Sora asked, feigning ignorance:
"Who are you?"
Obito slightly raised his head, his voice hoarse:
"Who am I? Hah... Has the passage of time truly caused my name to be forgotten by the world?"
"I am... Uchiha Madara."
Silence.
Sora's heart remained utterly calm.
On the surface, he appropriately displayed a look of "shock," though it vanished in an instant.
"Uchiha Madara?"
Sora frowned slightly. "The Uchiha Madara who co-founded Konoha with the First Hokage? He should have died long ago at the Valley of the End."
"Death?"
Obito — or rather, the one claiming to be "Madara" — let out an ambiguous, light chuckle:
"For those who have truly glimpsed the reality of this world, death... is not the end."
He took a step forward, his single visible Sharingan fixed intently on Sora.
"Just like you, Sora. Possessing such formidable power, yet still unable to bring back the lives that were lost."
"Watching an important comrade die before your eyes, that helplessness and agony... You must understand it deeply."
His tone deliberately carried a hint of "shared suffering."
Sora's eyes sharpened, a sliver of killing intent leaking out.
"You investigated me?"
"Not specifically."
Obito waved a hand dismissively. "A battle like the one at the Valley of the End, you couldn't hide it even if you tried. The darkness within Konoha, the sacrifice of comrades... This twisted world brings us nothing but endless pain and regret."
He spread his arms, his tone gradually becoming impassioned, filled with allure:
"Sora, join me! We share similar experiences, we can understand each other better! This world full of lies, betrayal, and sacrifice is wrong!"
"We need to create a brand new, perfect world—one without war, without loss, filled with peace!"
"In that world, the comrade you lost... that girl named Uesugi Min, will be resurrected. You can live happily together in that world forever!"
Obito's voice carried a fanatical certainty, as if stating an impending fact.
Sora remained silent.
The Eye of the Moon Plan... Infinite Tsukuyomi.
It sounds grandiose, but it's nothing more than a large-scale genjutsu enveloping the entire world, turning all living people into nourishment for the White Zetsu, immersed in false dreams.
Using such false 'happiness' to numb oneself is practically self-deception.
What he pursued was true resurrection, bringing Uesugi Min back to his side in reality, not living in an illusory dream.
After a moment, Sora slowly shook his head:
"No need."
The brow beneath Obito's mask furrowed:
"Why? Don't you want to see her again?"
"I do."
"But I want her to live truly in this world, not lost in the dream you describe."
"I will bring my comrade back through my own strength, using my own methods."
"I don't need to rely on anyone's 'benevolence,' especially not... a false future painted by someone who hides their face and dares not show their true self."
Sora's words were quite blunt. The atmosphere around Obito instantly turned cold, a flash of anger passing through his Sharingan eye.
The atmosphere immediately grew tense.
But soon, Obito forcibly suppressed his anger.
He thought of Nohara Rin, of Kakashi's hand piercing through her chest, of his own despair and madness at that time.
He "understood" Sora's current "stubbornness," just like when he himself had first "awakened."
He believed Sora simply hadn't yet fully recognized the cruelty of this world, hadn't yet been completely consumed by despair.
One day, he would understand.
"It seems... you haven't truly awakened yet."
"You will understand. In this painful reality, your persistence is meaningless."
Sora neither agreed nor disagreed, suddenly changing the subject:
"Although I'm not interested in your 'perfect world,' I am somewhat interested in your 'organization.'"
Obito was slightly taken aback:
"Oh?"
"You're right. The darkness of this world, I've certainly seen enough of it."
Sora's tone was flat, its sincerity hard to discern:
"No matter how strong I am alone, my power is ultimately limited. Perhaps, using a certain platform could help me achieve my goal faster."
"I myself will not join your organization. I have my own path. However, I can recommend a candidate to you."
"Who?"
"A missing-nin with the code name 'White Tiger.'"
Sora described his own clone without changing expression:
"A user of Wind Release and Magnet Release. His strength is decent, at least at the Quasi-Kage level. Most importantly, he has some connection with me. He's one of the few people I can trust."
Upon hearing this, Obito fell into thought.
Quasi-Kage level was considered high-tier combat power in the current shinobi world, a good choice for the "Akatsuki" organization which was recruiting.
Moreover, this person was connected to Sora...
Obito glanced at Sora.
He understood Sora's intention — nothing more than wanting to plant an informant within the organization.
But he wasn't entirely opposed to it.
Firstly, he was confident in his own strength and control, not believing a single Quasi-Kage level could cause any real trouble.
Secondly, if this "White Tiger" truly joined, then through him, perhaps he could better "influence" and "recruit" Sora, this super-strong asset.
This was mutual use.
"Fine."
Obito finally nodded. "Tell me how to find him."
"He should currently be active around the border area between the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Fire."
Sora gave a vague location. "Your people should be able to find him. When you meet him, just mention my name."
"Very well."
Obito noted this information.
With the matter discussed, silence fell between the two once more.
Obito looked at this youth before him, whose expression was calm yet contained terrifying power.
He recalled the few brief encounters at the ninja academy, remembered the mournful dragon's roar when Sora carried Uesugi Min's body away, and the complex feeling of being "kindred spirits" resurfaced in his heart.
He issued a final warning:
"Sora, considering our similar experiences, I'll give you a piece of advice."
"Stay quietly on your island, researching your method to resurrect your comrade. Don't try to interfere with my plans, and don't... covet things you shouldn't."
"Otherwise, even with your strength, opposing me will not end well for you."
After speaking, the space in front of him began to rotate and distort, like a vortex sucking his body into it.
He left Sora alone, standing outside the barrier.
'Things I shouldn't covet? He means the Rinnegan, doesn't he?'
Sora understood Obito's subtext.
'It seems he guards those eyes very closely.'