Rin, this world is a hell.
You shouldn't have to live in such a hell.
I will create a world with you in it—a new world without hate, without war.
A world that's like heaven.
My heaven.
…That's how it was supposed to be.
"Are you trying to run away? Run off to another world, hide in a dream, and tell yourself that Rin is still alive? Tell yourself… this world is hell?"
Obito opened his eyes. He didn't know who was asking the question, but he smiled and quietly said, "Yes."
Yeah, you're right.
"I am running away." Because this world doesn't have Rin.
"I want to escape to another world." A world where Rin exists.
"Using a dream to numb myself." That's the only way life has meaning for me now.
"Telling myself Rin is still alive." Because in that kind of world, she would be alive and happy—not... dead like that.
"This world is hell." No matter where I am or what I'm doing, this hellish world never stops reminding me… it exists just to make me suffer.
"The world will keep turning without me, but my world stopped the moment Rin died." Obito looked at the sky. Under that clear blue, he saw only a blood-red haze.
Kakashi sat beside him. "Why not use the Rinnegan to bring Rin back?"
"What's the point, Kakashi?" Obito turned and looked at him. "You've lived in this world for over twenty years—don't you know what kind of place it is by now?"
"As a ninja, how many people have you killed?" Obito asked.
Kakashi lowered his head. "I lost count a long time ago."
Just like how no one remembers how many buns they've eaten, Kakashi had already forgotten how many people he'd killed in the name of missions.
"Is that normal?" Obito pressed.
"It is," Kakashi replied. "Because I'm a ninja. Because I have to finish my missions. Because in war… people die."
He looked at Obito and said softly, "For you, me, and Rin, the best ending would've been living long enough to see the future."
"But I can't see it." Obito's voice dropped, sounding like he was on the edge of tears. "I can't see it, Kakashi. I can't see my future, can't see the world's future, can't see that so-called pure, peaceful, beautiful future you all talk about."
Obito clenched his fists. "I've been through despair. In that despair, I saw darkness. Not just regular darkness, but one deeper than pure white—darkness that no one can escape."
"Death, war, they never stop. Why should a world like this even exist?" Obito smiled as he stared ahead. "Tell me, Kakashi. Do you really believe that thing you call 'hope' or that 'future' everyone talks about is actually real?"
"Then why?"
"Why can't I see any of it?"
"Why is there only darkness in front of me?"
Kakashi stayed silent.
Obito smiled, but there was mockery in it.
"I was like a fool. Willingly used, willingly turned into someone else's puppet. Chasing a future that probably never had a place for me in the first place."
"I don't regret it. Because the moment Rin died, I stopped being Uchiha Obito…"
He saw things more clearly than anyone else. A person who lives in the dark knows that darkness better than anyone.
"You got Minato-sensei killed," Kakashi said as he looked at him.
"Yeah, because his Flying Raijin was the only thing that could beat my Kamui." That was Obito's answer.
"You got Kushina-sensei killed," Kakashi said through clenched fists.
"Yeah, because Uzumaki Naruto's birth would be the biggest threat to our plan." Obito gave the same calm answer.
Kakashi opened his mouth, wanting to ask "Why?"—but realized Obito had already given him the answer.
Obito turned his head to the sky. Maybe he understood what Kakashi was thinking. Or maybe he just wanted to speak out loud:
"Don't try to argue with me, and don't try to change my mind. Kakashi… Uchiha Obito died back at the Battle of Kannabi Bridge. What's left now is just a shell."
"I don't regret killing Minato and Kushina. I don't regret anything I've done. The only thing I do feel sorry about… is not being able to see the Infinite Tsukuyomi come true."
"Maybe in that dream world, Rin and I can meet again. A world without death, without war… where she can live happily and peacefully."
"Even if I'm just watching from the side."
"Or even just thinking about it… that's already enough."
"I was never fighting for this world."
Obito closed his eyes. Even now, there was still a faint smile on his face.
It was the kind of smile you get when you finally see light in the darkness. The smile of someone who's close to reaching their dream.
Kakashi sat next to him, looking worn out. He followed Obito's gaze and looked up at the sky. Beneath that bright blue sky, the view was calm and beautiful.
He suddenly took a deep breath. "Obito, I've seen the future. From Naruto and Sasuke, I feel like the future is closer than ever before. So close, all I have to do is follow behind them and I'll get there."
"No need to explore, no need to struggle. Just follow along, and I'll see it."
He pressed his right hand to the ground and faced the sky. "I've long gotten used to death and war, so I know just how awful they are. No one truly likes death."
Then Kakashi smiled. "It's exactly because we can't see what's ahead that we keep searching. It's because we're in the dark that we try to become our own light. If you're too scared to move forward just because you can't see… if you're afraid to shine just because you're in the dark… then isn't that the same as standing still?"
"Obito." Kakashi looked at him again. "Thank you for your eye. Thank you for your trust. Thank you for being my friend… and even for being my enemy. And most of all… thank you for everything you did for Rin."
"Rin's waiting for you down there. You go ahead first. Tell her I'm sorry. Once I've seen that future with my own eyes, I'll come down and tell you both."
"And now…"
Kakashi stood up, facing the direction where Sasuke and Hashirama were—
He pulled up his headband, revealing the still-glowing Mangekyou Sharingan: "I'm going to stop your future. The Infinite Tsukuyomi will never succeed."
"With… the power you gave me."
"To stop you."
…
"Obito!" In a space of pure white, a young girl stood ahead, smiling playfully with her hands behind her back, calling out his name.
Obito froze. He instinctively opened his eyes, but he didn't see the bright blue sky.
He sat up from the ground, dazed, and looked toward the voice. In that endless white space, the girl's figure stood out clearly.
She walked a few steps forward and stood in front of him, reaching out her hand like she used to, her voice soft but a little scolding: "Honestly, Obito, you're this old and you're still sitting on the ground like that?"
Looking at her outstretched hand, Obito's voice began to tremble. He stared at her in disbelief. "Rin?"
"Are you stupid or what?" Rin pretended to be mad, but the next second she giggled. "Seriously… can't you take care of yourself? Come on, get up."
She motioned again with her right hand.
Obito reached out, still confused, and grabbed her hand. As he did, he noticed his own arm—it looked young, like he was only twelve or thirteen again.
But he didn't care. All he could do was stare at Rin with tears pouring down his face.
"Rin… is this really you…"
"Heh… Silly Obito. Can't even speak properly anymore?" Rin chuckled and gently flicked his forehead. "No need to say anything else… Thank you, Obito. Thank you for everything you did for me."
"Rin?" Obito looked at her, dazed.
Rin smiled gently, her voice soft and warm. "It's okay. I've been watching you all along, ever since that day."
"As for what comes next, let Kakashi take care of it. We'll wait for him down here. When he's seen the future, he'll come tell us all about it."
Yes, Rin had always been watching over Obito—since a long time ago.
He stopped walking in the darkness, then kept going, farther and farther toward the swamp.
So… it's okay now.
Obito lowered his head, tears streaming down his face. His whole body shook as he used all his strength to hold Rin in his arms.
In this pure white space, a place so bright there wasn't even a shadow,
Obito just kept crying… again and again… speaking to the girl in front of him… and also to everyone else…
"I'm sorry…"
I don't think what I did was wrong, but… I'm still sorry.
"Let's go~" Rin gently patted Obito's back, her voice as warm as ever.
Feeling Rin's arms around him, Obito suddenly wiped away his tears and grinned, face full of snot and tears: "Sorry, Rin. Just wait a little longer. I can't let that guy Kakashi come down and bother us too soon—I have to go back one more time."
Rin gave a helpless little laugh, then nodded naturally: "Of course, we're the best team after all."
"Right!" Obito nodded firmly.
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