Kakashi, Root

The Land of Water.

Zetsu brought word that Konan wanted to meet.

"That little girl still doesn't trust you."

In the secret chamber, Zetsu said hoarsely, "She wants to know why you haven't gone to reclaim the Uchiha Clan."

Obito's face darkened beneath his mask.

Was it that I hadn't gone?

That brat wouldn't even let me finish speaking before attacking. If I hadn't been careful, he would've taken me down!

He'd secretly gone to check on the Uchiha compound afterward, too, but with Fugaku guarding it, Obito didn't dare make a move without knowing what his Mangekyō could do.

If it turned out to be a genjutsu that killed on sight, he'd be in trouble.

Besides, he'd been busy dealing with matters in the Land of Water lately, so the Uchiha Clan could wait.

After all, they were gathered in the Land of Whirlpools, which made them easier to keep an eye on than when they'd been in Konoha.

When speaking with Zetsu, who knew his true identity, Obito was less guarded. "Now isn't the time to act. We should wait until we've figured out what Fugaku's Mangekyō can do."

Click...

He took off his mask. Half his face was covered in twisted scars. Gritting his teeth, he said, "The problem now is Jiraiya. Why the hell did that bastard come to the Land of Water?!"

He'd been doing just fine in Kirigakure, establishing the Bloody Mist Village and carrying out the policy of exterminating the Kekkei Genkai Clans. Then Jiraiya had suddenly appeared and even joined the Resistance Army of the Kekkei Genkai Clans!

Was he out of his mind? Was it really reasonable to meddle so casually in another country's affairs?

But then he remembered that Jiraiya had managed to stay in the Land of Rain for several years during wartime...

"Jiraiya..."

Zetsu pondered for a moment. "Can't you drive him away in your capacity as the Fourth Mizukage?"

Obito shook his head and said gravely, "I lost quite a bit of ocular power fighting the Fourth Hokage... and that damn brat. I haven't recovered yet."

"Right now, I can only barely control Karatachi Yagura. If it comes to a fight, he might break free of my control."

"But I've already put pressure on the Feudal Lord and Konoha. If Jiraiya still doesn't leave, we'll go straight to war with Konoha!"

After a moment of silence, Zetsu said, "If it comes to it, killing Yagura and withdrawing from the Land of Water wouldn't be a big deal. Nagato hasn't developed his Rinnegan enough yet, so it's not time to start the plan."

"No!"

Obito's deep red eyes brimmed with bone-chilling hatred.

"After what they did... I'll make Kirigakure pay!"

"Fine... Just be careful not to get hurt again. I told you back then not to go after the Yellow Flash..."

"Enough. Tell Konan I have my own plan. They should take care of their own business."

Obito let out a cold laugh. "They're just puppets under my control. Do they really think they can order me around?"

Zetsu's body slowly sank into the ground. Before disappearing, he said, "All right... After all, you're 'Madara' now."

Konoha.

In front of the Memorial Stone.

Kakashi removed the withered stems and replaced them with fresh flowers.

This time, though, he had to pay his respects not only to his dear friend, but also to his teacher.

He'd never been able to let go of Rin and Obito's deaths. To help him through it, the Fourth Hokage had assigned him to guard Kushina.

But...

The Fourth Hokage and Kushina had died that night, too.

It only made him feel more and more that he shouldn't exist—that his very life brought misfortune to others.

As a ninja... how was one supposed to die?

Why hadn't I been the one to die back then...

Just then, he heard footsteps behind him.

He turned and saw a one-armed old man with bandages wrapped around half his face.

As the old man walked straight toward him, Kakashi furrowed his brow. "Lord Danzō... You shouldn't be here right now."

He'd attended the Jonin meeting and knew exactly what had been decided about Danzō.

Danzō was supposed to be confined to his residence. Why was he here?

Of course it was because that fool Hiruzen was busy dealing with the chaos and fending off Cloud Hidden shinobi who kept probing for information. So the old man had slipped out.

Just because he'd ordered me confined didn't mean I had to obey. Had I ever been one to listen to him?

Shimura Danzō sneered. "That doesn't matter. I came to invite you to join Root."

Kakashi picked up the bucket he'd used to water the gravestones and walked past him. "Sorry. Lord Hokage has given me leave, and I'd like to take some time to rest."

After Kakashi had walked some distance, Shimura Danzō spoke unhurriedly. "Don't you want to know the truth about Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin's deaths—or even the Fourth Hokage's?"

Kakashi stopped.

He couldn't remain indifferent to that.

"The truth... What do you mean?"

Shimura Danzō narrowed his one eye and said slowly, "As Uchiha Obito's closest friend, do you know what made him different from the other Uchiha?"

After a moment of silence, Kakashi said, "He was... more passionate, more foolish... and he cared more about his comrades."

"No. He became the Fourth Hokage's student!"

Shimura Danzō continued, "The current situation makes it clear. The Uchiha Clan is treacherous and ambitious. They'd long been preparing to defect as a whole."

"The Hokage Position has always been passed down from teacher to student. Namikaze Minato made a name for himself on the battlefield and was a strong candidate to become the Fourth Hokage."

"So what do you think they'd do about an Uchiha who was so close to the Hokage's faction?"

Shimura Danzō deliberately left the accusation unsaid, giving Kakashi room to imagine the rest.

"But..."

Kakashi thought of a way to refute Shimura Danzō and said angrily, "You were the one who forced the Uchiha Clan to leave the village! Clan Head Fugaku had a good relationship with my teacher. He even went against tradition and let me keep Obito's eye!"

"That was just a way to mislead the Fourth Hokage."

Danzō gave a cold laugh. "Didn't Hiruzen tell you? That night... it was the Sharingan that controlled the Nine-Tails!"

!!

Although Kakashi was already a Jonin, during Nine-Tails Night he'd been sent to a shelter with his classmates as a precaution. He hadn't known about this.

"No one understands the Uchiha better than I do. They're a clan twisted by madness deep in their hearts. Because of their uniquely evil bloodline, sooner or later they'll cause great harm to those around them."

"Uchiha Madara was the same. The First Hokage trusted him so much, even inviting him to join Konoha. And what did he do?"

"He betrayed Konoha. The Uchiha Clan today is no different."

"They're a pack of monsters that can never be tamed. You think I forced them? No. I was carrying out the Second's dying wish: to keep the Uchiha in check!"

Kakashi lowered his head. It took a long time for him to speak. "That's not true... Obito wasn't like that..."

"Which is why he died, isn't it?"

Danzō clearly saw the darkness welling up inside Kakashi and fanned the flames. "The Sharingan can suppress the Tailed Beasts. Did the Nine-Tails attack make you think of something?"

"Back then, they tried to do the same thing to Konoha using the Three-Tails!"

"Now they're gathered in the Land of Whirlpools, the place closest to the Land of Water..."

Rin...

Kakashi's body trembled. He looked down at his hands, as if they were stained with Rin's blood again.

"Kakashi, the root of all your pain is that clan!"

"They'll come for you sooner or later and take back the eye your friend left you."

"Join Root. I'll fight them alongside you."