Chapter 514: Attempting to Clear the Game
"Would you like to enter the game using your original character, Uchiha Obito?"
After Obito opened his eyes, the NPC Sasuke finally stopped repeating the same line over and over.
"Original character? Does that mean the real me? If I can enter the game as my original character... then that means I can choose other characters too?"
Obito rubbed his chin as he thought.
Obito's wisdom was being put to its absolute limit.
"Can I enter the game as Hatake Kakashi?"
Obito tried asking.
"Would you like to enter the game using Hatake Kakashi?"
"It actually works?"
Obito hesitated for a moment before selecting "No."
Then he tried asking whether he could use Uchiha Madara or the Sage of Six Paths instead.
"Uchiha Madara and the Sage of Six Paths are limited rare characters. Please enter the game and unlock them through exploration."
"...?"
What was that supposed to mean?
Obito couldn't make sense of it.
What did they mean by unlocking them after entering the game?
Could he switch characters after getting inside?
After struggling with the decision for a while, he ultimately chose to enter as Kakashi.
Obito didn't know much about games.
But he had seen people playing them a couple of times in Amegakure.
Based on his limited understanding, characters in games could revive endlessly.
If that was the case, then Kamui's intangibility wasn't especially useful for defense.
Kakashi's offensive Kamui would probably help him clear the game faster and escape the genjutsu sooner.
It could only be said that Obito had relied on his "wheelchair" ability for so long that he'd started believing he was actually amazing at fighting without it.
A flash of brilliant light filled his vision.
When the light faded, Obito found himself standing inside a familiar bedroom.
This was...
Kakashi's house?
When they were children, Obito and Rin often came over to Kakashi's house to eat grilled fish together, so he recognized it immediately.
At the same time, a virtual screen appeared before him.
[Beginner Mission: Complete the Beginner Village quests "Father's Guidance," "The Uchiha's Best Friend," and "Defeat Your Rival."]
[After completing the Beginner Missions, you will leave the Beginner Village and receive the reward: Bond Resonance - Kakashi, unlocking Kakashi's corresponding skill set.]
[Current Mission: "Father's Guidance"]
[Mission Details: ...]
"One Thousand Years of Death!!!"
Pfft!
Before Obito could even read the mission details, a low, murderous voice came from behind him.
A sharp pain instantly exploded from his backside.
His entire body shot into the air, slammed into the ceiling, and then crashed heavily onto the floor.
"Kakashi, you've failed again. It seems your vigilance and reflexes are still lacking."
Hatake Sakumo calmly wiped his fingers with a piece of paper before walking over and looking down at Obito.
Only then did Obito finally see the full mission description.
[Mission Details: Pass your father Hatake Sakumo's trial by successfully dodging one "One Thousand Years of Death" attack from the White Fang of Konoha.]
"..."
Obito's face instantly turned pale.
So this was the devilish training Kakashi had endured as a child?
If he'd known, he would've picked himself instead.
Although he still had all the ninjutsu knowledge and combat experience from the real world, his physical abilities were still those of the young Kakashi.
His abilities were different from Kakashi's as well.
He couldn't use Kakashi's Lightning Release at all. The only thing he could use was Fire Release.
But even that was meaningless.
Ninjutsu wouldn't help with this mission.
The objective wasn't to withstand one or two attacks from the White Fang.
It was simply to dodge a single One Thousand Years of Death.
Honestly...
Even in the real world, without using Kamui's intangibility, it would be difficult for him to defend against several assassination attempts from the White Fang.
And now he had to do it using young Kakashi's much weaker body.
Fortunately...
His current identity was Hatake Kakashi, the White Fang's son, not an enemy.
Sakumo wouldn't fight his own son with killing intent or go all out.
That meant he still had a chance.
"Come on. Let's eat."
Hatake Sakumo smiled kindly as he helped Obito to his feet.
"Okay."
As they walked, Obito began thinking about how to break this deadlock.
Training at the last minute was obviously pointless.
This would have to be solved with strategy.
Lost in thought, he sat down on the cushion at the dining table and prepared to eat.
He had to admit...
This genjutsu world felt astonishingly real.
Back in that little black room, he hadn't felt hungry or thirsty at all.
But the moment he arrived here, hunger struck immediately.
He even felt like he needed to use the bathroom.
Still racking his brain, Obito finished eating and headed toward the toilet.
A few seconds later…
A scream echoed from inside.
"This is too much! This is absolutely cruel!"
Obito staggered out of the bathroom, supporting himself against the wall with tears in his eyes.
The mighty White Fang of Konoha had actually ambushed him while he was using the toilet.
Using Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu (Double Suicide Decapitation Technique), Sakumo had dragged him underground beneath the toilet.
Then, waiting underneath was a wooden fake hand that had already been set up to perform One Thousand Years of Death.
"Kakashi, don't blame me. The battlefield is far crueler than you can imagine. The more pain you endure now, the less you'll suffer in the future."
Hatake Sakumo walked over with a towel and gently wiped the sweat from Obito's face.
"..."
Hard to say.
Obito felt those words sounded reasonable...
But they were complete nonsense.
Kakashi definitely hadn't suffered less in the future.
It was more like: "As long as you're willing to suffer, there'll always be more suffering waiting for you."
After enduring One Thousand Years of Death again and again, Obito finally gathered some useful information.
First of all, Hatake Sakumo truly loved Kakashi.
Every word of comfort after each attack was sincere.
He wasn't mocking him.
Nor was he shedding crocodile tears.
That meant this could be used to his advantage.
Secondly...
What he needed most was to know where Sakumo was hiding each time and exactly when he would strike.
Only then would he have enough time to react.
But how could he do that?
Wait...
I've got it!
Obito suddenly realized something.
Right now, he is Kakashi.
Back when they were children, he had been the only one sharp enough to realize that Kakashi was secretly a bashful guy hiding behind that mask.
It wouldn't become public knowledge until more than ten years later.
At this point in time, everyone still saw Kakashi as the perfect, obedient child.
He could completely take advantage of that.
The moment he thought of the plan, he acted on it.
Obito headed straight to the Hokage Building and met the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Hehe, Kakashi. What brings you here today?"
Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe and smiled warmly.
"Third Hokage-sama, could you use the Telescope Technique on my dad... and then lend me the crystal ball for a little while?"
Obito got straight to the point.
"Hm? Why? Did something happen to Sakumo?"
The Third Hokage blinked in confusion.
"Yesterday, I accidentally found a swimsuit photo of Granny Chiyo from the neighboring Sunagakure Village in my dad's bedroom. I suspect that after my mom passed away, he suffered some psychological trauma and developed some... unusual tastes. I'd like to confirm it."
"Pfft! What?!"
(End of this chapter)