Naruto: The Clanless Prince

Uchiha Obito followed White Zetsu's guidance as he rushed toward Rin's location. His heart pounded with urgency, desperate to reach her in time.

"Obito, I think the battle will begin soon. Before that, there's something I need to tell you," White Zetsu said.

"What is it?" Obito asked impatiently.

"Your fighting ability isn't as good as mine, and now my large body is attached to your scarred body to protect you."

Obito clenched his fists, thinking only of saving Rin. "What exactly are you trying to say?" he demanded.

White Zetsu explained, "I think it would be better if I took control during the battle."

"No," Obito refused firmly. "I have the Sharingan now, and my strength is definitely greater than yours! I can protect Rin myself!"

"True, you now possess Hashirama's artificial body. The combination of Senju and Uchiha powers might unleash unprecedented strength."

Obito suddenly raised his head as small droplets of water fell from the sky. He stopped on a high tree branch and looked ahead, realizing that a fierce battle was taking place. The water droplets weren't rain—they were the aftermath of jutsu collisions.

"I thought it was raining," Obito said solemnly, "but it seems that's not the case."

White Zetsu reminded him, "My companion sent a message. It appears to be happening over there."

Obito's eyes narrowed with determination. "Let's go!"

As he got closer to the battle site, the bad feeling in his heart grew stronger. His chest tightened with each step.

"Don't think about it... just keep moving forward!" he told himself.

When Obito pushed through the woods and entered the clearing, he saw a scene that filled him with despair. Two Kirigakure ninjas had driven their swords through Nohara Rin's chest.

Before she died, Rin called out her final words: "Kakashi... Obito..."

Rin fell to the ground, lifeless.

Obito stood frozen, staring blankly at Rin's body. The surrounding Kirigakure ninjas were furious.

"Damn it! Konoha's ninja ruined everything!"

"We captured the Jinchūriki with such difficulty..."

Obito's right eye Sharingan immediately transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan. White Zetsu wrapped around Obito's head protectively.

"AAAAHHHH!" Obito released an anguished roar.

Sharp wooden branches erupted from the right side of Obito's body. His mind raced with confusion and rage.

"What's happening to me?" he thought, bewildered by his body's transformation.

The Kirigakure ninjas spotted him immediately.

"Who's that?"

"Reinforcements?"

"Don't just stand there, take him down!"

A Kiri ninja threw a barrage of shuriken at Obito, but they passed right through his body as if he were a ghost.

"I don't accept this!" Obito murmured, his voice trembling with grief. "This can't be real!"

The Mist shinobi stared at Obito in disbelief.

"What just happened?"

"Did he dodge them?"

"I DON'T ACCEPT THIS!" Obito roared as he charged forward.

A Kirigakure ninja stood in his path, brandishing his sword. "Don't underestimate the Village of the Bloody Mist!"

The ninja slashed at Obito, but Obito's palm pressed against the man's abdomen first. Sharp wooden spikes suddenly burst from within the ninja's body, piercing him from the inside out. Blood sprayed everywhere in a gruesome display.

Obito kicked another Kirigakure ninja to the ground and broke off a sharp wooden branch. Just as he was about to impale his opponent, four more Kiri ninjas descended from above, their swords aimed at Obito's body.

The four blades passed through Obito like he was made of mist, stabbing into the ninja pinned beneath him instead.

Obito leapt into the air and kicked all four ninjas down in rapid succession.

Seeing how Obito could become intangible against their attacks, the Kirigakure ninjas panicked.

"What's wrong with him?!"

"What kind of jutsu is that?"

"We must retrieve the woman's body at least! We can't let the enemy take it!"

Obito rushed toward Rin's body. Every attack from the Kiri ninjas phased through him harmlessly.

"This guy really can't be touched!"

When a Kirigakure ninja attempted to grab Rin's body, Obito hurled a wooden spike that pierced the man's chest. After forming a hand seal, Obito caused sharp branches to erupt from inside the ninja's body.

White Zetsu's voice reached Obito's ears, filled with amazement. "You suddenly used Mokuton: Cutting Technique! Obito, I now understand why Madara chose you."

Obito grabbed another Kiri ninja who tried to approach Rin and slammed his head violently into the ground. He then kicked the ninja into the air, only to seize him again and smash his head down once more.

With savage fury, Obito pummeled the ninja's head repeatedly until it was nothing but a bloody pulp. The remaining Kirigakure ninjas watched in horror.

"Who... is this guy?"

Blood-covered Obito stopped his assault and looked up at the surrounding ninjas. Fear was evident in their eyes as they stared back at him.

"Mokuton: Chaos of Hell!" Obito shouted.

The berserk Uchiha created massive trees covered in thorns that spiraled upward, entangling and impaling all his enemies. After killing every Kirigakure ninja, their blood dripped to the ground, forming what looked like a river of crimson.

Bathed in blood, Obito gazed at Rin's lifeless body. His eyes reflected nothing but despair.

"I understand now," he murmured. "This... this is hell."

Obito walked forward like a zombie. The words of Madara Uchiha and White Zetsu echoed in his mind:

'The longer I live, the more I realize that reality is filled only with pain, suffering, and futility. Listen carefully—in this world, everything exists in balance. Where there is light, there must be shadow. This is an inescapable relationship of cause and effect.'

'Abandon the troubles of the real world and escape into a dream filled with happiness. Because it is a dream, everything can become whatever you desire.'

'Even the dead can be resurrected.'

'Create a world where there are only winners, only peace, only love!'

Tears streamed down Obito's face as he embraced Rin's cold body tightly.

After a long moment of silence, Obito spoke with cold determination in his eyes: "Rin, I will create a world with you in it again! I will... break the chains of cause and effect in this world!"

Later, Obito returned to the cave and told Madara that he wanted to sever the cycle of cause and effect in the world.

"That's why I came back," he said flatly.

Looking at Obito, Madara smiled for the first time. "Did anyone else see what happened?"

White Zetsu replied, "I was the only witness. Obito killed everyone, so there's no problem."

Obito spoke with hollow eyes: "I don't care about anything now. In the world I'm about to create, Rin will be there!"

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