In the forest.
Obito lay on the ground and slowly woke up.
The sunlight hit his face, making him squint and feel slightly dazed.
"Ah… what's going on? It's so bright!"
He instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes, then tried to open them fully. But as he did, he froze. Something was wrong—how could he see so clearly?
After a few blinks, Obito gradually took in his surroundings.
What the hell?
Branches and leaves everywhere.
He immediately sat up, looked around, and realized he was in a dense forest. What was going on? Weren't they performing surgery in Orochimaru's lab? Weren't Kakashi's eyes supposed to be getting transplanted? How did he end up here?
"What the hell?"
Obito sighed unconsciously, then stood and patted his back.
And then… he noticed his clothing.
Wait, why was he wearing his youthful clothes?
What the hell is happening?
He looked at his hands, then his body. He felt the smooth skin of his face—no wrinkles, no scars.
Ah!
What is happening?!
Obito's shock deepened. He spotted a puddle in a low-lying area. Leaning over, he saw his reflection—and there he was, his younger self, staring back at him.
"Am I… reborn?"
Obito's mind raced. He remembered Naruto's rebirth. Could it be… just performing an operation on himself could somehow send him back? This made no sense.
As he pondered, a scream pierced the air.
Obito's head shot up. That voice… no, it was Rin!
"Rin! What's wrong, Rin?!"
Without a second thought, Obito dashed toward the source of the scream. As he ran, he sensed a multitude of Chakra signatures.
What the hell?
Rin's Chakra. Kakashi's Chakra. And surrounding them, countless others.
This…
Obito's heart sank as realization struck.
A group of Kirigakure ninjas had surrounded Rin and him.
Damn it!
Immediately, Obito's entire body froze. He had been reborn into the timeline where Rin had died.
In that instant, a firm resolve formed in his heart: this time, he would save Rin and Kakashi.
No more tragedies. No nonsense about Madara. Maybe… just maybe, he could even become Hokage.
Minato-sensei and Kushina wouldn't be poisoned. Naruto would be born safely, with his parents alive!
Hahaha, everything aligns perfectly!
Hope and determination surged through Obito's heart.
But that hope vanished instantly.
Kakashi suddenly raised Raikiri, and Rin lunged toward him.
Obito's eyes widened.
"No!!!"
He roared, but it was too late. With a piercing sound, Kakashi's Raikiri pierced Rin, and blood splattered across the forest floor.
Rin coughed up blood, weakly murmuring, "Kakashi… ah!"
Kakashi withdrew his hand, then fell to his knees, collapsing into unconsciousness.
Obito's eyes trembled with fury.
Why?!
Why hadn't he arrived in time, even after being reborn? No… he couldn't allow this!
Obito's Sharingan flared suddenly.
A buzzing sound echoed through the forest.
His other Sharingan evolved into Mangekyō Sharingan in an instant.
"Ahhhhh!!!"
Obito roared, stomping the ground with such force that cracks split the earth beneath him. His rage shook the trees around him.
Among the surrounding Kirigakure ninjas, one looked at another and said, "Naruto, it's almost done!"
"I understand," replied Naruto, disguised as a Kirigakure ninja. He leapt directly toward Obito, dodging behind him, then struck him with a palm using the exact positioning provided by Orochimaru, knocking Obito unconscious.
Obito hit the ground with a heavy thud. Even as he lost consciousness, he could sense the Kirigakure ninjas closing in.
"I… I won't… let… you go!"
Obito completely collapsed.
The ninjas vanished as quickly as they appeared.
It was then revealed that these ninjas were clones created by Naruto, Orochimaru, and Kabuto.
Rin and Kakashi also removed their transformation techniques and rushed to Obito.
Naruto released the seal, removing Obito's transformation and returning him to his original appearance.
Rin, filled with concern, ran to Obito and cried out, "Obito! Obito!"
Orochimaru intervened calmly: "Rin, don't worry. He just fainted from the pressure. Nothing more."
Kakashi looked at Obito with distress: "Naruto… have we gone too far?"
Naruto remained silent. Indeed, the simulation had been extreme. He remembered when he had first revealed himself to Obito in Rin's form, testing his reactions, which had terrified Obito and made him hesitate to open a space-time vortex to escape.
This… was far more intense than that.
It was painful. Too painful.
And yet, if Obito had not experienced it, he would never have activated his Mangekyō again.
"This is all for the future of the ninja world," Naruto said. "Kakashi, please carry Obito back to the lab."
Kakashi nodded, lifting Obito carefully.
It turned out that Orochimaru had orchestrated this entire scenario to recreate Obito's most agonizing memories, ensuring the activation of his Mangekyō Sharingan. Naruto knew which memories were the most painful—he had walked through Obito's heart during their final battle with the Ten Tails.
Back in the lab, Naruto confessed everything to the team, then waited for Obito to awaken.
Obito slept through the night, making everyone anxious. Rin became visibly angry, threatening Naruto that if Obito did not wake, she would never forgive him.
Orochimaru assured them that everything was safe.
A group of shinobi stayed by Obito's side, keeping watch.
The next morning, Obito awoke abruptly, sitting up with a start.
"Ah! Die to me, die to me!" he shouted, thrashing violently.
Everyone was awakened. Rin rushed toward him, concerned.
Obito, in his panic, even tried to strike Rin.
"Obito, it's me! It's Rin!" she cried.
Kakashi stepped forward, raising his voice: "Obito, it's me, Kakashi! It's okay! The transplant was successful!"
Obito swallowed hard, blinked rapidly, and looked around. Slowly, his mind regained clarity.
Ah… I haven't traveled through time, have I?
Yes… Rin. Kakashi. Naruto. Orochimaru. Kabuto. The lab.
He remembered—it was all the eye transplant.
Realizing this, Obito slumped back onto the operating table, exhausted.
Rin, seeing his state, felt her heart ache.
"Obito!" she cried, rushing to hug him, stroking his hair. Obito, still emotional, pouted and whimpered, "Rin… I had a nightmare! Uuuuuuuuuu…"
Rin comforted him gently, "It's okay, it's okay, Obito. It's over now."
While comforting him, Rin glared at Naruto.
Kakashi stood nearby, filled with guilt.
Naruto turned, chuckled at the scalpel beside him, and said to Kabuto, "Kabuto, this scalpel is dangerous, isn't it?"
"Yes, yes," Kabuto replied.
Orochimaru simply observed from the sidelines, staying out of it.
After calming Obito, Naruto treated him to a barbecue, then helped him bathe, giving him and Rin the finest room in Konoha to rest.
Kakashi stayed by their side throughout, concerned for his teammate and friend.
That evening, in front of the inn, Obito looked at Naruto and Kakashi with gratitude.
"Thank you, Naruto, Kakashi. I feel much better now. With you here, the nightmare from earlier doesn't haunt me as much."
Naruto scratched his head, smiling. "That's good, that's good."
Kakashi nodded in agreement.
Only Rin pouted slightly, conflicted—though she understood the necessity, seeing Obito cry in the lab had broken her heart.
Dear Readers
For 60 Advance Chapters Join My Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/NF25
-------
Please Support My Patreon