Since then, Obito Uchiha never left the cave again. He never wanted to hear, let alone see, any more scandalous stories about him and Rin. Although the person in the manga wasn't Rin—her appearance, hair color, figure, everything was different—she just used Rin's name. But it was disgusting. Just hearing about it made him feel sick, like he wanted to vomit!
Obito frantically wanted to shut down that newspaper, but just like the Ninja World Daily, he couldn't find its address. In the end, he could only bitterly drink two large bottles of Happy Water. Only the burps and bubbles could carry away some of the resentment in his heart.
So, for nearly three months, he had been hiding in the cave, not going anywhere. Escapism, while shameful, truly worked. Obito Uchiha felt much more relaxed during this time. Since he no longer had to pretend to be the profound Madara Uchiha, and no longer had to execute the Eye of the Moon Plan, Obito felt a great weight lifted. Perhaps because he was in a better mood, his appetite improved, and he even gained a bit of weight.
There was also good news. Zetsu had received information that Nagato was still proceeding with the prerequisites for the Eye of the Moon Plan—the Tailed Beast Collection Plan. Learning this, Obito's flame of revenge rekindled.
Heh heh.
Good.
Just you wait.
This despairing world no longer held any value. He would create a new world. A world with Rin, and one where newspapers could never, ever be read!
"Obito~ Obito~"
"What did you bring?"
Snapping back to reality, Obito somewhat impatiently glanced at him. Tobi seemed to have nothing but two buckets of Old Ganma family meal-kits on him. No, wait, what he held was... a newspaper? The vivid colors clearly indicated it was the Ninja World Daily again.
Seeing the newspaper, Obito's face instantly darkened. He truly hated the Ninja World Daily. It was this thing that had ruined his Eye of the Moon Plan.
"Didn't I say I don't read this newspaper? Get rid of it, get rid of it, take it away!" Obito waved his hand, wanting to shoo away White Zetsu.
But White Zetsu remained unfazed. "Are you really not going to look? It says here that you visited Grass Ninja Village again last night."
"Hahahaha, I'm dying of laughter. Weren't we two together all last night?"
At first, Obito was completely indifferent. Even if the Ninja World Daily became the most authoritative newspaper in the entire ninja world, it wouldn't earn his recognition. He had already dismissed this newspaper, convinced that all its news was fake.
But White Zetsu's next words made him shudder. "However, why does it have a live photo of you on it?"
"What? Another photo of me?"
Obito was shocked. Three months ago, the Ninja World Daily had two high-definition photos: one of himself wearing the spiral mask, and one of himself without it. Obito racked his brain but couldn't figure out when these two photos were taken.
So, as soon as he heard there was a photo, he snatched the newspaper and unfolded it. There were two newspapers in total: today's and yesterday's. Three photos in all. The one reflecting a great fire in his Mangekyo Sharingan pupil, the "Obito Kicking Dog" picture, and last night's "Obito Uchiha, the Dark Hand Emerging from the Burning Hospital."
As everyone knew, there was no Photoshop in the ninja world. So, this photo was real.
"This, this..."
Obito clicked his tongue, unable to utter a complete sentence. Previously, all photos were of the three-tomoe Sharingan; this was the first clear photo of the Mangekyo Sharingan. The shape of this Mangekyo was exactly like his own. According to victim descriptions, the phasing ability and space-distortion ability were also identical to his. Only one possibility remained.
This... could it really be me?
Obito Uchiha felt a bit bewildered.
"What are you doing?" When he regained his senses, he saw Tobi pulling out a mask and trying to put it on his head. Comparing it to the photo, then looking at Obito himself, Tobi sincerely said, "It really is identical, Obito. Do you have a twin brother?"
Do I?
He recalled. His parents had died on the battlefield long ago; he had been raised by his grandmother since childhood. Impossible, absolutely impossible.
"Look." Tobi produced a mirror. Obito took it and immediately felt something was off. When did my face get so round? Obito realized he had become much more rotund; even the deep lines on the right side of his face had filled in, and his entire face looked much fuller.
He mentally reviewed what he had done during these three months without going out. He had just laid bored in bed. Eating Old Ganma family meal-kits, fried chicken, hamburgers, fries, and Happy Water. Sleeping. Obito recalled it in an instant and found the answer. Sure enough, he hadn't pooped enough. It was all Tobi's fault; he kept asking him what a bowel movement was, leaving him no time to poop.
Ignoring these thoughts, Obito put on the mask White Zetsu handed him, looked at the photo, and then at himself in the mirror. This truly was him; even the Mangekyo's shape was identical.
However, this definitely wasn't him. Because what Obito Uchiha did, who would know better than him? He had never done such a thing!
He looked at the two reports again. They said he destroyed Grass Ninja Village, slaughtered 1,800 people, not even sparing the dogs. Yesterday, he was even more deranged, mercilessly eradicating the last remaining survivor of Grass Ninja Village. But, he had never done any of it! The previous events, fine, he admitted them; he really had done those. But destroying Grass Ninja? Why frame him, an unsuspecting innocent, for something he hadn't done?
Why?
Ninja World Daily, you have no heart!!!
"Tobi, where is this person now?" Obito pointed at the photo, asking Tobi. He had to personally apprehend this person, then brutally interrogate and beat him.
"You mean your twin brother? The ninja world is saying that Obito Uchiha will return tonight."
"Obito Uchiha?"
"Yes, isn't that your twin brother? I call him Obito Uchiha."
After a moment of internal struggle, Obito no longer cared about Tobi's naming.
"I'm going too tonight!" Obito declared firmly. However, glancing at his protruding belly, Obito added, "Tobi, find me some loose clothes first."
That day, night.
In a forest near a castle in the Land of Grass.
After a vortex-like distortion of space, Obito Uchiha appeared. Reportedly, the last surviving jonin squad of Grass Ninja Village was hidden in that distant castle. They had been out on a mission, thus avoiding the fate of being completely wiped out. Therefore, they were protected by a certain lord of the Land of Grass. Many in the ninja world firmly believed that Obito Uchiha would return tonight to completely eradicate them!
Consequently, the Land of Grass that night was a gathering of heroes, a constellation of stars; bounty hunters from across the entire ninja world converged there. Even the massive fortress couldn't hold so many people, and even though this forest was far from the fortress, there were still many people ambushed, waiting for an opportunity.
So, Obito Uchiha had thought it would be safe here, but he was wrong. As soon as he appeared, his signature Obito Uchiha entrance immediately made him a target.
Swish, swish, swish~
Before he could even stand firm, Obito was attacked by kunai from several directions. Fortunately, he immediately used his phasing ability to dodge the attacks!
"Obito Uchiha is here!"
An excited howl echoed through the entire forest. There was no emotion in the cry, only a fierce craving for money. Everyone immediately stirred! The seemingly empty forest instantly spawned countless people with glowing eyes; there were people everywhere.
With this kind of momentum, Obito felt like running. But the Ninja World Daily had already extensively revealed the details of his Mangekyo abilities. Even if others couldn't necessarily defeat him, they knew how to deal with and counter him. The distorted vortex had just appeared, and he was already under attack.
Swish, swish, swish~
Dozens, hundreds more attacks flew out. Obito could only give up on escaping and use his phasing to dodge the attacks. Looking up again at the surging crowd, Obito was speechless. He had come here to cause trouble for Obito Uchiha, but how had he become the target of attack?
Damn it!
Now, it seemed that even if it wasn't shit, it would be considered shit.
This fake world!
He was tired. Destroy it! Quickly!
On the other side.
Kakuzu, who had rushed over from another country, saw the spiral mask, his eyes glowing green.
Obito Uchiha, your head.
No, these one billion ryo, I'll take them!