"I thought you weren't in the mood for idle chatter."
His calm tone only made her grit her teeth harder. Kushina snapped her head up, ready to fire back, but the faint smile tugging at his lips made her pause.
He was messing with her.
Realizing that, she quickly forced herself to take a few deep breaths. Her shoulders sank, and she leaned back against the wall, crossing her arms. She no longer held his hand.
Silence settled between them.
For a moment, neither of them seemed to know what to say.
"So… when did you figure out that I was—"
"That you were that idiot Obito Uchiha?" Kushina cut him off before he could finish.
Obito's mouth twitched.
Then he gave a small nod.
"It was all those stupid hints you so graciously left behind before vanishing like a bastard."
"I'm someone you knew in the past, you said..."
Kushina let out a bitter laugh.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble those few words caused me, you moron?"
"I couldn't even sleep properly some nights. I kept replaying them in my head over and over, trying to figure out what you meant."
She lowered her gaze.
"I searched through every memory I had. Every face. Every person I'd ever known."
A faint tremor crept into her voice.
"And none of them matched you."
"So I kept telling myself the same thing, again and again..."
It's impossible.
It can't be anyone I know.
I'm just overthinking it.
The edge in her voice lingered for a moment before slowly fading away.
Her hand rose to her forehead, covering her eyes as she leaned her head back against the wall.
The shadow cast by her arm hid her expression completely.
"There was no way I would've thought it was that little brat…"
Her voice grew quieter.
"That naive brat…"
Her eyes lowered for a moment before she caught the light at the side.
Then she looked straight at Obito with those blue eyes and finished her words.
"That stupid little shit…"
A heavy pause fell between them.
"That it was you, Obito Uchiha."
She exhaled shakily.
"No… screw that."
Kushina's fingers tightened slightly against her arm.
"I just didn't want to believe it was you."
"So I kept deluding myself."
Her voice became lower, but every word landed clearly.
"Until you wouldn't even let me keep that tiny illusion anymore."
"You shattered it mercilessly by appearing right in front of my eyes, plain as day."
Obito remained silent.
Kushina pushed herself off the wall.
"That moment made me realize something."
She slowly stepped forward, standing right in front of Obito as he quietly listened to everything she had to say.
"No matter where I tried to run…"
Her eyes did not leave his.
"The truth wouldn't change."
Until that moment, Obito hadn't uttered a word. When he finally spoke, his voice flowed out calm and steady—like still water, utterly without a tremor.
"I won't say I'm sorry, Kushina."
"I don't regret anything I've done."
For a moment, silence hung between them.
"That's the only answer I can give you right now."
There were countless things he could have said instead.
Words that would have eased the tension.
Words that would have softened her expression.
Words that could have deepened the feelings she already carried for him.
If he wanted to, he could have played the emotional card. He could have given her the answer she wanted to hear.
But he didn't.
For some reason, standing here at this moment, looking into those blue eyes, he found that he couldn't bring himself to do it.
This woman had endured some of the cruelest things a person could experience.
She had lost her husband.
Lost her dignity.
Lost years she could never get back.
She had been forced to carry burdens that should never have been hers to bear.
At the very least...
She deserved an honest answer.
Even if it wasn't the answer she wanted.
Even if it hurt.
That was the only thing Obito felt he could give her right now.
"Spoken like a true bastard, Obito."
Before he could react, Kushina grabbed the scarf around his neck and yanked him down. The sudden force brought their faces close together, her blue eyes locked onto his without the slightest intention of backing away.
"Can I kill you?"
The question came out flat and direct.
Obito met her gaze without flinching.
"I'm afraid not."
His voice carried a faint trace of amusement mixed with helplessness.
Kushina stared at him for a long moment, still clutching his scarf tightly.
Obito made no attempt to free himself, nor did he try to stop her.
He simply allowed her to hold him there.
The distance between them remained uncomfortably close, close enough for each to clearly see the emotions hidden in the other's eyes.
"Haa..."
A quiet sigh escaped her lips.
The anger in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a distant, unfocused look. Her fingers, which had been gripping Obito's scarf so tightly, slowly loosened.
Her head felt heavy, her heart felt numb and lost.
As though all the emotions she had been desperately holding together had finally exhausted themselves.
At this moment, she couldn't even find the desire to hurt the boy standing in front of her.
Her thoughts went into her memories...
That afternoon sun filtered through the trees as Team Minato took a short break.
Obito Uchiha flopped down on the grass with a loud groan.
"Man, I'm starving… Sensei, are we done yet?"
Minato Namikaze smiled helplessly. "We just started our break, Obito."
Obito clicked his tongue. "Yeah, yeah… easy for you to say."
From the side, Kakashi Hatake didn't even look at Obito and commented.
"You're just impatient."
"Oi! What was that, Kakashi?!"
Before the usual argument could explode—
"Honestly, you boys are way too loud."
A familiar voice cut in.
All three turned.
Kushina Uzumaki stood there with her hands on her hips, red hair swaying, carrying a small basket.
"Seriously, you're giving me a headache from all the way over there."
"Ku—Kushina-san?" Rin blinked in surprise.
Rin Nohara stepped forward politely. "What are you doing here?"
Kushina's expression softened instantly. "I brought something for you guys. You've been training hard, right?"
She walked over and handed the basket to Rin instead of Obito.
"Here, Rin. Make sure you eat properly, okay?"
Rin smiled warmly. "Thank you, Kushina-san."
Obito leaned in immediately. "Hey, what about me? I'm starving over here!"
Kushina shot him a look.
"You?" She narrowed her eyes. "Weren't you just yelling a second ago?"
Obito stiffened. "I—I wasn't yelling!"
"You were." Kakashi said flatly.
"Shut up!"
Kushina flicked Obito lightly on the forehead.
"Quit acting like a brat. If you spent half that energy on training, you wouldn't be lagging behind."
"Ow—hey! That hurts!" Obito rubbed his head, annoyed. "You don't have to say it like that…"
Kushina crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Then don't give me a reason to."
Rin covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Kushina glanced back at her, tone instantly gentler.
"Don't mind him, Rin. If he causes trouble, just ignore him."
Obito snapped, "Why am I the problem?!"
"Because you are."
"YOU—!"
The Obito from back then... was a naive boy who dreamed of becoming Hokage and winning Rin's heart.
It would be a lie to say Kushina had never thought Obito turned out this way because he lost the girl he loved so deeply. In a twisted way, it made sense if he hated both her and Minato.
After all, they had failed him.
The first time Kushina found out it was Obito, she didn't even know how she managed to get through it. The days felt like hours slipping past in a daze. Only after calming the worried Naruto did she finally force herself to hold it together.
Then came the guilt...
The thought of everything that had happened.
The Obito standing before her now. The countless changes he had gone through.
Even if she knew she and Minato could not be blamed for everything, a part of the responsibility was undeniably theirs.
'So he should've completed his revenge by now, right?' Kushina thought bitterly.
After all, she had heard the news.
Konan—the girl Obito had met first after losing Rin—was now carrying his child.
He already has a home now... right?
It's about time she wakes up too, isn't it?
Kushina held back the urge to cry. Even her throat felt blocked, leaving her unable to force out another word.
Right now, she only wanted to leave herself with a little dignity.
Just as she let go of his scarf, a warm hand covered hers, gently yet firmly holding it within his grasp.
Kushina froze.
Then she felt a warm breath brush against her face.
Her unfocused eyes widened slightly. The blurred figure before her suddenly drew closer, filling her vision. A heartbeat later, the coldness lingering on her lips vanished, replaced by a warmth that spread through her entire body.
"Mmph—"
Her breath caught in her throat.
Without a single warning, Obito had kissed her.
"What are you thinking about?"
Pulling back and breaking the kiss, Obito looked straight into her eyes.
"You're not getting away from me in this life and..." He paused for a moment before snorting softly. "Ah, screw that."
A faint grin appeared on his face.
"Even in your next life, I'm not letting you go. Hell, I don't plan on letting you escape even after death."
His hand tightened around hers.
"So don't get your hopes up."
There wasn't even the slightest trace of shame on his face as he spoke those shameless words.
"You're stuck with me now."
His blue eyes remained fixed on hers.
"And forever."
Hearing those words, half like a declaration and half like pure chūnibyō nonsense, Kushina should have laughed.
But with the warmth still spreading through her body and the boy holding her hand so tightly, she knew one thing for certain.
The Obito standing before her now was truly capable of doing exactly that.
Ah... is that so?
So I'm really stuck with this stupid brat for life, huh?
What a troublesome life it's going to be.
Kushina closed her eyes as she saw Obito leaning in for another kiss.
Her hands, which had been trying to let go, moved against her will and slipped behind his head, holding him tightly instead.
"You really look like a mess right now..."
Obito stopped just before kissing her again. Seeing the tearful face of the red-haired woman in front of him, he couldn't help but smile.
Because unlike before, those once lightless eyes now held a faint glow.
Her blue eyes were filled with shame and happiness, both buried beneath layer after layer of annoyance.
"You... really were never any less annoying. Not back then, and not now."
Kushina abruptly pulled away from the embrace and turned her head to the side, waving a hand dismissively.
"Off you go already... don't waste my time. I have more important things to do."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Obito's tone was filled with amusement.
Looking at her standing there stubbornly instead of actually leaving, he could only find the situation more entertaining.
Without another word, he reached out and ruffled her soft red hair.
Pat. Pat.
The corner of Obito's mouth lifted slightly.
For someone telling him to leave, she certainly wasn't making any effort to go anywhere herself.
Feeling the hand leave her head, Kushina remained standing there.
The footsteps in front of her gradually faded into the distance, yet the warmth lingering at the top of her head refused to disappear.
Then, before she could stop herself, her lips parted.
Words she would normally never dare say aloud slipped out naturally, as though they had been waiting for this moment all along.
"Obito..."
"Let's start over..."
Kushina lowered her gaze slightly before forcing out the rest.
"Without cursing each other this time..."
Obito stopped in his tracks.
Half of his figure was bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, while the other half remained hidden in shadow.
The corner of Obito's mouth lifted.
"Well, let's do that."
He turned around and looked at her directly.
There was no hesitation in his voice.
"My name is Obito Uchiha."
The words sounded almost identical to those spoken by a certain naive boy years ago.
Kushina's eyes widened.
Then she bit her lip.
With her back still facing him, tears quietly welled up in her eyes. Her shoulders trembled slightly, yet she stubbornly refused to turn around.
After a long moment, she finally spoke.
It sounded almost as though they were introducing themselves for the very first time.
"I'm... Kushina..."
Her voice wavered.
"Uzumaki Kushina."
She took a shaky breath before adding the last part with all the stubbornness and pride that belonged to her.
"So don't you dare forget it, dattebane."
The corners of Obito's mouth slowly rose.
No.
There was no way he could ever forget.
"Kushina…"
He let the name linger on his tongue for a moment, as if tasting its sound.
"Mm. It has a nice ring to it. I'm sure it'll stay with me for a long, long time."
As he spoke, the sunlight fell across his face, setting his white hair aglow, the smile on his face looked almost unbearably dazzling.
Kushina turned around and stood frozen in place, watching his back.
Then, in the next instant, a blinding white light flashed around him.
His figure blurred...
And vanished through the exit.
...
To Obito's surprise—or perhaps he should have expected it—the moment they disappeared, he should have guessed what those two idiots were planning.
Walking calmly across the rooftop beneath the vast blue sky, Obito looked ahead and found two figures already waiting for him.
They were none other than...
"Yo, Captain. Been a while..."
"It doesn't matter. We met anyway."
The two different voices rang out at the same time.
Obito took a slow, deep breath.
Then he raised a hand and rubbed his eyes in exhaustion before looking at them again with dead-fish eyes.
"So... it actually got this far, huh?"
Tobi and White Zetsu...
No.
Calling them that now felt completely unacceptable.
Because...
"So, what do ya think, Captain? Pretty awesome, right?" Tobi grinned as he flexed his muscles.
Along with all four of his arms.
That's right.
Four freaking arms.
Black markings spread across his body like living tattoos.
"It doesn't matter. I just need to do my job properly."
White Zetsu stood beside him with both hands in his pockets, a dark hoodie covering most of his face.
"..."
Obito stared at them in silence.
These two idiots...
They had taken the cosplay way too seriously.
To the point that one had somehow turned himself into Sukuna...
And the other had become the future Yuji Itadori.
But after looking more carefully, Obito realized something.
Although Tobi had changed his body structure, half of his face was still covered by that spiral mask, while the rest had become more human—almost like this was what he should have naturally looked like after evolving.
White Zetsu, on the other hand, had only changed his body and overall structure. His face was still the same, hidden beneath a hoodie.
So…
They had not completely tried to become someone else.
They had just copied the style?
Obito stroked his chin.
Honestly, though…
They did look menacing.
Cool, even.
He hated to admit it, but he was actually impressed.
"Captain, you haven't forgotten our promise, right? We said we'd carry it with you! After all, we are..."
Tobi pointed at himself and White Zetsu.
He threw all four arms into the air.
"FRIENDS!!!"
Obito's eyelids twitched.
The sheer amount of cringe packed into that one word was almost enough to make him reconsider everything.
Yet despite himself, his thoughts drifted back to that New Year's Eve.
It must be a heavy burden...
A weight no one can carry alone.
I hope that one day, we can carry it with you.
To think they still remembered.
After all these years.
These idiots really hadn't changed at all.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Obito's mouth.
"You know..."
He looked at the two of them for a moment before shaking his head.
"For a pair of idiots, you two sure know how to make things complicated."
Tobi and White Zetsu blinked.
Then Obito turned around and started walking past them.
As he brushed by, his voice drifted back on the wind.
"Just don't die on me."
Behind him, Tobi and White Zetsu exchanged a glance, a grin slowly spread across both of their faces.
Without another word, they fell into step behind Obito, their strides were calm and unhurried, carrying an almost exaggerated sense of coolness.
Tobi cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, his four arms moving with lazy confidence.
"Just keep walking forward… Captain."
Beside him, White Zetsu kept both hands buried in his pockets, his hood casting a deep shadow over his face. He followed without the slightest hesitation, his grin faint beneath the darkness.
"We'll handle everything behind you."
Friends. Lovers. Companions. Family. Encounters.
The time left for me in this world was silently, but surely, decreasing as I kept walking forward.
Yet there was no sadness.
Just being able to live for myself until today, I was satisfied enough.
And...
We will all meet again, won't we?
With that thought, Obito cast one last look at the world behind him.
Then he activated his ability.
In the next instant, his figure vanished from this world, along with Tobi and White Zetsu.
Today is not a given.
Neither is tomorrow.
That is why, every day, we must understand—
Our ordinary lives are irreplaceable.
Swoosh...
A gentle wind swept across the rooftop.
A single leaf rose from the ground, drifting high into the vast blue sky above.
Author's Note:
To be honest, this chapter was one of the more difficult ones for me to write. Obito and Kushina have carried a lot of history, guilt, anger, and unresolved feelings for a very long time, so I wanted their reunion to feel honest rather than perfect.
Not every wound can be healed and not every mistake can be forgiven. Sometimes all people can do is accept the truth and keep moving forward.
As for Obito, his journey in this world is finally approaching its conclusion.
Thank you to everyone who has stayed with this story for so long.
We're not at the end just yet.
See you in the next chapter.