"Kakashi…"
In the dim light of a silent cave, Obito lay motionless on a cold stone bed, murmuring softly in his sleep.
"Kakashi… Kakashi…"
"Ahahaha! Saying Kakashi's name again, huh!"
A sharp, teasing voice echoed suddenly in his ears, jolting Obito awake.
"Aaaaah!"
Obito sprang up in fury, glaring at the white, humanoid figure that had emerged halfway from the cave wall. Its spiraling red hair and twisted smile were unmistakable.
"Damn it, you curly-haired freak! Are you eavesdropping on me again?!"
The bizarre figure—none other than the oddball Zetsu variant affectionately nicknamed "Curly"—chuckled with glee.
"Hehe, how could I not? You were moaning 'Kakashi' in your sleep again. Naturally, I got curious about what was going on in that mushy human heart of yours!"
Curly grinned widely, eyes twinkling with mischievous glee.
"Human emotions are fascinating! Not like me, though. I just want to understand the purest, deepest instinct…"
Curly paused, puffed out its chest, and then shouted with sheer excitement:
"THE URGE TO POOP! Ahahahaha!"
Obito cringed in horror and disgust.
"Aaaaaaaaah! Curly! You disgusting, spiral-faced weirdo! Can you just stop with this poop obsession already?!"
His face twisted in exasperation. Obito clenched his fists as he recalled the many awkward and horrifying experiences caused by this "defecation researcher."
Once, while squatting to relieve himself in a hidden corner of the cave, he had unzipped his pants—only to find Curly suddenly sprouting from the ground beneath his feet, gazing up with scientific curiosity. The shock had caused him to yank his pants up and flee for his life. The experience was so traumatic, it had given him constipation for days.
"Gomen nasai! I'm sorry!"
Curly clasped its feet together and offered a playful bow, grinning as though it wasn't sorry at all.
Obito sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. He knew from experience—Curly would apologize today and repeat the same ridiculous behavior tomorrow.
"…Hey. It's been a while since I came here."
Obito shifted the subject, trying to re-center his thoughts. His tone was calmer now.
"Back then, I was truly shocked when I first saw you guys. All of you white puppet-like creatures… You were created by Madara-senpai using the Gedo Statue, weren't you?"
He tried reasoning with them, hoping for some semblance of a normal conversation.
"Puppets? Hah! You're one to talk!" Curly retorted with a grin. "You're the real puppet here!"
"You're a human… transformed by Madara-senpai himself. You've got the same cells as us now."
"Tsk. What do you know!"
Obito clicked his tongue in disdain.
"Madara-senpai told me that by implanting your cells, I'd be able to use the Mangekyō Sharingan more freely."
Although Obito hadn't fully awakened the Mangekyō yet, the physical enhancements were undeniable. His regeneration had improved dramatically, and he had even begun to learn the legendary Wood Style techniques—abilities said to belong only to the First Hokage himself.
As he spent more time with Madara, Obito began to lower his guard.
After all, Madara wasn't just anyone—he had been the head of the Uchiha Clan and a legendary shinobi. The powerful ninjutsu he had shared with Obito had opened up new possibilities the young ninja never thought possible.
Still, Obito couldn't help but ponder Madara's true intentions. What was his real goal?
The old man constantly spoke of "severing all bonds" and "creating a world without pain," a peaceful dreamland born from casting the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
A place where no one had to suffer anymore.
A world where people could live in a dream forever.
Could something like that… really be achieved by humans?
Obito remained skeptical.
Yes, this world was filled with pain and suffering—but wasn't that what made joy, love, and friendship so meaningful?
People like Kakashi… and Rin…
Just the thought of them reminded him that not everything in this world was dark.
For Obito, their existence was proof that hope still remained.
That's why, even as he listened to Madara's vision of a dream-filled paradise, Obito dismissed it as the sleep talk of a man who had simply lived too long.
Madara-senpai, after all, was ancient—only barely clinging to life thanks to the Gedo Statue and his obsession with this so-called perfect world.
Obito couldn't bring himself to destroy Madara's dream, even if it was impossible.
But he knew, deep down, that it could never come true.
The requirements were too cruel.
To cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi, one had to gather all the tailed beasts. And doing so meant killing every Jinchūriki.
That included Kushina—Kakashi's teacher Minato's wife and the current Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Obito clenched his jaw.
No. He would never allow that.
He would rather remain trapped here for the rest of his life, studying the psychology of poop with Curly, than hurt someone like Sister Kushina.
He made a silent vow:
Once he had mastered all the skills Madara had to offer, he would escape and return to Konoha.
He would tell everything to Lord Minato.
Because...
"I'm a shinobi of Konoha!"
Suddenly—
"Incredible! Incredible!"
Another White Zetsu burst into the cave, its voice urgent and excited.
"News from our agents in the Land of Water! Kakashi and Rin—they've been surrounded by a large number of Mist Shinobi!"
"What?!"
Obito's eyes widened in horror.
"Kakashi and Rin… What the hell are they doing in the Land of Water?!"
"That's Kirigakure's territory! They're in enemy hands!"
He turned to Madara, who was seated nearby.
"Madara-senpai! I need to leave! I have to go save them!"
He clenched his fists and prepared to force his way out of the cave.
Until now, he had stayed out of respect for Madara, but this was different.
"I don't care if the cave is sealed. With my current strength, I can break out!"
Madara, however, didn't stop him. Instead, he calmly raised a hand and spoke.
"Yes… But even if you go now, by the time you reach the Land of Water, the battle will be over."
Obito froze in place.
"Ah?!"
His voice trembled.
"Then what should I do? I can't just sit here!"
"How about this…" Madara said thoughtfully. "Let A Fei take you there."
"With A Fei's Earth Style speed, you can travel directly under the sea and arrive quickly."
Obito's eyes lit up.
"Yeah! That's brilliant!"
Even though Curly's personality made him want to scream, Obito had to admit—their Earth Style was unmatched in speed.
"All right, Curly! Let's go now! No time to waste!"
He turned and called out, ready to depart immediately.
"Obito."
Madara's voice suddenly echoed, low and forceful.
"Huh?"
Obito stopped in his tracks and looked back.
In that moment, Madara's eyes gleamed with immense power.
Yin and Yang surged in chaos, and an overwhelming force of pupil power erupted!
From within Madara's eyes, a searing blood-red light burst forth.
The three tomoe of his Sharingan began to spin, faster and faster, until it became an unholy whirlpool of power.
Obito's consciousness swirled.
"Obito, what are you waiting for?" Madara's voice echoed through his mind. "Go. Go save them."
"…Huh?"
Obito blinked, startled out of his trance.
"Y-Yeah! You're right!"
He turned to Curly, fire burning in his eyes.
"Curly—let's go!"
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