Shimmer~
A swirling vortex distortion appeared in the air, and the masked figure of Obito materialized beside White Zetsu.
"So this is the 'suitable candidate' you selected?" Obito asked, his voice low as he watched Uchiha Hiroaki rage impotently. Dissatisfaction was evident in his tone.
"Correct. It's him," Black Zetsu's voice rasped as the pitcher plant fully emerged beside Obito. "Among the current Uchiha, only he fits the criteria."
"His aptitude is abysmal," Obito stated flatly, disapproval clear in his voice.
"With our assistance, aptitude is irrelevant," Black Zetsu countered. "All that matters is that he successfully awakens the Mangekyō Sharingan." As he spoke, Black Zetsu couldn't resist shooting a sideways glance at Obito. The implication was clear – a pointed reminder that Obito himself had once been considered a failure, a 'dead last'.
Obito fell silent at the unspoken jibe. After a moment's pause, another large spatial vortex formed before him. When it vanished, Obito stood directly behind Uchiha Hiroaki.
Sensing the disturbance behind him, Hiroaki spun around abruptly, his expression wary as he faced the sudden intruder. "Who are you?"
"An outcast abandoned by his own family, capable only of hiding in dark corners and raging uselessly. How pathetic," Obito mocked mercilessly, taking in Hiroaki's already activated three-tomoe Sharingan.
"You– Die!" Obito's words instantly ignited Hiroaki's fury. He lunged, swinging his tanto directly at Obito.
The blade sliced through empty air. Hiroaki, along with his weapon, passed straight through Obito's form.
"What the—" Hiroaki stumbled, whirling back around to stare at Obito in shock. The sheer impossibility of what just happened extinguished most of his anger.
"Your attacks are useless against me," Obito stated calmly.
"I don't believe you can just ignore my attacks completely!" Gritting his teeth, unwilling to accept it, Hiroaki attacked again. And again, his entire body phased harmlessly through Obito.
This time, Hiroaki didn't dare act recklessly. He stared at Obito, demanding, "Who are you? What do you want?" Even as he spoke, Hiroaki took small steps backward, his fierce exterior clearly hiding inner fear and weakness.
Beneath the mask, Obito's brow furrowed slightly. This man truly isn't the suitable candidate I envisioned. Even if they helped him awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, could he really help counterbalance Nagato's influence within the Akatsuki? Obito harbored serious doubts.
However, after a brief hesitation, Obito pressed forward. "Do you desire revenge? Revenge against the clan and the village that ignore you?"
The question was intensely provocative.
"What... what do you mean by that?" Hiroaki hesitated.
"I can help you awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan," Obito whispered seductively. "Help you obtain power beyond compare." As he spoke, the Mangekyō Sharingan beneath his mask flared to life.
"Mangekyō Sharingan! You're… you're one of us? An Uchiha? Who are you?!" Hiroaki gasped, staring at the crimson eye blazing within Obito's mask. Shock warred with intense longing on his face. After everything he had endured, Hiroaki craved power more than ever before.
"My identity is irrelevant," Obito dismissed. "All that matters is that if you desire power, I can grant it to you." His words were pure, potent temptation.
Hiroaki's expression twisted with internal conflict for a moment before he threw his head back, his voice raw. "I want it!"
Evening fell. Uchiha Hiroaki returned home, his head bowed low.
"Honey, you're back!" His wife, Uchiha Yukie, immediately came out to greet him. She helped him take off his shoes and put on slippers, her voice gentle with concern as she asked, "How was your day?"
"Mm," Hiroaki mumbled a response, still keeping his head down.
Seeing his state, Yukie opened her mouth as if to say more, but ultimately just murmured softly, "Well, rest up, dear. I'll go start dinner," before turning and heading into the kitchen.
Hiroaki didn't reply, remaining hunched over.
In the kitchen, as Yukie prepared their meal, worry creased her features. Ever since her husband, Hiroaki, had returned to the village this time, she could clearly sense something was deeply wrong with his emotional state. Yukie had some idea of the reasons but felt utterly helpless. She was just an ordinary Uchiha with unremarkable talent; all she could do was make sure there was a warm meal waiting for him at home.
Soon, Yukie had prepared a delicious spread. The husband and wife knelt opposite each other at the low dining table. Hiroaki kept his head bowed throughout the meal, his expression hidden. Yukie ate quietly, occasionally glancing up at Hiroaki, her eyes filled with undisguised concern.
They finished the entire dinner in heavy silence. Yukie began clearing the dishes, then went back into the kitchen.
As Yukie stood at the sink washing the bowls, Hiroaki slowly walked into the kitchen behind her. Sensing his presence, Yukie turned, about to speak.
Shunk!
The moment Yukie turned, she saw a blur of motion, followed by an excruciating pain exploding from her back through to her abdomen.
Behind her, Uchiha Hiroaki held her gently, even as the blade of his tanto protruded gruesomely from her stomach, having pierced her clean through from behind.
Yukie's body twitched. Staring down at the blood-soaked tip of the blade emerging from her own body, she weakly reached up, her hand smearing the blood flowing freely from the wound. Then, with an expression of utter disbelief, she slowly turned her head to look at the man holding her.
Hiroaki's face was already streaked with tears. Pain and internal struggle warred with an unspeakable madness in his eyes.
"Yukie... forgive me!" he whispered brokenly, his voice trembling. "I'm doing this for the clan! I have to avenge Elder Yashiro and Yasumasa! Killing you... it's the only way... the only way I can awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan! You're my only hope! Forgive me!" He mumbled the words over and over, staring into his wife's disbelieving eyes.
Hearing Hiroaki's agonized whispers, the disbelief on Yukie's face gradually melted into pained understanding and heartbreaking pity. She didn't utter a word of accusation or complaint. She knew, deep down, that the one left living would suffer far more.
Slowly, Uchiha Yukie's body went limp in Hiroaki's arms, her life extinguished.
"Tatsuya Akimichi! Danzo! Captain Fugaku! Shisui! Misuke! It's your fault! It's all your fault! Yukie died because of you!" Blood continued to pour from Yukie's body, staining Hiroaki crimson as he sat numbly on the floor, cradling her lifeless form. He muttered the names endlessly, his voice a low, broken drone.
"Why...? Why haven't my eyes awakened yet?" he suddenly choked out, his voice rising in panic. "He said... he said if I killed Yukie, I would awaken them!"
But as he sat there on the cold floor, holding his wife's corpse for what felt like an eternity, Hiroaki realized with dawning horror that there was still no sign of his Sharingan changing.
To awaken his eyes, he had murdered the only person he loved, his only family left in this world.
The expression on Uchiha Hiroaki's face twisted further into utter derangement, his aura growing terrifyingly cold and dark.