Stand Up, Obito!

A Uchiha who wasn't Indra's reincarnation, who had only a trace of Uchiha Clan blood and was nothing more than some random nobody, Uchiha Brahman, had actually discovered him. Even Six Paths himself had never found him. He'd hidden himself so well—why, why had he been discovered?

Being discovered was one thing, but what terrified Black Zetsu was that Uchiha Brahman had the power to kill him.

That was what terrified him, even drove him to despair.

He couldn't die. He still had the mission of saving his mother. If he died, what would happen to her?

Anyone could die, but not him. He had to save his mother.

On the ground.

Obito Uchiha lay there, having lost control of his body. The anesthetic developed by Uchiha Brahman specifically to target shinobi was far too terrifying. This wasn't something you could resist through sheer willpower.

Unless he could force his body to move through sheer will. But clearly, Obito Uchiha wasn't one of those mind-over-matter powerhouses.

The kind of powerhouse who could beat their own body into moving through sheer will.

Obito Uchiha had only managed to cut off his arm because he'd reacted quickly the instant he was hit. Otherwise, he'd already be lying on the ground, completely unconscious and beginning to receive the Great Blessing!

"Why... why did this happen... how could he get past my Kamui... impossible... absolutely impossible... this is an illusion..."

Obito Uchiha lay on the ground, his eyes filled with disbelief. This had completely overturned everything he knew and shattered the confidence he'd built up over all this time. He'd rushed over full of confidence, thinking he'd completely figured out everything about Uchiha Brahman, and then he hadn't even managed to get close.

He'd been taken out in one move, halfway there.

And his opponent hadn't even taken him seriously.

It was like playing a game with an infinite-health cheat, swaggering up to an ordinary player, and then getting taken out with one shot. It was absurd, unbelievable.

His Kamui was invincible. As long as he activated it, nothing could hurt him. That was how it was supposed to be. But now...

"Isn't his ocular technique supposed to copy Kekkei Genkai? How could he hurt me... why..."

Obito racked his brain, but he couldn't understand. He'd exhausted all his wits and still couldn't figure it out. Why? Why?!

Just then, Uchiha Brahman's voice reached Obito Uchiha's ears. His pupils contracted at once.

"No, I'm not Obito. I'm Madara Uchiha!"

Obito Uchiha shouted, fear spreading through his heart—the panic of someone who thought he'd hidden himself perfectly, only to have his identity exposed with ease.

How did he find out who I really am?

No, that couldn't be. Everything about Uchiha Brahman was public knowledge. Anyone who cared enough could find out about him. Before all this, Uchiha Brahman had just been a Uchiha fishmonger who never left home and had spent his whole life in Konoha.

How could he possibly know the true identity of Obito Uchiha?!

No, he must have just been guessing. He'd probably just said it at random!

That was it, that was it. It had to be! Hahaha, it had to be. His identity had been exposed? How could he be having a dream like this?

The anesthetic had already left Obito Uchiha's mind a little muddled.

"Obito, stop pretending. The great, merciful, supreme, benevolent, and exalted Lord Brahman already knows the whole truth. Obito, yes, I killed Rin. I'm guilty. I was wrong!"

Kakashi stood up and bowed to the great and merciful Lord Brahman with utmost respect and devotion, then looked at Obito Uchiha, who was paralyzed by the anesthetic.

"But even if I've made a thousand mistakes, you, a filthy commoner who hasn't joined the great Empire, have no right to condemn me. Obito, stop deluding yourself. Abandon that damn plan of yours and become a citizen of the great Empire! Then Rin can be resurrected too, even though she never liked you in the first place!"

Kakashi looked at his former best friend, now a commoner, and spoke with complete sincerity. He knew the great Brahman was merciful, kind, and magnificent. Anyone who was willing to receive the Sacred Blessing Serum, pledge their loyalty to the great Brahman, and become a dog of the great Brahman—the supreme and merciful Kind Father, the only sun in their hearts, the Empire's sole leader, the wise President—could receive the blessing, no matter what they'd done before.

"Lord Brahman! How merciful you are!"

At the thought, Kakashi immediately fell to his knees and worshiped the great Brahman with devout prostrations. What mercy! What greatness!

Kakashi took out a vial of Sacred Blessing Serum and hurled it over.

"Obito, stand up! Come on, stand up! Take the blessing of the great Kind Father! As soon as you inject it, you'll still be my best friend! Stand up! Give up that damn plan of yours!"

Kakashi clenched his fists, encouraging Obito, who was paralyzed and powerless. In that moment, he felt his own blood start to boil with passion. Come on, Obito, stand up! One shot, and you'll be Kakashi's best friend again. One shot, and you can leave the ranks of the commoners and the ranks of the lower life-forms behind. You can go from a wild man with no citizenship to a proper citizen of the Empire, a real person.

Instead of a beast, a stray dog whom anyone could kill without anyone caring. In the great Empire, everyone who hadn't received the great Sacred Blessing Serum was a commoner, an untouchable, a Dalit. They didn't count as people and had no human rights.

Kakashi didn't want to see his old friend lose his way and struggle in a sea of suffering. He wanted to save his friend.

"Stand up, Obito! Don't give up! Stand up!"

Perhaps Kakashi's enthusiasm had infected him. Might Guy raised both hands behind Kakashi, looked at Obito Uchiha lying in the distance, and shouted encouragement too!

"Stand up! Don't give up, Obito! Come on! Come on! Stop being a commoner! Your friend has shown you the great path. Don't disappoint Kakashi!"

"Come on!"

"Obito!"

"Come on! Stand up! Pick up the Sacred Blessing Serum and inject it already!"

Moved by this touching scene, the shinobi of Konoha joined in, cheering Obito Uchiha on as the anesthetic left him a little muddled and his body almost completely unable to move.