Published at 23rd of September 2024 9:53 am

Chapter 152 The Path of Dusk, Obito Uchiha's Redemption: 5 The Price of Redemption

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The storm of dark chakra continued to churn across the battlefield, swallowing everything in its path. Obito and Kakashi stood on the outskirts of the destruction, watching as the masked shinobi’s energy tore through the landscape. The masked figure was at the center of it all, like the eye of a deadly hurricane, controlling the chaos with frightening precision.

Obito’s breaths were shallow, his body aching from the strain of the battle. He could feel his chakra reserves dangerously low, and the disruption to his Kamui technique made it impossible to continue phasing in and out of the attacks. The situation felt dire.

Kakashi’s voice broke through the haze of Obito’s thoughts. “We can’t take them head-on, Obito. There’s something we’re missing—some connection between them and this dark energy.”

Obito nodded, though his mind was clouded with fatigue. He knew Kakashi was right, but what was driving the masked shinobi? What power were they drawing from? The resemblance to the Ten-Tails’ chakra was too strong to ignore, yet this energy was different—more controlled, more personal.

And then it hit him.

“It’s not just power,” Obito said slowly, his eyes widening in realization. “It’s willpower. The masked shinobi is channeling their own hatred and pain into that energy, just like I once did with the Ten-Tails.”

Kakashi frowned. “Their will? That would explain why the chakra is so unstable. But if that’s the case, how do we stop it?”

Obito’s gaze hardened. “By severing their connection to it. If we can break through their emotional control, the power will collapse.”

It was a risky plan, but there was no other option. Obito knew firsthand how consuming hatred and despair could be, how they could fuel immense power but also leave you vulnerable to losing yourself. The masked shinobi had walked the same dark path he once had—and it was time to stop them from going any further.

“Let’s finish this,” Obito said, determination burning in his voice.

With a final nod, the two shinobi leapt into action, charging toward the eye of the storm. The dark chakra swirled around them, fierce and wild, but Obito pushed forward, his Sharingan fixed on the masked figure.

As they neared the center, the masked shinobi’s voice echoed through the chaos. “Still trying to escape your past, Obito? Don’t you see? It’s pointless. You and I are the same—we’re both bound by the same hatred, the same darkness.”

“No,” Obito growled, his voice steady despite the storm raging around him. “I was lost in that darkness once, but I found my way out. You don’t have to keep walking down this path.”

The masked shinobi laughed, a harsh sound that cut through the wind. “Spare me your lectures. The world is still as broken as it was when you tried to ‘save’ it. Your redemption means nothing.”

Obito clenched his fists, his mind racing. He had once believed in the same twisted vision of peace, that the only way to fix the world was through domination. But he had learned the hard way that true peace couldn’t be forced—it had to be earned, and it started within.

“You’re wrong,” Obito said, his voice firm. “Redemption isn’t about fixing the world overnight. It’s about making choices—every day, every moment—that lead to a better future. You can’t force peace through power, and you can’t carry the weight of your hatred forever.”

The masked shinobi’s laughter died away, replaced by a cold, tense silence. For a moment, the dark chakra around them wavered, as if the masked figure’s control over it had faltered. Obito could sense it—their resolve was weakening.

Now was the time.

“Kakashi, now!” Obito shouted.

In an instant, Kakashi leapt forward, his Lightning Blade crackling with energy as he surged toward the masked shinobi. The figure reacted just in time, raising a barrier of dark chakra to block the attack. But Obito wasn’t finished. With his remaining strength, he activated Kamui, distorting space around the masked figure and pulling them toward his dimension.

The masked shinobi’s eyes widened as they were dragged toward the vortex of Kamui, but before they could be fully absorbed, Obito deactivated the technique, leaving them vulnerable.

“You’re not alone in this,” Obito said quietly, stepping toward the masked figure. “I was where you are once. But there’s always a way back.”

For a moment, there was silence. Then, the masked shinobi lowered their head, their voice trembling with a mixture of anger and grief. “You think you understand… but you don’t. I’ve lost everything. I have nothing left but this power.”

Obito’s heart clenched at the familiar words. He had once said the same thing to Kakashi, to Naruto, to anyone who tried to reach him. The pain, the loss—it was all-consuming. But he had learned, through the kindness of others, that even in the darkest moments, there was always a way to move forward.

“I know what it’s like to lose everything,” Obito said softly. “But power won’t bring it back. It’ll only destroy what little remains.”

The masked shinobi’s hands shook as they clutched their mask. The swirling chakra around them grew more erratic, flickering like a dying flame. Obito stepped closer, his voice steady.

“You don’t have to carry this burden alone. Let it go.”

For a long, agonizing moment, the masked shinobi stood frozen, their body trembling as if caught between two worlds—the darkness of their hatred and the possibility of redemption. Then, slowly, they raised their hand to their face.

With a sharp, sudden movement, the mask cracked and fell to the ground, revealing the tear-streaked face of a young woman—no older than Obito had been during the war. Her eyes were filled with pain and fury, but beneath it all, there was something else: vulnerability.

“I can’t… stop this…” she whispered, her voice breaking.

Obito reached out a hand, his gaze soft but unwavering. “You can. It’s not too late.”

For a moment, it seemed like the dark chakra would overwhelm her. The storm raged around them, growing stronger by the second. But then, slowly, the energy began to fade. The woman’s hands fell to her sides, and the swirling vortex of power around her collapsed into nothingness.

The battlefield fell silent.

Kakashi approached, his expression tense but relieved. The masked shinobi’s followers had retreated, their mission over. The battle was won, but the scars of the past remained.

The young woman looked up at Obito, her eyes hollow. “What now? What’s left for me?”

Obito smiled faintly, the weight of his own journey evident in his voice. “It’s never easy. But you’ll find a way. Just take it one step at a time.”

As the sun began to rise over the devastated landscape, Obito and Kakashi stood together, watching as the remnants of the battle faded into the dawn. The past had tried to drag Obito back into the darkness, but he had chosen a different path—and in doing so, had offered another soul a chance at redemption.

For Obito, it was a reminder that no matter how deep the shadows ran, there was always hope for the light.

_______________________________________________________________

Epilogue: The Price Paid

Days later, the village was in the process of rebuilding. The masked shinobi had vanished, and the threat had passed. Obito stood on the outskirts of the village, watching as the sun dipped below the horizon. He felt tired, but not from battle—tired in the way that came from carrying the weight of his past.

Kakashi appeared beside him, his usual easygoing expression replaced by something more thoughtful. “You did it, Obito. You saved her. You stopped yourself from falling back into that darkness.”

Obito glanced at his friend, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I didn’t save her alone. You were there too. And besides, redemption isn’t a one-time thing. It’s a choice we have to keep making.”

Kakashi nodded, his gaze turning to the setting sun. “You’re right. But it’s a choice worth making.”

As the two stood in companionable silence, the wind rustling through the trees, Obito allowed himself a moment of peace. The scars of his past would never fully heal, but he had chosen to walk a different path—a path that led not to power, but to atonement.

And in that, he had found something he had thought lost forever: hope.

_______________________________________________________________

In this final chapter, Obito and Kakashi face the masked shinobi in a battle not just of strength, but of will. Through his own experience, Obito is able to reach the masked figure, helping them break free from the darkness that once consumed him. The story concludes with an epilogue, reflecting on the price of redemption and the enduring struggle to leave behind the shadows of the past.

Share