Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 59: Obito: The World Is What's Wrong!

What happened? What am I doing?

Why is my hand piercing through Rin's heart?

Obito felt like he was trapped in a nightmare.

Because of White Zetsu's warning, he had learned that Rin was in danger. He had immediately rushed out of Madara's underground base, arriving just in time to rescue her with ease using the strength he had gained under Madara's tutelage.

But the area seemed to be a gathering point for the Hidden Mist forces. Just as he was beginning to feel relief, more Mist ninja emerged.

Then, while he was fighting these Mist ninja, Rin suddenly ran toward him. Strengthened by White Zetsu's armor, Obito's enhanced punch had pierced straight through her chest.

"Why did you run toward me?"

Obito asked in a daze, his Sharingan spinning wildly. The tomoe in his eyes quickly evolved from two to three, and then fused together into a new shape entirely.

"It's really you, Obito," Rin said softly, her gaze complicated but gentle. "Even with that white mask, I knew it was you as soon as I saw you. I'm so glad you're alive. I'm sorry, but I can't leave here alive…"

She tried to raise her hand to touch his face, but she no longer had the strength. Her eyes closed for the last time.

Obito held her lifeless body, staring blankly at her fading vitality.

"Rin!!!"

From the forest, Kakashi, who had been chasing what he thought was Obito's shadow, finally arrived. What he saw froze him in place: Rin, impaled through the chest by a white-armored figure, surrounded by Mist ninja. His eyes widened in fury.

His Sharingan spun rapidly as lightning gathered in his hand. Using all his strength, Kakashi unleashed his full power, obliterating the Mist ninja surrounding them and charging toward the person who had killed Rin.

Obito turned his head, stunned.

Why is Kakashi attacking me?

Oh… because this battlefield is full of Mist ninja. Tobi, worried about his safety, had encased him in armor that even covered his face, so Kakashi couldn't recognize him…

No, that's not it. It's because… I killed Rin!!!

Obito's pupils lost focus. The world before him shattered like fractured glass, crumbling to pieces in an instant.

The truth he had been trying to avoid hit him hard, punctured by Kakashi's anger. Tears flowed uncontrollably from Obito's eyes as his Mangekyo Sharingan fully took shape.

At the same time, Kakashi's Sharingan also evolved into a Mangekyo.

The next moment, Kakashi's Chidori pierced through Obito's chest, blood spraying everywhere.

Perhaps it was instinct, or perhaps Tobi had intervened, but Obito avoided a fatal blow. Staring at Kakashi's scarlet eyes filled with rage, countless thoughts flooded his mind.

He had killed Rin!

Kakashi had failed to protect Rin!

Their teacher, the fastest ninja, was once again too late!

Whose fault was it?

Rin's apologetic expression surfaced in his mind. Obito recalled Madara's words from the past half-year. Looking at Kakashi's anger, his tears abruptly stopped, and he began to laugh hysterically.

"Hahaha…"

His laughter echoed in Kakashi's ears, halting his blade mid-swing. Kakashi stared at him in disbelief.

That voice… is it Obito?

"This is hell, Kakashi! Hahaha!"

Obito clutched his face as he laughed, his Sharingan locking onto Kakashi's stunned expression. His voice turned low and sinister.

"Hey, Kakashi, Rin is dead… and I killed her."

"…"

Kakashi stared at him blankly, unable to comprehend the situation.

Obito could never kill Rin. He loved her so much… This must be a dream. Or maybe a genjutsu?

He couldn't believe it.

Obito lowered his head. "But, Rin doesn't blame me, and she wouldn't blame you or our teacher either."

It wasn't anyone's fault. Rin had chosen to die.

It wasn't his fault. It wasn't Kakashi's fault. It wasn't their teacher's fault either.

The one at fault… was this hellish world!

"The one who caused all this wasn't a single person. It was this world—this war-torn ninja world—that took Rin from us!"

Obito gripped Kakashi's hand, which was still lodged in his chest, and pulled it out slowly. Despite the excruciating pain, his expression didn't waver. His voice was cold and emotionless.

"A world like this… a world that can't even protect a kind girl like Rin… has no value in existing!"

The desire to destroy everything surged within him, and Obito didn't suppress it. He fully withdrew Kakashi's hand and turned his gaze to the Mist ninja surrounding them.

Perhaps thinking that their infighting would work to their advantage, the Mist ninja hesitated to approach, merely keeping their guard up.

But as Obito's icy gaze swept over them, they seemed to sense an imminent threat. Various ninjutsu and weapons were launched toward him and Kakashi.

Obito stepped forward, summoning massive wooden structures that shielded them from the incoming attacks.

"Obito…"

Obito cradled Rin's lifeless body with his left arm while grabbing Kakashi's hand with his right. Ignoring Kakashi's pained and bewildered expression, he spoke coldly:

"You're in the way, Kakashi."

With that, he hurled Kakashi out of the encirclement. A swirling vortex appeared in front of Obito, and Rin's body was drawn into it.

After completing these actions, he charged toward the Mist ninja.

Their attacks passed harmlessly through his body, as though he were a ghost.

Obito plunged into their ranks, unleashing Wood Release. The Mist ninja fell one after another.

"He… he's a monster. Just like that Hyuga Fuji guy from earlier—they're both monsters!"

A terrified Mist ninja stumbled backward, trying to escape. But unlike with Hyuga Fuji, Obito had no intention of sparing anyone.

Under Kakashi's stunned gaze, Obito wiped out all the surrounding Mist ninja in no time.

What's more, many of the techniques he used were completely unfamiliar to Kakashi.

What had Obito gone through in the past half-year?

And why had Rin ended up here?

Hearing footsteps, Kakashi snapped out of his daze. Obito was approaching him, his expression devoid of warmth.

"Obito, is Rin really…"

The once-bright boy was now filled with cold indifference. His hand shot toward Kakashi's left eye.

Kakashi's pupils contracted as he tried to evade, but then he remembered that this eye originally belonged to Obito. He froze in place.

Clang!

A ninja blade intercepted Obito's hand, halting his movement.

"What are you doing, Obito?"

Uchiha Yakumaru stood there, his gaze heavy as he stared into Obito's sole eye. "Kakashi is your important friend, isn't he?"

The Mangekyo Sharingan—Yakumaru had only seen it earlier that day from his clan leader, Fugaku.

He never expected the former underdog, Obito, to awaken those eyes. Perhaps Obito was a different kind of genius after all.

"I'm just taking back what's mine. What, are you going to stop me?"

"Attacking your comrades—do you want to become a rogue ninja?"

"It doesn't matter anymore. None of it matters. The thing most important to me is already gone." Obito's voice was detached. "This world is broken. It has no right to exist."

"That's not for you to decide."

Facing Yakumaru's resolute expression, Obito sneered. "One day, you'll understand. Kakashi, give me back my power. I'll use it… to destroy this world that rejected Rin!"

Kakashi stood silently, his hand touching his left eye.

"Obito, this is the eye you entrusted to me… to see the future."

"And all it saw was despair—Rin's death."

The moment the words left his mouth, Obito made his move.

Yakumaru and Kakashi instinctively counterattacked, but their attacks passed through Obito's intangible body.

Damn it, is this a Mangekyo ability?

Although there was no intel on this phasing technique, Yakumaru quickly retreated. To Kakashi, he said, "Hey, Kakashi, snap out of it! You've got a Mangekyo too. If you can use it, now's the time! Obito clearly isn't in his right mind!"

"I… haven't mastered it yet."

Hearing this, Yakumaru felt a sinking sense of doom.

You've got to be kidding me.

If I'd known this would happen, I would've dragged you back to the village instead of wandering around with you.

Using the dynamic vision of his Sharingan, Yakumaru managed to keep up with Obito for a while. But soon, Obito's phasing ability created an opening.

I was worried about Fuji holding on, but now it seems I might be the first to …go."

Obito's hand extended, wooden tendrils bursting forth to ensnare Yakumaru, devoid of any hesitation or mercy. His cold eyes regarded his clanmate as though his life was of no importance.

But just as Obito's attack was about to land, a figure appeared out of nowhere, gripping Obito's outstretched arm firmly.

"That's enough."

***