Let It Burn: Death [Sasuke Uchiha]

Chapter 13

"Obito."

After all this time... Another Uchiha.

"If you wish to call me by that name, then by all means go ahead," the criminal shrugged. "It no longer holds any meaning to me."

"So you survived..." Kakashi breathed.

How remained to be a mystery, but the Jounin remembered that day vividly. How his teammate sacrificed himself in order to save the ninja, which was how the General received the Sharingan eye in the first place. A rock slide had crushed Obito. There was no way to save him.

"Who is that?" Naruto questioned.

"He was a Leaf Ninja from our generation, an Uchiha," Gai answered gravely. "But he should have died in the previous war."

Kakashi had to know, "If you were alive then why up until now...?"

"Whether or not 'I' survived is irrelevant," Obito stated. "But if I had to say why it was because you let Rin die."

The Jounin's eyes widened. How did he know about that incident?

"You should stop making that face, Kakashi."

"Aren't you going to blame me?" he wondered.

"With this insignificant reality, what good will blaming you do? I hold no interest in the affairs of this world that's about to disappear."

It was then Obito reveled everything. He was saved by a remnant of Madara, who nursed him back to health repairing his shattered body. Obito had been there when the enemy surrounded Kakashi and Rin. He came to their aid, to be reunited, and found the Jounin's hand running through the girl's chest from a Chidori. She died instantly, after Kakashi swore to protect her. Promised!

Her death made rage consume Obito as the Copy-Cat Ninja collapsed from overexertion. The Uchiha went on a rampage through the field ripping into enemy without mercy and painting the ground red with their blood. The only one left alive had been Kakashi, who woke up alone on the battlefield. Left to return to Konoha with a heavy heart.

But Obito didn't know. The Mist had kidnapped and sealed the Three-Tailed Beast inside of the girl he had loved. Once back in Konoha they would release it, wreaking havoc on the Village. Rin did not wish to put innocent lives at risk, and Kakashi refused to kill her as they were tracked by the enemy ninja back to the border. When he went to attack and kill a Kiri Ninja, Rin threw herself in his path, committing suicide. But Obito didn't appear to want to hear it. The young man wished to create his own reality.

"Sensei!" Naruto shouted. "I don't know what went on between the two of you, but this isn't the time to be depressed about it! I'll listen to what you have to say later! For now, stopping this guy's plans takes top priority!"

"Naruto's right!" Gai supported. "The world is on the line right now!"

Still, the General needed answers. Something to make sense of all of this. "Why?" he asked. "Why do you side with someone like Madara?"

Apparently, the Uchiha did not wish to explain releasing a barrage of weapons head on at the Jounin. With quick thinking, the young man's palms slammed against the ground producing a wall of rock to separate them. Though it stopped the weapons, Obito's form passed through. There was no time to react as a giant shuriken violently pinned one of Kakashi's legs, while his free hand gripped an arm to hold his former teammate in place.

"Just shut up," the Uchiha growled. "Everything you say is trash anyway."

Kakashi pressed on, "Why did you turn out this way? Is it because of Rin?"

Obito only gripped harder, twisting the weapon causing his opponent's teeth to clench in pain. "Trash should just keep their mouth shut and die."

"I couldn't keep my promise. Yes, I am trash... But you, you're a hero of Konoha."

Obito chuckled darkly. "This is reality. Be it the one being relied upon, or the one who relies on others. In this world all ninjas will ever amount to is trash. You and I are fine examples of that. Aren't we?"

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The Shinobi Army had arrived, coming over the ridge of the destruction that littered the field. It was hard to spot their friends amongst it, but the moment their destination had been reached Mai threw herself from Sai's back. She catapulted herself through the air with such speed it was impressive. In fact, the quick movement nearly threw off the Root Ninja's balance. Everyone was ready to rush forward when they were met with resistance.

Obviously, the threat of the White Zetsu clones had not completely eliminated, for another army of them littered the field. Emerging from broken rocks and slinking around the debris.

"Hit 'em hard!" Belva shouted.

A war cry echoed through the shinobi before clashing. They weren't the only ones present upon seeing the resurrected form of Madara entering as well. How had he not been released like the others? And what had happened to the Kages?

A blast rocked the area as the former Uchiha leader hit Second Division. But there was no time to question his involvement at the moment, needing to protect Naruto. If the former Uchiha leader was here, then that would be his target, along with the fake. Teamed up they wouldn't stand a chance at protecting the remaining beasts.

Moving through the clashing bodies, Mai didn't allow any of the White Zetsus to stand in her way. And then she could see it. Naruto's shocking yellow hair and Gai's mop top. But their sensei–

He was inches before the remaining member of the Akatsuki. A face she did not recognize. But upon seeing the Sharingan swirling in an eye immediately the Be Fong knew they were facing against another Uchiha. But how was another one alive? And then there was the Rinnegan. Pein's eye. This was no ordinary opponent. None of that mattered, seeing the blood seeping from Kakashi's wound.

"Enjoy the darkness," the enemy spoke.

"Obito–!" Gai shouted out, trying to stop him.

"As I slaughter your friends and take the beasts for my own to create a perfect world."

Sucked into the void of Kamui, the Be Fong rushed forward in a panic trying to reach the Jounin in time. The Chakra Strings shot across the space to grab him. Just within reach the young man disappeared on the spot. The breath caught in her throat, eyes going wide to find the area in front of her empty.

"Kakashi!" she screamed.

Whirling around Mai searched for him frantically. This had to be the trick of the mind. An illusion. But she was immune to such a thing. He was nowhere to be found. She couldn't even pick up on his chakra. Where had Obito taken him?

"Kakashi!" the teen shouted louder over the noise as Gai faced off against the Uchiha. Still no response.

A white clone grinned upon sensing the panic and seeing her distraction. He could use that to his advantage, going in for the kill. But as the teen turned on a heel to face him, his gut clenched in fear at the manic look in her eyes. Though they were still a distance away from each other the Be Fong's hand moved through the air as if swatting away an insect. An invisible force ripped into the clone's body. The White Zetsu was dead before hitting the ground.

Now it was her turn to go on a rampage.