Amidst the rain-soaked tower, Naruto Uzumaki recounted the harrowing future he had witnessed. Using a reverse chronology, he explained the entire sequence of events to the four Hokage.
On the wooden bridge over the lake, Obito Uchiha gazed at the ripples spreading across the water's surface. A wistful sigh escaped his lips as he murmured, "If things had gone the way they were supposed to, I would already be dead by now. Dead and burdened with sins too heavy to absolve, shattered into pieces, and finally reunited with Rin."
Tobi teased from behind, "But you're already dead, aren't you~?"
Obito chuckled softly. "That's true, but at least now, I can witness with my own eyes where this world—a world I once rejected—will head in the future."
Tobi crouched down, poking at the gaps between the bridge's wooden planks with a stick. He muttered, "Well, that's not so bad, I guess."
After the fierce battle at the Undying River, the scattered White Zetsu began regrouping near Amegakure, observing from a distance.
Without Madara, the original wielder of the Rinnegan, in control of the Gedo Statue, the White Zetsu were willing to follow Obito. However, this sentiment did not extend to Tobi, who remained an oddity among them. Most of the other Zetsu harbored fear or resentment toward Naruto. After all, the enmity between Naruto and the White Zetsu was not something that had developed overnight.
But this cautious observation wouldn't last long. The very life force of the White Zetsu stemmed from the Gedo Statue. As long as the statue remained in Amegakure, under Naruto's control, they would inevitably submit—even if reluctantly.
"Ribbit~! Ribbit~!"
A frog leapt from the lake onto the bridge, landing right in front of Tobi. Its throat puffed up as it croaked.
Tobi grabbed the frog and held it up close, examining its tail with great interest. Without looking up, he asked Obito, "So, are you planning to keep living in that reanimated body forever?"
Obito raised his hand, staring at the cracks and fissures marring his skin. His thoughts drifted to Tsuchi, whose final words still echoed in his mind.
"Lord Obito, your hand... it's so cold. Or is it just me?"
Obito let out a self-deprecating laugh. "At that moment, my hand may have been cold, but for the first time in ages, I could feel the warmth of a human heart. The will of a person transcends the body. Perhaps this body is better suited to rebuilding the soul that I allowed to rot away long ago."
Tobi fell silent, as if respecting Obito's decision, yet his silence carried an undertone of sorrow.
Suddenly, a deafening rumble echoed through the skies above Amegakure's tallest tower. Lightning illuminated the stormy heavens.
Obito turned around. "It should be about time. Let's go wait for them."
There was something Obito needed to do—something that would allow him to move forward and earn the right to do so.
"Ribbit~~~! Ribbit~~~!"
Tobi released the frog in his hand. The poor creature hopped away, a wooden stick still lodged in its rear.
Half an hour later, Naruto, Konan, and the four Hokage descended to the base of the tower.
Obito was already waiting.
The three Hokage remained silent, while Minato Namikaze wore a complicated expression. "Obito..."
"Sensei," Obito said softly.
He stepped forward, then suddenly dropped to his knees before Minato with a resounding thud.
Minato made no move to help him up. He gazed at his former student with a somber expression. "If only I had discovered your identity sooner, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out this way. Kushina might still be alive. As your teacher, I bear my share of the blame."
Obito shook his head vehemently. "No, Sensei, you did nothing wrong! You were an outstanding Hokage! An outstanding shinobi! If there's any stain on your record, it's me—your unworthy student!"
"I don't ask for your forgiveness, nor Kushina's. All I ask is for the chance to atone for my sins through my actions."
Minato's voice softened. "I forgive you."
Obito's head shot up in disbelief. "Sensei, you...?"
Minato stepped forward, helping Obito to his feet. His tone was heavy with emotion. "In the most critical moments of your life, I, your teacher, was absent. That has always been my regret. Even your final redemption was achieved not by me, but by my son."
"As your teacher, the only thing I can do for you now is to forgive you. Though, truth be told, I never blamed you. After all, as shinobi—as Hokage—we often find ourselves in situations beyond our control."
"I believe Kushina wouldn't blame you either. And even if she did, I'll forgive you on her behalf."
"Who gave you the right to speak for me, Minato, you idiot!!" A fiery voice rang out from behind.
Minato flinched and turned around, his face pale.
To his shock, Naruto's body was now cloaked in a fiery red chakra shroud. The chakra had even transformed into long, blood-red hair, wildly whipping in the air.
Minato stammered, "K-Kushina!? Y-you're... you're alive!?"
"Idiot!! I've always been here! With my precious son, you moron!!"
Possessed by Kushina, Naruto strode forward. As she passed Minato, she shot him a sharp look. "And by the way, I saw you making eyes at that 'Violet' girl during the meeting earlier. We'll be discussing that later, you hear me!?"
Tap.
Minato broke into a cold sweat. He had indeed glanced at Violet out of curiosity, but he hadn't expected...
"Sensei's wife..." Obito muttered, bowing his head in shame.
Kushina approached him, her gaze calm yet gentle. She spoke with heartfelt sincerity. "Obito, I've thought it over, and I decided it should come from me directly. I forgive you for the wrongs you've committed against our family. But to earn the forgiveness of others, you'll need to prove yourself through your actions."
"No one is without fault. It takes immense courage to face your past mistakes. Let that courage drive you forward—not just as a means of atonement, but as the strength to embrace a new life. I'll be cheering you on!"
Kushina gave him an encouraging gesture, her voice brimming with determination.
In the end, all of Obito's emotions condensed into a single, heartfelt phrase: "Thank you... from the bottom of my heart."
As dawn broke, Sasuke Uchiha appeared in the forest outside Konoha, pushing a wheelchair-bound Kabuto Yakushi.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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