Chapter 54: The Might of Flying Thunder God, Obito's Breakdown
With Genji taking action, chaos completely erupted in Kirigakure!
Battles broke out all over the village, with everyone holding fast to their own convictions.
However, while the entire village was engulfed in intense fighting, the ANBU base remained eerily quiet.
"…Rin."
Kakashi closed his eyes in pain. Everything was just as he had feared.
So this is what turned Obito into... this?
But how did he even know?
"You know," Obito suddenly spoke, his voice filled with bitterness, "I was there that day too."
It seemed he had given up pretending.
As he recalled everything from that fateful day, anguish twisted his face, and he spoke in a cold, low tone.
"I rushed there with everything I had—only to witness the one thing I never wanted to see, the one truth I refused to believe."
"From that moment on, I realized this world was nothing but hell. There's nothing worth clinging to in this fake reality."
"Konoha is always late. The world never changes. Everyone lives in suffering. So…"
"I'll create a new world—a peaceful one, a world where Rin will always exist."
Maybe it was because he had run into Kakashi, or maybe because there was no point hiding anymore, but Uchiha Obito's voice grew hoarse as he poured out everything in his heart.
His words left everyone in silence. Kisame, who had still been trying to figure out just who this man was, now found his thinking strangely aligned with Obito's.
Jiraiya's brows furrowed deeply. He realized that everything Kitagawa Gen had warned them about was true. Their limited intel had led them to underestimate the scale.
Uchiha Obito's ambitions went far beyond Konoha…
"This organization… is far more dangerous than we imagined."
Jiraiya's expression grew solemn. Kakashi also fell into silence, realizing the gravity of the situation—but still unable to comprehend how Obito had fallen this far.
"You said just now that you saw everything?"
Suddenly, Kitagawa Gen, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.
"Then why are you blaming Konoha for being late? If you'd just moved a bit faster, maybe you'd have made it in time, no?"
"…"
His abrupt words shattered the heavy silence. Obito's face darkened, but before he could speak, Kitagawa Gen went on:
"And to summarize what you said—you want peace, right?"
"…"
"But judging by your actions… don't tell me your plan is to kill everyone to achieve it?"
"…???"
"I mean, if everyone's dead, sure, the world would be at peace. But isn't that just a little extreme?"
Kitagawa Gen's words made Jiraiya and Kakashi suck in a cold breath. Even Kisame glanced at Obito with a stunned expression.
Obito remained silent. Not because he didn't want to argue—but because he couldn't very well explain the Eye of the Moon Plan out loud.
His silence, however, came across as tacit admission.
At that moment, Obito truly wanted to curse out loud—Am I really that extreme?!
"Obito… we're bringing you back with us. No more running."
Kakashi's Sharingan locked firmly onto Obito.
"And last time you showed up in Konoha… the Nine Tails inside Naruto reacted. That was you too, wasn't it? Ten years ago."
"That's right. It was me."
Obito admitted it without hesitation. At this point, there was no point in hiding. His cold gaze swept over the group.
"But catching me? That depends on whether you have what it takes."
As he spoke, the Fourth Mizukage lifted his head—chakra surging like a rising tide. Obito turned to Kisame.
"Despite the… complications, I have to ask. Will you help me create a new world?"
"…Like I have a choice now?"
Kisame shrugged, then drew his massive Samehada blade from his back. His eyes sharpened as he stared down the Konoha team.
In an instant, the air in the underground base grew unbearably tense.
"Let's begin."
Obito gave a low command, and the Fourth Mizukage's chakra exploded. A water mirror manifested in mid-air.
The next moment, a clone—identical to Jiraiya—emerged from the mirror and lunged at him!
"Tch… what a pain…"
Jiraiya cursed under his breath. He knew all too well what this was—the Fourth Mizukage's signature technique: Water Mirror Jutsu.
This jutsu could create a doppelganger identical in strength and ability to its target.
Jiraiya instantly dodged the mirror's reflection and began forming hand seals.
"Wild Lion's Mane Jutsu!"
His white hair shot forward like needles, targeting the water clone.
But just then, the Fourth Mizukage himself charged in—
"Lord Jiraiya—!"
Kakashi immediately tried to assist, but a massive broadsword was already blocking his path.
"Hatake Kakashi," Kisame said with a mocking tone, "I've heard of you."
"I've always been curious—just how powerful is that Sharingan of yours?"
As he spoke, Samehada swept horizontally toward Kakashi's head with a sharp whoosh.
Kakashi had no choice but to leap back quickly to evade the strike. Kisame, however, was already in pursuit.
Chaos erupted in the underground base. Only Obito Uchiha and Gen Kitagawa remained still.
"You little brat…"
Obito calmly flicked his sleeve, revealing a black iron chain that fell into his grasp.
"I hadn't planned on dealing with you—but it looks like you're the only one left. That's fine too…"
Whoosh—
The next moment, Obito charged straight at Gen.
"I've got a score to settle with you!"
"Tch…"
Gen clicked his tongue and met him head-on.
The distance between them was nothing to trained shinobi—just a blink, and they clashed.
In an instant, Gen drew his White Fang short blade, crackling with purple lightning.
"That blade…"
Obito narrowed his eyes, irritation flashing across his face.
Of course he recognized it. That was the blade Kakashi once used to save him.
It had broken back then.
He hadn't expected Kakashi to repair it—let alone give it to this kid.
"Hmph!"
Obito let out a cold snort, eyes locked on the blade as it passed through his intangible form.
But the moment the attack ended, he struck.
Shing—
With a sharp metallic snap, his iron chain lashed out toward Gen.
In a flash, Gen's body was shredded—only for Obito to scoff.
The real Gen suddenly emerged from the ground, slashing at Obito. But by then, Obito had already shifted into the Kamui dimension.
"A water clone, huh? Fast reflexes."
Obito sneered, watching Gen retreat swiftly.
"But you can't escape my eyes. And this time, we're not in Konoha. I have all the time in the world. Also, one more thing…"
"Kakashi and Jiraiya are both occupied. So tell me—who's going to save you this time?"
As he spoke, he completed a hand sign.
"Fire Style: Spiraling Maelstrom!"
Flames twisted through space like a vortex, roaring toward Gen.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
With a single seal, Gen summoned a thick earthen wall in front of him.
Boom!
The clash of fire and stone sent waves of heat surging through the base.
"Is that kid really going to be okay…?"
On the other side, Jiraiya was fending off the Fourth Mizukage while casting a worried glance toward Gen.
And it wasn't just him. Kakashi, locked in combat with Kisame, was equally concerned.
He'd wanted to confront Obito himself, but Kisame wasn't someone he could shake off easily. This guy was even more dangerous than expected.
As for Obito…
Gen had actually managed to land a hit before.
And he'd told them something crucial—
The Fourth Hokage's seal might be on Obito's body.
"Be careful…"
Kakashi muttered under his breath—but that moment, Samehada came slicing through the air again.
"Now's not the time to zone out, Hatake Kakashi."
Kisame's voice snapped him back to reality. Jiraiya, too, had no choice but to stay focused on his own fight.
Thud-thud-thud—
Suddenly, a flurry of kunai shot out from the flames, densely surrounding Obito.
"This trick again?"
Obito sneered, his body fully intangible. He didn't bother absorbing the weapons.
Ignoring the scattered kunai, his eyes locked on the charging Gen.
"I've already fallen for this once. I won't again. Your fate is sealed."
"Is that so?"
Gen charged in with a slash, his voice calm.
"You once said you wanted to create a world with Rin in it. But Kakashi-sensei told me… she died in an accident."
Whish—
The White Fang blade sliced through Obito's intangible body. But those words triggered fury in Obito's eyes.
"You don't know anything!"
Obito's chain lashed out again.
"Don't presume to understand my will with your ignorance!"
Clang—
As the chain struck, Gen's body erupted with violet lightning, fending off the attack.
"Is that so?"
Gen countered with another strike, eyes locked onto Obito's every move, analyzing every detail.
He had waited long enough. Now was his chance.
"You're courting death," Obito said, more serious than ever.
Having been tricked once, he refused to fall for it again. This time, he made sure—Gen was the real one.
As Gen's blade passed through his body again, Obito reached out. Wood Release energy surged in his hand.
But just then, Gen's eyes lit up.
He'd been waiting for this moment.
"You just said…"
Gen's voice echoed faintly—and Obito's expression twisted in shock.
Because Gen had vanished.
The voice now came from behind him.
"You won't fall for the same trick twice, huh?"
"What?! How?!"
Obito's eyes widened. He didn't have time to go intangible.
Memories he'd buried came crashing back.
Flying Thunder God…?
And then—
Boom—
A searing pain exploded from behind. Something slammed into him with tremendous force.
He knew that feeling.
A Rasengan!
His mind reeled.
Why does this kid know that technique?
Why…
Why is that night playing out again—right now?!
"Trying to use genjutsu again, now that everyone's dead?"
Gen's voice echoed in his ears.
"But that's just lying to yourself, isn't it?"
"Who would choose a fantasy… over reality?"
"…."
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