Chapter 286 – The Sword That Lost Its Sharpness
"Is it really you, Obito?"
Kakashi's eyes were filled with complicated emotions—shock intertwined with a fleeting sense of joy.
"Kakashi… it's been a long time," Obito said calmly as he looked at him.
"Why… if you were still alive, then why…?" Kakashi's gaze trembled with pain.
Back then, Obito had clearly chosen to sacrifice himself to save him. So why had things turned out like this? Kakashi didn't understand. He couldn't understand at all how Obito had become the person standing before him now.
"Whether I lived or died no longer matters. But if you insist on knowing the reason…"
In Obito's mind, Rin's image surfaced.
"It's because you let Rin die without saving her. You can rot to death in this reality of yours, Kakashi. Fire Release: Storm Dance."
Using the rotation of Kamui, Obito unleashed Fire Release. A violent inferno burst forth, raging wildly like a ferocious dragon as it lunged toward Kakashi.
Yet because of Obito's words, Kakashi didn't launch a single counterattack.
"You still can't get past the barrier in your heart, Kakashi? Years have passed, yet you're still bound by that one thing. And yet… Rin never actually died."
Yusuke let out a soft sigh.
The reason he had allowed Rin to appear before Kakashi was to help him break through the shackles in his heart and take another step forward in strength.
But Kakashi still couldn't face Obito.
Even knowing that Rin was alive, he couldn't let go of the reality that she had once been hurt because of him.
At that moment, Naruto suddenly appeared in front of Obito, using the power of his perfected Kurama Mode to block the attack.
"Why won't you fight back, Kakashi?"
Seeing Kakashi drowning in guilt caused the anger buried deep inside Obito to erupt once more.
"You can take my life if you want. That doesn't matter. But Obito… why are you doing all of this? Why didn't you just come back to Konoha?" Kakashi asked, his voice heavy with sorrow.
"Why? Hahahahaha! Because I want to create a world of Genjutsu—one without suffering!" Obito roared.
"But that's nothing more than a lie. No one would ever truly accept it," Kakashi said as he looked at his best friend, his eyes filled with regret and remorse.
"What's wrong with a Genjutsu world? Reality is far too cruel. All it does is make that emptiness grow larger. Sometimes it makes people suffer. Sometimes it makes them too late to save anyone—just like me back then, when I failed to arrive in time!"
By this point, Obito was howling with overflowing emotion.
"Tell me, Kakashi. In this world… how are you supposed to fill that emptiness?"
Obito stared straight at him.
Kakashi didn't know how to answer.
He could never accept that the once-innocent Obito had become like this. Deep down, Kakashi believed all of this was his fault.
"Attack me, Kakashi. We're enemies now," Obito said coldly.
"No. I won't attack," Kakashi replied, the pain in his eyes unmistakable.
"What? Are you afraid? Or are you planning to hand over the Bijū?" Obito sneered.
"Obito, stop this. I admit you're incredibly strong now, but you're still not my opponent," Kakashi said, his voice trembling with anguish.
"Hahahahaha! Kakashi, you're still the same as ever—arrogant. You're right about one thing, but wrong about another. In your current state, you're no match for me at all. Your stamina is almost gone, isn't it? The Kakashi of now can't possibly stand against me, the one who wields the Rinnegan," Obito said with a cold laugh.
"Kakashi, let me handle him," Guy said at that moment.
"I'm fine, Guy. I want to settle this myself," Kakashi replied as he raised his sword and fixed his gaze on Obito.
Just then, a thunderous impact echoed across the battlefield.
The one who arrived was none other than Uchiha Madara.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself, Obito," Madara said.
"Here."
Obito tossed the gunbai he had been carrying toward Madara. Madara reached out and caught it.
"You're too late, Madara," Obito said icily.
"I ran into a bit of trouble," Madara replied.
"Oh? Who could possibly trouble you?" Obito asked with interest.
"Hatake Yusuke."
A trace of wariness flashed in Madara's eyes.
"He actually came out? If it's him, that's not surprising. What surprises me is that you managed to beat him?" Obito looked at Madara.
"No. He should be somewhere around here, watching. He really pissed me off," Madara said confidently as he scanned the surroundings.
Originally, Madara had been suppressed by Yusuke's Unlimited Void and shouldn't have regained consciousness anytime soon. However, Yakushi Kabuto had been placed under Itachi's control using Kotoamatsukami, forcing him to undo the Impure World Reincarnation.
At the moment his soul was released, Madara broke free—and was completely liberated from Impure World Reincarnation.
"Nii-san… he's already here?" Kakashi looked around.
"Hey, so you're all here after all," Yusuke said casually, knowing he'd been discovered and no longer bothering to watch from afar.
"Nii-san, when did you arrive?" Kakashi asked in surprise.
"Not long ago. Kakashi, you shouldn't take part in this fight," Yusuke said as he looked at him.
"Nii-san, I can still fight," Kakashi said anxiously.
"Kakashi, look at your sword," Yusuke said, pointing at it.
Kakashi looked down in confusion. But once he saw it clearly, his eyes widened in shock.
"You understand now?" Yusuke asked.
"My sword… it's not as sharp as it used to be. Are you blaming me?" Kakashi gently ran his hand along the blade.
The sight was eerily similar to what his father had experienced more than ten years ago.
"Kakashi, leave the battlefield. When you truly understand it, then come back. In your current state, you won't be much help," Yusuke said helplessly.
"Nii-san, I still want to try," Kakashi said.
"Are you sure? You'll die," Yusuke replied, frowning.
"Nii-san, let me make this decision just this once," Kakashi said.
With his intelligence—and Yusuke's attitude—he knew his older brother understood everything and had already arranged things for him.
"…Fine. I won't interfere. Kakashi, think it through carefully," Yusuke said. His voice was no longer harsh. He realized that this time, he might be the one at fault—too selfish.
"I know. Even without a sharp blade, I, Kakashi, will not bow to anyone," Kakashi said firmly.
Yusuke said nothing more.
"I'll leave this to you, Kakashi. I believe in you. You are my little brother," Yusuke thought as he turned his gaze toward him.
Yusuke then moved to another spot and began observing the battle. Seeing his attitude, Madara couldn't help but feel a hint of wariness.
"Obito, hold Kakashi off. I'll deal with the Eight-Tails and the Nine-Tails," Madara said.
Obito nodded. With his identity already exposed, he had no intention of holding back and prepared to fight at full power.
"Guy, go help Naruto. I'll handle things here. It'll be fine," Kakashi said to him.
"Alright," Guy replied. He sensed that something was different about Kakashi, but trusting him completely, he chose to comply.
"Obito, let's go. I'll stop you from continuing down this wrong path," Kakashi said as he faced him.
"Come on, Kakashi. Let me see how far you've come all this time," Obito replied.
Without the sharpness of his sword, Obito felt no fear at all facing Kakashi.
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