This is an idea that I had a long time ago and something that could really happen in the canon.
So I thought what it would be like what if Naruto joined Obito, this what if or story I will explore this and the events that can happen.
I thought that in the valley of the end would be a chance that Naruto would be found by Obito instead of Kakashi but the problem would be that Jirayia can (not sure) if he can use reverse summoning jutsu on Naruto if I remember correctly.
So I went with second option.
The best time and chance for Naruto to join him is in episode 1.
I will explain in the story why Naruto was not taked when he was a baby, although there is already someone who made a story like that and it's called 'The Twist of Fate' where Naruto is taken as a baby in another way...
I might be inspired by that story but I will also come up with Original ideas and events.
About the title of the story I only have come with the names The Masked Man and The Masked Boy or We got lost on the Paths of Life.
For moment I choose to go with the first one
Summary:
Instead of Mizuki asking Naruto to steal the Forbidden Scroll.
Obito comes there and ask Naruto to join him.
Obito still strives for the 'Perfect' World. But will Naruto change his views about the world? Or will it keep pushing him into the darkness even more?
Same for Naruto. Will Obito change his views about the world?
That's something we'll have to find out.
Now it's time to see what happens when we combine two of the number one Hyperactive, Pranksters and Knucklehead Ninjas who ever existed on the same team.
And what could be worse than this? Guru-Guru Is the third member of the team.
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters
"Normal speech"
'Normal thought'
"Demonic speech"
"demonic thought"
Jutsu/technique
The Masked Man and The Masked Boy
Chapter 1: Prologue
In a clearing near Konoha
Zetsu rose out of the ground.
There was a hooded figure with its back turned to him. Black Zetsu spoke to the figure, "Tobi, we've found him."
The figure turned to face Zetsu, revealing himself to be Tobi, the masked man who summoned the Nine-Tails to destroy Konoha.
He spoke with a deep, commanding voice, "Have you now?
"What will you do, Tobi?"
Tobi swiftly replied, "Nothing. We will make no move on him as of right now. The village is on high guard, due to the Nine-Tails' Attack. For now, let's just observe his development. We won't even have to do anything. He will live through pain and suffering. And he will experience this cursed reality. When the time is right, we will strike. Once he's on our side, we'll shape him into our weapon. If they do what I think they're going to do, Konoha will deliver him right into our welcoming hands."
"How long will it take"
"When he finishes the academy, it's the best time to take him and train him." replied Tobi.
Eleven and one half years later
"For the graduation exam you will be doing the Bunshin no jutsu. When you are called, please come into the next room." Iruka announced to the class.
'Damn, why does it have to be that one. Its my worst skill', Naruto thought, 'But I gotta do it.'
After some time went by, Naruto was called into the Test room.
"Alright Naruto, please perform the Bunshin no Jutsu for us", Iruka said.
'Watch this', Naruto Thought as he molded a large amount of chakra. "Bunshin" he shouted after performing the necessary hand seals for the jutsu.
The result was pitiful. A seemingly dead looking clone appeared. Naruto started sweating while Iruka sweat dropped.
"FAIL!" Iruka shouted.
"Iruka" Mizuki said "this is his third time, and technically he created a clone. We could let him pass". 'Yeah, like that would happen'
"No way Mizuki-sensei, Everyone else created at least two clones. Naruto only created one and it was a useless one," Iruka replied, missing the angry look on Naruto's face.
Mizuki however didn't. 'All according to the plan' he thought.
Naruto was sitting on the swing outside the academy, downtrodden. He saw everyone else had passed and they were being congratulated by their parents. He felt so lonely.
"Hey, is he that kid?", one woman said.
"Yeah that's 'The' Kid, he's the only one who failed.", said another.
"Well that's good, we can't have him becoming a shinobi since he is the…."
"Hey! We can't talk about that."
Instead of listening to them Naruto began to think about the conversation he had with the Masked Man who appeared yesterday and gave him a chance to join him and make a better world.
(Flashback)
Naruto was now sitting on the head of the fourth Hokage looking over the village.
He was very sad but tried to look at the bright side.
'At least I won't have to be with ninja older than I am.' He thought. However, he knew that if he failed this time tomorrow than he wouldn't even be paired with ninja his own age. He would be the only student to ever fail three consecutive times.
He stood up and yelled to the village, even if no one could hear him, "I will not give up, and I will never surrender. I am Naruto Uzumaki and I will be the Hokage someday!" he yelled.
"Oh really? Do you think they'll ever acknowledge you?", a deep voice asked from behind him.
Chills went down Naruto's spine as he heard this.
He stiffened and turned around to see a man wearing a black cloak, with a red cloud pattern.
He looked at his face, only to see an orange mask with a spiral shape centered around a single opening, where his eye should be. As Naruto peered into the opening, a menacing Sharingan eye gazed back at him.
Naruto took a deep breath and asked, "Who are you?"
The masked man replied with a chuckle, "Who am I? To most, I am known as Tobi. But to a special few, I am known as Madara Uchiha."
"Ok… do you want to be frinds." asked Naruto.
Tobi didn't answer for some seconds but then he started to talk to Naruto.
"Naruto. I know about you. I've been keeping an eye on Konoha for some time now, and I see how they treat you. It isn't fair, is it?" said Tobi.
Naruto grimaced. "No. It's not."
Tobi then told Naruto, "What I want is for you to join me."
"Join you." asked Naruto. Not being sure of what he meant.
"You can come with me. I will take you away from this place." Said Tobi.
Naruto locked surprised and at this but he was not sure yet. "I don't think I can... I want to become the Hokage so that everyone in this village will stop treating me like I'm a nobody and finally give me some respect."Naruto said while puffing out his chest and trying to look confident "
Tobi scoffed. "Become Hokage? You'll never get the chance. I too once sought to become Hokage. But my dreams were shattered by this miserable world. The Hokage with other nations are the ones who want to make peace but let me tell you something. The selfish desire to protect peace gives rise to war, and hatred is born from wanting to protect love. There is no such thing as peace to be found anywhere in this accursed world. This world is hell." Said Tobi.
Naruto was not sure what to answer.
"You will never acquire what you desire and what you desire will become something else." Said Tobi.
Tobi could see that Naruto was hesitating from hearing his words. "I know the REAL reason why they hate you." Said Tobi.
With those few words, Naruto locked surprinsed and happy someone understands him he said. "Please tell me!"
Naruto knew what he was talking about, he meant he knew why everyone hated him.
Tobi grinned underneath his mask. " I'll show you the truth why everyone hates you. Want to know the truth? Then look into my eye."
Naruto looked into Tobi's Sharingan and was pulled into a genjutsu."
Then Naruto was shown a few things from the past village as he heard Tobi's voice talking in the background. "11 years ago you know that The Demon Fox was defeated by the Yondaime Hokage, right?"
Naruto nodded.
"Since that incident a new rule was created by your Hokage." Said Tobi.
"A rule…" said Naruto.
Naruto was then shown the Kyuubi destroying Konoha for some seconds before it become all black.
"But Naruto this rule was never meant to be told to you" Tobi said further
"Not told to me? what is this rule? Why? What kind of rule is it?" Naruto asked.
"The rule is that nobody is allowed to talk about the fact that the Yondaime Hokage defeated the Kyuubi by sealing it inside a baby. That baby was you." said Tobi
Naruto was shown a picture of him as a baby with a seal on his stomach on a kind of altar.
"But then…" said Naruto
"The Yondaime had made one last wish that you Naruto to be regarded as a hero of the village for keeping the Kyuubi at bay." said Tobi.
Naruto then gasped with shock. 'Yondaime Hokage wanted me to be seen as a hero?' thought Naruto.
"Unfortunately, the Yondaime's dying wish was ignored and the village began to torment you, this is the cruel reality in which we live, Instead of being accepted as a hero or at least for who you are, you had to suffer, for something you didn't do, that's how people are in this reality." said Tobi.
Naruto was speechless.
"So why keep living in reality? I plan to make a new world. Imagine a world that knows only winners. A world that knows only peace. A world that knows only love. Worlds like these can be created. Help me and you will learn the way" said Tobi.
The genjutsu ended and Naruto returned to the real world.
Naruto wasn't sure but the hero he admired The Yondaime wanted him to be seen as a hero.
"Thank you for telling me this but I can't, I'll show you that I can become a shinobi tomorrow, I'll make them acknowledge me." Said Naruto.
"Very well, but remember Naruto you will always have a place at my side. I will return tomorrow. And then we will see if you have the same answer." said Tobi before disappearing into a vortex.
Naruto returned home after eating Ramen with Iruka thinking he would show everyone tomorrow that he would become a ninja.
He decided not to tell anyone about Tobi, thinking that no one would believe him anyway and that it would have been another method of him to get attention from people.
And he didn't want to lose his new friend? Or at least someone he could talk with a decent conversation.
(Flashback end)
Naruto could hear their whispering.
'I failed and Muzuki-sensei really wanted to let me pass, but Iruka-sensei...' Thought Naruto.
Feeling hurt, he began to walk away. As he got up from the swing to leave.
But before Mizuki could have stopped him. A vortex appeared in front of Naruto five steps away, from which Tobi appeared.
"Didn't you say you were going to show me how you become a Shinobi Naruto?" Tobi asked sarcastically then continued. "So have you reconsider my offert and join me? Or you will remain a loser forever in this deep hole of Hell."
Of course Tobi could have taken Naruto already, but he know in order to control people you need to use the darkness in their hearts. He decided that it would be much easier to make Naruto join him and it will be more easy to manipulate him that way.
The people who were still close to academy looked surprised, who was this man? Who appeared as if by magic they were thinking, and they were trying listening to what he was saying Naruto.
Naruto wasn't sure, but he thought that if he went with Tobi he could become a Shinobi, and that he would have a new friend to talk to.
"Maybe you were right, let's make a better world." said Naruto.
"From today you will be the savior of this world." said Tobi
Naruto started walking towards Tobi while Tobi held out his right hand to Naruto.
Naruto reached for Tobi and raised his right hand and shook hands with Tobi.
"Kamui…" Tobi said continuing to use his dark voice, the area around him becoming distorted.
Tobi teleported both him and Naruto out of there before someone could have done something leaving everyone there just watching what had just happened.
"This is where you will start your training." Tobi said.
Naruto was still dizzy experiencing his first teleportation but then Naruto looked around to see where he was.
Tobi teleport himself and Naruto into a cave. The cave they were in was huge.
There used to be a large statue with multiple closed eyes sat across from them, but now only thing left was a throne like chair in front of it.
In one corner was a bed that Obito had used long time ago when Madara held him captive for a lot of time.
"It's very dark here." said Naruto that was the first time he was in a cave.
"Lock Zetsu-san Tobi returned and brought a guest." said a strange looking creature with a spiral patterned head who ran to the masked man and Naruto with excitement.
Then looking at Naruto who looks surprised by his appearance he said "I didn't know kids have whiskers."
"'Cause they don't," A calm voice said. A creature slowly emerged from the ground. Its body had two different beings. The right was white and the left was black.
"It's the Kyuubi' Jinchuriki's offspring," a darker toned voice said this time that belonged to the black half of Zetsu.
Naruto was taken out of a trance at the mention of Kyuubi "'What a Jinchuriki? And who are you…guys? " Naruto asked still surprised by those plant creatures.
"It's a name for those like you who have a tailed beast sealed in them. They are Guru-Guru and Zetsu, they will help you train." said Tobi.
"And what's your name boy?" asked Guru-Guru.
"Naruto Uzumaki" said Naruto.
"Hehe Naruto. Such a silly name," said Guru-Guru.
"Hey! my name is not silly!" protested Naruto.
Zetsu watched Guru-Guru's interaction with the child before looking at Obito who he couldn't read because of the mask he wore.
'Obito managed to recruit him, from here things will become interesting.' thought Black Zetsu.
It was almost night, the rest of the day. Guru-Guru took Naruto and showed him the rest of the cave he would stay in until he was strong enough to be useful to them in missions.
The room was empty now except for Obito.
Obito sat on the throne of the cave he had lived in for many years. This was his home. As he waited for the White Zetsu clones he had sent out all around the world to retrieve valuable information he could use for his advantage. Even if it wasn't information that could help in his dream plan, he had no problem learning about other things.
After all, knowledge was power.
"Obito…" the main Zetsu slowly emerged from the ground in front of the masked man, who frowned behind his mask.
"Madara." He corrected the creature in a dark tone.
Ever since Madara, the man who helped him see the 'truth' about the world, died, he took in the man's identity to carry out their big project. Madara was infamous for his raw power and struck terror in people's hearts for many reasons. Madara had made Obito take in his name… Using the man's name as his own would surely get him to get people to take him seriously.
Obito underwent a dramatic experience and for his mind to cope with the pain of this event Obito rejected reality along with the things that tied him to it. Includion his own identity and his realtions ships. He convinced himself that the world no longer matter. And make a new identity and even personality. He was Tobi, Madara and No one.
"As long as we're alone, I'll call you Obito," The White Zetsu side mused.
Obito said nothing at this, knowing that arguing with the creature would just be a waste of time.
"It's almost time to meet with him." the Black side said darkly.
"I know," The masked man said as he leaned back on the throne. "For now Guru-Guru can take care of Naruto."
"But why did we have to take food for him." the White Zetsu side asked..
"I don't want to give him Hashirama cells until he's totally royal." said Obito.
The Hashirama's cells were the reason why Obito didn't have to eat or sleep. And he was given all night as bonus time. Hashirama's cells were also the reason why he was not beginning to go blind after using his Mangekyou Sharingan so many times in addition to the abilities to heal and use wood style, they could also increase chakra reserves.
Giving an Uzumaki such powers could do many things. And Guru-Guru has the ability to combine his body with Naruto's just as he did with him in the past when he attack the leaf and as long as they were connected Naruto would temporarily have access to wood style something that will be worth trying for another day.
Obito knew that Naruto was going to fail the academy exam because he had too much chakra to use Bunshin jutsu. Naruto should be able to use KageBunshin no Jutsu and with them his training should be ready much faster.
"Let's go," Obito said to Zetsu in his deep, dark voice as he got up on his feet. He pulled the hood of his cloak over his head before using his Sharingan to teleport from the cave.
Obito went to meet with another descendent from the Uzumaki Clan named Nagato.
Obito went thought something similar like Nagato but worst. While Obito wanted to make sure no one will have the face the same pain he had using Madara's plan. Nagato thought that everyone should fell the same pain in order to make sure people will start to understand each other.
Obito constantly doubted the moon eye plan throughout his travels and wanted to bail on it as he kept trying to find light in the world only to be let down each time.
The first event was Nagato.
He saw how Nagato and his team were betrayed by Hanzo and by the village he once supported.
The other two events were when his sensei did not recognize him and didn't even care who he was.
And the third event was the pain Itachi had to go through. And all of that because he was the only Uchiha with a good heart.
Obito being present at these events is what ensured him that he was taking action of what a real Hokage would do. Create world peace.
Instead of becoming just an Hokage and keeping the village safe he wanted to become the savior of the world and keep the entire planet safe.
During this time Guru-Guru showed Naruto the rest of the hideout.
The two quickly became friends after a few minutes.
"So Guru-Guru how exactly is Tobi or Madara going to make peace." Asked Naruto.
"He's going to discard all the bad things in the real world and even those who are death can be alive again." said Guru-Guru.
"Is that even possible?" asked Naruto.
"Everything is possible Naruto." said Guru-Guru.
Naruto was not sure but he had begun his descent into darkness and his path towards becoming the Savior of world.
But little did he know, the worst was yet to come.
Author Note (warning: potential spoilers)
Why Naruto failed three times but was still in academy with people his age:
So he either joined faster in the academy with 2 years because the Hokage….
Or he tried to take the exam faster then everyone else….
The scene with Sasuke going against Itachi's wish to protect Konoha is similar to how Obito went against Rin's wish.
Not only did Obito betrayed Rin's wish, but he also proved how pointless her sacrifice was. Then after that he made her a new promise to create the new world….
In this story I can add some things about Obito which not many people probably know or understand...
This is like a Pilot Chapter. It can either continue or be remaked.
I wrote this chapter long time ago and chose to post it now after improving it a little.
Depends on suggestions I get on Review.
I did wanted to see what people think of this idea.
Hope you enjoy.
Bunshin no Jutsu = Clone Technique
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu = Shadow Clone Technique