Even the Spirit Transformation Technique couldn't remove the Curse Tag by controlling Obito's body.
This Curse Tag could only be broken by external force, like in the original story, where Obito arranged everything so Kakashi's Chidori would pierce it.
Uchiha Gen looked down at him with a faint smile.
"You think that just because the Curse Tag is anchored in your heart, and your will is strong, I can't deal with you?"
Obito's stomach tightened, but he forced a cold snort.
"Hmph. Try whatever you want."
"Then I won't hold back."
Gen's eyes shifted into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. The moment the pattern spun, Obito's entire chakra network, every flow, every knot spread out clearly before him.
Most of Obito's chakra was suppressed by binding seals. Only one piece remained active: the Curse Tag's chakra, nestled in the center of his heart like a flickering flame. It wasn't Obito's chakra, but it clung to his as a parasite.
Gen raised his right hand. Blue chakra wrapped around his fingers and palm as he placed it over Obito's chest. The chakra sank inward, sliding past skin, muscle, veins, arteries, threading directly into the heart.
With Obito's chakra sealed, Gen didn't need to worry about counterattacks.
And since Obito's altered body had absurd vitality, even surviving a massive hole through his chest, Gen didn't hesitate.
Feeling the disturbance inside, Obito's composure finally cracked.
"What are you doing?!"
"Just a bit of heart surgery," Gen replied casually.
"With your ridiculous life force, a little damage won't kill you."
His chakra wrapped around the Curse Tag and tightened. The ring of chakra sharpened into a scalpel.
Obito had no time to brace.
"A–ARGH!"
Pain exploded through his chest. His forehead instantly broke out in sweat.
Gen didn't slow down. Inside Obito's heart, the chakra blade split into countless tiny blades, silent, precise, merciless. They shredded the Curse Tag like paper.
The moment it dissolved, the chakra on Gen's palm shifted from blue to vibrant green. Healing energy surged into Obito's heart, repairing the carved tissue.
Without chakra, Obito would've healed too slowly even with his unnatural vitality.
Gen withdrew his hand.
"That's the Curse Tag done."
He looked straight into Obito's eyes.
"You really think you can resist me forever just because your will is strong? I used Medical Ninjutsu to plant the eye, used it as the medium to cast the spell, then suppressed your consciousness with Spirit Transformation."
"No matter how firm your will is, how long can you hold out?"
"So." He stepped closer. "Will you confess willingly, or unwillingly?"
Obito stayed silent for a long moment. Then finally…
"…Ask."
Gen nodded.
"The Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan requires gathering the Tailed Beasts. Your attack on Konoha, you planned it, didn't you?"
"It was planned… and also impulsive."
"Oh? Explain."
"The planned part is simple. I knew Sensei, Kushina, the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, was only vulnerable during childbirth."
"The Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki isn't like others. She's from the Uzumaki Clan, and even among them, she's an anomaly. No one else in the clan has chakra strong enough to suppress the Nine-Tails."
"And she mastered Sealing. If I didn't act during childbirth, there would never be another chance."
"At that time… I wouldn't have beaten her head-on."
"If I missed it, I'd have to wait for her next child. And if she never had one…" Obito shook his head. "I couldn't wait."
Gen nodded slightly. Waiting for a second child? If Kushina never had another… the opportunity was gone forever.
"Continue."
"Because the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails have too much chakra, the other seven must be sealed first, otherwise the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path will crack… or break."
Mikoto frowned. "What is the Demonic Statue?"
"The Ten-Tails' husk. The container for the Tailed Beasts," Gen answered.
He looked back to Obito.
"And yes, I already knew that."
Obito blinked. "You… know this much?"
Gen smiled. "I know far more than you think."
Obito continued.
"I couldn't just release the Nine-Tails. Even with Madara's summoning contract, my Mangekyō couldn't control it long, especially while it stayed inside the Jinchūriki."
"My plan was to kidnap Kushina, weaken the seal, and then control both her and the Nine-Tails using the summoning contract and a Mangekyō enhanced with Hashirama's cells."
"After sealing the One-Tail through Seven-Tails, I'd release the Nine-Tails."
Gen nodded. It was similar to how he had controlled Yagura.
"But things changed when I found Minato's Flying Thunder God formula hidden inside the Jinchūriki's seal."
"This alone ruined everything."
Kushina and Mikoto froze in shock.
"That seal meant that no matter where I hid, the Fourth Hokage could appear beside me instantly. Even the Kamui Dimension wasn't guaranteed safe. With his genius for space-time ninjutsu… one day he might even break in."
"So I realized something terrifying: Minato was a bigger threat than the Nine-Tails."
"If Minato died, I'd get another chance at the Nine-Tails. If Minato lived… everything was useless."
"So I changed the plan on the spot."
"I would release the Nine-Tails, force Konoha's main forces to battle it, create a one-on-one with Minato… and kill him."
"Then, after the Nine-Tails devastated Konoha, the Third Hokage would likely seal it, even at the cost of his life."
"While the summoning contract lingered, I'd grab the new Jinchūriki."
Kushina and Mikoto paled. Their hearts chilled.
"This plan was monstrous…" Mikoto whispered.
Kushina bit her lip. This wasn't the boy she remembered at all…
Obito lowered his head.
"But I underestimated Minato. In just a short exchange, he figured out almost my entire ability set. He nearly killed me. And he broke the summoning contract seal."
"The plan failed completely."
"But I didn't expect that he would still die sealing the Nine-Tails, so… you could say it half succeeded."
Kushina couldn't listen anymore.
She stood up, voice trembling but resolute.
"Gen… he's yours to deal with. I don't want to see him again."
"Understood."
"Me too." Mikoto's voice shook. She followed Kushina.
They paused when Gen called out:
"Should I reveal Obito's identity?"
The two women exchanged a look.
Mikoto spoke first.
"No. He's still Uchiha. If word spreads… it'll damage your reputation and the clan's."
Kushina nodded.
"And Kakashi… he just started to recover. He doesn't need this. Let Obito… remain a hero."
Obito trembled. Hearing Kakashi's name stabbed him with guilt.
Gen smiled softly. "Alright. I'll keep it secret."
The women nodded and left.
Gen turned back to Obito.
"You used to be naïve. One setback and you turned vicious. Going dark really does multiply strength."
Obito glared. "Don't call me a brat. We're the same age."
"Now that you've heard them," he said quietly, "kill me."
"It's not that easy."
"I'm going to squeeze every drop of value out of you."
Gen continued questioning. Obito answered everything.
Gen wasn't worried about lies. After taking control, he could verify everything.
When finished, Gen placed his hand over Obito's eyes. Green chakra mended the damage. Obito wanted to avoid him, but couldn't move at all.
Gen opened a bottle and retrieved the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, placing it into Obito's left eye.
Where Madara installed the Rinnegan directly, Gen used Medical Ninjutsu, far safer and more precise.
After installing it, Gen activated his Mangekyō. A faint golden wisp, his primordial spirit, slipped from the center of his forehead, entering Obito's body and seizing control with practiced ease.
Obito resisted with everything he had, clinging to memories of Rin, to hatred, to regret—nothing worked. In his weakened state, resistance was meaningless. His consciousness collapsed deeper than even Yagura's had.
The moment it did, far away in the Hidden Mist, Yagura abruptly regained his mind. Confusion turned to fury but his rage had no effect on Gen's current actions.
Gen retrieved his primordial spirit, then placed the Kamui eye into Obito and released the seals. A spatial vortex opened, spitting out an unconscious figure.
Gaara.
For safety, Gen immediately re-applied Sealing restraints to Obito. Then he picked up Gaara and teleported to the Forest of Death.
The exam had been frozen due to Obito's appearance. Konoha had instructed all teams to stand by.
Gen sensed Temari and Kankurō's soul signatures and appeared before them.
"Lord Gen!"
Both jumped but instantly bowed.
"I've brought Gaara back. And the intruder has been handled."
"Notify Konoha, the exam will resume."
He tossed Gaara lightly to them, then vanished before they could thank him.
Gen returned to the Uchiha Forest, confirmed Obito's answers once more, then teleported with Obito to the Land of Water.
On the way, he bought Obito an orange spiral mask.
After entering Mist territory, Gen marked Obito with Flying Thunder God, then left him to continue the mission.
The controlled Obito returned to the Hidden Mist and contacted White Zetsu, who summoned Black Zetsu.
Half an hour later, on a tiny island east of the village, a vortex swirled open. Obito stepped out, robes rippling in the sea breeze.
Minutes later, Black and White Zetsu emerged from a tree trunk wearing their iconic black-cloak-with-red-clouds.
"Obito," Black Zetsu rasped. "Why did Yagura break free from control?"
Obito kept his voice steady. "I was wondering that myself…"
Before he could continue, a faint golden barrier ignited around the island's peak rising like a dome, transforming the ground and vegetation into shimmering gold.
Black and White Zetsu froze.
Both halves stared at Obito, voices turning cold and murderous.
"What are you doing?" Black Zetsu hissed.
"Have you grown bold enough to rebel?"
White Zetsu chimed in sharply.
"Obito, stop this now while you still can."
Obito met their gaze calmly.
"Stop? I can't stop."
"Courting death!"
Black Zetsu's hands flashed through seals, activating Madara's failsafe meant to control Obito through the cursed tag.
Obito didn't react.
Instead, he pulled a chain attached to a black staff from his sleeve and lunged forward, closing the distance instantly.
But Zetsu was ready.
White Zetsu erupted with Wood Release, sharp wooden spikes tore from his cloak, lashing at Obito like a nest of serpents.
Obito activated Kamui. Their bodies passed through each other.
And in that instant....
Uchiha Gen stepped out from behind them, Mangekyō already spinning.