During these adventures, Obi-Wan noticed in Anakin an innate tendency towards the Force. Seeking to pass on his Jedi knowledge, he decided to train the young pilot in its ways. Obi-Wan had never taken on a student before and teaching was more difficult than he anticipated, especially in such a sensitive topic as the Force. Having been introduced to this bold new arena of power, Anakin became excited and craved to learn as much as he could as fast as he could. This left him wide open to temptation from the dark side. Anakin could not resist.

When Obi-Wan recognized the change, he tried to bring Anakin back, preaching the evils of the dark side, hoping to drag him back by the single thread of good left in him. But Anakin would have none of his "noble suffer the good" talk, and their discussion turned quickly to argument and even quicker to conflict. The fight was long and furious, ending with Anakin falling headlong into a pit of molten lava.

Obi-Wan knew this would bear serious repercussions from Anakin's master, the Emperor Palpatine. He quickly shuffled Anakin's wife and twin children into hiding. The young girl, Leia, and her mother went to stay with the now Viceroy of Alderaan, Bail Organa, while young Luke was taken in by Obi-Wan's brother, Owen Lars. As the Emperor began to hunt and kill the Jedi, Obi-Wan took to hiding under the assumed name Ben. He decided to stay close to Luke by living on Tatooine, but kept a safe distance. Should the Emperor ever find his home in the Jundland Wastes of the Dune Sea, Luke would still be safely hidden away.

Most people on Tatooine think Ben is just a crazy old hermit. He tends to stay in seclusion, although he has been known to help someone lost or threatened by Sand People.