Just as he'd always told himself
Once Uchiha Obito put on the mask, he could separate himself from his past.
The heroic Uchiha Obito of Konoha had died beneath a pile of rubble. The one who inherited his will was Kakashi Hatake, the true hero of the Sharingan.
The one who survived was "Uchiha Madara."
The man who killed the Fourth Hokage and his wife was Uchiha Madara. The one who slaughtered the Uchiha clan also Madara. Every crime committed, every drop of blood spilled, all of it could be blamed on that name.
Obito was already dead.
Only when the Eye of the Moon Plan succeeded would Uchiha Obito be reborn in a true world of peace. A world with Rin, Kakashi, and everyone else.
But now, that mask had been ripped away by that meddlesome Jiraiya.
And Obito felt like a rat dragged out of the sewer, squirming under a spotlight. A circus clown. A zoo exhibit. The joker card from a rigged deck.
Until he could get his emotions under control, he had no intention of leaving Kamui's dimension.
Jiraiya really was despicable.
So Obito kept thinking.
Just then, a slip of paper materialized inside the Kamui space.
"Obito… is it really you?"
…
So it really was Obito.
Kakashi said it quietly.
In the Hokage's office, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, clouds of smoke curling upward.
He had just finished telling Kakashi the truth that the masked man from the Nine-Tails incident was none other than Obito Uchiha.
Since Jiraiya, a man with the bearing of a Hokage, already knew the truth, it was only fitting that someone else with that same potential Kakashi should know as well.
Hiruzen hoped he could accept it. He watched Kakashi through the haze of his pipe smoke.
Kakashi stayed silent for a long time. But surprisingly, he didn't look shocked.
Ever since awakening Kamui, something about the mysterious masked man's profile had felt off to him.
Now that Hiruzen had said it aloud, Kakashi found himself thinking: so it's true after all.
"Lord Third," he finally said, his voice cold as ice, "let me try talking to Obito. If everything you said is true…"
"I'll kill him myself."
Hiruzen was at a loss for words. After all, the shinobi world was built on bonds and brotherhood. Even he had once had a friend turned enemy: Danzo Shimura.
These things were hard for outsiders to weigh in on. He hoped Kakashi could come to terms with it in time.
"Go get some rest," Hiruzen said softly. "Obito… he may have been manipulated too."
Kakashi left in silence.
Hiruzen stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the faces of the Hokage Monument in the distance.
"Minato… what am I supposed to do with Obito?"
Wait, no. Why am I hesitating?
I've swum through the depths of the subspace dimension. I'm a hardened war general now. The Third Hokage of the new age.
Obito… let me see if there's still a spark of the Will of Fire in your heart.
Refocusing, Hiruzen returned to his desk, sliding back into the role of commander-in-chief.
ANBU Report 1: The jinchuriki from Iwagakure have all gone missing from their hiding places.
ANBU Report 2: The Six-Tails from Kirigakure and the Seven-Tails from Takigakure have also vanished.
That old man Onoki must be losing sleep now, Hiruzen chuckled to himself. Serves him right for not trusting me.
As for Kirigakure, they were too weak to stop Pain anyway. Just a matter of time before they ended up like Sunagakure.
He could only hope Jiraiya would succeed in convincing Nagato and Konan to stand down. If not, he would show them the true strength of Konoha's foundations.
Next document.
Kakashi's evaluation report from the Shinobi Academy high-level trials.
Ignoring summoning beasts, the highest overall score was still Gaara of the Sand. Surprisingly, second place went to Neji Hyuga, with Naruto placing third.
Apparently, Hiashi Hyuga had opened up the clan's secret techniques to Neji.
Hiruzen nodded approvingly. That was the Will of Fire.
According to Kakashi's comments, Naruto still had major weaknesses in theory and fundamentals. Rock Lee had received the same note.
And unfortunately, Naruto showed no progress with Flying Raijin. That part Hiruzen found a little disappointing, though not entirely unexpected.
Once Jiraiya returned, it would be time for Naruto to begin learning to control the Nine-Tails.
After all, the Yellow Flash had made his choice.
Sasuke, meanwhile, was too impatient and hot-headed. Prone to falling into traps. He still needed refining.
Gaara, on the other hand, had changed completely since his last visit to Konoha. Calm. Collected. Even showing signs of the Will of Fire.
As for Kasumi Uzumaki, her natural talent in healing made her an ideal candidate for medical ninjutsu. She should train under Tsunade alongside Sakura.
Hiruzen flipped through the rest of the evaluations.
At the bottom, he found Sasuke's application to study the Flying Raijin Technique.
After some thought, Hiruzen approved it. Itachi was working himself to the bone on the front lines. He wouldn't let the boy feel left behind.
Stamp. Approved.
Next report: Orochimaru's prototype for a "mobile device" was complete. As for the built-in game functions… well, Orochimaru had no idea what that meant.
Guess I'll have to play game developer now, Hiruzen sighed.
Let's buff all the Hokage characters first.
Stamp. Next.
Mizukage Mei Terumi had received the message from her village and would soon be departing Konoha.
Stamp. Next.
The Raikage was sending an envoy to renew their peace treaty and formally request the return of the Fourth Raikage's body.
Peace, huh? That's what I like. Peaceful development.
Stamp. Approved.
Next.
Stamp.
Next.
Stamp.
After stamping many more documents, night fell over Konoha. The sun dipped behind the village walls.
…
Hiruzen's consciousness entered subspace.
As soon as Ace came online, he noticed Hiruzen was logged in and messaged him.
"Old man, you've been spending more and more time in here. Isn't Konoha keeping you busy?"
A response came quickly.
"Since that rogue shinobi Danzo Shimura went to jail, Konoha's been at peace. The village council is finally full of upright people. So many headaches, gone."
He sounded proud.
"Even that barbaric Raikage was taken down in just three moves! As for the others Nagato, Obito they're just criminals for sale. And Black Zetsu? Please. Trash."
"Among all the realms across the multiverse, I'd say only Roboute Guilliman is barely worthy to challenge me in terms of governance."
Hiruzen… you're really talking yourself up these days.
"So how's your side?" Hiruzen asked. "No word from my favorite general, Itachi Uchiha?"
Ace sighed. "Same old. Still chatting with Garp. I told him I was about to invade Mariejois and asked him to join my crew. He didn't believe me. So I've just been watching videos and writing stories while I wait for the execution."
"Funny. I've been writing too. I'll let you read some of it soon."
As the two lonely consciousnesses floated through the void of subspace, trading jokes and banter
A message popped up simultaneously in both their inboxes.
"Hello. I am Yoriichi Tsugikuni."
Before Ace could respond, Hiruzen had already created a three-person chat group.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "I've heard your story!"
Ace: "Me too."
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