The Heartbreaking Truth Behind Obito's Dark Past in Naruto

Obito Uchiha remained a mysterious and tragic figure throughout much of Naruto. Masashi Kishimoto provided limited information about his background, only revealing that he was a member of Team Minato with Kakashi and Rin and his presumed death in the Third Shinobi World War. However, as the story progressed, Obito's true identity as Tobi and Madara Uchiha was unveiled, exposing his manipulations within the Akatsuki after Pain's defeat. He played a significant role in igniting the Fourth Shinobi World War, orchestrating Sasuke's battles with Danzo and the Five Kage, and preparing for a confrontation with the Allied Shinobi Forces to gain control of the tailed beasts. In order to comprehend Obito's motives, it is necessary to delve into his origin and the hardships he faced.

Obito's narrative shares striking similarities with Naruto's own journey, embodying the potential pitfalls that the series' protagonist could have faced. While Obito may have seemed like a victim of his circumstances, it is crucial to acknowledge that he made his own choices, even under the influence of the deceased Madara. By the time of the Fourth Shinobi World War, Obito had become a disillusioned and broken version of his former self. It was through Naruto's intervention that he was reminded of his dreams and compelled to redeem himself by rejecting the hatred thrust upon him. Thus, Obito's path was a search to rediscover his original persona – a person who was compassionate, loyal, and brave, despite enduring immense suffering.

The Boy Who Wanted To Be Hokage

From a young age, Obito had dreams of becoming the Hokage in order to gain the approval of the people of Konoha. Like Naruto, he grew up without knowing his parents, and his relationship with Team Minato mirrored the dynamics within Team 7. Obito was deeply in love with his teammate Rin, but viewed Kakashi, the stoic prodigy, as a rival during their youth.

Unfortunately for Obito, Rin had feelings for Kakashi, and he often found himself playing second fiddle to his more advanced teammate. During the Third Shinobi World War, Kakashi rapidly progressed, achieving the rank of jonin while Obito lagged behind. On a mission to Kannabi Bridge, both Minato and Rin presented Kakashi with gifts for his promotion, leaving Obito feeling forgotten and exacerbating their already strained relationship. When Minato was called to the front lines, tension grew between Obito and Kakashi as the latter had to lead the team and complete their mission.

A Horrific Twist Of Fate

Regrettably, Rin was captured by Iwagakure shinobi, leaving the trio in a difficult situation. Kakashi made the decision to proceed with the mission and leave Rin behind, much to Obito's disappointment. However, refusing to follow Kakashi's orders, Obito took it upon himself to rescue Rin. Fortunately, Kakashi intervened just in time, sacrificing his eye to save Obito from certain death. This incident led to Obito awakening his Sharingan and aiding Kakashi in defeating the remaining enemy shinobi. Eventually, they located Rin who was being held captive in a cave.

Both Kakashi and Obito successfully eliminated their adversaries and rescued Rin. Unfortunately, one of the Iwagakure ninja inadvertently triggered the collapse of the cave, causing debris to strike Kakashi. Obito, seeing his friend's peril, bravely pushed Kakashi out of harm's way, but ended up being crushed by a large boulder himself. In his final moments, Obito accepted his fate and passed on his left Sharingan to Kakashi. With this newly acquired power, Kakashi defeated the remaining Iwagakure shinobi and ensured Rin's safety.

Although presumed dead, Obito was unexpectedly saved by White Zetsu, acting under the orders of an elderly Madara Uchiha. Returning to the Mountains' Graveyard, Obito received care from Madara, who replaced his injured body parts with Hashirama Senju's cells. Obito embarked on a demanding recovery journey while aiming to rejoin the battle and support his comrades. During this time, Madara tried to impart the harsh realities of the world and the tragedy of war to Obito, but to no avail, as Obito remained the optimistic idealist he had always been. Unfortunately, this state of mind would not endure for much longer.

The Final Nail In The Coffin

After adjusting to his new physical form, Obito embarked on a journey towards Konoha, determined to support the ongoing war. He expressed gratitude to Madara and bid him a poignant farewell, assuring the young shinobi that he would unquestionably return. Informed by White Zetsu about the perilous situation involving Kakashi and Rin, Obito enveloped himself within the Zetsu Tobi and sprinted towards the battlefield, only to witness Kakashi impale Rin's heart with his devastating Chidori.

The image caused both him and Kakashi to awaken their Mangekyo Sharingan. In a fit of rage, Obito used Tobi's Wood Release and his new Kamui to slaughter all the gathered Kirigakure ninjas before cradling Rin's lifeless body while Kakashi remained unconscious. Unbeknownst to Obito, Rin had been forced to become the jinchuriki of the Three-Tails and pleaded with Kakashi to kill her instead of being a ticking time bomb. Later, it was revealed that Madara was behind these events, as he sought an heir to continue his Eye of the Moon Plan.

Afterwards, Obito returned to Madara and devoted his life to him, finally understanding Madara's disillusioned perspective. With Madara's passing, Obito took on his role in bringing about the Infinite Tsukuyomi and began controlling the Akatsuki for this purpose. These tragic events led to Obito becoming the disheartened individual he was during the Fourth Shinobi World War in Naruto, finding no worth in the real world after losing everything he cherished.