1 Uchiha Obito
As Obito and Kakashi stood in front of Naruto and Sasuke--
Resolving himself to sacrifice his own life for the greater good of the world~
[Thank you Rin. Obito and I will be joining you shortly.]
[We can catch up then, the three of us together.]
As Obito turned his head towards Kakashi, he revealed a wry smile as his eyes took the appearance of a pinwheel--
Rin.
This time, let's spend...
Some alone time together.
Just the two of us... ...
Kamui!
[STAB!]
[PIERCE!]
Kakashi's face was stunned.
"Obito..."
"Kakashi, it is still too soon for you to join us. You have to stay behind and lead the next generation."
As Obito's body started crumbling, he started recalling his past memories and how he had spent his entire life; wasted, seeking an impossible dream.
Although his life ordeals had been nothing but a mistake, now-
He was sure that he was at last doing the right thing.
Sacrificing himself for the world, for the next generation.
Obito started speaking to Naruto without turning around.
"Naruto, as a kid, I would often imagine myself as Hokage so often. I think you brought all that back for me."
Naruto started clenching his fist as he struggled to fight the tears that threatened to overwhelm him.
- - - - -
"Don't act tough and hide your wounds."
"I'm always watching you.
- - - - -
As Obito recalled those words that Rin told him long ago ~
"A lot more suffering likely awaits you, Naruto. But don't ever change, and hang on to your Ninja way."
"You once told me that--"
"Never going back on your word is your Ninja Way, right?"
"Yeah..." Naruto struggled to speak as he fought back his tears.
"Naruto..."
Obito's body was disintegrating as he turned around to face Naruto one last time.
He revealed a smile he thought he would never show again, as he entrusted his final words to the young ninja who he has placed his trust in,-
"You better..."
- - - - -
("Become Hokage!")
- - - - -
After those words were spoken, Obito's body finally crumbled into ashes.
Naruto clenched his fist as he declared his promise to Obito,-
"Yeah!"
- - - - -
Obito opened his eyes.
"Obito." A gentle voice reached out to him.
As a young Obito directed his gaze to the front, he found Rin smiling at him while she slowly grasped his hand.
The tears started to endlessly flow down Obito's face as he tried to rub it off with his sleeve.
"This is embarrassing."
"It looks like you have calmed down a bit." Rin's voice started to sooth Obito as his feelings settled.
"Rin... ...I am sorry... ...I made a mess of the world...-"
Rin smiled gently at Obito.
"No, you did the right thing in the end, Obito. You are a hero. And, you finally became the Hokage you always wanted to be."
"Rin..." Obito held back the words he wanted to say.
That he wasn't any hero.
That he wasn't any Hokage.
But, right now, all of that didn't matter.
Obito tightly grasped Rin's hand.
He was ready to enter the afterlife with her.
Just at that moment, he suddenly felt a strong presence tugging him from behind.
"Rin!"
Obito tried desperately to grab Rin's hand but the force pulling him was getting stronger; Obito could only watch hopelessly as Rin's figure started getting further and further away.
However, instead of reaching out to him, Rin only smiled as though she had expected this to happen.
"Obito, I am really happy that we got to meet again, but it seems that it not time for you to join me yet. Eventually, when everything is finally over, we will meet each other once again. I'will always be waiting for you for here. Always."
"Remember, I am always watching over you."
Obito struggled in vain to reach out his hand towards Rin.
"Rin!!!!!"
Rin only smiled as her silhouette started fading and she clenched her fist and lightly raised it up.
"Go for it, Obito!"
"Promise me this--"
Her voice was faint but Obito still heard it clearly.
* * * * *
"Promise me this time, you will save the world!"
