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Chapter Text

Unlike when Sandaimei's funeral had been carried out four years ago, it was a bright sunny day today.

Far from the downtown of Konoha, the cemetery was not seriously destroyed. As long as they were capable to move, all shinobi who had survived from the catastrophe gathered here, supporting each other, stumbling and tottering.

To say the last goodbye to their families and comrades.

Many people threw quiet looks to the blond shinobi at the first row. He had defeated Pein the Six Paths, and ended Konoha's suffering. The boy who had once been feared and isolated by almost everyone in the village, had become their savior now.

But he had also lost more.

Less than one month since the news of Jiraiya's death had arrived... Uzumaki Naruto was going to bid farewell to his other teacher.

"Shizune...san...Kakashi...sensei..."Sakura was sobbing by his side, and it sounded like sharp knives cutting through Naruto's broken heart. "I'm sorry, Naruto... I failed to save their lives, I failed... I'm a medic, but I was not able to save anyone..."

Naruto was staring at the photo frame in the front. He hadn't blinked for at least five minutes. He felt the muscles on his face stiff and his eyes sour, but there were no tears.

He was no longer a kid, living under his teachers' shields, carefreely enjoying their protections.

He has grown up. He must grow up, and be strong. He must stride along the road he had chosen, walking straightforward, never stop or retreat.

No matter how much more pain and bitterness he would experience, how many more important people he would lose.

Father, master, sensei.

He would inherit their will - the Will of Fire, and carry through his ninja way unswervingly.

"It's ok, Sakura," said Naruto with a hoarse voice. "You've tried your best. Everyone has tried their best. Tsunade Baa-chan is still in a coma, and you need to brace yourself up."

"We are disciples of the Sannin... We are Team Kakashi. Be strong."

As the leader of jonin, Nara Shikaku officiated the ceremony. Konoha was still in reconstruction, there were little time left for remembering and sorrow. After a short eulogy, it was the relatives' and friends' turn to present flowers to their lost ones.

Holding a white chrysanthemum in his hand, Naruto came to the front and stopped at the photo frame.

In the photo, twelve-year-old Hatake Kakashi looked over coldly with a pair of black eyes.

The jonins' dorm had been totally devastated under Pein's Shinratensei. Kakashi had no living relatives, so Naruto, Sakura, Yamato and Gai had worked together to collect his belongings. Digging from the ruins, the four shinobi had found two team photos and an old iron casket protected by a seal; besides those there had only been some uniforms, ninja tools, and other daily living goods that were distributed by Konoha.

As the Copy Ninja who was famous among all five nations, he left quite few personal effects after his death.

They needed a photo to be his deadee. Usually, after a shinobi reached a higher rank, a new personal file would be created, and a new photo would be taken. However, Kakashi had changed a lot since he was promoted to jonin, so it would be much better if they could find a single photo of him in his adulthood. With other three's consent, Yamato released the seal on the small box, and opened it carefully.

To their disappointment, there were no photos of Kakashi in it. What were kept in the casket was a broken tanto, a kunai with an unusual shape, a worn first-aid kit, and a pair of orange goggles.

Seeing those things, Gai's expression became very strange; before Naruto and Sakura could ask, the jonin had reached out and slammed down the lid.

"No need to check again." He looked away, trying hard to hold his choking voice, "These... aren't even Kakashi's own stuff."

Effects of his parent, teacher and friends, and the photos of his genin team and the genin team he was leading.

Was there anything that was unique to Hatake Kakashi himself?

None.

The man was hidden in mysteries when he was alive, and left nothing behind after death.

Getting back to reality from memories, Naruto looked up at his sensei in the deadee, who was even younger than Naruto today. He had two good eyes, and his gaze was sharp and grim, just like a pointed blade buried in the ice, totally different from who he was decades later.

He has never known Kakashi had become jonin at the age of twelve. He has never known twelve-year-old Kakashi had been like this.

Not for the first time, Naruto deeply realized that he had learned too little about his sensei. Furthermore, there would not be any chance for him to learn more about Kakashi face to face.
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Two days later.

On the Training Field 3, Naruto and Sakura was standing in front of the Memorial Stone, looking down at the particular name that had been recently carved.

It was not a prearranged activity; they had met each other here by chance at the crack of dawn. In the next few hours, neither of them had spoken a word.

They just stood there for a long time.

"I dreamed about the past last night," Sakura suddenly broke the silence. After her sensei and senior sister apprentice had dead, her master fell into a coma and probably would never wake up again, the kunoichi had rapidly grown to be more mature in a few days.

From Sakura, Naruto could see himself back to a month ago - himself after overcoming the loss of Jiraiya.

"Once we tried to reveal Kakashi-sensei's mask. Sasuke-kun... he suggested us to take turns to track him. It was a rainy day when it came to my turn, and I was hiding in the bushes, watching Kakashi-sensei standing in front of the Memorial Stone without moving for a long while."

Sakura chuckled at the old days. She reached out, fingers ran through the hairs that were falling over her eyes, and put them behind her ear.

"But it was a trick. He made a scarecrow of himself and put it there. However, now I can't help myself to think that... "

She lowered her hands, squeezing them tightly, which made the leather gloves let out small rustilings.

"...has he himself ever been like a scarecrow, standing here for a long, long time?"

Naruto listened sliently. He opened his mouth after a while.

"...You remind me of something. I've seen him here, in front of the Memorial Stone. It happened before I went to have a trip with Ero-sennin. I was wondering around in the village, saying goodbye to everyone... Then I came to the Training Field 3. I saw him standing here... just at the spot we are standing now."

The faded memory became colorful and vivid again, and those details that seemed to be ignored at that time and quickly forgotten afterwards also emerged to the surface, and became very clear.

"I asked him what he was doing. He smiled, and said he had just come out to have a walk and accidentally arrived here... only several minutes earlier than me. Then he said he would like to treat me with ramen; I was happy and left with him without thinking further. But when I see back now... His hair and shoulders had been moist with dew, and it didn't dry out until nine o'clock in the morning. On that day... how long exactly had he been standing in front of the Memorial Stone?"

The two shinobi fell silent. There was one question rolling over in their minds, which had puzzled them for many years, but were never deliberated before; why was Kakashi always late?

Had he come here every time before meeting with them? What had he been thinking when standing here?

Had he been like them today, full of agony and regret in heart?

But the truth would never be revealed now.

"Naruto...do you remember? When Team 7 was just formed, Kakashi-sensei gave us the bell test, and taught us teamwork..."Sakura said slowly and looked up. Her gaze lingered on the upper half of the Memorial Stone. "He said his best friend's name was carved here. Who... is that ?"

"The name is Uchiha Obito."

It was not Naruto who answered the question. Gai's voice suddenly came out behind them.

The two turned around immediately. Konoha's Blue Beast was standing behind them. He has lost his excessive abundant energy, and looked serious and haggard.

"Yeah, that's it." Gai nodded briefly after seeing Naruto and Sakura's expressions. "It was just like what you are thinking about. Uchiha Obito, he was the man who gave Kakashi the Sharingan."

No one spoke up after that. Gai took his eyes off the Memorial Stone after staring for a short while, and looked back at the two teenagers.

"We still have a lot of thing to do," he said in a low voice. "The village needs to be rebuilt, and the remaining members of Akatsuki are still out there, and might come to attack us at any time. What's more... You two are still going to get Sasuke back, aren't you?"

"Of course!" Naruto answered determinedly.

"Good! You need to have this vigor to be youthful!" Gai smiled and thumbed up at Naruto. "I'm going back now, and you guys had better come along soon!"

Saying that, he turned around, but stopped after a few steps.

"And there's one more thing..." he didn't look back, "No need to be too sad. My words may not sound pleasant to your ears, but it is probably Kakashi's true thought. For him... death is only disengagement."

"His families, and his teammates... were all in the other world... longing to reunite with him."

Leaving these words, Gai disappeared in a puff of white smoke. At where he had stood, shining drips slowly slid down along the grass blades.
————————————————————

Here was the Akatuski's lair.

In a spacious and empty room, the three members of Team Taka were sitting silently on the floor, while their leader, Uchiha Sasuke, was sitting at the end of a long stone table, keeping a close watch on the man sitting at the opposite side, and his orange swirl-mask.

"Uchiha Madara".

The man who had truly manipulated Akatsuki. The man who told him the truth about Itachi. The man who would give him a hand to get his revenge to Konoha.

Same as Sasuke, "Madara" was sitting on a high-backed armchair. He set an elbow on the armrest, fist under his chin, leg crossed. His posture was lazy, but somehow Sasuke could felt that the man was in a slight anxiety.

What was he waiting for?

Sasuke got his answer soon.

"It's over." Beginning with these words, Zetzu rose slowly from the floor. "Pein has failed. Nagato died from exhaustion, in front of Uzumaki Naruto. Konoha was severely destroyed, and the Godaimei Hokage Tsunade is in a coma, but they have already begun rebuilding their village with the lead of the council."

"Hn. I knew they were all useless trashes," "Madara" snorted relentlessly, showing no sympathy to his deceased subordinates. He lifted himself up from the chair. "Time is short... I'll have to do it myself."

"By the way, there is good news for you." The corner of the lips on the white side of Zetsu's face curled up. "He's dead, that Hatake Kakashi. You know what it means, don't you?"

Hearing the familiar name, Sasuke, who had kept an indifferent face all along, widened his eyes slightly. However, that was all he had shown.

And the reaction of "Madara" caught his attention.

For a moment, he could felt the chakra signal of the man became incredibly wild and furious, as if it's owner was going to begin a bloody massacre; but in less than a tenth of a second, it was suppressed by force, and sealed off firmly.

It was just like nothing had happened.

"I see," said "Madara" after a short silence. His tone was calm and hard, and there was no emotions in it. "Konoha lost one of their strongest soldiers. It's good."

White Zetsu raised his brow. "And you," he turned to Sasuke. "You got your Chidori from Kakashi, right? Don't you want to say something?"

"Is it still meaningful to have some empty words when I've decided to destroy Konoha by my own hands? "Sasuke asked in reply. "Now there is only hatred between me and the people of Konoha... They were nothing to me."

The eyes of the raven-haired teenager suddenly turned crimson, and he smiled darkly. "And you've just reminded me... It is really a pity that Kakashi, who loves Konoha most, will not be able to see that the village is going to be ruined by the jutsus that are derived from his Chidori."

"Well well... How ruthless, both of you," White Zetsu clicked his tongue. "One is his former student, and the other is..."

"Shut up," Black Zetsu suddenly said, stopped him from continuing. "You've said too much."

While Zetsu was talking to Sasuke, "Madara" was just standing there, listening without a word. After Black Zetsu spoke up, he was still silent and just walked towards the door. Giving a last glance at Sasuke, Zetsu also turned around and followed him out.

"Wait for me outside, all of you," Sasuke suddenly said in the silence. "I would like to be alone for a while."

Jyuugo, Suigetsu and Karin looked at each other, before they obeyed their leader's order without questioning.

The door was shut again. Lowering his head, Sasuke looked at his own hands. As if acting on their own, his finger moved, and formed five familiar signs, mouse, ox, monkey, ox, rooster...

The sound of crying birds hovered across the empty room.

From now on, there was only one person left in the world as the user of the justu.

"In the end, those who tasted revenge were not satisfied... it ended in tragedy. You'll only hurt and suffer more. Even if you are successful in your revenge, all you'll be left with is emptiness."

The silver-haired jonin's quiet voice echoed in Sasuke's ears.

Kakashi... If you were still alive, seeing what have I become, what would you have said?

The scarlet of Sharingan flickered in his eyes. Sasuke clenched his hands, and the lightning immediately dissipated.

What I've been long detested was your composed attitude, no matter what happens. As if you know everything. As if you have experienced everything.

"For me, there are no longer any important people. They have all... been killed already."

"I'm much older than you, and have lived in a long, hard era. I understand how terrible true pain and loss are."

Ahh, you are right. You did foresee it. After killing Itachi, I did feel empty. After knowing Itachi's truth, I did hurt and suffer more.

But you haven't foreseen Itachi's truth, and what have I become now.

Now I got new goals and motivation to live on; my revenge isn't finished yet. I will never stop before it comes to the end.

And this time - It's towards Konoha.

Sasuke rapidly stood up. His eyes were sharp and stern. He went to the doorway and opened the door.

His team members all turned to him.

"Let's go," he said coldly, with no expression on his face. "To Konoha."

"We aren't the lucky ones... that's for sure. But we aren't the worst off either."

Yeah. You're right, Kakashi.

Fortune showed its last mercy, to prevent you from seeing your students killing each other with your own eyes.
————————————————————

"Madara" was in his private room.

He took off the cloak with red clouds, and pulled down his mask. He stood in front of a mirror, looking at his own scarred face, and the blood-red right eye.

Uchiha Obito looked at himself in the mirror.

He's dead, that Hatake Kakashi.

The sound of White Zetsu kept repeating these words in his mind.

He should be glad. Because Kamui lost its shortage, and nobody else would be able to intervene that dimension, revealing the secret of his justu; Pein had made him a huge favor, completing what he had long planned to do, but somehow failed to actually carry out.

He should be apathetic about that man's death. Because that was just a fake; as early as more than a decade ago, on the night that their fates were decided, in the forest near the border of the Water Nation, along with Rin's death, the Hatake Kakashi who lived in the world had become a fake, trash, an empty shell. The real Kakashi only existed in Obito's Infinite Tsukuyomi.

But he failed to be glad, nor apathetic. It didn't mean he felt sorrowful or grievous, though.

He could feel nothing.

The world was hell. He didn't care any more about it.

What he had seen many years ago was like a soldering iron, seared this idea onto his heart; nowadays, after learning Kakashi's death, it was as if someone had dug out the iron again, and pressed it down to his old scar.

Even deeper and clearer than last time.

Obito reached out, touching his own empty eye socket.

His left eye had died.

His only connection with his past had died.

I want to build a world where heroes don't have to make pitiful excuses in front of graves.

But the hero had already died.

There would be no longer a figure, standing in front of the Memorial Stone, everyday for decades.

"Haha... hahaha...hahahahaha..." Pressing hard at his eye socket, Obito heard hoarse, humorless laughter coming out from the back of his throat.

"Isn't it ironic, Kakashi?" He said to the old friend in his imagination, "I, who had been identified as the first deceased member of Team Minato, turned out to be the only survivor of us."

Since the tragedy of Team Minato started from the Kannabi Bridge, from me, then...

Let everything, everything about the decayed shinobi world, come to the end in my hand.

Chapter Text

It was an underground cave known by few people in a small country, dim and damp, filled with complete darkness.

But for hibernating vipers, it was a perfect and suitable shelter.

The ceremonial circle on the ground was glowing in an ominous purple. In the center, a coffin slowly rose with a deep rumble. Then the light dissipated, and the cover of the coffin squeaked open. It fell down with a loud bang, revealing the figure standing inside the coffin.

In smug satisfaction, Yakushi Kabuto finished his hand sign and stood up.

"Thanks to my foresight, I managed to get your DNA sample from the hospital when I was still in Konoha, " he said in a disgusting brisk tone. "After all, you are the No.1 technician in Konoha, and had spent so many years in ANBU, keeping numerous shadowy secrets...Not to mention you also have an eye with Kekkei Genkai. When you had died, your corpse was firmly sealed and closely guarded."

"Well, actually it was surprising. Among those numbered elites in Konoha, it was you who died after Asuma. So the power of Rinnegan should really not be underestimated. But for me, it was a big favor. "

With a nasty smile, he walked towards and stopped in front of the coffin, facing with the man in it.

"Long time no see...What an unexpected reunion after the Chunin Exam four years ago, Kakashi-san."
————————————————————

"Ah, there you are!"

"Kiba?" Heading to the construction sites with Sakura and Yamato, Naruto stopped and turned around, looking at the boy on the white dog. "What's up?"

"Listen... Just calm down and listen," Kiba's voice was low with anxiety, "Tsunade-sama was dismissed as Hokage, and the sixth Hokage is a guy named Danzo! I don't really know him, but he should be from ANBU!"

"Danzo!" Naruto and Sakura exclaimed at the same time.

"And that's not the only thing, " said Kiba, turning to Naruto. "The new Hokage has given permission to dispose Sasuke as a missing-nin!"

The news hit Naruto like a hammer. For a while, his mind was totally blank, his hands and feet froze, and he was unable to give any response.

Dispose...Sasuke?

"I'm going to see Danzo!" Sakura's furious voice brought him back to reality. "Master Tsunade sacrificed for the village... She has yet not... She's still possible to wake up! They can't...They can't treat her like that!"

Her voice broke on the last word. Sakura turned her head away, wiping her face beyond others' sight.

"And there's Sasuke-kun's issue," she continued with a sniff, anger slightly toned down. "I can't stand by and let this happen."

"I'm going, too!" Naruto agreed without thinking. Then he began to run towards the Hokage Tower, followed by Sakura.

"Wait, both of you!" Yamato shouted behind them. Naruto and Sakura stopped and turned around. The brown-haired man trotted towards the two teenagers, and pressed his hands onto their shoulders. "You have to stay cool-headed, or it'll just make things worse. Just be patient, think carefully before taking actions!"

"How can I calm down now?!" Naruto shook off his hand, "I will never let him put a finger on Sasuke!"

"You don't know Danzo!" Yamato also rose his voice, eyes wide open with anger. "I used to be in Root, and I know his style. Who do you think his message was intended for? It's you, Naruto! The jonins may not have voted yet, but he is still the Hokage appointed by Daimyo for the time being. When you go to intercede for Sasuke, he'll have the excuse to imprison you. He is still covetous of Kyuubi inside you, and never gave up!"

"How can you know that without trying?" Naruto retorted fiercely, breath rasping in his heaving chest. "He's going to... He's going to execute Sasuke! Team Seven... Team Seven has already lost one member," Sakura's expression became sad as he spoke, "I can't witness my friends get killed anymore! Kakashi-sensei... If Kakashi-sensei was here, he would never let this happ-"

"ENOUGH!" Yamato snapped and interrupted Naruto. When Kakashi was mentioned, there was agony in his eyes, but it was rage that overwhelmed him. "Stop deceiving yourself! You know Kakashi-senpai would come up with the same idea as I did, don't you? For his character, do you really think he would let you go debate with Danzo? Don't give in to your personal feelings, Naruto!"

He clapped and crossed his fingers together, ready for the hand seal of Mokutun. "Senpai has passed away, and I need to protect you and Team Seven for him. If you want to go confront Danzo, then defeat me first!"

Yamato's words was like a bucket of cold water poured on Naruto, extinguishing the fiery anger in his heart. What was left was just a pinch of dying, struggling ember.

"Sorry," Naruto whispered. Light disappeared from his blue eyes, the blonde lowered his head. "You're right, Captain Yamato. I'm always easy to lost my head when it's related to Sasuke."

Seeing his frustration, Yamato's heart was softened. Putting his hands down, he patted Naruto on the shoulder. "Let's go back. We must consider about this carefully before making decisions. The order of execution will not be issued in a short time, and... it is really not that easy for Sasuke to be caught and killed, right? "

"Yeah. " Naruto nodded slightly. "Sorry... But I would like to be alone for a while. "

Leaving these words, his figure vanished from the other three shinobi's eyes.
————————————————————

Naruto came to the Training Field 3.

He dropped onto the ground in front of the Memorial Stone. Staring at the stone for a while, he reached out, touching the new inscriptions on it.

Hatake Kakashi.

"I'm sorry, sensei, "he murmured, "I was almost hot-headed again."

"These days I attached myself to Super Bushy-brow sensei, and he told me a lot about you. Your father, your sensei- my dad, and your two teammates. I know if you were still here, you definitely wouldn't want us to hear about these things, but... I just want to know you more. I hate myself so much for having thought there would still be time and chance later on, yet who would have foreseen..."

"I also learned the truth of why you were always late from Captain Yamato. I wonder what you were thinking about when you stood in front of the Memorial Stone every day. Have you felt remorse for not getting along well with your teammates? Have you felt regret for failing to save them? Have you hated yourself for... not realizing how precious those days and the people you once had were... until you had lost them?"

"And now... It seems that I can somehow understand what you have felt."

Lowering his head, Naruto smiled self-mockingly. "If you were here., you would definitely say that it doesn't sound like me. But...but..."

He clenched his fists, curled up and buried his face in arms. "After losing my master.... then you... I'm afraid that... I can't be the Uzumaki Naruto I used to be..."

No matter how tight the blonde shut his eyes, the late tears that had been absent at the funeral still rushed out from the corners of his eyes, dropped and bedewed his clothes.

"Sensei... What should I do...They dismissed Tsunade Baa-chan, they wanted to kill Sasuke... I can't let them put their hands on Sasuke, but now I...I can't do anything..."

"If you were watching us in heaven, Kakashi sensei... Please, please bless Sasuke... and our Team Seven."

A gentle breeze rippled his golden hair. For an instant, Naruto dimly felt as if the man had placed a gentle hand on the top of his head again, rubbing his hair intimately as he used to. Then his eye crinkled into a smile. "Don't worry. I will never let my comrades die in front of me."

But what was ringing in his ears was only the whispers of the leaves.
————————————————————

"I caught up with you, finally."

Air twisted with the voice. In the next moment, the man with orange mask appeared on the branch ahead.

Sasuke halted abruptly, his eyes were cold and vigilant. "Get out of my way. Out cooperation with Akatsuki is already over."

"I've told you those who betrayed Akatsuki would only end in death,"Obito spread his hands. "And you broke your promise to me. You have failed your mission... The eight-tailed beast you had brought back was a fake. What a disappointment."

Seeing the astonished expressions of Team Taka, Obito sighed and scratched his head.

"Well... anyway. Let's just put the tail beasts aside for now. I come here to stop you from going to Konoha."

"Why?" Sasuke looked at him with suspicion, "Konoha is suffering a great loss, and it's the best time to exact my revenge." He lifted his right hand, bluish lightning sparkled in the palm. "If you want to stop me... I won't be so easy on you."

Obito didn't reply instantly. He just stared at the lightning the raven-haired boy was holding.

Chidori.

Once upon a time there was a man, who beat his path with this jutsu on the battlefield, earned a brilliant reputation, and was always far ahead of Obito no matter how hard Obito had tried to catch up, until now...

Obito was surprised at his sudden sentimentality.

How strange. In the past Chidori could only remind him of the moment, when Rin's heart was pierced by a clenched fist, followed by endless rage and sorrow rising in his own chest. But now when he saw the lightning again, what came to his mind first was the figure of the silver-haired boy from a distant past.

So was it true, that a man dies the same way as a lamp goes out? Everything fades after death, even hatred?

The sound of crying birds rang in his ear. Obito recovered immediately and activated Kamui in time, letting Sasuke and the young shinobi's attack pass through his body.

Well, well.

You may have surpassed your sensei in techniques, but you didn't learn his calmness and discretion at all.

"Hold on," he turned around, looking at Sasuke crouching on the branch ahead, ready to start another attack at any time. "I just want to show you the right direction."

"Direction?" Sasuke frowned.

"Yes, direction. Since Tsunade fell into a coma and may never wake up again, a guy named Danzo became Hokage, and he is one of the elders who drove your brother to kill his own clan. After Pein invaded Konoha, and you attacked the eight-tailed beast, the five nations became unprecedentedly alert, and decided to make an alliance. Thus," Obito pricked up one finger, "the five Kages are going to hold a meeting."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"Your killing intent sets my mind at ease," Obito raised his hand. Zetsu appeared from his behind, and divided into two individuals.

"He," he pointed at the Zetsu which was in whole white, "will lead you the way."
————————————————————

How much could one be toyed with by fate?

He had put comrades first, but Sakumo died of accusation and defamation from his comrades. He had held rules above all else, but Obito taught him a lesson with his life. He had believed he could keep his promise to his deceased friend, but Rin was killed by his own hands. He had hoped sensei could always stay by his side, but Minato sacrificed himself to protect the village from Kyuubi's claws.

He had thought he would die from those cruel, bloody missions of ANBU, but he survived again and again. When he finally found new bonds, soon he had to face and accept his own death.

And now, he thought he could leave all those behind at last, went to the other world to join his family and friends, but instead he was summoned back to the land of the livings as a ghost, a dummy that was manipulated by others.

For the first time in his life, Hatake Kakashi cursed the fleetness of fate from heart.

"Only Sharingan can confront Sharingan, " Kabuto paced leisurely in front of Kakashi. "Now all the Sharingan eyes in the world are either in Akatsuki or in Konoha. Thanks to your death, I can indirectly obtain this one eye by Edo Tensei. Although it's less convenient than directly in my hand, it's still better than nothing. What's more..."

His eyes twinkled with cunning. "Sometimes, your existence may be even more effective than the Sharingan."

Kakashi opened his mouth. His limbs felt dead stiff, it must be that Kabuto somehow restricted his movement. He tried to speak, but only found himself mute.

"At the moment, I don't want to give myself away," Kabuto saw his futile attempt and smiled complacently. "Therefore, I'll be in big trouble if I were to leave you say whatever you want to say outside. For now, please just shut up."

Kakashi stared at him grimly. What do you plan to use me for? He questioned Kabuto by eyes.

Though he has got a vague answer in his heart.

"It will be a huge blow to Konoha- especially to the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki- if I let you show your identity in public, but it's also of high risk. So I prepared a suit of clothes for you."

Kabuto took out and opened a scroll, pressed one hand on it. A puff of smoke rose with a pop, then there appeared a whole suit of Konoha ANBU uniform and armor. There was also a mask, bone-white, with no decorative pattern nor holes for mouth and nose, only two hollows at the place of eyes.

"The Edo Tensei-ed body doesn't breathe. Handy, isn't it?" Kabuto picked up the mask, showed it to Kakashi. "And the mask can also cover the crack on your face. Sometimes there's no need to give a certain answer... First allow them to keep the faintest hope against indisputable evidence, then destroy that hope when the time is right. It must be very interesting."

"Just let them guess freely, who is the silver-haired ANBU. Anyway, once you draw your blade against Konoha, you're no longer the Hatake Kakashi they knew before."

Kabuto's words stabbed Kakashi like a sharp knife. It really hurt, and made him feel weak and faint.

But Edo Tensei-ed body shouldn't have any feeling.

Then what was the pain that seemed to tear his soul apart?

If I'm no longer Hatake Kakashi... Who am I now?

I'm the man who is no one.

I'm just a puppet.

The jonin fought to brace himself, but despair still emerged in his eyes. Seeing this, Kabuto grinned wider.

That's right, he thought.

Why should I be the only one who loses his identity? Why should I be the only one who doesn't know who he is?

Just all come down and join me in this lost hell.

"Now," Kabuto put the mask away. "Let's talk business. " He made a hand seal. "The following three orders are the highest principles that you must obey in future actions. To make full use of your brain and experience, I'll allow you to keep your mind and be independent. Just don't dissappoint me."

"First, try your best to keep your identity secret. Second, if there is a risk of being sealed, leave the battlefield immediately. Third, in any case, keep your distance from Uchiha Madara... the masked man in Akatsuki."

"I'm going to release your first mission after your rebirth. In order to negotiate with someone, I need an important bargaining chip-"

The next words that came out from Kabuto's lips were what Kakashi feared the most.

"-bring me Kyuubi back alive."

Chapter Text

Naruto couldn't fall asleep.

Staring at the ceiling of the temporary shelter, what echoed in his ears were all the words from those shinobi of Kumogakure in the daytime.

"The missing-nin Uchiha Sasuke took our master! We don't even know if master is dead or alive now!"

Sasuke...What happened to you?

Master...

Only the single word could already make him feel like the wound in his heart was torn open again before scabbed.

When the two shinobi of Kumogakure rushed towards him, he refused Sai and Sakura's help. Without fighting back, he let them beat him black and blue.

He just wanted to pay Sasuke's debts in this way, because he knew better than anyone about how painful it was to lose one's teacher.

Naruto put his hand into the pocket. He took out something, raised it to his eyes.

Ring-ring-

A pair of small bells swang with crisp sounds before it stopped and hung down. It had been found in Kakashi's pouch, and with Shikaku's permittion, Naruto had been allowed to keep it. He had took the bells with him at all times these days.

Gazing at the bells, he shaked them lightly.

Ring-ring-

"If you ask why... I'm just curious about what happens next. But don't worry, it won't make any difference against you guys."

Said nonchanlantly, Kakashi buried his nose into a small orange book.

Ring-ring-

"Think before using a justu, or it could be used against you. And also, don't fall for such obvious trap, ba-ka!"

Kakashi picked up the bells on the ground, threw them up then caught them again, giving him a sly smile.

Ring-ring-

"You will be risking your lives in your duties. Look at this... the numerous names carved on the stone. These are all ninjas who are recognized as heroes of the village. "

Kakashi stood up from Sasuke, put his kunai into the pouch, and went to the Memorial Stone.

Ring-ring-

"You three... passed!"

Hands on his hips, Kakashi bent down to look at them with an eye smile.

Ring-ring-ring-

As if being possessed, Naruto rang the bells again and again, sunk himself into the vision of the past.

In that vision, there was Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke, they were still the complete Team Seven. They all still lived in Konoha happily, training and taking missions every day, nothing bad had ever happened-

Knock knock!

The door was suddenly knocked. There was a familiar voice outside, "Naruto, may I come in?"

"Of course!" Naruto answered without thinking. His eyes widened when he realized whose voice was that. Regardless the pain all over his whole body, he sat up with a jerk, staring at the door which was slowly opened-

Kakashi-sensei was standing at the doorway. He was in his usual jonin uniform, forehead protector askew to cover the Sharingan, unruly silver hair tilted to one side. Scratching the back of his head sheepishly, he looked up at Naruto, curled his eye into a mild smile.

"I've heard about what happened today earlier. If you can't go to sleep... how about hanging out with me for a while?"

Naruto gazed at him. After a moment, his face broke into a wide grin.

"Sure!"

It was late at night, and all around was still.

The door of the hut opened with a squeak. Hiding on the opposite roof, Kakashi lowered his body further. Keeping the hand seal of genjustu, he watched Naruto walking out of the hut alone with a happy smile on his face.

Behind the hole on the mask, three tomoe were spinning fast in his Sharingan.
——————————————————————

“So that's the case.”

Kakashi-sensei sighed, shoved his hands into pockets. They were walking along the river on Training Fielding 3, water glittering, grass rustling under their feet. "Well, I'm not surprised. Sasuke is already a missing-nin, by convention, he should be executed to death. It's only because Tsunade-sama's leniency that he hasn't been hunted...Tenzou was right. It's not the time to confront Danzo head on yet. "

"But how can I just stand there, watching Sasuke chased by ninjas from Konoha? Kakashi-sensei, I don't want to see that happen. I don't want Sasuke to be killed, or someone in the village hurt by him. "

Lowered his head, Naruto looked frustrated. "And there's issue of the Reikage. Sasuke attacked the Hachibi Jinchuuriki... Why did he do that? I want to go to see the Reikage and ask for his forgiveness for Sasuke, but Captain Yamato doesn't allow me to leave Konoha at will. "

"If that's your plan, then just do it," Kakashi-sensei looked up at the full moon in the sky. He was walking at Naruto's right side, so the blond could only see his masked face instead of his expression. "Never go back on your words, never change your goal once detemined, that's your ninja way. Right?"

Naruto looked stunned. A moment later, a confident smile touched the corners of his lips.

"Sure!"

"That's right," Kakashi-sensei looked at him, eye curved into a smile. "That's the Uzumaki Naruto I know."

He reached out to Naruto's head, as if wanted to rub his hair as usual-

Clap!

The pale wrist between the cuff and the glove was suddenly grabbed.

Naruto was still looking at Kakashi-sensei, but the light in his eyes went dim slowly, and his smile became sad.

"I'm sorry, Kakashi-sensei," he said, made a hand seal with his other hand. "But it's time for me... to wake up."

"Kai!"

With the shout, the illusion shattered in front of Naruto's eyes.

The river, the lawn, the Memorial Stone and the three logs buried into the earth remained, they were indeed at the Training Field 3. But Kakashi had turned back to his real costume; dark grey hood and cloak, the ANBU uniform underneath, the bone white mask reflecting the moonlight.

The hand which reached out for Naruto was holding a senbon, the distinctive color of anesthetic shining at the tip.

"Urrrrrrrrgh!"

Grabbing Kakashi's wrist with force, Naruto flung him forward with fury. The cloak drifted down silently, and the silver-haired ANBU turned a somersault agilely in mid-air, then stepped lightly on the surface of the river, movement as elegant as a cat.

"I'll never forgive you..." Naruto's voice was low with danger. He suddenly looked up, vertical pupils lay across his blood-red eyes. "Sound based genjutsu, huh? You added it to the bell sound... You profaned Kakashi-sensei's death! How dare you use him to deceive me! I'll going to kill you!!"

Growling, the blond threw himself at his enemy like a javelin, clenched fist upraised. "Take off your stupid mask! You coward, who the hell are you!"

Splash!

The river spattered high with his blow, water drops fell everywhere nearby, as if it just drizzled at the bank. Kakashi dodged the fist at ease; while Naruto was still benting down, he seized the opportunity to aim a heavy kick at the jinchuuriki's left temple.

Naruto raised his arm, just in time to block Kakashi's attack. Limbs bumped into each other with thuds, the two shinobi began to confront each other with taijutsu, and the movements of both sides were too fast to even be seen clearly.

Parrying and fighting back, Naruto felt his rage and hatred was about to burst out of his chest, as if someone just poured a pot of boiled oil on his insides and almost burnt them alive.

"First show me the illusion of sensei... And now you're mimicing his skills! You worm!" He snapped. "Why are you in ANBU uniform? Why are you so familiar with Kakashi-sensei's fighting style? You traitor of Konoha!"

He extended his free hand to grasp at Kakashi's mask. Kakashi dodged with a back filp. Crossing his fingers, Naruto snarled, "Taju Kage Bunshin no Justu!"

In a moment, numerous clones crowded the whole training field, as well as the surface of the river and the branches nearby. Those red eyes, burning with fury, were all staring at the figure in the air.

"Watch this," hundreds of Naruto yelled simultaneously, chakra concentrated in their hands. "Giant Rasengan Barrage Line!"

Sharingan wide open, tomoe inside started swirling madly. Kakashi completed his hand signs in a wink.

Water Release: Rain Formation!

Massive chakra gathered above the training field, turned into real water, then dropped to the ground; so dense and powerful, just like a meteor shower. The clones who got hit immediately disappeared in puffs of smoke, even though a few of them managed to escape from the deadly rain and rushed up into the sky, Kakashi had already prepared another justu for them.

Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!

The fire dragon roared past, and wherever it went, the clones were all destroyed without exception.

When the fire dragon as well as the dust storm it created dissipated, the Training Field 3 was no longer what it had used to be. The real Naruto was crouching on the rough broken ground, still staring at his enemy with hatred in his eyes.

It was impossible to not awake anyone with such large sounds. Shinobi shunshin-ed to the edge of the battlefield one after another, among which were several familiar faces, Sakura, Yamato, Ino, Genma...

Two group of ANBU appeared directly in the mid-air, their ninjato unsheathed at the same time, thrusting at the falling figure.

By then, however, Kakashi had finished the last hand sign for his third justu.

Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!

With a mighty bang, the eight ANBU ricocheted towards different directions with bleeding wounds on their bodies, as if they were cut by invisible blades.

Kakashi floated onto the ground.

"Leave us alone!" Naruto shouted. "It's my own fight!"

He saw the masked man over there turned around to face him.

Naruto sneered.

"Checkmate, you idiot," he said.

"Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!"

The masked man quickly glanced back. There were three Naruto over there, only a few steps away from him. One of them was holding the giant Rasenshuriken, and they were all rushing to him. "I'll rip off your mask this time!"

"Naruto!!" Sakura shouted with anxiety. "You'll hurt yourself!"

Her voice was drowned by the roaring Rasenshuriken. By then Naruto had reached his enemy; just a little bit closer, then he could beat up the bastard who desecrated Kakashi-sensei, smash his mask and reveal the damned face underneath--

Tails of the tomoe stretched, and the pattern inside the pupil changed.

Kamui.

The space distorted rapidly, in the next moment, Rasenshuriken vanished from Naruto's hand.

The atmosphere turned from extremely noisy to extremely quiet in no time.

"...He must be kidding," said Ino with a pale face. "Naruto... he failed again...?"

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Three clones were dismissed. Naruto was standing still, only half a step from the masked man. Now his eyes were wide open, almost to the limit, pupils constricted to tiny dots. It was as if he had just seen the scariest scene in his life.

"You..." he said faintly.

The masked man moved back a few steps, then turned around, raced away from Konoha.

"Wait!" Naruto yelled and went after him.

"You guys, warn the village. We're going to full alert status." Yamato shouted to others. "Sakura, let's go!"

Sakura replied with a brief nod. Before anyone else could say something, the two shinobi left the training field to chase Naruto and the assassin.

Trees seemed to recede as they leapt from one branch to another. Sakura felt her hands in gloves cold and wet with sweat.

"...Captain Yamato," she said in quaver. "That man... his movement..."

"Enough," the brown-haired man interrupted her with a grave voice that Sakura had never heard. "Now let's put Naruto's safety first."
————————————————————

That's impossible.

His right arm ached awfully as if it was crushed. Naruto seemed oblivious to the pain; instead, he just kept his eyes fixed on the figure a few meters ahead.

Impossible.

But that justu... the justu that could dismiss his Rasenshuriken in a flash. No hand seals, no need to gather chakra in advance, it was like the user could release his justu instantly whenever he wanted.

It was like he could release it in a single glimpse.

Clenching his wounded hand, Naruto gritted his teeth.

The man was repressing his chakra signature, and there was only one way to confirm Naruto's suspicion. He had not fully recovered from the fight against Pein, and got injured again because of using the forbidden justu, but...

Naruto stopped abruptly. He made a hand seal and closed his eyes.

Be quick... be quick... only this time.,,

Sage Mode!

Orange pigmentation appeared around Naruto's eyes. He began to run again, much faster than before. He soon caught up with his target and threw a punch at him.

The masked man hit a backhand without turning around, as if he had eyes on the back of his head; but then he was catapulted by the natural energy that covered Naruto's fist. He spun rapidly in the air before landed in front of Naruto.

By then Naruto had dismissed the Sage Mode.

Not because the time was up, but because he had lost his fight.

Thanks to his intensified senses enhanced by Sage Mode, their fight was short, but it had been long enough for Naruto to verify his speculation.

Although the chakra signature had subtly changed, the man who had attacked him was undeniably...

He opened his mouth, but failed to say anything.

"Naruto! Watch out!"

He heard Sakura screaming from behind, her voice sounded so far away, as if it was from somewhere in a long distance.

He saw the masked man raised his right hand, familiar dense blue-white lightning roaring in the palm.

He just stood there, watching the man rushed towards him and reached in a split-second, Raikiri aiming at the middle of his chest--

His blood splattered.

Blood spurted from Naruto's mouth as well. He face turned pale with a painful expression, hunching his back.

The hand thrust deeply into his abdomen, almost pierced through his body.

Naruto lifted his hand and grasped the man's wrist, tightening his fingers; then he reached out the other hand, trembling to the mask.

"Let me... see your face..." there was begging in his eyes, "Who... the hell... are you..."

The bone-white mask showed nothing as reply.

The unidentified shinobi raised his left hand. Lightning was gathered again, and this time, the target was his own right arm.

He chopped it in half.

The severed hand in Naruto's belly turned into fly ash, flitered silently through his fingers. The blond stared with wide eyes.

Under his gaze, the wound-- it was not bleeding-- began to recover rapidly by itself. In a few seconds, a brand new hand reformed in its old place, as if nothing had happened at all.

Clenching his fist, the masked man moved back a step.

"Ka..." Naruto uttered weakly from his throat.

The masked man froze.

"Now!" Yamato shouted behind him. "Cover me, Sakura! I'll catch him!"

Strong branches grew up from the around ground, launching attacks against the masked man. Above them, the pink-haired kunoichi uplifted her fist, ready to give her enemy a head-on blow. "Shannarooooo!!"

Lightning once again appeared in the masked man's hand, and he easily cut off all the branches with a single wave. However, when the hand touched Sakura's fist, the sparks suddenly disappeared.

Bang!

The ground cracked with a deafening sound. Naruto was standing in situ, teetering. Sakura put her arms around him, carrying her teammate to safety with a mighty leap.

She landed right beside Yamato, and they both looked to where she were. When the dust storm cleared, the masked man was nowhere to be found.

"Let's heal Naruto first," said Yamato after a brief silence. He turned his eyes to the blond, who was lying in Sakura's arms, unconscious.

Under the moonlight, Sakura saw his jaw tightened and his face as well as lips lost its color.

She knew she must be the same, if not worse.
————————————————————

Naruto woke up half an hour later.

Yamato had used his Mokuton to build a simple house on the small clearing in the forest. Naruto was now lying in bed in one of the bedrooms. He lost his usual energy and vigor, and kept staring at the ceiling without saying a word, his eyes glassy.

With inflamed eyes, Sakura soundlessly picked up her first-aid supplies. She went out of the room and shut the door. Instead of leaving immediately, she stopped after a few steps in the corridor.

It was quiet at first, then Sakura soon heard Naruto's repressed crying from inside the bedroom.

"Sensei...Ka...kashi...sensei...."

Bandages and ointments tumbled from her hands. Leaning against the wall, Sakura dropped down weakly onto the floor.

She clamped her hand over her mouth, trying not to make any sound. Tear streamed sliently down her cheeks.
————————————————————

One hour later.

The door was knocked twice. Naruto didn't move.

The man outside gave a quiet cough. "Naruto, I'm coming in."

Naruto didn't reply.

Yamato opened the door and entered. He looked terrible, as if he had been fighting for seven days and felt exhausted, both physically and mentally.

"Some ANBU have been here just before. I told them you were injured, and had better not move for now," he said with a low voice. "Fortunately I still have some prestige among my former colleagues, and finally, they were persuaded to leave. They also told me that those ANBU who got injured in the training field have been sent to the hosiptal. None of their wounds were lethal... vital parts were all deliberately avoided. "

"......"

"Naruto, you..."

"Captain Yamato."

He was interrupted by the blond. Yamato looked up, a little bit surprised.

Naruto sat up from the bed. He was seriously injured, abdomen and right hand wrapped with heavy bandages; his movement was still slow. However, there were no longer tears on his face, nor any traces that implied he had cried.

His blue eyes were extremely bright-- there was fire of rage burning inside.

Rage, but calm as well at the same time.

Being able to control feelings, to prevent oneself from driven by extreme emotions, then one could be called a qualified, mature shinobi..

Naruto, you have grown up again, Yamato thought.

But the price was too high.

"I don't want to go back to Konoha soon," Naruto continued. His voice was quiet, too quiet that it was not even like his own. "I'm going to see the Reikage, and convince him to forgive Sasuke."

He looked at Yamato with the bright blue eyes.

"Please help me."

Yamato's heart melted.

Well, he thought. It wouldn't be necessarily safe if they returned to the village. Naruto was wounded, and it would give Danzo a prefect excuse. That conspirator might well put Naruto under house arrest in the name of protection. Though going for Reikage was also a crazy plan, anyway...

"All right," he finally sighed, scratching his head. "Then we can't stay long around Konoha. By sunrise tomorrow we'll be on our way, OK?"

"OK."

"Take your time to rest," Yamato nodded. "I'm leaving."

"And..." Naruto spoke again when he was about to get out. "Whoever did it, I'll NEVER let him off. "

"I'll end this all."
——————————————————————

Kakashi finally stopped after running for several miles without a break.

The Edo Tensei-ed body wouldn't feel tired.

Only body, however.

He raised his shaking hand to his eyes. The new-born one was clean, with no stains on it; but in Kakashi's eyes, it was covered with blood, warm and sticky, saturated his gloves, stained his every single finger, etched into his fingerprints.

Naruto's blood.

The blood of his student, the son of his sensei.

The old nightmare abruptly revived, automatically replayed itself in his dead mind. His fist penetrated the brown-haired girl's chest. Her heart stopped beating in his palm, turned into a mess of flesh and blood.

Two pairs of eyes, brown and blue, wide open, filled with the same shock and agony, staring directly into his eyes.

Their looks could kill him a zillion times.

Kakashi's knees buckled. He crumpled down onto the ground, curling up into a ball, trembling violently.

The world... was hell.

It had been hell since he was twelve at Kannabi Bridge, whenObito was crushed under the bould.

When he met Team Seven, he thought there was finally light shining into his dismal life , but that was just an illsion.

Such a man like him would always be clouded with misery when he was alive, and could not rest in peace even after death.

"Well, well... It seemed I've underestimated you, Hatake Kakashi," Kabuto's voice suddenly sounded in his mind. "I didn't expect you to force yourself to change the aiming point of Raikiri, or took advantage of the loophole in my order. You not only let the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki and his fellow escape, but also exposed your identity to them so easily."

"Mahh, that's fine. The jinchuuriki was your loyal student, and he won't have the heart to see his deceased sensei's fame to be tainted, will he?"

"For the moment, you don't have to approach him. Just monitor nearby, keep a close watch on their movements and report to me whenever necessary. When it's the time... he will come to you himself."

Chapter Text

On the next day by dawn, the three shinobi in the forest had packed their bags and were ready to set off.

"Are you okay already, Naruto?" Yamato asked when the said blond was stretching his arms. It seemed he had regained his vigor. "Don't force yourself."

"No problem, Captain Yamato," Naruto answered, patting his chest confidently. "With Sakura-chan's medic justu and Kyuubi's chakra healing me overnight, I've been mostly recovered!"

"How reckless of you to use the Rasenshuriken!" Sakura sulked. "It is incomplete so it is a forbidden justu, remember? Fortunately you just released it once and didn't actually hit anything, or your arm would be damaged again!"

"Well..."Naruto scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly. "I was too furious then to remember that."

Sakura sighed, however, the corners of her lips curled up. But then, something seemed occured to her and her face went sad and dismal.

"Naruto...I'm not going with you, " she said, lowering her gaze down at the ground. "Shizune-senpai has passed away, and Master Tsunade was dismissed as Hokage...I must stay by her side."

"Furthermore, I don't know what attitude I should take to face Sasuke-kun now."

Naruto stared at her for a while before nodding determinedly. "Alright! Go back then, Sakura-chan. Rest assured, I won't forget to change the bandage. And Captain Yamato will also remind me of it."

"But if so," Said former ANBU butt in with, "Is it okay that the three of us left last night while only you go back alone?"

"I suppose it's okay," Sakura looked up and managed to give a smile, though it looked a little bit reluctant. "Master Tsunade is the Sannin and former Hokage after all, and has high reputation in the village. And Danzo is going to attend the Five Kage Summit; I don't think he has the interest in screwing me over for the moment. Speak of it, you need to be careful to not run into him when searching for Reikage."

“Don't worry!” Naruto waved his fist. "First thing first. I'll talk to Reikage and get Sasuke's issue settled before reckoning on with Danzo. "

“Well, well...” Yamato slouched his shoulders.

"And, Naruto..." Sakura added nervously, kicking small peddles with her tiptoes. "About last night. The man was indeed..."

Naruto became serious at once.

"Yeah," he said in a low voice. "Your guess is right. It was not someone else... That was Kakashi-sensei, and he was Edo Tensei-ed."

With these words out, air around seemed to be frozen for a moment. Yamato's expression became gloomy instantly.

"Maybe..." Sakura crossed her fingers, squeezing tightly. She was like a drowning person, clutching desperately at the straw of fluke. "After all, none of us have seen his face, and... as we all know, Kakashi-sensei's coffin was empty."

That was the biggest reason that she suspected it was not Kakashi. The jonin's body had not been buried as others', instead, it was kept inside the special sanctum of ANBU, deep underground the headquarter. It was protected by the most sophisticated seal, and guarded by three teams of ANBU elites in turns 24/7.

A corpse with Sharingan deserved to be treated like that. Konoha should never loosen its protection towards a Sharingan -in this case, a Mangekyo Sharingan with strong Dojustu -at least before the Akatsuki was completely destroyed, and the world went back to relative peace.

"The Rasenshuriken then, " Naruto whispered. "That was not my fault. It was Kakashi-sensei who transported it into another dimension. And the Raikiri... you have both seen it."

He involuntarily laid his hand on his belly, slightly grasping his clothes.

For a while no one spoke. Sakura drew a wavering breath, buried her face into her hands.

"However, we'd better all keep quiet about this," Naruto broke the slience. "Just let others think that I failed to release the Rasenshuriken again. We can't let them know that it was Kakashi-sensei, and make sensei on everyone's tongue."

Sadness emerged in his eyes as his lips became a thin line. "He held back himself yesterday... That Raikiri could have been went through my chest. But I... I said a lot of harsh words to him during our fight. Kakashi-sensei's personality and consciousness has not been entirely eliminated, and he must feel anguished to be forced to fight me. I can't make him hurt more due to others' discussions. "

"Naruto, I fully understand your point, and have the same feeling with you. But still..." Yamato suddenly spoke, frowning. "I've been Kakashi-senpai's colleague in ANBU for many years, and he wasn't famous among all five nations for nothing. As a comrade, he was the most reliable prop, while as an enemy," an uneasy look swept across his face, "how frightening he could be was beyond your imagination."

"It was not the absolute power... What made Hatake Kakashi fearful most was his sharp mind of tactics, and rich fighting experience accumulated from surviving narrow escapes from death numerous times. It would have been better if he was only being manipulated as a puppet, but from what happened last night, it's more likely that senpai's actions were still highly self-directed. Not to mention he knows Konoha better than most people, and once he has some plan against the village, it will be much easier for him to carry it out than an enemy shinobi, and the casualty will also be much higher."

"If senpai sees he does harm to Konoha by his own hand... for him there's no difference from being killed again. Therefore, I suppose we'd better report to the council, and warn them about him."

While he was talking, Naruto was just listening sliently. But to Yamato's surprise, the blond just shook his head afterwards.

"Rest assured, Kakashi-sensei's target is me," he said. "And he doesn't want to disclose himself, at least in front of someone other than us, or he would have attacked others at Training Field 3 yesterday, instead of leaving immediately. In addition..."

"In addition what?" Yamato asked curiously, impressively thinking Naruto's brain worked really fast at the crucial moment. "And I have to say that nobody can rest assured knowing he's after you. "

"The genjustu. When Kakashi-sensei lured me to the training field by genjustu, I told him my plan. And he answered, 'If that's your plan, then just do it. Never go back on your words, never change your goal once detemined, that's your ninja way. ' Even though I've known it was a genjustu, but somehow... I still believe that it was what he trully wanted to tell me."

His blue eyes became bright, shining with determination. For the first time since Kakashi had died, Naruto grinned widely as ever. "Sensei believes me! And I should never fail him!"

"Naruto..." Yamato was moved and could not help showing it slightly. He gave a wry smile, patting at the back of his head. "Well, senpai... You have really left a big trouble to me."

"All right, let's go!" Naruto waved his hand to Sakura. "Bye, Saku-"

His voice was cut off when the said kunoichi suddenly came up and hugged him.

"Naruto..." Sakura was clutching him tightly. Naruto could not see her face, but could hear her choking voice, begging weakly. "Please, be careful. Team Seven is now... I can no longer..."

Her words were incoherent, but Naruto understood.

"Leave it to me, Sakura-chan. I'll come back safe." The blond reached out, holding his teammate in his arms, patting her shoulder softly. His expression was mild but firm. "I'll definitely bring Sasuke back, that's what I've promised to you; and here is another promise, that I'll definitely save Kakashi-sensei. Be a man of his word, that's also my ninja way."

"Everything will be okay."
————————————

But things did not went as well as Naruto had expected.

By aid of Yamato's seed, they had tracked the two shinobi from Kumogakure when they had left Konoha, and successfully found Reikage at last. However, after an ineffectual negotiation, Naruto had only turned out to be more disappointed and worried than before.

Giving up his pride, lowering his head, benting his knees, what he had got in return were just Reikage's cold words.

"Akatsuki will be internationally wanted criminals, then the whole world will be after Sasuke, not just me. You beg for mercy for a criminal, for the safety of your friend, but in the ninja world, we don't call that friendship! You won't get far in the ninja world if you keep acting so stupidly!"

Lying on the tatami mats in the inn room, listening to the snow storms roaring outside, Naruto felt in a loss totally.

Sasuke... Where are you now...? What are you thinking? Have you once ever thought about me and Sakura...?

Have you heard about... what happened to Kakashi-sensei? Inherited Chidori from him, have you got the same feeling of mine when I had learned the news of Ero Sennin's death, when you heard he was dead?

You have said that someone like me without family or siblings would never understand how it felt to once owned then lose them all. But now I've understand that feeling. The feeling of losing someone dearest to you and longing to take revenge.

I've understand your pain. I'm now carrying the same pain as you. And you defeated your brother, got your revenge... Do you feel better, or has it just got worse?

Sasuke... Why haven't you come back to Konoha? Has the hatred really eaten you up?

Clenching his fists, Naruto closed his eyes.

I don't understand you any more, Sasuke-

"How about getting up and have a little chat, Uzumaki Naruto?"

Someone suddenly spoke behind him. Naruto turned back at once, eyes widened when he saw the figure.

"You.. you are..."

The man in black cloak with red clouds was sitting uninhibitedly on the windowsill, one hand under his chin. Behind the only hole on the orange swirl-mask, a blood-red eye was staring down at him.

Bang!!

Rolling smoke rose in the loud noise. Jumping up into the air, Obito looked down at the two Konoha shinobi. "Rasengan, huh? You know full well it won't work on me."

He started to fall while speaking. At the moment his tiptoes touched the rooftop, several thick branches reached out from under the tiles, tied him up in no time.

After a series of dense thuds, wooden barrier grew up from nowhere in front of Naruto, blocking his way to Obito. Yamato stepped to the front of the barrier, staring at Obito warily. "Don't think you can take Naruto away from here!"

The test subject of Orochimaru on Hashirama cells, and the kohai of Kakashi in ANBU... well.

Obito tutted inwardly.

What a weak team. So weak that I can even try to catch Kyuubi right away here. If Kakashi were still alive, he would have undoubtedly come with you too.

Well, fine. It's too near to the location of Five Kage Summit here... No need to cause chaos.

"Don't be so nervous," he tilted his head, allowing himself bound by the Mokutun. "I just want to talk for now."

"I'm... fully interested in you, Naruto."

The blond was grasping at the barrier with both hands, glaring at him suspiciously. Looking at Naruto, what emerged in Obito's mind was a picture of the silver-haired shinobi standing in front of the Memorial Stone, gazing at one particular name carved on it, murmuring.

"Naruto is just like Minato-sensei... and you, too. If you were alive, I'm sure you would be fond of him."

"I firmly believe that he is the only one who can surpass Minato-sensei. The only one who can change the ninja world."

Obito scoffed at it.

Just like Minato-sensei? Ahh, sure, indeed, blue eyes and blond hair. As well as being naive in the heart of hearts, and incompetent to save their teammates.

But how can he be like me?

If it means me of the past... Well, that's true.

And that may be even more miserable than being like Minato.

Uzumaki Naruto... Why did the aloof Kakashi, who forever kept distance with others inwardly, no matter how well he disguised himself, had such huge trust in nobody but you? Was it just because you are like Minato-sensei, and the past me?

If so, what a pathetic substitute for the ghosts you are.

Naruto's fingers tightened around the barrier. The gaze of the masked man made him feel very uncomfortable, like it was going to pirece him through, to look straight into his heart.

"What are you going to do with Sasuke?" Shoving away the uneasy thought, the blond shouted. "Tell me about Sasuke!"

"Sasuke,eh...? " Rousing himself, Obito raised his head. "Alright, I'll tell you."

"The story of Uchiha Sasuke, a man eaten up by the hatred and bitterness towards the ninja world."
————————————

"Liar... That's not true!"

After listening to the story that "Uchiha Madara" was telling, Naruto sank into extreme astonishment. His mind was a complete blank with the only one thought left.

"You're lying! How can that be true! " He yelled at the man above.

"I'm not lying," Obito said calmly. "That's the truth about Itachi. He died for Sasuke, and for Konoha. If you ask me why Sasuke didn't follow Itachi's wishes and return to Konoha... I could only say that he chose it himself. I took a gamble... not knowing whether he would choose to follow Itachi's wishes or choose revenge against Konoha. And he chose the latter one... Because he is a true avenger."

Loosening his grips weakly, Naruto lowered his head, sliding down to his knees against the barrier.

"Why... why did this happen to him...? Why did he turn to revenge...?" He mumbled in anguish. "I've promised to Sakura... to bring Sasuke back to Konoha... to go back to the Team Seven we used to be..."

Beneath the mask, Obito raised his eyebrows.

"The Team Seven you used to be?" He heard the sneering voice of himself, with an undertone of malicious glee. "You can never go back again. That Kakashi of the Sharingan has died, hasn't he?"

Naruto winced. He suddenly looked up, glaring at Obito.

"So what!" He shouted. "At least..."

At least before Edo Tensei-ed Kakashi-sensei leaves the world again, I want to let him see Sasuke back to the village. I want him to rest in peace.

But he didn't finish his words. No need to talk about that with an enemy... It would only bring more mockery and embarrassment.

"At least what?" Obito asked.

Naruto didn't answer.

"Just give up," Obito didn't mind his silence, steering the conversation back to Sasuke. "Sasuke had no choice. That's the hate-filled destiny of the Uchiha clan, a curse has followed us for generations. Hashirama and I, Senju and Uchiha, the Will of Fire and hatred, Naruto and Sasuke... You have been chosen by fate. Naruto... someday you'll have to fight Sasuke, or rather... I'll make you fight Sasuke. This fated battle has been long in coming, and I'll use Sasuke to force people to acknowledge the Uchiha clan. "

"Sasuke isn't your toy!" Naruto roared, "Get off him!"

"If all you want is the meaningless acknowledgement, then why do you need the tailed beasts?" Yamato who had kept quiet aside suddenly spoke. "What are you really after?"

"Well, if you must know... it is to become complete."

"Complete...?"

"There's no use in telling you," Obito shrugged. "You will understand when the time comes. It's been fun chatting... See you."

Kamui was activated and air twisted. Obito threw a last glimpse at Naruto before leaving.

You are wrong, Kakashi.

The man who is going to change the world is not Uzumaki Naruto, but me, Uchiha Obito.

What a pity... that you will never be able to see it.

Chapter Text

Under the bridge, Uchiha Sasuke was standing on the rubbles, panting, face covered in blood.

Beside his feet, Karin was lying on the ground, dying. Chest pierced through by Chidori Sharp Spear, she was almost at her last gasp.

Looking around, Sasuke's gaze slowly came to rest on Karin's face. The redhead kunoichi also looked up at him, tears shining in her eyes, lips trembling, calling his name soundlessly.

Sa...suke...

"That woman... If you don't need her any more, then kill her. She knows too much about us. Go get some rest, come to see me when you are ready to implant Itachi's eyes."

Leaving these words, "Uchiha Madara" left with Danzo's corpse through his dimension justu.

Tch. Sasuke tutted dismissively. The man with just words and no actions... It'll be much easier for you to dispose of her instead of me.

He lifted his hand slowly, dense lightning gathered in his palm.

Killing for other than revenge. With this strike down, he would completely abandon his past self, and would never be able to go back to Uchiha Sasuke he had used to be.

So what? He heard the cold voice of himself in his mind, I have long since been unable to go back.

I'm an avenger. I'm going to take my revenge against Konoha for Itachi, and for my clan. Whoever in my way will only end up being killed by me!

Undisguised killing intent burst out of his eyes. He raised his hand higher, seeming to wave it down soon, ending the life of his teammate-

Whoosh!

While Sasuke's hand was still hanging in the air, a familiar figure in orange suddenly cut in from his behind. After a second, both the figure and Karin had disappeared from their former positions.

Crisp sounds of Chidori died out, and the lightning dissipated. Sasuke put down his arm.

He turned around, saw Uzumaki Naruto putting Karin down gently onto a slate that had not been destroyed during the last fight here. Then the blond stood up, turned around to face him.

"Naruto," he said grimly,his face deadpan.

Naruto didn't reply immediatedly. He was just carefully looking Sasuke up and down, from hair to toes.

Several hours later after "Madara" had left, Naruto and Yamato met more unexpected guests- the Three Sand Siblings. They had relayed what had happened during the Five Kage Summit to the two Konoha shinobi: Sasuke's fight against the Reikage, "Madara"'s declaration of war, the plan to form the shinobi allies, and that the new Hokage Danzo had been missing, while Sasuke seemingly chasing him. Hearing about the last news, Naruto could hardly stay still in the inn, and had went out to search for Sasuke in Sega Mode, despite Yamato's prevention.

He did found Sasuke, but it seemed to be a little bit late.

Sasuke was still alive, which meant Danzo was doomed. Not that Naruto cared about the new Hokage's life, what he really cared was-

It will be best if Sasuke agrees to go back with you, but what if he refuses? I'm asking you... what you'll do if Sasuke turns against Konoha? Sasuke is still pure. He can become anything. If that happens, will you be able to stop him?

Crows wheeling in the air, the expression of Uchiha Itachi was bland, but his words were harsh.

How had he replied?

I'll protect Konoha! And I'll do it without killing him!

But Itachi had just shaken his head.

You're such a child. That's nothing but a fantasy... Sometimes shinobi have to make difficult choices when facing a dilemma.

Why Itachi as an enemy had asked questions like those, Naruto figured that he could somehow understand after "Madara"'s narration.

However, even if Itachi had denied his answer, Naruto still believed he could find the key as soon as he met Sasuke.

"Sasuke," Naruto's voice was uncharacteristicly calm. "I've heard about Itachi's truth from the guy called Tobi. I don't know if it's true or not, but either way..."

"I understand everything that you're doing."

Sasuke's brow twitched slightly. But other than that, the raven haired boy showed no reactions towards Naruto's words. It seemed that he had determined to prevent Naruto or any other Konoha shinobi from affecting him.

"Naruto," the last Uchiha said slowly. "I've told you, you have no parents or siblings, so you can understand nothing about me. It's none of your business, so shut up!"

A look of sadness crossed Naruto's face. He lowered his gaze.

"Yeah," he nodded. "You were right. When we were fighting in the Valley of the End, what I said to persuade you was totally nonsense, because I couldn't understand your feeling back then. But now it's not the same. I've lost Jiraiya, my master, and..."

He looked up at Sasuke with sorrow and hope in his eyes. "Have you... heard about what happened to Kakashi-sensei? Did you..."

"Ahh, yes, I did heard about that. Kakashi... he died." Sasuke interrupted Naruto. His eyes turned red in a flash, left hand on his own right wrist, lightning roaring in the palm of his right hand.

He suddenly rose his volume.

"If he were still alive... I've been dying to kill him by myself!" He now looked hyper, even slightly manic. "Do you know what just happened here? I got my first bit of revenge for Itachi. I killed one of the Konoha elders, the one named Danzo. That bastard... he had ten Sharingan on his arm."

"Naruto, how do you think Kakashi, our wonderful sensei... had got his Sharingan? Maybe by some means as nasty as Danzo!"

Naruto's heart clenched at his words.

Falling rock hit Kakashi on his blind side... He crumpled. Obito returned to save him, throwing him away before a boulder had fallen, ending up being crushed underneath himself. The Sharingan was his present for Kakashi for his promotion to jonin.

Gai's heavy voice hovered in his ears.

That was the most regretful thing in Kakashi's life. He was deeply traumatized, never been able to come out of the shadow of the accident, and was tormented by guilt all the time.

"No!" Clenching his fists, Naruto shouted. "It's not like what you think! Kakashi-sensei was-"

But then Sasuke moved. Lightning still in his hand, he rushed straightly towards Naruto.

"Enough talk, Naruto!" He growled. "I'll show you no mercy!"

Words were cut off, Naruto instantly became alert. Almost out of instinct, he released the Kage Bunshin no Justu and created a Rasengan in a breath, came up to confront Sasuke. Chidori and Rasengan were shining dazzlingly, about to crush into each other as what had happened many times before-

Just at this moment, a figure suddenly jumped down from above the two boys, cutting into the space right between them.

Naruto and Sasuke's pupils shrank at the same time.

Movements were slowed down in the sight of Sharingan. Helplessly, Sasuke watched the man in front of him caught his arm, lifted it a little bit up, aimed Chidori at his own face.

Crash! Crash!

Everything became still all of a sudden.

Naruto's Rasengan thrust into the man -Kakashi -from his back, pierced through his chest; and Sasuke's Chidori-

Hit precisely at his head.
————————————

After learning about Itachi's truth, Sasuke had thought there wouldn't be anything else that could made him speechless with shock.

And he didn't expect an exception so soon.

Well, that was excusable. Imagine that you were in a fit of pique, speculating on someone who had used to be good to you with the greatest malice, while the said man appeared out of blue, and successfully used your justu that he had taught you to blow up half of his head. Even someone who had a strong heart like Sasuke could not recover quickly from all of these in a short time.

Looking at Naruto's shaking hand hanging in front of his eyes, Sasuke somehow felt better.

Shards of the mask scattered on the ground. It was dead slient under the bridge, and all three shinobi froze at their own place.

"Yo," the jonin whose upper half head was blown said happily with a carefree tone. "Long time no see. Mahh, I know it's weird to say... but can you guys please take your hands out of my body?"

……So shut up! Sasuke growled inwardly.

The two teens jerked their hands away as if they were bitten by a viper. Eyes wide, Sasuke stared as the man's dilapidated body slowly regenerated by itself, restored to what he had been familiar with. Navy-blue mask covered half of his face, unruly spiky silver hair...

He saw the cracks on his sensei's face, but didn't see the two eyes of black and red.

Surprisingly, Kakashi was eye smiling.

"Well... I sort of begin to miss those old days on the rooftop of the hospital, " he said, rubbing the back of his neck, head tilting. "Both of you have grown up so much. If it were not that I was dead, I wouldn't risk rushing into your fight and-"

He abruptly staggered forward before finishing his words; he was hugged tightly by Naruto from behind.

Kakashi opened his eyes. This time, Sasuke finally saw his darkened scleras.

"Sensei... Kakashi-sensei!" For a while Naruto seemed to be too excited to say anything else. He buried his face in the silver-haired man's back, repeating his name again and again.

Kakashi's face softened. He patted Naruto's hand around his waist fondly. "Sorry, Naruto. I apologize for having injured you before."

"And I also need to apologize to you, Sasuke," he then turned to the startled Uchiha, winked at him slyly. "After all, not everyone feels okay after smashing his sensei's head."

Sasuke didn't regain his composure until hearing his own name. Subconsciously, he took one step back, the look on his face went alert and hostile again. "Don't pretend to be so familiar with me, Kakashi. I don't remember we had such a good rapport! You're dead now, so what do you come here for?!"

"Oh! That's what I want to know, too. "Naruto suddenly raised his head. He moved round Kakashi and stopped in front of the jonin, standing side by side with Sasuke; the raven haired boy shifted his weight awkwardly. "Why are you here, Kakashi-sensei?"

"Mahh, in fact I followed you here," Kakashi smiled. "From Konoha to the Nation of Iron, I've been after you and Tenzou all along. Fortunately you were putting too much attention on Sasuke to sense me, or it wouldn't be that easy when you were in Sage Mode."

"So why didn't you say anything when we were in Konoha?" Naruto asked sadly, lowered his head. "If I were able to recognize you then, we wouldn't..."

Kakashi's smile vanished. He sighed. "Sorry, Naruto," he apologized again. "But I couldn't help it. I couldn't speak- Kabuto forbade me from saying any words."

"Kabuto?" Naruto immediately looked up, rage burning in his eyes. "So he was the one who reincarnated you?"

"Exactly," Kakashi nodded. "Just now I let Sasuke attack my head, and that was for destroying the tailsman he has buried in my head. Although I still can't get rid of his control completely, at least I can talk with you now. However," Kakashi said after a pause, face became serious. "I'm afraid that Kabuto will be aware of it soon."

"I can't stay here long... Therefore, even if I have a lot of words for both of you," he directed a meaningful look at Sasuke. "I can only pick the most important stuff now. Be cautious of Kabuto; reincarnating me was just his means of catching you two."

"Catching us?" Naruto was confused.

"To be precise, you, Sasuke," Kakashi turned to the Uchiha. "The following is just my speculation... Kabuto has ordered me to attack and get Naruto, but his true aim should be you. Orochimaru and his men never get interested in Jinchuriki, who wants the tailed beasts is Akatsuki, thus, Madara. Kabuto said he was going to use Naruto as a bargain chip, I suppose it means giving Madara Naruto and getting you in return. "

"So far, Kabuto's command for me was monitoring Naruto, " he told his students. "But since the real target has appeared, maybe he won't put his attention on Naruto any more. "

"Catching me?" Sasuke snorted. "Kakashi, I'm no longer who I used to be four years ago. Don't think you'll always be the winner if we put up a serious fight now."

Kakashi looked at him calmly. "You've successfully killed Itachi-" Sasuke winced and narrowed his eyes- "so perhaps you really can kill me as well. The pity is... I'm dead already. You know, the Edo Tensei-ed body is much more tricky than a living person. And your eyesight has severely deteriorated, hasn't it? It'll be easy for me to catch you in your current condition."

Sasuke looked surly. Before he could say anything, Naruto suddenly took a step forward, cut in between the other two shinobi with his arms spread, a stance of protection.

Sasuke's eyes widened. Since their reunion, his cold attitude towards Naruto finally began to crack obviously.

"If so," the blond turned his back to him, but Sasuke could easily tell Naruto's determination from his tone. "I can do nothing more than protect Sasuke from you, sensei."

Kakashi curled his eyes and gave them a smile. "That's it. Even though Team Seven still have a bunch of internal problems, first- "

He suddenly stopped speaking, bent down with a groan and lifted his hands to his head.

"Sensei?! "Naruto cried out, immediately came up to him in panic, suppporting Kakashi with his arms.

"It's Kabuto... He's calling me back." Kakashi dipped his hands into his hair, frowning, as if he was struggling against some unknown force. "I... must go now. Don't try to... stop me, both of you have... got injured, and won't be able to... do that."

His body was trembling violently. Then he shook off Naruto's hand, staggered and stepped back. He finally stopped shaking, turned around and walked away, tottering.

Seeing he was about to leave, Sasuke unconsciously took a step forward and opened his mouth; realizing what he was doing, the raven haired teenager instantly retreated to his former position, lips thin.

Naruto didn't notice Sasuke's little movements. Fists clenching, he gritted his teeth, watching Kakashi slowly went away from him. The thin figure seemed so lonely.

He knew Kakashi was right. Sasuke aside, the wound on his belly had healed, but he could still feel pain when moving, and the Sage Mode had consumed a lot of energy. Starting a fight recklessly and got himself injured would only hurt Kakashi-sensei more.

Nevertheless...

I didn't even have the chance to see you again before you sacrificed your life.

I really have so much to tell you... I really miss you, sensei.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Holding back tears, Naruto put his hands around his mouth, shouted as loud as he could. "Just wait a little bit longer! I'll save you! I'll never let Kabuto do whatever he wants!"

Kakashi stopped. He stooded there for a while, then looked back over his shoulder. Since showing up in front of his students, for the first time, Naruto saw the huge agony in his eyes.

He lingered in the world, didn't belong to the livings, nor could he return to the grave. He was controlled by another man, forced to take actions against his own will, to turn his blade against his precious people.

He was suffering more than anyone.

"Naruto..." Kakashi whispered, voice dissipated in wind. "Then, please."

Before the words faded, the sliver-haired jonin had vanished in swirling leaves.

Chapter Text

When Kakashi went back to the underground cave, Kabuto had been sitting casually on a stone, waiting for him.

"I have to admit that I underestimated you again, Kakashi," he hissed, staring at the silver-haired ANBU with his cold snake eyes, which were so similar to Orochimaru's. "I didn't expect you to not only break my control on you in this way, but also leak information about me to Naruto and Sasuke. "

Kakashi looked aloof. "Shinobi should be able to see underneath the underneath. Think carefully before using a justu, or it could be used against you." He tilted his head, "It seemed that you didn't get a good grade when you were a genin, no wonder you failed to pass the chunin exam so many times. You reincarnated me, wanted to use me against my students, but instead ended up alerting them. Feel regretful now?"

To his surprise, Kabuto wasn't enraged at his sarcasm. Instead he sneered. "Hnhnhn... Don't misunderstand, Kakashi. The biggest reason that I brought you back to this world is not about them."

"What?" Kakashi frowned.

"I still have other ways to get Sasuke," Kabuto pointed his finger straight up. "Ordering you to catch Kyuubi was just an attempt, it doesn't matter that you failed. You are... my second insurance."

"Insurance?" Kakashi repeated the word and got more confused. What is the man talking about?

"The preparation is coming to the end. I'm going to be busy these days, and won't have extra stamina to exercise sophisticated control on you." But Kabuto had no intention of offering further explanation. He just stood up and walked deep into the cave. "For the time being, you don't need to go out. Just stay here and guard the door."

The figure in black cloak vanished into the darkness. Kakashi stood there for a while, then went to sit down against the stone wall.

Until this time, he finally showed an exhausted expression on his face. He dropped his head back and closed his eyes.

What had happened under the bridge reappeared distinctly in front of his eyes. Thanks to Sharingan, he could remember exactlly every detail back then, and there was one thing that kept bothering him- "Itachi's truth" that Naruto had mentioned.

"Captain, you once said that you got your Sharingan from your friend."

"Together with his wish."

"A friend's wish... Do we have to respond to it?"

"Yes... Personally, I think so."

"..."

"I've heard about what happened to Uchiha Shisui. Is there anything to do with him?"

"No. Nothing."

"Alright. I might not be the best person to help, but if you have any trouble, just tell me."

"...Yes, Captain."

A dust-laden conversation that was made almost a decade ago popped up in his mind. Kakashi's eyes flew open, staring at the ceiling of the cave.

Itachi's emotional abnormality during a period of time after Shisui's death... The atmosphere of tension in the village, rumours that the Uchiha clan had been secretly planning something... And Sandaime as well as Danzo's reaction and treatment after the massacre had happened...

Could it be...?

Unconsiously clenching his fist, Kakashi threw a heavy punch at the ground. Sighing with frustration, he curled up, buried his face in arms.

It's my fault, he blamed himself harshly. If only I had been keener... been able to realize what Itachi's question had implied... to help him find another possible solution...

Then maybe things would have not gotten to where it was now. And Sasuke would have not become who he was now.

Sasuke...

Thinking of his student, his disciple that he had taught ninjutsu hand by hand, Kakashi felt his heart which had stopped beating got painful again.

Former teammates killing each other- Sasuke's killing intent was serious. The last thing he had wanted to see finally happened.

And what had caused this was his uselessness as the leader of Team Seven.

"Don't worry! Soon things will go back to the way they used to be!"

The empty words that I had said to Sakura... were probably just what I wanted to hear myself.

Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura. Sorry. I'm such an awful sensei.

Shove fingers deep into his hair, the jonin took a deep, trembling breath, then let it out slowly.

Sasuke must be stopped. He should never continue sinking into the abyss of revenge.

But...how?

He, Hatake Kakashi, was now only a dead man who was not even able to act at his own will.
————————————

For a long time afterwards, all he could do was just waiting.

Every day Kakashi stayed idly in the cave, while Kabuto began to go out frequently. Things seemed went smooth, he was in a good mood, and didn't mind telling Kakashi what had happened outside.

Tsunade had woken up and returned to the Hokage seat; the five Kages had agreed to put Hachibi and Kyuubi together in order to protect them from Akatsuki; the shinobi allies had been formed, and the five nations were now unprecedentedly united.

And what they were going to confront were their deceased family and comrades, as well as Uchiha Madara's army of a hundred thousand White Zetsu.

First Naruto, then others from Konoha and allies? Kakashi looked down at his palms. How much more blood were these hands going to be stained...

Thinking about this, he even wished Kabuto would have eliminated his consciousness, and turned him into a complete puppet.

"Don't worry," Kabuto told him, seemingly had guessed what he was thinking. "As one of my most precious pawns, you won't be sent to the battlefield, and consumed by the job that can be done by anyone else."

Again. Pawn. Insurance.

"What on earth makes me special and deserve to be treated differently? " Frowning, Kakashi studied Kabuto carefully, trying to figure out any smallest hint on his face.

"Well, you will find the answer when you come in handy," Kabuto smiled, no flaw in his expression, obviously enjoying Kakashi's bewilderment. "Tomorrow is going to be the day of formal action. Just stay still here until I give you order."
————————————

On the next day.

Obito was heavily armed, carrying gunbai on his back. He met Kabuto in another cave; behind them there were rows of coffins stood sliently in a spooky atmosphere.

"First, former members of Akatsuki..." Kabuto waved his hand. In the first row, covers of the coffins dropped to the ground simultaneously, revealed the reincarnated shinobi inside.

Kakuzu, Deidara, Sasori, Nagato, and Uchiha Itachi.

"Next, the former Jinchuuriki," another row of coffin opened. "Then the previous Kages...and finally a group of skilled ninja who were famous in their own times."

Turning to Obito, Kabuto spread his arms. "Gorgeous, isn't it?" He said smugly with pride. "My army. As promised, you will give me Sasuke when the war ends. Please remember... I still have one more person to reincarnate yet."

Obito didn't reply. He turned to face those Edo Tensei-ed shinobi, glance swept round the crowd, looking for a figure that was at once familiar and strange-

He's not here.

Realizing this, Obito felt a mixture of different feelings. He didn't know what it was like: Loss? Pity? Or... relieved?

After all, they had both changed quite a lot during these years.

"As a matter of fact," Kabuto suddenly spoke, drew Obito back from his own thought. "You've collected so many Sharingan, including those on Danzo's arms. But there was still one left in Konoha now... Why don't you take it away?"

Involuntarily, Obito's hands in black gloves shivered slightly. The tiny reaction didn't escape the gaze of the Snake Sage's disciple; the corner of Kabuto's mouth curled up a little bit, ecstasy and confidence flashed in his eyes.

But Obito didn't notice Kabuto's expression. He was still wondering about the previous question.

Why didn't he take the eye- his eye- back?

He suddenly realized that it had never been an option in his consideration. No matter when Kakashi was alive, or after his death.

For him that Mangekyou Sharingan was more percious than any other eyes. It was the only weakness of his Kamui.

But it was also his gift for Kakashi for his promotion to jonin.

Even if they had long gone their separate ways- even if that Kakashi was a fake.

Obito promptly cut off his mind before he sank into deeper thought. He was going to have war, and shouldn't be bothered by anyone or anything irrelevant.

"Because there is no need to do it," he heard himself answered indifferently. "A single eye with no pairing... Taking it back or not won't make any difference."

"Well that's a pity," Kabuto shook his head as if he really meant that. "That's Hatake Kakashi after all, and Konoha must be strictly on guard to protect his body. I was considering that it would be easy for you to sneak into the village with your ability, then I could have a finger in the pie and get him reincarnated, too. It seemed that it could only be my imagination."

Before he finished his words, the man in purple seemed had lost his patience to listen and strode out of the cave.

"Let's go," his voice was hoarse, and his tone grim and resolute. "The war begins!"
————————————

By dusk, the reincarnated ones and White Zetsu army had encountered the shinobi allies in many places, turned the border area of Nation of Fire and Nation of Thunder into war zone.

Far from the main battlefield, Itachi was helping Nagato in the forest, walking slowly.

"How much... did you know about Akatsuki?" Nagato broke the silence.

"Maybe a little bit more than you." Itachi answered blandly.

"Hn. At last we both ended up being used... thanks to our powerful dojutsu. This time too, being forced to follow the technique user's orders."

"Pein," Itachi glanced at him. "With the Sage's power, your Rinnegan, combined with my Mangekyou Sharingan, we can almost do anything. It seems that the user plans to take this opportunity to- "

Before Itachi could finish his words, a dazzling light spot popped up out of nowhere, sweeping past the two shinobi's eyes quickly, then vanished.

Itachi stopped talking as well as walking. Eyes slightly widen, he looked around and finally rest his gaze on somewhere to their left front.

"What's that?" Nagato lowered his volume. "Enemy?"

Itachi jusk shook his head. He raised one hand; Nagato saw him deftly made a series of complicated gestures. It was not like hand seals for releasing a justu, and Itachi seemed to be exchanging information with someone by using secret signals.

The slient communication lasted for about three minutes. Finally Itachi put down his arm and sighed.

"Alright," he said, ignoring Nagato's look with suspicion. "Let's go."
————————————

On the next day at dawn.

Naruto was running with all his strength. His whole body was covered in the golden chakra of Kyuubi, and just looked like a mini sun from a distance.

Someone unknown has brought a lot of deceased shinobi back to this world by Edo Tensei. Report from the frontline said that the Ino-Shika-Cho met Asuma. Naruto, if you... anyway, be prepared.

Thinking of what he had heard from Tsunade, the blond couldn't help but gritting his teeth, fire burning in his eyes.

I've met him already,Tsunade baa-chan, he answered inwardly.

Yakushi Kabuto... Until when will you stop making a fool of the dead... making my sensei suffer more?!

"Wait, Naruto!" Killer Bee shouted behind him. "Where are you going? Do you have any idea about what to do now?"

"There is a person that I must beat him up!" Naruto answered without looking back. "I don't know where to find him yet, but I'll never give up... Wow!"

He suddenly exclaimed and abruptly stopped, staring at the two reincarnated shinobi that appeared in front of him.

Nagato and Itachi.

"Finally catch up with you, idiot!" Killer Bee stopped beside him, breathing dramatically; then he realized the weird atmosphere. "You know each other, Naruto?"

"Yeah," Naruto answered. "Both of them!"

"Naruto!" Nagato's eyes light up at the sight of the blond, happiness showed on his haggard face. "I never thought we would have to fight you. I suppose it's been some time since we last met... but for a dead man like me it doesn't feel like that long. You look different."

"Eh... You mean this?" Naruto reached out and looked at his own hands. "I took control of Kyuubi, and it's the nine-tails chakra mode. "

Nagato seemed suprised but smiled soon. "You've subjugated Kyuubi... Having advanced so far, no wonder you are my fellow apprentice. So, have you conquered your hatred?"

Naruto nodded solemnly at him. "Yes. As my senior apprentice, it was you who taught me what pain meant. Bee here trained me at the Fall of Truth, and I met mom and dad... I made it this far because of all you guys!" He grinned widely.

"Naruto," Itachi who had been slient spoke suddenly. "I have something to ask you."

The blond turned his gaze to Itachi. His smile vanished and face became serious. "That's just what I want to say to you."

"You-"

Itachi froze before the next word came out. In the next moment, he finished the hand seals and put two fingers to his mouth, heaving his cheeks-

"Fire release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Bang!

A giant fireball burst out of his mouth, heat wave radiated in all directions. Both Naruto and Killer Bee sprang high into the air, successfully dodged the powerful blow.

"They are manipulated!" Killer Bee shouted. "Fight first, okay?"

The two dropped back to the ground.

"Above!" Nagato warned, though he had made hand seals uncontrollably, summoned several giant beasts.

Naruto looked up and just saw Itachi jumped down from the mid-air.

"Don't look directly into my eyes!" The raven haired shinobi shouted, tomoe in his eyes had changed their shape.

"Watch out, Bee!" Seeing this, Naruto tensed up at once and hastened to alert Killer Bee. "If he gets you with Amaterasu or Tsukuyomi.... Urghhhhhhhh!"

Before finishing his words, he suddenly grasped his throat and retched violently. A crow came out of his mouth, cawing, then fluttered and flew towards Itachi.

"After all, it came out..." Itachi murmured.

He closed his right eye which the Mangekyou Sharingan was activated, tears of blood dropped from the corner of the eye. Then it flew open again, looking at the abnormal right eye of the crow.

"Wha- What is that?" Naruto said with astonishment, wiping his saliva. "Why did I just spit out a crow... Wait! I remember! It was you back then..."

"It worked." Itachi fell down beside him while speaking, and immediately turned around, opened both of his eyes and looked at Nagato's summoned beasts.

"Amaterasu!"

With his word, black fire started burning all over the beasts' bodies.

"Calm down," Itachi raised his hand to stop Killer Bee who was about to rush towards him with blades in hands. "I'm not being controlled now. I layered a new genjustu on top of the enemy's justu, which is an order... to 'Protect Konoha'. I rigged the crow so it would show itself and react to my Mangekyou sharingan. In case things went wrong, I implanted something into its left eye."

"It was... Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan, the ultimate genjustu, Kotoamatsukami! "

"Uchiha Shisui..." All of these had happened too fast for Naruto to fully understand. Repeating the strange name, he seemed still confused.

Sadness flashed in Itachi's eyes. "It's not a good time to talk about the details," he said quietly. "Let's defeat Nagato first."
————————————

The fight was over. Under the cooperation of Naruto, Itachi and Killer Bee, Nagato was sealed by the Sword of Totsuka and finally rested in peace.

"...That's all I need to say. " Itachi ended the talk between him and Naruto with these words. "Leave the controller of Edo Tensei to me, you two go to fight Madara now."

"You're right... I guess I was just too obsessed with absolutely having to do something." Naruto calmed down after talking with Itachi. "But I must stop the Edo Tensei with my own hands. I've promised someone to do that."

To his surprise, Itachi smiled.

"It was Kakashi-san, right?" He said. "Don't worry. I've got in contact with captain, and he wasn't sent to the battlefield. "

"Oh, that's great!" Naruto was quite relieved at Itachi's words. He patted his chest. "If Kakashi-sensei were forced to fight anyone from Konoha again, he would definitely- Wait, WHAT?!" He suddenly realized what was wrong, jumped up and stared at Itachi. "You called Kakashi-sensei 'captain'?!"

"So he had never told you guys about it," Itachi nodded. "When I was in ANBU, he was my immediate superior. We had worked together for two years."

"Immediate superior... worked together for two years..." Naruto mumbled. "Then you put him in your Tsukuyomi."

"Special situation, special strategy. During undercover missions in ANBU, it was one of the necessary means to gain enemies' trust. Captain would understand it." Itachi said as if it was just something taken for granted. He paused, then turned around. "Anyway, time is running out. Let go to do what we should do separately. Agree to leave Kabuto to me now?"

"Yep!" Naruto nodded vigorously and thumbed up at the raven haired shinobi's back. "Good luck!"
——————————————

One behind the other, two figures darted through the forest.

The man in the front suddenly waved his hand. Dozens of crows flew out of his sleeves, cawing noisily, rushing towards the teenager behind, aiming straight at his face.

"...Urgh!" Subconsciously, Sasuke raised his arms to parry and inevitably slowed down.

"Stay there," he heard Itachi's bland voice echoed off. "Don't follow me."

He shouldn't say that. Sasuke was instantly enraged by his brother's words. Eyes turned red from black, the pattern of Mangekyou Sharingan appeared in his pupils.

"Amaterasu!"

The crowd of crows was engulfed in the black fire. Sasuke looked around, but Itachi had been out of his sight.

"Damn!" He couldn't help but cursed, running towards the direction that his brother's chakra signature had gone.

"When you were alive you always had no time to look after me. Every time you only said 'Forgive me', then poke my forehead and ran away. Now you are dead, are you still going to run away from me?"

"I'm not running away. I've told you that I have important things to do."

Thinking of the conversation that they had made several minutes ago, Sasuke got more and more impatient.

I don't care what are you going to do! He shouted inwardly. Now you are in front of my eyes... I have a mountain of things to ask you! Why are you running away now? Do you feel guilty because you lied to me? Or you don't have the courage to tell me the truth?

I'm not in an illusion any more. I've broken your genjustu! These were your eyes, and it was you that changed everything about me!

Crash!

There came a bang from the front as if mountain stones were crushed down. Sasuke startled and sped up; he saw Itachi had used his Susanoo to smash the rock face, and was talking to someone inside.

"Hahahaha!" He heard a familiar voice, and the man was guffawing. "So fortune is finally on my side!"

Obviously Itachi had also sensed his presence. He sighed. "It turned out to be much worse than I expected. Geez."

"What do you come here for-" Sasuke stopped beside him, about to continue his words before he recognized who was standing opposite. A look of disgust immediately came across his face. "It's you."

"I wasn't expect my compensation for helping with this war to come here of its own accord at this timing..." Kabuto fleered. He licked his lips. "This is lucky."

"Sasuke," Itachi stuck his arm out between his little brother and Kabuto. "If you really want to help, then stop his accomplice who is coming here for me. Don't let that man interfere my fight... Or it's going to be really troublesome."

"Accomplice?" Sasuke was bemused, but Itachi didn't explain further. Instead he just raised his volume and exclaimed, "Be quick!"

Threw a last glance at his brother, Sasuke stepped back and left the cave. He turned around, looking into the dark, quiet forest, activating his Sharingan to search for anything suspicious.

As if he had sensed something, the raven haired teenager suddenly looked up on the nearest tree.

Sasuke didn't know when the silver-haired jonin had arrived, but the reincarnated shinobi was now standing sliently on the branch, looking down at him.

"I didn't expect to met you again so soon," the man sighed.

With this he raised his right hand. Dense lightning gathered between his fingers, sizzling harshly.

"Me either," Sasuke answered coldly. Just as what his sensei had done, he also raised his right hand, lightning of the same density glittering in his palm, the sound of crying birds reverberated through the forest.

"And this time... it won't be as simple as just smashing your head!"

Chapter Text

The same dazzling lightning and the same shrill sounds. Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Sasuke, the master and disciple that had parted company and been separated by life and death, stood at where they were, sliently gazing at each other.

Sasuke looked up at Kakashi. He remembered when they had last met; back then his eyesight had deteriorated to a considerable degree, and he had not even been able to see the surroundings clearly all the time. When Kakashi had started walking away from him and Naruto, he had soon failed to catch his figure before the jonin had gone too far.

But now it was different. He had implanted Itachi's eyes, and even in such a dim woodland, he could still effortlessly see the nearby environment without missing a tiny detail, including those split ends of the cracks on the silver-haired shinobi's face.

Therefore, for the second time, he keenly realized that the man was dead.

The only sensei that he had acknowledged. The man who had protected him, taken care of him, and selflessly taught him his unique skill during his short period of time in Konoha. The man who, in a sense, had filled the roles of father and brother that he had lost- though Sasuke was reluctant to admit it.

But now everything have changed. Neither him nor Kakashi were able to go back to who they had used to be.

"Well, I didn't imagine you value my head like that," Kakashi smiled at Sasuke's words, tilting his head. "Anyway, it's just an Edo Tensei-ed body, so you can smash it as many times as you want... as long as you can make it, of course."

Sasuke frowned. Kakashi was a highly skilled shinobi, whose only shortage was his low stamina. However, as a reincarnated one, he now had unlimited chakra. The Edo Tensei-ed body wouldn't feel painful or tired, and was able to recover itself when it got damaged, and Sasuke knew better than anyone how lethal chidori could be. A tricky opponent.

"Even though I want to have a friendly combat practice with my lovely student..." Kakashi drawled. Sasuke could see his body shimmering, which meant he was trying hard to resist Kabuto's order to attack. "I need to remind you one thing. Don't just fight me; your mission is to protect Itachi and prevent me from interfering his fight against Kabuto. Don't even let me have him in sight."

"Kabuto's aim is to make me send Itachi to another dimension by Mangekyo Sharingan. You still have a lot of words for Itachi, don't you? Then make sure that it won't happen."

Sasuke couldn't help but got anxious at Kakashi's words. Susanoo immediately appeared around him and smashed the rock behind. With a huge bang, the ledge collapsed, chunks of debris fell down and blocked the hole that Itachi had just broken, preventing them from catching sight of the two men standing in the cave, facing each other.

"So that's the Susanoo, huh? How pratical," Kakashi nodded. "Well done. So now we no longer need to worry about distracting Itachi and- "

He suddenly vanished from the branch before finishing his words. In no time Sasuke was on the alert; almost out of his fighting instinct, he managed to twist his body just in time to dodge the attack and leaped aside.

"-can have a good talk now."

The man's voice sounded from where he was standing. Kakashi drew back his arm that he had reached out. If Sasuke was not able to dodge, it would have undoubtfully pierced through his side waist.

"I have no words with you!" Sasuke snapped, raising his voice. Kakashi rushed at him again, and this time he was using taijustu. The two shinobi began an unarmed combat in the narrow space of the forest. "You just want to stop my revenge, don't you? Feel lucky for being dead, Kakashi! If you were still alive, you would have been the first one that I have killed! "

"Mahh," Kakashi sighed with make-believe sadness, raising his arm to parry Sasuke's kick. "Now I see you've learned nothing good from Orochimaru in those three years."

Sasuke sneered. "Isn't it your honor to die in the same way as Sandaime did? "

Kakashi tilted his head to dodge a punch. His eyes curled into a smile. "So you still treat me as your sensei. I'm really glad to hear that."

Sasuke growled. Not until now has he realized that he had stepped into the older ninja's trap of language.

"And by the way, to answer your question before-" Kakashi took out a kunai and blocked Sasuke's sword with it, the spark of collision flew off in all directions. "Yes. I come here to stop your revenge."

"Daydreaming," Sasuke snorted. "Words won't make any sense. Kill me if you want to stop me! "

"Well, I planned so-" the raven haired boy instantly tensed his body, "-Just kidding. Kabuto wants you alive, so he won't let me kill you. Once the Edo Tensei no Justu is terminated, I'll soon leave the world, so there won't be enough time for me to do that. Not to mention Itachi's here as well, and if I want to end your life, he won't just stand there and do nothing. Oh, speak of him... I need to greet with my old friend."

"Don't speak in that tone as if you're familiar with my brother!" Sasuke narrowed his eyes dangerously, enhancing his strength on his hands. Kakashi did a graceful back slip and fell back onto the ground a few steps away.

"It's not 'as if' -Lightning Release: Lightning Beast Tracking Fang! After all, I've been his superior for two years, and took care of him in ANBU for a period of time. Being deceived and tortured by his Tsukuyomi for three days, I don't think it is asking very much to get an explanation from him, isn't it?"

Sasuke has just offset Kakashi's jutsu by Chidori Sharp Spear, and felt surprised at his words. When Itachi had been in ANBU, he had never told Sasuke anything about his work, so until now did he finally learned that his brother and sensei were used to be acquaintances.

There was a rumble at the other side of the ledge. It seemed that the fight between Itachi and Kabuto has became white-hot. As an evidence, Kakashi stopped attacking- It was like Kabuto no longer had spare energy to manipulate the reincarnated ones.

"Sasuke, I must apologize to you," Kakashi sighed. He gazed at the boy with a heavy expression. "I owe you so much."

Sasuke was unmoved, looking at him coldly. "As a member of Konoha, apologizing for what happened to me, my brother, and my clan?"

"If you want to interpret it like this, it's okay," Kakashi nodded indifferently. "But I mean to apologize personally. Nine years ago, I failed to help Itachi; and four years ago, I failed you again. If I had been more cautious, maybe I could have sensed the Sound Four and prevented them from inciting you and taking you away. If I had said my words more clearly, maybe you could have understood what I had meant better. I only hope it's still not too late to tell you these now."

He paused, raising his hand and pointing at his own left eye. "Last time when you met Naruto, you said you wanted to know how I got my Sharingan, didn't you?"

"Let me tell you myself."

Therefore, Sasuke learned about a long story filled with blood, sacrifice, agony and guilt.

Kakashi told about Sakumo's brilliant achievements and dismal ending, and himself who had turned to stick to rules. He told about the bickers between him and Obito, even more frequent than that between Naruto and Sasuke, and the doomed mission at Kannabi Bridge that had changed their fates. He told about Rin who had been kidnapped by Mist Nins who had later sealed Sanbi into her body, and he had killed her by his own hand under the help of Sharingan, the present from his deceased friend.

He told about the distant Second Ninja War, when his parents had encountered Sasori's parents on the battlefield. His father had killed Sasori's parents, but his mother had been poisoned by an insoluble chronic poison, and become weak, finally died giving birth to him. But he had cooperated with Chiyo and completed the mission of rescuing Gaara, hence ended the chain of hatred between the two families. He also told about when he had killed the Iwa Nin who had created the falling boulds with perfect Chidori after receiving the implanted Sharingan, successfully avenged for Obito, however, he still couldn't bring his friend back to life, and all he had got was only endless emptiness and regret.

Sasuke was surprised at his own unexpected patience. When Kakashi was talking, he had not interrupted him even once, nor showed any apathetic expression. He knew Kakashi was a man who hated to talk about his past- especially the past that was so unpleasant.

In order to persuade him to give up his revenge, the man willingly tore open his wound that had not been cured even after those many years by his own hands, showing him the bloody inside. Although Sasuke didn't think he would change his mind because of Kakashi's words, he decided to respect his sensei's effort.

But at the same time, he also became increasingly confused while listening: why was Kakashi still loyal to Konoha after having suffered so much?

See what he had experienced. His father had contributed a lot to the village, but later ended his own life miserably just because of saving his comrade, and he as a little child had also been nailed onto the pillar of shame and isolated by others. After Obito's death, he had come back to Konoha, even if Yondaimei had sworn on his life that Obito had voluntarily given out the Sharingan, the Uchiha clan had still almost gouged his eye out, and firmly believed that he had killed his teammate for the eye, while some other jealous people had helped with the spread of rumour. Rin's suicide had not been his fault, but he had still been branded as a teammate killer- a man who once said "I'll never let my comrades die in front of my eyes".

From the boy that had been rejected, disdained and maliciously speculated by most people in the village, to the respected elite jonin that Team Seven had later met, how many difficulties had Kakashi overcome to gain his reputation? Despite all these painful memories, why had he still treated himself as a soldier of Konoha, and willingly sacrificed himself for the village? Persuaded him to give up revenge even now?

Sasuke didn't realize that he had spoken out the question aloud until he saw the silver haired jonin raised his eyebrow.

"You've been listening to my long, tedious and undesirable story all the way," Kakashi told him gladly. "I'm really flattered."

Feeling awkward and annoyed, Sasuke looked away.

"In terms of this question, I know the person that you want to ask most is not me, but Itachi," Kakashi said, scratching the back of his head. "The situations were not the same, so perhaps our answers are also different. However, maybe you can treat mine as a reference. "

He put down his arm. For an instant, Sasuke observed something dark and cold inside Kakashi's eyes- what he would find from himself when he looked into a mirror.

"One thing you said was wrong- It's not that I never had the feeling of hatred."

Sasuke widened his eyes slightly, staring at Kakashi with disbelief.

"The worst period was probably right after my father's suicide," the man said with a dead voice that Sasuke had never heard from him. "Back then I was a chunin, and all my teammates were adults. They had already doubted my ability because of my age, and after my father had died, they began to treat me like a pest, as if they feared that I would follow my father and make their missions fail. In order to prove myself as well as that I was different from my father, I tried my best every time, but then they said I stole the show and had no respect for seniors. It was only because they couldn't catch up with me in all aspects, despite they were much older than me... At that time I hated not only those people, but also my father who had died and found peace himself, while left me to face the world alone. "

"Thankfully I had Minato-sensei then," Kakashi sighed. The grim look in his eyes disappeared along with the sigh, and his voice returned to normal. "Even if he was very busy, he still managed to spend some time with me regularly. And there was Jiraiya-sama... Although they failed to completely dispel the darkness in my heart, at least they helped me to restrain it. "

"Then there were Obito and Rin's accidents," the silver haired jonin said, looking down at his own hand. "Though the causes and details were different, the impacts were similar. It didn't matter what they said about me, after all it was my fault; however, heroic as Obito was, he was remarked as a lame duck who had not even been able to keep his own Sharingan, while Rin who had sacrificed herself for the village was treated as a wretch who had been so unfortunate for being assigned to the same team as me. They insulted their deaths. "

He looked up at Sasuke and laughed dryly, with no humor in his voice.

"I won't hide the truth from you. I did come up with the thought of killing them all and destroying myself along in my most desperate time. But that was not what Rin and Obito had expected. They had sacrificed themselves for Konoha, just like my sensei, Yondaime Hokage, so I felt obligated to follow their last will and live on in their ways."

"Then what about yourself?" Sasuke couldn't help but asked. "You said you lived for them, but don't you have your own wish? Don't you have your own choice? Then what's the difference between you... and a tool? What's your meaning of existence? "

"Why on earth is the village worthy of all your devotion? "

That's what he wanted to ask Itachi, too.

"Shinobi is a tool, "Kakashi said quietly. "The more turbulent the times are, the more obvious the fact is. But shinobi is also human and has emotions, and that's why we can feel unfair, resentful and anguished. "

"What you said is not quite right. Living for them and being a tool for the village when necessary was my own will. My choice. No one have forced me to do so, " he paused for a moment and suddenly smiled very softly. "To describe it in a word... it may be 'protection'."

"The lives of my living comrades and the will of the deceased ones; for me the village is just the embodiment of both of them. So I want to protect it."

"And that's what being a ninja means for Hatake Kakashi. "

Then they fell into a long silence.

"I still can't understand your choice. If I were you, I would have never made the same decision," Sasuke suddenly said after a moment. His voice was still cold, but calmer. "Seems we really belong to different worlds."

"Don't be so arbitrary," Kakashi looked at him mildly. "People are all changing during lifetime. When I was a child, I've never expected to become a person like this."

Meanwhile the ledge aside suddenly began to shake with a rumble. Following the sound, the sensei and student saw the debris dropped and revealed Itachi inside the cave. A few steps away behind him, Kabuto was standing still there, as if he had been put into some sort of genjustu.

"Long time no see, Itachi," Kakashi said before Sasuke could speak up. "Looks like you've succeeded."

"Long time no see, Captain," Itachi nodded at him with a smile. "By good fortune."

Kakashi sighed. He walked towards Itachi, putting his hand onto the younger man's shoulder- They were indeed acquaintances, Sasuke thought, there were not many people that Itachi would love to have body contact with- "What a perfect lie, wasn't it? And that Tsukuyomi... It was not your revenge on me for having made you do errands here and there, right?"

"Becuse it was an undercover mission. Of course you understand what it means, Captain. But I still need to apologize- Sorry for deceiving you. Plus, thank you for taking care of Sasuke when he was in Konoha."

"He didn't," Sasuke murmured behind them.

The two adults smiled at each other. "Alright, " Kakashi said, patted Itachi's shoulder before dropping his arm. "Although I want to have a nice chat with you right here, since we are all dead, there will be plenty of time when we are back to the afterworld. The Allied Shinobi Forces are still fighting the reincarnated ones, and the most important thing now is to stop the Edo Tensei no justu. But before that... You two still need to have a talk, don't you? And I just remember that I have something to ask Kabuto."

Itachi nodded. "He is trapped in my genjustu Izanami, and should not be able to get out of it for a time. If you want to interrogate him, Captain, just activate your Sharingan."

"Okay," with this word, Kakashi left the Uchiha brothers alone and went towards Kabuto.

“Answer my question,” he grabbed Kabuto's hair, in order to make the other man slightly raise his head and meet the Sharingan. "What is exactly your reason for reincarnating me? What did you mean by 'second insurance'?"

"I... reincarnated you," Kabuto's voice was slow and dull. "because I need to use you against the man who calls himself 'Uchiha Madara'. "

"'Calls himself'?"

"He... is not the real Madara. I've found... Madara's corpse before. Then I began... to investigate his identity."

Kakashi was astonished at his words. So Tobi was not Uchiha Madara. Then who is he?

"I looked into... Akatsuki's history, as well as... the whereabouts of the man... who had claimed himself to be Madara. I found that he had once... manipulated the Fourth Mizukage... before the Uchiha clan had been slaughtered. So I narrowed my list of suspects to... those Uchiha members who had been identified as deceased before Uchiha massacre... yet their bodies had been nowhere to be found."

Identified as deceased before Uchiha massacre. Bodies had been nowhere to be found.

Kakashi suddenly felt very dizzy. His ears were humming, as if someone had smashed his head with a huge hammer. He shook his head fiercely and tried his best to shove the uneasy sense of foreboding away.

That's impossible. It can't be him- Impossible.

"I circled several names on the list... and put one of them on the top," Kabuto continued. "After analyzing all the abilities of Mangekyo Sharingan... that have been known presently, I found both the fake Madara's right eye and your left eye... apply some sort of space-time ninjustu. Only Sharingan... can confront Sharingan. So I reincarnated you... lest my deal with him might not go as smoothly as expected."

"And just yesterday... I've confirmed his real identity."

"And he is...?" Swaying in his place, Kakashi took a shaky breath and asked with all his strength that he could muster.

Though he already had an answer in his mind. And Kabuto's answer just proved it correct-

"-Uchiha Obito."

Chapter Text

Chapter 8: One Last Thing

As the name was spoken out, Kakashi's world collapsed into a thousand pieces.

For a time he could feel nothing. The dim and damp cave around, the Uchiha brothers who were talking over there, Kabuto who was standing still with a dull expression, all of them suddenly disappeared in front of his eyes.

Numerous images swiftly passed through his minds. Obito who had rushed into the training field, sweat slipping down his cheeks. Obito who had had shopping bags in both hands, chattering happily with an old lady. Obito who had saw human remains on the battlefield, weeping while still trying to behave bravely. Obito who had always blushed and stuttered in front of Rin, but could turn to yell at him in the next second. And the masked man who had feigned madness and acted like an idiot, the masked man who had completely ignored all their attempts of attacks as if they were nothing, the masked man who had stood high on the branch, looking down at him with an crimson eye.

The images of the two distinct figures kept flickering, flickering, faster and faster, and finally merged into a third one. The black haired boy was half crushed under the bould, tears of blood rolling down from the empty eye socket, while the corner of his lips curling into a satisfied smile.

"I believe that the White Fang is a true hero."

"Indeed, those in the ninja world who break the rules and regulations are called trash, but those who abandoned their comrades are even worse than trash!"

"No matter what those people in the village have said... you are a great jonin... that's how I feel..."

"I'm going to die... but I'll become your eye, and help you to see the future..."

No, Obito. I'm not a great jonin. I failed to keep my promise. I failed to protect Rin. I'm worse than trash.

So is that your punishment to me? Is that the future you want me to see?

Future when you are still alive, but no more who you were; when you are still alive, but I'm already dead.

Obito, I...

"...Captain? Captain! Kakashi!"

Someone was shaking his shoulders. Someone was calling his name, whose voice sounded like coming from a distant place.

Who is that?

Oh, it's Itachi.

With this realization, the scattered real world stuck together again around Kakashi, while still remained ugly cracks like his face, and would never be able to be perfectly repaired.

He slowly turned to look at the Uchiha brothers who had just come to him.

"He's Obito," Kakashi heard himself speaking hoarsely, as if his vocal cords had not been used for years. "'Madara' is Obito."

His words was ambiguous, but obviously the two Uchihas have both understood it. Spontaneously, they widened their eyes with astonishment.

"Kabuto said it?" Actually it was Sasuke who spoke first. "Is his words 100% credible?"

Kakashi moved his gaze towards his former student. He felt his brain was a total chaos, and his usual sharp wit had become extremely slow. It now seemed to take several seconds for him to process the meaning of others' words after hearing them.

I don't know. Kabuto said he had somehow confirmed his speculation, but he had never met Obito himself, so it's not necessarily true. I hope it's not true.

He should answer Sasuke like that, but his lips were still, and he could utter no word. It was like the words he had just said had exhausted all his strength.

Itachi frowned. "Captain," he said. "Look at me."

Kakashi mechanically followed his order- what he looked into was the Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Tsukuyomi."

The world turned into red and black in a flash. In the next second, Kakashi found himself in the jonin uniform of Konoha, and bounded on a cross, while Itachi in Akatsuki's cloak was standing in front of him with a sharp katana in his hand.

How familiar...

Before the thought had slowly soaked into his mind, he felt a spasm of pain in his left side. Clenching his fists, Kakashi yanked his head up. Biting his lip, he gave a painful grunt-

Wait.

...A spasm of pain?

He was already dead. The Edo Tensei-ed body shouldn't feel pain.

And he shouldn't have body temperature, or heart beats, or real breath.

"Seems you finally come back to yourself," Itachi said. With his words, the cross suddenly disappeared and Kakashi dropped back to the ground. He could still feel pain in where it had been stabbed, but the wound had been healed as if it hadn't exist in the first place.

Itachi was still standing there, but the katana in his hand was nowhere to be found.

Drawing me back to reality by pain stimulation in a genjustu world. What a genius idea.

But Kakashi must admit that Itachi's way was effective. The feeling of despair which had wrapped him around like dense fog had vanished, and he could think normally again. He sighed and straightened. "You're going to keep stabbing me until I respond, aren't you?"

"Who knows," his former subordinate didn't deny his guess. After a pause, Itachi asked, "So, Tobi is Uchiha Obito?"

"That's what Kabuto said," Kakashi answered. He couldn't help but put his hand onto his left chest, feeling his heart beating inside- although it was just an illusion. "He doesn't look like one to jump to conclusion, and we can prove whether he is correct or not in a really simple way. "

"Your eye," Itachi immediately understood it.

"Exactly," Kakashi nodded. "If the masked man really... really is Obito, our dojutsu must have something in common. Thus, if I'm able to do what he has done before, then it proves- "

"It proves that Tobi and you share the same pair of eyes," Itachi interrupted him. "But it doesn't necessarily mean that he is Obito. Maybe he just got an implanted eye from Obito, just like you."

Kakashi fell into silence. Obito had become the arch-criminal to start the war, or Obito's corpse had been destroyed and his eye stolen, neither of them was what he would like to see.

"You want to see it with your own eyes, don't you?" Itachi stared at him. "Otherwise you can't rest in peace."

Kakashi took a shaky breath.

"If.... he really is Obito," he said slowly. "Then I should definitely be responsible for his change. If I didn't know it, that's fine; now that I've learned about the whole thing, I can't treat it as if nothing happened. "

"So what you plan to do is not only confirmation. Then what? If he is Obito, what are you gonna do? " Itachi pointed out a tough question in a rather tame tone.

Are you going to kill him- That's his unsaid words, and Kakashi understood it.

The silver haired jonin looked down at his own right hand. It had pierced through Rin's heart and broken his promise to Obito. And now, is he going to do the same thing again, thrusting his arm into Obito's chest?

Just thinking of it was already able to make his fingers twitch involuntarily. But Kakashi instantly suppressed his emotions, clenching his hand into a fist.

"If it's the only way to end the war," he answered after a long moment. His tone was incredibly calm, as if he has been accustomed to the irony of fate. "I'd rather do it myself. I'll apologize to him when we meet again in the afterworld."

Then they fell into silence. The black sun silently hung above their heads.

"When fighting Kabuto, I felt both hostile and sympathic towards him at the same time," finally Itachi began with something seemed irrelevant. "Because we were similar... We were both those who walked in the world as a spy.  Day after day, we lived in lies, deceiving others while also deceived by ourselves,  and finally lost ourselves in the falsehood. I didn't realize it until I'm dead."

"The self cognition is not forcing oneself to accomplish everything perfectly, but being aware of one's limits of abilities. We should learn to forgive our incapability. Just because we can't solve every problem on our own, we need to have friends to cover each other's shortage."

He looked at Kakashi with a smile. "You kept emphasizing the importance of teamwork since ANBU, but in fact, you always preferred to take the responsibility alone, Captain. "

Kakashi sighed and scratched the back of his head. "It's you who solved the whole Uchiha problem alone saying that."

"Exactly," Itachi said quietly. "I used to bear all the burden, thinking I could handle it without anyone else's help. I did't trust Sasuke and only treated him as a child who needed to be protected; I arbitrarily manipulated his life, deciding that was the best for him. But I failed."

"It's my fault that Sasuke has changed to who he is now. Therefore, I have no right to judge whatever choice he makes for the future. But now I'm reassured, because I've entrusted him to Naruto. He still has friends, and he's not alone. I believe Sasuke won't follow my wrong footsteps."

"Naruto's your student. You should trust him, commending the responsiblities to him instead of undertaking it yourself. You should believe that Naruto can defeat Obito, just like I believe he can influence Sasuke. "

“And the dead should not intrude too much into the livings' world... no matter how reluctant he is to leave,” Itachi ended his persuasion with this statement. "You've experienced wars and witnessed so many deaths, you know it."

"Obito is an orphan." Kakashi said suddenly.

"Yes?" Itachi raised an eyebrow bewilderly, obviously didn't understand why Kakashi mentioned this with no reason.

"You were just about four years old when the Third Ninja War came to the end, and probably knew little about him," Kakashi didn't explain but continued. "He had lost his parents since born, and been living alone in a house at the edge of your compound. He was called the black sheep of Uchiha then, and didn't get along well with any other clan members. It was fair to say that he had no acquaintances other than Minato-sensei, Kushina-san, Rin and I."

"If you leave, Sasuke will still have Naruto; but everyone else in Team Minato has already died. If I leave as well, then Obito will really have no one."

Itachi's eyes slightly widened. "Captain, you..."

"I did said that I would go to kill him myself if there were no other choices, however... I still feel that I need to have a try before giving up," Kakashi looked at him with a bitter smile. "I certainly trust Naruto; I trust his abilities more than anyone else, but I still believe in Obito, too."

"He is not the Obito you knew now, Captain. That Obito in your memory no longer exists," for the first time Itachi said with emphasis. "There is something that you haven't learned about. Maybe I shouldn't tell you this, but..." he sighed. "It was him who have helped me to slaughter our whole clan at that night nine years ago. And as far as I know, sixteen years ago it had also been him who had taken advantage of Uzumaki Kushina giving birth to Naruto which had resulted in the weakness of the seal, to manipulate Kyuubi into attacking the village."

“It was him... It was Uchiha Obito who has caused Yondaimei and his wife's deaths.”

A dead silence. In the genjustu of Tsukuyomi, the illusion of which they were still alive, Itachi saw Kakashi widened his eyes in horror, both his expression and his gaze froze.

"...Captain?" Itachi asked tentatively. He spread his hand, and a dagger suddenly appeared in it.

"...No. No need to do that." As Itachi was uncertain about if he should stab the other man again, Kakashi had already recovered from astonishment and waved his hand. "I'm fine."

Despite saying that, the silver haired jonin was obviously in an awful mental state- he was breathing rapidly, chest heaving, drops of sweat welling up on his forehead.

“I know I shouldn't think so,” Kakashi stared down at the water underneath, blankly moving his gaze. His voice was too low to be heard, as if he was not talking to Itachi, but himself. "Knowing Obito is the man who should be responsible for Minato-sensei's death, and the man who has started the war, yet I still... hope him can live on. I shouldn't think so."

He took a deep breath, burying his face into his hands.

"Maybe... you are right," his muffled voice finally came out from his hands. "Maybe Obito will never return to who he used to be. Despite so... I want to believe that the hero Obito is still there, deep in his heart."

Kakashi looked up. He has fully regained his composure, and become even more determined than before, desperate resolution shining in his eyes.

"To awaken that Obito I knew... As his comrade and friend, that's the last thing I can do for him."

"Sounds like whatever I say will not change your mind," Itachi said after studying Kakashi for a while.

Kakashi smiled a little.

"I've been obedient and well-behaved through my whole life," he said quietly. "Just let me have my own way for once after death."

They came back to the reality in where only a second had passed. Sasuke was still standing there with exactly the same expression as before.

Looking at Kabuto, Itachi activated his Sharingan. "How to stop the Edo Tensei?"

“Make hand seals of Rat, Ox, Monkey, Tiger, Dragon and Boar... Then say 'Release'.”

"Is there any way that the reincarnated one can break the summon contract but remain in this world?" Kakashi asked.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

"After the summoner has released the Edo Tensei... and before you soul ascend... make hand seals in the sequence of... Snake, Ram, Boar, Dog and Tiger."

Itachi and Kakashi nodded at each other.

"Wait," Sasuke couldn't help but ask. "You are going to stay here?"

"For some reason," Kakashi answered.

The black haired boy immediately turned to his brother in anticipation.

"As Konoha shinobi Uchiha Itachi, I protected my village one more time," his brother replied. "I no longer have any attachment to this world."

Sasuke's eyes turned crimson at his words, three tomoes spinning restlessly in the pupils. For a moment it almost seemed that he was going to growl, but somehow he managed to restrain himself from losing his temper, and just snorted and looked away instead.

"Kabuto," Itachi gave his order to Kabuto. "Stop the Edo Tensei now."

Kabuto's hands slowly began to move at his command. Rat, Ox, Monkey...

"Give my regards to Shisui when you see him," Kakashi said. "Hopefully I don't need to stay long here."

Itachi nodded and smiled. "Good luck, Captain."

Then he turned his gaze to Sasuke. Kakashi could clearly see that Itachi, who had been calm and indifferent all along, finally showed emotions in his eyes.

I'm reassured. I no longer have any attachment to this world.

That's not true- No matter when he was alive or dead, all he cared about was forever his little brother.

Tiger, Dragon, Boar.

"Edo Tensei, release!" Kabuto raised his voice.

Glaring white light burst out from both Kakashi and Itachi. Sasuke turned back abruptly, staring at Itachi and crying out, "Nii-san!"

He strode ahead and reached out, fingers trembling, though didn't touch Itachi's cloak after all.

Kakashi started to make hand seals. Snake, Ram, Boar, Dog, Tiger.

"Release!"

As the word was yelled out, it seemed like something invisible on him silently broke into pieces, which made him feel relieved. The white light around him suddenly became even more blinding, while a wild wind coming from nowhere swept over the whole cave.

"Sasuke, don't forget what I've said."

Everything vanished into the light. Through the whistling wind Kakashi could hear Itachi's voice, gentler than any time before.

"I'm leaving."

When the light and the wind was all gone, there was no Uchiha Itachi in this world.

Chapter Text

Chapter 9: The Same Eyes

Itachi had gone. The remaining two stayed at their places, silently staring at where he had last been standing.

"So,"Sasuke broke the silence, putting his hand onto his sword. He turned to look at Kakashi with his Sharingan and asked coldly, "you are now no longer controlled by Kabuto and can take actions at your own will. Are you still going to stop me?"

"No," Kakashi shook his head. "Temporarily, no. I'm more in a hurry to see someone other than to stop you."

"You mean Obito? You want to stop him?" Sasuke snorted. "Maybe it will be even harder than stopping me, don't say I didn't warn you."

"Yeah, I know. But I need to give a try anyway, while I still have time... while it may still be possible to fix it in some degree, " Kakashi sighed, rubbing his face before looking at his student with a bitter smile. "If you want to laugh at me, then feel free to do so. I also feel myself can't be more ridiculous."

But Sasuke didn’t. The ice in his eyes even melted a little instead.

"...No. I understand," the black haired boy whispered. He looked away from his sensei's gaze. "Contrary situations though, when... when I heard about Itachi's truth, my feeling was similar to yours now, I think."

The belief that had been held on to all along was turned upside down in a moment. The life that they had struggled to go through became a joke.

Kakashi's eyes slightly widened. Then the surprise on his face slowly faded, and was replaced by a relieved smile.

"Before going to meet Obito however, I need to go back to Konoha first for something. What about you?" He asked, tone a little bit brisker than before. "What are you going to do?"

Sasuke's eyes became rarely blank at his question.

Itachi had once again protected Konoha- which had forced him into such a position as a traitor of both his village and his clan, and given him so much agony. Despite being stigmatized, he had still treated himself as a Konoha shinobi, and concerned about the village.

But... what is village? ...And what is shinobi?

He looked at the man beside him.

"The lives of my living comrades and the will of the deceased ones; for me the village is just the embodiment of both of them. So I want to protect it."

"And that's what being a ninja means for Hatake Kakashi. "

Both his brother and his sensei had given their answers. But what about his own one? After all, what should he...

"Sasuke, it's my fault if you became what you are now. I'm not really in the position for criticizing your decision."

"You don't need to forgive me... No matter what you decide to do from now on, I will love you forever."

"I..." His voice trailed off, not knowing what to continue.

Bang!

Just then, a deafening explosion came up above them. Simultaneously Sasuke and Kakashi leapt away, and had weapons in their hands already before landing. Kakashi instinctively took one step ahead, intending to protect Sasuke with his own body.

Two figures plummeted to the ground with plenty of rubbles. When the smoke cleared, what appeared in front of Kakashi were two unfamiliar faces. They seemed to be... Sasuke's new teammates?

"Wow Sasuke! Here you are, finally... Whahhhh! You! You you you!" The light-colored haired boy's words confirmed Kakashi's guess. However, when the boy saw him, his expression turned into a horrified one as if Kakashi was a ghost, pointing at him and shouting. "Aren't you Kakashi of the Sharingan! Why are you still here while other reincarnated ones have all gone!"

Well, despite being Orochimaru's former subordinates... they are still kids.

"Yo," Kakashi raised his hand as a greeting, eyes curled into a smile. "Nice to meet you guys, I'm Hatake Kakashi. You are members of Team Taka, aren't you?"

"I shall thank you for... taking care of our little Sasuke."

He could feel a murderous stare immediately came from behind.

"Dammit Kakashi, shut up and fuck off!" Sasuke snapped irritatedly. "Don't forget that you are still my enemy. I've said nothing like giving up my revenge or forgiving Konoha!"

He then turned to Suigetsu and Juugo after hissing at his sensei, expression cold and indifferent. "Why do you come looking for me now?"

"Oh... yeah! Listen, we found a really cool thing in the lair, you know..." Suigetsu started digging through his cloak.

"How surprising," Juugo said suddenly, staring at Kakashi. "That there is actually another reincarnated one remaining in this world except for that Uchiha Madara."

"What?!" Both Kakashi and Sasuke was astonished.

"Hey don't interrupt when I'm talking to Sasuke!" Suigestu nudged Juugo away with his elbow. He bypassed Kakashi and came to Sasuke, shoving a scroll into the Uchiha's hand. "Look at this! That's the big one!"

"What is it?" Kakashi naturally came to the other side of Sasuke, who gave him a squint but said nothing, while Suigutsu seemed very reluctant and mumbled. Kakashi held back a smile at the boy's reaction, but when he saw what was written in the scroll, he could no longer feel amused at all-

The method of releasing a soul from the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.

Kakashi couldn't help but gasp.

Minato-sensei...

"That's it," he heard Sasuke saying. His student was staring at the scroll without blinking, tone resolved as if he had made a decision. "The ones who know everything."

"You're going to..." Kakashi understood instantly.

"Yeah," Sasuke looked up at him with a try-to-stop-me-if-you-can expression.

"I'm going to resurrect Orochimaru."

What an absurd reunion, Kakashi thought despite himself when he saw a white snake coming out from Anko's cursed seal, and then Orochimaru from the mouth of the snake.

Four years ago Orochimaru had planned to destroy Konoha and take Sasuke away; Sasuke had been given the cursed seal, his life hanging by a thread; and he had used the Evil Sealing Method to restrain the cursed seal for Sasuke, and determined to protect his student from that man at all cost, even his own life.

Now four years had passed. Orochimaru had been killed by Sasuke, but now was resurrected by the same man; Sasuke and him had parted company, their positions had once been incompatible as oil and water, but now somehow turned into a rather balanced relationship; and he...

He changed from a living man full of failure and regret to a walking dead full of more failure and regret.

Kakashi only hoped that he could do something successfully and make up for his regret before he finally became a complete dead.

"By the way, it was really unexpected that Sakumo's son failed to live much longer than him," the mention of his father's name drew Kakashi back to reality. He raised his head and saw both Orochimaru and Sasuke who seemed had finished their conversation looking at him. "What a sad story."

Despite saying this, the Snake Sage was still smiling and didn't appear to be sad at all.

My childhood instincts proves correct. He is such a unpleasant man, Kakashi thought.

“That boy is called Obito, right?” Orochimaru tilted his head. "Well... He seems to be an intriguing subject to study, too. However," he threw a glimpse at the young Uchiha next to him. "I'm now more interested in the new wind here. Sasuke-kun told me that you want to go back to Konoha, Kakashi... I didn't realize that sometimes you can be so reckless."

"At least I don't do harm to others," Kakashi replied drily. "We have difference in essence. "

"Wait... What on earth are you talking about?" Suigetsu poked his head out behind Juugo, eyes swaying between Kakashi and Orochimaru. "He's from Konoha, isn't he? Even he's dead now! Why do you call him reckless just because he wants to go back to see his hometown for the last time before leaving this world?"

Orochimaru smiled.

"He can't just go back to see his home and do nothing in such a crucial moment," the man said in a fairly amused tone, stucking out his long tongue. "What he really wants to do is-."

"-to gouge out that Sharingan out of his own corpse."

As a shinobi who had served in ANBU for eight years, Kakashi knew the headquarter as well as his backyard, and could still remember every trap and secret passage in the building. Konoha had sallied forth in almost full strength for the war, and most ANBU agents had gone to the battlefield, so before reaching the secrecy chamber deep down underground, he had complete confidence to sneak to his destination without being noticed.

Everything went fine, except for-

Kakashi stopped in front of a tall iron gate which was covered with various seals, and sighed. He turned around to look at the boy behind him. "Aren't you eager to find out your answer? So why are you following me here?"

"I can go wherever I want. It's my own business," Sasuke reasonably replied. "As your pupil, I want to catch up on how you had looked like when you died. Do you mean I can't do that?"

"Okay, Okay. And you suddenly remember I'm your sensei. What a convenient excuse," Kakashi murmured resignedly and turned back. He started to make a series of hand seals very quickly. Complicated patterns emerged under his feet, all those lines and characters shimmering in faint blue, gradually getting connected to the seals on the gate. The blue light flowed into the seals like some liquid.

The heavy iron gate silently swayed open. It was totally dark inside, chilly wind blowing directly into their faces.

"So you don't mind if I see how you open it," Sasuke said, following Kakashi into the corridor.

"Because it's unnecessary," the man answered idly. "Even if you are going to attack Konoha, you will prefer going straightforward rather than playing tricks. Am I right?"

Sasuke snorted, annoyed. "Don't make it sound like you know me well!"

"Shhh... You'd better be quiet even there may not be many people here. And I need to remind you that achieving your goal by all means is just what a real shinobi should- "

"Shut up."

They went all the way down the spiral stairs.

The bottom of the stairs led to a narrow corridor. At the end of it there was a blank door with no sign on it. "Here we are," Kakashi told Sasuke, pointing at that door. "There should be two... no, three squads in it, since they are guarding my body. I'll leave you the mission to take them down by genjustu. Any questions? "

“You're really good at pushing others around,” Sasuke glared at him, hissing.

"Well, since you are here anyway," Kakashi shrugged.

Sasuke cursed silently. He gave his sensei a shove on the shoulder, indicating the other man to go first. Smiling beneath his mask, Kakashi carefully hid his chakra signature and moved forward.

They sneaked to the door. Kakashi gave Sasuke a sign of getting ready before yanking it open.

He was first greeted by several swords stabbing into his body, then gasps one after another.

Well, now I don't think ANBU wearing masks is a good idea, Kakashi thought amusingly. It's really a pity that he couldn't see the horrified expressions on his cute juniors' faces.

"Yo," he said happily. "Long time no see, everyone."

Just then Sasuke suddenly appeared from behind him, and his Sharingan started whirling rapidly.

After a series of dull thuds, all twelve ANBU had fallen to the ground, unconscious.

"Nice job," Kakashi snapped his fingers. "And please also erase us from their memories, Sasuke. I don't want to be famous for stealing my... own corpse... after... death."

The humor in his voice trailed off when he saw the human-shaped object wrapped with layers of strips which had seal spells on it, laying on the platform ahead.

Sasuke gave him a look before going to dispose of those ANBU. For once, he said nothing.

His footsteps broke into Kakashi's thoughts. Clenching his fists, the silver haired jonin took a breath and walked over.

It was not time to be sentimental.

He stopped in front of the platform, taking out a blank seal scroll from his pouch, opening and putting it aside. He then made several hand seals and shouted, "Release!"

The spells glowed red and slowly disappeared. Kakashi reached out and unwound the strips cautiously.

"Why do you want to take back this eye?" Sasuke came to him. "You can't use it any more."

"To be honest, I don't know," Kakashi answered absent-mindedly. "It's just my intuition- perhaps it can come in handy later. I've learned to trust my intuition after spending so many years on the battlefield."

The last layer of strips was loosed while they were talking. Kakashi's hand immediately froze in the air.

With an indescribable feeling, he looked down and scrutinized his own body. It probably remained basically the same as when he had been still alive, other than the excessively pale skin. Guy had once taken a picture of him sleeping in a hospital bed and it was just like this.

So that was all. A shinobi's life was always accompanied with death.

"I can do it for you if you can't," Sasuke said nonchalantly. "Anyway, I've wanted to claw this eye out of your head since a long time ago."

"....No, thanks," Kakashi declined his student's awkward kindness. He took a deep breath again, reaching out to the vertical scar on his face. "I... I can handle it myself."

Despite saying this, he was thinking of another thing in his mind.

Back then in the cave, how had Rin felt when she took this eye out of Obito's eye socket?

It was too horrifying to contemplate.

Forcing himself to empty his mind, he grasped that powerful yet vulnerable orb, and managed to tear it out. Unwilling to give it one more glimpse, he hurriedly put it onto the srcoll and sealed it within.

Probably because his corpse had been really well kept, his blood had not completely coagulated. Underneath the sunken eyelid, blood trickled from the corners of his eye.

As if it was a tear.

"You didn't look like seriously wounded, and your expression was not painful," Sasuke spoke up again. Kakashi knew that his student was intending to distract him, and he inwardly appreciated it. "How did you die?"

Eh, speak of it...

"Mahh... I've exhausted all my chakra," Kakashi answered with an especially awkward smile, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

 "Well..."For a moment it seemed that Sasuke could say nothing but, "...appropriate for you."

When they left the secrecy chamber and returned to the overground, Kakashi had pushed himself together again. Standing on the rooftop of the Hokage Tower, the master and disciple looked down at the quiet streets below.

"Time for me to go," said Kakashi. He slowly looked around as if he wanted to engrave everything in the village on his mind one final time. "I don't know if I'll have the chance to see you again... Well, you probably don't care about it. Anyway, I wish you can find the answer you want."

"What if," Sasuke suddenly said when Kakashi was about to leave. The young Uchiha stared at the Hokage Mountain in the distance, deadpanned. "What if I still decide to destroy Konoha after finding the answer? There are mostly chuunin, genin and civilians here now, and it will be the best starting point of my revenge. "

He turned to look at Kakashi with his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

"And you may be the only one that can stop me. Don't want to do something with it?"

Kakashi stopped and sighed.

"I've told you everything that I should and could tell you, Sasuke," he said quietly. "And you're not a kid to obediently listen to others. If what Itachi has told you could not reach your heart, then nor could mine."

"Persuasion is not the only way to stop me."

"Well that's right," Kakashi nodded. "Yeah... If I were still alive, maybe I would have tried to stop you even if it would meant that I must kill you or killed by you. But I'm already dead. I know it sounds inconceivable, but people may change their mind after death no matter how ingrained it has been... And I also learned more about you from Itachi in the Tsukuyomi world. I decided not to interfere with you any more."

"You, Naruto and Sakura... You are no longer kids," he looked at Sasuke mildly. "I can't be by your side forever... I can't do that already. And I can't always be there, ready to correct every mistake of yours at any time- sometimes I even don't know if it is a mistake. You'll one day need to make your own choice, to use your own eyes to see the way ahead."

"I only hope that it's really what you want to do in your heart. I only hope that you won't regret for your decision... won't follow Itachi's or my wrong footsteps."

He looked away towards the direction of the battlefield. "It's for only one reason that I still remain in this world. I just want to take my responsibility and do what I need to do before leaving."

"What if Obito refuses to listen to you?" Sasuke asked after a long silence. "Unlike me... he's been stuck to his belief for so many years. He's been long walking on his own path. I don't think he will change his mind easily- I don't even think there is any possibility."

"Yeah. You Uchihas are always stubborner than others," Kakashi smiled and sighed. The smile soon disappeared. "I don't know. I can only try my best. I hope he can see something else other than his path. After all we share the same pair of eyes... I hope he can see what I've seen, and continue seeing them for me in the future."

Sasuke couldn't help but touched his own eyes. Itachi's eyes.

"Let's stop here," Kakashi ended their conversation. He put on the mask that had been taken off from an ANBU before. "Give my regards... to Minato-sensei."

Under the gaze of his former student, the silver haired jonin made his hand seals and soon vanished in swirling leaves.

Chapter Text

It was the battlefield here.

The landscape had been completely changed by the fighting among the tailed beasts. Forests had been razed to the ground, and now the two parties were standing on the newly created clearing, facing and confronting each other.

Uchiha Obito was standing on a protrusion of rock, looking at Naruto, Guy, and the jinchuuriki of Hachibi who had turned into his full Eight-Tails form on the opposite side. Behind him was the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path who was holding its head with two hands and screaming harshly. Blood tears were running down its face from all eyes, as if it was in a huge pain.

The outcome of the war is doomed, thought Obito.

Once the statue finished absorbing the part of chakra from Hachibi and Kyuubi, it would transform into Juubi. Though not a complete one, it would already be enough for him to cast the enormous genjustu- Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Of course Naruto and others would like to stop Juubi's resurrection, but they had to defeat him first. And their attacks could not even touch his cloak. Blows, or weapons, or Rasengan, or Tailed Beast Ball, all of them would just phase through his body without causing any material damage.

Kamui was now without weaknesses, and his foes had not yet figured out the nature of his dojustu even now.

Obito stared into the distance. It was almost over... these long eighteen years, filled with darkness, conspiracies, loneliness and killing. He was finally about to reach his destination.

But the realization could not bring him any happiness; all he could feel was just boundless calmness.

After this war, the past, the present, the future, even the being itself... Everything would fade into nothingness.

I will create a world with no wars or conflicts. A world with only peace, love and victory.

In that world he would have Rin, Kakashi and Minato-sensei alive by his side. They would no longer suffer from wars and the decayed shinobi system, and would no longer need to sacrifice themselves for the greater interests. Team Minato would reunion and live happily forever. There would be no tragedies, and nobody or nothing would be able to split them apart again.

The dreamland was already within his reach.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Guy was half kneeling on the ground, gasping, beads of sweat rolling down his dusty face. "Naruto... You know what to do, right? You have to aim for when he's about to absorb... That's when he becomes solid. Normal attacks will just slip through him. You have to use feints to get close to him and create an opening! But don't always use big attacks!"

"I see, Super Bushy-brow sensei!" Naruto nodded firmly. "Let's try again! Please cover me!"

He turned to look at the masked man over there. The blond's expression was determined, but in fact he was nowhere near as relaxed as he seemed to be.

Super Bushy-brow sensei has been exhausted... B O-san and me are fine, but that's because we're jinchuuriki. If this continues on, we will just waste our time and energy for nothing. Yet we don't even know how to crack the masked bastard's justu...

If only Kakashi-sensei were here.

The thought naturally poped up in his mind.

No!

Naruto shook his head violently to wave it off. Itachi had kept his promise and terminated Edo Tensei, which meant that Kakashi-sensei should had rested in peace now. They wouldn't meet again.

The idea made Naruto feel bitter but at the same time encouraged him to brace up. He must learn to take complete charge. He could no longer be a kid, always relying on his sensei.

"Naruto," Guy's voice brought him back to the moment. "I know what are you thinking... and so am I. If my eternal rival were here, he must have seen through the masked man's manoeuvre. But he's gone."

Thumbing up at him, Guy grinned with his shinning teeth. "But we shouldn't be so frustrated! Let Kakashi see in heaven that we can still defeat our enemy without him! "

"No problem!" Naruto clenched his fists. "I know what you mean, Super Bushy-brow sensei! I'll never give up hope!"

"Hn... You said 'hope'," just then the man in the purple cloak spoke up in a slight sarcastic tone. "How can you still be so naive after witting death? There's no hope in the world, and the world doesn't need hope. The reality is always cruel, and wishes can never come true."

He raised his arms. "That's why I'm pursuing the dream of Infinite Tsukuyomi. I want to build a world where heroes don't die, or have to make pitiful excuses in front of graves. "

"Grumbling again!" Naruto looked at him, unyielding. "And I've told you that I'll hold my dream of being Hokage! Because I've been entrusted so much by so many people!"

"Entrusted?" Obito snorted. "Speak of it, Naruto... If you end up neglecting what those people left to you... what would they think? If you failed to keep your promise... what will you think of yourself? "

The nightmare which had stuck in his mind for decades automatically rose before his eyes.

"You will also end up being a wretch who is consumed in his grief and regrets for the whole life!" He raised his voice and gave the answer before Naruto could reply. "Just like your sensei!"

The mention of Kakashi caught both Naruto and Guy off guard. "You mean... Kakashi-sensei? What all this has to do with him?" Naruto asked.

Beneath the mask, Obito's lips curled into a grim sneer.

"Yeah, him," the man said slowly. "He was the best example in this ninja world. Failing to keep his promise, failing to protect his comrades; lived like pitiful trash, then died like pitiful trash. All shinobi in this world will finally turn into trash like him, and there's no exception."

"Shut up!" Naruto's eyes flamed with anger. "Don't you dare insult Kakashi-sensei again! He was not trash, he was the best sensei! Many of us had been taken care of by him and we all respect and admire him!"

The blond pressed his hand onto his chest. "Even if Kakashi-sensei is gone now, his teaching is still by my side, and he will always live in my heart! He left me with the words, which he had received from his friend, of protecting my teammates, so for everyone who is still fighting and for this world-"

"I must take you down!"

Roaring, he rushed out like a golden cannonball. Guy followed closely behind him, nunchakus in his hands.

Seeing this, Obito gave no reaction but a wider sneer.

Who had told Kakashi those words was trash, too, he said inwardly in a icy voice. And you who inherited the meaningless words from trash is also nothing other than trash!

Not even attempting to dodge, he went head-on to face the two Konoha shinobi.

Naruto lashed out with his Rasengan, and unsurprisingly passed through Obito's body. Guy followed up, swinging his nunchakus at Obito, aiming his head and side.

"What, still able to absorb my attack?!" The Konoha's Blue Beast roared.

The nunchakus swung through Obito, and then got caught by the Uchiha soon after they left his body.

"How foolish of you to look down upon Sharingan," he looked at his former comrade. "I've figured out your attacking style. These are mine now!"

Saying this, he activated Kamui and absorbed the nunchakus into his right eye.

Seeing his weapons being taken away, Gai didn't show a frustrated face, but grinned triumphantly.

Just as expected, he will become solid at this moment! Here's the chance, come on-

Naruto!

"Ahhhhhhhh!" Suddenly, Gai dodged aside, and behind him there was Naruto who sprang up, raoring when trying to smash the Rasengan in his hand onto Obito's head.

Hn... How stabborn. You're just wasting your chakra.

Disdainfully, Obito reached out straightly towards the Rasengan. Just as every previous attack, the bright blue sphere slipped through his hand, then Naruto himself; the Rasengan was about to approach Obito's face, before it unexpectedly vanished in the air.

Tch, thought Obito. Just as I thought. Even if he is the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki, he still has to learn to save his energy after continuously fighting for so long.

But he failed to notice the stunned look on Naruto's face.

Obito and Naruto's bodies overlapped each other, then seperated again towards opposite directions. Turning around in the mid-air, Obito was about to throw the chain that was linked to his Gunbai at Naruto, when-

Bang!!

With a thud, Obito's right shoulder suddenly exploded as was hit by something. The blast radiated in all directions, even Naruto was forced to stagger a few steps. Having no time to balance himself, he looked back and just saw the masked man who had been handling them with ease was hurled away by the impact, rolling on the ground before hitting the debris and stopped.

Dead silence fell onto the battleground. Everyone was too astonished to move at the unexpected accident.

"Well... Well done, Naruto!" Gai was the first one to react. He bounced to Naruto's side, hugging the blond's shoulders and violently shaking him. "That's awesome! How did you do that?"

But Naruto was unable to share the happiness with him at all. Instead, he stared at the masked man blankly, who seemed to be caught off guard by the attack, and was still lying on the ground.

"No..." he murmured. "I... did nothing."

"Ha?" It was now Gai's turn to be bewildered. "Didn't you hit him with your Rasengan? "

"It was 't me... Rasengan just passed through his hand," Naruto looked down at his own hand. "Then... it disaapeared."

No. Rasengan didn't disappear by itself. It more likely seemed to be...

What had happened reminded him of the night before he had left Konoha and headed for Reikage. Training Field 3, the spinning Rasenshuriken, which vanished in a second.

Just like this time.

But... how could that be possible?

Gai's fingers tightened around his shoulder. Coming to himself, Naruto looked ahead.

The masked man slowly picked himself up from the ground. Strangely, there was no bruise or bleeding on his right shoulder, where the skin color was abnormally pale, which looked really eerie.

He torn off the right sleeve from his cloak. Staring at the rag in his hand, the masked man suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha! Just as I said, there is only trash in this world! The strongest ones among the five nations? Shinobi from Konoha are all trash!"

"I've heard enough about your trash nonsense!" Naruto was enraged. "We are not trash! Konoha is not trush! Never insult my village again!"

The masked man looked up. There was a distance between the two, but Naruto could clearly feel the other man's piercing gaze at him.

"Konoha is not trash?" he asked back with a unprecedented grim tone. "Then tell me, is a village trash if it could not even protect the body of its men from being stolen?"

His words smashed at Naruto's heart like a huge hammer.

"You..." his eyes went wide, opening his lips but failed to say a complete sentence. "You mean..."

"You seem to realise what happened now," the masked man pointed at him with a finger. "Just as you think! The previous attack was accomplished by your sensei's dojutsu, [Kamui]!"

Naruto's pupils shrank sharply.

"What a pathetic man... Trash when he was alive, and his body was not even able to be kept intact after he died!" The masked man was still spouting forth. "You said many of you had been taken care of by him and you all respect and admire him? So that's what he gets in return! That's how you respect and admire him!"

"No..." Naruto unconsciously retorted. "That's impossible... It... It..."

It was Edo Tensei. He wished he could say so.

But Edo Tensei was impossible. Kabuto had been defeated, and all dead shinobi should have returned to the afterlife world where they were supposed to be, so should Kakashi-sensei.

Still...

There is only one way to check.

"Shikaku O-san!" Looking up, Naruto shouted. "Tell me! Kakashi-sensei's... Tell me that's not true, please!"

Silence.

"Naruto..." Shikaku's voice finally sounded in Naruto's mind. He sounded so heavy, and Nartuo felt like a bulk of ice dropping into his stomach. "One hour ago, someone did break into the sanctum beneath Anbu Headquarter, and... took away Kakashi's left eye. In case that knowing this may weaken your will to fight, I arbitrarily decided to hide the news from you for now... I'm so sorry. "

Shikaku was still saying something, but Naruto was already not listening. Kyuubi's golden chakra disappeared from his body, and he failed to notice it. The blue eyes was not as bright as before, and Naruto was just staring at the rubble on the ground blankly without moving a finger for a long time.

What emerged in front of his eyes was such a scene- Kakashi's body on the table, arm limply falling from the side. On his face, where the left eye was supposed to be was now a bleeding hollow.

The vision made his heart clench involuntarily. Pressing a shaking hand onto his throat, Naruto suddenly felt difficult to breath.

Obito stared at Naruto. From the blond's reation, it was obvious that he had somehow confirmed his guess.

"Haha...hahaha...hahahahaha!" A twisted and malicious feeling of pleasure rose from the bottom of his heart, made him again break into uncontrollable and hysterical laughter.

See, Kakashi, he saide inwardly with fully sarcasm. That's the village you protected. You have fought for it until your death, while the useless Konoha was not even able to protect your corpse!

However, there was also a sense of outrage that welled up inside him along with the pleasure.

The outrage that he had not felt for years. That he thought he would never feel because of the other man.

"...See! That's the reality!" The guffaw came to an abrupt end, and Obito raised up his hands to the sky, snarling. "Why such a world deserves to exist? Why such a village deserves to be protected? Tragedies never end, and every time you think you have reached the bottom of the hell, you will find there is more deeper darkness waiting for you!"

"And you," he pointed at Naruto who looked so lost and was still standing at where he had been. "How dare you still brag about protecting your comrades? How dare you say that you inherited his will? No, no no no, you must be happy, because the thief is your alliance, who stole Kakashi's eye just for helping you! Or mayhe Konoha is the thief itself! Great, it's you bastards' favourite self-sacrifice, isn't it? You must think that the trash has devoted his life to the village, so it will be totally fine to reuse his body again! "

“NO！” Naruto was first listening without saying a word, but finally yelled out beyond endurance. "That's not true! My comardes... Konoha will never do this to sensei! They won't-"

"Then how can you explain this!" Obito roared back, even louder. "How about making a double check with your superiors? No use to do so, right? Because what they tell you will definitely be meaningless lies!"

"No... That's not true... It can't be..." Mechanically shaking he head, Naruto muttered these words repeatedly. Although he was keep denying what Obito had said, he had apparently fallen into hesitation.

Just then, someone clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder.

Naruto unconsciously winced. He looked up.

It was Gai. There was a solemn expression on the Konoha's Blue Beast's face; the rims of his eyes was red, with obvious agony inside. But when he spoke, his voice was incredibly steady.

"No time to mourn now. Don't be shaken by enemy's words!" What Gai said was like an anchor sinking deep into Naruto's heart, breaking his fear and uneasiness into pieces. "I choose to believe my comrades, believe that they won't do such things! Pull yourself together, Naruto! First deal with the enemy in front of you, then think about Kakashi! "

While the two were talking, Obito was looking around.

"Get out and show yourself, you asshole!" He ranted. "Nasty thief, the coward who only dares to hide in the shadow and play tricks!"

That's Kakashi's eye. Even if he was trash, that was the gift from me to him.

You others... have no right to put a finger on it!

Quickly making hand signs, he widened his right eye and activated Kamui-

Fire Release: Blast Wave Wild Dance!

The fiery spiral swept towards the two Konoha shinobi. The fighting instinct drew Naruto back to reality, and with the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode switched on, he reached out a chakra claw, protecting him and Gai behind like a shield.

"Don't know what happened, but brace yourself up, Naruto!" Killer B's voice came out from Hachibi's body. "If we kick the bucket here, the whole world will be hopeless!"

Black energy started to gather in Hachibi's opened mouth.

"Eat my Tailed Beast Ball, you masked bastard!"

Gaint chakra sphere was thrown towards Obito with whistling wind. Obito watched as it came with a cold eye; there is no need to dodge, as long as-

Kamui.

Activating the dojutsu of his right eye again, just before hit by the Tailed Beast Ball, he escaped into the dimension that belonged to only himself.

Should have belonged to only himself.

But this time, Obito was shocked to see that there was already an unexpected figure standing in front of him.

That was a Konoha Anbu in full uniform, wearing armors and a strange mask. But what caught Obito's attention was his right hand.

A bright blue sphere was being held in his palm, spinning rapidly with a shriek, then-

Crash!

The Rasengan was smashed onto his face.

Chapter Text

The Tailed Beast Ball roared past the battlefield with deafening sound. However, when this huge energy sphere vanished in the air, the masked man was nowhere to be found.

“Where did he go?” Naruto shouted, spreading his sense in all directions. "He is too strong to be defeated by just the Tailed Beast Ball!"

"Watch out!" Gai suddenly said. "Something is coming out!"

As soon as he finished speaking, where the masked man had been standing twisted, and a figure emerged from the spiral rift; not the masked man that they had been fighting, but-

The sliver-haired man in ANBU uniform who stood with his back to them looked so familiar. Once there had been such a man, such a figure like the strongest line of defense, forever staying in front of and ready to protect his comrades and students...

Both Gai and Naruto widened their eyes. They opened their mouths, but failed to utter any words.

"Yo. Sorry I'm late... But seems not too late this time," they heard that man spoke up with a familiar lazy tone. "Well done, Naruto. You've grown up. Gai, thank you for taking care of my student."

With this he turned around to face them, taking off his ANBU mask.

Naruto felt his heart starting to beat fast in a sudden, pumping blood into his every blood vessel. For a moment he couldn't see anything, anyone else, just the man who was standing there, curling eyes and smiling at him, his sensei...

"Ka-"

"Wait!" Naruto was about to rush out, but two rebar-like arms suddenly reached out from behind him. Gai threw one of his arms around the blond's shoulders, and covered his mouth with the other. "We are not sure if he's a friend or an enemy yet!"

Though saying so seriously, the Blue Beast of Konoha had already been full of tears, voice choking and hands shaking.

"Kakashi, my eternal rival!" He took a deep breath before shouting. "Why didn't you leave this world as other reincarnated ones did? Why do you come to the battlefield? Who is manipulating you now, Kabuto, or some unknown enemy?"

"No one, Gai," replied Kakashi. "I've got rid of the summoner's influence, and come here of my own will. Because... there's something that I must deal with personally."

Startled at his words, Gai unconsciously loosened his grip. Impatiently, Naruto pushed Gai's hand aside from his mouth. "Then... it was Kakashi-sensei that helped us to hit the masked bastard? How did you do that? Where is he now?"

"Maa... It's going to be a complicated explanation," Kakashi tilted his head. "I'll say it in brief. The ability of his dojustu is not enabling him to slip through things; it is the same time-space ninjutsu as mine. On the surface, it seemed that you and your attack passed through his body, but in fact it was just that the areas of his body that were overlapping and in contact with yours were temporarily teleported to another dimension- right, the dimension of my Kamui."

"Back then I teleported your Rasengan by Kamui, and it hit him on his shoulder inside the dimension. Then I teleported myself into the dimension as well, waiting for a chance; when he escaped into Kamui to dodge B-sama's Tailed Beast Ball, I ambushed him and smashed his mask with my Rasengan."

It did explain why the masked man suddenly got wounded before, but the two Konoha shinobi only became more confused.

"Wait... you said that your dimensions were linked?" Asked Gai, rubbing away his tears hard and regaining his composure that he was supposed to have on a battlefield. "Are all teleportation ninjustu linked between all users?"

"Sensei, you smashed his mask?" Naruto asked too. "So you saw his face?"

Hearing their questions, the smile that had been on Kakashi's face disappeared. Instead there was a miserable look.

"As for these," the silver-haired jonin said quietly. "Let him explain himself."

Saying so, he turned around, taking a deep breath before shouting. "Still want to hide yourself? Obito! Or you rather me drag you out?"

To Naruto and Gai, that name was just like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky.

What the hell is going on here... thought Gai. First my friend who had died months ago appeared in front of my eyes as a reincarnated being, then... then he told me, that our comrade who had been thought deceased for decades turned out to be not only still alive, but also responsible for the war and, indirectly, his death...?

Just at the moment, a few steps ahead of Kakashi, air twisted again and another figure emerged from the vortex.

The masked man- "Uchiha Madara"- Uchiha Obito, reappeared in front of them. He had abandoned his mask, revealing a face with scars and a pair of mismatched eyes, which were now locking on Kakashi and only Kakashi, as if others were nothing.

Blankly, Naruto stared at those two men, too shocked to make any reactions.

Uchiha Obito, he was the men who gave his Sharingan to Kakashi.

He threw Kakashi away before the bould had fallen, ending up being crushed underneath himself.

Though never having the chance to meet the raven-haired boy mentioned in Super Bushy-brow sensei's narration, after learning about that sad but stirring story, Naruto had treated Uchiha Obito as his example. He was Kakashi-sensei's hero, the man who had taught Kakashi-sensei the importance of treasuring friends, then he would also be Naruto's hero, and Naruto would inherit their wills of protecting comarades, carrying it out until the end of his life.

But now, the origin of this will had collapsed, turning into a shape beyond recognition in front of his eyes.

The blond moved his gaze towards Kakashi's back.

Even he was under such huge impact, then his sensei, who had been full of agony and remorse for his best friend's death, who had been visiting the Memorial Stone to mourn his deceased friend alomst every day of the past eighteen years... what had he felt when learning about the truth?

Because... there's something that I must deal with personally.

At this brief moment, Naruto understood.

Kakashi came here for Obito.
————————————

Obito gazed at Kakashi.

Although he was not astonished at the same fact as Naruto and Gai were, his emotions were just as churning as those two Konoha ninja's.

At the first second when he saw that ANBU, he had thought that Konoha was just playing the trick of a thief crying "stop thief" as he had expected, and had stolen Kakashi's eye and given it to someone else to use it; but he soon realized one thing. Not just any Konoha shinobi could master Minato-sensei's signature jutsu, Rasengan.

Then, with the superb eyesight of Sharingan and Rinnegan, he had caught the sight of those eyes beneath the mask.

One was black and one was red. Dark scleras.

Edo Tensei.

With his reflex, he could have dodged that attack. However, at that moment, his mind had been a complete blank. Failing to make any reaction, he had just stood there, watching the Rasengan hit himself on his head.

Smashing his mask- as well as the inner one- into thousands of pieces.

Even until Kakashi left the Kamui dimension, he had been still freezing, unable to recover to reality.

All the time he had abandoned the name of Uchiha Obito, the past of being a Konoha shinobi, a memeber of Team Minato, regarding himself as the man who was no one, and devoted himself to the Eye of the Moon Plan. But after that encounter between him as Tobi and Kakashi who had been tracking Sasuke with his subordinates, he had been always thinking despite himself, that in one day, when he took off his mask, what kind of expression would there be on that silver-haired man's face.

Would he be shocked? Frightened? Outraged? Despairing? Would he beg for his forgiveness, implore him to stop, or condemn him for his betrayal, for what he had done?

But Obito could never know the answer. Because Kakashi had died, before he could take off his mask.

Obito would have thought that.

He had imagined their reunion in a thousand ways these years, except this.

Obito gazed at Kakashi. Gazing at his excessive pale skin, the crack on his face, and his dark scleras. And his clenched fists, his upright stance, and the look of a mixture of determination, resolution, exhaustion and pain.

This man had indeed died- he had never been so deeply aware of the fact until now.

Reality and memory overlapped in front of Obito's eyes. He recalled the haughty boy that he had known since his childhood, aloof, frigid and solitary, like a sharp blade shining in even the deepest darkness. Then the boy grew into a man that had been totally different from his past self, gentle, tactful and tolerant, like a polished cobblestone that covered all those tough old days under the smooth surface.

Even such a prominent genius as him had finally lost all his edges after been hit by a series of harsh realities, head and backbone forced to bend by void and remorse; then died at an early age of thirty, only ended up being another ordinary name carved on the Memorial Stone. When decades passed, who could still remember Kakashi of the Sharingan, the famous moniker known throughout the lands?

Just as what he had used to be. Just as what Rin had used to be.

This cursed fate endlessly repeated itself. It had completely devastated Team Minato, and if he let the hopeless reality continue, then one day, finally...

Obito turned his gaze to Naruto who was further away. Before he could catch the blond's eyes, Kakashi stepped in and blocked his sight.

Fury that even fiercer than before suddenly surged up within Obito, threatening to burst out.

Why? Why can't you let it all go and return to the afterworld? Why are you still here? Why don't you abandon this desperate world?

"Why are you coming, Kakashi!" He roared at the silver-haired man. "Do you still want to be Konoha's pawn, even you are dead now? Still worry about them? What's so great about this fucking village, fucking world, that deserves you to fight for it before and after death!"

"You're wrong, Obito." Kakashi's calmness was in deep contrast with his rage. "Konoha no longer needs my protection. Many of our outstanding comrades are still fighting at the front line, and Naruto's generation has grown up and become dependable. I can now rest assured that they will be able to protect the village as I did. The reason why I haven't left this world and come here is not because of them. "

"The reason that I come to the battlefield, Obito, it's for you."

For one moment Obito's expression became twisted, as if he couldn't believe what he had heard; but he soon calmed down unexpectedly and gave a hoarse sneer. "Come here to stop me? After all it's still for the damn village!"

"No," Kakashi shook his head. "I'm here to guide you back to the path you should have gone on, and see what you should have seen. Obito, you-"

Bang!

Before he could finish his words, a figure suddenly fell down from the sky and onto the earth next to Obito, smoke and dust billowing up.

Immediately, Kakashi turned vigilant before leaping back to stand beside Naruto and Gai.

After the smoke had settled, appeared there was the real Uchiha Madara.

The ancient legend had a weary look on his face, as if nothing happening here can intrigue him at all. His glance swept over those shinobi standing opposite, only paused curtly at Kakashi.

"Didn't expect there is someone else who has got rid of the control as me," he said, squinting at his junior. "Talking about the old days with your friend, Obito?"

Obito snorted.

Kakashi raised his brow with surprise. Obito and Madara... seem familiar?

"Madara!" Naruto stepped ahead. "Why are you here? So Tsunade Baa-chan... what happened to the Kages over there!"

"The Kages?" Madara said indifferently, as if the mentioned ones were not the heads and top soldiers of the Five Nations, but some worthless nonentities. "Well... I'm afraid none of them are fine right now."

"...You!" Naruto gritted his teeth, hands clenching into fists.

"I'll return this to you," Obito removed the chain from Gunbai and threw the Gunbai to Madara, "It was yours to begin with."

"Hn," grabbing the weapon that had fought with him for many years, Madara finally gave a satisfied snort. He turned back, glancing at the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. "You launched the plan before taking Hachibi and Kyuubi in, Obito. Impatient, aren't you?"

Obito didn't reply.

"Well, fine," Madara said carelessly, turning his gaze back at Naruto and others. "You may have your own plan. It's still not too late... I'll capture Hachibi and Kyuubi here."

Saying this, he made a hand sign with single hand. Instantly, the earth began to shake, rubble splashing. Behind Madara a gaint wooden dragon swarmed up out of the ground, streching its curled body, roaring at the sky.

"This is Hashirama's wooden dragon, which he previous used to hold down my Kyuubi," Madara said. "I'll warn you that I can't hold back with this."

"I won't hold back, either!" Shouted Naruto, Kyuubi's huge shadow emerged behind him. "Since you are dead anyway!"

Simultaneously, the two shinobi rushed to each other, and a tough fight was launched between Kyuubi and the wooden dragon.

"B-sama, please go to help Naruto with Gai," said Kakashi without looking back, "I'll stay here."

"Wait, Kakashi!" Protested Gai. "Let me help you- Woaaaaah!"

Before he could finish, a tentacle had reached out and wound round his waist, lifting him up.

"Be careful and don't get yourself crushed into ashes, zombie-copycat-yo!" With these words, B left with a struggling Gai.

Now there were only Kakashi and Obito.

"Obito, why'd you joined up with Madara?" Asked Kakashi.

"You get the answer, then what?" Obito said with an icy tone. "Never mind, Kakashi. Whether you are alive or dead is of no consequence of me... I have nothing to say to you since long ago. "

Raising hands, he thumped his own palm with another fist. "You for your village and I for my Infinite Tsukuyomi, let's get the final battle started!"

Infinite Tsukuyomi- it reminds Kakashi of what Sasuke had told him about Obito's plan on their way to Konoha.

"What is the point of a thing like that?" The silver-haired jonin could no longer keep his self-possessed expression. "Escaping from the reality and wallowing in illusion, then what do you get? Nothing!"

He looked at Obito with pain. "You are alive, and still have chance to start all over again, everything can still be retrieved-"

"You are indeed trash with only beautiful words, no matter before or after death!" Obito snapped. "Kakashi... how dare you appear in front of me?"

"After killing Rin and breaking our promise, how dare you say these high-sounding words to me!"

Chapter Text

Hearing Obito's questioning with rage, Kakashi's reaction was just like being slapped heavily on his face.

"...I see," he lowered his head, voice trembling. "You... indeed have known that."

Right, that's exactly the expression, thought Obito. The expression Kakashi would have had when standing in front of the Memorial Stone, every time on a special day- the anniversary of his or Rin's death, for example.

He should have felt sick pleasure because of that expression, but he didn't. Those words was a double-edged sword, stabbing Kakashi hard while also gouging a hole in his heart at the same time.

Obito remembered those days that he had spent in the cave underground. Back then he had been doing rehabilitation like mad, tried hard to get accustomed to his new body, only to leave this damn place as soon as possible and reunite with his teammates. During those months of darkness, the only conviction that had supported him to persist was to find Kakashi and Rin, and tell them that he was still alive.

Only with two together can the sharingan's true power be releashed, then that means if I pair up with Kakashi, we'll both be even stronger and able to protect Rin better!

The news that his teammates were being chased by Kiri-nins had distressed him enormously, and he wished only if he could have wings to fly to see them. Running wildly in the forest, he had felt uneasy about the scene that strangely appeared in front of his eye, and when he finally reached the battlefiled, what he had seen was Kakashi's arm piercing through Rin's chest-

At that moment his world had collapsed.

At that moment his conviction had crumbled.

At that moment his hope had been destroyed.

At that moment he had realized that he was in the hell.

Obito looked at Kakashi. He wanted to ask his friend, the man who had been manipulated and tortured by fortune for so many times- How can you not feel hatred? How can you not feel despair? I've been in such agony, how can you still rise to your feet every time after being knocked down, and fight for the cruel world even after your death?

But he couldn't utter these words. It hurt so much, and the hole in his heart was bleeding, which made him feel too painful to speak. The pain was born of himself, Kakashi, Rin, and countless shinobi who had the same miserable lives as they did.

The pain almost tore him apart alive, and now there was only one way that he could find relief-

Fight!

Clapping his hands to make hand seals, Obito widened his right eye to release several huge shuriken from Kamui dimension. Instinctively, Kakashi leapt back again, slamming his hand onto the ground and shouted, "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

The earth wall sprung up and stopped those shuriken, but at the same time provided cover for Obito to launch his second attack.

He rushed straight ahead and passed through the wall. Under Kakashi's astonished gaze, Obito gave him a hard shove with his knee at the reincarnated one's chest.

Kakashi curled up. Obito reached out, grasping his hair and pinning the man to the ground by his own weight.

The Edo Tensei-ed body wouldn't feel pain, and breathing was only out of habit, but Kakashi still gave a grunt when his back was banged on the ground. However, he didn't fight back or shove Obito away; instead, he dropped his hands and lay flat,  a posture of completely giving up resistance.

"Let me hurt you because you can't really get hurt, huh?" Grasping the silver hair harder, Obito narrowed his eyes dangerously.

Intentionally or not, he covered the eyes of the dead with his palm.

"I failed to protect Rin," Kakashi said quietly. "It's me who turns you into who you are now. It is all my fault. My responsibility."

"Huh!" Sneered Obito. "How conceited you are. If you think I started the war just for you and Rin, to say you are misdirected would be an understatement. Let me tell you, Kakashi, I've known everything-"

"GUUUWAAAAAHHH!"

Just at the moment, a horrifying growl echoed from nearby. The sky changed its color and the earth quivered. Obito looked back over his shoulder, throwing his gaze at the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and just met the single eye of the monster-

Juubi was resurrected.

Obito loosend his grip.

"This world is coming to an end." Without seeing Kakashi's reaction, he activated Kamui.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

Just as Kakashi was sitting up, he saw Naruto who was glittering due to Kyuubi's chakra running towards him, followed by Hachibi and Gai who was still forced to attach to the tailed beast.

"Sensei!" Naruto kneeled beside Kakashi, looking at the man with rapt attention, undisguised concern in his eyes. "Are you ok? Don't worry, although I don't know how you want to deal with Obito, I'll help you! We will definitely succeed!"

Kakashi felt his heart immediately warmed by Naruto's words.

I have a good student, he thought, feeling ashamed for his once depression. How could he already start to feel bewildered and depressed just because of a tiny frustration, after making up his mind and coming here?

Thank you, Naruto.

"I'm fine, Naruto," he said, managing to give the blond a smile. He took his student's outstretched hand, and the two stood up together, looking at Juubi over there and the two Uchihas who were now standing at the top of the beast.

"Sensei," Naruto said seriously, gazing at the monster. "Kurama just told me that Juubi is made up of almost infinite natural energy. It's not in its complete form yet, but it will become even stronger and stronger after each transformation. We have to make it quick, if possible!"

"I see," Kakashi nodded. "The Edo Tensei-ed body has no limit in chakra, so I can continuously use Kamui to encounter Juubi. But there is one problem: Obito will undoubtedly try to stop me by the same jutsu. Plus there is Madara... Juubi is horrible, but who really affects the war situation are the two men who are controlling it."

“Yes, sir!” Naruto nodded vigorously. He suddenly beamed a wide grin. "Well, it's just... I'm really happy to have one more chance to fight with you by my side, Kakashi-sensei!"

"Me too," Kakashi said mildly with curled eyes.

"Alright! Now I'm full of energy again!" Clenching his fists, Naruto looked at his enemies with vigor. "I'll take you all down!"

"Hn..." Madara snorted scornfully. "Just you? A half-assed band of ninjas..."

Naruto looked completely confused. "Wha- What did you call us?"

"Enough, "Obito suddenly spoke up. He raised his hand, eyes wandering between the teacher and the student. "I want to cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi as soon as possible... No time to waste talking!"

Juubi opened its huge mouth. Black energy started gathering in it.

"It's the Tailed Beast Ball!" Shouted Hachibi. "Damn, both Kyuubi and I need time to recover..."

Just then, Obito's body suddenly twitched a bit.

Bang!

The Tailed Beast Ball was launched, but didn't hit the Konoha ninjas and tailed beasts as expected. Instead, it screamed past their heads; even so, the blast still made them totter, almost unable to keep their balance.

"It- it missed?" Asked Gai, still in a state of shock.

"No," Kakashi widened his eyes. "That's-"

"Sorry we're late, guys!"

Someone was shouting from above. Simultaneously, they looked up, and saw Ino coming down from the sky with Hinata.

"Even with a Byakugan supported perfect Shintenshin jutsu, he can still break it in seconds..." Overlooking Obito at the top of Juubi, Ino said with unwillingness. Then she turned to Kakashi, excitement emerged in her eyes. "My father at the headquarter has informed us your arrival... Welcome back, Kakashi-sensei!"

She's even more capable than when revenging for Asuma, thought Kakashi.

"Thanks, Ino," he smiled. "And also, thank you for saving us just now- "

"Sensei!"

Another eager calling interrupted him. The sliver-haired jonin looked over and saw his female student leapt to the ground, running towards him like the wind; but then abruptly stopped when she had almost reached him. Biting her lower lip, she gazed at him, tears already in her green eyes.

"Sakura..." Guilty filled Kakashi's heart. "I'm sorry. For frightening you last time we met."

Sukura shook her head and gave him a sad but warm smile. "No... I'm just so happy to see you again, sensei." She quickly wiped away tears and turned back to her calm and competent self, green light glowing in her palms. "Naruto, Gai-sensei, let me give you two first aid!"

Ninjas kept arriving when they were talking. Many people came on purpose to greet Kakashi, among them some were his past comrades and subordinates in Konoha, others were shinobi from other countries who had heard about him before. Everyone was travel-worn and weary, but there was indomitable determination burning in their eyes, bright and blazing.

Standing in the midst of them, surrounded by this strong fighting will, Kakashi even felt that his heart which had stopped working was almost about to beat again.

He looked up, throwing his gaze to the scarred man who was far away on the head of Juubi.

See? Obito. That's what I can see with my eyes, and what I wish you can see with your eyes.

Friends, will and hope.

"Now this is no longer a 'half-assed band'!" Naruto shouted. "Take a good look, what you have here is the most terrifying and awesome justu in ninja history- Ninja Alliance Justu! It's gonna kick the Infinite Tsukuyomi's ass!"

Madara snorted. "Ninja Alliance Justu... how farfetched."

"Why can't you realize it's meaningless to stop us?" Obito said coldly, overlooking the huge crowd. "After this war, the justu will crumble and fall apart, and someone from your end will once again attempt what we are doing now. There is no such thing as a victory in this world, and hope is merely an illusion."

"If you still cannot understand it... Then let me teach you what despair is!"

Raising his arm again, he splayed his fingers at the shinobi alliance. A thick tube stuck out from Juubi's head and attached itself to Obito and Madara, connecting the monster with its controllers.

As if responding to Obito's move, Juubi uttered a long, deafening scream. Stretching its gaint body, it transformed again, palms of its new hands facing the crowd.

Obito narrowed his eyes.

Wood Release: Cutting Technique!

Numerous black Mokuton spears stuck out from those palms, falling onto the crowd like a heavy rain.

"You can never break our hope! Taju Kage Bunshin no Justu!" Naruto roared, creating hundreds of shadow clones in one second. "And then- Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!"

Rasenshuriken roared away in all directions, destroying all wooden spears in their wake. However, after that Naruto was also exhausted and kneeled down, panting.

Two palms targeted at the blond and launched a bunch of black spears at him. Seeing Naruto too tired to fight back, the expressions of people nearby became panic. Both Neji and Hinata rushed forward and stepped in front of Naruto, aiming to cover him by their own bodies-

"Kamui!"

Air twisted as if a invisible shield was formed over their heads, absorbing all wooden spears into the rift.

A hand landed on Naruto's head, rubbing his hair fondly.

"Seeing my cute subordinate fighting so hard, how can I stand aside without feeling ashamed?" Lazy but reassuring voice sounded above.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto looked up with pleasant surprise.

"Rest assured, Naruto," Kakashi didn't look at his student. He was still staring at those falling Mokutun spears, Mangekyo Sharingan spinning without a pause. "Now there's no way to drain myself and lie in hospital bed due to chakra exhaustion. I'll protect you."
 
After hearing these words, however, Naruto's expression immediately turned sad.

"I know what you are thinking, but there's no time for sentiment, " Kakashi took back his hand after patting Naruto's head. "Now the most important thing is to win this war."

"And also... I have a request."

Kakashi... You are indeed a trouble.

The rain of Mokuton spears stopped falling. Overlooking those wounded and groaning shinobi below, and a small number of people surrounding Naruto who were not injured, Obito thought.

The presence of you distracts me; and now you are using the power that I gave you against me.

I should dispose of you as soon as possible, or you will be always in my way to Naruto. But before that, I need you to do one more thing for me...

"That Hatake Kakashi... It's better to take him down soon." Marada realized the same problem. He turned to Obito, "You didn't learn much about sealing techniques... want me to lend you a hand?"

"No," Obito gave him a flat refusal. "I'll finish him on my own."

"Oh?" Madara raised his brow with slight amusement. "Still have a feeling for him? Obito."

"Nonsense," Obito gave him a cold glimpse, as if Madara had said something extremely ridiculous. "The bond between us... has long been cut off since Rin's death."

He threw his gaze towards Kakashi. Although there was a long distance between them, Obito knew that the silver-haired man was also looking at him; the same sharingan met each other in the mid-air.

Let's end it. Obito conveyed this message by the eye contact. He knew that Kakashi would definitely understand.

Disconnected himself from the monster beneath his feet, he entered Kamui dimension after saying-

"I'll leave Juubi to you now, Madara."

"I'll leave the battlefield to you now, Naruto."

"Kakashi-sensei... Are you leaving already?" Naruto looked up at his sensei worriedly, what the latter had just said echoed in his mind.

Before unleashing the full power to fight back, I'd like to have a face-to-face talk with Obito alone, if I may. I know it sounds unreasonable, but please.

He had never heard Kakashi pleading with such a solemn voice, but he had recognized the man's expression.

That's what he had saw in the mirror, when every time he swore to himself that he would bring Sasuke back to Konoha at any cost.

Naruto fully understood the determination behind such an expression, so he knew that he couldn't, and shouldn't stop his sensei. Meanwhile, however, he also felt bewildered: how could Kakashi-sensei find a chance to have a one-to-one conversation with Obito?

The answer soon revealed itself. Kamui- Obito and Kakashi's own dimension.

It might also become the arena in which they have their duel. The process would not be known by any third parties, and no one would know the result until one of them had left the dimension and returned to the battlefield.

Naruto couldn't help but feel anxious about it.

"Don't worry," Kakashi smiled at him. "The reincarnated one won't die again. Wait for me."

"I'll be back."

Leaving this words, the sliver-haired jonin passed through the twisted air and vanished before Naruto.

Under Madara's control, Juubi transformed again. Condensed energy formed a huge Tailed Beast Ball in its opened mouth, which aimed at Naruto who had saved others again while not yet recovered from chakra exhaustion.

"Kitsuchi-san!" Shikaku commanded. "I need you to teach us the seals of athesimplest earth justu to create earth barricades! And all shinobi from Iwagakure, please continue with your stronger barricades, we need to block it as much as possible! "

Information was conveyed to everyone by Inoichi. All shinobi closed their eyes to gather chakra and made the same hand seals. Hundreds of earth walls rose straight from the ground, forming lines of defense between Juubi and Naruto-

Boooooom!

The Tailed Beast Ball rushed over with an awful lot of force, breaking walls without slowing down even a little bit.

"Damn! It's stronger than I expected!" Seeing his own barricade was crushed into pieces with no exception, Kitsuchi became anxious. "At this rate..."

Puff!

Suddenly, beneath the gaze of so many eyes, the enormous black sphere vanished in silence. At the same moment, a kunai with an unusual shape was thrown over in front of Naruto who was kneeling and Sakura standing behind and healing him, and stuck straight into the ground.

In the next second, a strange and yet familiar figure appeared beside that kunai. His robe fluttered in the night wind, flame-like motifs decorated on the edges seemingly burning, kanji for "Yondaimei Hokage" inscribed on the back shining.

"Am I late?" The blond looked back at his son and asked. Two pairs of blue eyes gazed at each other.

"Nope, you're right on time," Naruto showed him a confident grin. "Dad!"

"D- 'Dad'?!" Sakura was shocked. "Then you- you're- Yondaime Hokage-sama!"

Though what she saw had already proved itself, she was still caught off guard when the legendary hero in the stories since childhood was standing vividly in front of her eyes.

"You must be Sakura," pulling out the Hiraishin Kunai, Namikaze Minato turned around and smiled at the two teens. "Thank you for taking care of Naruto."

"Eh- ah.... The praise is a great honour, Yondaime-sama!" Sakura was flattered but also confused. "How... how did you know my name?"

"Well, I got it from Sasuke-kun." Minato gave her a surprising answer.

"Sa- Sasuke-kun?!" Sakura was dumbfounded.

"Yep," Minato nodded, naturally omitted to mention how he had clung to the raven-haired boy with a whole bunch of questions until the Uchiha finally ran out of patience and threw him a few words as answers. He chuckled, "that boy is quite like Kakashi. Speaking of Kakashi..." the smile on his face immediately disappeared. "Where have he and Obito gone?"

"They..." Mentioning her sensei, Sakura's heart sank.

"They're in Kamui dimension now. Dad, if you have met Sasuke and heard about Obito, then you must have known what had happened to Kakashi-sensei, haven't you?" Naruto said in a low voice.

"Yes, I have," Minato sighed. Sad appeared on his face as he closed his eyes. "I didn't expect... that so many things have happened in decades after my death. It must have been a hard time for him to go through."

He paused and took a deep breath. When opening his eyes again, he had regained his calmness and determination that he was supposed to have as a soldier. "It's not the right time to think about these things. The reason why we come here is to end the war."

He looked at Naruto and Sakura and smiled again. "I'm now going to join the former Hokages and erect the Four Red Yang Formation. Plus, Sasuke-kun is about to arrive soon. Be careful, Naruto, Sakura! "

With these words, the Yellow Flash of Konoha left in no time. Before Naruto and Sakura knew it, another figure had come down from the sky and landed right before them.

Seeing the symbol emblazoned on the back, Sakura gasped and widened her eyes. "Sa- Sasuke-kun!"

"You're late, Sasuke!" Naruto greeted the Uchiha with an attitude that was so familiar, as if they had never parted company.

The raven-haired boy turned around. His face was still cold, showing no extra expression when seeing his teammates. Before responding to their words, he activated his sharingan and looked at the surroundings.

"Where is Kakashi? Is he even late on such an occasion?"

"Kakashi-sensei is with Obito," answered Naruto.

Sasuke raised his brow but didn't make any comments. "Then," he threw his gaze at Juubi in a distance. "The target now is the big one there."

"...Sasuke-kun," Sakura plucked up courage and spoke again. She looked at the Uchiha with hope in her eyes. "So, you're here to..."

The past crush on him had broken into pieces, but Sasuke was still her teammate, and the member of Team Seven. Same as Naruto, she was still hoping that one day he could return to Konoha- to their side.

And Sasuke gave out a slightly disappointing, but at least not the worst answer. "I'm here to help you to win the war. As for other matters... you don't need to know."

"Knowing this is enough now," Naruto said and stood up. Looked at his two teammates, the blond broke into a wide grin, strong fighting will in his eyes.

"Great!" He said, bumping his own fists. "When Kakashi-sensei is back, the Team Seven will be fully revived!"

Chapter Text

Obito was waiting inside the Kamui dimension.

He closed his eyes, considering the moves he should take next.

Until now his original plan had been half-disrupted by two dead men; one was Madara, and the other was Kakashi. Before becoming Juubi Jinchuuriki, he must manage to remove the Forbidden Individual Curse Tag that Madara had placed on him years ago. But this could not be done in front of Madara's eyes, or the other man would definitely see his attempt and try to stop him.

Before Kakashi had appeared, the problem was almost a dead knot. But now it was different.

Kamui dimension- where only Kakashi and him could enter. The only place that Madara would not come in and disturb him.

Then the next step was: how to let Kakashi pierce through his heart？

Or, in other words, would Kakashi choose to end this war by killing him?

Obito could almost give an affirmative answer without thinking.

Because Kakashi was always rational rather than perceptual. He could always keep a clear head when others would lose their minds because of rage, sorrow or fear. He was a man of feeling, who clung to the deceased friend who had died decades ago, but when the feeling conflicted with the great righteousness, he could always make up his mind to bear everything and make the right decision, no matter how anguished he would be.

Hatake Kakashi is a perfect shinobi. If necessary, he could abandon emotions, kill his own heart and become a tool.

That was what Obito admired him most. Because he knew he could never do as Kakashi did.

That was also what Obito hated him most. And then hated the shinobi system and the world that had turned Kakashi into a man like this.

Air twisted and chakra signal flickered. Obito opened his eyes.

The man he admired and hated appeared before him.

"So you have the free access to this dimension," Obito said dryly. "I didn't expect you could be so skillful with Kamui."

"Because we have the same pair of eyes," answered Kakashi. "And, because of this, I believe that you can see what I see."

"Yeah, that's true," Obito shrugged. "All I can see is despair- and you're the same, aren't you? Tortured by regret and sorrow for your whole life, wasted time in front of the graves of mine and Rin's, and eventually killed in war. You can't even rest in peace after death."

"No," Kakashi retorted quietly. "I can see hope by my eyes. He never retreats or gives up, and will always rise doggedly to his feet no matter how many times he is knocked down, striding ahead with his backbone straight. He protects his friends and his dream, and the belief of protection can make him strong and give him the power to conquer any difficulties."

"You mean Naruto?" Obito narrowed his eyes. “I know you speak highly of him, but not to this extent.”

"You can also see that, don't you?" Kakashi stepped forward, eager desire in his eyes. "He has the same dream as you had. What he says is what you said. Doesn't he remind you of what you used to be? I taught your words to that boy, and now, you actually want to speak out the words that come out of his mouth, don't you?"

"Indeed," Obito was unimpressed. "Naruto is like what I used to be. And just because of this, because I know his minds, his thoughts, I understand it better... That he is just younger than me."

"He is young, so he hasn't really seen the cruel and hopeless reality of this world. He will become what I am now when he realizes it! He will give up on the world and deny everything as I do! "

"Naruto will never be like that!" For the first time, Kakashi said in an emphatic tone. He lowered his head, pain spread over his face. "Obito... How could you become who you are now? The one who had killed Rin was me, and I'm already dead. If my death still could not propitiate you, then here I am, and you can do anything to me to revenge for her! Why must you drag everyone into this?"

Just as I expected, Obito said inwardly. He is just a man like this.

Kakashi, do you know what you just said will only foster my despair and hatred towards this world?

"Your self-sacrifice becomes more and more disgusting, Kakashi," he said coldly. "Does devoting everything you have for others satisfy you that much?"

"I've told you that I'm here only for you. Not for others, even not for myself. As long as it can make you return, I'm willing to do any-"

"Shut up and save your stupid sense of duty!" Yelling, Obito interrupted Kakashi. "And I've told you too, that I've known everything! I knew that Rin-" he stared at Kakashi who widened his eyes in shock, "-chose to die that day, by making you strike the fatal blow with your Chidori!"

He roar echoed in the empty dimension, lingering in the air, tearing open the wounds of both of them, revealing the bloody inside.

"Back then she had been held captive by Kirikagure and forced to become the jinchuuriki for Sanbi. You rescued her from their village, but that was exactly what they wanted you to do!" Gazing at the silver-haired man who froze with an astonished look, Obito spoke out the truth with self-torture. "Their plan was to unleash Sanbi once you and Rin returned to Konoha, so it could lay waste to the village. But Rin... she know what they were plotting all along, so she waited for you to engage the ones pursuing you with your Chidori so she could time it perfectly and commit her suicide!"

Kakashi's pupils sharply shrank. For a moment it was as if he was back to the night of nightmare decades ago; he had rushed towards his enemy with Chidori in his hand, but what he had pierced through was not his target, but-

His teamate. The girl that he had vowed to forever protect for his deceased friend.

At that time, he had felt that as if his own heart had also been crushed by the lightning.

"She decided to die by the hand of the man she loved, and it was all for protecting Konoha!" Obito's mournful and shrilling voice resounded in his ears. "No matter what you say, in the end, you failed to protect Rin, so for me, you're an imposter! And Rin was never meant to leave this world, so the Rin that died was also an imposter! Rin would only be the real Rin if she were alive! All these miseries were caused by the shinobi system, the villages, the shinobi... The realization of what that ideology leads to is what shattered my hope and dream! The world is nothing but bullshit, and only the Eye of the Moon Plan can bring true happiness!"

Kakashi slowly looked up. He saw Obito smiling- but the smile hurt him even more than any sad or furious look.

"In my Infinite Tsukuyomi, there will be Rin, you, Minato-sensei... You will be all alive, and nothing bad has happened." He heard pure longing in Obito's voice; the man now was fully immersed in the wonderful dream created by himself. "There will be no war or failure; only peace, victory, and love-"

"We are already dead!!"

The weight on his shoulders and the grievous voice scattered Obito's illusion into thousands of pieces. Drawn back to reality, he looked at Kakashi, not knowing when the man had come up to him and put his hands heavily on Obito's shoulders. "The death can not be erased or altered! Even I'm now standing in front of you, this body is a falsehood, and our lives have ended! But it's not that we didn't leave anything behind; we entrusted those alive with our will, which would get passed on from generation to generation, and would be immortal! That's why you're different from us, you're still alive-"

"That's exactly what made me despair!" Obito slammed Kakashi's hands aside. He stepped back, face twisted in pain. "The will? Look at you three! You all died for the village, at such young ages! You were all killed by the decayed shinobi system, and the cruel world! Look at us, Kakashi! We failed to protect our comrades, and failed to keep our promises, there's only failure in our lives! The war will never be eliminated from this world, and it will only create losers, just like you and me!"

"No need to talke any more, Kakashi!" Obito shouted. "I'm not here to say any nonsense to you. Let's finish this!"

He lifted his right hand to his chest, holding up his index and middle finger, and curling up the other three- a Seal of Confrontation.

Kakashi gazed at Obito. Gazing at his mismatched eyes, the scarred face, and the abnormally pale right arm. Gazing at the man who had been full of hope, passion and love, and now only had despair, void and hatred left in his heart.

He remembered himself after the death of his whole team. Back then he had been just like this, desperate, empty and hateful. Back then he had thrown himself into endless ANBU missions without caring his own life, while those missions had consisted of blood, killing, ambition and conspiracy, crudely exposing those ugly desires before his eyes, which had only ended up proving his opinion- the world was hell.

But there had still been a silver lining.

I'll become your eye, and help you to see the future.

It was Obito who had given Kakashi the strength to live on. He had believed in Obito, believing the future that the Uchiha had wanted him to see would never be like this. So before the true future arrived, he would need to wait and endure. And after going through those long days of pain, he had finally met Team Seven- his light and saviours.

Obito had protected him again and again, so now it's his turn to protect Obito. Obito had saved him again and again, so now it's his turn to save Obito.

This was also his promise to her.

"It seems that you won't listen to me unless I take you down first." Kakashi completely calmed down. Pushing those surging emotions aside, he was ready to fight. "Then let me defeat you before we continue our talk."

Raising his hand, he made the same Seal of Confrontation as Obito had done.

The Kamui dimension fell into total silence. Kakashi and Obito looked at each other; the same postures, the same expressions... just like facing a mirror.

For a moment, it seemed like a familiar voice echoed in their ears.

"Now, the shinobi sparring- starts!"

As if they had really heard their sensei's words, both men rushed towards each other with fierce fighting will burning in their eyes.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Dull thuds of physical combat resounded. No dazzling ninjustu or genjustu, they were using pure taijustu to confront each other, just as what they had been doing twenty years ago, when they had been both in Konoha, and nothing bad had happened.

But that was only an illusion. Past time would not come back, and the dead would not be easily resurrected.

Would one still have chance to come back to the path that he had once strayed from?

Kakashi threw a punch at Obito, and the fist was caught by the latter's open hand. Obito did the same thing, only ended in Kakashi grasping the Uchiha's fist with his own hand. They both leant forward until their foreheads almost met.

"Even you said Rin that had died was an imposter," staring into the mismatched eyes, Kakashi said slowly. "I still want to tell you something that truly happened. Before being reincarnated by Kabuto... I had met Rin in the afterworld."

Chapter Text

"Long time no see, Kakashi."

The brown-haired girl with purple marks on her face said. Hands behind her back, she stood on her tiptoes, looking up at him carefully, then smiled. "You're taller than Minato-sensei now!"

For a moment he was too choked to utter any words. He just stared at his teammate, who no longer had chance to grow up and get taller.

He didn't expect to meet her so soon. Yes, over decades she had appeared in his dreams now and then, blood all over her body, dead with eyes open, a hole in her chest pierced by himself; her face had been horrified, astonished, and sometimes even with anger and hate.

He knew that it was not the reality, but his nightmare would lose no opportunity to lash his heart.

How long hasn't he seen her innocent smile like this?

"It's been a long time, Rin," realizing his silence had bagun to unsettle the girl, he managed to fight down the choking feeling, greeting her with a tone as brisk as possible. He bent down, putting his hands on his knees, so now his face was level with hers. He wanted her to see his smile more clearly, so that she would know he was really, really happy to meet her again. "How- how's going?"

That was a stupid question. He began to regret as soon as the words popped out. What else can be more miserable than dying at such a young age, in such a painful way? Does good or bad even matter to a dead soul?

But Rin nodded earnestly. "I'm good," she said. "I've been watching you all the time. I saw you grown into a great adult, a wonderful sensei. " She beamed at him, "just like Minato-sensei!"

Just like Minato-sensei- to him that was the highest praise, which almost made him feel ashamed. He knew better than anyone that he did not deserve it. "I wasn't that great, Rin. The great ones were my students. I just did what I was suppose to do as a sensei... no, I failed to do well even in this part."

Otherwise his students would not have left him one by one, and become the disciples of the Sannin. He had been gratified by their decisions and bright prospects- maybe Sasuke's case was an exception- but this had not prevented him from feeling that he was a sensei who had accomplished nothing.

"Again. You're always like this, Kakashi," Rin sighed. The smile faded from her face; instead there was sorrow and sadness. "You always take the responsibilities that are not yours, and be too strict to yourself. Why you still can't learn to forgive yourself? Sometimes things just happened, and it was not because we didn't do enough. They're just beyond our abilities. That's not your fault. Sasuke's case was like this, so was what happened at Kannabi Bridge, as well as... what happened to me then..."

She suddenly started to whimper, tears welled up in her bright eyes before streaming down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Kakashi, I'm so sorry..." she sobbed, burying her face into her palms, shoulders trembling. "I'm a medic-nin, but I could never heal the wounds in your heart... yet made you more painful..."

He looked at her bewilderedly. Why does the talk become like this? It's been decades before they finally met each other again, so shouldn't the reunion be cosy and happy? But he made her cry.

It's his fault- he turned down the thought immediately once it emerged in his mind. Rin would not like him to have such an idea.

Then, at least he should try to console her.

Hesitantly, he reached out. He suddenly found that he had turned into his younger self, a teen with both good eyes. Putting his hand onto Rin's shoulder tentatively, he was not sure whether he should give her a hug.

He had never embraced her when they were both alive. The most similar gesture was that he put one arm around her shoulder- meanwhile pulling his other hand out from the hole in her chest.

His palm was now on her shoulder. She rushed over at once, holding him hard in her arms, crying loudly into his neck. She was weeping so sadly, and there was anxiety and fear in her crying; he had no idea about what had caused these emotions, but her hot tears sept into his clothes, stung him as if it was some sort of concentrated acid when touching his skin.

Holding Rin carefully in return, he patted at her back awkwardly like what Minato-sensei had done in his memories, conforting him every time he had woke up from nightmares shortly after his father's suicide.

"Don't be afraid," he whispered- his voice had also turned back to what it was like in his childhood. "I'm here. I'll protect you. Both Obito and I will protect you."

Then he finally realized- where is Obito?

For a while he had been too shocked at seeing Rin again to think about anything else. But now he started to feel strange: shouldn't Obito be with Rin right now? Then why the raven-haired boy was nowhere to be seen?

He restrained himself from asking it aloud. Now consoling Rin was the highest priority.

Rin soon stopped crying. She let go of him, stepping back and wiping her eyes before smiling sheepishly with a slightly blushing face. "Sorry... I was out of my control."

Even he felt that Rin was still in an unstable mood, he didn't say anything. He knew that Rin had always been strong in her heart, and stronger than most shinobi if only mental quality was counted- otherwise she couldn't have successfully completed the Sharingan transplant surgery in the middle of the battlefield, or made the prompt decision of suicide once learnt that she had been turned into a weapon to destroy her own village.

"You want to ask about Obito, don't you?" It was Rin who first spoke out the name of their teammate. "In the afterworld, souls are always wandering from place to place and never stay long at anywhere, so it's been a while since I last saw him. Are you going to look for him?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "I... have a lot to say to him."

"Then... when you meet him, Kakashi, can you please do me a favor?"

He was confused inwardly. Why didn't Rin just come along and go for Obito with him together? But he kept silent about it. Rin must have her own reason.

"Sure," he nodded again.

"When you see Obito," she bowed her head, clasping hands in front of her, as if praying. "If he does anything wrong or says anything stupid, please don't be angry. If he is lost, please find him back. And, please tell him for me- "

"-That I've been watching him."

The words were just like a sharp arrow, stabbing hard into Obito's heart. For a time he forgot to breathe, and completely lost his ability to react and think. All he had was only those words, repeatedly echoing in his mind.

I'm standing by your side and looking at you, which means that you can't hide anything from me.

Come on, Obito! Become the Hokage, and let me see you saving the world in a super cool way! And that's also the promise between us!

Promise. The promise between him and Lin.

But look at him now... Him who had been blaming Kakashi for not being able to keep the promise... What had he done?

"...and then I said goodbye to Rin, wandering around in the afterworld, trying to find you." Kakashi's voice drew Obito back to reality. He raised his gaze mechanically. "Before I could find you, Kabuto summoned me back to this world. Maybe it's bacause the Sage of Six Paths doesn't want the deceased ones to reveal the secret of the afterworld, this part of my memories became very vague after my reincarnation, but on the way coming here, I remembered it all. Now I also understand why Rin would say that. Although I still can't tell how she was able to foresee that I would return to the livings' world... Back then she came to see me intentionally."

"Rin has been watching us. Me, and you. Do you want her to see you like this?" Touching Obito's forehead with his own, for the first time Kakashi's tone became harsh. "To see you, who has denied her will, her sacrifice, and now even deciding to erase the evidence of her once existence... Do you think she will be happy about that?"

Obito could not reply. Intellectually, he was clear about the answer; but meanwhile he knew as well, that at the moment he spoke out the answer, it would amount to deny whom he had become these years.

To deny himself, or to deny Rin?

It was a question that Uchiha Obito could never answer.

So he once again chose the third path that he had used to choose- to escape. To deny the question itself.

"Tha- that's impossible... you liar!" The black-haired man hissed, but vacillation began to shimmer deep inside his eyes. "To protect Konoha and Naruto, you even don't hesitate to make up lies about Rin!"

Leaning backwards, Obito let go of Kakashi's fist, struggling to free his other hand from the latter's grip. But Kakashi refused to coooperate; instead, he caught both of Obito's hands, their foreheads once again collided.

"Look at my eyes!" Kakashi roared. Obito had never known that his sliver-haired teammate could also be so emotional. "How many times do I have to tell you that I'm already dead! No matter this world is reality or illusion, it's none of my business now! I can't stay here and support Naruto forever; he's grown up, and no longer needs my company! My duty to Konoha and my students is over! I'm here for you, for my promise to Rin! I'll find the lost Obito, and bring him back to the path he should have been!"

"When I was alive you had entrusted me with her, but I failed to keep my promise. And after my death, it's her turn to entrust me with you. So this time I'll keep my promise to her at any cost!"

Growling, Kakashi lifted his knee and gave Obito a hard shove at the other man's chest. Obito grunted with pain; Kakashi loosened grips on his hands, gave him a swift kick at his abdomen. Managed to find balance again, Obito slid backwards with his palms on the ground, finally stopped himself at the edge of the platform.

He had accidentally bitten his tougue. Spitting out the blood, Obito looked up at Kakashi who was standing at the other side of the platform, narrowing his eyes. "'At any cost'... you wanna kill me?"

"Well, that's exactly what I've thought," answered Kakashi, walking towards him with clenched fists, determination in his voice. "Before remembering my promise to Rin, I thought that would be the last resort; but I change my mind now. I must make you live, and help you to find back your real self."

"You has felt pain and anger about my death, and been influenced by Rin's words, which means you are still the Obito that I knew. That hero Obito is still alive; he's just asleep. Lost. So I must awaken him and find him back!"

Before finishing his words, the silver-haired jonin had jumped up, kunai glittering in his hand.

Round two began now.

But this time Obito would not just stand there and let Kakashi attack. The Uchiha leaped back onto a nearby platform, and continued retreating at high speed, jumping from one to another, as if he had eyes on the back of his head; reaching out his right arm with an open hand, he left a trail of black wooden spears sprouting out through the ground, trying to stop the man chasing behind.

"Raikiri!"

The dazzling blue-white lightning sparkled with harsh squeaking sounds, twining around Kakashi's right hand and the kunai, easily destroying all the wooden spears in the way. Breaking another large cluster of thorns, Kakashi found a huge black hemisphere on the platform ahead. What was seen from Sharingan told him that Obito was now hiding in the creation of his mokutun.

"Useless effort, Obito!" He shouted. "No matter how many shells you build and try to hide yourself beneath, I'll always break them all and drag you out!"

The lightning in his palm became even more powerful. Raising his speed to the limit, Kakashi rushed towards the hemisphere, slamming out his right arm when he reached it-

Pierced.

The genjustu crushed into a thousand pieces.

Recognizing the warm and sticky feeling on his hand, Kakashi widened his eyes, pupils shrank to tiny dots.

His mind went totally blank. He froze there, watching the wooden strips unfolding like the fate's evil tentacles, revealing Obito- Obito who was pierced through at the heart by his own arm.

They had the same eyes. Obito had deceived his Sharingan with genjustu, and made him think that the Uchiha was hiding underneath the Mokutun shield, but not inside.

"Guh.....hahahaha...." Coughing blood, Obito laughed miserably. "Just.... as I expected... it won't be successful... without you... Just because it's you fighting me... I can precisely predict your next step... and the point you would attack..."

Kakashi did not reply. The lightning dissipated from his palm; at the same time, the burning determination that had once been in his eyes also disappeared.

What was left was only complete void, as if his soul had cut off connection with the temporary body.

A branch stretched out, gently entwining around his waist, slowly leading him back to the platform with Obito. Kakashi did not resist.

Gripping Kakashi's right arm, Obito pulled it out from his chest. The sharp pain made him cough blood again; he stumbled backwards, leaning on the wooden strips to prevent himself from falling down.

His vision was becoming dim and blurred. He looked up, and saw Kakashi still staying there motionless.

Even knowing the Edo Tensei-ed body would not cry, and Kakashi was a man who would never easily show his tears,

at that moment, Obito felt that left eye, a perfect replica of the one that Kakashi had had when he was alive, was silently crying.

Ahh, he thought distantly. That may also have been what Rin saw at the last second of her life.

As if enchanted, he struggled to stagger forward, reaching out to the other man's face with trembling fingers.

"Hold on, Kakashi.... soon... we can..."

His fingertip slightly brushed against the corner of the jonin's eye before quickly retracted, and the words were forever left in the mid-air, unfinished.

Before the air became normal again after being twisted, there was only Kakashi left in the dimension. Losing control from its creator, the branch around his waist started cracking, finally crumbled into dust. At the same time, Kakashi also collapsed heavily onto the ground, as if he had just lost all his support.

A thud.

In a view ninety degree askew, Kakashi saw his right hand bounced from the ground before falling back again, flicking tiny blood drips in all directions.

Obito's blood.

Another mistake. Another failure.

Another promise that he failed to keep.

He could feel nothing. As if he had been destroyed from inside.

Even the reincarnated body was intact, he had no strength to get to his feet again.

Chapter Text

On the battlefield outside.

Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara were confronting each other, while Naruto and Sasuke were managing to parry the fierce attacks of Juubi with the help of other three former Hokages, and never missing any opportunity to fight back.

Bang!

Suddenly, under the gaze of everyone, air above the head of Juubi twisted. A figure emerged from the rift and fell heavily onto the top of the tailed beast.

"Kuh..." The impact made Obito cough blood again. Stretching his limbs, he struggled to recover his breath, chest with a blood hole heaving.

Before his condition became stable, however, Obito felt a huge pain burst out from his right arm. Several black rods pierced through his skin, he couldn't help but start screaming. "Guahhhhhh!"

It's Madara!

Black spread out and finally covered the right half of the man's face. Obito slowly got up, slamming his hands together as if making a hand sign. It seemed that he was now being manipulated by some unknown power. 

"Is that... Obito?" Naruto said, staring at the figure. "Now that he comes out... so where's Kakashi-sensei?"

"Boys!" Hashirama was shouting to them from far away. "Stop the jutsu of the man standing atop Juubi immediately! Never let him resurrect Madara!"

There was no time for deliberation. Exchanging a look, Naruto and Sasuke started to rush towards Obito.

But another man arrived there earlier than both of them.

Only for an instant, the Konoha's Yellow Flash had appeared on the top of Juubi. Eyes shining with resolution, the Fourth Hokage stabbed hard into the man in front of him with the kunai that had brought him to his student.

Blood spurted out. Obito leaned backwards, clasped hands dropped down, black hair turned totally white. Slowly moving his unfocused gaze, he whispered. "Sen-sei..."

Minato's eyes widened.

"I see..." he murmured. "It was... you."

Obito didn't reply. His body staggered before falling down.

Minato stood there. He looked down at his student, the one that he had thought to be long gone, but in fact still lingering in this world as a completely different person, the only one that was still alive. And now, the "only" seemed no longer exist soon.

He stood there with a bowed head, expression concealed by his hair. The handle of the kunai of Flying Thunder started creaking under his firm grip. 

"Dad!" Naruto's voice sounded from behind. He and Sasuke had arrived.

Minato was in silence; he did not even looked up at his son. His eyes were still on Obito.

"The marking of Hiraishin never disappears... I didn't teach you that," he said in a low voice. Hands clenching more after a short pause, shoulders shaking slightly. "I'd hoped that you could have become Hokage if you were alive... But Obito, why...?"

"He's hopeless," Sasuke landed on the other side of Obito. Looking down, he said indifferently as he always was, showing no pity to the man of his own clan. "The next step is to seal Madara, and then everything's done."

He raised his arm with the unsheathed sword, aiming to end Obito's life with one last stab.

"Wait!" Naruto grabbed his shoulder. "I haven't asked him about Kakashi-sensei!"

Sasuke glimpsed at him, frowning. "It's not the time to-"

"Cough... hahaha..." While the two teens were talking, Obito who had been lying motionlessly suddenly laughed in a hoarse voice. "Don't... stand there... and talk like... you have won the war..."

Right after his words, Juubi under their feet let out a terrifying howl, and began trembling fiercely.

"Leave, now!" Startled, Minato grabbed the two kids and jumped away, not willing to risk their lives. Gamakichi who was standing by immediately leaped up and caught them in the mid air.

Staring down, Minato found Obito was slowly sinking into Juubi's body, and the giant monster itself was rapidly shrinking.

"That's not a good sign, " he whispered, eyes filled with apprehension. "He is... turning into the Juubi Jinchuuriki."

He felt like floating in the sea of lava.

He saw himself fighting Naruto, Sasuke and the Hokages, trampling and destroying them with brutal, overwhelming power. But that was not his power. His body was not being controlled by himself. 

That was even not exactly his body.

It was- Juubi's power.

The power was brutally suppressing his enemies outside, meanwhile pushing pressure onto him internally, eager to swallow him up and take the dominant position in the assimilation.

Gradually, he couldn't keep a shape of human, body distended like a balloon, a horrifying monster.

The power of Juubi crawled up his consciousness, tearing it in all directions, trying to break it up.

Give yourself to me, the ancient wicked voice whispered into his ear, bewitching. He did't even know if it was real or just his imagination. Surrender. Abandon yourself and become my puppet...

A old picture appeared in front of his eyes. The young man with blond hair was smiling with slight resignation, hands on the top of his male students' heads. The black-haired boy on the left was wearing goggles, smiling confidently with a lollipop in his mouth. The silver-haired boy on the right was looking indifferently at the camera with a pair of dark eyes, half of his face hidden under the blue mask. And the only girl in the picture was beaming, showing V sign with both hands.

Team Minato.

My name is Uchiha Obito! The man who will one day become Hokage!

Rip! The black-haired boy in the picture was torn out.

Obito, you are late again! Is your way here always so twisty?

Rip! The silver-haired boy in the picture was torn out.

Never give up, Obito! We will become Hokage!

Rip! The blond young man in the picture was torn out.

Obito, don't play tough guy and hide your wound! I've seen it!

Rip! On the last piece of the picture, a crack appeared across the girl's smile.

And his consciousness, like this picture, was also torn apart by the power of Juubi, threatening to collapse.

Who am I?

I'm no one.

No... That's not true... I'm...

Uchiha Obito!!

The fragmented photo was reassembled in an instant. 

The sea of lava disappeared. The pressure disappeared. He heard a howl of exasperation from Juubi before vanishing.

He opened his eyes, and regained the control of his body.

He became the jinchuuriki of Juubi.

The new jinchuuriki was standing on the ruins.

Lowering his head, Obito looked at his open palm. His skin had turned green, and when stretching his fingers, he could easily feel the endless power in his flesh and blood.

He had succeeded. One step closer to his final goal. Next would be to release the divine tree, letting it absorb enough chakra from those shinobi. When the flower at the top of the tree blossomed, and the moon mirrored the eye in the center of the flower, the Infinite Tsukuyomi would be completed. The world would fall into illusion, and his long journey would eventually come to the end.

But why couldn't he feel a sense of joy or accomplishment in his heart? Why all he had was greater emptiness?

Well, anyway...

Clash!

With no effort, Obito easily blocked the kunai of Flying Thunder with his khakkhara, making it unable to move forward by even half an inch.

"Sensei," looking up into the dead's blue eyes, Obito said apathetically. "I made it, finally."

"Obito... Why you do this? Don't you want to become Hokage?"

"It's too late to have lectures. Don't you agree, sensei?" Obito asked back. "You. A man who was always one step behind to save his students. Who couldn't even recognize his own student. That's it. Hokage."

"Thanks to you, Minato-sensei. It's easier to give up my dream of being Hokage."

While Minato was in shock, Obito suddenly began his attack. The tip of the kunai of Flying Thunder broke off under the pressure, and Obito reached out, grabbing Minato's right arm with his other hand.

With a tug, he hauled it down from the man's shoulder.

An experienced soldier as he was, Minato immediately returned to his senses. Before Obito's next attack arrived, he had once again used Hiraishin no Jutsu to escape far away and returned to Naruto and Sasuke.

This time, however, his arm failed to regenerate.

"Obito!" Moving his worried eyes away from his father, Naruto looked at the man standing opposite before raising his voice. "What did you do to Kakashi-sensei?"

The red eye, which seemed to be in tears, flashed through Obito's mind.

"He? He was pinned to the ground of Kamui dimension by my black rods," he replied with a hard, cold tone. "Do you really think that trash can defeat me? The man with empty beautiful words and never accomplishes anything... but don't worry. I'll let him rest in peace after starting the Infinite Tsukuyomi."

"...You!" Naruto clenched his fist. As soon as he was about to say something, Sasuke beside him had already rushed out. He was stunned at first, and then followed closely.

"I'll sync to your chakra!" The raven-haired boy shouted without looking back, reaching out his left hand. "Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi!"

"Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!" 

The proportions of Chakra had reached perfection. The Rasenshuriken, burning with the flame of Amateratsu, spinned and shrieked in the palms of the two young men.

"Woooooooh--!!"

The two teenagers rushed over with indomitable momentum. Even Obito could not help but restrain his previous careless posture, laying the khakkhara in front of him. With a loud bang, the two sides collided fiercely. Curling his legs slightly to keep balance, Obito slid backward for a long distance, but in addition to that--

He was not injured at all.

Obito raised his hand. The black flame on the back of his hand soon went out. He looked up at Naruto and Sasuke.

"So you're angry because I said that Kakashi is trash?" He said, deadpan with a slight ironic voice. "Especially you, Sasuske... I never realize that you get on so well with Kakashi."

"Don't take me wrong," Sasuke replied coldly. "He is indeed useless, and really has bad eyes. The hero that he has kept talking about is actually a coward who can only escape and indulge in the past, and doesn't even have the courage to face the reality!"

"Kakashi-sensei will be back!" Naruto shouted. "He's promised to me!"

Obito's face fell. He moved his eyes from Sasuke to Naruto. "Promised? Don't you know that Kakashi was a man who could never keep his promise? He was like that when he was alive... and the same after death!"

"What about you then? You bastard." Naruto's voice suddenly sank. He stared at Obito, eyes burning with calm anger. "What about your promise of becoming the Hokage?"

Obito's pupils shrank slightly at his words.

"Come on, Obito! Become Hokage, and let me see you saving the world in a super cool way! And that's also the promise between us!”

"What about your dream of being Hokage!" Taking advantage of his trance, Minato and Naruto launched a combination attack. With Minato's Haraishin no Justu, Naruto was brought to the mid-air by his father, right behind Obito. The huge blue sphere gave out dazzling light in the hand of the blond boy .

Sage Art: Rasengan!

"You can't even keep the promise to yourself," roared Naruto, thrusting the Rasengan with natural energy into Obito's back. "Someone like you... has no right to criticize Kakashi-sensei!"

Boom!! 

Smoke rose with a loud noise. Minato and Naruto retreated as soon as they hit the target, back to where they had been, staring at their enemy.  

"…" The part of his body hit by Rasengan was in a burning pain. Obito struggled to get up from the ground, expression distorted by anger. It was beyond his expectation that Sage Art would work on him, but more importantly...

The firm determination to carry out the eye of the moon plan, which had been slightly wavered by Kakashi, was now being wavered again by Naruto's words.            

No!]He roared inwardly. I can't let their rhetoric affect my faith!

Just start the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and it'll be all over! The world in my dream... The world with no war and sacrifice will finally come to reality! 

"Ha!" Obito clapped his hands together, released Juubi again. This time, what the monster presented was its final form——

The divine tree.          

The giant tree stood straight into the sky, the flower on the top facing the moon. Countless thick roots grew from underground, crawling towards shinobi nearby. Those who are entangled by them quickly turned pale, and within a short time, both their chakra and life would be quickly absorbed.            

For a moment, the surroundings had become a hell on earth. And the roots were still expanding, slowly but irresistibly.

"Now what!" Levitating in the air, Obito looked down at Naruto. "'I'll protect my comrades', 'I'll defeat you for everyone', eh? Look around and feel the finality of death! This is reality. What's there left in this reality for you? You've lost your parents, your master, your sensei, and your comrades will continue, one by one, to die for nothing... What's waiting for you at the end of the world is what you've been familiar and dreading your entire life... That's loneliness!"

Naruto's expression was once hesitant, but soon back to resolution.

"I don't need you to remind me!" He looked up at Obito without showing any weakness. "As you said, I have lost a lot of important people. I have fully experienced what facing death is like! So what? Admit the fact, endure and overcome the pain, that's what makes me a real ninja! If I deny the deaths of my comrades, it will be as same as I'm denying how they have lived and fought!"

"To see you, who has denied her will, her sacrifice, and now even deciding to erase the evidence of her once existence... Do you think she will be happy about that?"

"And I'm not alone!" Naruto exclaimed again. He raised his right hand with thumb up, poking firmly at his own chest. "I've told you many times! My parents, Pervy Sage and Kakashi-sensei, they are still living in my heart! Even if they are gone, their wills will always be with me, no matter what happens!"

"But it's not that we didn't leave anything behind; we entrusted those alive with our will, which would get passed on from generation to generation, and would be immortal!"

"How blissful it feels to be forever guided by them, " flickering flames burst out from Naruto's body, he activated the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode again. Beside him, Sasuke also summoned Susanoo. "Someone like you who has abandoned your past self will never understand!"

"Naruto, Sasuke, I'll leave him to you!" Minato shouted. "I have to go to help others!"

"No problem, you can count on us!" Leaving the words, the two teenagers ran towards their enemy.

Meanwhile Obito could not even maintain his slightest calmness. Naruto's and Kakashi's words ceaselessly reverberated in his head, disturbing his mind. His attack became violent, knocking Naruto and Sasuke away countless times. But the kids refused to surrender, kept picking themselves up and rushing to him again.

Looking at their eyes burning with strong fighting spirit and no intention to retreat, Obito found himself wanting to avoid this confrontation for the moment, which astonished him.

Why? Why don't you give up? Why don't you lose hope?

Why... when I see you like this, deep in my heart I even feel a little bit....happy?

" I taught your words to that boy, and now, you actually want to speak out the words that come out of his mouth, don't you?"

"Kakashi... " Holding his head, Obito were desperate to expel the man's voice from his mind. "You... you're already... "

Bang!

With another loud thud, Naruto and Sasuke fell again, hit the ground heavily. It seemed that they were finally near their limit; Sasuke was lying there, panting, while Naruto was on his knees. But the blond still held his head high, glaring at Obito in the mid-air, eyes shining with unyielding light.

"Why do you continue getting up? What are you fighting for, your friends? The world?" Obito pointed at the blond boy. "Listen... Eventually your friends will stab you in the back, and your love for this world will slowly rot to hatred! You're on the same road as me... All the hate will someday change you, and you will feel nothing but pain! Can you still say will confidence that you'll forever stay the same? And your friend may betray you again, but you won't know when, just like you won't know if one day there will be another war... Any valid reason to continue fighting will finally cease to exist. So why do you still insist on fighting?! "

Hearing the question, Naruto curled up his lips into a confident smile. That expression was so familiar that it almost hurt; no matter how reluctant Obito was to admit, he couldn't deny that the smile had once belonged to a raven-haired boy with goggles on his head.

Once belonged to Uchiha Obito.

"Because I never go back on my word. That's my ninja way!"

"Naruto," Sasuke stood up, using his sword as a cane. "Let's put an end to this!"

Kyuubi and Susanoo appeared again. This time, different from before, Susanoo was shaped into an armour for Kurama. Holding the huge sword, the beast rose into the air, hissing at Obito, revealing its sharp fangs.

The khakkhara transformed in Obito's hand, and finally turned into a large, double-helix shaped sword- the Sword of Nunoboko.

They all knew it. It's now the decisive moment!

Suddenly, however, illusions appeared in front of Obito's eyes. He with Kakashi mourning in front of Rin's tomb, he fighting alongside his comrades, he laughing carefreely with friends, and he... who had become the Fifth Hokage.

His face was engraved onto the mountain. Although the goggles that he had insisted to have were missing, the sharingan was carefully carved out, overlooking the village that he loved and protected.

Looking at himself dressing in the Hokage's haori with a solemn expression on his face, Obito finally showed a shocked look and took a step back.

Why am I... seeing this?

Am I... regretting?

Outside, Kurama rushed towards Obito. With a flash of knife light, chakra of the tailed beasts gushed out from the wound on the jinchuuriki's waist, clinging to the nine tails of Kurama. The two sides evolved into a tug of war.

Meanwhile in Obito's inner world, the scene he saw changed again. He was standing there alone, with no one behind him; while there was another himself standing opposite, crowded by a lot of people, Kakashi, Sasuke, Gai, and others.

Obito stared at himself in jonin uniform. Suddenly, the one stood there turned into Naruto.

"You actually still want to be Hokage, don't you?" The blond asked with a serious look, eyes locking on Obito, leaving him no chance to escape. "I just saw your past...  You've been always wondering if you had chosen to go back to Konoha at that time, then everything would have been different. Am I right? "

"We are very much like... Living in loneliness since childhood, eager to be acknowledged by others, so we set being Hokage as our life goals. But look at what you've done now! Do you think you can win the approval of everyone by doing this? You've seen how my dad and Kakashi-sensei feel about it... If that girl, Rin, were here too,  do you think she would have agreed that you were on the right path? "

"...No!" Obito retreated a step back. His tone was fierce, but it sounded not quite convincing. "I... I have abandoned my past! Their opinions are of no value to me, they are nothing to me! And... and they're all dead... There is no more point in mending my way... "

"Stop deceiving yourself!!" Naruto's roar interrupted Obito's words. The blond took a big step forward and stared at him aggressively. "Do you really think so? When you were about to be occupied by Juubi, what has made you defeat it and keep your consciousness? It's that you remembered you were Uchiha Obito, a member of Team Minato! You couldn't abandon them at all, I've seen it!"

"They're all dead, indeed. But so what? The man who wants to be Hokage can't even accept the deaths of his comrades? Can't even overcome the pain of losing someone important to him? How can you be qualified as Hokage then! Look at Kakashi-sensei. He'd suffered a lot after my parents' deaths, but he'd still survived! He'd treated you as a hero, how can you not be as good as him?"

"You said that sooner or later my friends would betray me, didn't you? Then listen now! If my friend goes on the wrong way, I will certainly find him back! No matter how many times he pushes my hand away, I will never give up! Isn't that what you'd told Kakashi-sensei and then he'd taught us, the importance of protecting our friends? "

"That hero Obito is still alive; he's just asleep. Lost. So I must awaken him and find him back!"

Obito's breath sharpened. In minutes, Naruto and the crowd behind him seemed to have disappeared. Instead, there were three familiar figures standing in front of him.

"...Obito," although the silver-haired boy was still deadpan, he did not hesitate to extend his hand to him.

"Obito!" The brown-haired girl beamed at him, holding out her hands.

"Obito," the blond young man smiled, opening his arms.

Kakashi...Rin...sensei...

His trembling arm slowly reached out towards the three people, who he had once loved and then parted ways, and now seperated with him forever, never able to accompany him any longer. His fingertips touched the dead's, then were held tightly-

"...You are also included in the 'friends', you idiot!" Clenching his hand, Naruto pulled hard in his own direction. "Come back, Uchiha Obito!!"

The illusion broke into pieces at the moment that name was called out.

With the concerted efforts of Naruto, Sasuke and the whole Shinobi Alliance, finally, the tailed beasts' chakra was successfully pulled out. Losing the power of Six Paths, Obito fell to the ground.

Staring at the full moon hanging in the sky, further and further away, there was only one thought left in his mind-

I...lose.

Chapter Text

Falling from the air, Obito hit the ground heavily.

Bang-

The dust and smoke that covered his sight was gone. Lying on his back, he stared at the dark sky and the full moon, which had been almost close at hand, but now once again unattainable.

As Juubi jinchuuriki, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had provided him with strong vitality. Even all the tailed beasts had been drawn out and he had lost the power of Six Paths, he still had his Sharingan and Rinnegan. He might not be able to turn the tables, but at least he could safely escape from the enemies.

But Obito didn't move. He didn't want to move.

He has lost. He has been in that illusory dream for nearly two decades. Now that the dream was broken, he was forced to wake up. He was defeated completely, from body to heart; he had no motivation to stand up and fight again.

They can do whatever they want, he thought. I don't care any more.

"Where is that Uchiha?"

"Be quick! Find him and kill him! Don't give him a chance to turn the tide! "

He heard those shinobi yelling to each other. They were coming to end his life.

"Hold on everyone! Now we need to... "

He also heard Tsunade shouting. Perhaps Konoha's shinobi would follow Hokage's order and stop, but obviously, those from other villages would not be so obedient.

Their comrades' bodies were lying nearby, and the smell of blood lingered in the air.

Thud! Thud!

Just at the moment, two figures landed in front of the Shinobi Alliance, standing in their way to Obito.

Naruto and Sasuke.

"Wait a minute!" Naruto opened his arms and made a blocking gesture, "Obito is now-"

Facing those eyes burning with anger and killing intent, the blond boy abruptly stopped, his expression gloomy.

He was not the unsophisticated child he had used to be. It would only be counterproductive to say that Obito was no longer an enemy.

"Uchiha Obito is a sinner indeed," Sasuke said suddenly. Sharingan ran down the crowd coldly, and many people avoided his eyes involuntarily under the crimson gaze. "But it's not up to you to execute him. Someone will do it. "

Aren't you also a missing-nin defected from Konoha...

If some of the Shinobi Alliance had such a thought, at least, they were wise enough to not show it.

Turning his head, Obito looked at the two youths who had defeated him themselves, but now protecting him from being killed by others.

Why? Why are you...

As the question rose in his mind, another figure appeared between Obito and the teenagers, blocking not only Naruto and Sasuke, but also those glares of aversion throwing at him over their shoulders.

The long white haori was now stained with dust, shabby due to the fierce battle. However, the red kanji "Yondaime Hokage" inscribed on the back was still shining like flames, almost stung Obito's eyes.

Namikaze Minato stood in front of his student. He looked at those shinobi with a serious look before bending down, bowing deeply.

"Uchiha Obito is my student, so I hope you can leave his affairs to me," no one could see the expression on the his face, but the sincerity could be heard by anyone. "Please."

Obito's eyes widened.

Sensei...

Konoha's Yellow Flash, the war hero with the reputation of "no penalty to those who escaped from him". As soon as arriving in the battlefield, he had warped away a tailed beast ball for them, and later saved countless lives from the roots of the divine tree with his Hiraishin no Jutsu. Being implored by such a legend, many people were unavoidably shocked, and those who had been saved by Minato before were now apparently hesitant.

"Kumo's soldiers, step back," A, the Raikage, first broke the slience. "I trust Yellow Flash's personality. He will handle it properly!"

"Shinobi from Sunakagure also step back, "said Garaa. His eyes met Naruto's, and the latter nodded gratefully to him. "Uchiha Obito was originally Konoha's shinobi. Let Konoha deal with him themselves. "

"Same to Iwa!" Onoki said in a high pitched voice. "Besides, the war is still not over... Uchiha Madara has not been sealed yet!"

"Kiri's men!" Mei shouted. "Now to the next battlefield!"

Even if some shinobi were reluctant to leave, with the Kages' order, they could do nothing but obey. Those who had approached Obito retreated; ninjas galloped on the field, rushing towards the highland where Madara and Hashirama were fighting.

"Naruto, Sasuke, you go with them too," Minato straightened up and said calmly. "We need both of you to defeat Madara. I'd like to say a few words with Obito alone...I'll catch up with you after that.''

"Roger, Dad!" Naruto nodded. "Let's go, Sasuke!"

The two teenagers also left. Turning around, Minato looked down at Obito, who was staring at him with astonishment.

"Sen..sei... " The man's voice was shaking. "Why...? "

I've made so many mistakes. You and Kushina died because of me, and Naruto hence had a miserable childhood. Why do you still want to protect me?

Minato gazed at his student. After a long silence, his eyes softened and a sad smile appeared on his face.

"Because I'm your sensei, " The blond whispered. "How can I let my student get killed in front of my eyes when he finally changes his mind? It's probably a teacher's nature to protect his kids."

Obito was speechless, as if there was a lump in his throat. He felt his tear ducts burning; for a moment, he seemed to become the immature crybaby again. But the tears didn't fall.

He hasn't shed tears for many years.

"But in the past, I didn't do my duty well," Minato knelt down beside him on one knee, holding Obito's left hand with the only hand he had now. "You're right. I'm always one step late at the crucial moments. If I had been in time to save you, or Rin, or even recognized you then, maybe many things would have changed, and we would never have been like this."

"I'm sorry for failing to protect you. I was such an incompetent sensei-"
 
"No! Cough cough..." Obito suddenly interrupted Minato. The emotion made him cough heavily, and he clenched his sensei's hand with his trembling one. "It's not your fault at all. It's mine. I blamed Rin's death on you, but that was totally unreasonable... And there's Kakashi. He must have been the most anguished one with Rin got killed by his hand... I knew it. Maybe I just wanted to find a reason to break the bonds between you and me, to selfishly convince myself that you were nothing to me. But that's... that's not true."

"You... Team Minato was my family. You're the most important people to me. "

Minato's eyes widened slightly. The Hokage soon recovered from surprise and showed a gentle smile.

"Well, it's always a privilege for students to be petulant to their sensei."

"No, Minato-sensei. You don't have to comfort me. What's wrong is wrong, " Obito said bitterly. Although he was stating his guilt, it was incredible that he felt relieved to do so in front of his sensei. "The consequences of my petulance were too serious. I've killed you and Kushina, and made Naruto lose his parents and live a lonely childhood. I've caused huge disturbances in the world, and even Kakashi was killed by my subordinates-"

"Obito," Minato said suddenly. "You didn't seal Kakashi, did you?"

Obito stopped, looking at him in mild surprise. Minato shook his head. "I have no proof... It's just by intuition. "

Kakashi... Thinking of how the silver-haired shinobi had looked like when he left Kamui dimension, Obito's heart sank.
 
"No, I didn't, " he finally answered. "He can come out whenever he wants. But I used him... Maybe he never wants to see me again. "

They both paused after that. Minato looked at Obito, while the other man stared at the sky.

"Sasuke and I briefly talked about Kakashi on our way here," it was the Hokage who broke the silence. "He'd always felt guilty for you, even after my death and utill now. He never forgot you; he thought it'd been him that got you killed at Kannabi Bridge, and later he failed to keep his promise to you. He's been blaming himself."

"When knowing from a man called Yakushi Kabuto that you were still alive and in fact the real leader of Akatsuki, he was the most astounded one. Back then Edo Tensei had already been ended, and he could have gone, leaving these to others. But he decided to stay and come to meet you. He wanted you to change your mind, and believed you would more than anyone else," Minato looked at Obito who had a complicated expression on his face. "You should have known it best."

Obito felt mixed emotions at Minato's words. What the man had said was nothing new to him, either what he had witnessed or could infer from those scenes. But when these facts were told to him by their sensei, it brought him a totally different feeling.

Look at Kakashi-sensei. He'd suffered a lot after my parents' deaths, but he'd still survived! 

That Kakashi, who had been once aloof and arrogant, turned out to be the man who had treasured the bonds of Team Minato most.

And it was that bond defeated him.

Obito's lips curled into a bitter smile. He closed his eyes. "When fighting you, he kept muttering in my head. Naruto and Sasuke are his students... So many years have past, and I'd thought that I was able to beat him this time, but still lost to him in the end- "

"No, Obito. You think too highly of me."

A flat voice suddenly sounded, and Obito froze. He snapped his eyes open.

Kakashi was standing in front of Obito. He looked just the same as when Obito had last seen him, calm and stable, as if he had never collapsed or seemed to cry.

Obito noticed that the man's right hand was clenched into a fist. The hand with his blood. He thought Kakashi would punch him hard with the fist, but the silver-haired ANBU didn't. He just gazed at Obito for a long time before turning eyes to the third person here.

"Nice to meet you again, sensei," there was a twinkle of sentiment and nostalgia in his eyes.

"Me too, Kakashi," Minato looked griefly at his student who was now also a reincarnated one as him.

Kakashi's eyes returned to Obito. Loosening his grip, he stepped forward and knelt on the other side of the man like their sensei.

The pair of Sharingan reflected each other. Then Kakashi curled up his eyes into a sad but relieved smile.

"Welcome back, Obito."

These simple words easily broke Obito down in an instant.

"You... Don't you blame me? Either you or Minato-sensei... " His breath became rapid, chest heaving violently. When he fell from the air, he had broken several ribs, and the bones were pricking his lungs, but Obito chose to ignore the pain. "Why?! Why after I've done so many awful things..."

"If those who suffered because of you come to blame you, I won't stop them," Kakashi said quietly. "But for me, it's the most important that you can come back to the right path. I don't care about anything else."

He was speaking the truth. Obito could tell it from his eyes, his face, his tone- from every detail of Kakashi.

But it did not answer Obito's question.

"Why?" He continued, eager to get the answer. The one he has long wanted to know. "How can you always rise to your feet no matter how much you suffer? How can you never feel desperate? "

Kakashi's expression went sad. He lowered his eyes to avoid Obito's gaze.

"You think too highly of me, Obito," he repeated. "Who you described should be Naruto, not me. I don't have that power. I've been desperate, completely lost the will to continue fighting. I've been longed for reunion with you in another world. "

"You said you were defeated by me, but that's not the truth. I also thought this world was hell when I lost you... And soon I lost Rin. Then Minato-sensei. But I've still tried to see with this eye... Only because of this sharingan and the words you left me, I managed to survive the long darkness, to meet Naruto, Susuke and Sakura, and become their sensei... to teach your words to them. I'm not the one who truly defeats you, neither is Naruto. It's your past self. "

Kakashi looked up again and met his friend's eyes.

"Never give up, and there will be chance to get saved. Trust the comrades with you, and one day you'll finally see hope. That's what I think."

Obito looked at Kakashi. After a moment, he slowly turned away his eyes, looking over the shoulder of the Jonin into the distance. There on a high ground was something flashing, shining white.

It was Naruto and his Rasenshuriken. Although it was groundless, Obito believed in it.

What did Kakashi say then?

"No, I can see hope by my eyes. He never retreats or gives up, and will always rise doggedly to his feet no matter how many times he is knocked down, striding ahead with his backbone straight. He protects his friends and his dream, and the belief of protection can make him strong and give him the power to conquer any difficulties."

"Hope..." He raised his right hand, slowly reaching out for the blazing light, as if to hold it in his palm. "Even if it's me... in this dark hell... Do you think I can also see it? "

His outstretched fingers curled weakly. The hand was about to drop before being held firmly by another one.

"Yes," the silver-haired man replied categorically. "You can see it as long as you want, because we have the same eyes. "

Obito's mouth slightly opened in surprise. Then he shut it into a firm straight line.

Slowly, but determinedly, he pushed his sensei's and his teammate's hands away before clapping his own ones together to form a hand sign.

"That is..." Minato could not help but murmured.

"Rinne Tensei," Obito confirmed Minato's guess. His eyes remained on Kakashi and stopped the latter when the man was about to speak. "Don't stop me, Kakashi. My sins are beyond redemption. This will be the best outcome... A lot of people deserve to see the hope much more than I do."

There was a slight curve in the corner of his mouth. "In your words, it's probably a sort of entrustment, too-"

"Let ME help you then!"

A strange, malicious voice sounded out of blue. The ground beside Obito's head suddenly cracked, and Black Zetsu crawled out, instantly took control of Obito's body before none of them could react-

"Gedo: Rinne Tensei no Jutsu!"

Obito's chakra started to fluctuate violently. Face immediately turned pale, he spat out a mouthful of blood. His pupils shrank, and there was a strong tension in his eyes.

"Damn..." In a hoarse voice, he uttered a message that was enough to make blood clot. "The one who got resurrected... is Uchiha Madara!"

Chapter Text

Fate was unpredictable.

Became a Chunin at six and died in a battle at thirty, Hatake Kakashi had spent more than four fifths of his life on various battlefields. He has experienced two shinobi world wars before and after death. His name was well-known in the five nations, and recorded in bingo books of every village. Even judged by ninja's standards, his experience was full of ups and downs, had more to talk about than others.

What this life has taught him was a truth: Whenever you think everything was over, the fate would tell you in the most unexpected way that this was just the beginning of another disaster.

The current situation was a perfect example.

Uchiha Madara was revived; his friend Obito was barely alive thanks to Black Zetsu attached to him after having casted Rinneitensei and had the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path drawn out of his body; his student Naruto was dying after Yang-Kurama was pulled out, sent here by Gaara and Sakura in a hurry; and his sensei Minato was about to transfer Yin-Kurama he had to his son, when Black Zetsu suddenly intercepted him and took the tailed beast for himself.

Now stood in front of them was Madara who had gained the power of all tailed beasts and become the third Juubi jinchuuriki. Facing Obito who had betrayed him and used by him, it looked like that he still wanted the man to be his pawn again. And Obito, seeming to be bewitched by him once more, was now staggering towards Madara, step by step.

But Kakashi hasn't lose all hope. When Garaa was about to attack Obito, he stopped the young Kazekage.

He trusted Obito.

And Obito didn't fail him.

"Now I finally understand. Letting others fake his name and do everything is different than entrusting will to comrades. I'm not you, the current me is... Uchiha Obito who wants to be Hokage!"

Obito thrust his hand into Madara's body. As a man who had once become Juubi jinchuuriki himself, he easily took part of Shukaku and Gyoki's chakra away from Madara, along with a little power of Six Paths. The khakkhara reappeared in his hand, while Black Zetsu uttered a howl before crawling down his leg and escaped into the ground.

"Kakashi!" Obito shouted without looking back. "Send Naruto into Kamui's dimension!"

Kakashi obeyed without hesitation. Activating his Mangekyo, he sent Naruto and Sakura, who has been supporting the boy's life, into the other dimension.

Bang!

Obito slid back to Kakashi's side as he blocked Madara's Truth-Seeking Ball with his khakkhara. "This time I'll take the main role," he said and straightened up. "And you'll be my backup, Kakashi. Are you ready?"

"Yeah," Kakashi nodded. "It's been a long time since we've been a team. I'm really glad that my last strategy was with you, Obito."

Unforgettable scenes from the remote past came to his mind. Back then when they rushed to rescue Rin, who was abducted by Iwa nins, they were also like this, standing shoulder to shoulder, facing enemies much stronger than them.

It wasn't necessary to confirm with words. Kakashi knew that what Obito was thinking now must be the same as himself.

"Obito," Madara raised his khakkhara, pointing at the white-haired man on the opposite with its tip. "It's time to take back everything that I left you! Especially that left eye, it hasn't returned to where it's supposed to be."

"You care very much about it, don't you? Madara!" Obito said with an aggressive look. "You once said that Sharingan shows its true power when the right and left eyes are together. In this case... "

"No," interrupted Madara. "It's not about Sharingan now. It's Rinnegan! "

"No. What I'm talking about... is our business!"

As soon as he stopped, the three men took actions at the same time. Madara launched two Truth-Seeking Balls at Obito and Kakashi, when the other two activated Kamui- both at Obito.

No need to plan beforehand, or even have eye contact. From the moment they stood side by side, it was crystal clear what they would do and must do. This tacit understanding was deep in their souls. Even if they had long parted company, and now were separated by life and death, it wouldn't change a bit.

Obito was transferred into the other dimension much faster than he used to, and the Truth-Seeking Ball aimed at him failed. While Kakashi was hit in his chest, and the black sphere penetrated straight through his body. 

Even the Edo Tensei-ed body was weak in front of the power of Six Paths. A sharp pain that seemed to tear his soul apart swept through Kakashi's consciousness. He couldn't help but groan and kneel down, curling up.

"Kakashi!" Minato darted towards him. He stopped in front of Kakashi protectively, staring at Madara with alert. "Are you all right?"

"…Yeah. I'm fine, sensei," the black spots in his vision finally faded away. Kakashi took a deep breath. "Now I know what it felt like when you lose your arm. But I'm still glad that it's an Edo Tensei-ed body, or I would have been killed just now."

Hands pressed on his knees, Kakashi slowly straightened up. "Obito has gone to save Naruto... Let's do our best here. It's been long since last time I fought with you, sensei. And I miss it very much. "

"Me too," Minato glanced at his student and smiled. When his eyes turned back to Madara, however, the smile on his face quickly disappeared, turning into resolution. "We need to stop him at any cost."

"Hn," calming down from the frustration that Obito had escaped under his nose, Madara snorted dismissively. "Two broken reincarnated bodies plus an exhausted Kazekage... What do you think you can do against me? And..."

He suddenly raised his voice. "Black Zetsu! What are you waiting for?! "

Almost at the same moment when Madara shouted, something black broke through the ground under Kakashi's feet, flung itself at him.

...No!

Kakashi's pupils shrank sharply. He wanted to dodge, but the pain he felt when hit by Truth-Seeking Ball had not completely subsided, which slowed him down and caused irreparable consequences. Black Zetsu successfully adhered to the left half of him and took over his body.

"...And I have no patience to wait here and play with you," Madara said in smug satisfaction, as if everything was in his control. "My aim is to get into Kamui's dimension, and take the Rinnegan back! "

"It seems you didn't expect that I could control the reincarnated body," Kakashi felt himself opened his mouth, but the voice was not of his own, but Black Zetsu's sick one. "Kamui!"

Three tomoes turned into a new shape, and the air around Madara began to fluctuate.

Kakashi's heart froze at this scene. Now his friend and two students were all in Kamui's dimension, unprepared for another fight, and had no idea that Madara of all people would enter!

He has never felt such strong despair even when he was forced by Kabuto to fight Naruto, or when his hand penetrated through Obito's chest.

Fate was unpredictable. It played with him when he was alive, and still threw cruel jokes at him after his death.

The rift was expanding, and Madara's figure began twisting. When he was just about to enter the other dimension, someone suddenly appeared behind him. With one slash, the jinchuuriki's body was cut through from his waist and divided into two by the Sword of Kusanagi. 

The sneer on Madara's face turned into astonishment, but his upper body still vanished into the closing rift.

"Tsk," the black-haired boy put away his sword and turned around.  It was Sasuke; but his left eye looked different now.

"You...!" Black Zetsu barked in disbelief. "You should have been killed by Madara! That eye... how could you have awakened Rinnegan?!"

"Ugh!" Just then, the air twisted again. Sakura appeared in front of them with complete confusion in her eyes. It seemed that she was immediately sent out when Madara evaded Kamui's dimension.

Sasuke ignored the question, and didn't make any reaction to Sakura's sudden appearance. His eyes moved from Black Zetsu to the hole in Kakashi's chest, and then up to the man's eye. "I haven't seen you for just a few hours. What a terrible mess, Kakashi."

Somehow, hearing the familiar, ironic tone of his student, Kakashi felt the despair was faintly relieved. He managed to move his eyes to Sakura. She must have been transferred out by Obito, so there are only Obito and Naruto left...

He had no spare strength to think. It has almost consumed all his willpower to resist Black Zetsu's control. There was only one thing he could do now-

"Sasuke..." He struggled to speak out. "Destroy... my body. If you can hurt Madara, then... you must also... "

The young Uchiha's eyes slightly widened. Then he shook his head. 

"No way," he replied. "That's beyond my ability. But someone can make it. "

He looked past Kakashi's shoulder. Others followed his eyes; Kakashi saw Sakura staring at somewhere behind him with round eyes, and a small gasp escaped her lips.

The desperation in his heart was somewhat relieved again. He knew who Sasuke was talking about.

"Naruto..."

Kakashi could feel that Black Zetsu was struggling to leave his body. This time, however, it was his turn to cling to the other one, trying to give Black Zetsu no chance to escape.

If he was doomed to end his reincarnated life here, at least before leaving, he wanted to do one last thing for his students.

Over there behind him stood the blond boy who has gained the power of Six Paths. Looking at his sensei, Naruto gritted his teeth, sadness shining in his eyes.

It was always like this. Since Kakashi had returned to the world of the living, every time they met, there was little time for them to talk to each other before parting. He had so much to say to the sliver-haired man, but now the war was far from over, yet he had to watch his sensei leaving, and would never have chance to see him again.

And this time, it would happen by his own hands.

"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled sternly, broke the silence. "No time for hesitation!"

Shinobi was who endured and overcame pain.

Three Truth-Seeking Balls were transformed into black rods. Grasping them in his hand, Naruto gazed at Kakashi, as if to carve the silver-haired man's figure into his heart.

The Kyuubi jinchuuriki let out a trembling breath.

"Farewell... sensei!" With grief determination, he threw the black rods straight at Kakashi.

"I won't let you succeed!" Black Zetsu screamed. Like some thick liquid, he peeled himself off Kakashi's torso, running down the man's leg. Regaining control of his body, Kakashi quickly bent down to dodge the two black rods that aimed at his head and heart, but allowed the third one to hit his left leg- Black Zetsu was still there.

There was a sizzling sound, and that creature who claimed himself as Madara's will howled in pain, once again burrowed into the underground.

Kakashi's leg turned into ashes from the point hit by the black rod down to his foot. Losing balance, he was about to fall before Minato came over in time, catching Kakashi's arm and supporting the man with his own body.

"Sensei!" Naruto sprang on Kakashi, hugging him tightly from behind. Kakashi could feel his student's hands shaking.

"I'm fine. Well done, Naruto," Kakashi patted Naruto on the back of his hand reassuringly. He looked up at the other two students who gathered round, eyes fell on Sakura. "Sakura, speaking of Obito..."

"Ah... right! " Sakura has not yet fully recovered from what had just happened, but still instantly turned pale at Kakashi's words. "Obito decided to destroy the Rinnegan, but then Madara suddenly appeared, so he quickly sent me out. I don't know what's going on there now-"

Before she could finish her words, a rift opened. Madara- with two eyes and his lower body- appeared in front of them, threw Obito mercilessly onto the ground.

"Cough cough..." Lying prostrate, Obito coughed a mouthful of blood. He struggled to look up, but failed and his head was bowed.

"Oh, he'll soon kick the bucket," Black Zetsu came out from the ground, and once again attached himself to Obito, took over the latter's body before standing up. Kakashi noticed the sunken left eyelid of Obito. "Let me recycle this trash."

"He's smart enough to know that if he didn't transfer me out, he'd just have the other eye gouged out of his head," Madara said with disdain. "To reward his behavior, I brought him out and let you see him one last time."

Kakashi's hands clenched into fists.

"Give Obito back to us!" Naruto loosened his hands on Kakashi and rushed to the front of the crowd. "Madara... I'll never let you carry out your plot!"

"Hn... I don't know how you survived and gained the power of Six Paths and Rinnegan respectively," Madara looked narrowly at Naruto and Sasuke. "But you won't defeat me who has both of them! Just give up. The Infinite Tsukuyomi is going to illuminate the world, and everything will come to the end!"

Laughing wildly, he rose into the air and raised his hand. "Chibaku Tensei!"

Dozens of planetoids were created above his head, threatening to fall onto the ground.

"I won't let you end this world!" Naruto roared. He was about to fight Madara, but a hand suddenly reached out from behind and grabbed his collar.

"...Kakashi-sensei?" He looked back at the silver-haired Jonin, confused.

"Although I'd love to continue fighting with you," Kakashi said calmly, glanced at his broken leg before looking up at his three students. "It seems that if I stay with you, I'll only become a burden. So now you have to go by yourselves. "

"Naruto," he raised his hand to stop the blond who was about to argue. "I want you to do me one more favor. It's just my gut feeling, but..."

Kakashi cast his eyes on Black Zetsu who had hid away from them in a distance. "I think Obito is still alive. So, if possible-"

Taking out a small scroll from his pouch, he put it into Naruto's hand with solemnity.

"-Please give this to him and pass my words."

Obito woke up in a world of ice and snow.

He didn't wake up intentionally- he thought he was dead. However, someone obviously refused to let him rest in peace. The rescuer was pressing a hand on his heart, sending strong vitality into his body.

Why do you save me? Obito wanted to ask him. I'm...

I'm no longer worth saving.

"To make that girl the sanbi's jinchuuriki and have her go crazy in Konoha..." Madara's evil tone was still ringing in his ears. "That was something I came up with, not Kiri. She used the Jutsu Kakashi did on the enemy to stop it, risking her own life, and that was also a part of my plan. It's all about dragging you to the dark side and making you work for me!"

How ridiculous. Because of Rin's death, he vented his anger on Minato, and wanted to destroy the world. But in the end, the root cause of this tragedy was actually himself.

So what about his pain and despair over the two decades?

A joke. Uchiha Obito's life in the past thirty years was a complete joke.

The hand on his heart left. Someone was shouting to him. "Obito you're awake, aren't you? Then open your eyes!"

It's Naruto.

Obito opened his right eye slowly. He saw Naruto and Sakura kneeling in front of him, both with anxious and concerned looks.

"Great!" Seeing his reaction, Naruto waved his fist excitedly. "Kakashi-sensei was right!"

Kakashi...

"...Where is he? " Obito asked in a weak, hoarse voice.

"He's not here," Naruto replied. "The situation is a little complicated. We don't have much time, so let me explain to you briefly. But before that... " He took a scroll out of his pouch and handed it over.

Obito took the scroll in bewilderment and unfolded it. After a slight hesitation, he pressed his hand onto the kanji "seal" written on it.

Puff!

A tiny cloud of smoke rose under his palm, and something appeared in his hand. Obito abruptly froze. He had realized what it was.

Under the gaze of Sakura and Naruto, he turned his hand over, slowly spread his fingers. The sharingan- his left eye, the gift he gave Kakashi- was quietly staring at him.

"And Kakashi-sensei also wanted me to pass his words to you," Naruto spoke up again. "He said that-"

"'Even some trash like me wishes to be on the receiving end of a promise for one time. Obito, please protect my students.'"

Chapter Text

Obito gazed at the left eye he regained with mixed feelings.

Eighteen years ago, he gave this eye to his best friend, asking for a promise; and now, the eye came back to him from his friend with a similar request.

Fortune was a cycle. But perhaps, this time it would not only bring curse and despair.

Only because of this Sharingan and the words you left me, I managed to survive the long darkness.

You can see it as long as you want, because we have the same eyes.

Kakashi said he could see hope by this eye. Then Obito must be able to see the same thing by the same eye.

He believed in Kakashi.

"…Then that Kaguya which the Sage of Six Paths had talked about appeared and brought us into this dimension," Naruto's shadow clone was describing what happened after Obito had lost consciousness. "Now the original me is probably still in a battle, but I can't sense Sasuke's chakra anywhere. Maybe where they are is even more dangerous than here. Actually I can help you to regenerate an eye with my power of Six Paths, you know... Wait, what?!"

The blond widened his eyes, staring at Obito who put down his hand from his face, slowly opening his left eye.

Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Although not as much as yours, there's still some power of Six Paths in my body," Obito explained. He added after a brief pause, "I see. If the enemy can use some space-time ninjustu, then Sasuke was probably sent to a different dimension. Let's go to find Kaguya first; when she opens the dimension again, I'll sync my Kamui with her. I'm sure I can enter it in this way. Then I'll find Sasuke and bring him back here."

"Really?" That was really a pleasant surprise to Naruto and Sakura. "Thanks, Obito!"

"...No need to thank me," Obito, who was slowly getting to his feet with the support of the ice wall, paused at their words. "As one who used to be on the same path as you, I just want to do something. After all... I've got a promise to keep now."

Even if his life was a joke, at least in the end, he could write a satisfying ending for himself.

"Kakashi, how are you doing there?"

The cocoons were torn open by the lightning blade, revealing the sleeping ninja inside. But once the lightning dissipated, the vines grew again, wrapping up the prey rapidly and tightly.

"Not good, sensei," sitting on a raised root, Kakashi answered. Putting his hands down, he watched Minato coming towards him. "No attack works."

"Same here," Minato sighed and sat down. "I wonder where Naruto and other kids have gone... Seems we can only count on them now. "

"And don't forget Obito, sensei," Kakashi said with a calm but firm voice. "I've returned the left eye to him. With both his eyes, Obito will definitely shine on the battlefield- he's always been saying so, hasn't he? "

"Kakashi..." Minato's eyes softened. As if something had just come to his mind, the blond suddenly got a dismal look on his face.

"I'm sorry, Kakashi," after staring at the kunai of Flying Thunder in his hand for a while, the young Hokage spoke again. "I failed to fulfill my duty as your sensei... Nor did I take care of you for Sakumo-san. You must had a hard time in those years after my death."

Kakashi, who was tapping carelessly on his knee, froze.

"...Yeah," he kept a long silence before admitting frankly. "What I said to Obito was true. There was indeed a time when I was so miserable that didn't know what to do or where to go. I did once hope to get reunited with you as soon as possible. But... "

He looked at his sad sensei, curling his eyes into a gentle smile. "I've never had the idea of giving up my life. And I'll never blame you, sensei. Or any of you. You, Rin, and Obito back then... You all willingly made your choices, to sacrifice yourselves for the village and others. You are the heroes of Konoha, and mine."

Minato gazed at the student that he had known longest and worried about most. There were complex emotions in his eyes, pity, sadness, relief, pride. He opened his mouth and seemed to have a thousand words to say, but in the end there were only a few came out of his lips.

"...Thanks, Kakashi."

"I didn't do anything that deserves your thank," Kakashi shrugged and answered with a feigned ease. "Oh, maybe you can thank me for sending vegetables to Naruto? After all, the boy loves instant noodles so much that he can live on them 24/7. "

Minato chuckled after a short surprise. "Right, I should really thank you for that..." His laughter slowly faded away, and the man looked down at the rubble in front of them.

"We've got nothing to do here, anyway," After a pause, he said. "Kakashi... Tell me more about him, ok? "

Obito was standing on the ground with Sakura besides him, supporting him with her arms. The two shinobi both looked up, watching Naruto and Sasuke fighting against Kaguya in the air.

Damn... I can't see them clearly. The one-time consumption of chakra was too large even for someone with Hashirama's cells.

Obito wiped his bleeding eyes. Previously, with the help of Sakura's Byakugou Seal, he searched several dimensions and finally managed to find Sasuke back. However, frequent intrusion into Kaguya's dimensions has also imposed a great burden on Obito's eyes and body. His vision was becoming blurred, and he could feel his chakra reserve was again near depletion.

Taking a deep breath, Obito closed his eyes.

I should have died already, he thought.

His life was saved by Naruto using the power of Six Paths, but it would not last long. Even if he lived on, and everything could end safely, as Akatsuki's secret leader and the war criminal of the Fourth Shinobi War, he would not get any good end. Didn't mean he deserved a good end either.

Now Naruto and Sasuke- Kakashi's students- were putting up a desperate fight for the world and all people. Strong as Kaguya was, normal ninjutsu or dojutsu would have little effect on her, but there was another option.

Although he'd never had both of his eyes after awakening Mangekyo Sharingan, thus never tried to activate this ability before, since he still had some power of Six Paths, it wouldn't be something difficult. The only problem was, after that, he would no doubt die of chakra exhaustion.

So what?

In exchange of his life would be the hope to change the whole world. Just thinking of this was enough to make him feel the happiness and satisfaction that he'd never had.

Ha, Obito chuckled inwardly. I never expect to die in the same way as you, Kakashi. What a twisted bond between us.

But, maybe that's the best way to end it all...

Gently pushing away Sakura, Obito raised his arms and made a hand sign. All the remaining chakra started to flow in his body, and gradually gathered around the pair of Mangekyo Sharingan.

Look at us, Rin. This time, that Bakakashi succeeded in keeping his promise to you.

The crimson eyes snapped open.

In Sakura's exclamation, blue flame soared around the elder Uchiha. The huge skeleton was formed in the flame before quickly covered with first flesh, then armors. Spreading its wings, the tengu-like giant flew into the air, carrying its creator and the pink-haired kunoichi in its forehead.

Both Naruto and Sasuke paused and looked back in surprise. They saw a vertical mark extending across the giant's left eye, and shallow stripes covering the right half of its face.

It was the perfect Susanoo.

Kakashi told Minato a lot about Naruto.

He mentioned the bell test, when Naruto was just as reckless as Obito in those days, and fell into countless simple traps all the way. He mentioned their mission in the Nation of Wave, when Naruto and Sasuke worked together to save him from the Water Prison Technique. He mentioned the Chunin Exam, when Naruto surprisingly won the preliminary against Kiba, then defeated Neji, a genius from the Hyuuga Clan, in final. He also mentioned the fight in Valley of the End, which he was too late to stop, and how Naruto later vowed to bring Sasuke back.

Minato listened to him with full attention, his expression changing with what Kakashi said. He was happy to hear Naruto's dream of becoming Hokage; proud that Naruto beat a strong enemy with his own strength; depressed that Naruto was not favored by any examiners and examinees; and worried that Naruto was seriously injured, and almost lost his life even with the healing power of Kyuubi.

How he wished that he could have accompanied Naruto as a father and participated in every moment of his son's life- Kakashi could see it clearly from Minato's every single reaction.

When Kakashi's telling came to the end, the Fourth Hokage sent out a sad but satisfied sigh.

"Thanks, Kakashi," he repeated. "You and Jiraiya-sama have taught him very well. He has surpassed me; he will certainly become a good Hokage... no, the best Hokage ever. "

"Yeah. I believe that too, sensei," Kakashi nodded. "Naruto is-"

His words stopped abruptly. With a sudden grunt, the jonin curled up, hand pressing his left eye.

"What happened?" Minato was asking with concern, but Kakashi could not answer. His vision was strangely divided into two parts: one showed the ruins in front of him, the tangled vines and the hanging cocoons; while the other showed his students, the woman with long white hair, and some unknown blue substance surrounding himself.

"This is...? "

Kaguya transformed into a gigantic round rabbit with huge chakra arms. Under Obito's control, Kamui Shuriken were thrown out one after another, cutting through these arms, warping them into another dimension.

"Can you feel it? Kakashi," hearing the startling voice from his friend in his mind, a smile appeared on the corner of the Uchiha's lips. "It seems that this eye has been with you for such a long time, and under the influence of the power of Six Paths, it's able to resonate with your soul."

"...Ah, yes. That's exactly what you think. It's my- no, our Susanoo. Anyway, time for the final battle. Any words to your students? "

Obito's eyes widened slightly at his teammate's reply. But his expression soon softened , and the man grinned. "Got it."

"Naruto, Sasuke!" He raised his voice, shouting to the teenagers. "Come back for a second!"

The two boys looked at each other before retreating to Susanoo's side.

"I got some words from your sensei- don't ask how," Obito cleared his throat. "As your substitute sensei, I'll now announce the last mission of Team Seven-"

"-To save the world!"

The battle ended. Kaguya was sealed.

The last mission of Team Seven was successfully completed with the help of their temporary team leader, Uchiha Obito.

Led by the Sage of Six Paths himself, the deceased Kages performed a huge Summoning Technique to bring the four shinobi who saved the world, the released tailed beasts, and Madara back from Kaguya's Dimension.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, Obito who had reached his limit could not hold on any longer. He swayed for a moment and then collapsed.

"Obito!" Standing not far away, Sakura and Naruto was about to rush to help him, but someone was even faster.

With a thud, a kunai of Flying Thunder was thrown out and stuck in the ground at Obito's feet. In the next moment, Minato and Kakashi appeared at the same spot, and the Hatake was just in time to catch the falling body with his arms.

"Thank you, sensei," Kakashi said in a low voice, his eyes never leaving Obito.

Minato silently nodded to his two students. He helped Kakashi to sit down on the ground, with Obito's head resting on the silver-haired man's lap.

"Let's go," he gestured to Sakura and Naruto. "Just... give them one last minute. "

The others have all left.

Obito was breathing hard, his chest heaving violently. His eyes were half open, and Mangekyo Sharingan were still activated- but the bright red was now covered with a layer of grey.

He was nearly blind.

"Ka... Kakashi... " the Uchiha gasped between panting. "I... I did it. I kept the promise to you. "

"Yeah," Kakashi's voice was shaking. "You did it. I saw it all. You've kept the promise... and protected my students. Thank you, Obito. "

"Sorry that... I can't live on... as your wish. But in this way, we... Team Minato can be forever together... even without Infinite Tsukuyomi."

"Obito..."

"I should be the one... to say thank you. Thank you, Kakashi... for bringing me back. Finally... I finally did something that didn't disappoint Rin... before going to see her."

"..."

"Tell Naruto... he must become Hokage. I'll go one step ahead... to find Rin. We'll waiting for you... and Minato-sensei to join us."

"...Alright," whispered Kakashi. "We will catch up soon. And this time, neither I nor Minato-sensei will be late."

"Hehe... So I become the early one this time. But before leaving, there's one more thing... that must be done here."

Saying this, he managed to raise his right hand, index finger and middle finger reaching out at Kakashi's direction.

A moment later, his fingers touched another two cold, trembling ones, clasping his softly but firmly.

The Seal of Reconciliation.

The corner of Obito's lips curled up.

"That's it."

With one last smile and sigh, Uchiha Obito, the man who had taken a detour for most of his life in darkness and loneliness, and finally struggled to return to the original path, peacefully closed his eyes.

Chapter Text

Kakashi watched Obito stop breathing in front of his eyes.

He was no stranger to this situation; it's been the second time that he witnessed Obito's death. But the moods were different.

Back in the first time, it was when he managed to take Rin to a safe place, to break through and escape from the encirclement of their enemies, and his heart was full of sorrow and regret. This time, however, seeing the last moment of Obito, what he felt was just relieved besides the faint sadness.

Maybe that's the end of it, he thought. For so many years, the resentment and pain, rage and agony between him and Obito could finally be written off.

What remained was only the pure bond. At last, the two of them can go back to the original point.

"...Sensei?"

It was Naruto's voice. Kakashi regained consciousness and looked up.

The blond boy was bending over and looking at him, head tilted. Naruto's eyes moved from his face to Obito, expression became slightly dim. "Obito is..."

"Yeah," Kakashi confirmed his guess with one simple word. "He wanted me to tell you to become Hokage."

Naruto was first startled, then his eyes lit up again, full of firmness.

"Sure!" He nodded heavily. "It's our dream! I'll work hard, and that's also for Obito! "

"Glad to hear it," Kakashi smiles. He carefully placed Obito onto the ground, and slowly stood up with the help of his student.

Both shinobi fell into silence. Naruto looked away; Kakashi saw his mouth opening and closing, as if hesitating to say something.

He sighed softly in his heart. Well, it's the last moment. As an adult and his sensei, I'd better be the straightforward one.

"Congratulations, Naruto. Well done for winning the final victory, and also... happy birthday."

The teenager suddenly turned his eyes to him as Kakashi spoke. The reincarnated jonin went on with a feigned deliberate expression, rubbing his chin, "shame I don't have any gifts for you. I'm afraid my dorm was destroyed when Pein attacked Konoha, otherwise maybe we can find a collector's edition of IchaIcha series with Jiraiya-sama's signature- Oh!"

Kakashi was interrupted when Naruto threw himself at him. The kid gave him a tight hug, face buried in his vest.

"I don't need the stupid books," Naruto's voice was muffled and choked. "I just- I just hope..."

Naruto didn't finish his words. Kakashi understood it all, but he didn't say it aloud either.

They both knew that was impossible.

"Naruto," after a brief hesitation, Kakashi opened his arms and hugged back his student. "You've grown up and become a brilliant ninja. We- Sandaimei-sama, Jiraiya-sama, Minato-sensei, Kushina-san, and many others- are very proud of you. And we are happy to have participated your life and growth. "

"I'm sorry that I can't stand by your side and congratulate you when you become Hokage. But I'm pretty sure you'll be the greatest leader of Konoha ever. You'll protect the village and the whole shinobi world, just as what you did today. "

"I heard what you said to Obito at that time. Yes, as long as you remember me, I will live in your heart forever. I'll be looking at you in Pure Land, just as how Rin has been looking at me and Obito. "

"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei... Thank you. I'll always remember you and every word you said," Naruto looked up from Kakashi's chest. The watery blue eyes was now even brighter. "And," he managed to smile, reached out and took something out of his pouch, swaying it in front of the sliver-haired man's eyes. "Remember this? I asked for it from Shikaku O-san. Let's just think of it as the birthday gift you give me. "

"Haha..." Kakashi looked at the bells and chuckled. "If you wish so."

He raised his head and looked around. Minato was not far away from them, nodded when met his eyes. Several steps from the Fourth Hokage stood Sakura and Sasuke, both looking in his direction.

"Come on," he patted Naruto on the shoulder. "Go talk to your dad."

"Alright!" Naruto nodded. "I'll come back to you later, sensei."

Naruto left. Kakashi beckoned to Sakura and Sasuke, and the two came to him together.

"Sakura," Sasuke spoke before his teammate could utter any words. "I'd like to have a few words with Kakashi alone."

Sakura looked at him in surprise. But she soon restrained her astonishment and said, "alright."

"Sensei..." moving her eyes, she looked at Obito lying on the ground, and her expression went a little sad. "I'll take care of him, if you don't mind. "

"Thank you, Sakura." Kakashi said gratefully.

Sakura just shook her head. She bent down to carry Obito and walked away.

The master and disciple stayed in the same place, watching her leave.

"Don't worry," Sasuke suddenly said. "Good or bad,  he was a clan member of mine. I'll keep an eye on his affairs, and so will Naruto. "

"I know," Kakashi smiled at the rare straightforward kindness from his student. "With you here I don't need to worry about him. But that's not what you want to say to me alone, right? "

Sasuke looked at Kakashi. His left eye was closed, just like Kakashi when the Hatake was alive.

And his right eye turned crimson in an instant, before turning back to black quickly.

"How do you think," the raven-haired Uchiha whispered. "The real peace can be achieved?"

Kakashi pondered for a while.

"As a man who has lived on the battlefield for all my life, I can't answer your question," in the end, he said. "And I'm not optimistic enough to believe in the concept of 'real peace'."

There was a glimmer of gloom in Sasuke's eye.

"Then do you think Naruto's way can reach the real peace?" He went on questioning.

"Naruto's way? Let go of hatred and understand each other? "

"..."

"Do you want the truth, or the lie?" Looking at the serious expression on his student's face, Kakashi couldn't help but tease him.

Sasuke unsurprisingly went angry. "Save your nonsense!"

"Impatient as always," Kakashi remarked. "Maa... my answer to this question is the same as to the previous one. I don't know. And I'm not a optimist. "

Sasuke frowned.

"But," Kakashi added. "I believe Naruto is working in the right direction. Unfortunately there're more people like you and me than like him."

Sasuke's brow stretched for a moment, but it soon furrowed again. Kakashi noticed that the boy was moving his fingers with slight anxiety.

"I know you're planning something," he said suddenly.

Sasuke immediately looked up at him with a wary look.

"I won't stop you," Kakashi shrugged. "And I don't have time to stop you. However, as your sensei, if there's still something left that I can teach you, it will be-"

"-Don't think you can do everything alone. Believe in the strength of your comrades. I think that's also what Itachi wishes."

Sasuke was stunned when he heard his brother's name. After a long time, he looked away again.

"It's just your team work cliché," he murmured in a low voice, and the tone sounded surprisingly like when he was a genin.

"Hehe..." Kakashi laughed dryly. "Kids become less cute when they grow up."

If it was as usual, Sasuke would never show any good face to the comment. But this time, he unexpectedly went silent.

"Kakashi," another long pause, then the young Uchiha seemed finally made up his mind. He opened his mouth. "In fact, I-"

"You don't have to tell me aloud," Kakashi interrupted Sasuke. "No need to say. I understand. "

He reached out and rubbed the boy's hair. 

"No matter what you want to do, and whether or not you want to go back to Konoha, you're always my student."

Sasuke froze because of the words and intimacy; but for one time he didn't slap Kakashi's hand away.

"Hey, Sasuke you bastard! You're too cunning! I wish Kakashi-sensei can rub my hair too! " Naruto's voice suddenly rang behind Sasuke. The black-haired boy was taken aback, shaking off his sensei's hand before walking away a few steps.

"Don't be stupid, you idiot," he turned around and said coldly, watching Naruto and Sakura coming to them together.

Naruto has said farewells to Minato. There were still tears on his face, but his smile was bright.

"It's ok, it's ok. You'll all get it," Kakashi smiled fondly, reaching out to rub Naruto's hair first and then Sakura's. Then he put down his arm, looking apologetically at his female student.

"Sakura, I owe you an apology for a long time," he said softly. "I was your sensei, but failed to teach you anything. It's really unqualified as a teacher... I'm sorry. "

His words made the pink-haired kunoichi burst into tears.

"No..." covering mouth with one hand, Sakura cried into her palm. "I've learned a lot from you, sensei... And I'm so glad to be your student."

Kakashi sighed. "Thank you, Sakura. You have grown up to be an excellent kunoichi. If you accept... I'll leave the two photos of my team, and other things you found from my destroyed dorm- if any- to you. And also the Hatake's old house in the suburban area of the village... you can apply to Tsunade-sama to have it registered in your name. Think of it as your secret party place. You three will eventually have your own lives and families, but the house will be completely and forever belong to Team Seven. "

"...Yes, sensei!" Crying, Sakura was too choked to say a complete sentence. She could only heavily nod her head.

Kakashi looked back to his last student. "Sasuke..."

"I don't need your mushy words," Sasuke said categorically. But the expression of the black-haired boy soon softened, and there was even something similar to a smile. "Besides, I already got what you left to me."

He raised his right hand. The lightning appeared in his palm with the sound of chirping birds before quickly dissipated.

"...Well, right," Kakashi could only agree. "If you say so."

Then they all went quiet. Kakashi looked over his students' shoulders. Behind them, all deceased Kages including Minato had rested in peace again, leaving the Sage of Six Paths alone, nodding to him when their eyes met each other.

Time to say goodbye.

Kakashi looked back at the three kids who have changed his life.

"I've done a lot of things wrong in my whole life, leaving countless pity and regret," he whispered, eyes slowly sweeping over the faces of Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke, one by one. "But the luckiest thing is to meet you three. Thank you."

"In this new era, I wish you can all find your own path and go straight without any regret."

A white light came down from the sky and enveloped him. Kakashi raised his head; he could feel his soul slowly floating away, leaving this fake body.

He lowered his eyes again and looked at his students.

"Remember what I said when we first met?" He said. "'My first expression is that I don't like you guys'. And now, what I want to say is-"

Pulling down his mask, Kakashi showed a last smile to his Team Seven.

"-I like you best."

Three years later.

Two men was standing on a road leading to the village of Konohagakure outside a small town in the Nation of Fire.

"Are you sure you don't need us to come with you?" Asked the taller man.

"No," the other replied. "I want to go back alone. "

"How long will it take?"

"Not sure yet. Fifteen days at least and one month at most. "

Nearby came some loud bickering between a man and a woman.

"Then we'll wait for you here."

"Good. Take care of those two."

"..."

"What?"

"Nothing. It's just... I feel like you've changed a lot in these three years. "

The second speaker fell into a brief silence. He lowered his eyes.

"People are all changing during lifetime," before leaving, he replied. "When I was a child, I've never expected to become a person like this."

…

Here was the Konoha Hospital.

In an office, Haruno Sakura in her doctor's white coat was sitting at the desk, sorting out a pile of medical records skillfully and quickly. Next to her was the clinic bed, where Uzumaki Naruto in his jonin uniform was lying on, fiddling with a pair of bells.

"Master Tsunade complained again this morning," after finishing her work, Sakura said casually. "She wanted to know when you could take over the position of Hokage. Shikamaru also whispered with me in private some day, said that the Fifth Hokage was becoming more and more grumpy... and drank a lot. "

"Climacteric, I guess?"

"...You'll be beaten to death by her one day, I mean it. "

"I'm only twenty years old," Naruto pouted, laid his head on his own arm and looked at Sakura. "And I've just passed my first Genin Team last month! At least I should train them to be Chunin first, shouldn't I? "

"Speaking of this..." Sakura rotated the office chair to face her teammate. "You really surprised us when you said you wanted to be a jonin sensei."

"Haha... did I?" Laughing sheepishly, Naruto scratched his nose. He looked back to the bells with a gentle smile, nostalgia in his eyes. "I just want to try the path that my dad and my sensei have been gone through, and see the scenery they have seen."

"Any gain so far?" Sakura asked with amusement.

"Yeah!" Naruto nodded firmly. "Although it's not been a long time yet, I've already learned a lot!"

Just at the moment, a sharp cry swept through the window. A messenger hawk circled in mid air before landing on the windowsill outside Sakura's office, knocking on the glass with its beak.

Naruto opened the window and took off a scroll tied to the back of the bird. "It's for you," He threw it to Sakura.

"For me? …Oh!" Sakura was confused at first, but soon beamed as she read the letter. "It's Ino! Seems the Ino-Shika-Cho's mission goes smooth in the Nation of Tide. She says she'll bring us some specialty when she comes back."

"Wow seaside... I'm jealous now," Naruto drawled, sat down by the bed. "Nothing is more comfortable than that in summer."

"Don't act like a child, Naruto-sensei. And they're on duty, not on vacation." Sakura rolled her eyes. She opened a drawer, took out a blank scroll, and started to write a reply on it.

A peaceful silence lingered in the room.

"...Speaking of it, Naruto," the pen suddenly paused. The smile on Sukura's face faded, replaced by a hesitant expression. "It's about Sasuke-kun... Have you heard from him lately?"

Hearing the name, the lazy expression on Naruto's face disappeared. He sighed.

"The last one was one month ago, as you knew," The blond replied in a low voice. "His whereabouts are always uncertain, so I don't know where to send the letter unless his hawk comes back."

The peaceful silence in the office turned into light depression. Both of them remembered what happened three years ago.

Back then, after Kakashi and the Sage of Six Paths had left the world,  Sasuke and Naruto worked together to end the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Then the last Uchiha went back to Konoha with everyone and took part in the funeral affairs of Uchiha Obito.

But after the funeral, he decided to leave again. Moreover, he declared that there's no way he would continue to serve the village as a Konoha shinobi.

"The only reason I came back was to fulfill a promise. I don't care if you still treat me as a missing-nin," Sasuke said indifferently. The raven-haired teenager stared at his former comrades with cold eyes, as if he was not the one who had fought with them on the battlefield. "If Konoha sends people after me, for someone's sake I won't kill them, but no guarantee beyond that. "

With these words, he turned around, ready to leave and join Team Taka who were waiting for him in a town nearby. But somebody was in his way.

Naruto.

However, to everyone's astonishment, Naruto who had been saying "I'll take Sasuke back to Konoha" all the time, didn't ask his friend to stay. The two young men gazed at each other for a long time; then Naruto untied his forehead protector and silently handed it over.

Sasuke stepped forward without blinking. But as he past the blond, he took the forehead protector from Naruto's hand.

Naruto still stood in the same place. Facing others' surprised and puzzled eyes, he didn't say anything or look back.

And now it's been three years.

"Three years," getting back to reality from memories, Sakura sighed with slight sadness. "He was no longer a missing-nin long ago. But he still refused to come back. "

"Don't worry, Sakura," Naruto's tone is much lighter than hers, full of confidence as always. "Maybe one day he will come back to see us... before departing again. "

"'Before departing again'... So he'll still leave us, won't he? "

"Yeah," the bell in his hand made a crisp jingle, and Naruto turned to look out at the blue sky. "Because that's the path Sasuke chose himself.''

Sakura's eyes slightly widened. She soon understood Naruto's words, expression became sentimental and relieved.

"Don't be so sad," Naruto turned back, showing her a brilliant grin. "Even if he leaves Konoha, he's always Kakashi-sensei's student."

"We are forever Team Seven. "

…

At night.

The young man in a black cloak stood at the top of the Hokage Rock, overlooking the illuminated village below. His eyes slowly swept over those strange yet familiar places, the Hokage Tower, Ichiraku Ramen, the Dango Shop, the new jonin dormitory rebuilt on the original site, and the Third Training Ground.

The night breeze stirred his hair, revealing the purple left eye beneath.

"Sensei," Uchiha Sasuke whispered, gazing at his hometown.

"I'm back."