CHAPTER 136

Underground Cave – Hidden Location

In the dim, moss-covered cavern, Uchiha Obito lay on a wooden bed, grimacing as he clenched and released his right fist. His hand—reconstructed from the cells of Hashirama Senju—still didn't move with perfect precision. But each day, his coordination improved.

He didn't know how long he had been here.

Ever since he regained consciousness after the cave-in during the Kannabi Bridge mission, he had woken to a strange new world. A pale, masked being calling itself "White Zetsu" had greeted him, while a shriveled old man with flowing white hair and a gnarled war fan at his back claimed to be Madara Uchiha.

Despite his growing strength, Obito's mind remained tethered to Konoha.

"When can I go back?" Obito muttered under his breath, irritation bubbling in his voice. "I heard from one of those Zetsu things that Uchiha Kai awakened the Sharingan and completed our mission. Now he's being called a hero back in the village…"

He clenched his jaw. "If I hadn't been trapped here, that glory would've been mine…"

Madara, always two steps ahead, made sure to send White Zetsu out for news, perhaps to keep Obito obedient—or simply amused.

Obito wasn't fond of Kai. Though they were on decent terms before, Kai's aloof, calculating personality always rubbed him the wrong way.

"He acts warm… but he's colder than Kakashi."

Still, Obito found himself thinking about them often—Kakashi, Rin, and even Kai. The world up there continued to move on without him, and that thought stung more than any injury.

Madara's talk of a "world without pain" — some kind of dream-world created by illusion — didn't sit right with Obito.

"A fake peace? What's the point if it's not real?"

He wasn't about to waste his life playing along with a lunatic's plan. Once he recovered, he'd escape. He'd tell Minato-sensei everything. He'd return to his friends. To Rin.

Then, a voice echoed from the cavern wall.

"Obito, bad news!"

It was White Zetsu—his body merging halfway from the stone like a ghost. He sounded uncharacteristically serious.

"It's Rin and that Kakashi guy. They're in trouble."

Obito shot up, his heart pounding. "What happened?!"

"They were ambushed. Mist ninja. Kiri Anbu. A lot of them."

"Kiri?! But… aren't they still in the Land of Grass?"

"Nope. They're deep in enemy territory now. Something about an 'experiment.' I don't know all the details."

Obito's body moved on instinct. He leapt from the bed—his wooden slab snapping in half as he landed. He rushed the cave wall and slammed his fist into it, causing stone to crack and dust to fall. But his reconstructed right arm buckled under the impact, flopping uselessly.

"Damn it!"

"You're not strong enough to get out yet," came a calm voice behind him. It was White Zetsu, fully emerged now.

"I don't care! I'm going to save them!"

Zetsu tilted his head, silent for a moment, then his body began to open like a plant unfurling.

"Use my body," he offered. "You'll be able to move and fight with it. You want to save your friends, right?"

Obito hesitated. "…Aren't you one of Madara's followers? Why are you helping me?"

"You talk too much. Just put me on."

Obito gritted his teeth. "Thanks."

White Zetsu's spore-like body wrapped around Obito like armor. The sensation was strange—but he could move. Flexing his restored right hand, he felt his strength surge.

The statue of the Gedo Mazo behind them pulsed once through a chakra tether.

Obito turned and slammed his fist into the cave wall—this time, the rock exploded outward.

"Going somewhere?" came Madara's voice, echoing from the shadows.

"I owe you for saving me… but I'm not staying here. Rin and Kakashi need me."

"You're still naive," Madara muttered. "You'll be back. The real world will show you its truth."

Obito didn't answer. He tore through the opening and vanished into the fading light above.

The sky was streaked with orange—dusk. Obito adjusted the mask-hood White Zetsu formed over his face.

"Where are they?" he demanded.

"We can communicate through my spore clone," said the voice of White Zetsu from inside the armor. "I'll guide you. Head east."

Without pause, Obito ran.

As he dashed from branch to branch, Obito shouted, "How bad is it?!"

"Not good," came the answer. "They're surrounded by elite Mist Anbu. Someone mentioned Rin being a 'test subject.' Sounds like they want her alive."

"Test subject…?" Obito's mind reeled.

"And Minato-sensei? Where is he?!"

"No clue. Heard something about him being sent to the front lines. Negotiations with Iwa."

"What—at a time like this?!"

Obito clenched his fists. His speed increased, trees flashing past in a blur.

"Just wait… Kakashi, Rin… hold on. I'm coming."