushed myself beyond my limits, turning my one Sharingan eye up to look into his two purple eyes. "Don't let Madara control you…" These were the last and only words I was able to say, the effort to force them out alone taking all the energy I had left.
They seemed to have a profound effect, the red-haired man recoiling and taking several steps away from me. "Nagato?" Yahiko called out to his friend, concern evident. "Everything alright?"
"...It's fine." Nagato turned away from me, walking over to rejoin his teammates. "Let's hurry back to the Rain." With Naruto in Yahiko's arms and the corpse of Ajisai in Konan's, the three Ninja prepared to depart. Leaving me here to black out. Unable to do anything or save anyone.
"Summoning Jutsu!" Nagato summoned a giant lizard, this creature also somehow possessing the Rinnegan. The three Rain Ninja jumped inside its mouth as the lizard began to vanish, blending in with the surroundings. That was when I realized it was a chameleon. So this was how they planned to escape.
Yet knowing that changed nothing.
Just when it finally felt like I wanted to become Hokage again… and I was reminded of how powerless I truly was. What a joke. I would have laughed if my consciousness hadn't already almost all but faded.
Exactly like the Nine-Tails attack and the Uchiha incident, it would seem no matter how many times I tried to leave it behind, my past would come back to haunt me. Again and again he kept showing himself in front of me. With my last thoughts I cursed the man that once saved my life.
Uchiha Madara.
