Chapter 249 – So This Is… Ōtsutsuki Genshiki?
Gen was always the kind of man who acted the moment he made up his mind.
And with a new mission prompt flashing before him, his motivation only burned hotter.
"Most quests don't matter much to me anymore… but a quest is still a quest."
He couldn't help but reminisce about the old days—back when he wasn't this strong, and random tasks would pop up constantly. Like that infamous quest involving the "Twin Sisters, Tasty Delights," which had nearly scared him to death.
Now, missions had grown rare, and ironically, he found himself missing them. The contrast was almost enough to make him wonder if he was getting sentimental.
"You're ridiculous," his God Tree clone muttered from within the Amenominaka dimension. "Worry about how we're going to pull this off. The stage is set—if we don't fight, it'll look fake."
"Keep it up, and I'll smash your dog head in," Gen shot back with a roll of his eyes—then immediately realized he'd just insulted himself.
"…Well, you'd feel the pain anyway," the clone sneered, "so what does it matter? Besides, we think alike. You know all my tricks, I know yours. We can fake a stalemate easily enough."
"That's the problem. It has to look real and still be convincing."
Gen exhaled, his cloak shimmering as chakra wrapped around him, reshaping into a flowing white robe.
"…Forget it. We'll improvise. As long as I avoid using powers tied directly to the Ōtsutsuki, everything else—including Yin–Yang Release—is fair game."
"Exactly. Seventy, eighty percent of your arsenal is still enough. Just… don't hit too hard," the clone reminded.
"You think I don't know that?"
Gen glared at his counterpart. Honestly, his clone's personality was insufferable.
…Then again, it was his own.
Still, maybe it was for the best. A duel without words felt hollow. Sparring verbally now would help them when it came time to make it look real.
"Stay sharp. Once the fighting starts, don't rush. I still need to harvest the Four-Tails' chakra."
With a flicker of chakra, the two left the Amenominaka.
From high above, Gen gazed at the ruined sprawl of Iwagakure glowing faintly under scattered lantern light. He shook his head.
"What a disaster. At least the real battle won't take place here."
"We're linked—you don't have to keep saying it," the clone tapped his temple.
Gen nodded, then slipped on his mask. His chakra pulsed, and—
Whump.
He vanished. In the next instant, he was standing atop a mountain peak, eyes closed. When they reopened, they glittered like constellations.
"Closing in. Good."
His gaze locked onto Rōshi, the Four-Tails' jinchūriki. Before leaving, he'd already tracked Rōshi's movements using the massive Tenseigan on the moon, but the man hadn't stayed put. He had to confirm his position multiple times.
Now, fortune had played its hand. Drawn by the chaos at Iwa, Rōshi had wandered closer, saving Gen considerable trouble.
"Perfect."
Hovering in midair, Gen raised a hand. A Truth-Seeking Orb materialized in his palm.
"Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion."
BOOOOM—
A storm erupted, tearing through the valley like a hurricane. Trees ripped from their roots, colossal boulders flung skyward before being shredded to dust. The sprawling gorge below was ground into rubble, as though the earth itself had been fed into a blender.
The violent surge roared straight toward Rōshi.
"Just right," Gen murmured. Enough to overwhelm him, not enough to kill. He was here to capture, not destroy.
But then—
"…?"
His eyes narrowed. The space ahead twisted violently.
From the distortion, a masked figure stepped out—just in time for the cataclysmic gale to slam into him head-on.
---
Moonlight bathed the scarred land in silver. In a clearing nearby, Black Zetsu emerged, voice low and cautious.
"Madara-sama. Obito. I've found him."
Before them, two figures stood.
"That one is moving toward Iwagakure," Black Zetsu continued. "Likely drawn by the battle's energy. Not far now."
Of course, the devastation across the Land of Earth wasn't Madara's alone. Zetsu knew well that Gen's hand had shaped it too.
"…So, he's even mastered Yin–Yang Release?" Black Zetsu thought bitterly. "This generation's talent…"
The shinobi world had become unrecognizable in just a few short years. Chaos. Madness. Nothing like the careful plan he had once believed he controlled.
"You've found him? Good." Madara's nod was curt. He'd grown impatient from waiting.
Obito cut in sharply, "And Iwa? Any movement?"
"None. They're still trapped in rescue and recovery efforts."
Zetsu's gaze lingered on Obito, sensing something different in him. But with the mask restored, it was hard to pinpoint.
"With the scale of destruction, they won't notice Rōshi slipping back so soon," Zetsu added.
"Then we strike quickly," Madara ordered. His crimson eyes shifted to Obito. "You or me?"
"I'll handle it," Obito growled, his voice low and steady. His body distorted, spiraling into Kamui's void until nothing remained.
"…Tch."
Madara snorted. Watching Obito's haste, he turned back to Zetsu.
"You said it wasn't far. We'll go too. I have… questions for you."
"About Gen?" Zetsu asked carefully, falling in step.
Madara shook his head, his gaze sharpening.
"Not him. Obito. That boy… there's something strange about him."
"…Obito, huh."
Black Zetsu quietly exhaled in relief.
So it wasn't about him. Still, even he couldn't deny how bizarre Obito had become.
"Indeed, something's off about him," Zetsu admitted. "He suddenly awakened what he calls the Power of All Creation. His explanation was… that he thought of Rin Nohara, and his Sharingan evolved as a result. But honestly…"
Even as he repeated it, Zetsu felt speechless. "Thinking about Rin?" That was beyond absurd. Yet he had no data, no precedent, no frame of reference. For once, even he was utterly in the dark.
"Keep your eyes on him," Madara ordered flatly. "I can't shake the feeling that he's dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
Zetsu stiffened. It was the first time he'd ever heard Madara use that word for Obito—and that alone set him on edge.
"I understand," he replied quickly. "I'll monitor him closely, and I'll dig into his secret."
"Good."
Madara gave a curt nod, gaze shifting toward the distant mountains.
"He may not amount to much—he has power, but not the character to wield it. Even so, strength is still strength. One must never be careless."
For all his arrogance, Madara had clawed his way through the blood-soaked battlefields of the Warring States era. He knew better than anyone: even a flawed pawn could become a threat in the wrong moment.
"I'll keep that in mind," Zetsu assured him. Truthfully, being around Madara required constant caution—but at least compared to certain others, it was less exhausting.
"Let's move quickly," Zetsu added. "The sooner we secure the Four-Tails, the less chance of… accidents."
"Accidents?" Madara raised a brow.
Zetsu gave a humorless shrug. "You've heard it yourself, Madara-sama. Every mission carries risk. I don't believe in omens, but it never hurts to be wary."
Madara's lips twisted. "I've already sensed one accident. Running into Kitagawa Gen. What else could possibly—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Because in that very instant, the night split apart with a thunderous roar.
The mountains ahead—towering peaks that had stood for centuries—were suddenly erased, as if an unseen hand had swept them from existence. A tidal wave of energy rolled outward, crashing against the land.
Then came the bellow.
The guttural roar of the Four-Tails shook the valley to its core, echoing like a beast enraged beyond reason.
"…"
Zetsu's mouth hung open. For once, words failed him. Part of him genuinely wanted to slap himself for tempting fate.
Even Madara froze, eyes narrowing. That wild chakra—so vast, so oppressive—even he found it hard to believe.
Together, they lifted their heads.
And under the pale silver moon, they saw him.
A lone figure hovered in the sky, haloed by radiance. Power rippled off him in divine waves, spilling into the night like an ocean too vast to contain.
"…That's…"
Zetsu's breath came fast and shallow, dread clawing up from memories he wished buried.
Madara's voice was a hushed murmur, laced with both disbelief and awe:
"Ōtsutsuki Genshiki…?"