As Obito—formerly Yamato Arata—looked at the figure standing before him, his gaze darkened.
Kakashi... it's you again.
If it had been anyone else, they'd already be dead for daring to confront him like this. But Kakashi… was different.
Obito narrowed his eyes and said calmly, "So, you detected my presence. Impressive. I guess there are still a few hounds with sharp noses left in Konoha's Root."
Kakashi frowned, cold and composed. "Root? You've got it wrong. I'm not part of Danzo's organization. I serve in the Hokage's ANBU directly."
As I thought, Obito mused. Ever since I intimidated Danzo, he wouldn't dare make a move against Minato or Kushina. Kakashi didn't join Root, but now works under the Fourth directly.
Still…
Kakashi. You're sharp enough to sense my approach. So why can't you see the difference in power between us? What's clouded your eyes?
Obito's expression turned colder. I'll help you understand it the hard way.
"No matter if you're with Root or ANBU... you're going to die here."
His voice was like ice. In the next instant, his figure flickered—and reappeared behind Kakashi.
"What?!"
Crack!
Kakashi had no time to react before a kunai plunged clean through his back and out of his chest.
"Gah—!!"
But instead of collapsing, Kakashi's body erupted in a crackle of electricity and burst into a massive lightning blast.
So... a Lightning Release Shadow Clone, Obito thought, unbothered as the chakra discharge licked harmlessly across his body.
From the shadows, the real Kakashi leapt out, eyes sharp. As expected, I used a shadow clone right from the start just to be cautious... but even that was killed almost instantly!
Still, according to intel, the moment Uchiha Yu—or rather, Obito—attacks, he has to physically manifest. That lightning strike from my clone should've paralyzed his real body... Now's my chance!
With lightning chakra surging around his short blade, Kakashi struck—aiming straight for Obito's neck.
Clang!
The blade stopped.
With only two fingers, Obito caught the blade mid-swing—easily.
"What?! He should be paralyzed! He shouldn't be able to move!!"
Cold sweat poured down Kakashi's back.
The Lightning Release had hit him, yes. But to Obito, that level of jutsu was like a breeze brushing his cheek. Not only had it failed to stun him, he hadn't even flinched.
Boom!
Obito sent Kakashi flying with a single kick. The ANBU smashed into a stone wall and slumped to the ground, his limbs refusing to move.
Obito walked over calmly, picked up Kakashi's fallen blade, and examined it. "Hmm. The White Fang's blade. Your father's sword. I remember it was destroyed during the Kannabi Bridge mission. Looks like it was reforged…"
He tilted the blade slightly. "You've lost your Sharingan. Now you're trying to carry your father's legacy again?"
Then his eyes narrowed.
"But you've forgotten something important, Kakashi."
Obito stepped forward and drove the blade into the wall just beside Kakashi's head.
"Trying to act wisely… only ends up killing the people around you. Haven't you learned anything from the past?"
Kakashi trembled. "Y-You… who are you…?"
Obito stared into his eyes. "That doesn't matter. What matters is—you need to open your eyes."
His Sharingan spun—and Kakashi's world shattered.
Genjutsu: Sharingan.
In his mind, Rin's death, Obito's death… they played on repeat. Over and over again.
"NO!! No, stop! Don't make me relive this—!!"
AHHHHHHHHH!!
Kakashi bolted upright—soaked in sweat, his breathing ragged.
He was lying in a hospital bed in Konoha. His abdomen was tightly wrapped in bandages, and the weight of pain and exhaustion clung to him.
"Huff… huff…"
"You're awake," came a calm voice.
In the chair beside his bed sat a tall woman with long, flowing blonde hair and a diamond mark on her forehead. Her legs were crossed elegantly, brown eyes fixed on him. She radiated strength and authority.
"Tsunade-sama…" Kakashi muttered, startled. "What… what happened?"
Tsunade leaned back slightly. "You were caught in a powerful Genjutsu. Your mind suffered serious trauma. The patrolling ANBU found you passed out."
"What about Ito and Kamijou?" he asked, alarmed.
"They're alright. Injured, but nothing life-threatening. I've spoken to both of them already," she reassured him.
Kakashi let out a deep breath, placing a hand on his head.
Tsunade's expression turned serious. "Kakashi, your observation skills are sharp—and that's an incredible asset for ANBU. But remember this: never underestimate your opponent. You barely survived this time."
"I'm sorry, Tsunade-sama," Kakashi said, eyes downcast. "I thought I could land a surprise attack. I didn't want to miss my chance, so I didn't report it in advance…"
He paused. Then added quietly, "No. Those are just excuses. The truth is, I was trying to prove myself. I've made too many mistakes lately… I wanted to make up for lost time."
Just then, a new voice entered the room.
"If you can recognize your mistakes and work to correct them, you'll be a fine ninja."
The Third Hokage walked in, a gentle smile on his face.
"Sandaime-sama, you're okay!" Kakashi sat up straighter in surprise.
"Hahaha… thanks to Tsunade," Hiruzen said. He looked thinner than before, but his color had returned.
Tsunade gave him a glare. "Don't act so casual. If you were any more seriously injured, even I might not have been able to save you."
The old Hokage chuckled. "Tsunade's as sharp as ever…"
But his face darkened as he turned serious.
"I never expected Uchiha Yu… Obito… to be able to enter and leave the village so freely. If Kakashi hadn't run into him, we'd still be completely in the dark. We'll need to revise the village's barrier system. Even if it can't stop him, we must try."
Kakashi lowered his head, guilt washing over him.
I was so arrogant… I thought I could take on someone even the Third Hokage couldn't stop.
He clenched his fists in frustration.
But… why didn't he kill me? Was I so weak that he didn't even see me as worth finishing off?
No… it wasn't that. He knew so much about me. His words… that Sharingan…
Who are you really…?
On the rooftop of the Konoha hospital building, a figure stood quietly, staring in through a window.
"Yu… you went so easy on Kakashi. You really are Uchiha Obito, aren't you?" said Yugao, standing beside him.
Obito didn't answer. His expression was unreadable.
"Who knows?" he murmured. "We should go."
Fwoosh. With a swirl of time-space chakra, Obito and Yugao vanished into the void.
Back at their hidden stronghold, the two reappeared in a flash of distortion.
"What's your next move?" Yugao asked.
Obito folded his arms. "The Five Kage Summit. The Fourth Raikage initiated it because of me. They've chosen the Land of Iron as the meeting site—a neutral territory governed by samurai."
He paused, thinking.
"They've only just begun their journey. Timing-wise, I can make it."
"You're going to crash the summit?"
"I don't need to summon them one by one. Since they've all gathered in one place... I might as well make my announcement."
Yugao raised an eyebrow. "What announcement?"
Obito smirked.
"The creation of a sixth hidden village—the next great ninja power: the Hidden Dawn Village."