Chapter 14: The Savior of This World
A/N: As of 6/13/2022, I made some minor changes to the chapter, including grammatical corrections and updates on some of the dialogue.
"Is that you, Rin? A-are you okay?" Jitsuko tried hard to keep her voice from sounding too startled; she didn't want Rin to know just how awful her condition looked.
Rin smiled weakly, but it still didn't quite reach her eyes. "You… came? For me…?"
Jitsuko nodded faintly, her face expressing some confidence, but mostly guilt. Her voice barely carried past a feeble whisper – her chakra levels were severely low from being drained by Zetsu. "Obito and I have been looking for you for months, Rin."
Rin's eyes widened for a moment at Obito's name, and she struggled to lift herself up. Her arms wobbled before she collapsed back onto her stomach, stirring up a small cloud of dust upon impact.
"Jitsuko… I don't think… I can stand…"
"No worries… I'll help you," Jitsuko murmured and slowly stood up, legs trembling as her feet skidded into the corner of the dark room. Her sunken yet gentle eyes peered up at her outstretched hand as she shakily reached for it. As she lifted herself up, Jitsuko's strength suddenly gave out, causing the two of them to tumble to the ground next to each other.
"I – I'm sorry Rin," she said between rising breaths, voice soft and full of remorse. "My chakra is so low… I don't have the strength anymore."
The room then went eerily quiet, the only sounds coming from the labored breaths the both of them took as they struggled to recuperate their strength and chakra levels.
"We might be here for just a little while longer, Rin. It's not so bad, though," Jitsuko said and lifted her head off the ground to look over at her. "I'm… actually really happy to see you again."
Rin slowly shifted her half-lidded eyes to Jitsuko, seeming to stare through her, her face expressionless. "But I thought… you didn't… like me. That time… at your house," she managed through a strained voice.
Jitsuko's heart ached at the innocence in her voice. Rin was referring to the night she downright rejected her friendship after she, Jitsuko, and Obito had a seemingly wonderful night together. That was years ago and outside of insincere greetings or the occasional mission, Jitsuko made sure to ignore her as much as possible. There were other times the three of them got together, but Jitsuko pretended as if nothing was wrong while Obito was present. With him gone, she was back to shunning her. Rin was always too nice to tell him what was going on; she didn't want to cause trouble, so she simply endured it.
"That's actually what I wanted to talk about, Rin…" she trailed off sheepishly as her heart began to speed up, the anticipation becoming unbearable. "Since we might be here a while, I guess it wouldn't hurt to share something with you."
Jitsuko then took a deep, labored breath.
"Rin, for these past few months, we've been looking all over for you, and there was never a day that passed where I didn't regret how I treated you. To tell you the absolute truth Rin, I treated you so terribly because I was… well… jealous of you."
Rin's eyes, which were directed at the wall behind Jitsuko, slowly lowered down to hers, offering what little remained of her soul within them.
"For years I resented how perfect you were. You were everything I wished I was, but that's not the biggest reason why I treated you so poorly. The truth is…"
Jitsuko swallowed dryly, chest heavy in apprehension.
"I'm in love with Obito, but Obito loves you and I hated you for it. I hated you for something that was out of your control."
In the back of her mind, Jitsuko was scolding herself for telling Rin that Obito loved her.
What are you doing, Jitsuko? What if Rin finally realizes that she loves Obito too? You essentially just matched them up! I told you not to fall for him. It was going to break your heart, yet you fell in love with Obito anyway.
Rin watched as Jitsuko's sight diverted to the ground beside her, lids lowered solemnly. A look of acceptance shattered the fatigue in her expression.
No. That doesn't matter anymore. I will always love Obito, but if he's happy with her then… I need to accept that. I never deserved him anyway. Not after the way I've treated Rin.
"If I were even more honest, Rin, I actually was so envious of you that I thought that… I wouldn't be upset if you… went missing. If I had only one last thing to say to you, I'd say that I was wrong. I was absolutely wrong for how I felt about you and how I treated you all these years. I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
Rin only stared at her in silence. Tears pricked at Jitsuko's eyes, clouding her vision of Rin, when a small, faint smile appeared on her lips. "Thank you… Jitsuko… I for..give..you."
Her heart immediately swelled with Rin's gentle words.
She forgives me.
Jitsuko smiled back at her, even finding the strength to chuckle out of relief, before it faded as she remembered the grim situation they all were in.
This is all my fault… I tried so hard to prevent Rin from getting captured, and Obito from falling into despair, yet it happened anyway.
What can I do, Obito…?
What do I do, Minato…?
I'm so lost, Obito… Minato…
Suddenly, words from the Fourth Hokage flashed through her mind -
" - the bond you two share will keep him from falling under Madara's influences."
"And Jitsuko,"
"Don't ever regret what you did."
Jitsuko's eyes promptly widened in realization of what Minato had meant that day.
I can still save Obito. It's not too late. I need to see him.
Minato's words continued to dance through her mind like a beautiful chorus as Jitsuko struggled to lift herself up by her trembling arms, determined to find Obito and Madara before he could brainwash him.
Before she could try to stand up, a sickly white gelatinous form emerged from the wall next to her, grabbing both Jitsuko and Rin before seeping the two of them into the wall.
"See, they're both still here, just like I told you," Zetsu said with annoyance in his voice as Jitsuko and Rin collided with the ground a few meters away from Obito. "Maybe now you'll consider the plans we have laid out for you."
"Jitsuko! Rin!" Obito exclaimed with hope and relief in his voice. His onyx eyes scanned over their bodies, his brows furrowing harshly at how weak and debilitated they had become. His worried expression soon morphed into that of rage, his tone switching to pure anger. "If you think that I'll listen to anything somebody like you has to say, then forget it! Let them go right now!"
Jitsuko groaned from the impact, slowly raising her head just as she sensed a new, sinister presence examining her.
"…How pitiful, Uchiha. Undoubtedly you have discerned the love you carry for these two is only a source for pain and anguish, and nothing more," a frail but deep voice emanated from behind Jitsuko as she took a quick gasp – one that was full of fear.
That voice…! It's…
She lifted herself on her hands to look at the menacing form towering over her.
It was him.
Madara Uchiha.
Just like in the show, Madara was old; his once signature black and navy-blue hair of the Uchiha clan was now a ghostly white. The skin around his face sagged; his body connected to the Demonic Statue by grotesque cords but he held limited movement around the hideout by using a makeshift cane. The only feature that stayed the same for Madara was his eyes.
Those eyes. They're the same eyes that's massacred hundreds, if not thousands of ninjas and civilians during his youth.
The paleness of his skin and hair only enhanced the frighteningly crimson, petrifying tool of war that was Madara Uchiha's Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.
Jitsuko froze in absolute panic as the one who stood off against the god of shinobi stared down at her weak figure with two blood red eyes. Only, she could have sworn he had only one eye by this point in his life.
Did he… did he lure other Uchiha down here to steal their Sharingan?!
Madara may have been over a hundred years old due to artificially prolonging his life, but the Uchiha still emanated authority purely by his presence and was the embodiment of dominance and power as he spoke.
But he was so weak and almost complacent at this age in the original show. So why does he now give off such an angry, commanding aura?
Madara's attention was momentarily directed to Zetsu's white mass forming in the wall next to him.
"This is the one who's interfered with our plan in the past, Lord Madara," Zetsu said in a tattling tone.
At that, Madara's eyes shifted back to Jitsuko, but this time with a more threatening contempt within them.
"You are not supposed to be here, woman. In both past and present, you have candidly directed my plans down an unintended - and undesiredpath. After many others of our clan, I recognize this Uchiha as the ultimate embodiment of hatred and despair – the sort that will carry on my legacy for this putrid savagery of a world. It had all been planned that day; then you chose to intervene."
There was a foreboding stillness in the air before Madara spoke once more.
"Woman."
He blinked, daring Jitsuko to interrupt him.
"Interfering with my project for peace…"
Madara raised his head, demanding authority as he forcibly subdued her with his stare.
"You cannot begin to fathom the mistake you just made."
This… this isn't right! Jitsuko's mind screamed at her over the infinite other thoughts coursing through her head as an inexorable pounding consumed her chest. Madara shouldn't be like this! He should be conniving, calculating! He should be planning things behind the scenes and keeping his motives hidden like he did in the show! He's acting completely different now. He's trying to convince Obito directly, but why? What happened to him? Is this really because of me? What do I do now?!
Madara's plan was simple. The day that Obito was supposed to 'die' was the day Zetsu would find him. Madara's plan was then to be set in motion. He was to plant the seeds of hatred and doubt for this war-ridden world onto Obito and continue with The Eye of the Moon Plan to bring his version of "peace" to this world.
But Zetsu hadn't anticipated that Jitsuko would accompany the mission that day. She prevented Madara from meeting Obito, which delayed his plan for a 'peaceful' world even further. It was because of her that Madara and Zetsu had to resort to kidnapping Rin to lure Obito directly to his hideout. Now she unexpectedly accompanied Obito on this mission, too.
Jitsuko was interfering with his plan again, and Madara was not happy about it.
She broke her gaze from the older Uchiha and put her head back down as she pushed herself up by her arms, trying hard to stand up. Obito saw Jitsuko struggling and immediately began to walk forward to help her, until Madara sent a kick to her side that sent her flying through the air before skidding off the ground.
"You've obstructed me for the last time, girl."
Obito lost it. He immediately charged for Madara but in his haste to get closer, he hadn't noticed that he stepped in a white substance planted on the ground – Zetsu.
Upon contact, Zetsu began sapping Obito of his chakra as he slumped to the ground harshly, mere meters away from Jitsuko.
"It's unexpected that I am resorting to this, but I will show you that reality is the manifestation of torment, mistreatment, and emptiness. Once I do, you will comprehend that in this reality only pain, suffering, and futility exist. Only then will you understand and follow my legacy!"
Obito watched as Madara crept closer to the both of them as Jitsuko laid helplessly on the ground. Anger boiled up inside of him again at the thought of Madara laying another hand on her. He found just enough strength to get to his feet and step in front of Madara just before he could reach her. Madara paused only for a moment before he swiped Obito off his feet, causing him to hit the ground with a harsh 'thud' before striking him hard with his foot.
"O-Obito!" was all Jitsuko could muster as she watched one of her worst nightmares unfold before her.
Obito was caught off guard by Madara's sudden moves. Madara may have been frail, but he could still deal vital damage. Jitsuko's eyes widened with horror at the noise Obito made as Madara's foot made contact with his gut. The impact was so forceful that Obito's goggles came loose and launched a few feet away from him.
Obito couldn't move. The agony caused by Madara's harsh kick made it unbearable for him to stand again; he was defenseless. Another forceful kick sent blood flying out of Obito's mouth. Watching his blood splatter on the ground made Jitsuko finally lose it. Her adrenaline kicked into overdrive as she gracelessly scrambled to her feet and clumsily dashed over to Obito just as Madara was about to land another blow onto his face.
Her body instinctively dove on top of Obito's to shield him from Madara's devastating assault. Obito had his eyes squeezed shut in preparation of taking the hit only to hesitantly open them when no pain followed the impact. It took him a moment to register that the weight of Jitsuko's entire body was over his.
Her torso pressed so close and so tightly to his that he could feel her heartbeat pounding on his chest. Her right hand grasped Obito's left shoulder in a vice-like grip while her left hand cupped the top of his head with her fingers curled into his dark hair; the same arm desperately tried to cover the right half of his face, which was Madara's target.
Jitsuko's legs were wrapped around his from the outside as her head hovered over his with a nauseatingly pained expression on her face. She defended Obito from Madara's blow as his foot made contact full force with her upper arm and shoulder instead. The pain that shot through Jitsuko was indescribable.
Madara looked slightly confused at her protective gesture for a moment before he spoke again. "You choose to shelter this boy from the harshness of reality? Then you will also learn that in order to protect something... another must be sacrificed."
Madara continued battering her body relentlessly.
Rin could only look on helplessly as she watched Jitsuko slowly lose consciousness, still determined to cover Obito urgently. Madara hit her ribs, her gut, hip, waist - there wasn't a single area that didn't feel Madara's pent-up wrath.
"Do you see now?! This world harbors nothing but pain and sorrow! Love only brings forth suffering and agony!"
Obito was paralyzed, not just from the pain of Madara's assault, but from looking up at Jitsuko and realizing just how much his best friend would sacrifice to keep him safe. Blood began seeping out the corners of her mouth as her teeth clenched from the pain; the leaking blood dripped onto Obito's face below as his wide, shocked, crimson eyes never left her own. Jitsuko used any strength she had left to look at her best friend, his face becoming blurry as her eyes began to lose light while Madara's violent kicks persisted.
"Obi...to!"
"…take Rin,"
"…get somewhere safe,"
"…don't lose hope,"
"…please, Obito…"
"Don't give in."
She managed to plead to Obito to take whatever strength he had left to flee from Madara. The fate of the shinobi world depended on Obito's choice to try and escape without Jitsuko and move on or stay with her until the very end and risk giving in to despair.
For Obito, there was no choice. He wouldn't leave her even if it meant the world would end because of it. For years, he promised to never allow anything to harm her ever again. He decided this too late, however, as Jitsuko's body finally gave out and slumped entirely on his.
Eventually Madara's kicks subsided as he made a harsh groaning sound from the sheer effort and energy it took to deliver such blows in rapid succession. Even though he was so old, Madara still held on to that short temper he often displayed in his youth. He had grown impatient. He had been waiting too long for his plan to fail now.
His original goal was to manipulate Obito secretly and psychologically by using Rin, but his anger inhibited his better judgement to where he resorted to persuading Obito, personally, that this world was doomed. His new plan was to demonstrate this by dealing physical trauma to Obito and aim especially for his head with the expectation of inhibiting his ability to think rationally, increasing the likelihood that he will comply with Madara's order.
Unbeknownst to him, the vengeance that saturated his entire being told that it was the older Uchiha who had been acting irrationally all along.
After seeing Jitsuko sacrificing herself to obstruct him once again, Madara then resolved to taking her out and force Obito to watch. After she and Rin are dead, this would act as the motivation for Obito to complete the Eye of the Moon Plan so he could see them again, even if it meant begrudgingly helping and resurrecting Madara to do so.
Either way, Obito will snap and finally fathom that this shinobi world is hell.
A lengthy silence struck the room for the first time since the team arrived. Obito was still on his back, trembling, with Jitsuko's body still collapsed on top of him. Her blood was splattered all over his face; devastation was written over every fiber of his being.
He finally pried his eyes away from her body as his quivering head moved to the direction of Rin. She was laying on her stomach a few feet away, her eyes still half-lidded, her mouth slightly open, and the bags under her eyes were prominent. She appeared to be looking straight through Obito. Neither one of his friends were truly there anymore.
"Now you understand," Madara commanded with impatience evident in his voice. "The concept of hope is nothing more than giving up. A word that holds no true meaning. Love only breeds hatred and unmitigated disdain for reality. Love is not necessary; power is the only true necessity. The Uchiha is a clan destined for revenge. Take revenge on the world that mutilated your futile belief of hope and love. Carry on my will and finally bring peace to this world – Obito Uchiha!
