Cold, hard, suffocating.
This was Obito Uchiha's first feeling after regaining consciousness.
He suddenly opened his eyes, but instead of seeing Rin's worried face or the familiar ceiling of Konoha Hospital as he had expected, he was met with a completely unfamiliar and oppressively dark space.
"Whoosh!~"
Heavy breathing filled the air.
He found himself lying in a huge, empty, enclosed underground space.
All around were rough, cold rock walls that stretched upwards, disappearing into the deep darkness, their tops invisible.
The air was filled with the pungent smell of earth and an indescribable, stale, and immense chakra residue, which instinctively made his heart pound.
A few clumps of strange fungi emitting an eerie blue glow grew sparsely on the rock face, providing the only source of light and making the place appear like a ghostly realm.
Where am I...?
Obito struggled to sit up, but a sharp pain in his right shoulder made him groan.
Memories flooded back like a tide.
A fierce battle, Kakashi's Lightning Cutter, the wound on his own shoulder, and...
That last, suspicious sneak attack!
"Rin! Kakashi!"
He anxiously looked around, but there was no one there except for the cold rocks and the eerie glow.
His heart sank instantly.
"Are you awake, Uchiha brat?"
An old, hoarse voice suddenly echoed in the empty space.
Obito suddenly looked in the direction of the sound.
In the distance, beneath the eerie blue glow of the largest cluster of luminous fungi, a figure sat silently upon a gigantic, twisted throne that resembled a fusion of tree roots and flesh.
The man was hunched over, wearing a simple dark robe, with messy white hair hanging down.
Most horrifyingly, his body seemed to be connected to the countless twisted white pipes and wires beneath the throne, as if he had sat there for endless ages, becoming one with this underground cave.
Despite her aged face covered in wrinkles, her eyes slowly opened.
Just by making eye contact with him, Obito felt his heart flutter.
"Who... who are you?! Where is this place?! Where are Rin and Kakashi?! What have you done to them?!"
Despite his fear and the pain in his shoulder, Obito loudly questioned them.
He recognized it.
This is the same strange old man from last time, the one who bombarded him with a bunch of nonsensical nonsense!
Madara Uchiha remained unresponsive to Obito's barrage of questions, merely staring at him indifferently, as if he were looking at a restless Obito.
"Pain, loss, fear, anger... these emotions are so real, aren't they?"
The sound of the freckles was like a cold wind blowing through a crack.
You are hurt by your companions, you worry about them, and you are afraid of the unknown.
But these are nothing more than fragile shackles that imprison the soul, proof of the falsehoods of this world.
here we go again!
Obito felt a surge of irritation!
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Obito interrupted him, his voice weak due to his injuries and the environment, but his eyes were much more determined than before.
"What fake world! I think you're the weirdest one! Is Rin's Medical Ninjutsu fake?"
Is Kakashi's Lightning Cutter fake?
Was Minato-sensei's warm smile fake?
We carried out missions together, laughed together, and were punished together—these are all tangible and visible experiences!
This is my world, even though that idiot Kakashi is annoying and calls me a loser.
But this is my happiness! What makes you think it's fake?!
He took a breath and stared intently at Ban.
"But you! Where did you take Rin and Kakashi?! Release them right now!"
Madara remained unmoved by Obito's "childish" declaration and questioning, as if he had expected him to say such a thing.
His eyes didn't even bother to show a hint of mockery; there was only utter, despairing indifference.
"The illusion of happiness is always exceptionally resilient, and also... exceptionally fragile."
Ban's voice lowered, carrying a fatalistic coldness.
"You'll understand when you see its true nature for yourself."
After saying that, he fell silent, and even slowly closed his eyes, as if he had fallen into an Eternity sleep once again.
The white pipes connecting him to his body writhed slightly, making him even more integrated with the vast, dark space, ignoring Obito completely.
"Hey! Stop playing dead! Answer me, you old monster!"
Obito shouted angrily and struggled to rush over, but the injury on his shoulder and an invisible pressure made it difficult for him to move.
After calling out for a long time, Ban remained frozen in place, offering no further response.
Obito was panting heavily, both anxious and angry.
He tried to mobilize his chakra.
" Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
After completing the Hand Seals, he took a deep breath and then exhaled—however, the expected blazing fireball did not appear; only a few faint sparks flew from the corner of his mouth and were quickly extinguished in the cold air.
The rocks in this space seem to absorb or isolate chakra, making his Ninjutsu almost ineffective!
Looking at the spot where Madara Uchiha just now, it has disappeared.
"How so..."
Obito felt a wave of weakness wash over him.
Just then, the ground next to him suddenly rippled slightly, and a white, aloe-leaf-like thing emerged from the ground.
Then it rapidly transformed into a humanoid creature that was entirely white, slender, and wore an exaggerated spiral mask on its face.
"Yay! You're finally awake! Did you sleep well? Did you dream about anything delicious?"
The white creature greeted the others in an extremely exaggerated and erratic tone, gesturing wildly, looking both comical and eerie.
Obito was startled and looked at him warily.
"Who... who are you? The white monster! Are you in cahoots with those who attacked us?!"
"A monster? How heartbreaking!"
The white creature clutched its chest, feigning injury.
"It's Tobi, Tobi! I'm Lord Madara's... um... assistant? Or rather, roommate? Anyway, I've come to visit you!"
" Tobi?"
Obito frowned, completely forgetting about such a person.
"I don't care who you are, let me out! I need to find my companions!"
"Go out? It's dangerous outside!"
Tobi leaned closer, tilting his head.
"And your companions... Rin and Kakashi, right? Are they really that important to you?"
"Nonsense! Of course it's important!"
Obito answered without hesitation.
"We are comrades! We will become powerful ninjas together!"
"My comrade..."
Tobi tapped his chin with his finger, his tone becoming somewhat playful.
"What a touching bond! No wonder you kept calling their names while you were unconscious!"
Obito blushed.
"I... I was talking in my sleep?"
"Yeah yeah!"
Tobi nodded vigorously and began to imitate him with exaggerated gestures.
"Rin! Watch out!" " Kakashi! You bastard!"
"Don't touch them!"... I shouted it so many, many times!
Obito felt somewhat embarrassed, but more than that, he was worried about his comrade.
Suddenly, Tobi moved his face even closer, the only hole in his mask facing Obito, and asked in an extremely curious tone.
"But you know~ I'm very curious."
"They're all your comrades, so why do you call out ' Kakashi ' so many more times than 'Rin'?"
He exaggeratedly drew out his words.
"Could it be... that deep down, you actually care more about that guy named Kakashi? No way, no way? Could it be..."
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
Obito bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his face turning bright red.
Who cares about that arrogant, expressionless guy!
I was... I was insulting him!
Yes! I yelled at him! I called Lin because I was worried! Worried, don't you understand?!
Besides, Rin is a girl, so of course she needs more protection! Kakashi is tough and strong, so what's wrong with scolding him a few times?
He gave a long, incoherent explanation, trying to cover up the slight, unsettling feeling he hadn't even realized he'd been hit where it hit.
Why do so many people call him Kakashi?
Perhaps it's because he's been fighting so much that he harbors too much resentment?
That must be it!
Tobi made a "tsk tsk tsk" sound and shook his finger.
"An explanation is just a cover-up, and a cover-up is the truth~ Young Uchiha boy, your thoughts are quite complicated!"
"Complex my foot!"
Obito was so angry he wanted to unleash Great Fireball Jutsu on him, but unfortunately he couldn't.
In the time that follows...
Like a ghost, Tobi would pop up from the ground every now and then, talking to Obito in his annoying and eccentric way.
Sometimes it's pointless banter, sometimes it's seemingly innocent but actually tricky questions, constantly testing Obito's psychological defenses, repeatedly bringing up topics like "comrades," "reality," and "illusion."
Obito went from being angry and wary at the beginning to being exhausted and numb later on, but his concern for his comrades and his desire to leave never diminished. He repeatedly emphasized the beauty of Konoha and told the story of Team Minato, as if he was trying to persuade Tobi, but also trying to persuade himself to fight against the sense of despair brought by this strange space.
Finally, after Obito fell into a deep sleep again due to exhaustion and pain, and unconsciously murmured in his dream, "I must go back... everyone...", Tobi emerged from beside him once more.
This time, Tobi didn't make a fuss like usual.
He watched Obito quietly for a while, and even the comical mask seemed to lose its smile.
"Well..."
Tobi suddenly sighed, his tone becoming unusually "deep" and "moved".
"It's truly... so moving! This unwavering bond of camaraderie! This belief in the light!"
They were as bright and outstanding as Fire Fly in the dark! They deeply touched Tobi... well... heart!
Obito was awakened by his commotion and looked at him warily.
"What are you planning to do now?"
Tobi suddenly clapped his hands, as if he had made a momentous decision.
"It's decided! I, Tobi, will help you! I'll help you leave this dark and hopeless place and return to your companions!"
"What?!"
Obito could hardly believe his ears. He sat up abruptly, ignoring the pain in his shoulder.
"Are you serious?! You're going to let me go?!"
"Certainly!"
Tobi stood with his hands on his hips, looking all smug.
"Although Lord Madara might be unhappy, I, Tobi, am willing to take the risk for this sincere affection! Look!"
Tobi spoke, he pointed to a rock wall that was originally perfectly sealed.
The rocks and soil there began to move strangely, as if they had come to life, slowly parting to the sides to form a narrow passage that extended upwards, allowing only one person to pass at a time.
The passage was pitch black at its depths, and no one knew where it led.
"If you keep walking up this passage, you'll leave this place and return to the surface!"
Tobi pointed to the passageway and said.
Obito stared at the passage, his heart pounding with excitement.
Although she suspected it might be a trap, her concern for Rin and Kakashi outweighed everything else!
He'd be willing to do anything, even if it's a trap, as long as he can leave this hellish place and see them again!
"Thank... thank you!"
Obito struggled to his feet and staggered toward the exit.
Hey! Watch out!
Tobi waved behind him.
"After you get out, cherish your companions, especially that one named Kakashi!"
Obito was oblivious to all of that at that moment. Without looking back, he plunged into the dark passage, running upwards with all his might, his mind focused on only one thought—
Rin, Kakashi, wait for me! I'm back!
As he watched Obito's figure disappear into the depths of the passage, Tobi's comical expression slowly faded, returning to its usual inorganic calm.
He slowly sank into the ground.
In the dimly lit space, only Madara Uchiha remained on the throne.
At some point, those eyes opened again, coldly staring at the entrance to the passage, a barely perceptible, chilling curve seemingly curving the corners of their lips.
" Obito, you can't escape."
"You are the executor of Eye of the Moon Plan!~"
Madara Uchiha's lips moved slightly as he murmured something.
The climax of the drama is about to begin.
Meanwhile, the clueless Obito is eagerly rushing towards the desperate stage that Madara Uchiha has meticulously prepared for him.