Within Kanon's inner world.
Konin frowned slightly as she spoke to Kanon. "Kaguya Ōtsutsuki is far too cautious. We haven't managed to make contact with her Rinne Sharingan even once."
"I know... the moment we touch it, it's over," Kanon replied, sounding somewhat frustrated.
Every time they came within range of the Rinne Sharingan, Kaguya would instinctively close her eyes, refusing to let Kanon make contact.
"It seems that creature has realized your intent," Konin remarked coolly.
"Tch. Turning her into a Chakra Fruit is proving to be quite the challenge."
"Then let's shift our perspective," Kanon suggested.
"Shift it how?"
"Bring her into the Flower Realm. Once inside, her Yomotsu Hirasaka and Amenominaka will be rendered useless."
"Worth a try," Konin nodded.
...
The battle had reached a fever pitch. Below, Obito finally stirred to consciousness.
"Where... where am I...?"
"Obito," Kakashi watched him with a look of concern.
"Kakashi...? But I... I clearly died..."
Naruto stood with his hands on his hips. "I brought you back."
"Naruto?" Obito looked at him, stunned.
"However..." Naruto lowered his head.
"I understand," Obito said, nodding, before suddenly stiffening. "What about Madara and Kanon?!"
Naruto pointed toward the sky. Obito followed his gaze, spotting Kanon standing alongside Sasuke and Naruto. The energy radiating from her was so terrifying that Obito found it hard to believe.
"The situation has become complex," Kakashi said. "Let me summarize briefly, and fill everyone in on the Sage of Six Paths, Kaguya, and the matter of the sealing."
Obito nodded, looking at Naruto. "I don't know exactly what happened, but the enemy has yet to be defeated, right? And it's unclear whether Kanon is a friend or foe."
"Then take me with you. You can explain while we move."
"It's too dangerous over there," Naruto warned. "I can't guarantee Kanon won't turn her blades on you."
Sakura gritted her teeth. "We might be a hindrance, and we might not be able to offer much help, but I refuse to let the reason for our defeat be that we weren't there when we were needed."
Seeing this, Kakashi gave a slight nod. "If we can't defeat Kaguya, our world is doomed. We have no choice but to struggle with everything we have, the few of us that remain. Everyone was already prepared for this, weren't they?"
Kakashi stood up. In his mind's eye, the scene of Rin being pierced, the blood on his hands that no amount of washing could remove, the helplessness he felt when Kanon defected, and the warnings he'd given Sasuke when he spoke of revenge, it all played out vividly, as if it were yesterday.
"Prepared to die in battle..."
"It's unbelievable," Obito asked, "but to seal Kaguya, we need the combined power of Naruto and Sasuke, right?"
"Yes," Naruto replied. "But Kanon seems to have her own agenda now."
"Then covering Kanon might be a viable choice," Obito said. "My Kamui should be very effective for providing cover."
Seeing Obito's resolute gaze, Naruto nodded. "Obito, I'm grateful that you're willing to help me this way." Naruto bowed to him.
"Don't thank someone like me. Keep your eyes on the enemy."
Obito and Naruto looked up at the sky, where the Uchiha siblings stood beside his true form. Naruto smiled. "You aren't wearing a mask anymore, are you?"
Obito gave a faint nod. With pale hair and a lonely silhouette, he said softly, "I am Kakashi's friend... your father's subordinate, and like Sasuke and Kanon, an Uchiha clansman. And... I am a predecessor who once shared the same dream as you."
"My time is nearly up, and I have no desire to make excuses at this late stage. But at the very least, I want to walk ahead of you, to die before you do."
Suddenly, a flat, silent voice echoed out. It was chilling and cold. It was Kanon.
"Then go ahead and die."
In that instant, Kanon, still standing beside Naruto and Sasuke, split off a clone, a Limbo clone! The shadow manifestation materialized instantly in front of Obito. Kakashi and Sakura were frozen in shock.
Without a flicker of mercy, Kanon struck, aiming directly for Obito's life.
Naruto's Shadow Clone reacted quickly, but Kanon shattered it into mist with a single Chidori.
Obito gritted his teeth, his Kamui about to activate, only to find that the Flower Realm had already swallowed his ability. The Flower Realm was superior to Kamui; his phasing was being forcefully canceled.
And then, Kanon pierced Obito's brow with her Kusanagi blade, just as he had once pierced the brow of Izumi Uchiha.
"OBITO!!!" Naruto screamed.
Kakashi and Sakura watched, paralyzed, as Obito lost consciousness and collapsed, blood spraying from his forehead. It was a development no one could have anticipated. Even with his dual Mangekyō, he had been dismantled by the Flower Realm; his intangibility was nothing but a shadow, useless in the face of her power.
Kanon flicked the blood off her blade and wiped it against her sleeve. With a look of indifference, she said, "I thought you were dead long ago. Since you were still alive, you might as well go ahead and die properly. This is the debt you owe to Izumi-neesan."
"Naruto, even you can't heal a wound this fatal. He'll only be able to struggle for a few more breaths." With that, Kanon vanished.
Obito had deep grievances with her and Itachi; he was destined to die by her hand eventually. His betrayal and his heartless stabbing of Madara were things Kanon could not forgive. Seeing him alive, she had dropped her guard against Kaguya just to kill him.
High above, even Kaguya was stunned by this unexpected strike. Why would Kanon attack her own? The truth was simple: Kanon had never truly held Kaguya in high regard.
Naruto, his true form, rushed to Obito's side and collapsed to his knees. He looked utterly helpless, pressing his hands against Obito, feeling the life fading from him. The Six Paths chakra was trying to hold his consciousness together, but it was failing.
In the sky, Sasuke stood alone in his Susanoo, holding back Kaguya to buy Kanon and Naruto time.
Obito's consciousness flickered back for a moment, but his breathing grew weaker. Kanon's strike had been too vicious; even the Six Paths chakra could not undo it.
Obito shook his head, whispering weakly to the Naruto who was desperately pouring chakra into him:
"Perhaps you will face more suffering in the future... but even so, you must stick to your Ninja Way."
"You said it yourself, right? To never go back on your word, that is my Ninja Way."
"Yeah..." Naruto nodded, trembling.
Kakashi, kneeling at his side, mourned in silence. He understood that a confrontation between Kanon and Obito was inevitable, but he hadn't expected it to come so abruptly.
"That's enough, Naruto... Thank you."
"Damn it... Damn it... DAMN IT!!!" Naruto gritted his teeth. Kanon's strike had been merciless.
"Naruto... looking at you, it's like seeing my old self."
"I regret how I ended up, but for some reason, I also feel quite happy about it."
"Back when I was young, I imagined myself becoming Hokage a thousand times over."
"That excitement, that unease... that indescribable feeling. Perhaps you're the one who reminded me of it."
"With a village, with friends, and me, having become Hokage..."
"It's too late now, but..."
"Just imagining it... it feels like the hole in my chest is finally being filled."
"I must be dying; my consciousness is fading, and yet here I am, rambling on about these things."
Looking at Kanon in the sky, who had just pierced his brow, Obito nodded faintly. She was so like Rin. He truly had done many things to wrong Kanon; being killed by her, he felt no hatred. In some ways, he was grateful she had provided him with a true release.
"Rin... in that world, this time..."
"Let's spend our time, just the two of us, together."
"Kakashi is too much of a nuisance, I'll have him come later."
Obito looked at Kakashi beside him, thinking: Naruto, Sasuke, Kanon, and Sakura... they are at the most critical moment. I can't let Kakashi follow me yet. He still has to support the new generation.
"Kakashi... don't come too soon..."
"And... apologize to Kanon for me."
In that moment, Obito was smiling.
"Naruto... you must become Hokage!"
"And... that girl you like! She's a wonderful person! You have to win her over!" Obito smiled.
"I will..." Naruto nodded.
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NOTE: This fic has been completely translated. If you want to read the whole story head over to my p-atre-on: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]