Obito still tried to hold onto his stubborn pride, but when he heard the hostility in Uchiha Gen's voice, he immediately changed tactics—a wise man knows when to yield.
"…How did you know?" he asked.
"That's the right attitude," Gen replied. "You know about the stone tablet under Nanga Shrine, right, kid?"
Obito stiffened. Understanding dawned, and disbelief followed.
"Impossible. The Mangekyō can't see the most important part of the tablet. Your Sharingan...!"
"Heh… just as you're suspecting," Gen said with a faint smile.
"Impossible! The Uchiha don't have a second Mangekyō!" Obito insisted.
"Why would it have to be a second Mangekyō to evolve?" Gen replied smugly. "I break the rules."
You have a cheat? I have a cheat too... and mine is better.
Obito lowered his head, silent, looking defeated on the surface.
In reality, his mind was racing, calculating his odds of survival, and how he might at least pass a warning to Black Zetsu.
If the enemy had a pair of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan…
the difficulty of completing the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan had increased dramatically.
Kushina turned to Gen, unable to hide her curiosity.
"What exactly is the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan?"
Mikoto also looked over, listening intently.
Gen explained clearly:
"The Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan is simple: gather all nine Tailed Beasts and fuse them together into the Ten-Tails. Then the caster becomes the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki. And once you become that, you can activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
"This technique is a world-covering Genjutsu. Using light as the medium, it reflects off the moon and drags everyone on the planet into the illusion. No matter where you hide, unless you have power equal to the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki, you'll be affected."
"Everyone falls into a dream shaped by the caster's will, a world where they experience the happiness they always wanted."
"That's how the plan creates world peace."
Kushina and Mikoto could only stare, mouths slightly open in shock.
From Gen's standpoint, if people trapped in Infinite Tsukuyomi didn't turn into White Zetsu, then although extreme and delusional, it could still be considered a barely workable "peace."
But Black Zetsu never told Madara or Obito that those caught in the illusion eventually transformed into White Zetsu, neither human nor ghost.
Previously, Gen assumed White Zetsu were created from Wood Release through the Demonic Statue, just like Obito's new body.
But if this was the true method… he lost interest completely.
To Gen, the plan was like creating a second world in a giant virtual game.
If it actually preserved lifespan and didn't mutate people, countless unhappy or desperate people would probably flock to it.
But once it turns humans into White Zetsu?
He dismissed it entirely.
Even if it didn't, Gen still wouldn't be interested. His real life was thriving; his prospects were limitless. Only those with short lifespans, or people who desperately wanted impossible outcomes, would cling to the mirage of Infinite Tsukuyomi.
And if he were one of those people… maybe he'd pursue it.
But he wasn't.
Obito suddenly spoke with fervor.
"Uchiha Gen... why don't you become the leader of the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan?"
"If you succeed, you'll create true world peace, something no one has achieved. You'll become the ruler of the world!"
"You'll be the greatest person alive!"
"No… you'll be a god!"
Obito's expression burned with zeal.
This was the best idea he had: appeal to Gen's ambition, then survive in the resulting chaos. And maybe, just maybe, he could reclaim control later.
He was already plotting against Madara; adding Gen to the list didn't matter.
If two tigers fought… he would benefit.
"Me?" Gen raised an eyebrow, amused. "Heh… What do you two think?"
He turned to Kushina.
"Sensei's wife, don't you want to see Minato again? Don't you want a happy family of three with him?"
Then to Mikoto:
"And you, Mrs. Mikoto. Don't you want a happy family of four with Fugaku?"
"Everything you desire can be achieved in Infinite Tsukuyomi."
Obito seized the moment and doubled down on the temptation.
But Mikoto shut him down instantly.
"I don't want any of that. It's an illusion. Just self-deception."
Fugaku's face was already blurry in her memory. If she didn't deliberately think back, she could hardly recall it at all.
Most of her life now belonged to Gen and so did most of her heart.
Once Itachi and Sasuke built their own families, once she finished all her responsibilities as a mother, she knew the rest of her life and heart would belong entirely to Gen.
Kushina nodded firmly.
"I agree with Mikoto."
"Obito, you're weaker than the both of us—two women."
SMACK.
She slapped him on top of the head, making him wince.
"And do you think I'm stupid?"
"I have the Nine-Tails, and Naruto has the Nine-Tails too. You think I'd sacrifice my life and my son's life for this so-called Infinite Tsukuyomi?"
"Sacrificing one is unacceptable. Sacrificing both? Impossible."
Inside Kushina's mindscape, Kurama whipped its tails happily.
"Well said, Kushina! Forget Infinite Tsukuyomi, I'm not becoming the Ten-Tails!"
Tailed Beasts are people too, Kurama thought angrily.
Obito tried again.
"Sensei's wife… actually, you don't need the Nine-Tails itself. Enough Nine-Tails chakra can substitute. You don't have to die."
SMACK.
Kushina whacked him again.
"Don't call me Sensei's wife. I'm not worthy of being your sensei's wife. Being your sensei's wife is too unlucky, I can't take it."
Obito held back a groan.
His last hope turned to Gen.
Gen snorted.
"With my future and my current success, why would I be interested in some vague dream world?"
"I can have everything I want without Infinite Tsukuyomi."
He stared down at Obito.
"And you—you don't even believe in it completely, do you?"
"It's unproven. You're desperate. You're drowning and reaching for the nearest straw."
"That's all Infinite Tsukuyomi is to you."
Obito's head dropped. His entire body sagged.
A hollow laugh escaped his blood-smeared lips.
"Heh… Uchiha Gen, only you could see through me like this."
"So that's how it is."
"Fine. Kill me."
Gen's smile sharpened.
"Oh? You want to die?"
"It's not that simple."
"I have questions for you. And tasks for you. You can die afterward."
Obito slowly lifted his head.
His swollen, bloody face twisted into a sinister grin.
"You have questions—that's normal."
"But you need me to do something?"
"You think I'd work for you?"
"Don't dream."
"I wouldn't work for you even if I died. Do whatever you want."
"I'd like to see whether that Eternal Mangekyō can control me through the restraint seal Uchiha Madara left inside me…"