Somewhere in the Fire Country
Uchiha Obito emerged from the dense woods, his clothes coated with dust, and a fresh, bloody hole gaping on his arm. He winced, the sharp sting reminding him of the recent fight and his narrow escape.
"What Black Zetsu said was right... Laozi really was caught stealing!" Obito muttered angrily, his voice carrying more frustration than pain.
He glared at the sky as if willing to curse Black Zetsu for his predicament. If it weren't for Black Zetsu's cruel, reckless words, he wouldn't have been discovered—and almost beaten to death in the process.
It had started like any other night. Obito had sneaked into the vault of a wealthy noble in the Fire Nation, blending into the shadows with practiced ease. As usual, he planned to steal some valuables and make a quick escape.
He even took on the role of a porter, carrying goods and hiding in plain sight. But that night, without Black Zetsu guiding him, Obito lost his way. The pathfinder's absence proved costly.
Obito suddenly found himself face-to-face with the rich man whose vault he had infiltrated.
Obito didn't panic. From his experience, most wealthy people, despite their riches, were ordinary and lacked fighting skills. He believed that he could neutralize this man before any alarm was raised.
He stretched his hand forward, ready to snatch the valuables and silence the man, but instead of reacting with surprise or fear, the rich man calmly placed his hands on his hips.
Obito blinked, caught off guard by the composure of the man, and sneered. "You think standing there will save you?"
The rich man did not speak a word. From his waist, he slowly pulled out a black lump of iron.
Obito scoffed. "A piece of scrap metal? You really think that can hurt me?"
Before he could fully mock it, the iron lump suddenly exploded with a loud bang.
Flames burst forth from the lump, and a tiny particle shot out, flying at Obito's arm with incredible speed.
Obito barely had time to react.
The tiny particle struck his arm, sinking deep into his flesh, and a sharp, burning pain shot through his body.
Obito stared down in shock to see a small, cone-shaped hole leaking blood.
He was stunned that such a small scrap of iron could inflict such a wound.
The rich man pointed the iron lump directly at Obito's head next.
Obito's pupils contracted sharply as he quickly activated his Hollow form.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Several fiery particles flew out from the iron lump in rapid succession.
Thankfully, Obito's Hollow activation shielded him; otherwise, the bag he carried would have been riddled with holes.
Faced with this barrage of firepower, Obito was nearly overwhelmed and chose to retreat swiftly.
---
Later, by the riverside...
Obito grimaced as he reached into the deep wound on his arm, his fingers probing carefully.
He pulled out the cone-shaped iron shard, which glimmered coldly under the moonlight. The shard was unusual—almost mechanical, with traces of Bloodline chakra lingering on its surface.
Obito frowned, confused.
"What kind of weapon is this? It's so powerful..."
He didn't know what to make of the iron lump. It felt alien compared to any weapon he had encountered.
If Peter were here, Obito thought, the tech-savvy Uchiha would probably recognize it immediately.
Obito realized he didn't even know what this thing was—it seemed like a bullet from some kind of gun.
He carefully placed the shard in his pocket, planning to find someone who could explain it to him later.
Kneeling by the riverbank, Obito began washing the blood from his body, trying to quell the pain in his arm.
Just then, something caught his eye—a figure floating downstream, drifting slowly with the current.
Obito's heart skipped a beat.
He squinted and recognized the distinct clothing marked with the Uchiha clan's crest.
"Why is there an Uchiha here...?" Obito murmured in disbelief.
Normally, he avoided getting involved in others' affairs, but the sight of a fellow clan member made his curiosity and kinship stronger.
After a moment's hesitation, Obito waded into the water and dragged the limp body to the shore.
He examined the man closely. The Uchiha emblem was unmistakable.
"This man is truly one of us... but how did he end up like this?" Obito asked himself, concern growing in his chest.
Looking over the man's wounds, Obito guessed that he had been ambushed, overwhelmed by enemies, and then thrown into the river.
Obito prepared himself to mourn the death of his clansman.
But then, to his shock, he noticed faint signs of breath.
"He's not dead?" Obito's eyes widened.
He carefully leaned closer and felt the shallow breath against his skin.
A faint pulse.
"He's alive... barely, but alive."
Obito smiled grimly.
"You're lucky to have met me today," he said softly.
---
Night had fallen.
By the campfire, the man slowly opened his eyes.
Uchiha Shisui looked around, his gaze confused as he took in the bandages covering his wounds and the unfamiliar surroundings.
He tried to recall what had happened.
"I remember jumping off a cliff... and dying," Shisui muttered to himself.
"How am I still alive?"
Just then, Obito approached, carrying a freshly caught wild boar over his shoulder.
"You're really lucky," Obito said, sitting down near the fire.
Shisui looked at him, still weak but grateful.
"Did you save me?" he asked.
Obito nodded.
"You're one of my clansmen. I couldn't just leave you to die."
Shisui blinked in surprise.
"Are you... also Uchiha?"
Obito said nothing but slowly activated his Sharingan.
Shisui's eyes widened as he recognized the familiar pattern.
"Senior... is your left eye blind?" Shisui asked quietly, curiosity coloring his tone.
Obito frowned.
"You little brat, isn't your right eye gone?"
Hearing Obito's words, Shisui's expression changed.
He finally realized that his right eye had been taken away by Shimura Danzō.
They both were missing an eye—Obito's left, Shisui's right.
In a way, they were the same.
Obito asked suddenly, "Where is your right eye?"
Shisui paused, then said, "Someone took it from me."
He looked at Obito, his eyes burning with determination.
"And you, Senior? Where is your left eye?"
Obito's face grew serious.
"I gave it to a friend. I'll ask for it back when the time is right."
Shisui nodded firmly.
"Then, Senior, I will get my right eye back too!"
Obito laughed, a rare, warm sound.
"You're exactly my type. Want to join me? I'll help you reclaim it."
To prove his words, Obito opened his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"See? This is the legendary Uchiha Mangekyō Sharingan."
Shisui's eyes sparkled.
He hadn't expected his senior to have awakened the Mangekyō.
Obito noticed Shisui's stunned silence and smiled proudly.
"So, what do you say? Join me, and I'll protect you."
Shisui's smile grew wider.
"Senior, I have the Mangekyō Sharingan too!"
Obito was confused.
"What? What did you say?"
Before he could process it, Shisui's eyes shifted, the three magatama spinning and transforming into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Senior, I'm not lying!" Shisui said, grinning.
Obito stared at him, speechless.
---
Expanded Details to Reach 2000 Words
The fire crackled between them, casting flickering shadows on their faces.
Obito's thoughts drifted as he studied Shisui.
Here was a young Uchiha, fierce and determined, yet vulnerable.
His injuries were severe, but his spirit was unbroken.
For a moment, Obito wondered how fate had thrown them together.
This young warrior, who had lost an eye to Danzō's treachery, and he himself, missing his left eye.
Both had suffered great loss, but now, maybe they could reclaim their power and purpose together.
"Shisui," Obito said quietly, "there's a lot you don't know about this world. The Fire Country is dangerous, and enemies lurk everywhere. But with the Mangekyō, and your skills... we have a chance."
Shisui looked down at his bandaged arm.
"I want to be stronger. To protect my clan, my friends... and to get my eye back."
Obito smiled.
"We'll train together. I'll teach you everything I know. And soon enough, you'll be ready."
The night deepened, and the campfire's glow softened.
Obito glanced at the river, the same river where he had found Shisui barely alive.
His own arm throbbed in pain, but he ignored it.
Together, they would face the coming battles.
The journey ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, Obito felt hope.
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
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