At last… Uchiha Obito had decided to remove his mask.
Kakashi's eyes went wide with tension.
This moment would decide not only the fate of his old friend Obito, but also how much credibility Aoi's claim of being Senju Hashirama carried.
The swirling mask slowly slid down — but beneath it lay only half a face, horribly scarred and twisted, looking just like a gnarled vortex.
"This…"
Kakashi froze, unable to speak.
"What's wrong? Don't you recognize this half of me anymore?" Obito sneered bitterly.
"Do you remember what I told you on that night?"
On that fateful evening, Obito had given his left eye to Kakashi as a gift upon his promotion to jōnin, asking him to use it to protect and look after Rin Nohara in his place.
"And look what you did!" Obito roared, his one remaining Sharingan glowing red with hatred.
He despised Kakashi for failing to keep Rin safe.
If it had been me, I would have turned my back on the whole world if that was what it took — and I would have done it without a second thought!
"I…"
Kakashi squeezed his eyes shut in pain. He had carried a heavy burden of guilt toward Obito for years.
But in that brief moment of silence…
"Kamui!"
His Mangekyō Sharingan spun, and he pulled himself into the dimension of Kamui.
"Kakashi — the next time we meet, it will be on the battlefield of war!"
Obito's voice echoed coldly as he vanished.
"Since this world is nothing but lies and hypocrisy, I will be the one to take control of it!"
"......"
After a long silence, the first to step forward was none other than Naruto, who usually wore his heart on his sleeve.
"I understand, Kakashi‑sensei," he said, clapping a hand on his teacher's shoulder, his eyes filled with the understanding of someone who knew exactly what it felt like.
Two pairs of lifelong bonds — different personalities, yet so similar stories. If only Naruto knew that Obito was rushing off to save Sasuke right now…
I swear on my gift of persuasion: I won't let anything happen to Obito. Not even the King of Hell himself can take him away — I mean it!
But then…
"What did he mean by all that?" Kakashi asked, his face lined with worry. He could hear the outline of something dangerous and insane in Obito's words.
"The Eye of the Moon Plan."
No sooner had Obito left than Aoi stepped forward, slipping back into his role as storyteller. "And let me tell you this: with this, the Fourth Great Ninja War officially begins."
It had to be said — even though Obito's act had crumbled just moments ago, now that he was back in character, he carried himself with such arrogant confidence that it was almost impressive to watch.
"Ding — World Line Shift Rate: 1%."
Aoi smiled as he stood before them. Clearly, to some degree, they were already starting to accept who he claimed to be.
"Trust me, Naruto," he said, puffing out his chest and speaking with full conviction.
"I swear by the name of Senju Hashirama — I will get the manhunt for Sasuke revoked."
Not that it matters much — my real name isn't Hashirama anyway…
Naruto was so moved he nearly cried. Things had been going from bad to worse lately.
First he relied on the Third Hokage, only for the old man to be killed by his own student, Orochimaru.
Then he looked to Jiraiya — who was also killed by his own pupil, Nagato. Was betraying or killing one's teacher some kind of tradition in this world?
His last hope, Tsunade, was still alive — but in a coma, she might as well be gone.
And as for his popular teacher Kakashi…
Well, let's be honest. "Kakashi the Equalizer" could overwhelm opponents in the early days, but lately his strength had been fading fast.
He couldn't even stand up to a single Path of Pain.
Now, at last, Naruto felt that familiar sense of security again — knowing there was someone powerful he could rely on.
"We have to find Sasuke first!" Naruto activated Sage Mode, trying to sense his friend's location. But it was useless.
For at this very moment, Sasuke was inside the Kamui dimension, sharing a very close moment with Karin.
And don't ask who left those bite marks all over her chest…
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