"Let's end this discussion here! Rock Lee, Hyuga Neji, Uchiha Obito from another world—where are they now?" Tsunade asks.
"They… when you arrived, they'd already entered Konoha to look around." Yamato replies.
"Already in Konoha?" Tsunade's brows furrow, a faint sense of unease stirring in her heart. "The Uchiha Clan in that world shouldn't have faced a clan massacre, right?"
"Correct." Yamato nods.
"Regardless of whether their identities are real, if the one posing as Uchiha Obito sees the Uchiha Clan's ruined land, things could turn bad. He might seize the opportunity to cause trouble." Tsunade says, suddenly considering a possibility.
"Tsunade-sama, I've advised Obito… I believe he can handle it. Ultimately, this is all Uchiha Itachi's fault! I trust they won't involve innocent people!" Yamato says.
"Right! Lee, Neji, and Obito aren't bad people!" Naruto chimes in.
"If only it were that simple…" Tsunade mutters to herself.
Uchiha Itachi killed the entire clan? Only fools would believe such a ridiculous lie.
'My dear teacher, look at the 'good deeds' you've done!' She thinks, shaking her head.
"What about Neji and Lee from that other world?" Tsunade asks again.
"I think Neji might've gone to the Hyuga Clan's land, while Lee would likely be more interested in his counterpart here and Guy." Yamato says.
"Kakashi, lead the Anbu to find those three. I want to speak with them directly." Tsunade orders.
Kakashi leaves, carrying a portrait freshly drawn by Sai.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Elsewhere, Imperial Obito walks the streets with vacant eyes.
Seeing buildings both familiar and foreign, hearing the casual chatter of passersby and the cheerful laughter of children, his heart fills with confusion.
"Not far from here… should be Kakashi's house… Rin… she should be there, right? Kakashi might or might not be home… If they come out together, how do I face them?"
"I hope… Kakashi's out on a mission right now, leaving Rin alone… I just want to see Rin's smile… say even one word… Your Majesty, please protect me…" Obito thinks, his steps unwavering. He soon reaches Kakashi's house, which he'd asked villagers about, and gently presses the doorbell.
The bell chimes.
No answer comes from inside.
Obito's expression shifts involuntarily.
"Kakashi's not here? Then why isn't Rin either? Could it be… they're out together, on a honeymoon?"
His mind conjures an image of the two holding hands happily, whispering softly.
His body trembles, his face turning green.
"Hey! Are you okay? You look really unwell. Want to head to Konoha Hospital?" a concerned voice says.
Obito turns to see a kind-faced middle-aged woman.
He shakes his head slightly. "No need… thank you. I'm looking for Hatake Kakashi and his wife, Nohara Rin. Excuse me, do you know where they are?"
"Hatake Kakashi's wife, Nohara Rin? What are you talking about? When did Kakashi get married? Why don't I know?" the woman mutters, confused.
Her words instantly revive Obito, his green face glowing with life.
"What? Is that true? Kakashi isn't married to Nohara Rin? Then who's his wife now? Please! Please tell me! This is really, really important to me!" Obito zips in front of her, clasping his hands, asking earnestly.
"Goodness! You startled me! Why'd you pop up like that? And talking such nonsense! Kakashi's single! No way he has a wife!" The woman, shocked by Obito's sudden move, steps back, patting her chest.
"Kakashi has no wife!?" Obito is shocked and elated.
Kakashi in this world is that pathetic?
Though the reality is sad, why does it make him so happy?
'If Kakashi isn't with Rin, then who's Rin with now? Could it be… with me in this world?'
"Hehehe… hahahaha…" Obito covers his face with his right hand, laughing uncontrollably.
His eerie demeanor scares the woman, who flees in panic.
After a moment, Obito mutters, "Perfect! This is perfect! Now I'll see how happy Rin and I are in this world!"
"Rin… Nohara Rin! Ah! What a beautiful name! Wait for me, Rin!"
Obito spins, vanishing without a trace.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Shortly after, at the former Uchiha Clan residential area, Imperial Obito gazes at the bustling crowd before him, whispering in confusion:
"The Uchiha Clan moved? From the city center to the outskirts… how? Is this still the proud Uchiha Clan?"
"Young man, what are you muttering? Proud Uchiha Clan? They're clearly a tragic clan." an old man in front of Obito says, giving him an odd look.
"Tragic? Isn't the Uchiha Clan Konoha's top noble family? Everyone should envy them. Why call them tragic?" Obito looks down at the old man, his face full of confusion.
"The Uchiha Clan produced Uchiha Itachi, who wiped out the entire clan, leaving only Uchiha Sasuke, who later betrayed Konoha. Isn't that tragic?" the old man retorts.
His words strike Obito like a bolt of lightning, shaking his body and mind.
He stammers, shocked, "What? Itachi wiped out the clan? Only Sasuke survived? How's that possible? Old man, you're not joking, are you? How could Itachi do that!?"
"Young man, you're strange… Everyone knows this. Why are you so shocked? And… you call Uchiha Itachi so familiarly. Who are you to him?" The old man shakes his head repeatedly, eyeing Obito suspiciously.
"…"
Obito falls silent.
Ignoring the old man, he asks several others, all giving the same answer. For a moment, he's dazed.
"It's true! Itachi really destroyed the Uchiha… The only survivor, Sasuke, fled too… If so, doesn't that mean our clan's plans fail?"
"Without the Mangekyou Sharingan evolving into the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, we can't use Perfect Susanoo. Many Uchihas will be furious!"
"Then… something terrible might happen…"
"Wait! The Uchiha Clan's gone! So… doesn't that mean I'm dead too? Then who married Rin!?" Obito mutters, suddenly realizing a critical blind spot, his whole body trembling in fear.