Escape From Konoha

Chapter 185: 181: Obito, Rin and Kakashi

Land of Demons, Hospital.

Opening his eyes while lying on the bed, Obito sensed that his left eye was empty, as if something were missing.

Looking up at the white ceiling, he noticed the room filled with the scent of disinfectant. The room's layout was simple and bright. It was a ward designated for patients to rest. This wasn't a hospital ward of Konoha, nor was it the temporary ward within the Konoha Camp in the Land of Grass.

He croaked "Where am I..."

Obito was entirely unfamiliar with this place. The ward's layout and the view from the window confirmed it was his first time in such a location. He gently placed his hand over the bandaged, absent left eye, the absence of sensation a stark reminder.

"My eye..."

Suddenly, Obito's memory came flooding back. Everything before his coma rushed into his mind.

Rin had died. He had been the one to take her life.

A strange figure emerged from inside him, removing his left Sharingan.

Then, there was an explosion in the forest that followed, throwing him and Rin into the explosion of the shockwave, rendering him unconscious. His body shivered uncontrollably, intense regret and pain overwhelming him. His huge chakra instinctively focused on his only remaining eye.

Some kind of unbelievable changes unfolded within that eye. A complex pattern appeared within his red eye, and his mouth gasped for breath while the eye throbbed in pain.

"Is that your Mangekyou Sharingan?"

A voice broke the silence.

The voice was both familiar and unfamiliar to Obito. He turned to see a man with black hair and a white coat leaning against the left wall of the ward, with his arms crossed.

"Long time no see, Obito. It's been nearly two years, and you've grown a lot." Shiraishi greeted him with a smile.

"Aren't you the leech?" Obito's voice held a hint of shock.

The corner of Shiraishi's mouth twitched. In some ways, the brat hadn't changed a bit.

"Why are you here, and where is this place?" Obito asked, covering his forehead as he felt headache.

Raising his head again, he looked Shiraishi with a touch of vigilance. This man was Konoha's rogue ninja, an archenemy of both Konoha and the Uchiha clan, a dangerous S-rank rogue ninja wanted throughout the ninja world. Though he knew little of the defection incident two years ago, he understood the havoc Shiraishi's betrayal had wreaked upon Konoha.

"There's no need to be on guard against me. Don't worry, I won't harm you. However, it seems like you're not entirely conscious at the moment."

"What?" Obito's eyes betrayed a mix of vigilance and confusion, not understanding Shiraishi's words.

"Take a look at your right eye." Shiraishi stated, producing a mirror from his pocket and tossing it to Obito.

Obito caught the mirror and looked at himself in the mirror.. His left eye was covered in bandages, giving his face an odd appearance. His right eye, though, had been in the Sharingan state, but it was unlike any Sharingan he had seen before.

The pattern within his red pupil was complex and mysterious, it was far from the three tomoe Sharingan he knew.

"This... Is it my Sharingan? Why does it look like this?" Obito stared wide-eyed, staring at his own right eye in the mirror in disbelief.

How had his Sharingan transformed like this? What had happened?

"To be precise, it's the Mangekyou Sharingan." Shiraishi corrected.

"Mangekyou.. Sharingan!?" Obito's face froze. As a member of the Uchiha clan, while not being a high-ranking one, he was aware of the legend surrounding the Mangekyou Sharingan.

This was an ancient Uchiha clan legend. According to records in the Uchiha clan archives, only Uchiha Madara and his brother had unlocked the legendary Mangekyou Sharingan.

Awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan? It was like a fantasy and Obito's mind was struggling to grasp the concept.

"Have you finally realized?"

"How is this possible!!?"

"Originally, the secret of these eyes isn't usually revealed to those in thr Uchiha clan, because the method of awakening the eyes is too evil, and it could easily breed inner darkness. But since you're the eye awakener, I'll let you understand how it is possible. The way to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan is to kill your most important person, or seeing them die in front of your eyes."

Hearing Shiraishi's explanation, Obito suddenly had a severe headache, lowered his head as he began gasping for breath. It seemed he had pieced together the cause and effect behind awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan. Painful memories resurfaced, and his hands trembled as he held his head.

"Is it because... I awakened it with Rin? These eye....." Obito managed to voice, with an undertone of remorse and self-blame.

"There's no need to blame yourself, it was Rin's choice. What you need to know is that you were being targeted due to your potential for awakening these eyes. Although you've been abandoned by the side you were on, i also used you to deal with Madara." Shiraishi admitted with a hint of embarrassment.

Shiraishi pondered that if given the chance, he would make the same choices again.

"Madara? I remember, the person who took my left eye mentioned the name 'Madara'... What's going on? Why did you save me? Why did Rin..." Obito was overwhelmed by a number of questions and confusion.

For him, Rin's death and the unlocking of the Mangekyou Sharingan seemed like a carefully arranged plot by someone. When did it all begin? Was it the moment Rin was captured? No, it appeared that he had been targeted even earlier.

As Obito recalled everything leading up to his coma, he realized that what he initially thought was a normal sequence of events contained many unexplained elements.

As Shiraishi had suggested, if the root cause of everything was his potential to unlock the Mangekyou Sharingan, it could explain many of these misunderstandings.

Someone wanted his eyes. The strange masked guy also targeted him for the same reason. This was the origin of it all. It was also the underlying reason behind Rin's kidnap. Without these eyes, Rin wouldn't have met her tragic fate at his own hands.

The Sharingan was the ultimate culprit.

Obito felt an overwhelming urge to obliterate the remaining Mangekyou Sharingan. These eyes had implicated Rin in her own death, making it the true culprits. His expression darkened, and he even thought about ending his own life, feeling that without Rin, life held no meaning.

Just as this despair crossed his face, Shiraishi swiftly approached and slapped Obito on the head.

Obito snapped out of his suicidal thoughts, his hand clutching his head in pain, and his eyes glared at Shiraishi with a hint of anger.

"Why did you hit me on the head so hard? What's your problem?" Obito asked irritably.

"Did you really consider commiting suicide?"

"And if I did? It's none of your business, leech." Obito retorted.

"No, I just wanted to point out that if you die now, Rin will be left in my care." Shiraishi calmly responded.

"What?" Obito was taken aback. A glimmer of hope surged within him as he stared at Shiraishi in disbelief.

"You... mean.... Rin isn't dead?" His excitement made his words stumble.

"She's out of danger and recovering." Shiraishi confirmed.

"Are you lying to me? It can't be... I remember that I stabbed a vital area."

Obito shook his head, finding it difficult to believe what Shiraishi was saying. He wanted desperately for it to be true, but his kunai had undeniably struck Rin's vital organs. How could she have survived?

"I gain nothing by lying to you, but the issue remains. I did use medical ninjutsu to rescue Rin from the brink of death, but..." Shiraishi trailed off.

"But what?" Obito's heart raced.

"You should come and see for yourself. She's in the next ward, since you're awake now." Shiraishi suggested, pointing to the adjacent room.

Without a word, Obito swiftly got off his bed, still wearing a hospital gown, and hurried barefoot to the neighboring ward. Indeed, the door bore a nameplate that read "Nohara Rin."

Obito suppressed his inner excitement and gently pushed the partially open door. Much like his ward, it was a private room specifically designated for the care of injured important people.

Inside the ward, a girl about the same age as Obito sat on a bed. The atmosphere was quiet, and she gazed out of the open window.

"Rin..." Obito called out the girl's name with his trembling voice.

When she heard his voice, the girl turned her head to see Obito with an excited expression. However, instead of the warm smile Obito had expected, her eyes held a strong look of doubt.

"Uhh .. who are you? Do you know me?"

Rin asked, leaving Obito in shock. He stood frozen at the ward's entrance, as if struck by lightning.

At that moment, Shiraishi walked past Obito, entered the room, placed a bottle of medicine on the counter by the bed, and said to Rin, "Take this medicine once a day at noon, two pills each time. You should be able to leave the hospital in about two weeks. Until then, you can take short walks outside, but avoid strenuous exercise."

"Okay, I understand." Rin replied with a pure and peaceful smile.

"So, are you beginning to remember anything from your past?"

Rin shook her head, looking somewhat distressed. "No, I still can't recall much. I remember my name clearly, but the rest is hazy. Every time I try to remember, my head starts to hurt for no reason."

"Really?" Shiraishi paused and then smiled. "Don't force yourself if you can't remember. It's okay."

"Alright."

"Rest well now, I'm going. Remember to take your medicine on time."

Shiraishi nodded and then turned, patting Obito on the shoulder as he led him out of the ward.

Rin watched them leave, her expression calm, and she continued to gaze out of the window in a daze. The gentle and warm breeze wafting through the window provided a soothing feeling.

...

"Hey, what's wrong with Rin, you, leech? Why..." As they reached the hospital's rooftop, Obito couldn't contain his anxiety and started questioning Shiraishi.

"As you can see, Rin has lost her memory." Shiraishi replied nonchalantly, in stark contrast to Obito's agitation.

"Amnesia?" Obito had suspected this when Rin didn't recognize him earlier, but hearing it from Shiraishi was still difficult to accept.

"That's correct. It's likely due to guilt, she felt ashamed to face you, so she chose to close herself off." Shiraishi explained with a sigh.

"Guilt?" Obito was bewildered.

"She had the selfish intention to die, letting you bear the pain of killing your friend all alone. That's where her guilt and self-blame comes from. In her mind, the pain you would carry for a lifetime outweighed her quick suffering. She couldn't forgive herself for being so selfish at the time." Shiraishi revealed.

Obito's breathing quickened, and he felt a sharp pain in his heart. He clutched his chest and murmured, "I don't blame Rin... All of this happened because of my eyes, she was targeted because of them."

Shiraishi approached Obito and met his regretful gaze. "Because of you're too tolerant towards everything about her, Rin couldn't bear her own guilt. When she chose to close herself off, it was because she couldn't confront her own selfishness."

Obito fell silent.

"Is there no way to help her recover?" Obito inquired, still unwilling to accept the situation.

"This is Rin's choice, and it's up to you to decide if it's a good thing for her to regain those memories." Shiraishi stated.

Shiraishi's words left Obito in stunned silence.

Indeed, restoring Rin's lost memories might not be the best course of action. Obito realized that he would have to bear the burden of all the pain, and he didn't want Rin to suffer any more than she already had. This was his current thought.

For him, the fact that Rin was alive was the greatest salvation in his heart.

"Leaving aside the matter of Rin... What are your plans for the future?"

Shiraishi inquired about Obito's next plans.

"My plans?" Obito hesitated for a moment and then responded thoughtfully, "I want to bring Rin back to Konoha. I am a Konoha ninja, and Kakashi is waiting for me. Now that I have awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, my return should be very important to the village."

"Do you really think so?"

"Absolutely."

"Then, are you prepared to kill Rin again?" Shiraishi's question caught Obito off guard.

Obito was taken aback by Shiraishi's question. He couldn't fathom how bringing Rin back to Konoha could be misconstrued in such a manner.

"What do you mean?"

"The reason Rin wanted to commit suicide was because the Seven Tails was sealed within her and she was unable to harm herself. Someone wanted to control her, using the Seven Tails inside her to attack Konoha. So, Rin decided to die by your hand to prevent that." Shiraishi explained briefly, helping Obito understand why Rin had made that choice.

In the given circumstances, Rin believed this was the only option available to her.

"What does that have to do with Rin and me returning to Konoha?" Obito remained confused.

"The Seven Tails is a tailed beast given to Takigakure by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, during the first Five Kages Conference. This is an internationally recognized fact. If Rin returns to Konoha, it might lead to diplomatic conflicts with Takigakure. To avoid criticism from other ninja villages and maintain harmony, what do you think will happen to Rin?"

"What will happen?" Obito asked feeling a sense of dread.

"Takigakure will take control of Rin, and the Seven Tails will be extracted from her. If the tailed beast is removed, the Jinchuriki, in this case, Rin wil die."

"It's not that serious, is it?"

Obito's heart tightened. He found it hard to believe that the situation was as grave as Shiraishi suggested. While he knew the tailed beasts were formidable weapons, he was unaware of the specifics. He had no knowledge of whether a Jinchuriki would die if the tailed beast was extracted, but he was unwilling to take that risk with Rin's life.

"You can try to bring Rin back, but I can assure you that Rin will die. Even if I could revive a person on the brink of death, I wouldn't be able to bring someone back from the dead."

Obito remained silent, unwilling to take such a gamble. If he lost, it would not only cost him Rin's life but also lead to her being handed over to Takigakure, the extraction of the Seven-Tails, and her death afterwards. He knew he could never forgive himself if that happened.

The pain of loss had taught him the true value of what he had once lost and now regained. When Rin died, his world had crumbled, and he felt that life held no meaning without her. It was in that moment that Obito understood that, for him, his Hokage dream and the protection of the village were less important than a single finger of Rin's.

"So, what should I do now?" Obito's mind was muddled.

"Stay here with peace of mind. You were manipulated, leading to Rin's capture. In the end, it was your own weakness that allowed this to happen. If you want to protect Rin, you'll need to make the most of the new Sharingan you've awakened because of her." Shiraishi advised.

"Can the Mangekyou Sharingan truly protect Rin?" Obito's eyes sparkled with hope.

"Of course, the Mangekyou Sharingan is the Uchiha clan's supreme pupil power, vastly different from the ordinary tomoe Sharingan. I will personally teach you on how to use this power."

"Eh?" Obito found the situation a bit wrong. He grew suspicious when he learned that Shiraishi was going to teach him how to use the Sharingan.

"Aren't you a medical ninja? How can you teach me to use the Sharingan?"

"I do have some knowledge of the Sharingan. It is more than sufficient to guide a rookie Uchiha like you in its usage."

Obito couldn't help but find Shiraishi's actions suspicion.

"You just mentioned that when Rin returns to Konoha, the village will hand her over to Takigakure. Are you deceiving me?"

Even though Obito's gaze was serious, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something underhanded about Shiraishi.

"I lied to you, what then? If Rin were to come to love Konoha and regain her memories, would that truly be a source of happiness for her?"

Shiraishi countered with a smile, gazing steadily at Obito. It seemed to Obito that Shiraishi was wearing the word "cunning" on his face.

"I understand. Please explain the entire situation later. For now, I need to calm down and think about something now."

Obito admitted, feeling a sense of unease as he descended the stairs.

Shiraishi didn't attempt to stop Obito any longer. He had conveyed what needed to be said, leaving Obito to contemplate the situation in peace.

As Shiraishi placed his hands in the pockets of his white coat, the rooftop wind tousled his hair. Moments later, he turned his gaze to the side, and there stood Ruri, her cool and beautiful face framed by long black hair swaying in the breeze.

"Since Uchiha Madara and his brother, there hasn't been a third person who has awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan in decades. I find it hard to believe that a twelve-year-old could progress from the Tomoe Sharingan to the Mangekyou. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would think it unbelievable." Ruri commented, her eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions.

While she was confident in the power of her Three Tomoe Sharingan, Ruri found it difficult to accept being outshone by a twelve-year-old Uchiha. She was a ninja who had been renowned for being a genius

"His ability to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan is a testament to his unique talent. This must be why Madara had taken such a keen interest in him." Shiraishi replied.

Shiraishi knew he still had a pair of Mangekyou Sharingan whose owners were unknown.

Technically, Obito's Mangekyou Sharingan marked the fourth pair Shiraishi knew about. However, historical records of the Uchiha clan were not all correct. There could have been instances of Mangekyou Sharingan awakening throughout the clan's long history, but if it wasn't documented, Shiraishi couldn't account for it.

"Do you think I'm a little old?" Ruri suddenly asked, staring directly at Shiraishi.

Shiraishi coughed his throat and answered with a smile, "Of course not, Ruri. You're not even twenty-two yet, and you're still very you6 and beautiful. Obito is an exception within the Uchiha clan, and we can't judge the whole based on one exception. Besides, unlocking the Mangekyou Sharingan at such a young age might not necessarily be a good thing."

Indeed, Obito's feat of awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan at the age of twelve was extraordinary. Ruri, in comparison, had only achieved the Two Tomoe Sharingan at the same age when she graduated from the academy.

"Prematurely unlocking the Mangekyou Sharingan might not be a good thing. If the girl named Rin were not alive, who knows what terrible actions he would have taken. When you teach him, you need to be careful." Ruri emphasized with a serious expression.

Obito's emotional stability now was largely attributed to Rin's continued existence. Ruri perceived this clearly.

"Don't worry, I won't allow him to act recklessly. I intend to take Rin on as my student. It's the best way to ensure Obito's cooperation." Shiraishi explained.

While his approach may seem somewhat despicable, it was necessary to place a figurative leash on Obito.

Until the darkness within him was extinguished, this restraint would be an effective tool in keeping his darker impulses in check. Moreover, Rin was the most suitable person to guide and anchor Obito. She could help him understand that this "trap" was for his own benefit, ensuring he remained happy and willing to be bound.

"So.. did the girl really lose her memory?" Ruri asked out of curiosity as she prepared to leave.

Shiraishi remained silent for a moment before finally responding, "Ruri, everyone has memories they'd rather not revisit. Surviving in those circumstances requires immense courage. Whether she is genuinely suffering from amnesia or pretending, it's no longer the most significant issue."

This was true, especially considering Obito, the one most affected, had chosen to forgive Rin for her selfless act.

As an outsider, Ruri had no right to intervene in this matter. The best course of action was to allow both parties to communicate and find mutual understanding. Involvement from others would only exacerbate the situation.

....

In Konoha, both Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin were officially classified as "missing and unknown."

Following Kakashi's return to Konoha to report on his mission, the Third Hokage concluded the matter. Additionally, Kakashi was reprimanded for leaving the camp without authorization. Over the next two years, all of the rewards from the missions Kakashi had completed were confiscated.

Kakashi paid little heed to these repercussions, leaving a transparent bag on Hiruzen's desk.

"Hokage-sama, these wood chips I discovered on my way while searching for Obito. It appears to be different from regular wood shavings, so I brought it back. It might be connected to Obito's disappearance."

Kakashi's expression remained calm. He wasn't lying, but rather, presenting a speculative lead.

Hiruzen accepted the transparent bag Kakashi handed over. He opened it and examined the wood chips closely, his eyes widening in surprise as if he had witnessed something extraordinary.

"Kakashi... You mean you found this while tracking Uchiha Obito?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama. Is there any problem?"

"No, nothing. Maybe it was my misjudgment."

Hiruzen replied, trying to keep a composed demeanor while inwardly feeling the gravity of the situation.

These wood chips were unmistakably familiar to him, bearing a resemblance to the wood release ninjutsu of Konoha. In the village's research archives, there were wood chip samples crafted by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, who possessed the Wood Release.

Danzo's name immediately sprung to mind.

Hiruzen pondered whether the following disappearances of Nohara Rin and Uchiha Obito were orchestrated by Danzo.

During the time Konoha had been pursuing the Wood Release experiment, Danzo had been heavily involved in overseeing it.

Although the experiment had ultimately failed and the plan was banned, Hiruzen wondered whether Danzo might have secretly restarted it later.

Furthermore, the subjects who had failed the Wood Release experiment had been handed over to Danzo. Could it be that one or two individuals among them had successfully unlocked Wood Release and were secretly concealed by Danzo without reporting to him? But it remained uncertain.

The mere fact that Kakashi had retrieved wood release remnants from outside suggested a connection. Outside of Konoha, no other ninja villages possessed the ability to research or utilize Wood Release.

These thoughts weighed heavily on Hiruzen's mind.

"Kakashi, remember not to divulge this matter to anyone, not even Minato." Hiruzen instructed seriously.

The issue of Wood Release was of utmost importance and could potentially involve Danzo's secret agenda. Hiruzen was cautious about involving too many people to avoid unnecessary complications.

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Kakashi nodded in agreement.

Hiruzen let out a relieved sigh and continued with a smile, "Kakashi, despite your breach of village regulations in this unauthorized mission, your concern for your comrades' safety is commendable. I believe the time has come to issue your this letter of appointment. Open it and have a look."

With that, Hiruzen retrieved a file folder from his drawer and handed it to Kakashi.

Kakashi accepted the folder, opened it, and saw the words "Jonin Appointment Letter" written on the top sheet.

"This is...?" Kakashi's tone was one of surprise.

"Don't disappoint the village's trust in you, Kakashi. From this moment on, you're officially a Jonin of Konoha. The formal announcement will be made in the next few days." Hiruzen declared solemnly.

"Yes." Kakashi replied, his eyes betraying a hint of excitement.

Hiruzen observed Kakashi's reaction with satisfaction and added, "You may leave for now. The day after tomorrow, you'll head to the Land of Grass and meet with Minato. There are some special missions that require your attention."

Kakashi nodded and offered a respectful bow to Hiruzen before leaving the office.

Outside the Hokage Building, Kakashi strolled down the corridor with his gaze directed outside the window, his thoughts far from the scenery.

Within Konoha, everything seemed to be progressing smoothly. His plans for promotion were on track. He thought about his future role, potentially securing a position in the Anbu where he could gather vital information.

However, avenging his father was not an easy endeavor. To make the Third Hokage, experience the devastation he had endured would require more trust from the Hokage. Kakashi needed to move closer to the core of the village's leadership. He had to become a tool under the control of the Hokage.

Arriving at his home, Kakashi ascended to the second-floor study, planning to store the file containing his Jonin appointment documents. Inside the study, a figure was already waiting for him.

Kakashi instinctively reached for the White Fang strapped to his back, channeling lightning chakra to illuminate the blade with a pale, moon-white glow. A barely noticeable current coursed through the weapon, alerting the intruder in his study.

This person donned a black overcoat and had a bandage covering part of their right face. Deep wrinkles on their face. It was none other than Shimura Danzo, the leader of Root.

As Danzo met Kakashi's cautious gaze, he spoke in a somber and grave tone, "Hatake Kakashi, would you like to know the real story behind your father's suicide?"

After hearing Danzo's question, Kakashi realized that another opportunity had presented itself. There was no better ally than Shimura Danzo in his quest to ruin the Third Hokage.

For Kakashi, this was a gift from the heavens.

------

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