Chapter 2
Sasuke left Naruto's apartment the next morning and henged into a very undistinguishable middle-aged man who was looking for some work with pay on daily basis. Finding a few odd jobs around the village wasn't hard, it made him enough money to find a decent place to sleep at and also gave him a good idea of how the village was faring right now. The damages from the Kyuubi attack had been repaired completely but the pain of losing the ones dear was still fresh in people's mind.
The civilians did not trust the Uchiha police at all and he had gotten more than enough warnings to stay away from those 'red-eyed freaks.' He wondered if it was weird that he didn't feel as angry as he would've just a few days back. Don't get him wrong, there was no love lost between him and the village, but weren't these people being manipulated with rumours and threats just like him? These weak people who could be erased from existence in less than a minute by any half capable shinobi.
He wondered what the Third was thinking when he decided to hear the civilian council on matters concerning shinobi affairs. Just a few hours amongst them and he knew how utterly in the dark they were from the politics that they had a say in. Wasn't Konoha a shinobi village? Build to unite the clans first and be a safe haven for civilians second? Loathe as he way to admit it, he'd have to agree with Danzo over how much of an incompetent leader Sarutobi Hiruzen was. At least the second time around. Maybe there were days where he truly was a Hokage that everyone could respect and admire, but he was just a shell of that man now.
He visited Naruto a few times, mostly to assure himself of the path he was taking. He filled the boys' cupboards with groceries and placed some basic wards on the door and windows. Naruto was still the same sunshine he'd always known, and he was so eager for love and acceptance it made Sasuke ache. He made him promise not to tell anyone about him. The boy readily agreed with a promise of Ichiraku ramen.
The people on the streets still loved and revered the Fourth, talked about his greatness and fairness even if he was in the seat for barely a year. How they blame the 'demon boy' for causing his death. Sasuke wondered what would they do when they realise that the 'demon boy' was their beloved hero's son that he gave his life for without a second thought. Another thing he had noticed in the days he spent under a henge was that they did not know that Naruto was an actual human child and not the Kyuubi who took the form of the baby. It had always irked him that Konoha's previous jinchuriki were never scorned but his friend was, he had assumed it was because the village saw the actual terror of the beast.
But these idiots did not know of a Jinchuriki, only a monstrous beast. Another one of Sandaime's brilliant decisions. In some moments he wondered if he could just slit his throat and get this over with. He doesn't really care for the aftermath the village would have to suffer, the political instability, the threat of the other great villages. He wasn't being arrogant when he said he could take them all on, he could, he knows it. Right now he is the most powerful person in the world, with the power of the Sage and his control over the Bijuu he could overwhelm everyone who wanted to try and hurt those he cared about.
But,
Naruto wouldn't like that.
Itachi wouldn't like that.
It would only create more fear and pain and hatred. The same thing his most precious people gave their lives for. Maybe then a fifty or so years later there would be another Itachi, forced to grow up too soon and pushed to the edge of sanity. Another Naruto, hated and scorned for the sins of another. Another Obito, who'd attempt to fix the broken world in his own way. Another Danzo, ready to take advantage of everything and establish his ideals. Another Sasuke, deceived and lied to all his life.
Maybe all that would still happen despite his best efforts. Maybe. But he knows of people who would've done their best anyway. And so would he.
And the past few days had given him an idea to start with. The heart of all the problem. The Akatsuki.
Leaving Naruto a note telling him he'd been gone for a while, he left the village he grew up in once more.
----
Obito was a patient man, maybe not in his childhood, but he had been an idiot back then. Trusting his teammates and sensei. The village. The world. The clan. What good did it get him? The only person who acknowledged him was dead, killed by the one she loved wholeheartedly. So the only option left was to remake the world where there is no betrayal, no friends killing each other, no teacher failing to do their duty and protecting their students, no death and no misery. A world with Rin and Kakashi and Minato sensei and his grandmother and his academy friends and comrades.
He would achieve it, no matter the price.
But would Rin approve? Using everyone else to make my dream a reality? Would she-
No.
There is nothing to think about. Without this plan, he is no one.
But are you anyone right now? Just a mask.
No.
This is the only way.
So why does his heart ache every moment of the day?
----
Konan was at the gates of the village along with Pein as soon as the rain detected an intruder in the village. They take the utmost care of every single person leaving and entering the village. There's a reason why Amegakure is strong enough to survive sandwiched amongst two great shinobi villages now. And this person is not trying to hide the fact that they are a trained shinobi.
She sees a man, no, a teenager, dressed in a black travelling cloak with an eyepatch hiding his left eye from view.
"Who are you?" she asks emotionlessly, clad in her Akatsuki robes.
"I'm here to see Madara." the man replies evenly, his voice giving nothing away. She is surprised at that, but then again she hardly knows the man Nagato is determined to follow. But she'll follow Nagato to the ends of the world.
"Fine. Wait here, enter the village and I'll end you."
The man nods and she sends a paper crane asking Madara to come to the gates.
----
Seeing Obito again is hard, but not as much as Sasuke had expected it to be. The man is wearing the signature Akatsuki clothes and an orange swirly mask. Just like he remembers. He spreads his senses and when he finds no presence of Zetsu anywhere nearby he relaxes an inch.
"Who are you?" Obito questions, no trace of 'Tobi' in his persona.
"My name is Uchiha Sasuke," he says and uncovers his left eye, trapping the other man in the genjutsu.
Obito is caught off guard and curses his rookie mistake. Kakashi would probably mock him if he knew this.
'Tch.' he thinks and walks around the mindscape he is in. He has already tried to dispel the illusion, it didn't work.
"Nii-san, why?" he sees a little boy cry out as a slightly older Uchiha Itachi stands before him, their parent's dead bodies in their feet.
He sees a version of himself cutting down members of his clan like weeds. He had planned this, but seeing it is shocking. Is this... the future? That he caused? Will cause.
"Hate me, resent me, and when you're strong. Come kill me."
He feels the pain, the hurt, the agony in his chest when he views these memories, of this 'Sasuke'.
He sees the years spent chasing his older brother. Betraying his friends, his village, feels the shame of never being enough.
"Sorry Sasuke, this is the end."
He cries when he sees Itachi's bloody smile as he pokes his forehead and falls lifeless on the ground. Feels a spark of satisfaction on finally getting revenge and only numbness after it. Sees through Sasuke's eyes as he talks to his future version who tells him the truth of the Uchiha massacre.
Sees the death of Danzo by his hands.
The attack on the Kage summit.
The start of the fourth shinobi war.
"Did you think you matter to me? Nothing does, just like that foolish girl we made sure would die by your comrade's hands exactly when you see it!" Madara laughs.
He falls to his knees upon learning of Rin's death. Of the seal on his heart. Meeting Naruto and joining him and Kakashi on the right path for once in his life. He's Obito again, not Madara, not Tobi, not a mask. The Infinite Tsukuyomi is a lie. There is no perfect world.
And then he dies.
Protecting the boy who'd have been his little brother in another world.
He sees Kaguya being defeated.
And then he sees Sasuke fighting Naruto to death once more. He wants to yell and scream, because finally, finally, everything is on the right way again. But he can feel the hollowness in his chest when he fights him. The pain and anguish. And who is he to judge someone for stupid decisions? Sees the sky one last time before his eyes close.
And then he's back in Amegakure, standing at the village gates in front of 'Uchiha Sasuke', beside a concerned Konan.
"Do you want the same future?" Sasuke says and Obito gulps, he can't speak to the boy whose life he ruined just yet, he needs some time to process all this.
He turns to Konan and says, "Show him to the base, we'll talk later." and with that, he uses Kamui to disappear from there, the last thing he sees is Konan's vaguely confused expression as she nods before he breaks down into sobs.