I Punch the Tailed Beast Ball

When Obito entered the room, he saw a book on the ground and a somewhat flustered Kakashi.

”Which squad are you from? Why didn’t you knock before coming in?” Kakashi, someone who had seen many things, quickly regained his composure. Since Obito wore an ANBU uniform, Kakashi assumed he was an ANBU member currently training in the Training Division.

Since it used to be an ANBU base, the Training Division base still had more ANBU members than its own members, and many things had not been fully moved out yet. As the leader of the first squad of the Training Division, Kakashi felt it was time to rectify the bad habit of entering offices without knocking, starting with the unlucky fellow before him.

Kakashi’s stern, superior demeanor took Obito aback. He had imagined various scenarios of their reunion but hadn’t expected it to be like this. Picking up the book from the floor, he prepared to explain everything to Kakashi, that he wasn’t just any ANBU member, but Kakashi’s former teammate, Uchiha Obito.

Kakashi, however, didn’t expect this bold ANBU member to ignore his words and even pick up the fallen book, ”Icha Icha Paradise.”

Kakashi imagined the consequences if word got out that he was reading such a book in his office. He could picture his colleagues’ reactions:

”Kakashi, I can’t believe you’re that kind of person. I’m ashamed to be your comrade,” Nara Shio would say disgustingly.

”Kakashi, you wouldn’t want your wife to know you’re reading such books during office hours, would you?” Inuzuka Green would sneer with glee.

”I never thought someone like you, Kakashi-senpai, would be so despicable,” Yamato would say with disbelief.

”Kakashi, since you have so much time to read in your office, you must have plenty of free time. Your training load will be tripled,” Nagasawa would say coldly.

His imagination ended, and Kakashi took a few deep breaths, wiping the sweat from his forehead. The thought was terrifying. Facing disdain from his colleagues, the collapse of his perfect superior image, and even having Inuzuka Green gloating over him, topped with Nagasawa’s punishment—could anything be worse?

Just thinking about it made Kakashi shudder. So, he immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to snatch the book from Obito.

Obito was surprised by Kakashi’s sudden reaction. He didn’t expect Kakashi to be so agitated over a book, even using the Body Flicker Technique to retrieve it.

To Obito’s surprise, Kakashi takes the book. However, Obito’s keen eyes caught the book’s title: ”Icha Icha Paradise.”

’What kind of book could make Kakashi so flustered?’ Noting the title mentally, Obito thought that he might buy a copy to see what was so captivating about it.

After grabbing the book, Kakashi quickly sat back in his chair, hiding the book where Obito couldn’t see. With the crisis averted, Kakashi finally had time to scrutinize the bold ANBU member before him.

He realized he had never seen this person in the Training Division or ANBU. Even if they were from another squad, he should have some impression.

”Which squad are you from, what’s your ninja registration number, and which ANBU unit are you affiliated with?” Kakashi asked sternly.

If there were an ANBU spy, it would be deeply concerning since ANBU was Konoha’s most secretive department. A breach there would mean other departments could be even more compromised.

However, Kakashi was only mildly suspicious. After all, Konoha had undergone a significant purge of spies after the war, cleaning up within the village and across the entire Land of Fire. He simply didn’t recognize all ANBU members.

Obito waited to answer. Instead, he silently removed his white animal mask and threw it to the ground, revealing his face.

Kakashi was puzzled by this action. But when he saw Obito’s face, he was shocked and silent. The right side of Obito’s face seemed to have been severely damaged and only roughly repaired. Though it was a face, it had uneven, vortex-like textures and small pits, enough to scare children without any makeup.

What shocked Kakashi more was recognizing the features of his old friend on that face—a friend who had supposedly died during the Third Shinobi World War and shouldn’t be standing before him in an ANBU uniform.

”Obito?” Kakashi asked, despite the hoarse and vastly different voice and the impossibility of his friend standing before him.

”Yes,” Obito nodded.

As Obito confirmed his identity, Kakashi’s mind raced. He wondered why Obito never sought him or Rin if he had survived. Had he been recovering from his injuries all this time? Why had he never come to see him, and why was he in an ANBU uniform? Konoha had declared Obito dead and etched his name on the Memorial Stone.

He never questioned if Obito was real or fake; perhaps no one would dare joke about something so serious, or maybe the familiar feeling assured Kakashi of Obito’s identity.

”Why?” Kakashi asked, looking into Obito’s eyes.

Obito understood. He knew what Kakashi meant without needing specifics.

”A lot has happened. It’s a miracle I can stand here and talk to you. I owe it all to Nagasawa-senpai,” Obito said in a deep voice.

Hearing Nagasawa’s name, Kakashi realized Obito’s situation was complicated.

”That time, we were attacked by Iwagakure. I was crushed under a boulder,” Obito began recounting his story to Kakashi, explaining his experiences.

Kakashi touched the transplanted Mangekyō Sharingan and nodded, remembering how his eye was a gift from Obito.

”I was saved by Uchiha Madara, who taught me ninjutsu and showed me the harshness of the world. But his intentions were not out of kinship but control,” Obito continued, revealing his encounter with Madara and his sinister plans.

”Rin’s capture and rescue were part of his plan to darken my heart and awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan,” he added.

”I lost myself in darkness and committed many evil acts, killing many innocents,” Obito confessed.

Kakashi recalled, ”During Kushina-sensei’s labor, there was a mysterious masked man with the Mangekyō Sharingan who attacked Konoha...”

Though he trailed off, the implication was clear.

”Yes, that was me,” Obito admitted without hesitation.

”You...” Kakashi was at a loss. He never expected the masked man who nearly killed Kushina to be Obito. Kushina had always been the kindest to Obito among them.

”You must go to Minato-sensei and Kushina-sensei and apologize for your actions,” Kakashi said, refraining from scolding, urging Obito to face his responsibilities.

”Minato-sensei already knows. I will visit Kushina-sensei tomorrow,” Obito nodded.

”We’ve all been through a lot these past years,” Kakashi sighed, reflecting on the changes since the Third Shinobi World War.

”Did Nagasawa-sensei bring you here?” Kakashi asked.

”Yes, he woke me up, made me see the truth,” Obito replied.

”Then it’s fine,” Kakashi said. Since Nagasawa arranged it, he wouldn’t interfere. Otherwise, despite their past friendship, Kakashi would have kept a close watch on Obito, given his past actions against Konoha.

”I’ve lost too much already. I can’t lose anything more,” Kakashi added, resolved to protect his loved ones and Konoha.

”Sorry, Obito, I can’t return your Sharingan to you,” Kakashi suddenly said.

Obito was puzzled; he hadn’t asked for it back.

”You don’t need to. It was a gift,” Obito replied.

”I don’t deserve it, having failed to protect Rin. But I can’t give it to you now,” Kakashi insisted.

Obito understood. Kakashi was cautious of his power.

”My Sharingan isn’t as important as the changes in you, your experiences, and what’s happened in Konoha,” Obito said.

”I have a family now, a wife, and a daughter,” Kakashi smiled.

”You’d never guess how I met Hanako. After the war, I joined ANBU under Minato-sensei’s invitation and was in Nagasawa-sensei’s unit. During a mission...” Kakashi began sharing his experiences.

The two old friends caught up on their lives.