Moving the Plan Forward
Obito and zetsu
Obito and Zetsu put Madara's Eye of the Moon Plan into action.
With new conviction, Obito returned to Mountains' Graveyard and agreed with Madara's conclusion that the reality they lived in was worthless and should be destroyed. He vowed he would create a new reality where he, Rin, and Kakashi would be together again. Pleased, Madara told Obito the details of the Eye of the Moon Plan, the secrets of the Demonic Statue and the role Nagato would play with his Rinnegan. He would go on to teach Obito much of his skills and knowledge, including Uchiha kinjutsu, Yin–Yang Release and the Six Paths Technique. Before passing, Madara seemingly created Black Zetsu by pouring his will into White Zetsu and also left part of his will in the chakra receivers extending from the Demonic Statue's navel. Disconnecting himself from the statue, Madara told Obito that until the day he was revived, Obito would be Madara Uchiha and must work to bring the Eye of the Moon Plan to completion.[16]

Obito and Zetsu travelled to Amegakure to meet the Ame orphans, who were sceptical of Obito's claim that he was Madara and his plan to make a world where everyone wins, despite Nagato wanting to know about his powers. Yahiko brushed Obito off and told him to stay away from them. Obito, however, stated that he would return to that spot everyday until they understood and came to him willingly.[17] Obito claims to have convinced Yahiko to form Akatsuki, unbeknownst to Konan.[18] In the anime, Obito watched from the sidelines as Akatsuki performed peace keeping operations. When Danzō Shimura decided to frame Akatsuki for the death of several Ame-nin, making Hanzō see them as a threat to his regime, Obito saw this as the perfect opportunity to win over Nagato. As the other members of Akatsuki learned of the Konoha Anbu's intentions, they rushed to their leader's aid, only to be intercepted and killed by Obito and a number of White Zetsu. Obito and Zetsu then watched as Hanzō completed his plan to kill Yahiko, with his death mirroring Rin's, which prompted Obito to vow that he would one day have the Ame Orphans reunite with each other in the dream world. Following Yahiko's death, Nagato took on the name of Pain and joined Obito along with Konan, thus beginning a new incarnation of Akatsuki.[19]

From this point, Obito's actions are largely unknown. As Tsunade speculated years later, the reason Obito adopted Madara's name was to take advantage of the power it invoked in peoples' fears of the legend himself.[20] Because of the many infamous acts Madara carried out during his lifetime, few were surprised that Madara could still be alive after such a long time. They took the crimes that Obito committed under Madara's name as further confirmation that was really Madara, as only Madara would be capable of such deeds. Obito also possesses knowledge of things that only the real Madara would know, giving his claims further credence.[21]

Minato vs Tobi
Obito and Minato clash.
Twelve years before the start of the series, having infiltrated Konoha, Obito learned that Kushina Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki and Minato's wife, would be giving birth,[22] which he knew would cause the seal keeping the Nine-Tails contained within her to weaken.[23] Intending to control the Nine-Tails, Obito tracked her down and took the newborn Naruto Uzumaki hostage to keep Minato from interfering. Once he extracted the beast, Obito placed it under his control and ordered it to destroy Konoha.[24] Using Kamui to keep Minato from going to the village's defence, while keeping his true identity hidden and reaffirming his ambitions, Obito engaged Minato before being hit by a Rasengan and branded with Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique, which Obito didn't know would never disappear.[25] Wounded, with Minato's Contract Seal disrupting his control over the Nine-Tails, Obito fled while vowing to regain the tailed beast, and declared that he still had other plans.[26]

Tobi talks to Itachi
Obito talking to Itachi.
Eight years after the Nine-Tails' attack, after the Uchiha clan had been ostracised and placed under heavy suspicion for the Nine-Tails' attack, Obito infiltrated Konoha to rekindle the flames of war. He was found by Itachi Uchiha first, who convinced the man he believed to be Madara to spare the village in exchange for helping him wipe out the Uchiha clan, an offer which Obito accepted.[27][28] Obito then offered Itachi a place in Akatsuki, despite knowing his true intentions. Shortly after the massacre was carried out, Obito used Kamui to warp away several Uchiha corpses in order to extract their Sharingan for his own use.[29] Around the time of the massacre, Obito also met with Danzō for unknown reasons.[30] At some point in time, Obito took control of the Fourth Mizukage, in effect making him the "real" Mizukage. Kisame Hoshigaki was one of the few Kirigakure ninja to know of his manipulation of the Fourth, yet helped Obito in his quest to bring about an end to the "world of lies".[31] At some point, Obito learned the true reasons behind Kakashi killing Rin,[32] though he was unaware that Madara had orchestrated the event to manipulate his emotions.[12] Obito later took on the alias of Tobi in order to join Akatsuki as Zetsu's subordinate. To prevent suspicion that he was the true leader of Akatsuki, Obito took on the persona of an incompetent and clumsy individual.