Doubts and Warnings

When Obito stepped out of the darkness, Zetsu was already waiting for him.

"Are you really not going with him?" White Zetsu poked half his head out of the ground, curiosity in his voice. "That kid's going to Konoha alone. There's a good chance he'll get himself in trouble."

"I know," Obito said.

"Then why..." White Zetsu did not finish, but the meaning was obvious.

Obito walked to the window and looked at the gloomy gray sky outside. Beyond the hideout lay a desolate wasteland, gray tree shadows swaying in the wind like countless hands reaching toward the sky.

"Because he needs to get burned," Obito said softly. "Anyone who's just obtained the Eternal Mangekyou thinks they're invincible. Madara was the same back then. No matter how much you tell him, he won't listen. Only after he runs into a wall himself will he understand."

"What if it kills him?" Black Zetsu emerged from the wall, his voice low.

Obito did not answer immediately.

"It won't," he finally said. "Itachi's eyes won't let him die that easily. Besides—Danzo won't kill him."

"Why?" White Zetsu asked.

"Because Danzo wants his eyes." Obito turned to look at White Zetsu. "The Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. Someone like Danzo won't let an opportunity like that slip away. He'll find a way to capture Sasuke alive rather than kill him. And Sasuke—as long as he doesn't die, he'll grow through battle."

Black Zetsu fell silent for a moment.

"You're going to see Danzo?" he asked.

Obito nodded.

"At the Five Kage Summit, Danzo got the position he wanted. But he still owes me something." Obito's voice suddenly dropped, so low it seemed to rise from underground. "On the night of the clan massacre, he promised me something. He has yet to fulfill it."

"Do you think