Obito was struggling internally.
In truth, Obito's darkness was only surface-deep. Deep down, he had always been a person filled with love and warmth—just like Naruto. He used to be a sunny, cheerful boy. But the tragedies he endured… they changed everything.
Naruto stepped forward, his voice filled with hope. "Come on, Obito! Come back to us!"
Seeing this, Kakashi seized the moment and added, "Obito, don't keep repeating the same mistakes. Change! I'm still your best friend, Obito!"
Minato also spoke, his tone gentle yet firm. "Obito, didn't you once promise me, your sensei, that you would become Hokage?"
The words of his old comrades struck a chord in Obito's heart. Their pleas weren't just words—they were calls to awaken the part of him that still remembered who he used to be.
But Madara, sensing Obito's hesitation, quickly stepped forward. "Obito! Don't be fooled by their words. Have you forgotten how Rin died? If there truly was hope in this world, then your Rin… why would she have died like that?!"
Obito looked at Rin. Yes… Rin. She never deserved to die—not like that. Even if he had to sacrifice himself, she shouldn't have died by Kakashi's hand.
Naruto turned his attention to Madara and smiled faintly. "Madara… you, more than anyone, should know why Rin died."
Madara's expression darkened. "Brat, what are you implying? Of course I know how she died. White Zetsu was following Obito back then. He told me everything when he returned. It was a clash between your shinobi!"
Madara's voice grew sharper. "In order to attack Konoha, Kirigakure captured Rin and forcibly sealed the Three-Tails inside her. When Kakashi rescued her and began returning to the village, the tailed beast started to break loose."
"Rin realized the plot before they could reach Konoha. To protect the village, that kind-hearted girl chose to die by Kakashi's Chidori."
He turned back to Obito, trying to stoke the flames of hatred. "Rin shouldn't have died. The Rin in front of you… she's not the real Rin anymore. Your true Rin should exist within the Infinite Tsukuyomi—a dream world without hypocrisy, without war, where everyone understands one another."
"You and Rin grew up together in Konoha. That's the dream—the true paradise!"
Obito looked at Rin, his brows furrowing, his eyes conflicted. "This… isn't the real Rin?"
Naruto shouted, "Don't listen to him, Obito! I'll tell you a truth that will shake you—Madara used you! You were just a pawn in his game."
"And what's more… the real murderer of Rin was Madara!"
Obito's eyes widened. "What… what are you saying, Naruto?"
Madara growled, "You little bastard! Don't slander me!"
But Naruto continued, unwavering. "Obito, haven't you ever wondered why Madara was so insistent that you inherit his will after he saved you? You didn't want any of this. You wanted to return to the village, didn't you?"
Obito paused, remembering. "…Yes. I did. So what?"
Madara interrupted, panicked. "Obito, don't listen to this nonsense. He's the enemy. He just wants to sabotage our plan!"
But Obito raised his hand, signaling Madara to be silent. "The God Tree won't bloom for another fifteen minutes. There's still time to hear him out."
Madara's eyes flared with fury. "You damn brat…"
Naruto pressed forward. "Think back, Obito. You were training inside that cave with White Zetsu. Then one day, Zetsu came running in, telling you that Rin and Kakashi were in danger. He rushed you to the battlefield, right?"
"When you arrived… you saw Rin impaled on Kakashi's Chidori. Doesn't that seem like too much of a coincidence?"
Naruto's voice sharpened. "And my dad—Minato-sensei—just happened to be away on a mission and couldn't interfere?"
"Obito, did you ever think all of it was just too perfectly timed?"
Obito's face darkened. Naruto's words stirred old doubts—doubts he had buried long ago. He had always thought it was suspicious. The timing, the events—it all seemed orchestrated. But eventually, Obito had accepted it. He told himself the shinobi world was one of endless hatred. Such tragedies were inevitable.
Obito replied, "This world… is filled with hatred and conflict. That's the nature of shinobi. These tragedies happen all the time."
Madara nodded approvingly. "That's right."
He cast a venomous glare at Naruto.
But Naruto wasn't done. "There's one more thing, Obito. A critical point you've overlooked."
Obito narrowed his eyes. "What point?"
Naruto looked him dead in the eye. "Why did Kirigakure choose Rin as the Jinchūriki? Why only her?"
Obito flinched.
Yes… why Rin?
At the time, she wasn't the only Konoha-nin captured or capable of returning to the village. Why her?
Naruto continued, "It's simple. Rin was your true love. Kakashi was your best friend. Her death—by his hand—would cause the deepest possible emotional trauma. It was the perfect setup to shatter you completely."
"And who orchestrated all of this? Madara."
Naruto turned to the ancient Uchiha. "Isn't that right, Madara?"
"Bullshit!" Madara roared.
But Obito couldn't ignore it anymore. "Why… Rin? Why not someone else? Minato-sensei being away that day… was that also a coincidence?"
Rin stepped forward, her voice gentle. "Obito, it's okay. Everything that happened… it's in the past. Please, don't keep hurting yourself over me."
Obito looked at her. This was Rin. Kind, selfless, loving—just as he remembered.
He crouched in front of her, eyes soft. "Rin… would you come with me? Let's go far away from here."
Rin looked back at Kakashi, at Minato, at everyone… then turned to Obito. "Okay. But I miss the village, and I want to come back someday. Also… I'm just a reanimated corpse now. I'm sorry, Obito."
Obito smiled. "It doesn't matter. I have the Rinnegan. I can bring you back."
Madara's eyes almost popped from his skull.
What the hell?! You want to use the Rinnegan to resurrect her?!
Damn it, I spent all this time preparing you to resurrect me, and you throw it away for love? Obito, you traitor!
Naruto struck again, his timing perfect. "Obito, think carefully. After Rin died, you immediately told Madara you'd inherit his plan. And the very next moment—Madara died peacefully, handing everything to you."
"Put yourself in Madara's shoes. If you were grooming someone to be your pawn, what would you do to manipulate him?"
Those words hit Obito like a thunderclap.
Of course. If he were Madara, he would do exactly that.
He turned to Madara, eyes filled with fury. "Madara… Naruto is right, isn't he?"
Madara tried one last time. "Obito, don't listen to him. Naruto is our enemy. You know what his goal is. He wants to tear us apart."
Obito didn't move. He stared hard at Madara.
"I remember," he said coldly. "You transplanted the Rinnegan into Nagato. And to awaken his potential… you orchestrated his parents' deaths."
Madara's eyes narrowed. "…So, you've looked into that."
Obito's voice grew colder. "I inherited everything from you. Of course I investigated. And while doing so… I also investigated Rin's death. I didn't want to believe it, but…"
His eyes flared with rage.
"You dared to use Rin as part of your plan!"
Obito's voice exploded with fury as he charged at Madara.
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