The genjutsu space slowly faded.
Obito stood once more in the real cavern, his eyes narrowing slightly.
After a moment, Obito raised his head. His voice remained calm.
"I understand."
"I'll see it through."
So said Uchiha Obito.
He intended to go along with it for now. Otherwise, Madara Uchiha would never teach him techniques such as Yin-Yang Release.
Madara looked at him, a glint of satisfaction flashing through his lone eye.
"Good... I'll leave it to you, then."
Madara Uchiha then passed Yin-Yang Release, the Uchiha forbidden techniques, and the Six Paths techniques on to Uchiha Obito.
(Note to readers: The Yin-Yang Release here is different from the Sage of Six Paths'.)
"Go. From this day forward, you are Madara Uchiha!"
He slowly leaned back in his wheelchair, his aged body seeming to relax at last.
Madara raised a trembling hand and felt for the oxygen tube behind him that kept him alive.
"The rest of the road is yours to walk."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he gave it a hard yank.
The oxygen tube came free.
Madara's body jolted, then slumped completely into the wheelchair.
The light faded from his lone eye, and his breathing stopped.
Madara Uchiha was dead.
Only Obito, White Zetsu, and the ever-silent Black Zetsu remained in the cavern.
White Zetsu froze for a moment, then hurried to Madara's side in a panic. He checked for breath and confirmed that Madara showed no signs of life.
"Lord Madara... he's really dead..."
Black Zetsu did not move.
He simply stood there, his black-and-white face betraying no emotion.
Seeing that Madara Uchiha was truly dead, Uchiha Obito took a deep breath. It felt as though everything was over.
"Well, then."
Obito slowly turned, his gaze settling squarely on Black Zetsu.
The air