If Uchiha Ren had wanted to kill him, he would have already died just now.
And more importantly… why was Uchiha Ren here?
Obito was deeply familiar with this fellow clansman.
Back then, Uchiha Ren often stayed close to his teacher, Minato Namikaze, and was quite familiar with Team Minato. He would frequently say strange, incomprehensible things to them.
Not only did Minato hold Ren in high regard, but Ren's performance on the Kirigakure battlefield had also been exceptionally brilliant.
In Obito's eyes, Uchiha Ren was unfathomable—someone not inferior to Minato himself.
"Brother Ren… Konan, she…"
After being saved, Yahiko felt no relief—only pain and regret.
If Ren had arrived just a little earlier, maybe Konan wouldn't have—
But Yahiko wasn't blaming Ren.
He was blaming himself—for being too weak to stall longer.
"Don't worry," Ren said calmly. "Konan is fine. She's alive."
Only then did Yahiko notice—
Ren was holding an unconscious Konan in his other arm.
There was some blood at her neck, but it was only a superficial wound. Her breathing was steady.
She was unharmed.
"Th-that's… that's great!"
Yahiko's eyes reddened as he stammered in relief.
"She's alive… that's all that matters…"
The overwhelming relief made him forget to even ask what had happened.
"Yahiko, I saw everything just now," Ren said, openly approving. "You did very well."
"Make sure you protect Konan."
He gently handed Konan over.
Yahiko received her carefully, as if holding something priceless.
Only then did Ren turn to Obito—his gaze complicated.
Ren had arrived earlier, controlling Hanzo of the Salamander to rush here after sensing the disturbance.
What he saw was Obito using genjutsu—combined with his Sharingan—to manipulate Yahiko's perception, making him believe Konan had died.
In truth, Konan had indeed tried to kill herself by throwing herself onto the black chakra rod.
Even Ren had almost intervened.
But at the last moment—
Obito shifted the rod.
He only inflicted a superficial injury… and used that moment to cast genjutsu on Yahiko.
Then came the "talk no jutsu."
Ren understood.
Obito saw himself in them.
Yahiko's passion mirrored his past self.
Konan's choice mirrored Rin's.
That was why Obito desperately wanted Yahiko's validation—to prove he wasn't wrong.
So Ren chose not to interfere.
And then—
Obito's mentality broke.
Yahiko's unwavering, radiant will was blinding.
You could call it naïve.
You could call it childish.
But when such a person stood before you in reality—
Someone like Obito, who was already losing himself, couldn't help but feel ashamed.
Because once—
He had been the same.
And the truth was—
Obito hadn't completely abandoned himself.
Not even in the Fourth Great Ninja War had he truly lost everything.
Otherwise, Naruto Uzumaki wouldn't have been able to reach him.
That former self was merely buried deep inside him—
Waiting to resurface when triggered.
Realizing this, Ren changed his approach.
Perhaps—
Obito's descent into extremism wasn't just due to suffering.
It was because he was an Uchiha.
The Sharingan granted power through pain—
But also amplified obsession and emotional extremes.
The deeper the love—
The deeper the suffering.
That was the price of Uchiha power.
If Obito hadn't been an Uchiha—
He might have made the same choice as Yahiko.
So Ren decided to reveal himself.
To give Obito… another chance.
Ren looked at him and said lightly:
"Three days apart, and one should look at you with new eyes."
"Who would've thought the former dead last would grow this strong?"
Obito's heart skipped.
"You are… Uchiha Ren, aren't you?"
"The most outstanding Uchiha of this generation."
"I've heard of you—but we've never met."
"I am Uchiha Madara."
Despite his attempt at composure, his voice lacked conviction.
Ren chuckled.
"If you wear a mask for too long, it becomes your face."
"And removing it later will cost you dearly."
"It's not too late to turn back."
"You're still you—the hero of Konoha."
Obito avoided his gaze.
"What nonsense… I am Uchiha Madara—a rogue ninja of Konoha, not some hero."
"Madara?" Ren smiled. "Stop pretending. You can't fool me."
"You're clearly Uchiha—"
"I'm not Ob—"
"Kenji."
"???"
Obito froze.
Ren grinned.
"You're Uchiha Kenji, right?"
Obito: "..."
Obito was furious.
A storm of curses rose in his throat—but under Ren's teasing gaze, he forced them back down.
Given Ren's personality, deliberately messing up names was absolutely something he'd do.
Back then, he used to call him "Uchiha Klutz" for no reason at all.
Now—
"Kenji…"
Obito repeated it in his head.
Then suddenly—
He remembered his academy evaluation stats:
Ninjutsu: 6
Taijutsu: 4
Genjutsu: 3
Strength: 4
Speed: 6
Stamina: 5
Hand Seals: 6
Intelligence: 2
That stat represented knowledge and IQ.
Even Naruto had 6.
Rock Lee, Choji, Kiba—at least 4.
Even Hidan had 6.
And him?
"…Damn it!!!"
Obito exploded internally.
This bastard was mocking his intelligence!
"Oh? You actually understood?" Ren said in mock surprise. "Have you upgraded to Uchiha Kenji Three?"
"Bastard—DIE!"
Obito snapped and charged forward.
"I'll teach you a lesson!"
"Enkai."
Ren raised two fingers calmly.
A ring of blazing fire erupted from beneath his feet, rapidly expanding outward—carefully avoiding Yahiko and Konan while engulfing dozens of meters.
Feeling the intense heat, Obito immediately activated Kamui's intangibility—
Yet he didn't stop.
He rushed forward and punched at Ren's face.
Ren didn't move.
"Brother Ren, watch out—!"
Yahiko shouted—
But the punch passed straight through Ren's head.
Obito's Kamui intangibility was indeed absurd.
But once understood—
It wasn't unbeatable.
While intangible, Obito couldn't be hit—
But he also couldn't hit others.
Ren's flame barrier ensured that if Obito wanted to attack—
He would first have to endure the flames.
"Damn it!"
Missing his strike, Obito leapt and spun, sweeping a kick at Ren's head.
At the last moment—
Ren activated Fire Release Chakra Mode, flames erupting across his body.
Obito's pupils shrank.
He was forced to phase again—his leg passing harmlessly through Ren.
Landing while intangible, he quickly retreated beyond the flames.
Though only a brief exchange—
Obito was already shaken.
Ren clearly understood his ability.
He was being led step by step.
On the surface, neither was injured—
But in reality—
Obito had already lost ground.
Kamui avoided direct contact—
But not heat.
The intense thermal energy had already scorched his legs, damaging tissue.
Ren's flames were no ordinary fire.
"…Do you still want to continue?" Ren asked calmly.
Obito remained silent, his expression shifting beneath the mask.
High-level shinobi battles—
Were battles of intelligence.
If his ability had been figured out—
His chances plummeted.
"…What do you want?" Obito finally asked.
Ren shook his head.
"That's not the right question."
"The real question is—what do you want?"
As he spoke, Ren casually glanced toward a dark corner in the distance—
And activated his three-tomoe Sharingan.
A crimson glint flickered in his eyes as he looked back at Obito.
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