Escape into a Happy Dream
The war had entered its final stages. After three days of rest, Chi Yu and Kakashi departed from Konoha, tasked with a mission in the Hidden Rain Village.
During this time, Chi Yu continued to monitor the movements of Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Obito through snakes concealed in the underground tunnels.
Some time later.
Feeling somewhat better, Uchiha Obito began his grueling rehabilitation training.
After a brief sleep, Obito awoke to find two White Zetsu standing at his bedside. Uchiha Madara remained seated nearby, unmoving as always.
Noticing he was awake, the two White Zetsu greeted him cheerfully.
"Yo, how're you feeling?"
Obito struggled to sit upright, scowling.
"Terrible. Obviously. How long have I been here? Feels like I've been stuck in this place forever."
"You're not paying rent, so don't stress."
"We were born from the Gedo Statue, y'know. We don't need to eat, no meal costs, no toilets—because we don't defecate," one added proudly.
The attempt at humor fell flat. Obito didn't even flinch.
"That may be true for you, but don't lump me in with you freaks. Only my right half is made of whatever this is!"
He scowled and touched the right side of his body with disgust.
"Thanks to it, you're alive without eating or drinking. You should be grateful," the straight-haired Zetsu said matter-of-factly.
"That's right," the curly-haired one chimed in. "You don't want to be like us, but at least we're artificial humans with feelings. You, on the other hand, are just a patched-up mess! We've got emotions, a bigger vocabulary, more intelligence, and—although we still don't defecate—we're pretty funny too."
Obito shot them a glare. "Shut up! Then tell me—what exactly makes you so 'advanced'!?"
The two White Zetsu gave him an exaggerated thumbs-up in unison.
"We—"
"Are—"
"Monitoring you!"
Obito groaned. "Stop talking like that! You're driving me insane!"
The straight-haired Zetsu shrugged.
"We're just following Madara's orders. He wants you recovered enough to be useful—before he kicks the bucket."
"Tch," Obito sneered. "So he's having two chatterbox puppets monitor me while he lies there half-dead? I'm going to escape from this place one day. I will find Rin and Kakashi!"
Obito narrowed his eyes. "Where's the exit?"
"There isn't one," said the curly-haired Zetsu.
"Madara had us block the only passage with a giant boulder."
Obito's face twisted in disbelief. "He blocked it off?!"
"By the way," the other Zetsu said casually, "you were moaning 'Rin, Rin, Rin' in your sleep. What were you doing? Trying to grab some bells again?"
Obito flushed in embarrassment.
"Oh, and sometimes you were mumbling 'idiot, idiot, idiot'—mostly directed at someone called 'Idiot Kakashi.'"
"That's right," the other added, nodding. "Real loud sometimes."
"What's an 'Idiot Kakashi?'" the curly-haired one asked.
"Beats me. Ask him yourself when you see him."
Obito buried his face in his hand. Did he really say all that out loud?
The curly-haired Zetsu suddenly raised his hand. "Hey, can I ask a question?"
"Huh?" Obito grunted.
"What does it feel like to want to defecate? Can you give me an example?"
Obito snapped, "Why are we back to that again?! Are you obsessed?!"
"Geez, no need to be so angry. I'll ask you about Rin and Idiot Kakashi later, then."
Obito glared at the curly-haired one with disgust. "Especially you—I don't know what's worse, that you look like feces or that you keep talking about it! I hate you!"
Turning to the other Zetsu, Obito asked, "Where are the others?"
"They went out to gather intel."
"You can leave?" Obito asked in shock.
"Yeah, we can move through the earth. Simple."
Obito slumped, deflated. "What the hell… You guys get to leave while I'm stuck here listening to this crap?"
The curly-haired Zetsu saluted solemnly. "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have discussed defecation with you!"
"I'm not mad about that!" Obito roared. "It's what Madara said… about cutting off all karma…"
The other Zetsu shrugged. "Yeah, Madara's kind of old-school. Bad at talking to kids. What he means is… forget about the real world. Let go of all that pain. Escape into a happy dream."
Obito frowned. "A dream?"
"In a dream, anything is possible. You could even bring the dead back."
"So you're saying… create a giant illusion and trap everyone in it?" Obito's voice turned skeptical. "Force everyone into a dream world—for life?"
"Exactly," said the Zetsu. "With a powerful genjutsu, it can be done. Infinite Tsukuyomi. Madara just needs time and preparation."
Obito shook his head. "It's nonsense. I don't get it. It's a delusion."
"Maybe. But Madara believes in it. And when the time comes, so will you."
Obito didn't respond. He threw off the blanket and stood up.
"No use talking about this garbage. I need to get moving. I need to restore this body, and leave. Rin and Kakashi are out there waiting for me."
And with that, Obito began his rehabilitation exercises.
---
Chi Yu released the visual link and sighed.
White Zetsu had already begun sowing the seeds of the Eye of the Moon Plan in Obito's mind.
He was still resistant now. But Chi Yu knew—it would only take the right tragedy. Rin's death.
When that moment came, Uchiha Obito would become the most loyal pawn of the Eye of the Moon Plan.
The Third Shinobi World War would soon conclude with the Battle of Kannabi Bridge.
Though the current fighting had settled into a tense ceasefire, war never truly ended with a handshake.
Kumo had officially declared withdrawal, but only fools believed words spoken during wartime.
The Hidden Cloud Village had suffered the highest losses. Their newly appointed Fourth Raikage, A, was no diplomat. Vengeance stirred in his heart.
Though Konoha had inflicted heavy damage on them, Kumo's deepest grudge was toward Iwagakure—the village that forced the Third Raikage to fight to his death.
Yet ironically, Iwa remained the strongest of the Five Great Nations. Even a temporary alliance with Suna would be futile against them.
As for Kirigakure, the Bloody Mist had become a rogue threat—unpredictable and mad. Provoking them would be foolish.
And so, Konoha remained the most practical target.
Meanwhile, the Hidden Sand Village, already weakened and leaderless after the mysterious disappearance of the Third Kazekage, redirected its aggression toward the Leaf.
The calm before the storm would not last.
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