Forgotten

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Naruto (Shippuden). This is a story inspired by the original made up for entertainment purposes only. - Krystal

Chapter 80: Rebirth

For once, they agreed with each other. Naruto and Sasuke stood side by side as Kurama took over the both of them. Meanwhile, Sasuke's Susanoo became his armor. Obito couldn't understand their renewed fighting spirit. In reality, it wasn't that he couldn't understand. He simply forgot how strong one who has friends could become. He forgot when you had something to protect, the fight never ended.

Obito created a shield that looked unbreakable. Yuki wanted to help them, but her duty was elsewhere at the moment. She had to trust that they would succeed just the two of them.

"He's calling for us." Ino then said as she looked around for the others. "Naruto is telling us to remember how we were all together during the Chuunin exams. Not just us, Sai… You too."

Within the nine tails of Kurama, Naruto had formed Rasengans: "We only have one shot. I need everyone to take down that shield."

Yuki looked at the scene. It did remind her of their childhood. At the time, it felt like life was already so complicated then, but everyone was there. As time went by, their numbers slowly decreased, but the force of their bonds grew. They broke through Obito's shield. As always, their teamwork was strongest when everyone was of one heart. Together, they truly could achieve anything.

"You would have wanted to be there with them too, right?" Sakura asked her.

"I'm satisfied just watching everyone be together."

"Doesn't it remind you of the Chuunin exams that year? I'm again just watching everyone from the back and letting them protect me." Sakura said sadly.

"Sakura, do you realize how many lives you've saved during this war? You are watching their back, not from the back." Yuki told her. "You've always had."

"And you've always had our backs without us knowing, just like now. I can tell now that you are keeping an eye out for each and every one of them. There are probably ten thousands things going through your head right now, but if things were to go bad, you would teleport them all away from harm right away."

"I just hope I am skilled enough if the time comes."

At that moment, Naruto crashed into Obito who looked stunned. The Bijuus' chakra started leaving his body. Naruto was able to hold onto 7 of them. Bee rushed over and grabbed hold of the Hachibi's chakra. Meanwhile, Gaara came flying in with his sand to grab hold of Shukaku's chakra. Obito still tried to hold on to the chakra. They were evenly matched. Yuki then remembered that Yamato was able to control the Tailed Beast chakra with his Wood Release, meaning the wood could come into contact with the chakra without being incinerated. With Obito being preoccupied by the current situation, the God Tree was no longer moving. Yuki grew another magnolia tree infused with chakra and its branches wrapped around the extracted chakra.

"Ino, can you tell everyone to grab onto the branches to help Naruto extract the chakra out?" Yuki communicated to her friend.

"Gotcha!"

Everyone pulled up their sleeves and got to work immediately. With her chakra being mixed in with Naruto, she was able to see into his mind and Obito's. Naruto was facing Obito. Behind Naruto, all his friends, deceased and alive, were there. Obito stood by himself.

"I'm no longer a simple human." Obito then said. "I'm the one who will lead humans into the dream world. A world where no one is alone. A world where everyone can live in harmony with each other. A world that reflects one's deepest desire."

"When your chakra was connected to mine, I got a glimpse of your past." Naruto told him. "We grew up similarly. We didn't know our parents and those we loved died one by one. Yuki… You probably can understand that too."

"Wondering where you belong, wondering why you were even alive, feeling like you were alone in this world…" Yuki said as she stepped forward towards Naruto and Obito. "But Obito, you were alone because you turned everyone in this world against you. Kakashi-senpai always thought about you. He visited your tomb after each mission."

"My parents also cared for you a lot." Naruto added. "Look at how my dad hesitated when he found out who you were. For his village, he never would have. You had the same dream as him. You had the same dream as me. You wanted to become the Hokage. A Hokage is someone that people acknowledge. That dream world you want to lead us into… no one acknowledges that!"

Obito took a few steps back. He looked down. He looked at his hands and had a sad expression on his face. He then clenched his fist and looked at the both of them:

"I wanted you both to see that this world is hopeless! But… but why…"

"Is that really you wanted, Obito?" Yuki asked him. "You kept asking me whether I felt hope every time you felt like I gave up, didn't you? Were you hoping I would say I felt hopeless or were you hoping I would fight back once again?"

"Did you ask because you wanted to bring your old self back?" Naruto asked him.

"Both of you… Shut up."

"I haven't answered you on the battlefield." Yuki kept going. "That's because I was still alive. That was my answer, but, in my heart, when he died, I had given up hope. I wondered if I had a reason to fight on. You did take away my hope, but then I realized that I could ride on others' hope and dreams. That's the force that kept me going. I did lose my own hope, but the world's hope for a tomorrow persisted."

"As someone who wanted to become Hokage, that's something that you should be able to understand." Naruto added.

Obito closed his eyes. Memories about his desire to become the Hokage appeared again. He had told Rin that he wanted her to watch him become the Hokage…

"No matter what, you told her." Yuki said.

"Yes, even if it meant through the Tsukuyomi."

"Is that the truth, Obito? Do you truly mean it?" Naruto kept pressing him.

"The path that a Hokage takes often is drenched in the blood of your friends. That path is tough and violent. With the Tsukuyomi, I can attain peace with less effort."

"There's no shortcut to becoming a Hokage!" Naruto yelled. "Becoming a Hokage… You should take the pain, the blows for your friends. That path isn't drenched in the blood of your friends. It is your own blood, sweat and tears that created that path. If there's a fire, you jump into that fire before the rest to stop it and allow the future to move forward! That's what a Hokage is all about!"

Obito's memories appeared again in front of their eyes. Yuki recognized Rin. Kakashi had mentioned her once. It was also the other tomb Kakashi visited all the time. She told Obito she would be watching him as he saved the world. She grabbed hold of Obito's hand and dragged him towards his team. Kakashi was scolding him and told him to hurry up. Minato was there smiling warmly.

"Stop running away…" Yuki said as she reached out her hand.

"Come over to our side." Naruto finished her sentence as he also extended his hand to Obito.

Obito extended his arm to them, but slapped Naruto's hand away. Naruto bit his lower lip. He grabbed on to his wrist at the same time as Yuki and said loudly: "Just come you asshole!"

At that moment, they exited Obito's mind. They were now back on the battlefield. The Bijuus were extracted. Obito was lying on the ground. Yuki arrived next to Naruto as they exchanged looks. She let out a sigh of relief. The battle was already half over. They now only had to seal Madara. Naruto looked over at Obito who was staring at the moon. Then, Sasuke flew past them with his sword out pointed towards Obito.

"Sasuke, no!" Naruto yelled.

Before they had time to react, Kakashi reappeared on top of Obito with his kunai pointed at his heart. Yuki flashed herself to their side and stopped Kakashi. He looked at her. She looked different with the Rinnegan, but he could sense that she was the same Yuki he knew and mentored. Her expression was cold, but her heart was warm.

"Obito, he had the Tailed Beasts extracted from him. He is heavily weakened. He won't harm anyone."

"Everyone, now is the time to work together to truly put an end to this. We are taking Madara down together." Yuki heard the First Hokage tell the Alliance.

Yuki let go of Kakashi's wrist and was about to head over to Madara to help everyone. Obito then called her name:

"Yuki… Be careful. Madara will want your Rinnegans…"

"I figured that much…" She said.

She disappeared leaving a trail of ice behind her. The two men looked at the spot she was just a few seconds ago.

"Senpai. Take this time to rest and to talk to Obito. I think we got the real one back. Naruto told me that Kurama said he wasn't going to die since the Ten-Tails Jinchuuriki is a little different than the other Jinchuurikis." Yuki relayed to Kakashi.

Kakashi got off of Obito and sat next to him looking at the moon just like his friend. He used this time to recover his chakra in case it was needed. Then, Obito clasped his hands together. Kakashi never allowed himself to let his guard down. He brought the kunai to Obito's neck.

"Obito! What are you going to do?!"

"Calm down, Kakashi. I just want to atone for my sins."

"Obito…" Kakashi started, realizing what he was planning on doing and put away his kunai as he stood up to be able to look at his friend in the eyes.

"Are they both your students, Kakashi? Yuki and Naruto?"

"I was a mentor to Yuki when she became an ANBU."

"I see…"

"Obito, you have a chance to come back to the village and…"

"And what? Kakashi… I think I lost my chance when I had left the cave. Back then… if I had returned to the village… things would be different, right? I've destroyed so many lives. Yuki told me she had lost hope during this war and that the only thing that kept her alive and fighting was the belief that she could protect others' hope and dreams. I want to restore her hope. Naruto also believed in me when I, myself, lost my purpose. I took away his parents, but he still extended his hand to me. I owe them much more than just my life, but that is all I have to offer. Please… let me do this."

At that moment, a black Zetsu appeared from the ground and grabbed hold of Obito. He whispered something into Obito's ear and Obito's face expressed fear. Kakashi looked in horror as his friend was slowly taken over by the black Zetsu's body.

"Senpai! Is something happening over there?!" He heard Yuki ask in a panic. She had sensed something wasn't quite right. Furthermore, Madara was thanking Naruto on her end.

"The Black Zetsu is control of Obito!" He replied as he was trying to think of a way to save his friend.

It was too late. Obito's hands were no longer together. The light inside his eyes was also gone. He was merely a puppet held up by the Black Zetsu. On the other side of the battlefield, Madara broke free of the seal and started chuckling as he emerged from the smoke. His eyes were closed as a smile was drawn on his face.

"Senpai! What happened to Obito? Madara… He's alive."

"Obito was about to use the Gedo Art of Rinne Rebirth to save everyone who lost their lives during this war, but Black Zetsu manipulated him instead…"

"And resurrected Madara…"

End of Chapter 80

Thank you again for reading.

xox

Krystal