Satoshi, disguised as Obito, let out a hoarse, maniacal laugh.
"Hahahahahahaha! How rare it is that the famous Copy ninja, Konoha's hero Kakashi, still remembers my name."
Kakashi felt as if his strength had been drained by that laughter, making it incredibly difficult even to support his own body.
Even with the masked man's own admission, he still couldn't connect this Ninja World-disturbing masked man with his simple-minded companion from back then.
Kakashi's voice was deep and hoarse. "Obito... Is it really you?"
It was impossible, Obito was clearly dead. He had died protecting him at Kannabi Bridge.
But why was he alive again? What had he gone through all these years?
Kakashi struggled to lift his head, staring intently at Obito. "You were Konoha's hero! How could you become like this?!"
He took a deep breath, as if expending all his strength.
"Since you're not dead, why didn't you return to the village? It's not just me, sensei and sensei's wife were all very..."
He stopped abruptly.
"Wait a minute, you're the culprit who invaded Konoha and killed sensei and sensei's wife."
Satoshi, disguised as Obito, nodded slightly. "That's right, I released Nine-Tails's seal."
Kakashi's face was filled with pain, his heart burning as if on fire. He felt like he couldn't breathe.
"Why did you do it?!"
Obito sneered, "I want to personally destroy this false, ugly, lie-filled world."
Kakashi looked at Obito in disbelief. "What are you talking about?"
"That's enough, Kakashi."
Obito put his mask back on and said, "Just wait. I'm going to create a world with Rin."
"Stop!"
He absolutely couldn't let Obito go, he had to bring him back. Even if it meant tying him up, breaking his hands and feet, he had to bring him back.
Exploding with all his remaining strength, Kakashi lunged forward like a wounded beast.
Obito kicked Kakashi away and a vine appeared just in time, catching Kakashi steadily.
"Bye. Next time we meet, I hope you're a little stronger."
He waved his hand, and before Kakashi could react, his figure vanished.
How could Kakashi easily let Obito leave?
"Wait, Obito!"
Kakashi gritted his teeth, unleashing his last bit of strength. Pushing off the ground with his toes, he shot towards the fading figure. However, his body had long since reached its limit.
His leap abruptly halted mid-air, and he fell heavily onto the cold, hard ground like a broken puppet. Excruciating pain spread from the impact site, but even more painful was his despairing heart.
"Senpai... Are you alright?"
Tenzo was a bit conflicted. Suddenly learning such a significant truth, his mind was momentarily in a daze.
Kakashi painfully closed his eyes, his vision quickly consumed by darkness. His consciousness grew increasingly blurry.
Before he completely lost consciousness, he heard a vague yet familiar voice.
"Kakashi-senpai, what happened to you? How did you end up in such a sorry state?"
—
After an unknown amount of time, Kakashi opened his eyes.
"Obito!" Kakashi practically shouted.
That shout startled Satoshi, who was eating instant noodles. He put down his bowl and leaned closer.
"Senpai, you're awake. Are you okay?"
Kakashi panted rapidly, grabbing Satoshi's arm.
"Satoshi, I know who that masked man is. He's Obito! Uchiha Obito!"
Satoshi's body visibly stiffened, and an expression of extreme astonishment instantly appeared on his face.
"What? Do you know what you're saying, senpai? Uchiha Obito? But he... during the Third Great Ninja War..."
Kakashi's voice was firm and resolute. "There's no mistake. He is Obito. Even if his appearance has changed, I know it's him."
Satoshi looked at Tenzo beside him.
The latter hesitated a bit. "Since Kakashi-senpai says so, then it should be."
[Mission Progress Updated]
[Through unremitting efforts, the masked man's true identity has finally been discovered.]
[Mission Reward: To counter the power of the Sharingan, Tobirama's genjutsu resistance has been greatly enhanced.]
Huh?
Satoshi scratched his head, it seemed he had glitched the system.
Kakashi slumped back against the headboard, his eyes staring blankly ahead, as if seeing that spiral mask again.
He had fantasized countless times about reuniting with Obito, in front of the memorial stone, in the lonely nights. He would grin widely, making that silly face.
"What are you talking about, Kakashi? I'm not going to die. I'm a genius who's going to become Hokage."
He had never imagined that Obito was the culprit who had killed the Fourth Hokage, his most respected teacher Minato.
Kakashi whispered, "We need to find Obito quickly and drag him out of that organization."
He took a deep breath, enduring the dual pain, both mental and physical.
In a low, weary voice, he recounted every detail, every dialogue from his encounter with the masked man.
How Obito admitted to the Nine-Tails incident, how he declared his intention to destroy the world.
Finally, he tiredly asked, "How did you find me?"
Satoshi answered, "It was Kuro. He found you."
"I see. Thank you."
[No matter who it is, as long as they threaten Konoha's safety, they will not be spared.]
[New Mission: Find Obito's whereabouts and stop him and the dangerous plans of the organization behind him.]
Upon hearing this, Satoshi immediately put on a thoughtful expression.
Rubbing his chin, he tentatively asked, "Senpai, you mean that Obito was misled by that organization? Like Orochimaru?"
Kakashi hummed in agreement. "I know Obito very well, he couldn't have done these things on his own."
"And he wants to revive Rin. Perhaps Orochimaru threw out that bait, forcing or tricking Obito into becoming his tool for murder."
At this, Kakashi's voice grew even lower.
"Perhaps Obito has always wanted to kill me too... After all, I personally..."
He couldn't fully speak the last few words.
"Satoshi."
"Hmm?"
"Write a secret letter and deliver it to Hokage-sama as soon as possible."
"Alright."
Kakashi struggled to stand up and said, "Also, there are still missions waiting for me to complete."
As soon as he got out of bed, Satoshi pulled him back.
A few hundred ryo a month, why are you risking your life?
"Don't pretend when you're this weak. Completing missions? You can barely get onto the bed."
"But..."
Kakashi was interrupted by Satoshi again before he could finish.
"Tenzo-senpai said that Hokage-sama wants you two to assist me, which means I decide how this mission is carried out."
Kakashi turned to look at Tenzo.
Damn it, why are you so honest?
Don't you know that when Satoshi goes crazy, no one can stop him?
Last time he almost killed the Mizukage. This time, he might steal Sunagakure's gold to replenish Konoha's military funds.
Feeling Kakashi's murderous gaze, Tenzo shrank his neck.
What does it have to do with me? Why did you faint?
Kakashi sighed helplessly.
One Obito, one Satoshi.
One gave him a headache.
The other gave him an even bigger headache.
Do Uchiha automatically activate their crazy cells at a certain age?
He steeled himself and simply lay back down on the bed.
Satoshi was right, his physical condition was extremely poor right now. He had to get better quickly and then catch Obito with his own hands.