If things had happened the way Kushina hoped, and if Obito had been forced into it, she might not have forgiven him, but at least she could have found a shred of comfort.
But acting on his own initiative?
That was an entirely different weight.
Unfortunately, Obito's answer was destined to crush every last bit of hope in her.
A strange smile curled on his face. He shook his head.
"No. It wasn't like that. I acted on my own initiative."
"Why?"
Kushina's disbelief shifted instantly into disappointment, then into fury.
"What did Minato and I ever do to wrong you?!"
"Teacher's wife, you never wronged me," Obito replied calmly. "You were always kind to me. But who told you that you were the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki?"
"The Nine-Tails is essential for Uchiha Madara's complete plan."
"As for the Teacher…"
His tone twisted.
"His existence blocked the path for me and Madara… and he failed to fulfill his responsibilities as a teacher."
"As the fastest ninja in the entire world, he still never arrived when his disciples needed him. Always one step late. Always."
"I could accept him being late at Kannabi Bridge. But not when Rin died."
SLAP!
Uchiha Gen appeared in front of Obito in an instant. His palm cracked across Obito's face with such force that the sound echoed.
Obito staggered, cheeks swelling instantly. Kushina and Mikoto both froze at the suddenness of it.
"It's lunatics like you," Gen said coldly, "who make the entire Uchiha Clan discriminated against by the world."
By "world," Gen meant not only this world but also the people of his previous life.
"The Fourth Hokage was the protector of your Team. Did he follow you around all day holding your hand?
"During the Third Shinobi War, Konoha was collapsing. The Fourth Hokage had to use Flying Thunder God to run everywhere, putting out fires on multiple fronts, carrying out high-difficulty missions, so busy his feet barely touched the ground."
"And you still think he should have made it to you in time?"
Gen's voice sharpened.
"Are you not ashamed?"
"You were already a qualified ninja. Already at an age where you were responsible for yourself."
"What did you think this was... Ninja School?"
SLAP!
Another thunderous backhand sent Obito's head whipping aside. The left cheek ballooned, matching the right, making his face look like a swollen pig's head.
"If you ask me, you're the one who's useless."
"As a member of the Uchiha Clan, you were actually the dead last in the Academy?"
"Your life wasn't wealthy, but you never lacked food or water. You had time to train. And with a good attitude, timing, and basic politeness, you could have easily gotten guidance from the clan."
"Do you know how many ordinary ninja dream of being born into a major clan?"
"Where did all your time go?"
Gen poked Obito hard in the forehead.
"If you had worked harder, been stronger, been less reckless…
maybe Rin wouldn't have been captured."
"And maybe you wouldn't have been crushed under that rock."
"You were supposed to be a reserve ninja, preparing for war and you were out there helping old grandmas cross the road every day, making yourself late. Did those people actually need your help?"
"Without you, would they be unable to live?"
"If you grew up and became strong, the good you could do later would have been far greater than those tiny errands."
"And if anyone had battlefield misfortune after graduation… of course it'd be you."
Obito felt the stinging pain spreading across his face, felt Gen's finger pressing coldly into his forehead. Rage churned in his chest, but he couldn't find a single rebuttal.
He could only grab onto the one excuse he had left.
"Even if I had done everything you said," Obito insisted, "under Uchiha Madara's schemes, it would have turned out the same."
"This is my fate and Rin's fate!"
"Hmph. If everything is destined, then why are you struggling?" Gen asked disdainfully.
"When did I ever say this was destiny?" Obito snapped. "What do you know, you pervert?"
"Even if I revive Rin, in this cruel world, she'll just die again. That pain… once is already too much. I won't endure it again."
"To defy fate and let Rin live peacefully, I will carry out Madara's plan. I will become the leader of the plan."
"This plan is for true world peace. Only in a peaceful world can Rin live safely, happily—"
"And in that world, Teacher, Teacher's wife, and their son will all be reborn peacefully. They'll live happy lives."
"So the people who die for this plan only seem dead. They're actually not dead at all. They're still alive…"
His twisted logic drifted into something philosophical, something like "if someone lives in memory, they never really die."
Kushina stared at him like she was looking at a lunatic.
Mikoto's voice was flat.
"What exactly is this peace plan?"
Obito laughed wildly.
"Haha… I'm not telling you."
"Even if I die, I still exist in Rin's memory. I'll still live with her in that peaceful world."
"You can kill me. Go ahead. I want to see Rin now."
Kushina, Mikoto, and Gen all exchanged the same silent conclusion:
Madman.
Gen sighed.
"No wonder the outside world thinks the Uchiha Clan is full of crazies. Just look at him."
Mikoto didn't shift expression.
"Do you think we can't pull the plan out of your mind if you refuse to say it?"
"Oh? Genjutsu? Mind probing?" Obito taunted.
"Go ahead. It won't be so easy to dig through my memories."
"I'd rather die than tell you."
Gen chuckled.
"Heh… Isn't it just the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan?"
"As if nobody knows."
Obito froze then exploded.
"How... how do you know that?!"
Until now, only the deceased Madara, Obito himself, Black Zetsu, and Tobi knew the true plan.
Not even Nagato knew the whole thing.
If Gen knew… then someone inside Akatsuki had betrayed them.
Black Zetsu wouldn't.
Madara was dead.
Obito himself knew he hadn't.
Then...
Tobi.
It must be Tobi.
Obito's mind spun.
So many White Zetsu had gone missing in Konoha…
What if that was Gen's work?
What if he found Tobi through them and turned him somehow?!
He had to survive and warn Black Zetsu.
If Tobi was a mole, the plan would collapse.
His dream of a peaceful world with Rin would be over.
SLAP! SLAP!
Gen smacked him again, the blows crisp and casual.
"You're the bastard," Gen said calmly.
"And show some respect, you turtle-spawned idiot. Look at your situation."
He lifted Obito's chin with a finger.
"When you want something...
don't you know how to say please?"