"Good job, Kakashi," Obito said, giving a thumbs-up. His efforts in switching between reality and Kamui had paid off. He had successfully disrupted the masked man's virtual form.
Without the ability to phase through attacks, the masked man's combat prowess was significantly reduced. Fighting Kakashi with only raw skill and experience meant he was bound to be overwhelmed sooner or later.
"Alright, let's head back—"
Before Kakashi could finish his sentence, a sudden, forceful impact struck his head. It felt as if he had been hit by a sledgehammer.
The masked man had regained consciousness. At some point, he had not only broken free from the paralysis but also seized the moment to counterattack.
With one brutal strike, Kakashi crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Then, in a flash of searing pain, he felt something being wrenched from his eye socket. His vision blurred, and he realized, with horror, that his Sharingan had been stolen.
"Ugh…" Kakashi groaned, his hands instinctively clutching his empty eye socket.
But the masked man showed no mercy. He delivered a devastating punch to Kakashi's chest, sending shockwaves through his body. The sheer force shattered the ground beneath him, forming cracks like a spiderweb.
Boom! A loud explosion rang out as Kakashi's body was sent flying. Blood spurted from his mouth as his limp form crashed into the ground and rolled several times before coming to a stop.
Even before he could settle, the masked man stepped forward and delivered a vicious kick to his battered body, sending him skidding across the terrain.
Kakashi's vitality was quickly fading.
Obito watched silently, his gaze dark and unreadable. When he confirmed that Kakashi was still breathing, his focus shifted back to the masked man.
"Izanagi?" Obito muttered, his Mangekyō Sharingan narrowing.
It was clear that the masked man had not simply healed himself—he had used the forbidden Izanagi technique to alter reality and negate his injuries.
"Smart guess," the masked man scoffed. Then, with deft fingers, he peeled back a corner of his mask. Swiftly, he removed the dull, lifeless Sharingan from his own left eye and replaced it with Kakashi's freshly taken Mangekyō.
The discarded eye was tossed to the ground and crushed under his boot.
"Dead men don't need to understand the truth."
Obito bent down and picked up a kunai from the ground, twirling it between his fingers.
"You seem confident that you can take me down."
The masked man didn't respond. He simply took a step forward, his silence a clear display of contempt.
Obito exhaled calmly, his Sharingan spinning.
"Time-Space Annihilation."
The moment he spoke, an invisible ripple spread from his body, warping the air around him.
Time stopped.
The masked man, mid-step, froze in place. Even the dust that had been disturbed by their battle hung still in the air.
"Time-Space Annihilation"—a forbidden technique Obito had mastered after unlocking his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. With it, he could momentarily suspend all movement in his vicinity.
Though not true time-stopping, it functioned as an advanced paralysis field, binding his opponent in place. In this frozen world, only Obito could move freely.
He stepped forward, reaching out.
With a single motion, he removed the masked man's mask, revealing his true face.
What Obito saw made him pause.
Beneath the mask was a face eerily similar to his own, marred by deep scars.
Obito clicked his tongue in distaste. "Tch. Is this really what I turn into? Even worse than Kakashi."
The masked man's eyes, though frozen, were filled with shock and panic.
Obito placed the mask back onto his face.
There was no longer any point in hiding the truth.
The masked man wanted to activate Izanagi once again, but to his dismay, even his ability to use jutsu was sealed. Everything was under Obito's control.
"It's time to finish this," Obito muttered, tightening his grip on the kunai.
But just as he was about to strike, a weak, trembling voice called out from behind him.
"Wait... don't kill him…"
Obito turned, his gaze meeting Kakashi's bloodied and battered form.
Kakashi, barely able to stand, staggered forward, leaving a long trail of blood in his wake.
Despite the agony he was in, his trembling hands were raised in a plea.
"Don't… kill him…" Kakashi's voice was hoarse but firm.
Obito raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Kakashi to plead for his enemy's life. Even in the face of death, Kakashi remained the same.
A strange warmth flickered in Obito's heart.
"Relax," he said, lowering the kunai. "I never planned to kill him."
Hearing this, Kakashi let out a shuddering breath of relief. His body, pushed beyond its limit, finally collapsed to the ground.
His consciousness faded.
"Kakashi!"
Obito rushed forward, pressing two fingers against Kakashi's neck.
A faint, unsteady pulse reassured him. Kakashi was alive—but only barely.
But in that moment of distraction, a crack appeared in the frozen world.
The masked man seized the chance.
Using Kamui at lightning speed, he twisted the very fabric of space and vanished before Obito could stop him.
"Damn it…" Obito clenched his fists, frustrated.
Even with only one eye, the masked man's proficiency with Kamui was exceptional. Now that he had both eyes, his ability had become nearly instantaneous.
For now, Obito let him go.
Kakashi was the priority.
He lifted Kakashi onto his back. Just as he was about to leave, his communicator buzzed.
A message from Shinomiya Uzumaki.
Obito skimmed through the contents before replying with a short confirmation.
Then, with a flicker of his Teleportation Jutsu, he disappeared.
---
Back in Konoha, Shinomiya Uzumaki listened to Obito's account of the battle with amusement.
"So, the masked man got away?" he chuckled. "Well, it doesn't matter. As long as he doesn't cause any major trouble, I won't bother hunting him down."
He waved a hand dismissively. To him, the masked man was no longer a threat.
It wasn't arrogance—it was confidence.
With the vast amount of resources he had at his disposal, his strength was already approaching the level of the Sage of Six Paths. In his eyes, no one in the ninja world could oppose him anymore.
"It's getting late," he continued. "What are your plans for tonight?"
Naruto, grinning widely, immediately responded.
"Taking my parents home, of course!"
His voice was filled with excitement as he grabbed Kushina's hand. "Mom, come on! I wanna show you our house!"
For the first time in over a decade, that lonely little home of his would no longer be empty.
Kushina laughed, her eyes warm. "Alright, alright. Let's go."
As Naruto eagerly led her away, Senju Hashirama stood up and stretched.
"My brother and I will stay with Sarutobi for now," Hashirama said. "He might have made some mistakes in managing Konoha, but overall, he's done a good job. I'd like to learn a few things from him."
Though Hashirama was the village's founder, he had only served as Hokage for a short time. In contrast, Hiruzen Sarutobi had led the village for decades.
His experience in governance far exceeded Hashirama's.
"By the way," Tobirama added, "if he asks about our origins, can we tell him?"
Shinomiya Uzumaki smirked. "Go ahead. It's not exactly a secret."
Hashirama and Tobirama exchanged glances and nodded.
Obito, meanwhile, had already decided where he would stay.
"Kakashi's house," he said. "We need to look after him tonight."
He turned to Rin, who smiled brightly.
"I don't mind at all," she said.
Shinomiya Uzumaki made a face. "Ugh, the stench of young love."
He fanned the air dramatically, making everyone laugh.
"Alright then. Since everyone has their plans, I'll head out first."
With a graceful leap, he vanished into the night.
…Only to return a few seconds later, looking sheepish.
He picked up Sasuke, who he had completely forgotten about.
"Oops. Almost left you behind."
Then, before anyone could comment, he bolted away.
Laughter echoed behind him.
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