Seventh Slip Backward

by Esparia

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Text Rules:

"I'm talking," said Naruto

"I'm talking in Naruto's mind," said Kurama

'I'm thinking to myself,' thought Sasuke

"I can use telepathy," Ino sent with a smile.

Kakashi is having a flashback.

These are written words on paper, like mission scrolls.

Exceptions to rules when emphasis is needed (or just really wanted).

((When Esparia just has to comment. It won't happen often, promise.))

Esparia's A/N: I've rewritten a lot for better flow (and grammar) but the plot has not changed. I've added Omake to every chapter, stuff that comes to mind while making the actual chapter. Enjoy.

Chapter Warnings: Character death, mental angst, postwar battlefield gore, and extreme plot butchery due to fan-writer's (Esparia's) abuse of creative power.

Disclaimer: Legally, this disclaimer holds no value. However, it will be given any way to point out 's general disclaimer. This pertains to the entire fic, so listen up. Esparia does not own Naruto in any form (manga/anime/fishcakes/nor is it possible to own a malestrom...shocker, I know). Naruto was made and owned by Masashi Kishimoto, so characters (other than Original Characters) belong solely to the mangaka. Esparia does own this fanfiction, Seventh Slip Backward, so please don't "copy and claim" (AKA: Plagiarize). Though the idea is open and free to twist however one pleases.

Original Pro: 12/06/14

Update: 07/20/16

Omake: 09/01/16

...

Seventh Slip Backward

Prologue

(I Don't Want to Live on the Moon)

Uchiha Obito: 33rd Year of the 1st Timeline, 23rd Day of the 2nd Month

Where does a story end? What makes a story finished? Does a story end when the protagonist dies? Even so, is there not also the events that follow the protagonist's death? If you were to follow the story of a different protagonist, the story would hardly end with the other protagonist's death. They still have a story being told, their story continues, and yet...If that second protagonist were present at the first protagonist's death then does it not also mean that they were hinged onto the first's story; as such, the first protagonist's story would continue with the second. Are not all stories simply part of one large story, a domino in a long line of dominos?

Then perhaps you end a story when the protagonist has finished what their goal was. Perhaps you finish a story when that domino lays flat...and yet, and yet that domino had triggered another story and another…and another. So can you really say a story ever ends when it just sparks a new beginning?

Obito lowered himself to the grassy ground, obsidian eyes looking around the ultimate genjutsu. They had won, Madara and him. It honestly surprised him that they succeeded. Sure many died; allies, friends, family, enemies...but it was all to fix the world. At least, that's what he had thought when it played out. He had thought, perhaps, that this was what would work in bringing the world peace…he had tried so hard.

Time was irrelevant in the genjutsu; it could have been only a millisecond to an eternity that they've been trapped in the genjutsu. It was the image of perfection. The trees, the river, the people...they were all there. Perfect. However...it wasn't. For perfection to exist there had to be flaws to compare...and there were flaws. People were corrupt with them; it was in humanity's nature. It made them do things that would hurt others and themselves, and cause serious destruction and pain. All the same, these little flaws made them who they were.

Obito could see it now in Rin and Kakashi.

Rin was sitting by him and talking. He loved Rin. Except this Rin wasn't his Rin.

This Rin lacked his Rin's flaws. The flaws and little quirks that made her her. Obito realized, even though her mistakes in themselves weren't the best, it was the mistakes that changed her and made her grow in ways she wouldn't have otherwise.

Kakashi was on his other side, idly commenting on Rin's chatter.

Kakashi. He wasn't aloof, bitter, or really any other usual Kakashi characteristic. Obito figured, perhaps, it was because of the lack of pain in his "past". There was no life-changing experiences for him, so really...he was just a blank slate. He didn't even have his trademark mask or Obito's eye. His two visible gray eyes were alight with empty mirth, joy that seemed so very much alive that Obito wished he could feel as sincerely happy as this fake Kakashi seemed to.

Obito watched them. He watched them for he knew not how long; they were just friends here. Ninja didn't exist in this world, so they were not a team. However, as he watched his teammates, he slowly began to realize how incorrect it all was. His "friends" were not the people he wanted, he wanted his slightly-dysfunctional-drama-filled teammates that he joked with. Teammates who he trusted to guard his back. The teammates who he would go pigeon bombing with (long story). His teammates who he knew were dead. He knew his Rin was long gone; though, he still slightly blamed the white-haired idiot beside him. Yet when he saw Kakashi's face when his maskfell, he knew that the man also blamed himself for Obito's "death". At the time he figured it wouldn't matter, as they would all end up in the perfect world where there were no shinobi, no wars, and his family would be alive.

When Kakashi found where he and Rin were sitting; Obito was startled to see the man looking so pleased to be with them and the notable lack of ninja gear. It was then he began noticing how this perfect world was indeed anything but.

The birds were all the same, without any distinction other than gender. The water was the perfect moderate temperature without any exception. Then there were the rustle of trees without anything to disturb them. It was always midday. He felt stifled; he felt stuck.

It was all so...fake.

Fake. Fake. Fake.

It was the beginning of panic that made him realize, with self disgust, that he was half responsible for creating a world that was so organized by the book it lacked the essence of the life he so wanted to preserve. With amounting horror, he realized he had destroyed the world that he loved. That world was corrupt. Yes, very corrupt, but the world he chose over it was sick.

This sick world was a world of puppets that would dance on strings for their master for as long as their strings remained.

The corrupted world was of decision and growth. Its people would grow and change with each experience they came across and learn to choose who they were to become.

His decisions…didn't lead to his perfect world.

Obito's hurt heart slowly began to beat again where it once stood petrified. He had thought Madara was supposed to fix this pain. To create a world without pain. Now he felt a pain, an excruciating agony all over that could only come from losing everything and everyone he had ever loved. Perhaps the worst part of it was the thought that he would never escape the hell disguised as a heaven, and he couldn't even go to the afterlife where his slightly-dysfunctional-drama-filled team were. Out of all of them, he felt he alone deserved this self-made hell. It didn't mean that he wanted it.

He wanted the little quirks in his teammates. He wanted to see life's light in Kakashi's eyes. He wanted...the hurts that came with loving others.

He wanted it all back.

Suddenly, as if his unspoken plea was heard, the genjutsu lit with blinding light and faded from existence.

Obito blinked, finding himself sprawled across the remains of a battlefield. A figure stood before him, clothed in light that seemed to emanate from them. He was awed by the person's presence; who, while not exhibiting any killer intent, commanded even more respect and power than any other being he's come across. The Being had a gentle yet strong aura that made Obito want to simultaneously flee and embrace them. Obito's choice was taken from him when he found himself unable to move. His body was so horribly disfigured and broken, it was amazing he was even able to remain alive.

The figure moved down and lightly touched Obito's pale sweaty forehead. He could feel something inside him change, his awareness perhap; it felt akin to a fog lifting. It was as if his entire world got brighter- no, clearer. His world was clearer, the space around him more pronounced, and he understood. He understood what was happening around him better than he could understand the actions of an opponent with his sharingan.

He understood he made a grievious mistake. He understood the stark contrast of his reasonings, what he thought was right and what truly was right. He understood his own faults and how the greediness for power in him affected his decisions. He understood, some how, that he had been forgiven.

Obito felt that dark broken part of his spirit mend; the part that had been stomped on and hurt so many times over, what he had been sure it would never heal.

With that, Obito also understood that this wasn't the end. That against all odds, there was another chance for the world. That there was going to be a new beginning. That this would prevent it all from happening, and all his foolishness would be removed so that he wouldn't hurt the world. That this corrupted world would get another shot. A shot, he felt, he wouldn't be able to make happen; for he had already failed so spectacularly he was surely the wrong person for this critical period in time.

This was what this Being was waiting for. A decision whether he would take up this mission or let someone else carry it out.

The Being. He knew the Being. He knew like a baby knew who its mother was.

He was certain that it was this Being who created the world.

It was with that that Obito understood that the world this Being made wasn't meant for the corruption, nor was it supposed to be like his puppet world.

It was a world created for unadulterated love, and how strange a thought that was. That this world, which he hated for so long, was made for all the good things. Even though it all was ruined with people's hate and dark desires, it still existed. This Being could have easily erased it, and stopping only because of what? The love for a broken world and a broken people? What love could be strong enough for such a thing?

The Being before him was that Love.

He wasn't capable of such honest love like this Being. He couldn't bring himself to believe he was even able to be a fraction of what the world would need; however, he was the one, the only one, to practically beg for the love of what his home world was made for. Even so, he knew it probably wasn't his place to be some sort of charismatic hero. He was only a half-dead human with an easily swayed spirit. No, he was too easily influenced and had turned jaded from the years of being who he was.

The world needed someone who would reflect how things should have been, someone who wouldn't be consumed by hatred. It needed a steadfast person who wasn't already worn from what the world had to offer.

He turned his battered head to look at the boy he had killed. That boy had such a benevolent spirit, that it thawed the hearts of the cold hearted monsters in men's skin. The corpse's blood matted blond hair waved lightly in the breeze; dirt and grime covered its unmoving face. He would be the right person to stand these trials, or at the very least, better than Obito himself. It was meant to happen this way.

Obito's slow and shallow breathing was the only thing that showed he was indeed still alive; since he was so still, one could almost mistake him for dead. His dimming eyes looked up to the waiting Being; he gave a slight smile and let his eyes roll back to the blond child's corpse. He had already known what his decision was going to be, he was ready for the end of his story.

With a gentle sigh, Obito's eyes closed.

As he left what was once his body, he saw the blond boy's body let out a breath that stirred the ash in his face before it stilled once more. He apparently hadn't killed him before Madara set the genjutsu into motion. The poor kid would be confused at first, Obito thought knowingly, but the kid would do well.

He only looked back once at his body. Scarred, broken, and bearing the signs of suffering, it had served him well.

Looking back at the boy Obito smiled softly before he turned and went to the Otherside.

Ah, so this was how his perfect world was going to be created.

And then the world slipped backward.

...

Omake

(Rise of Neko-jii)

Uchiha Madara: 94th Year of the 1st Timeline, 23rd Day of the 2nd Month

Madara crossed his arms, staring angrily at the world around him. Not only did his awesomely awesome plan for Uchiha domination fail. Not only did his genjutsu fall for some strange reason, but his dream world itself was a nightmare! Hashirama was there along with his menacing younger brother, it totally ruined his family reunion.

Is this what he most desired? Senju friends, living family, and a pet kitten?

Madara scuffed the scorched ground with his heel and would never admit that he pouted. Okay, so maybe he knew he wanted a kitten. But kittens were cute, cuddly, fluffy, and adorable. It wasn't his fault he broke out in hives whenever a cat was around. Besides, he just knew that that Senju snow-cone would make fun of him if he ever got a cat.

Madara peeked around his shoulder, confirming that everyone was dead. Yup, they were dead. Along with Obito. Pity. Well, what could you do?

So now, technically, he was the last Uchiha. His judgmental family were all gone and his Senju and Uzumaki foes were all dead. Madara grinned in realization. With no enemies to laugh and a body that didn't get allergic reactions, being that he was dead, he could abtain as many cats as he wanted.

Take that Senju scum, Uchiha Madara would get his dream...just not his family...

He would just have to name his kitties after his brothers. Perfect. Problem solved.

So Madara set off to start his cat colony, leaving Zetsu to wonder just what he was going to do now that humanity was extinct and his mother still wasn't brought back. Zetsu mused that his mother probably wouldn't want to be brought back in a cat body; she didn't like cats.