27 Fake Madara

[author]Sorry for the late upload, but here it is.[/author]

Obito, his gaze piercing and confident, meets Danzo's shocked expression with a smirk. "Impressive, isn't it?" he taunts, gesturing casually to the now severed arm lying on the ground. "Consider it a gift, oh venerable Lord Danzo."

Danzo's remaining eye narrows in anger as he struggles to maintain his composure. "You insolent fool!" he growls, his voice laced with venom. "That scroll is not yours to take. Return it at once!"

Obito's smirk only widens, his amusement palpable. "Oh, this?" he says, patting the stolen scroll now tucked beneath his robes. "I'm afraid it belongs to the Uchiha now. You should know better than to try and stop me, Danzo."

Danzo's fists clench at his sides, his fury barely contained. "You'll regret this, you fake Madara," he seethes, his voice trembling with rage. "Mark my words, the Uchiha's betrayal will not go unpunished."

Obito chuckles darkly, a hint of madness gleaming in his eyes as he turns away from Danzo. "We'll see about that, old man," he murmurs, disappearing into the shadows with a flicker of movement only to reappear beside Danzo.

Kicking the back of Danzo's knee, Danzo flounders and falls to one knee but as a ninja worth his salt, he won't be so one-sidedly humiliated as he rolls forward and hurls kunais with explosive tags attached to them.

But Danzo's effort is useless as the kunai just passes Obito as if he is a ghost. The explosion rattles the lab that Orochimaru has abandoned. Obito turns off his Mangekyou Sharingan since he can only use this for a short minute, and his body cannot tolerate its extended usage yet. But his performance has enough effect to bother Danzo.

Of all times, why does Obito only decide to appear now and even attempt to fake his name as Madara Uchiha? It is because of the scroll that Orochimaru so willingly has given up to Danzo. If the machinated events had occurred as Obito designed, he would happily stay in the shadows.

Now, Orochimaru is gone, probably being chased by Minato, and Danzo here has every time he needs to ransack Orochimaru's now abandoned lab.

"I won't let you take this lab for yourself, Danzo," Obito tenses his muscles because he won't know when Danzo will suddenly attack him.

Danzo, his one good eye fixed on Obito, rises slowly, his expression shifting from anger to calculation. "You may have some tricks up your sleeve, boy, but you underestimate the power of the Root. I will not allow the Uchiha to dictate terms to Konoha."

Obito's gaze remains steady, his demeanor confident despite the odds. "You speak boldly for a man who just lost an arm," he retorts, a hint of mockery in his voice. "But you're right about one thing: I don't underestimate you. That's why I'm here, to ensure the Uchiha's survival."

Danzo scoffs, his hand reaching for a hidden weapon. "Survival? The Uchiha are a relic of the past, clinging to outdated ideals. It's time for progress, and the Leaf Village cannot afford to be held back by sentimentality."

Obito's Sharingan glints as he prepares for any sudden moves from Danzo. "Progress at what cost, Danzo? Sacrificing the lives and dignity of your own people? I, Madara Uchiha might be alone, but I won't stand idly by while you and your cronies trample on my people's rights."

Danzo's lips curl into a sneer as he readies himself for battle. "Rights? You talk of rights while brandishing stolen goods and playing at being someone you're not. The Uchiha's arrogance knows no bounds."

Before either can make another move, a voice interrupts them from the shadows of the lab. "Enough!" Appears the Third Hokage from the shadows. Hiruzen Sarutobi with his flaring presence shuts up Obito and Danzo at the same time. "I took my chances, but it seems the self-proclaimed Madara really has appeared. Young man, do you know what you are doing is terrorism and I have every right to take you in?"

"Terrorism?" Obito laughs, "You should look at Danzo for that!"

Danzo grits his teeth, his eyes narrowed as he stares at Obito. "Your foolishness knows no bounds," he snaps, his voice tinged with disdain.

Obito smirks, undeterred by Danzo's hostility. "Ah, but you see, Danzo, that's where you're wrong," he retorts, his tone dripping with mock sincerity. "I am Madara Uchiha reborn."

Danzo scoffs, shaking his head. "You're nothing but a fake Madara," he declares, his voice dripping with contempt.

Obito's smirk widens, his confidence unwavering. "You can deny it all you want, Danzo," he says, his voice low and menacing. "But deep down, you know the truth. You should be afraid of me."

The Third Hokage watches the exchange silently, his expression unreadable. "No matter what, I have to take you in for terrorism so don't make it hard for me."

"Hiruzen, there is no use talking to this delusional br—"

Hiruzen cuts off Danzo, "You quiet down, Danzo. We are not done either." Using the Body Flicker Technique, Hiruzen reappears beside Obito, the Third Hokage's palm is targeting his carotid artery.

But Obito is faster and has an advantage in visual acuity, using his Sharingan, Obito only needs the slightest adjustment to dodge. And simultaneously, he counters with a punch.

The Third Hokage and the Fake Madara exchange their taijutsu, either of them trying to find a gap and get a feel for the other's techniques, habits, and inclinations.

Breaking the stalemate, Hiruzen who has seen a gap in Obito's defense performs a series of hand seals— Ram → Horse → Dragon!

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!" A mud source is created in the shape of a dragon's head and unleashed from its maw are mud balls. But Hiruzen is not done yet, he performs a zero-hand seal fire release. "Nen-shO!" The mud balls burn with flames, making it more threatening.

Obito feels as if balls of lava are coming at him.

"I guess, this is it. Hiruzen Sarutobi," wickedly smiling, Obito then takes a blind shot at the Third Hokage by quoting the second Hokage. "Saru, you must protect those who have faith in you and who love the village, and train up to those to whom you can entrust the next generation… from tomorrow, you will be the Hokage…!" And these words not only have shaken Hiruzen but also Danzo. 

"Guess why I know that?" Obito nods to himself, realizing it's time to make his exit. With a swift movement, he activates his Mangekyou Sharingan, the familiar pattern swirling in his eyes. He focuses on his destination and invokes Kamui, the space-distorting jutsu that allows him to slip through dimensions.

In the blink of an eye, Obito disappears from the lab, leaving behind only a faint distortion in the air. He has no desire to prolong the confrontation with Danzo and the Third Hokage. Despite his strength, Obito knows he mustn't be reckless. The consequences of accidentally killing Danzo would be dire, not something he wants to deal with at the moment.

Moreover, Obito is happy enough that he has acquired such a special scroll which will allow him to gain one more ally.

Moments later, Obito reappears in an atrium of the arena, where his Shadow Clone, Tobi, awaits him patiently. Tobi greets him with a nod, his form flickering slightly in the dim light.

"I managed to win the semi-finals," Tobi remarks, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But I'm not too confident about the finals. Being a Shadow Clone, I'm quite fragile."

Obito nods in understanding, clasping Tobi on the shoulder. "Don't worry," he reassures. "You've done well so far. I am here now, so you can rest. It will be me fighting in the finals."

Tobi dispels the Shadow Clone he's been inhabiting, the illusion dissipating into thin air as he reverts to his original form. Standing beside Obito, Tobi's distinctive orange mask with its swirling pattern and his black robes materialize before him.

Obito's brow furrows as he receives the memories from the Shadow Clone, a mixture of confusion and discomfort crossing his features. He turns to Tobi, his expression darkening. "Why did you do that?" he demands, his voice tight with irritation.

Tobi feigns innocence, his masked face betraying no emotion. "Do what?" he replies, his tone casual.

Obito fixes him with a stern gaze, his eyes narrowing. "Don't play dumb," he says, his voice flat. "Why did you shamelessly declare your love for Rin in the arena?"

Tobi's mask remains impassive, but there's a hint of amusement in his voice as he responds, "Oh, that? Just stirring up a bit of drama, you know how it is."

Suddenly, without warning, Kakashi materializes behind Obito, causing him to jump in surprise. Obito whirls around to face his old teammate, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Who are you talking to?" Kakashi inquires, his gaze searching.

"No one," Obito responds quickly, forcing a casual tone despite the unease gnawing at him. He can't possibly admit to conversing with a persona that exists only within his mind.

Kakashi raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Right," he says, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Obito shifts uncomfortably under Kakashi's scrutiny, silently cursing his predicament. He'd already visited the hospital seeking answers, only to come away with no explanation for his strange experiences.

"What are you up to?" Obito asks, attempting to change the subject.

Kakashi tilts his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "Not paying attention, as usual," he quips, his tone teasing. "But now it's my turn to shine in the semi-finals. See you in the finals, Obito."

With that, Kakashi strides away, disappearing into the bright lights of the arena, leaving Obito alone with his thoughts and his hidden turmoil.

Scanning the crowded seats of the stadium, Obito's eyes finally land on his grandma and Rin sitting together. Relief floods through him at the sight of them. With a small smile, Rin waves him over, beckoning him to join them.

Obito makes his way through the rows of spectators, feeling a twinge of embarrassment lingering from the spectacle Tobi had made during his fight. However, he quickly pushes the thought aside, unwilling to let it show on his face.

As he reaches them, Rin stands up and rushes over to greet him with a warm hug. "Hey, Obito! We've been waiting for you," she says, her voice filled with genuine affection. It is weird that Rin can be so comfortable with him given the circumstances.

Obito returns the hug, feeling a sense of comfort wash over him in Rin's presence. "Thanks," he replies, his tone soft.

Rin gestures for him to take a seat beside her, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "Come on, sit with us," she urges, patting the empty space beside her.

"Aww…" Obito's grandma giggles, "You two are so cute…"

"Come on," Obito shyly grins, while Rin is just cool about the teasing, something that Obito finds surprising. To the lack of his knowledge, since 'Tobi's stunt' in the arena, Rin is able to build thicker barriers for her emotions and the likes— or in extreme cases, she still sees Obito as a very-very-very close friend.

As Kakashi and Asuma step into the arena, the air crackles with anticipation. Spectators lean forward in their seats, eager to witness the clash between these two skilled shinobi. The familiar sounds of jutsu and metal against metal fill the air as their battle ensues, each move executed with precision and speed.

However, despite the intensity of the fight unfolding before him, Obito's attention wanes. His mind drifts, thoughts wandering to the upcoming finals and the challenges that lie ahead. He knows he needs to be at his absolute best if he hopes to emerge victorious.

With a sense of detachment, Obito watches as Kakashi and Asuma engage in their duel, their movements almost mirroring those of their previous sparring sessions. Yet, his focus remains elsewhere, his body in a state of rest as he recovers his energy.

[author]How did Obito awaken his MS? Unfortunately, it has not been implicitly expressed in this chapter. Just know that Obito has awakened his MS as early as when Tobi appeared. It is just that his body at that time wouldn't be able to tolerate the usage of MS, because his body was too average. But after gaining Hashirama's Cells in the form of a wand and some training, he is able to subvert the burden. As most fans know, Obito doesn't suffer from MS's side effects and this is most likely due to Hashirama's cells being transplanted to half of his body. [/author]