While most shinobi today could briefly leap or hover using jutsu or chakra-based techniques, true long-duration flight remained an extremely rare ability.
Obito — masked, cloaked in black — eyed the man before him warily.
That friendly smile, the ornate Hokage robes, the ceremonial hat…
It all screamed one thing: The Hokage.
Wait—
Was this the same person Kakashi had mentioned at Rin's grave?
The newly appointed Fourth Hokage?
"So Minato didn't make it… how unexpected."
Obito murmured under his breath as he suddenly flickered forward, closing the distance in an instant.
But just as he was about to make contact, he activated Kamui — teleporting behind the man, attempting a surprise strike from the rear.
What he hadn't anticipated was how absurdly fast this man was.
In the blink of an eye, the Hokage spun around and countered, landing a punch at the exact moment Obito was forced to materialize to attack.
"Too slow, Obito."
The man grinned smugly.
The moment he said that name — Obito —
Obito's mind reeled in shock.
He wore a mask.
He kept to the shadows.
He called himself "Madara" to the world.
No one alive should've known who he really was —
Let alone recognize a "nobody" like Obito Uchiha, supposedly dead in the war years ago.
"Who… are you?!"
Hatred flared in Obito's eyes.
He had never once seen this man before —
and yet somehow, this so-called Hokage knew everything.
"I am the Fourth Hokage. And the man standing between you and the release of the Nine-Tails."
Homelander said with a calm, confident smile — as if Obito wasn't even a threat worth worrying about.
"Damn you! Why do you know everything?!"
Obito's voice cracked with panic.
He felt completely exposed, as if every detail of his plan had been laid bare.
"If you insist on unleashing the Nine-Tails, Obito, then go ahead — but know this: you are nothing."
Homelander's tone sharpened.
"Kushina still has about ten months before childbirth, though we can't rule out early labor. Regardless, as Hokage, I will blanket the Forest of Death's canyon with a net so tight even a shadow couldn't slip through. I'll watch your every move. And if you dare show your face again, I'll make sure you're wiped out without a trace."
"Heh… is that so…"
Obito's hands trembled with sweat.
It felt as though this man had dug into every corner of his mind — knew every plan, every fear.
He turned to flee — ready to activate Kamui.
But then Homelander said something that struck far deeper than any jutsu ever could.
"You mean nothing to Kakashi. You weren't his friend — not even his rival. You're just weak. So weak even Rin couldn't bring herself to look at you."
Then he laughed.
"You're nothing but a pathetic simp. Not even good enough to be a backup singer. You dream of a world with Rin? You'd be better off dropping dead. Might even do it faster."
His voice was dripping with mockery — so sharp, so vicious, it nearly shattered Obito's mind.
Enraged beyond control, Obito attacked.
But Homelander simply hovered above, unfazed.
Obito's Kamui suction had no effect on him.
Even genjutsu failed — Homelander's eyes were like titanium, chakra couldn't even enter them, let alone disrupt his neural pathways.
And then—
His eyes fired a laser beam.
A real, high-powered, chakra-fueled beam of light.
It pierced straight through Obito's left shoulder.
BOOM!
Obito immediately vanished with Kamui, retreating back to his hidden base.
Blood streamed down his left side, the wound still searing with pain.
But what burned hotter than the wound—
was his hatred.
"FOURTH!! FOURTH!! FOURTH!!!"
He roared like a beast, fists smashing into the cave wall.
The power granted by Hashirama's cells caused every punch to shake the chamber violently.
Panting, eyes bloodshot, he burned with one singular desire—
To destroy Konoha.
To kill that smug bastard who insulted everything he once held dear.
---
Meanwhile, back in Konoha…
Homelander was utterly relaxed, not treating Obito as anything more than a minor nuisance.
In fact, he was strolling through the village, casually chatting with the townsfolk.
"Lord Hokage! You're looking radiant today!"
"Thank you, and you're looking well yourself!"
"Please try one of our melons — home-grown!"
"Mmm, delicious. Keep up the good work!"
"Lord Hokage! Free ramen at Ichiraku anytime! It's the real deal!"
"Oh? Then I'll be indulging quite often."
Homelander strolled down the entire street, happily eating and drinking — almost stuffed by the end of it.
But the more he joked and smiled, the more popular he became.
Just his tall, heroic figure standing there brought peace of mind to the villagers.
That kind of presence — of a hero —
was powerful.
But not everyone was happy.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, felt uneasy.
He had just stepped down from office, yet this man already outshone him in public support.
When Hiruzen walked down the same street now, people only gave him polite greetings — no reverence, no warmth.
"What a joke…"
Hiruzen muttered bitterly.
Still, he was the one who chose to pass the title on to this man.
There was no taking it back now.
All he could do was wait.
Wait for the moment something went wrong—to finally judge whether this Fourth Hokage had what it truly took.
---
Ten months later, public support for Homelander began to dip.
With no ongoing wars, most village matters no longer required the Hokage's direct attention.
The old guard — the power network built by Hiruzen and Danzo — still lingered.
And through it, they began to sideline the Fourth.
Even Shisui could sense it.
Aside from the Hokage Guard Platoon, most shinobi now went directly to the Third or Danzo when problems arose.
"Lord Hokage," Shisui reported seriously,
"At this rate, I fear you may start fading from the public eye."
"According to the latest opinion polls, the approval ratings for Danzo and the Third Hokage have already surpassed yours."
He spoke with deliberate caution — afraid Homelander might not take it seriously.
After all, Shisui had finally found a Hokage who accepted the Uchiha.
He couldn't let this chance slip away so easily.
But to Shisui's surprise…
Homelander didn't care in the slightest.
In fact, he had already expected this.
"Approval ratings will recover soon,"
he said lightly.
Shisui was confused.
Until—
One week later.
A peaceful night.
Stars glittered across the sky.
And then—
The Nine-Tails appeared in the very heart of Konoha, tearing the village apart with its massive claws and terrifying roars.
Atop its head stood Obito—his eyes full of darkness and hatred.
The words Homelander spoke ten months ago had never stopped echoing in his mind.
They poisoned him daily.
"Fourth Hokage… let's see who dies tonight!"
He growled, controlling the Nine-Tails as it roared skyward—
A Tailed Beast Ball forming at its maw.
And it fired.