Naruto: Getting Observation Haki By Sacrificing The Byakugan

Kawaki Aoba's words made Tobirama Senju's heart tighten, and he didn't refute them.

The will of the strong must not be opposed.

Once, his elder brother—Hashirama Senju—had been the same: idealistic, kind, and stubborn. That naivety had been a blessing to the other great shinobi villages.

Now, Kawaki Aoba displayed a similar unwavering resolve. But unlike Hashirama, Aoba's strength was cold, focused, and unyielding—this time, it would be a disaster for the other villages.

Fortunately, Tobirama was a man of Konoha. The fate of the other villages wasn't his concern. His loyalty, first and foremost, was to his own.

"It seems you've already made up your mind," Tobirama said, voice low. "When do you plan to act? At your current strength, you could sweep the shinobi world. Even Madara Uchiha wouldn't be your match... correct?"

Kawaki Aoba nodded. "Madara Uchiha is no longer my equal. But his nature is stubborn and extreme. If he insists on conflict, I won't hesitate to strike him down—again and again, if I must. Still, such battles would bring collateral damage. Konoha would suffer, and that's not something I want."

He looked skyward, then continued, "That's why I'll wait. I want absolute power—the kind that would let me crush Madara without a struggle—before I reveal myself to the world."

Tobirama narrowed his eyes. "You mean... you can still grow even stronger?"

"It's only natural," Aoba replied with a faint smile. "I'm not even twenty. My growth is far from finished. Give me a few more years, and surpassing Madara will be inevitable."

Tobirama: ...

So... you're really just going to stop being human, huh?

Your strength is already inhuman, and you're still getting stronger?

Crushing Madara Uchiha would require a godlike leap in power. Is that even possible?

Kawaki Aoba chuckled as he met Tobirama's incredulous gaze.

"Second Hokage, maybe you've never truly understood the shinobi world. Its waters run far deeper than you think."

Tobirama frowned. "What are you implying? The shinobi world is just that—a world of shinobi. Are you saying there are deeper secrets?"

Aoba didn't answer directly. Instead, he posed a question. "The technique used by the boy with the Rinnegan earlier—Chibaku Tensei, the Planetary Devastation. What did you think of it?"

Tobirama's expression turned serious. "That technique is... formidable. It could even neutralize my most powerful jutsu. If it hadn't been for the Complete Body Susanoo shielding me from the core, I might have been sealed. It's the most effective sealing technique I've seen. But why do you bring it up?"

Obito: Fake. It's all fake...

Aoba stepped out of the room, gesturing for Tobirama to follow. He pointed toward the moon above and said calmly:

"Second Hokage... doesn't that moon look like an enormous Chibaku Tensei to you?"

He said it with a smile.

Tobirama froze, staring at the moon, his jaw clenched.

He slowly turned to Aoba, his voice hoarse. "You're... joking. Right?"

Aoba met his eyes squarely. "Do I strike you as someone who'd joke about this?"

Tobirama swallowed hard. His throat was dry. The implications were staggering.

"If the moon really is a giant Chibaku Tensei... then what's sealed inside? And who sealed it?"

This was no longer mere shinobi politics—this bordered on myth.

Eventually, Tobirama departed, carrying the test tube Aoba had given him.

Per Aoba's instruction, a new Zetsu corpse would be delivered to the Uchiha district the next morning for experimental use.

---

The next day...

Obito awoke from the genjutsu, mind hazy. All he remembered was a long, long dream.

He had returned to a world before the Third Shinobi World War. Rin was still alive. It felt like a second chance—a divine gift.

This time, he saved her. He became a hero of Konoha.

But even in this illusion, Rin still fell in love with Kakashi.

Still, he rose to replace Minato-sensei as the Fourth Hokage. Peace returned to the world.

He endured the heartbreak and even attended Rin and Kakashi's wedding as Hokage.

Later, he took their child as his disciple and nurtured him to become the Fifth Hokage.

It was a peaceful world. A fake world. But to Obito, it felt painfully real.

A world where he had simped from start to finish.

"How could Rin marry Kakashi... and even have a kid?" he muttered hoarsely. "This genjutsu is too fake. But... couldn't you have let me stay there just a little longer, Minato-sensei?"

In front of him stood Minato Namikaze, calm and watchful.

"You were under the genjutsu for nearly a full day, Obito," Minato said quietly.

"Is that so? I didn't notice. As fake as it was... it gave me peace. I actually slept well for once," Obito said with a bitter chuckle. "Ask me whatever you want—I won't resist."

His tone was light, but his resolve was firm.

He had already made peace with being interrogated.

He wouldn't leak a word of the Eye of the Moon Plan.

Even the Yamanaka Clan's mental probes would fail. His brain had been sealed. The moment they tried to force their way in, that seal would obliterate his consciousness.

No one would get anything from him.

On the other side of the village, Minato Namikaze knew it was pointless to argue with Obito in his current state. His heart had long since died.

Fortunately, Minato had already made arrangements for this situation.

"Obito," Minato said softly, his tone steady but solemn. "Someone will come to see you soon—alone. When that time comes, I hope you'll find it in yourself to give me—and the village—a new answer."

With that, Minato turned and left without another word.

Behind him, Obito Uchiha smirked coldly. "Save your breath, Lord Fourth. It doesn't matter who you send—no one will get anything from me."

Minato didn't respond. He simply walked away, his figure soon disappearing beyond the door.

Moments later, the door creaked open again, and the sound of footsteps echoed into the prison cell.

Obito sneered. "Let me guess. Kakashi? Come to gloat at your old friend turned monster?"

"Obito."

The voice was soft, female, and tinged with unmistakable sorrow.

The smirk on Obito's face froze. His body trembled involuntarily.

"You bastards…" he growled, his expression twisting. "How many times will you use Rin against me? She's dead! She was your student too, Minato! Let her rest! Has being Hokage made you so heartless?"

Obito's voice cracked with rage and grief. "I was a fool once, but I'm not falling for this again. You won't use Rin to break me."

But the figure stepped forward without a word and embraced him gently.

"I'm sorry, Obito," the girl whispered, arms trembling. "I never imagined you'd fall so far… because of me. I'm sorry."

Obito opened his mouth to scream again, to curse her—curse them all—but no sound came.

"Rin… it's not your fault," he said, almost in a whisper, before his eyes widened.

"No… That's not right. You're not real. Rin's dead. I saw it. I saw her die with my own eyes."

Obito backed away, eyes wild, shaking his head furiously. "No. You're fake. You're just another illusion."

Despite his words, his voice softened, no longer venomous. The anger that once defined him seemed to drain away.

Rin said nothing more, only stood beside him quietly, eyes full of guilt and compassion.

Yes, it really was Nohara Rin. Against all odds, she lived.

Secretly rescued by the Meizu Organization before her death, Rin had gone underground and lived in hiding for years. Last night, Minato sent word, and she returned to Konoha under special circumstances.

Thanks to the Meizu Organization's loose affiliations, she wasn't bound by strict orders and could come and go as needed. Still, upon returning to Konoha, the village placed her under surveillance—just in case.

Even Might Duy, now freed from foreign control, was deemed too dangerous to be left unattended due to the risk of opening the Eight Gates. The village wasn't taking chances.

Now, Rin stood face-to-face with the boy who once loved her. But her feelings were not romantic. It was heartbreak—not that of a lover, but of a teammate, watching a comrade fall so far.

"Obito…" she began hesitantly. "I heard from Kurenai that you could've broken free from her genjutsu yesterday… but because the illusion involved me, you…"

Her voice faltered. She couldn't finish.

"If not for me," she continued after a pause, "you wouldn't have been captured by Madara. You wouldn't have become this... Obito, I—"

"Enough," Obito said hoarsely. "You're not Rin. Don't pretend to be her. Don't use her name to manipulate me. I won't tell you anything."

His voice grew quieter with each word, but he repeated himself stubbornly.

Rin said nothing more. She simply stayed beside him in silence.

Outside the prison, Kakashi leaned against the wall, lost in thought.

Further down the corridor, Minato stood with a heavy sigh.

"It'll take time," he murmured.

"It's okay," Kushina said, holding the newborn Naruto in her arms. "If it's Rin, Obito might open up eventually. He's never been able to stand up to her."

Minato nodded. "It's our best shot."

At that moment, an Anbu agent appeared before them and knelt.

"Lord Hokage, a delegation from the Land of Earth has just arrived."

"I expected as much," Minato replied calmly. "You're dismissed."

The Anbu agent vanished. Minato remained composed. He knew last night's events would attract attention from other nations. The Land of Earth had simply moved faster than expected.

Still, there was no need to panic. Konoha's strength was unmatched. Let them come.

---

Meanwhile, far away...

On the moon, Kawaki Aoba arrived as scheduled.

It was his second time setting foot on the lunar surface. This time, he had two goals.

First: recover Toneri Ōtsutsuki.

Only Toneri and an elder named Genichi Ōtsutsuki remained alive. The rest of the Moon Branch Clan had long since perished—victims of dwindling vitality and pride. Even Toneri's father had succumbed, though he could've lived longer.

Kawaki Aoba didn't care. The old man's death didn't even register to him.

He transported both Toneri and Genichi back to Earth using Instant Transmission.

Then he returned immediately, for his second objective.

There was something—someone—he hadn't found last time.

Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths, still existed in a non-corporeal form. Kawaki Aoba had come for him.

Activating the power of the Sheep Talisman, Kawaki expanded his soul perception field, but the range barely reached ten feet. It was almost useless.

He frowned. At this rate, locating Hagoromo would be nearly impossible—unless the ancient soul remained stationary.

He sighed in frustration. Without a better method, this was little more than searching for a ghost in a storm.

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