Desperate Hell Descends

Desperate Hell Descends

Day after day passed uneventfully. This damned place was shrouded in darkness, and Madara had blocked off the exit as well as several entrances and exits to the tunnels, so Aoba and Obito, who could not leave, had no idea how much time had passed.

But as his appetite gradually increased, his originally underdeveloped body slowly recovered. There was even some flesh on his face now, and Aoba was quite pleased with the change.

Obito, meanwhile, gradually regained some mobility through his desperate daily rehabilitation exercises. At the very least, he could now stand and walk on his own, without needing a White Zetsu clone to support him.

The Artificial Body's fusion was going extremely smoothly as well. At this rate, Obito would probably make a full recovery in less than a year and a half.

That day, Aoba was sitting on Obito's back as usual, holding a large bowl and wolfing down food, while Obito beneath him struggled through his push-ups, sweat constantly running down his cheeks.

"998... 999... 1000!"

Thump!

After completing a thousand push-ups in one go while carrying the extra weight, Obito finally could not hold on any longer and collapsed flat on the ground.

"I've finally adapted to this body. Wait for me. Soon... very soon, I'll be able to see you again, Rin, Kakashi." Obito, whose hair had grown considerably longer, secretly thought this as he felt the power surging through his body.

At the same time, Aoba stuffed the last piece of meat into his mouth and flipped off Obito's back.

Although Madara still had not taught him any methods of cultivation during this time, he had successfully learned some basic physical training from the idiot Obito. He also trained alongside Obito during his free time, accompanying him in his "rehabilitation." As a result, he had not eaten himself into a little fatty and had even gained quite a bit of strength.

Madara had always watched everything he did, but he had neither said nor done anything.

He had neither stopped Aoba from training on his own nor taught him anything. It was as if he had completely abandoned him to his own devices, showing none of the care he gave Obito.

This gradually gave Aoba some unpleasant suspicions. He wondered if he had guessed something wrong. If Madara acted as though he did not need Aoba at all, then why had he saved him and let him stay here, eating and drinking for free?

There had to be some reason he did not know about!

But no matter how he tried to sound out the White Zetsu clones, he could not get any answers. He was almost beginning to think that this rotten old man really was just a kind-hearted philanthropist.

Just then, a White Zetsu emerged from the wall and shouted anxiously at Obito, "I just went outside. That Rin you mentioned and the idiot Kakashi are in a very bad situation!"

Aoba, who had been about to wash the dishes, suddenly stopped...

Is it finally starting?

After waiting so long, it seemed that Madara's preparations were finally complete. Now, all that remained was for Obito, the actor, to take his place.

Aoba could also use this opportunity to complete his mission and leave this damned place.

But... now that the day had truly arrived, he could not understand why he could not feel happy at all.

Because the idiot dead-last Obito would soon disappear completely. In his place would be the Uchiha "second Madara" crafted by Madara himself, "born" in hell and determined to overturn the entire world—a pitiful man who could never truly find release, even in death.

Although they had not known each other for very long, after spending every day together for several months and constantly bickering, Aoba had to admit that he did not dislike this idiot.

Even though Obito had never admitted that he was the junior Aoba looked after...

So did he really have to let this idiot experience that scene of endless darkness and despair?

Aoba clenched his fists tightly. He wanted to tell Obito the truth and stop him from going, but he also knew that the moment he opened his mouth, he would die without a burial place!

Madara, who had plotted for so long, would never allow anyone to ruin his plans at this point.

Especially not a helpless little brat like Aoba, whom he could crush to death with one hand.

So, in order to stay alive, he could only pretend not to know anything.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive my selfishness."

"What happened!?"

"They've been surrounded by shinobi from Kirigakure!"

The instant White Zetsu shouted those words, Obito's expression changed drastically. Without a second thought, he leaped up from the ground, charged to the enormous stone gate weighing thousands of jin, and slammed his fist into it with all his might!

However, even his full-powered punch only shattered the surface of the stone gate. His right arm, which had only just adapted to the Artificial Body, could not withstand the impact and snapped off, falling to the ground.

Obito let out a muffled groan of pain and clutched his broken right arm with his left hand.

"Your current body can't smash this stone gate."

The White Zetsu clone with a head that looked as though it had a mask drawn in circles jumped behind him and stated this fact.

"I have to go save Kakashi and Rin."

Obito's determination seemed to move him. "Then... put on my body."

As he spoke, the White Zetsu clone directly wrapped itself around Obito's body.

"Aren't you Madara's subordinates? Why?"

"Let's go. Don't you need to save Kakashi and Rin? If you arrive too late..."

"Thank you!"

Boom!

Obito, who did not even realize he had been used, thanked them before stepping forward and smashing the entire stone gate apart with one punch!

"Borrowing the Gedo Statue's power while connected to Root—not bad~" White Zetsu praised him generously from within the wall.

"Are you leaving?"

Only now did Madara seem to react. He raised his head and asked quietly.

"You saved me, and I'm very grateful. But I have to leave. I have no choice."

"You're too impatient. It may still be too soon for you to thank me."

"I don't think I'll be coming back."

At that moment, Aoba gritted his teeth and walked out. "Do you really have to go? Your body still..."

Noticing the concern in Aoba's eyes, Obito felt a warmth in his heart, and a smile appeared on his face. "I have to go! Thank you for taking care of me all this time. Once the war is over, I'll come back and take you out as promised. Or you can have that White Zetsu send you to Konoha. You must be able to see me there again."

Sigh!

Aoba helplessly sighed inwardly. The moment he had spoken, Madara had already glanced at him inconspicuously.

He had taken such a huge risk, and he had hinted at everything he could. Yet this idiot Obito still thought Aoba simply could not bear to see him leave. With intelligence like that, he really was beyond saving.

"Anyway, I've already thanked you. I'm leaving."

P.S. Please vote, collect, and invest! Speaking of which, my timing for posting this book is really something else. My editor seems to still be on vacation, so he hasn't replied to my messages for two days... I'm so sad.