On a mountain road cutting through forest not far from Konoha, a tall figure walked steadily toward the village. From a distance, his distinctive clothing stood out sharply against the natural surroundings. A black cloak adorned with red clouds covered most of his frame, while underneath he wore a form-fitting black bodysuit. An orange spiral mask concealed his face completely.
This was Uchiha Obito, though to the world he presented himself as "Madara."
He'd come to investigate the cause of Uchiha Itachi's death. Itachi had died far too early, which filled Obito with questions that demanded answers.
He knew Itachi intimately, understood every detail of the man's entire plan. According to that plan, Itachi was supposed to die by his younger brother Sasuke's hand, transferring his eyes to give Sasuke power. Both atonement and fulfillment in a single act.
What a ridiculous plan.
Yet the plan depended entirely on Sasuke growing to a sufficient level first. Otherwise, even receiving Itachi's eyes would prove completely useless.
Obito had laughed wildly when Itachi first explained his intentions. But Itachi's one condition for leaving Konoha had been strange. Back then, Obito had expended considerable effort helping Itachi transport that streetlamp away from outside the Uchiha compound using Kamui. The process had been exhausting.
Obito had told Itachi at the time that the organization had plenty of streetlamps. Itachi could choose any one he wanted, stand on whichever appealed to him.
But Itachi had been utterly paranoid on this point. He absolutely had to have that specific streetlamp from outside the Uchiha compound. No other would do. If Obito refused to accommodate this bizarre request, Itachi simply wouldn't join the organization at all.
In desperation, Obito had relented and used his Kamui dimension to transport the streetlamp.
He wasn't typically someone who accommodated odd demands. But first, Itachi held value to his plans. Second, Itachi's paranoid nature resonated with Obito on some level. That paranoid character reminded Obito of the entire Uchiha clan's fundamental nature.
Every Uchiha carried paranoia in their bones.
Obito had left to investigate certain matters elsewhere. When he returned, he'd learned that Uchiha Itachi and his partner Hoshigaki Kisame had traveled to Konoha. They hadn't returned after many days. Presumably both had died there.
Obito valued Itachi highly enough to investigate personally. He knew Itachi missed his younger brother desperately, couldn't help wanting to visit Konoha just to glimpse Sasuke from a distance. Obito also understood that Itachi's favorite person in all the world was his younger brother. Otherwise, when faced with that impossible multiple-choice question years ago, Itachi's decision would have been entirely different.
Obito came seeking two objectives. First, investigate Itachi's death. He wanted to see the body if Itachi was truly dead, or at minimum recover that beloved streetlamp as proof.
Second, take Itachi's younger brother for his own purposes.
Walking along the mountain road, Obito began contemplating his next moves when a voice spoke from below.
"Obito, if you meet Sasuke's friend, that Nine Tails Jinchūriki Uzumaki Naruto who's now Konoha's Fifth Hokage, how do you plan to deal with him?"
Hearing the voice reminded Obito he wasn't traveling alone. He had a companion. Lowering his gaze, he spotted Black and White Zetsu moving through the ground with only their head exposed, that distinctive flytrap-shaped body visible. Looking at the yin-yang face within, Obito sighed heavily.
"Can you emerge from the soil and walk normally like a human being?"
Black and White Zetsu giggled in unison, their dual voices creating an eerie harmony. "It's safer in the soil. If danger appears, I can dive underground and escape instantly."
Obito heaved another long sigh. Weirdos always surrounded him somehow. Black and White Zetsu with only a head visible above ground. Uchiha Itachi who loved standing on streetlamps. Nagato confined to a wheelchair.
Though wait, Nagato was physically disabled and required the wheelchair. Nearly blamed him unfairly there.
Regardless of Obito's exasperation, White Zetsu continued pressing. "Have you actually thought about how to handle Naruto? According to our intelligence, Konoha's Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi and Root leader Danzō Shimura both died at Naruto's hands. He can transform into something absolutely massive..."
When White Zetsu tried describing Naruto's size, his mouth stretched comically wide in demonstration.
Regarding Itachi's death specifically, only Naruto and Sasuke had witnessed it firsthand. The Akatsuki organization possessed no intelligence on those events. But Hiruzen Sarutobi's death had occurred in full public view, so naturally the organization knew those details.
That was why Obito had come to investigate personally.
"Why would I need to deal with Naruto?" Obito chuckled dismissively. "According to our timeline, now isn't the moment to engage Nine Tails. So even if we encounter him, there's no cause for concern. He killed Hiruzen Sarutobi, which suggests at most Kage-level strength. Nothing more. Besides, Sarutobi was old. Being killed by someone younger isn't particularly surprising."
"We'll investigate Itachi's fate, then extract Sasuke. As for Naruto, let him play Hokage to his heart's content. When we need him, he'll return to our plans naturally."
Obito had no desire to confront Naruto currently. Through accumulated intelligence reports, he understood Naruto wasn't someone to provoke lightly. The information also consistently portrayed Sasuke as the supporting character who cheered from the sidelines. This confused Obito deeply. Why would Itachi transfer his eyes to Sasuke at this developmental stage?
Sasuke still required far more training and growth.
"But Sasuke seems inseparable from Naruto lately," White Zetsu pointed out with barely concealed glee. "I don't think extracting Sasuke safely is realistic. Therefore, you'll almost certainly encounter Naruto regardless. Hehe."
"Facing Naruto means what, exactly?" Obito's chuckle carried cold confidence. Though he respected Naruto's reported strength, fear played no part in his calculations. If he feared Naruto, his entire plan became worthless. Resurrecting Rin, the Eye of the Moon project, everything would amount to nothing.
Because completing the plan absolutely required obtaining Nine Tails. Which meant confronting Naruto was inevitable.
Thinking this through, Obito's expression turned grim behind his mask. "Fine. Consider it an advance test of Naruto's capabilities."
On the other side of events, after Naruto finished speaking with Kakashi, he turned toward the house and called out clearly. "Sasuke, come out! Our enemy is approaching!"
Hearing Naruto's shout, Sasuke burst from the room immediately. Excitement blazed across his features. His eyes showed a tendency toward crimson, Sharingan threatening to activate from pure emotion. He grabbed Naruto's shoulder, asking with barely contained intensity, "The masked man is here?"
"Yes." Naruto reached out and patted Sasuke's shoulder firmly, suppressing the Sharingan trying to manifest in his friend's eyes. "Don't get excited. Control your emotions. That's how you achieve proper revenge."
Kakashi overheard the conversation between Sasuke and Naruto. His typically dead fish eyes fluctuated with sudden life. He asked with unusual urgency, "Naruto, do you mean the masked man who started Nine Tails Rebellion... is actually here?"
"That's correct, Kakashi-sensei. I want to ask for your help. We're going to kill the masked man. He's heading toward Konoha as we speak." Naruto's tone carried absolute certainty.
"Understood." Kakashi nodded without hesitation. Of course he felt obligated to face the culprit who'd killed his teacher and teacher's wife. Back then, his strength had been insufficient for revenge. Not anymore.
Jiraiya, sitting immobile in his wheelchair, finally processed what was happening. His face lit with excitement as he spoke up. "I want to come too!"
Hearing Jiraiya's words, Naruto glanced at him briefly. His tone came out perfectly calm, almost clinical. "Go? What would you do, deliver yourself as a snack? You look like that, can't even move. Are you planning to kill him with sharp words?"
Jiraiya froze, then fury colored his features.
This brat really has grown bold. He doesn't regard me as an elder at all!
Ignoring Jiraiya's beard-bristling indignation, Naruto picked up Kurama and addressed Sasuke and Kakashi. "Let's go. We're giving our opponent a surprise."
After speaking, Naruto walked from the courtyard first, leaving only a handsome silhouette for Jiraiya to glare at.
Sasuke followed, excitement radiating from every movement.
Kakashi glanced at Jiraiya with genuine pity before following Naruto eagerly.
Watching the backs of all three departing figures, Jiraiya huffed twice in impotent frustration. He couldn't help his situation. He couldn't even move his hands, let alone push his own wheelchair.
Not far away, Naruto suddenly glanced at Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei, I hope you can stabilize your emotions when we arrive."
Stabilize emotions?
Kakashi nodded, assuming he understood. When facing a great enemy, don't become agitated or furious. With Naruto's strength, no enemy should escape anyway.
But clearly, Kakashi misunderstood Naruto's meaning entirely. Naruto was actually concerned that Kakashi-sensei might lose composure upon learning the masked man was Uchiha Obito.
Uchiha Obito had been Kakashi's closest friend, after all. Before Obito's death, he'd entrusted Nohara Rin's care to Kakashi. But Kakashi had failed to complete that final request. In the end, Rin had died.
This became Kakashi's lifelong regret, a source of guilt regarding his dead friend that never healed.
Preparing Kakashi mentally in advance, Naruto grasped Kakashi's arm with one hand and Sasuke's with the other. Kurama jumped onto Naruto's shoulder. The next second, all three vanished from their original location completely.
"We finally meet!"
On the mountain road cutting through forest, a calm voice suddenly sounded from the air itself.
The voice emerged so abruptly that Obito, mid-stride, stopped immediately. He froze in place, gaze snapping toward the road ahead.
Black and White Zetsu also halted their underground movement, exposed head swiveling to look forward curiously while preparing to dive deeper at any moment.
On the mountain road ahead, three figures slowly materialized from nothing.
Obito and Zetsu looked immediately. In the center stood Naruto with long golden hair, wearing Hokage robes. His handsome features showed complete composure as he held a small orange fox in his arms. The little orange fox glared at Obito with vertical-pupil eyes full of unmistakable hatred.
Konoha's Fifth Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto, regarded him with perfect calm.
The small orange fox's hatred made sense to Obito. He'd controlled it once before. Kurama would despise anyone who'd dominated its will so completely.
To Naruto's right stood a black-haired boy, also beautiful in features though not quite matching Naruto's striking appearance.
That's Itachi's younger brother, Sasuke. Obito identified him instantly.
Then Obito's gaze shifted left, falling on a white-haired ninja wearing a mask and eye covering, leaving only one dead fish eye visible. Obito's heart fluctuated for just a moment before he regained complete calm.
For several seconds, Obito couldn't determine what these three wanted by blocking his path.
"Uchiha Obito, we finally meet!" Naruto's calm words sounded again, his tone carrying absolute certainty. "Though technically speaking, this is our second encounter."
In Naruto's assessment, Obito was already a dead man. If not dead this very moment, then dead very soon.
Naruto would never release the enemy who'd killed his parents. Otherwise, what was the point of all his Ultimate Taijutsu training?
As Naruto's words landed, Obito's heart churned with shock. How could Naruto possibly know my identity? That's absolutely impossible.
As the world knew, Uchiha Obito was dead.
Died in the Third Shinobi World War!
Standing beside Naruto, Kakashi heard Naruto call the masked man "Uchiha Obito." His face changed. The dead fish eye trembled imperceptibly with emotion barely contained.
Uchiha Obito was his friend's name.
In Kakashi's knowledge, Obito had died years ago. Before death, Obito had entrusted him with protecting Rin.
Is that person really Uchiha Obito?
Kakashi's emotions became incredibly complicated in moments. If Obito hadn't died, why never reveal himself? Why stay hidden all these years?
"Are you Obito?" Kakashi's voice emerged trembling beneath his mask. He fixed his single visible eye on the masked figure, examining every detail while waiting for the response.
"No. Obito died long ago. I am Uchiha Madara." Obito's response came out perfectly calm and controlled.
Regarding Kakashi, he no longer felt the slightest affection. Since Rin's death, Obito had told himself repeatedly that Kakashi failed to fulfill his dying request.
Though perhaps Rin's death wasn't entirely negative. Because after his plan succeeded, the resurrected Rin would love only him.
Rin can only love me!
This was Obito's deepest secret. No one else knew.
"Stop pretending, Uchiha Obito." Naruto's calm voice finally carried an edge of thunderous anger beneath the surface. "Do you dare remove that mask and let everyone see your true face? Uchiha Madara? Ridiculous. You pretended to be Madara, killed my mother, killed my father, triggered Nine Tails Rebellion, and destroyed countless families."
Looking at Obito with deceptively calm eyes, Naruto smiled without warmth. "However, whether you admit being Obito or not doesn't matter. Since you came here, don't imagine you're leaving."
"Oh? Is Naruto-kun attempting to keep me here?" Obito chuckled lightly. He possessed his Kamui dimension. He felt confident that in this entire shinobi world, no one could claim the ability to trap him.
"Of course. You killed my parents. You assisted Itachi in slaughtering the Uchiha clan members. Revenge and grievances both demand settlement." Naruto's words came out final as judgment.
"Uchiha Obito, today you die." Sasuke spoke briefly, his short words containing profound anger compressed to explosive density.
"It seems you're very confident in yourselves. Then let me see if you can actually keep me here. Hahaha..." Uchiha Obito laughed wildly, his body rocking forward and back with the force of his mirth.
Kakashi watched Obito's wild laughter with an expression impossible to read.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
After finishing his laughter, Obito attacked preemptively without any hesitation whatsoever. A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, hurtling toward all three opponents. The moment Obito launched his attack, the flytrap-headed figure beside him immediately shifted sideways.
Black and White Zetsu wanted to stay on the sidelines and watch the show unfold.
A huge fireball blazed forward, several times larger than Sasuke's version in both size and destructive power.
All three jumped immediately to avoid Obito's technique. The Fireball Jutsu missed its targets and slammed into a tree not far away. Branches burst into flames instantly, fire spreading with eager hunger.
"Hmph. Truly the Uchiha clan. Setting forests ablaze at every opportunity."
Hearing Naruto's taunt, Sasuke's face darkened considerably.