Naruto: Rebirth Of The Child Of Prophecy

The White Zetsu Base,

Obito emerged from the swirling vortex of space-time. Naruto's words had hit him like a thunderclap, leaving him rattled. He nearly stumbled as he landed, his balance betrayed by the weight of his spiraling thoughts.

Rustling sounds stirred from the ground nearby. Black and White Zetsu, with their peculiar aloe-like form, emerged from the shadows.

White Zetsu said "News just in—Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Naruto, has defected from the village. He seems to have joined forces with the Six Paths of Pain, who, as you know, are part of our Akatsuki organization. Together, they even launched an attack on Sasuke's team while they were hunting the Eight-Tails!"

Black Zetsu said "I fail to comprehend what this boy is trying to achieve, but this could work in our favor. It might make capturing the Nine-Tails easier."

White Zetsu said "But there's more. According to reports from the Zetsu stationed with Sasuke, Naruto was seen wearing Akatsuki's robes. And Pain… it seems he's fully allied with him."

Black Zetsu's expression darkened. "Impossible. Nagato would never—"

"Nagato has betrayed Akatsuki," Obito interrupted coldly.

The duo spoke in unison, their voices sharp with disbelief: "How could that be?"

Obito's eyes narrowed dangerously as his thoughts churned. Naruto—how could he possibly know the truth of my identity? This secret was buried deep, known only to the shadows of history. Could Kakashi have leaked it? No, that was unlikely. Kakashi thought I was long dead. If he had known, he would have recognized me in the Land of Iron. Instead, he had displayed no hint of realization during our encounter.

The more Obito mulled it over, the more enigmatic Naruto's actions became. His motives were utterly opaque, and now, to make matters worse, he possessed knowledge that could unravel the foundation of Obito's carefully laid plans.

Black Zetsu said "The Rinnegan is still in Nagato's possession. If he has truly betrayed Akatsuki, we must prevent it from falling into enemy hands. The repercussions would be catastrophic."

Obito nodded grimly. The Rinnegan was critical—a linchpin in the Moon's Eye Plan. Losing it was not an option. Yet, Obito couldn't afford to confront Nagato directly, not now. He needed to understand Naruto's intentions first.

White Zetsu interrupted his thoughts. "There's a silver lining in all of this: Sasuke managed to capture the Eight-Tails."

Obito raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Even after battling Naruto, he had the strength left for that?"

White Zetsu grinned. "Sasuke's growth is astounding. Susanoo has evolved to its full form, though it cost him dearly. He overextended his ocular powers, but after resting, he resumed his mission and succeeded."

Obito smirked faintly. "At last, some good news."

After a moment's thought, Obito made up his mind. He needed to retrieve Sasuke personally. The world had become far too unpredictable, and Naruto's actions alone had already thrown countless plans into disarray.

"Where is Sasuke now?"

White Zetsu said "He's en route to the rendezvous point. He should arrive shortly."

Obito's lips curved into a calculated smile. "Good. I'll go meet our hero myself."

With that, the vortex of space-time engulfed him once more, leaving only silence in his wake.

***

At a remote construction site, Sasuke sat slumped against a rock, his breaths ragged and uneven. Nearby, the unconscious Killer Bee lay sprawled, his body bearing the marks of Sasuke's Amaterasu.

Jūgo stood beside him, now recovered, cradling Karin in one arm while dragging Suigetsu, who was barely holding his gelatinous form together after taking the full force of the Eight-Tails' wrath.

"Are you all right, Sasuke?" Jūgo asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Sasuke nodded weakly. "Yeah… but we need to keep moving. The meeting point isn't far now."

As he forced himself to stand, intent on lifting Killer Bee's unconscious body, a voice interrupted him.

"No need for that, Sasuke. I'll handle it."

Obito emerged from his vortex, his gaze falling immediately on Killer Bee. He surveyed the scene, a satisfied smile forming on his lips.

"Well done, Sasuke. I knew you wouldn't disappoint me."

Sasuke scoffed, brushing off the praise. "As promised, I've delivered the Eight-Tails to you. Our deal is complete."

Obito nodded, but as Sasuke turned to leave, he called out: "Wait."

Sasuke paused, glancing back with a cold, detached expression.

"Where are you planning to go next?" Obito asked, his voice measured but probing.

Sasuke's gaze drifted toward the forest ahead. "First, I'll recover. Once my wounds heal, I'll go to Konoha."

The words hung heavy in the air, carrying a weight born of vengeance. Obito's mind wandered briefly to their earlier conversations, recalling the fire in Sasuke's eyes when he had learned the truth about Itachi.

***

Some time ago,

When Obito had revealed Itachi's sacrifice, he had asked Sasuke:

"Now that you know the truth, will you carry on Itachi's will and protect Konoha?"

Sasuke's reply had been cold and resolute. "No. Itachi's way of life disgusts me. Sacrificing himself to protect that wretched village? It's not peace—it's hypocrisy. The people of Konoha enjoyed the tranquility bought with my brother's life while despising our clan. They don't deserve forgiveness."

He had continued with unrelenting fury: "I'll destroy Konoha. Not just its leaders, but everyone—every man, woman, and child who stood by while my family suffered. They're all complicit. They're all guilty. And they'll all pay."

***

The Present

Obito snapped back to reality, his gaze fixed on Sasuke's retreating form. With a calculated calm, he called out once more:

"Sasuke."

Sasuke stopped but didn't turn around.

"Danzo's right eye and arm—Naruto took them. His strength is greatly diminished now. Once you're healed, taking him down will be much easier."

Sasuke stiffened, his mind racing. Naruto… again. The last time they fought, Naruto had mentioned helping him "settle things" with Danzo. Sasuke had brushed it off then, but now it all made sense.

Naruto had betrayed Konoha. For him?

A strange, uncomfortable sensation stirred within Sasuke. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to suppress the emotion.

Without another word, Sasuke turned away, leading his team deeper into the forest. Behind him, Obito watched, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Hatred and love," Obito mused silently. "They drive us all—until nothing is left."