Uchiha Chiga glanced at the Four Kage. Under the overwhelming pressure of the Rinnegan, none of them dared to raise their heads and meet his gaze.
Minato pointed toward Madara, who was still bound by Chiga's hair, and asked cautiously,
"Chiga, what do you plan to do with Uchiha Madara?"
Chiga thought for a moment before replying,
"You don't need to concern yourself with that. We'll take him back to Konoha first."
With a flick of his hair, Madara's restrained body was brought before Minato. The Hokage quickly reached out to catch him, handling the fallen Uchiha with care.
Seeing Minato's cautious manner, Chiga chuckled softly.
"Obito and Kakashi haven't returned yet?"
Minato shook his head, worry etched on his face.
"Obito pulled Kakashi into another dimension. Even my Flying Thunder God Technique can't reach them."
Upon hearing this, Chiga considered using Yomotsu Hirasaka to enter the Kamui space and check on them. The war was over, and any lingering grudges should be resolved quickly.
Before he could act, space twisted, and Obito stepped out, dragging Kakashi behind him.
Kakashi's clothes were torn, riddled with scorch marks. His face was bruised, evidence of a severe beating. Compared to him, Obito looked much better. Although injured, the White Zetsu cells in his body allowed him to recover swiftly. His smug expression hinted at what had transpired in the Kamui space.
It wasn't anything unspeakable—he had simply thrashed Kakashi.
In the anime's events, Kakashi had seemingly defeated Obito inside Kamui. But that had been intentional; Obito merely wanted Kakashi to remove the curse seal from his heart. Now that Chiga had already freed him from that burden and the truth had been revealed, Obito fought without restraint. Victory had been inevitable.
As Madara's direct disciple, Obito's mastery of Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and his Dojutsu far surpassed Kakashi's. With Yin–Yang Release in his arsenal as well, Kakashi had no chance. Worse still, Obito harbored no guilt toward Kakashi—in fact, he bore a grudge. The beating had been a long-delayed satisfaction.
Obito released Kakashi, who collapsed to the ground, rolling before struggling to rise. Minato instinctively moved forward to intervene, but Chiga raised a hand to stop him.
"Don't interfere. This is between the two of them."
Minato frowned. "But Kakashi looks badly hurt…"
"He won't die," Chiga assured, his tone final.
Obito glanced gratefully at Chiga, then crouched down, seizing Kakashi by the collar and dragging him close.
"Kakashi, you're too weak now. You can't even beat me, the so-called dead last!"
Kakashi's mask had been half-destroyed. With a weary smile, he replied,
"Obito… you were never a dead last."
"Tch. You haven't changed. Just looking at you is irritating," Obito spat, releasing him.
Straightening, Obito turned his gaze toward Madara, who was supported by Minato. His eyes sharpened, brimming with hatred.
"Kakashi, you should already know—Rin's death was caused by Uchiha Madara. Looking at him like this, I want nothing more than to kill him."
Kakashi remained silent, his gaze steady.
Obito clenched his fists tightly. "But… he was defeated by Chiga. That means I have no right to kill him. One day, I'll surpass him—and then I'll end him myself."
At that moment, Madara stirred, opening his eyes. He gave Obito a single glance and shook his head with silent mockery. Veins bulged on Obito's forehead, his fury nearly boiling over.
Chiga broke the tension with a calm command.
"That's enough. Whatever needs to be said can wait until we return to Konoha."
Obito immediately quieted, obeying without question. He stepped toward Minato, carefully averting his gaze from Madara, and spoke in a low voice,
"Sensei, I am a sinner. When we return, I will turn myself in. Until I atone, I'll remain in prison."
Minato's expression grew complicated. Both he and Kushina had long forgiven Obito, understanding that he too had been deceived and manipulated. Their family was whole and happy again, and they bore no hatred for him. Yet Obito refused to forgive himself. No matter how Minato tried to dissuade him, he insisted on punishment.
Helpless, Minato looked at Chiga, silently pleading. He knew Obito would heed Chiga's words more than his own.
Chiga studied him for a moment before speaking.
"Don't rush into prison. There's something I need you to do first."
Obito straightened immediately.
"Chiga, whatever you ask, I'll give everything to complete it."
A faint smile curved Chiga's lips.
"No need to be so tense. It's not a major task. I need you to locate someone for me."
"Who?"
"He's a monk. His name is Jigen."
Jigen—the vessel of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, the wretched being who had been betrayed by Kaguya and fed to the Ten-Tails.
Since returning to the Naruto world, Chiga had searched ceaselessly for Jigen. Yet the man had concealed his presence, hiding even from Chiga's reach. That was why he intended to send Obito. With Kamui, Obito could slip into any space. Even if discovered, his escape was assured.
Obito nodded firmly. He didn't question Chiga's motives.
"I understand. Once I find him, should I bring him back?"
"No. Only inform me of his location. And remember—do not engage him. He is extremely powerful."
The moment Chiga spoke those words, the Four Kage, Minato, and even Kaguya reacted visibly. A person whom Chiga himself deemed "extremely powerful" was no ordinary enemy.
Obito, too, was startled. But almost immediately, excitement lit his eyes. To him, being entrusted with such a mission was proof of Chiga's faith in him. Completing it would help lessen the guilt weighing on his heart.
He clenched his fists, nodding with determination.
"I understand. I won't fail!"
_____
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