"Sensei, I failed to fulfill my promise to Obito back then. This time, you have to let me try, no matter what!"
Kakashi bowed solemnly to Minato. "Please!"
"All right, Kakashi. But you must protect yourself!"
Minato nodded. Kakashi then carried the wooden coffin toward the central battlefield. Although Third Hokage, Second Hokage, and the others did not really approve of this plan, First Hokage was willing to give Kakashi a chance to save him. He lifted the restrictions and allowed Kakashi to approach the area where Obito was.
"Obito, can you hear me?"
Kakashi came within three steps of the rampaging Ten-Tails. Rubble, flying debris, and waves of Chakra filled the area. Even with Kakashi's strength, he could only get this close. Not far from him, Obito had only half a head left, barely retaining his original appearance. His face was filled with madness and confusion.
"Obi...to..."
The name Obito held special meaning for the Masked Man, who had called himself Tobi and pretended to be Madara Uchiha for more than a decade. Although, to him, Obito Uchiha had died more than ten years ago, that had still been his original name. Naturally, he would show some reaction whenever someone called him by it.
"Obito, don't give up! Rin can still wake up! Rin, whom you cherish most, Rin, who never wanted to see you hurt—she can still wake up!"
Kakashi shouted at Obito as he carefully opened the wooden coffin, revealing the sleeping Rin Nohara inside. "Look, Rin is only asleep. Nothing happened to her. She can still wake up. She's been waiting for you all this time!"
"Rin... Rin... Rin..."
A tremendous change also took place within Obito's inner world. A figure representing him was suspended by the power of the Ten-Tails. Behind him was a photograph