Chapter 360: Obito and Tobi
The figure wore a yellow tiger-striped mask and a black robe, identical to the one from the night of the Nine-Tails attack.
Kakashi frowned and instinctively glanced at Tobi, who was still crouched nearby. Tobi, noticing Kakashi's gaze, turned to meet his eyes.
The two exchanged a brief glance, neither speaking, and then both silently turned their attention to the figure in front of Rin's grave.
The masked man stepped forward, ignoring the red rose and grabbing the flowers Kakashi had placed beside the gravestone, only to toss them aside.
"If you can't protect those you care about, what's the point of having power?"
The low, deep voice emerged from the masked man.
Kakashi froze, his eyes momentarily unfocused as the words struck a nerve.
After a moment, his gaze sharpened, and with a flash of lightning, he used his Raikiri Shunshin to appear behind the masked man.
A cold kunai was pressed to the man's neck.
"I know it's you," Kakashi said coldly.
Tobi came running from the bushes, shouting loudly as he approached:
"Senpai! Senpai! Be careful, Senpai!"
His voice and mannerisms were exactly the same as before, so much so that Kakashi finally understood why even Pain hadn't suspected Tobi of being connected to Obito.
Obito's chakra and presence were right in front of him, while Tobi was behind him.
Even Kakashi couldn't definitively discern who the real Obito was.
The deep voice from the masked man spoke again:
"If you can't protect those you care about, what's the point of having power?"
As the words fell, a familiar spiral distortion appeared.
Kakashi immediately activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, attempting to track the masked man's location.
He knew it was Kamui. He was certain.
However, a streak of blood dripped from his left eye, and Kakashi winced in pain, clutching his eye as he dropped to one knee.
His right eye closed, and his vision in his left eye blurred. All he could see was the hardened, dry black earth beneath him.
Amidst the ringing in his ears, he heard a familiar voice. He couldn't tell if it was a memory or if it was Obito—no, Tobi—speaking beside him.
"Your eye is almost blind."
"I know. I don't want to trouble Haneda with it."
Still clutching his left eye in pain, Kakashi forced himself to stand.
By now, his left eye was once again covered by the Konoha forehead protector, and it was as if nothing had happened.
Tobi, however, feigned alarm, exclaiming dramatically:
"Senpai! Senpai! What's wrong, Senpai?"
"Your eye! Your eye!"
"Boohoo~ Senpai, I can't believe it… we've only spent an hour or two together, and you're already going to die! Boohoo~"
Tobi even squeezed out a few fake crocodile tears, pretending to be devastated as he stood next to Kakashi and wiped at his eyes.
Kakashi shot Tobi a glare. In Tobi's right eye, he caught a different glimmer, something distinct from before.
Wiping his own right eye, Kakashi glanced again. This time, he understood. He smiled faintly.
"So that's how it is…"
Kakashi wiped his face once more, this time clearing the bloody tears from his left eye.
After shaking off the scent of blood from his body, he led Tobi away from the Memorial Stone.
As they walked, Tobi asked with a puzzled expression:
"Senpai! Aren't we going to catch the culprit who's been throwing flowers?"
Kakashi replied, "Didn't we just see him?"
"Seeing him and catching him are two different things, Senpai! Good flowers, just thrown on the ground like that—doesn't it disgust you?"
"It doesn't. It's what I deserve."
"Oh? Is that so, Senpai?"
Tobi's right eye locked onto Kakashi's right eye. They stared at each other for a moment before Kakashi nodded and said, "Yes."
"Let's go. We're heading to the Hokage's office to see Haneda."
"Yes, Senpai!"
...
In the afternoon, the soft sunlight bathed the Hokage's office, and the windows reflected a brilliant glow.
The windows of the Hokage's office were specially designed, preventing anyone from seeing inside from the outside.
It seemed that Haneda and Pain had finished their discussion. The two exited the office just as Kakashi and Tobi arrived to meet them.
Tobi greeted loudly, "Hokage-sama! We meet again!"
Haneda smiled and said, "I know you, Tobi—the one who adores me, the high school girl."
Tobi lowered his head shyly, poking at the air with his fingers.
"Hokage-sama doesn't like high school girls, does he?"
Haneda responded, "In a few years, you'll be a college girl, won't you? Let's be honest—I like college girls."
Haneda's words left Tobi speechless.
The group left the Hokage's office and headed to Konoha's First Ninja Academy.
This academy, which Haneda and Kakashi had attended as children, had been renamed "Konoha First" in recent years.
Visiting the academy was part of a pre-arranged plan between Haneda and Pain, as an official duty.
Haneda led Pain, Konan, and Afei on a tour.
"This academy has been expanded several times. It's built on the site of Konoha's original and only ninja academy."
"The building in front is the main school building. Next to it is the library, which houses a wide variety of books, including some on ninjutsu, sealing techniques, and medical ninjutsu."
Just as Haneda was introducing the library, several figures darted across the rooftop of the school building and jumped onto the roof of the library.
They climbed along the pipes and slipped in through a window.
Haneda recognized the climbers immediately: Naruto, Sasuke, Shiden, Karin, and Gaara.
Tobi chuckled and said, "Wow~ As expected of ninja school students—efficient and agile, masters of wall-climbing and window-sneaking!"
The traits he described perfectly fit someone they all knew.
Haneda coughed a few times to mask his embarrassment, muttering through gritted teeth:
"Those little brats are mine. I'll deal with them later!"
Konan gently advised, "They're just kids. Let it go."
Pain remarked, "Climbing walls and rooftops… The students at this school have excellent ninja instincts."
As he spoke, he subtly blocked Tobi's line of sight.
Pain had recognized two of the children—Naruto and Gaara.
The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki and the One-Tail Jinchūriki, both critical to the Akatsuki's plans.
Pain suspected that Tobi, sent by Madara, was here to observe or possibly act against them.
Tobi indeed had such thoughts.
However, from Naruto and Gaara's movements, he had already gauged their level.
Both Jinchūriki were at least at the level of Chūnin.
Like Haneda and Kakashi, they were undeniably geniuses.
Behind his mask, Obito frowned, calculating whether the two Jinchūriki could reach Haneda's level of power within six years.
Obito had experienced the Third Great Ninja War firsthand and had fought alongside Haneda multiple times.
He knew Haneda's capabilities back then.
Before the Third War, Haneda was an elite Jonin.
After the war, Haneda had surpassed the Kage level.
If Naruto and Gaara reached Haneda's post-war strength, it would spell serious trouble for Obito.
He was certain Haneda would mark the two with Flying Thunder God seals.
If he couldn't quickly capture the Jinchūriki…
Obito concluded that capturing the remaining Tailed Beasts would become nearly impossible.
...
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