In the Akatsuki’s hideout, within a dimly lit chamber.

The wound that had pierced through Obito’s chest and back was now filled with White Zetsu’s tissue.

He sat there, his back exposed, revealing two Flying Thunder God seals symmetrically placed on either side of his back.

One belonged to Minato, and the other, to Naruto.

Obito hadn’t cared much for the mark left by Minato, as Minato was already dead. But the one left by Naruto—it was just as Naruto had said—was a constant source of anxiety for him!

He needed to get rid of it immediately, even if it meant harming himself in the process.

"Deidara, I need your help!" Obito called.

Standing behind him, Deidara held a kunai, hesitating as he said, "Shouldn’t we use some anesthetic first?"

"No need. Do it as is! I want to remember this humiliation of defeat…"

Obito folded a towel and bit down on it.

Deidara, his hollow eye sockets showing a tinge of conflict, raised the kunai and began to scrape across Obito’s back!

“Urghhh...!!” Obito’s face contorted with pain, beads of sweat drenching his wrinkled features as veins bulged on his forehead. He bit down hard on the towel, suppressing his cries within the darkness of the chamber.

This pain was nothing compared to the agony of losing Rin!

*Srrkkk...*

The skin on Obito's back was peeled off, exposing his white bones underneath. Exhausted, he bent over, his body nearly collapsing as blood pooled around him.

Deidara, silent, disinfected the wound, applied ointment, and bandaged him, disposing of the discarded flesh afterward.

Panting heavily, Obito finally removed the towel from his mouth. His breath ragged, he stared blankly at the wall, lost in thought.

“I’m sure of it. Back then, Naruto mouthed the words ‘beware of Black Zetsu.’”

"Black Zetsu is the will of Madara. I've always been wary of him, but... for Naruto to warn me, he must know something..."

Covering his bandaged back with his cloak, Obito asked, "Deidara, other than being Madara’s pawn to monitor me, what else do you know about Black Zetsu?"

Deidara paused, contemplating. He too had noticed Naruto’s silent warning. "It’s best not to discuss such things with me. After all, every White Zetsu, including myself, is a creation of the Gedo Statue. Ultimately, we all follow the will of the Gedo Statue, which in turn follows the will of the Rinnegan’s original owner."

Obito chuckled. "So, if Madara and I were both around, you would prioritize obeying Madara, wouldn’t you?"

After a moment of silence, Deidara admitted, "I’m your friend, so I don’t want to lie to you."

"Likewise, you’re my friend," Obito replied, "and that’s why I’m willing to embrace the uncertainties that lie ahead…"

Deidara hesitated. "Black Zetsu doesn’t feel like just the will of Madara. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's warning might hold more truth than we think."

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Is that so…" Obito's eyes gleamed with a cold light as he slipped his mask back onto his face. "Has Sasuke been brought back?"

"Yes, but he’s reverted to his old self again."

"Heh…" Obito rose with a sneer. "Another Uchiha traitor and failure, just like me. Maybe we’ll have fewer barriers to communication now."

"Are you heading out?" Deidara asked.

"Yes. Though I loathe it, it’s time for me to reclaim what’s rightfully mine… for the future."

---

In another room, Sasuke sat in silence, his eyes blank, absentmindedly scratching his neck.

The Flying Thunder God seal on his neck couldn't be removed by simply peeling off the skin, like Obito had done.

The merged form of Black and White Zetsu stood at the doorway.

Black Zetsu spoke, "White Zetsu, go check on Obito. I’ll take care of our ‘failed warrior.’"

"Alright," White Zetsu replied, "but don’t overstep. He’s still rather distrustful."

"Don’t worry. I only serve the Moon's Eye Plan. He and I are comrades…"

*Sshhk!*

Black Zetsu separated from White Zetsu.

Approaching Sasuke, Black Zetsu said, "You seem troubled. The mark on your neck—I can remove it."

A strange gurgling sound emanated from Black Zetsu’s hand as he placed it on the seal, activating the power of Yin-Yang Release… and the Flying Thunder God seal was erased!

Sasuke raised his eyes to meet the black figure. "Who are you?"

Black Zetsu chuckled. "What? We meet every day. Can’t you tell when I’ve separated from White Zetsu?"

"Oh, it’s you—the black half of that dual-faced creature," Sasuke muttered.

Black Zetsu laughed. "Indeed. While we usually act as one, we sometimes go our separate ways. But tell me, what do you think about losing to Naruto this time?"

Sasuke’s brow furrowed. "Are you here to mock me?"

"Don’t misunderstand…" Black Zetsu replied smoothly. "Naruto’s strength comes from the Rinnegan, which once belonged to Madara. Your defeat was inevitable."

Sasuke was taken aback. "What? The Rinnegan… wasn’t it Nagato’s? And Madara... isn’t he…?"

Black Zetsu explained, "Let me be brief. That masked man isn’t Uchiha Madara. The real Madara died long ago, and the Rinnegan wasn’t Nagato’s to begin with. It was awakened by Uchiha Madara himself. After his battle with Hashirama Senju, Madara didn’t die. He gained Hashirama’s power and, on the brink of death, unlocked the Rinnegan."

"So," Black Zetsu continued, "if you wish to defeat Naruto, you’ll need the power of the Rinnegan as well."

"Perhaps Kabuto can help you with that."

Black Zetsu's mind raced. *Obito has deviated from the original plan to resurrect Madara, so I made sure Kabuto discovered Madara’s corpse, bringing him back through the Edo Tensei. But with both of Madara’s Rinnegan now in Naruto’s possession, that boy is beyond reason… I need a backup plan. Sasuke, as Indra’s reincarnation, might also have the potential to awaken the Rinnegan.*

---

Back in Konoha, before the Memorial Stone.

Kakashi stood deep in thought.

"The person on the Hokage Rock that day, wearing the mask, must have been Naruto. Did Naruto’s appearance force Sasuke to leave the village?"

"If that’s the case, then Naruto…"

"Yo, Kakashi. Mourning your fallen friends again?"

A mocking voice interrupted his thoughts.

*Sizzle!*

Kakashi’s eyes sharpened as he swiftly activated the Raikiri, thrusting it toward the source of the voice.

*Whoosh!*

But his attack passed right through the masked man’s body!

The masked man raised his hand slowly, reaching toward Kakashi.

*Whoosh!*

Kakashi instantly leaped back, creating distance between them.

The masked man’s voice echoed eerily. "As expected of Sharingan Kakashi. Fast as always…"

Kakashi’s eyes narrowed. "You… you’re Madara!"

*Sshhk!*

Without hesitation, Kakashi ripped off his eye patch. His left Sharingan spun into the Mangekyo Sharingan, locking onto the masked man’s head. "Madara, I’m going to finish you here!"

"Stop, Kakashi. That technique is meaningless against me…"

The masked man raised his hand, slowly removing his mask, revealing his true face!

*Boom!*

Kakashi stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.

"I’ll be taking back my eye now…"

*Sshhk!* In a flash, Obito dashed forward, gouging out Kakashi’s left eye!

*Thud!*

Kakashi dropped to one knee, blood streaming from his eye socket, but his focus remained on the figure of his former comrade. "Why… why are you still alive, and yet…?"

Obito, holding Kakashi’s bleeding eye, turned his back. "This world is nothing but a lie. You couldn’t protect Rin, Minato-sensei couldn’t arrive in time, and everyone… is worthless. No, even I am…"

*Whoosh!*

Obito disappeared into the vortex of Kamui, his voice lingering in the air. "Kakashi, we will continue to live as failures, until the day I bring forth a dream of hope for this world. On that day, we will meet again—along with Minato-sensei, and… Rin."

*Thud!*

Kakashi’s world faded to black as he collapsed unconscious…