I Will Become the Wind

CHAPTER 40 | Meeting and a Warning

The six of them sat in a loose circle, a strange group meeting in the thick forest of Fire, half a day's travel south of Grass. At least, that's where Minato guessed they were, based on his network of permanent markers that still existed throughout the country.

Naruto did most of the talking, quickly catching everyone up on what had happened in Obito's kamui dimension. When he finished, all three adults silently exchanged looks.

"I'm sorry you had to face that alone," Tsunade said finally. "It should have been our job to deal with Orochimaru. We let Madara slip away from us, and that's what gave him the opportunity."

Naruto shook his head. "You guys had the Sanbi to deal with. Besides, what's more important is that Orochimaru's still out there, and now he has some super-dimension-traveling powers that can take him anywhere. What do we do?"

"About Orochimaru? I don't think there's anything we can do, other than be ready if he ever comes back."

Obito crossed his arms. "I could have followed him if I had the Mangekyou." He shot a glance at Naruto. "Would it have killed you to play dead for a minute?"

"What? Are you kidding me—fine! Next time, I will."

"Please don't joke about that." Kabuto palmed his forehead.

"Kabuto, you gotta help, or else it won't be convincing."

"I refuse."

"Suddenly, I'm worried these three have too much of an influence on one another," Minato said. His tone was light, but Naruto could sense the underlying tension in his posture, the way he sat on a large rock with hands propped on knees, as if holding himself upright.

"Even if you could follow Orochimaru, it doesn't mean you should," Kakashi said. "As for Madara... where is he now?"

Obito looked at Naruto and Kabuto, raising a questioning brow, silently asking their opinions. Naruto shrugged. Kabuto nodded.

"In my kamui, obviously," Obito said. "That's the only way I can be sure he won't escape. And I'm not planning on handing him over, either."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "If you're trying to defend him—"

"Because he's me? Is that what you think?" Obito looked across at Minato. "That's the truth, and I'm tired of trying to run away from it. He's the version of me from this timeline." Obito turned to address Tsunade again. "And I'm not defending him. You guys can ask whatever you want, do whatever you want, but he has to stay in my dimension. I don't know much about Akatsuki, but I doubt a normal prison would be enough if they went looking for him."

"How long have you known about this... other you, Obito?" Minato asked, sounding distinctly unsurprised.

Naruto glanced back and forth between them. Again, he wanted to say something, but he knew this particular battle was Obito's to fight.

Obito looked uncomfortable. "I found out about it the first time I went to the future dimension. But I swear—no matter what happens, I'll never, never turn out the way he—"

"That's not my concern, exactly." Minato shook his head. "I don't understand this world's circumstances, so I can't say much about that. I only wondered if that's what's been weighing on you this whole time. Why you started being less open with everyone. It didn't seem like you."

Obito flushed and looked down at his feet, his defiance utterly dissolved.

Kakashi took a step toward Minato. "That aside... it's not like the kamui dimension is inescapable. All he would have to do is take Obito's eyes. That makes it more dangerous for him than anyone else. Sensei, maybe he'll listen to you. We should come up with something else."