Obito said slowly, "Can't it just be that I rescued you simply to return your freedom?"
"Miss, even though that whole mindset of tools and usefulness has become part of your worldview, things are no longer the same as before. It's time for you to cast off those old ideas and look at the world anew."
"After all, a new era is about to begin."
The girl froze, then murmured, "Freedom?"
'This strange boy, who doesn't even seem older than me, is truly giving me freedom?'
"Could something so good really happen in this world?'
Still, since the boy was so powerful that he'd effortlessly neutralized all her attacks, if he meant her harm, there was no reason for him to waste so much time talking.
She couldn't help but ask, "Then… the price? What's the price?"
Obito said, "Indeed, there is a price."
The girl showed a just as I thought expression.
Obito continued, "The price is this: even though you're free, when you're out in the world, you mustn't strike others at will. Especially, you can't harbor any thoughts of destroying the world."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't dare grant you freedom."
The girl blinked in surprise, a little incredulous, "That's all?"
Obito replied, "That's all."
Now she truly had nothing else to say, and instead introduced herself.
"My name… is Nanashi. And you?"
Obito said, "Uchiha Obito. But… Nanashi? You don't have your own name?"
A faint, bitter smile tugged at the corner of the girl's lips.
"I was just a weapon of war, used and thrown away. Why would I have a name of my own?"
Obito shook his head, "From your eyes, I can see that's not true."
The girl suddenly uttered a single word, "Hikari(Light)."
Then she explained, "My parents hoped I would one day live in a place filled with light. But…"
She didn't finish, yet Obito already understood. Things like this had happened far too often in the shinobi world, so often that pity no longer sufficed.
He said softly, "In that case, from now on, your name will be Uchiha Hikari."
After a pause, he continued, "So, what are your plans for the future? Do you want to return to the Uchiha clan? If you do, you can come back to Konoha with me."
The girl trembled, showing obvious resistance.
Obito understood what she was thinking and explained, "The Uchiha of today, by the standards of your era, are pathetically weak. They're not the beasts you remember. You can relax."
Only then did she ease up, her eyes filled with confusion, "I don't even know what I want to do. But since you say so, I'll believe you. I'll go back to the clan with you."
Obito, however, smiled, "But I'm not finished yet. Compared to returning to the clan, I'd recommend another place."
Uchiha Hikari was stunned, "You mean?"
Obito said, "Since your parents wished for you to live in a place filled with light, well, there truly is such a place in the shinobi world."
"Since your name is Hikari, you should chase the dawn of daybreak."
"Join our Akatsuki. We're a group of naive fools who pursue peace. Some say our existence is nothing but a miracle, but we, ourselves, are good at creating miracles."
Uchiha Hikari paused, "Akatsuki? The dawn of daybreak?"
A hint of longing appeared on her face. If it was real, that was exactly what she had always wished for.
Obito pulled from his Kamui space an Akatsuki cloak, a child-sized one. Ever since more kids had joined, many smaller uniforms had been made.
He said, "Like I said, I have no reason to lie to you. Put this on, and you're one of Akatsuki."
Hikari hesitated but obediently reached out and put on the cloak.
Seeing that he had easily recruited yet another person who fit Akatsuki's ideals, Obito was very pleased.
Of course, what pleased him most was that most members of Akatsuki, aside from a few elders, were now very young.
With this generation, the peace of the shinobi world could be maintained for decades at least.
He placed his hand on Hikari's shoulder, "I'll take you to headquarters. The current leader of Akatsuki is also one of our clan, an elder who burned everything for his ideals. And his era should be closest to yours."
"So, the two of you should have plenty to talk about. I'll have him guide you for a while."
When he finished, their figures slowly disappeared.
———
Soon after, Obito handed the newly joined Hikari over to Madara, then returned to the Konoha unit himself.
The next day, the troops set out, reaching the village before nightfall.
By then, Rin had finished her shift at the medical division. Obito immediately went home with her and shared his recent experiences.
When he finished speaking, he opened his Double Kamui Rinnegan to show her.
Rin, however, was slightly dissatisfied, "It doesn't look as pretty as before."
Obito froze, then said, "If I'd known that, I wouldn't have fused with Black Zetsu."
"Honestly, after facing them myself, I realized the Otsutsuki aren't as impressive as I imagined. Even without awakening the Rinnegan, I probably could've handled them."
For example, that Isshiki, with his Eternal Double Kamui, Obito could've found a way to outmaneuver him even then.
He just wouldn't have been as relaxed as he was with the Double Kamui Rinnegan.
Still, without the Rinnegan, his power of imagination couldn't have evolved to such a high level. Finding that Otsutsuki in time might've been impossible.
Rin smiled slightly, "I was only talking about appearances."
'Appearances, huh? That, I can fix easily.'
In an instant, Obito's eyes shifted again, returning to the pure Kamui form.
"Since this is what Rin likes, I'll keep them like this."
Rin could only sigh, watching how Obito's eyes changed at will. His abilities were becoming more and more wondrous, or rather, increasingly strange.
The Otsutsuki clan, whom Obito had once feared so much, would now probably call his powers downright shameless.
Indeed, when an ability reached this level of trickery, it was truly sinister, nothing could counter it.
Rin said softly, "You don't have to force yourself, Obito. No matter what form you take, I'll always like you."
Obito's face flushed slightly, but he kept the Kamui form and said, "Actually, I like this too."
"Just like how I once wished not to become an Otsutsuki, the human appearance itself is what we should cherish. Otherwise, why hold on to the idea of being human at all?"
"To return everything to its original state instead of growing stranger and stranger, that should be humanity's next direction of study."
Rin nodded. She was now essentially the head of the medical division, and studying human potential to make it greater was not only Orochimaru's research topic but hers as well.
Someday, humanity would become stronger by its own foundation, just like how ninjutsu, created by humans themselves, had already reached the level where it could threaten the Otsutsuki.
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