Naruto: With Favorabiltity System

Chapter 449: The Evidence

Kakashi fell silent. He had considered countless possibilities, but he never expected Obito to respond this way.

He thought Obito still harbored resentment toward him, but instead, it seemed more like reproach than hatred.

And Haneda...

How did Haneda see through his desire to live a reclusive life? Was it from the time they moved to the moon, or even earlier?

How did Obito know that Kakashi had once harbored grievances against Haneda?

Aside from the tears he shed that day, Kakashi had never shown it. He had always kept it hidden inside…

He thought he had masked it well, acted naturally.

But suddenly, his chest ached—an intense, unbearable pain.

In that moment, Kakashi finally understood himself. He understood the painful bond Obito had spoken of.

Indeed, he had been enduring Obito's flaws all along, from the very first moment they met.

He endured Obito's tardiness, his weakness, his burdensome presence, and the harm Obito inflicted on him again and again.

He endured the pain of losing family, the pain of losing his teacher, the pain of losing his friends.

And he endured Haneda's constant secrecy.

Obito silently watched the changes in Kakashi's eyes, his chakra, and his heart.

He could empathize with this pain:

"So, you too understand the pain of endurance, the pain of refusing to let go, don't you?"

"Because our emotions go beyond mere friendship. We can't let go of each other."

"Even if the other person hurts us. Even if the other person becomes an enemy on the battlefield. Even if the other person is going to kill us…"

"Those who bear the shackles of a bond will silently endure and hope to reconcile, to return to how things were."

"But people do change, and the only things that remain unchanged are the purest and most beautiful memories of the past—and the feelings we have for each other."

"I've already changed. I can't let go of the past."

"So I choose to preserve my present self, as well as my past self."

"Reality is a grave for my present self, while the Infinite Tsukuyomi is the ark that carries my past self into a new world."

"This is who I am, unchanged all along."

"I am who I am."

"Whether it's my past self or my present self…"

"Whether it's the person I want to be, or the person you and Haneda want me to be, I will make it all a reality."

"The Infinite Tsukuyomi is my personal dream. But for you, for Haneda, for everyone, it is a shared dream."

"This is the new world."

Obito extended his hand toward Kakashi. "Join me, Kakashi. Let's create this new world together."

Kakashi took one step after another toward Obito.

"You're right," Kakashi said, "but it seems you've forgotten your own words…"

A flash of violet lightning—Chidori pierced through Obito's outstretched hand, severing it as it fell to the ground.

Obito's gaze locked onto Kakashi, filled with confusion.

Why?

Why did it come to this?

We're both in the same pain.

We're the same kind of people.

Why wouldn't you choose the path that everyone can accept?

Why?

In Obito's ears, a familiar voice echoed—it was Kakashi's voice.

"Bonds may involve mutual endurance, but they don't have to be painful."

"If it's so painful, then why pursue it? Why keep entangling ourselves with each other?"

"Wouldn't it be better to just let go of each other?"

"It's because we're friends. When I see you in pain, my heart aches as well."

"When I chase after you, I see hope."

"When I pursue the hope of freeing you from your pain, it makes me happy."

"I can feel your pain fading in the process."

"That's why you've been trying to provoke me, dragging everything I've worked for back to its most painful point, hoping I'll pursue the same illusion you do."

"If you truly wanted to chase this illusion, then why do you keep trying to convince me? Convince everyone else?"

"The truth is, the person you're trying to convince is yourself, Obito."

Obito chuckled. "My will is stronger than ever. Why would I need to convince myself?"

Kakashi replied, "Because when Haneda and I pursued you, you felt joy.

"Because we're friends. We understand each other's feelings, empathize with each other's pain."

Obito burst into loud, maniacal laughter.

"Joy? Don't compare a fool like you to me!"

Kakashi pulled out two books—both were gifts from Obito when Kakashi had turned eighteen.

"This is the evidence."

Looking at the two books, Obito froze.

He couldn't refute them. These birthday gifts were undeniable proof of their bond.

Obito opened his mouth a few times, then closed it again. Finally, he slammed his hand onto the ground. The earth began to quake.

Moments later, the Ten-Tails reappeared.

"Pain or joy, it no longer matters. My will is unshakable now."

"Even if you're right, you can't convince me.

"Because I'm also right. Neither of us is wrong. The world itself is what's wrong. And I will change it."

Obito's voice echoed across the battlefield.

He closed his eyes, recalling Haneda's actions in the Land of Fire.

"The majority of people are blind to the truth. They cling to outdated systems, even if those systems exploit and enslave them.

"The majority of people fear change and seek stability. They refuse to leave their comfort zones, even if those zones barely sustain their lives.

"Those who walk ahead of their time will never be understood by the common world.

"But time will prove everything."

Scenes from the past flashed through Obito's mind like a film, highlighting the changes in the Land of Fire over the years.

The ground began to tremble and crack, splitting apart with countless scars.

Massive tree roots emerged, tearing through the earth.

The Allied Shinobi Forces were flung into the air, entangled in the roots, and their chakra was drained. Their faces grew pale, and their bodies withered.

"What is that?!" Tobirama shouted, looking toward Minato and Kakashi.

From within Naruto, Kurama's voice resonated:

"It's the Ten-Tails' ultimate form—the God Tree!"

"It will drain everyone's chakra. If we don't stop it, everyone will die."

Elsewhere, Hashirama dodged the unconscious attacks of the God Tree's roots and yelled toward Madara:

"What is that thing?!"

Madara, secretly pleased, explained, "Chakra originally belonged to the God Tree.

"All the chakra here, including yours, came from it."

"How is that possible?" Hashirama asked, shocked. He had always believed chakra was something humans cultivated through training.

Madara continued, "Humans stole chakra from the God Tree long ago. Now, it's just reclaiming what was always its own."

Hashirama looked at Madara with suspicion. "How do you know all this? If Tobirama had found this information in Uchiha records, he would have told me."