Chapter 250: Reincarnation!

Konoha, Year 64.

Land of Iron.

Snow fell heavily, covering the entire landscape.

Obito wearing a black robe, shook the snow off his clothes as he walked back with a cold and emotionless expression.

Behind him lay a complex special technique, blood-soaked snow, and the body of a shinobi who had been brutally murdered.

Returning to the cave, Obito sat next to the warm fire but the chill in his body didn't fade.

"You failed again?" Zetsu replied as he stood next to obito with his black and white halves body and sighed, "You lack the talent to connect to the Pure Land."

"The Impure World Reincarnation rejected me... I clearly followed the sealing sequence and prepared the materials. I even made sure this guy's soul had returned to the Pure Land before trying to revive him just to be certain!"

"That's just fate. Why is it that your Mangekyō Sharingan grants you two extremely rare time-space ninjutsu? Why is it only the First Hokage's Wood Release that can easily suppress the Nine-Tails? Every shinobi has limits. Perhaps only the Sage of Six Paths could master all ninjutsu." Zetsu tried to Insert some sense into Obito.

Obito just hmphed and lay down on the ground, his back pressing painfully against the sharp stones underneath. For someone driven by revenge and living like a walking corpse, pain might be the only reminder of his humanity.

"Obito," Black Zetsu's voice rang out, drier than usual, "Give up on this technique. Think of other ways. That new recruit Hidan seems promising. Maybe with the Phantom Organization, we can—"

"Zetsu, I didn't know you could spout comforting lies like this. Without a strong weapon, I can't reclaim my Mangekyō or the Rinnegan."

Obito stared at the ceiling of the cave. He had transplanted another's Sharingan and used the cells of Hashirama Senju to repair his body, but they were not his own eyes. His spine had also been shattered by Tsunade, and he had lost at least 90% of his strength. He probably couldn't even defeat an ordinary Jonin.

Although the Phantom Organization had been developing well recently, capturing the Five-Tails Jinchūriki and recruiting that strange Hidan, along with Jiraiya, everyone knew that this power alone wasn't enough to complete the Eye of the Moon Plan.

Thud, thud, thud.

Footsteps echoed and it's getting closer.

Zetsu narrowed his eyes, positioning himself in front of Obito. This secret base in the Land of Iron was known only to Obito and Zetsu. No other Phantom Organization members could find this place. Could it be a hunter who stumbled upon them? Impossible! Judging by the rhythm of the steps, the approaching individual was no ordinary person!

Obito stood up, facing the entrance. In his palm, he held two shuriken, ready to use the Uchiha clan's famous throwing technique since his Kamui was no longer available.

Bang.

The footsteps stopped, and both Obito and Zetsu could now see the intruder's face.

"Surprised?" The uninvited guest leaned against the cave wall, speaking with a mocking tone.

"It's you," Obito licked his lips, "How did you find this place?"

"I could explain it slowly, from how I stole the secret scroll from the Hokage's residence, to how I traced this plant-man's movements, and finally followed him here. But... you and I both know our time is precious."

"You're not wrong," Obito nodded, "Coming here alone, even for someone like you, must have been incredibly risky... So, what do you want?"

"I want to help you achieve your goal."

"..."

"Don't give me that look. I admit you're somewhat handsome guy, but you're not my type." The intruder grinned. "Either let me help you, or refuse and I'll kill both you and the plant-man, then go claim the credit. Who knows? Maybe with this accomplishment, I could even become the Sixth Hokage."

"What's your motive? We're merely acquaintances. I can't think of a reason why someone as successful as you would betray Konoha."

"Men who dig too deep for answers are the least charming, Obito."

"Hmph…" Obito closed his eyes, contemplating for a long time before finally speaking, "Can you retrieve my eye?"

"I'm not capable of that, but I can find out who transplanted your right eye."

"That would be valuable information indeed." Obito opened his eyes, staring directly at the intruder's face, "I have a plan…"

At first, Obito's voice held hesitation, but as he continued, his expression grew more resolute.

"You're insane!" Zetsu shouted, grabbing Obito's arm, "This plan is impossible—"

"Zetsu, this is my decision."

"You're handing your life over to this guy! Think it over carefully, Obito…"

"There's nothing to reconsider. For Rin, I'm willing to take any risk." Obito smiled, "So, what do you think? Do you agree with this plan?"

The intruder said nothing, but slowly started clapping.

It was a mad plan, but undoubtedly one that no one would expect.

"When do we begin?"

"Next year. I need time to prepare… Come back in five months, and Zetsu will give you what you need."

"Impressive, Obito Uchiha." The intruder praised him, turning to leave.

"Wait…" Obito furrowed his brow, picking up a strand of long hair that had fallen to the ground, "Be careful next time. Your hair color stands out."

There was no response. After a long silence, the cave returned to its usual stillness, leaving only Obito and Zetsu once more.

Five months later.

Spring had arrived.

"You're truly insane, Obito." Zetsu gritted his teeth, making one last attempt to dissuade him. "There's still time to back out. Think it over—there's no reason for him to betray Konoha. This could all be a trap!"

"If it were a trap, Konoha would have leveled this place already," Obito chuckled, splashing water on his face as he cleaned up.

Thud!

A kunai sliced through the air, piercing the heart of a young man.

The one whose heart had been pierced was Obito.

And the one wielding the kunai was also Obito.

"Hah… To think I would die this way." Obito grinned madly, his breath weakening as he collapsed onto the cold stone ground.

Inside the cave, only Zetsu's soft sigh echoed.

He collected Obito's corpse and extracted a large chunk of flesh.

Then, sealed it into a scroll.

Thud, thud, thud.

Footsteps sounded again.

"You have impeccable timing…" Zetsu sneered, tossing the scroll over. "You're both lunatics."

---

'So this is death, Rin.

'I can't hear anything, nor feel anything. Time has stopped, even the rush of emotions and thoughts has ceased.'

'I thought I'd see you again, Rin… Turns out death isn't such a great thing after all.'

The kunai pierced Obito's heart, and his memory froze at that moment.

Perhaps a few days passed, or maybe a few years, or even hundreds of years.

Some mysterious force brought the soul from the Pure Land back to the living world.

"Impure World Reincarnation!" Obito opened his eyes again.

Time had returned to him.

The bright sunlight, the Five-Tails' chakra rampaging in the distance, the dust of the battlefield, the towering Hokage Rock… and the grim faces of Orochimaru and Kakashi.

'Rin. I've returned to this world again. This… fake world without you.'

(End of Chapter)