Rin was nothing but startled by his entrance, surprised at the way he looked and, further, curious about what brought him there and in such a state.

Soon, he recovered his steady stance, looked up shortly, like questioning something, and then down, like he just had the answer. He had been heading to Obito, but, at a sudden change of mind, turned around and went in the opposite direction. He took a look outside, right and left, made sure no one was around.

"We... are in big trouble," he said afterwards slowly, facing her.

"And by 'we', you mean...?" Rin questioned. And with a good reason. Usually, the ones getting themselves into trouble were the boys, after all.

"All of us...? ...I guess?" Kakashi replied just as slowly and his pace was somehow irritating.

"But please, speak at once!" she demanded, with a tone of urgency, fearing the worst that could happen, he was sure, but far from the worst that was actually happening.

"Well, it's mostly a supposition, but, frankly...," Kakashi started in a low voice. But it was hardly a supposition. It was almost a certainty and he didn't yet have any idea of how to deal with it.

"Say what you suppose to be true, then, Kakashi," she insisted.

"Rin...," Kakashi stared at the young woman in a curious way, making one more attempt, but his mouth was dry and his brain thoughtless.

"Kakashi, what's going on?" Rin spoke with something between pleading and authority in her voice.

"Rin, it was all in the plan. All along. And they made us forget. Because you lived."

"Who? What did they make 'us' forget? Because I... what?"

"Do you remember why they kidnapped you? When you were thirteen?"

"I..."

And he saw it, how just the mention itself of 'kidnapping' caused an initial confusion. "You're confused, right?" he pointed it out, nodding knowingly, "You didn't even give that day a thought, from that perspective, from that day on, did you? Nor did I!"

Her stare dropped to the ground, her pupils maximizing. She started to realize it, too.

"Rin, Obito was not sent there by accident, that day. He was supposed to see you die. I was supposed to kill you!"

"No, it just can't be. This is not happening..."

"...you were supposed to die at my hand, but still..."

"Why...?"

"You were a Jinchuriki, Rin. You are a jinchuriki.

"No..."

"Their nation said it was stolen. Obito believed he had it. But only he knew the truth. That-"

That right moment, the suddenness of her gesture quietened him. He did not dare to breathe as he stood there. The shock that had enlarged her eyes. Her hand dropped like an arrow onto her chest. Yet he did not quite understand it until her eyes were empty looking glass.

The following minute was torture. He had to let her go. Watch her leave on her own, but without her consent. Clench his teeth and endure it. The hopelessness. The frustration. They had all been very small, insignificant pieces in such a tough, grand game. He had been sent there like the silliest pawn on the board. To make the connection. See it. And deliver the message, like the little good boy he was supposed to be, in a game played by the big bad boys. The message that was supposed to deliver Obito to him, on a silver platter. What did all the things the Kages planned meticulously signify when little details well placed like this one could always easily win a battle?

Kakashi felt useless. All he could do to protect Rin was let them take her. Of course they would put a guaranty in her along with the beast. A remote control to keep her in check.

Had he done right? Letting her go, letting their plan go on? Whatever that would do to the fate of the war, it was, however, the only choice that prolonged Rin's life. As long as she was needed as bait, she would be safe. So he hoped. That such a mad, irresponsible decision he had dared to take was not in vain.

"This is not a good idea. We still have two more days until the Tailed beast can be used. The boy was, after all, not that stupid," Black Zetsu was lecturing. "But the point is, you must keep your immortal body for now. It is the safest. There's no use in-"

"The safest? The safest...," Madara shot him a glare, "Are you jut implying I could be vulnerable? Who do you think you are lecturing just now? Also, trying to command me? If you are simply incapable of fetching what I asked you for, just say it so, incompetent mutt, and I shall go procure what I need myself," Madara spat distastefully.

"No need to... I will do it... I...," Zetsu bowed his head, holding back the bitter grudge and rage. First Obito's indecisiveness, and now Madara's impatience may ruin all of his hard work. The hard work for the sake of dear Mother. But as Black Zetsu went out, a pale, expressionless figure went in. And the clone felt a bit more reassured. Why worry, after all? The pale figure will bring them love-struck Obito. And Obito will bring the other eye. And after, there would be no Obito. And with a Rinnegan pair, his compatible Rinnegan pair, nothing would happen to Madara ever. Two days later, with the power of the beasts, there would be no Madara as well. These two stubborn Uchiha, two thorns in his back that had caused him so much trouble, both gone. And his own reward, to come.

"Let. Me. Go." His posture was calm. So was his voice. And yet Kakashi had never seen Obito in such rage before. Eyes sparkling. Veins popping. Skin burning. He could see these the clearest, as he was facing him closely, his hands grasping Obito's shoulder's tightly, keeping him into placed. Minato was holding him from behind, keeping his hands tied in his strong grasp. Kakashi had known this would be rough. And still he had not come there with a plan to get his hotheaded best friend back to his senses before anything else could be done.

"You're not going out in this state," Minato spoke calmly. Kakashi looked up from Obito to the face of his former sensei. There was something in his features that transpired pain and frustration too similar with Obito's."You won't be permitted to, for as long as it will be necessary," he went on, "This is just wasted time, Obito."

Eventually, a sigh pronounced his defeat. His muscled relaxed, his bloodshot eyes focused. The sweat on his face was cooling down as he covered his mouth, eyes forcefully shut for the time being, and he took in breath after hard breath, in the realization that came after the fury.

Relieved by this end of his struggle, Kakashi, too, weakened his grip, being, however, cautious enough to not let him go completely. Surely, it came as a surprise to see him give up so easily. Enough to make him suspicious that Obito had some twisted idea in mind. That this next moment or another, he and Minato would only blink once and suddenly see him no longer. And all would be lost. When it came to Rin, nothing could change Obito's mind and the fact that just a few words from Minato would suffice was hard to believe. Maybe those were only his own feelings, but Kakashi used to have this idea that, along with Kakashi himself, Obito had always held Minato partly responsible for the reasons all of this started. And, unlike in Obito's and Kakashi's case, there had never been a resolution between the two. Aside from feeling responsible for Minato's temporary death, was there anything else Obito saw in Minato anymore? Aside from the power to lead to the end of this war, what else in Minato could appear of interest in the boy disappointed by each and every one of his idols?

But they were not alone. And while Kakashi seemed to have forgotten, he could see Obito didn't. He saw him straightening himself and turning right back to the present leaders. Kakashi let go of one of Obito's shoulders, but his hand remained on the other, keeping the lightest of grasps to it, more as a sign of support, rather than captivity. It was just later that Kakashi understood the importance of that moment and the decision that clang to it.

"The plan goes on, as discussed," Obito spoke then, no indecisiveness in his voice. "We are waiting for our sign, and act in accordance to it," he went on, scanning the room, as if daring anyone to say otherwise.

"Kage-sama," a soldier hurried in, talking to no Kage in particular, but recognizing the real authority, Kakashi realized, before turning to deliver the news to Obito, "We have just received the news from our field operator. The island changed course. No warning about it from the crew there, however. They suspect nothing, just as you said." Obito exchanged glances with an intrigued, yet pissed off Raikage, as if he just won an argument.

"Time estimation for it to reach the nearest shore?" Obito asked the soldier, but his eyes remained on the world leaders.

"45-47 hours at most, HQ believes. The island keeps changing speeds and sometimes even its course," the soldier explained.

"I see," Obito nodded, dismissing him.

For all of these years, Kakashi had wondered how Obito acted when he was apart from them, when he was just the masked leader of an army. How had he kept control over such an unreliable lot? But he could surely see it now. Obito was no longer wearing any mask, but he might as well have been. He was not sure whether this reassured him or startled him.

"Now, we must order retreat," the Tsuchikage added, which sounded way too peaceful of a decision from that old man. And, as far as Kakashi was concerned, the troops were retreated.

"Is Hiruzen sure the back up plan would work, if something goes wrong?" the Tsuchikage continued.

"That method never fails," Minato replied darkly, through thinned lips.

"Let's say just as much as we must to each of our armies, then," the old Kage replied and everyone else raised and exited in agreement, leaving just Obito with Kakashi behind.

Kakashi realized his arm was still hanging by Obito's shoulder. He let it slip awkwardly, but stood firmly by Obito's side, waiting for Obito to finally look out of his reverie and up at him (although so much taller now than the old days, Kakashi remained a few inches taller than his friend).

"Is the plan absolutely confidential?" he asked, when finally catching Obito's attention. He was not sure if it was safe to bring up Rin's fate, but if Obito remained firmly by the plan, then surely it was the only way to keep Rin safe as well.

"No, not really," he replied after a short pause. "I'll tell you once we find an empty tent," he said, walking towards the ending.

Kakashi wanted to point out how this was an empty tent now. But after the discussions that had taken place here, he understood why he'd want to get away.

"Also, I need to find a cup of something warm to hold while we're at it," Obito added. Kakashi looked down. Obito's hands, kept tightly behind his back throughout the last minutes, were trembling uncontrollably. A shiver ran past him. Maybe he needed a cup of something, too. He felt as if his moves were watched closely.

And they were.

A/N: This may be just an AU, but it always bugs me when stories miss important canonical parts, so I decided to include the jinchuriki-Rin and traitor-Zetsu into my schemes. It turned out to fit quite well.

I know I let this story (and, actually of of my stories) down for like forever. I wonder, really, if there is any of the old reader out there that would still want to see the ending. But, as for me, I really want to write it. It's a shame. I was never this close to finishing a story. The Epilogue is written already (and it has been for like year, I think). There are just a few edits to be made. In between the Epilogue and this chapter, there should be one more, and that's it.