Obito slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the sunlight streaming into the tent.
Outside, Naruto leaned casually against a tree, a small smile playing on his lips. "Ah, it's me, Obito. I came to see you about something important."
Hearing Naruto's familiar voice, Obito swung open the tent flap and stepped outside. The cool morning air filled the clearing, and Obito immediately felt a lightness in his chest.
Naruto chuckled softly, observing his friend's expression. "Obito, I must say… your mental outlook is much better than before!"
Obito gave a knowing smile. Indeed, since he had been traveling with Rin, exploring distant lands, and experiencing the world together, his mindset had completely changed. He felt genuinely happy, and every day now held new excitement and discovery.
"Naruto… what brings you here?" Obito asked, curiosity in his voice.
Naruto nodded seriously. "Kakashi-sensei will officially take office as Hokage tomorrow. A ceremony is scheduled in the village, and we would like both you and Rin to return and attend. That's all."
Obito's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Already… so soon?"
He fell silent for a moment, a trace of melancholy flickering across his features. Despite his calm demeanor, the sight of Kakashi finally achieving a dream he had longed for since childhood stirred conflicting emotions within him.
"That's amazing… Kakashi…" Obito whispered, a faint sigh escaping him.
Naruto, reading the subtle envy behind his words, placed a hand on Obito's shoulder. "It's natural to feel a little envious, Obito. After all, you dreamed of becoming Hokage too. But your good friend Kakashi is fulfilling that dream now. Be happy for him."
Obito nodded slowly. He felt that same mixture of pride and wistfulness. Kakashi's achievement was monumental, and yet… it reminded him of the dreams he had once held. But alongside that envy, there was also gratitude—for Naruto, for Rin, and for the bond that had remained strong despite everything.
Just then, Rin returned from the nearby river, holding a bundle of freshly washed clothes. "Obito! Get up! I've washed all the dishes. You need to cook before you can eat. Huh?! Naruto!"
Upon seeing Naruto, Rin's face lit up with a warm smile. "Naruto! You're here!"
Naruto returned her smile with a nod. "Rin!"
Rin quickly approached and asked, "You came to see Obito, right? Perfect timing—we can eat together once I've finished cooking!"
Naruto waved his hand dismissively. "No, Rin. I actually came to take both of you back to the village."
"Back?!" Rin blinked, glancing at Obito.
Obito's lips curved into a small smile. "Kakashi will become Hokage tomorrow. Naruto wants us to come back and participate in the ceremony."
Rin's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really?! That's wonderful news! Kakashi…" She looked at Obito with a grin. "We can't miss this!"
Obito nodded in agreement. "Exactly. We must go back. Kakashi will be expecting us."
Naruto surveyed the campsite, noting the scattered tents and supplies. "Alright, but what should we do with all of this?"
Rin looked at Obito. "Obito, pack up. Let's go."
Obito activated Kamui, the swirling vortex appearing in his left eye. With his mastery of double Kamui, the technique was faster than ever. In mere seconds, all tents, supplies, and personal belongings vanished into his personal dimension.
Once everything was cleared, Rin grabbed Obito's hand with one hand and Naruto's with the other. "Let's go, Naruto!"
Naruto nodded and, with a hiss, activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, vanishing from the clearing and reappearing directly above Naruto's house in Konoha.
"Dad! Mom! I brought Obito and Rin back!" Naruto called as he landed gently in the yard.
Obito's eyes darted nervously at the sight of the house. Memories of the past—particularly the incident where he had lost control and nearly released Kurama through Kushina—made him uneasy. Despite Minato and Kushina having long forgiven him, a small thorn of guilt lingered in his heart.
Rin, ever perceptive, noticed his hesitation. "Since Minato-sensei and Kushina-sensei aren't home, I'll take Obito with me first. We haven't returned to the village in a long time. Let's go for a walk and then find Kakashi."
Naruto nodded. "Alright. That works."
Rin added thoughtfully, "Let's also check if your father has plans for tonight. If not, we can have dinner together with Kakashi-sensei."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Perfect! Mom mentioned she wanted to treat Kakashi-sensei to dinner tonight."
Rin nodded approvingly. "Good. Then let's move quickly."
With that, Rin led Obito away through the village streets, hands intertwined. Naruto, meanwhile, prepared to depart again, intent on finding Orochimaru for further tasks, and with a whoosh, he vanished using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
As Lin and Obito walked through the village, Rin glanced at Obito. "It feels good to be back, doesn't it? Let's go to the market. You must be hungry."
Obito remained quiet, his usual stoicism lingering. Rin raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Obito replied, shaking his head.
Lin smirked knowingly. "Does it bother you that Kakashi is now Hokage?"
Obito attempted a casual tone, though his heart was slightly unsettled. "How could that be? Hokage isn't anything special. Don't forget, I once had ambitions far beyond this… I was a villain of the ninja world!"
Rin laughed softly. "Stop pretending. Have you ever successfully lied to me?"
Obito froze, caught in her teasing. Rin continued to press. "Someone promised they'd become Hokage once—and nearly destroyed the village in the process. Now that your good friend Kakashi is Hokage, I can see you're a little jealous, aren't you?"
Obito stiffened and felt his face warm. "I… I don't envy Kakashi! Hokage is boring! Unlike me, wandering the world freely with Rin, living life as we choose… that's much better."
Rin smiled knowingly, squinting playfully. "Really?"
Obito swallowed, forcing a grin. "Yes! Really!"
Rin exhaled, shaking her head with amusement. "Good. That's my tsundere Obito. Now, let's go. We'll buy something to eat at the market."
The two walked toward the bustling market together. As they ate, villagers discussed the news of Kakashi's upcoming ceremony.
"Did you see the announcement? Kakashi is the new Hokage!"
"That's the Kakashi who copied every jutsu he's seen!"
"Yeah! He deserves it. Training Naruto and Sasuke alone proves his strength!"
"I never thought the son of the White Fang would become Hokage."
"It's a shame… White Fang was such a brilliant ninja. His life ended in tragedy, condemned for saving his comrades."
"Now, with Kakashi as Hokage, the White Fang's spirit can finally rest in peace."
Obito listened quietly, absorbing the villagers' words. The recognition Kakashi received felt almost like a vindication for his late father as well.
After finishing their meal, Rin and Obito continued walking. Lin teased him gently. "Still jealous of Kakashi?"
Obito shook his head, smiling faintly. "At first, maybe. But now, I'm genuinely happy for him. He fulfilled the dream I couldn't. He's better than I am—and I'm proud of him."
Rin's smile widened. "Good. Now let's go find Kakashi-sensei. He's waiting for us."
Obito nodded firmly, determination in his eyes. Though envy had flickered briefly in his heart, it was replaced with pride and loyalty. Kakashi was Hokage now, and Obito and Rin would be there to support him.
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