Crisis Vision

Obito set down his chopsticks, his heart twisting with jealousy.

The girl he loved had asked about another boy right in front of him.

I'm losing my damn mind!

Ayako shook her head. "No idea."

Shikaba clasped his hands behind his head and lazily tilted it toward Obito.

"If you want to know how Kakashi's doing, why not ask the guy beside you?"

"He's probably the closest to Kakashi in our class."

At Shikaba's words, Rin looked at Obito in surprise and asked with a hint of hope,

"Obito-kun, do you know how Kakashi's doing?"

Obito hemmed and hawed before answering reluctantly.

"He's either out on missions or training nonstop these days. He hardly has any free time."

"He mentioned a while ago that he wanted to take the Chunin Ninja Exams this time. He's probably preparing for them now."

Ayako's mouth fell open in astonishment.

"The Chunin Ninja Exams! If Kakashi passes, won't he break Konoha's current record?"

Shikaba nodded.

"Yeah. He'll become the youngest Chunin in Konoha's history."

Rin's big eyes sparkled.

"That's Kakashi for you..."

Obito pursed his lips, stung by jealousy.

Kakashi hasn't even passed yet. Look how excited you all are!

...Okay, he will pass, but it's not like you've watched Naruto!

"I want to create a world without Kakashi!"

Irritated, Obito poked at the grilled meat and stopped joining the other three's conversation.

After chatting a while longer, the three turned the conversation back to themselves.

They talked about what they planned to do after graduation.

Ayako spoke first.

"Hmm, I'll probably become a sensory ninja after I graduate."

Resting his chin on his hand, Shikaba said listlessly,

"Honestly, I don't want to be a ninja. It's too much trouble."

"But I don't seem to have much say in that..."

Rin's eyes curved as she smiled.

"It would be such a waste if someone as smart as you didn't become a ninja, Shikaba."

"As for me... I want to become a medical ninja. Saving lives has always been my dream."

"What about you, Obito-kun?"

Seeing all three turn to look at him, Obito wiped the displeasure from his face and said shyly,

"I... I want to become Naruto."

"..."

Shikaba and the others had nothing to say to that. Maybe keep quiet, Obito.

There's no way to respond to that.

After the meal, the four parted ways.

Shikaba and Ayako each went home to their own families.

Obito took Rin's hand and walked beside her.

The night breeze carried a refreshing chill, and moonlight spilled dappled silver across the ground.

Everything, including Rin, was peaceful and beautiful.

Obito wished he could walk hand in hand with her forever.

Unfortunately, it took only ten minutes to get from the barbecue restaurant to her house.

Obito reluctantly let go of her hand.

"See you when school starts, Lin-chan."

Rin tucked her hands behind her back, tilted her head, and smiled.

"Mm-hmm. Be sure to take care on your way home, Obito-kun."

Grinning foolishly, Obito nodded and headed home.

"Us ordinary folks are so, so happy today~"

"Sa Beining kills black chickens, Sa Beining kills black chickens~"

He hummed his little tune in an excellent mood.

But just then, an indescribable sadness welled up in his heart.

An agonizing pain tore through his chest.

It hurt so badly he could barely breathe.

He dropped to his knees and clutched his chest in confusion.

"What's... happening to me?"

A screen of light slowly unfurled before Obito.

Light poured down and enveloped him in an instant.

The world before his eyes abruptly changed.

When his vision returned, Obito felt as though he had been taken to the other side of the world.

"Where is this? Why am I here?"

Obito got to his feet and cautiously surveyed his surroundings.

He seemed to be standing in a street.

The buildings looked unusually low, their walls painted a deathly white, utterly unlike anything in Konoha.

"Was this street abandoned ages ago? It feels so lifeless... Kind of creepy."

Dark clouds filled the sky.

Fine rain fell without end.

Ripples spread across the puddles on the ground.

Obito raised an arm and saw the raindrops pass straight through his body.

And there was no reflection of him in the puddles...

A realization dawned on Obito.

He wasn't physically present here.

But what on earth was all this?

Before Obito could think it through, a familiar figure entered his sight.

Hatake Sakumo!

Sakumo looked terrible.

His clothes were covered in blood, and scars marked his body.

There was also a fist-sized bloody hole in the left side of his lower abdomen.

Obito's face drained of color as he rushed toward Sakumo.

"Uncle Sakumo, what happened to you?"

Sakumo whipped his head toward Obito. His eyes were vicious, like those of a savage beast ready to devour its prey.

A powerful killing intent surged from Sakumo.

Almost tangible, it crashed against Obito in wave after wave.

Obito had never seen Sakumo like this.

The terrifying pressure of his presence left him unable to breathe.

Obito struggled to speak.

"It's me, Uncle Sakumo! I'm Obito!"

Sakumo's gaze remained icy, and White Fang in his hand pointed straight at Obito's chest.

"You appear neither earlier nor later, but at this exact moment."

"You can hardly blame me for being suspicious."

You? Had he meant more than one person?

Obito suddenly thought of something and spun around.

A dozen or so figures had appeared behind him without his noticing. They were slowly closing in on Sakumo.

The man at their head spoke with a smile.

"Don't misunderstand, Lord Sakumo. Lord Danzo sent us to help you."

Sakumo gave a quiet snort and asked calmly,

"Are you really here to help me?"

The leader nodded slightly and said with apparent sincerity,

"Of course we're here to help you... help you on your way to the afterlife!"

Before he had finished speaking, the dozen or so attackers lunged at Sakumo.

One passed straight through Obito's body as he charged.

Could it be...?

A dreadful thought surfaced in Obito's mind.

He shook his head desperately.

No. That can't happen!

Uncle Sakumo is so strong. He'll be fine!

Two ninjas rapidly formed Hand Seals and launched a coordinated Ninjutsu attack.

"Fire Release: Fire Run Technique!"

"Wind Release: Divine Wind!"

Scorching flames erupted. Driven by the gale, they became a vast sea of fire.

The torrent of flame, hot enough to burn everything to ash, rushed toward Sakumo like a raging river.

Obito's heart leaped into his throat as he watched.

But Sakumo moved faster than the wind.

So fast the naked eye couldn't follow him!

In the eyes of everyone present, a streak of silver Lightning flashed through and split the surging sea of fire in two.

It split one unlucky Root ninja in two as well.

"What a swift blade."

Admiration flashed in the leader's eyes.

"Lord White Fang's strength truly commands our respect. But..."

"How much longer can you hold out with such severe injuries?"

Blood poured from Sakumo's wounds, soon staining the water beneath his feet red.

Yet he remained as calm as ever, as though someone else were facing a life-or-death crisis.

"Long enough to kill you all," he said evenly.

The leader clapped, his voice full of admiration and regret.

"No wonder Lord Danzo thinks so highly of you..."

"That composure, that spirit... Just what I'd expect from Lord Sakumo."