You're Uchiha Kenji, Aren't You?!

"Enough!"

Just as Uchiha Obito's hand was about to seize Yahiko by the throat, just as Yahiko prepared to face death, a large hand suddenly clamped down on Uchiha Obito's wrist!

"Jin Big Brother?!"

Yahiko's vision blurred. He stared at the suddenly appearing Uchiha Jin in utter disbelief!

"Jin Big Brother... Uchiha Jin?!"

Uchiha Obito phased free of Uchiha Jin's grip, then quickly retreated to put distance between them, his heart still pounding with fear.

His emotions had been so volatile just now that he had not noticed at all how Uchiha Jin had approached him!

If Uchiha Jin had wanted to kill him, he would have already died once!

And... why was Uchiha Jin here?

Uchiha Obito had always been deeply impressed by this clansman of his, Uchiha Jin!

Back then, Uchiha Jin had always hung around with his squad leader, Minato Namikaze. He was also quite familiar with Team 7 and would often say strange, incomprehensible things to them.

Not only did Minato Namikaze frequently praise Uchiha Jin, but Uchiha Jin's performance on the Kirigakure Battlefield had also been exceptionally dazzling!

In short, in Uchiha Obito's eyes, Uchiha Jin was an unfathomable person, someone no weaker than his teacher, Minato Namikaze!

"Jin Big Brother... Konan, she..."

After being saved by Uchiha Jin, Yahiko felt no joy at surviving the disaster. Instead, he was overwhelmed by pain and regret!

If Uchiha Jin had arrived a little earlier, perhaps Konan would not have died!

Yahiko was not blaming Uchiha Jin for arriving late. He hated only that he himself was too weak, that he had not managed to buy more time!

"Don't worry. Konan is fine. She's still alive and well!"

Uchiha Jin gestured toward Yahiko. Only then did Yahiko notice that Uchiha Jin was holding the unconscious Konan around the waist with his other arm!

There was a little blood on Konan's neck, but upon closer inspection, it was only a superficial wound!

Konan's breathing was steady. Though she was unconscious, she was clearly in no Serious Harm!

"Th-this... that's wonderful!" Yahiko's eyes reddened as he said incoherently, "Wonderful! Konan is fine—this is wonderful!"

The fact that Konan was still alive delighted Yahiko so much that he even forgot to ask what had happened!

"Yahiko, I saw everything that just happened! You really are impressive!" Uchiha Jin looked at Yahiko, making no attempt to hide his admiration. "You'd better protect Konan well!"

As he spoke, Uchiha Jin handed Konan over to Yahiko.

Yahiko hurriedly and carefully held out both hands to receive her. He treated Konan like a precious treasure, afraid she might be dropped or bumped.

Only then did Uchiha Jin turn to Uchiha Obito, his gaze extremely complicated.

Not long ago, after noticing the commotion here, Uchiha Jin had immediately controlled Hanzō the Salamander and rushed over.

Then, Uchiha Jin saw Uchiha Obito using Talk no Jutsu on Yahiko. He had even used the Sharinga to hypnotize Yahiko, distorting Yahiko's perception so that he believed Konan had died before his eyes!

At the time, Konan had indeed charged toward the Black Iron Rod in Uchiha Obito's hand with the resolve to kill herself. Uchiha Jin had nearly been unable to stop himself from intervening!

But perhaps Konan's actions reminded Uchiha Obito of something. At the Critical Moment, he had actually shifted the Black Iron Rod in his hand, leaving Konan with only superficial injuries before taking the chance to hypnotize Yahiko!

Then, Uchiha Obito began using Talk no Jutsu on Yahiko!

Watching this, Uchiha Jin understood that Uchiha Obito had seen his own reflection in Yahiko and Konan!

Yahiko, as passionate as Obito had once been, and Konan, who had made the same choice Nohara Rin had made back then...

All of this made Uchiha Obito desperately want Yahiko's approval, to prove that his choice had not been wrong and strengthen his resolve!

Uchiha Jin also wanted to see Uchiha Obito and Yahiko's true thoughts, so he did not reveal himself to stop them.

Then Yahiko shattered Uchiha Obito's defenses!

Yahiko's heart, incomparably fiery, bright, and positive, was so steadfast!

You could call him naive, or you could call him childish.

But when such a person stood alive before him, Uchiha Obito, who was on the verge of abandoning himself, felt utterly ashamed!

He himself should have been like this too!

Yes, Uchiha Obito had not yet completely abandoned himself!

Even in the Original Plot, during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Uchiha Obito had not completely abandoned himself!

Otherwise, Uzumaki Naruto would not have been able to persuade Uchiha Obito so easily!

Uchiha Obito had merely buried his former self deep within his heart. Whenever he encountered someone like himself, that self would break through the barriers and emerge again!

Realizing this, Uchiha Jin's heart stirred as he thought of even more possibilities!

Uchiha Obito had originally been just as passionate as Yahiko.

After enduring similar suffering, the reason Uchiha Obito had gone to Extremes might have been because he possessed the Sharinga, something Yahiko did not!

The Uchiha Clan's special bloodline allowed them to gain great power after experiencing pain, but it also made them more extreme and more likely to walk down a path of Extremes!

The more they loved, the more pain they had to bear!

This was the price the Uchiha Clan paid to gain power!

If Uchiha Obito had not been born into the Uchiha Clan, perhaps he would have made the same choice as Yahiko!

That was why Uchiha Jin changed his original plan and chose to reveal his true identity before Uchiha Obito!

He wanted to give Uchiha Obito more chances to find himself again!

Uchiha Jin looked at Uchiha Obito and said, "A few days apart, and I have to see you in a new light! I never expected that dead last from back then to possess such strength now!"

Obito panicked at his words. He swallowed and said in a low voice, "You are... Uchiha Jin, aren't you? The most dazzling figure of the Uchiha Clan's current generation!"

"I've heard your name, but it seems we've never met before, have we?"

"I am Uchiha Madara!"

Uchiha Obito forced himself to remain calm, but his words lacked any real force, carrying a hint of bluster.

Uchiha Jin chuckled. "If someone wears a mask for too long, it grows into their face! When the time comes, taking it off will mean tearing muscle, breaking bone, and peeling skin!"

"It isn't too late to turn back. You are still you—the hero of Konoha!"

Obito's gaze flickered. He did not dare meet Uchiha Jin's eyes and said guiltily, "Why does a junior like you keep spouting such nonsense? I, Uchiha Madara, am a Rogue Ninja of Konoha! I am no hero of Konoha!"

"Uchiha Madara?" Uchiha Jin smiled faintly. "Stop pretending. You can't fool me! You clearly are Uchiha..."

"I'm not Obi..."

"Kenji!"

"???"

Uchiha Obito looked utterly dumbfounded!

Uchiha Jin smiled. "You're Uchiha Kenji, aren't you!"

Uchiha Obito: "..."