After meeting Itachi standing on his streetlamp, Obito seemed to have dispelled his doubts and returned to what passed for "normal" life.
However, no one knew that he'd written down these fragmented pieces of information in a notebook, tucked away in a hidden pocket.
Sudden headache...
And a memory fragment, disconnected from everything else:
[Go investigate the cause of Itachi's death!]
Below this entry, Obito had written his guesses about these scattered fragments: Itachi isn't dead? Why should I investigate his death? Could it be, as Black and White Zetsu said, that I'm imagining things? Everything is just my mind playing tricks?
Behind the word "illusion," Obito had drawn a large red 'X' with heavy pen strokes. It was this single mark that made Obito fall into deep thought for many sleepless nights.
Because this world felt so unbearably real.
Pain. Sight. Taste. Touch. Everything existed with perfect clarity. It was impossible that he'd fallen under an illusion. Whose technique could make him find absolutely no flaws? That would require an illusion performed by someone vastly stronger than himself!
Carrying these deep doubts, Obito once sneaked into Konoha and secretly observed his former friend Kakashi. Kakashi still lived, going through his daily routines. At this time, he'd just been assigned three troublesome brats in Team Seven.
He was still habitually late to everything, talking to himself in front of the memorial stone as if sharing his day with departed friends.
Seeing this scene, Obito's heart churned with conflicting emotions. He sighed internally. Unfortunately, everything can't go back. After Rin's death, nothing can return to how it was.
Kakashi, it was you. You ruined our friendship. You made it impossible for us to be like we were before.
It's you, Kakashi. You didn't protect Rin properly.
So it's all your fault, Kakashi. Everything I do is to redeem my regret, to correct your failure.
The Uchiha boy, Sasuke, also fell under Obito's observation. Such a proud young Uchiha had just graduated from the Academy. It was impossible someone so inexperienced could be the culprit who'd trapped him in an illusion.
If Kakashi and Uchiha Sasuke were excluded, then only Konoha's Nine Tails Jinchūriki remained: Uzumaki Naruto.
But why did that short kid in dirty clothes appear in front of the words [One Punch]? What connection did he have to [One Punch]? Was [One Punch] a person's name? A code name? Or just an action descriptor?
All these questions circled through Obito's mind repeatedly, but he couldn't reach any definitive answer.
After observing Sasuke, Naruto, and Kakashi for extended periods, Obito found no answers. He felt confident that none of these three possessed the strength to trap him in such a flawlessly real illusion.
The investigation proved fruitless. So Obito suppressed these doubts deep in his heart and concentrated on implementing the Moon's Eye Plan that Madara had left behind. This plan also benefited him personally. If it didn't serve his interests, Obito would never follow a dead man's instructions.
Let's talk about everything after resurrecting Rin.
Afterward, for convenience, Obito created the "Madara" persona. Later, he created another identity: "Tobi," joining the Akatsuki organization openly and becoming partners with Deidara.
Of course, within Akatsuki, he often contacted Itachi using the Tobi role, trying to determine if this Itachi was real or fake. But Itachi ignored him completely, seeming to see through his identity. After Itachi stood on his streetlamp, the only person he willingly accepted was his partner, Kisame Hoshigaki.
During this period, Sasuke followed in Orochimaru's footsteps and became a rogue ninja from Konoha. Meanwhile, Naruto constantly chased after Sasuke, wanting to bring him back to the village.
This was what Obito observed carefully throughout.
Then time passed with startling speed. Everything seemed to proceed according to his plan. Everything remained under his control. The Tobi persona was abandoned during Deidara's explosion incident.
He reactivated the identity of "Madara" and began operating actively throughout the shinobi world.
He ordered Pain to attack Konoha and capture Nine Tails. Actions targeting the other Tailed Beasts also commenced.
Just as he was "playing" with Konoha's forces, Black and White Zetsu appeared and informed him of Itachi's death. Obito's thoughts immediately revived the doubt that had haunted him years ago. When he arrived at the battlefield with Zetsu and looked at Itachi's body, he took Sasuke away.
That night, Obito once again retrieved the notebook that had gathered dust for years.
[Go investigate the cause of Itachi's death!]
Itachi just died today. Why did I write many years ago about investigating his death?
Why?
It seemed those doubts reappeared in Obito's heart, triggered by Itachi's death as the catalyst. However, at this point, the plan had progressed too far. He wouldn't stop now. Unanswered questions meant nothing against his goals.
Sasuke became a tool in Obito's hands. The task of capturing the Tailed Beasts continued its journey. After Pain destroyed Konoha, Obito sent Sasuke to disrupt the Five Kage Summit.
During the Five Kage meeting, Sasuke nearly died. Obito appeared before Sasuke again, explained the Moon's Eye Plan, and saved him in the process. This made Obito appreciate Itachi's difficulties: This younger brother is really troublesome to manage.
He'd brought along a pawn, not a younger brother.
Time flew past. Obito forged alliances, cooperated with certain individuals, and finally, his Moon's Eye Plan approached realization. He would change the world.
Let there be no war in this world. No pain. No failure. Only peace and laughter. In this world, I'll be with Rin and live happily forever.
"Hahaha! I will finally bring peace to this world!"
Injecting the collected nine Tailed Beasts into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Obito laughed wildly. In the next moment, the statue would transform into the Ten-Tails. Using its tremendous chakra, he would launch the Infinite Tsukuyomi toward the moon, covering the entire world in illusion.
From that point forward, everyone would fall into a dream world, into beautiful fantasy. Power, friendship, family, love... everyone would obtain these things in their dream worlds.
"Prepare to embrace beauty!" Obito laughed maniacally. He'd done it. He'd finally accomplished everything.
However, foolish humans tried to stop his actions. For these stupid people, Obito only wanted to fight, to kill all these idiotic humans. They weren't worthy of embracing the beautiful life of the new world.
Though his opponents' strength surprised him considerably. Naruto, whom he'd thought was a frustrating child, could actually hurt him. Kakashi also proved surprising.
However, none of this could stop his forward momentum.
Even when they summoned the previous Hokage of Konoha, they couldn't halt his footsteps.
Finally, Obito defeated all his enemies. Though exhausted, happiness filled his heart. He looked at everyone and declared, "It's time to sleep."
Suddenly, blood trickled from the corner of Obito's mouth. He looked behind himself in disbelief. Black Zetsu had cut through the back half of his waist with a blade. Obito stood stunned.
A backstab from his teammate.
"Why?" Obito asked, voice breaking with disbelief.
"I'm sorry. Everything is for Mother." Black Zetsu spoke in a deep voice, swinging the giant blade again. Obito collapsed to the ground.
In his daze, Obito remembered the doubts recorded in his notebook... Sasuke... Kakashi... Naruto... one punch... investigating the cause of Itachi's death...
"I remember! I remember now! All of this is fake! One punch... it was Naruto who punched me and I fell into an illusion..."
Thinking this, Obito felt his spirit suddenly leap upward, as if seeking escape from the constructed reality.
Outside the illusion, Black and White Zetsu continued counting.
"Six, five, four, three, two..."
"One. I should leave. Obito, take care of yourself. Even witthout you as a partner, I can find another." Black and White Zetsu fled underground, attempting escape.
All movements in the surrounding area fell within Naruto's perception. The moment he sensed Black and White Zetsu preparing to flee, Naruto immediately shouted, "Since you came here, don't imagine you're leaving!"
While speaking, Naruto landed on the ground in an instant. He raised his right foot and stomped heavily, speaking simultaneously. "Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke, jump!"
Hearing this, Kakashi and Sasuke leaped upward without hesitation.
At this moment, Obito had just escaped from Naruto's technique. Suddenly hearing Naruto's words, he didn't even think. He performed a recovery jump and launched himself into the air.
Just as all three jumped, Naruto's foot slammed heavily into the ground.
"BOOM!"
The sound thundered outward. The ground shook violently. Everything on the surface—stones, trees, soil—trembled with chaotic intensity.
After one breath, the vibration stopped.
Naruto stepped again and shouted, "Jump!"
Kakashi, Sasuke, and Obito, who had just landed, immediately jumped again upon hearing the command.
Sasuke, Kakashi, Obito: Jump.
Sasuke, Kakashi, Obito: Jump.
Sasuke, Kakashi, Obito: Jump.
Five consecutive stomps later, more than twenty meters ahead, a figure shot out from the ground like a cork from a bottle. It was Black and White Zetsu, bones clearly fractured from the violent shaking.
Naruto had used vibration force to shake out Black and White Zetsu, who'd escaped into the ground's depths. Lucky for the creature, the shaking hadn't killed him outright.
Attempting to leave after arriving showed disrespect toward Naruto.
"Naruto, are you planning to continue this dance?" Kakashi asked, tired and out of breath. Recently his hands had healed, and he'd begun reading Icha Icha Paradise frequently again. Just a few jumps left his body feeling exhausted.
Sasuke also looked at Naruto. Jumping around like this felt extremely strange.
As for Obito, he stared at Naruto eagerly, hoping desperately they wouldn't jump again.
Black and White Zetsu had been shaken out. Since Zetsu couldn't escape, Naruto naturally stopped stomping. He turned his head and looked at Obito beside him.
Obito startled, then immediately activated his Kamui dimension, attempting to use it for escape.
At this point, he didn't dare fight Naruto anymore. Naruto's terrifying power had penetrated deep into his heart. He'd wanted to control Kurama but failed. Instead, Naruto had dragged him into an illusion.
If he hadn't died within that illusion, Obito might never have awakened.
"Naruto, we will meet again in the future."
Obito glanced at Naruto with complicated emotions. After finishing his statement, Obito's figure disappeared from before Naruto's eyes.
"The Kamui dimension?" As Obito vanished, Naruto chuckled. He naturally knew about Obito's Kamui ability. In the Boruto world, Naruto had already collected extensive information about Obito. He understood the man thoroughly.
"System, help me enter Obito's Kamui dimension." Naruto smiled and immediately communicated with the System.
[No problem.] The System responded. In the next second, Naruto's figure also disappeared rapidly from before Kakashi and Sasuke.
Just entering the Kamui dimension, Obito patted his chest with lingering fear. Naruto is really too powerful. Fortunately, I have the Kamui dimension. Otherwise, I might have died there today.
What puzzled him even more was this: He'd always operated in the shinobi world as Uchiha Madara. How did Naruto know his true identity as Uchiha Obito?
However, that had been dangerously close. He'd almost been unable to return. Forget it. The investigation into Uchiha Itachi's death can be shelved for now. I'll make new plans later.
"Naruto, I will see you again in the future. Next time, I'll definitely let you witness my true strength..." Obito chuckled and spoke to himself.
"What next time? Uchiha Obito, there's no need for a next time. Right now, let me see your strength immediately." Naruto's figure slowly materialized within the Kamui dimension, looking at the panicked Uchiha Obito.
"How did you get in here?!"
Obito panicked completely, his face filled with disbelief.
"I wanted to come in, so naturally I came in. Obito, don't try to break free. Your Kamui dimension is just my back garden." Naruto sneered. He could even travel through the Boruto world. What was one Kamui dimension compared to that?
"How did you enter?!"
Apparently, Obito remained stuck on confusion about how Naruto could access his Kamui dimension. He lost control of his emotions, expression twisting as he demanded answers.
"Hey, Obito, you're still wondering about this question? You shouldn't be thinking about whether you can survive our encounter. But if you want to know the answer so badly, I can show you."
Naruto smiled lightly. "Watch, Obito. I'll go out."
In the next second, within Obito's vision, Naruto's figure vanished from the Kamui dimension.
"Now I'll go in." Naruto's figure reappeared in the Kamui dimension.
Back and forth like this, Naruto entered and exited Obito's Kamui dimension repeatedly, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
Seeing this scene, Obito was instantly stunned, completely dumbfounded. He'd originally believed that with the Kamui dimension, even if he lost battles, he'd remain invincible through strategic retreat.
But why could Naruto enter and exit such a divine space at will?
For a moment, Obito's face turned ashen. The Kamui dimension he'd been so proud of was no longer safe. Then where else in the shinobi world could be considered secure?
His previous plan when facing Naruto had been simple: if he lost, hide in the Kamui dimension where Naruto couldn't attack him. That would infuriate Naruto to no end.
But now, he was the one being driven to fury.
This Kamui dimension... it doesn't matter anymore.