"The nature of the Infinite Tsukuyomi?"
Obito frowned. Wasn't the Infinite Tsukuyomi just a large-scale genjutsu?
Kaito gently brushed aside the strands of hair on his forehead.
A blood-red Rinnegan with tomoe opened.
The sight made both Minato and Obito freeze in place. That crimson Rinnegan radiated a soul-piercing power—just looking at it felt like they were about to be drawn in.
Fortunately, Kaito closed the Rinnegan on his forehead almost immediately, allowing them to snap back to their senses.
Obito was still a little dazed. He asked blankly,
"What was that just now? Did I fall into a genjutsu?"
For a genjutsu to trap even someone with Mangekyō Sharingan… what kind of level was that?
Minato, still shaken, spoke,
"Kaito, did you just use a genjutsu on me too? It felt like I was dreaming."
Kaito nodded lightly and said in a calm voice,
"That was the so-called Infinite Tsukuyomi. As long as I reflect the Rinnegan's power onto the moon, this jutsu can be cast. Every living being—whether they see the moon or not—will be caught in it, trapped in an eternal dream."
"Nani!? That's terrifying… making everyone live in a dream world. So this is Uchiha Madara's true goal?"
Obito just stared dumbly at Kaito. From what he knew, to activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi one had to gather all the tailed beasts' chakra, resurrect the Ten Tails, and then use the Ten Tails' power to trigger the technique.
But judging by Kaito's words… could he already activate it now?
Obito couldn't help but ask,
"Then why haven't you cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi yet? Does it have to do with this 'nature' you're talking about?"
"Of course. Did you really think the Infinite Tsukuyomi was just a genjutsu? Once someone is caught in it, their chakra is continuously drained, feeding into the Ten Tails, allowing it to bear a chakra fruit… for certain people to consume."
Obito's face grew darker and darker. He pressed,
"Then the ones caught in the Infinite Tsukuyomi… they'll die soon after?"
"Heh. Not exactly. They don't die—they're transformed into another form. And that form… you should be quite familiar with."
"What is it!?"
"Those White Zetsu. And even that 'Tobi' that once clung to you."
The revelation hit Obito like thunder. His entire worldview collapsed. Everything he'd done… was only paving the way for others to harvest a so-called chakra fruit?
Twisting his face with rage, he shouted,
"So Madara's true goal was to eat that chakra fruit?!"
"You're wrong again. Madara's goal was the same as yours—to create a world without war through the Infinite Tsukuyomi. But unfortunately, he too was deceived."
"Nani!? What the hell is going on!?"
Obito's thoughts were spiraling. Both he and Madara… deceived? Then who had tricked them? The Sage of Six Paths?
"Did you never notice something off about Black Zetsu?"
"Black Zetsu? Isn't he Madara's creation?"
"That's only what he wanted Madara to believe. To create a conscious lifeform—could Madara, in his state back then, really have pulled that off?"
Minato stood off to the side, utterly bewildered. White Zetsu, Black Zetsu… what on earth were they talking about?
Obito, on the other hand, felt his heart pounding. It was like discovering a whole new world,
"You're saying Black Zetsu is the real manipulator behind everything? Then what's his goal?"
"Simple. To save his mother."
"?"
Obito thought of Black Zetsu's form. He couldn't imagine what kind of being its 'mother' could be. The Ten Tails?
At this point, Kaito lost interest in explaining further. The mess with the Ōtsutsuki clan was too complicated. All Obito needed to understand was that everything he had done so far was headed in the wrong direction.
Obito fell silent for a long while, then raised his head to look at Kaito.
"Everything you just said… is it true?"
Kaito spread his hands and said indifferently,
"What good would lying to you do me? Believe it or don't."
With that, Kaito grabbed Minato and left Kamui's dimension.
After they were gone, Obito's head drooped, eyes unfocused. He muttered,
"Was I… really wrong all along…?"
...
Once they stepped back out, Minato immediately asked,
"Kaito, what do you plan to do with Obito?"
"We'll see. Why? You want to beg mercy for your precious student? Don't forget, he's the one who killed you and Kushina."
"But… it seems Obito was deceived too. You met him back then—you know what kind of child he really was. He was a good kid!"
"So you've chosen to forgive him? Did you even ask Kushina about that?"
"Uh… speaking of that, there's something else I've been meaning to ask. Kaito, that jutsu of yours that brings people back to life—does it have any limitations…?"
Minato's hopeful gaze fell squarely on Kaito. He was basically about to say outright that he wanted to bring Kushina back.
Kaito glanced at him, annoyed.
"What? Feeling lonely without your wife?"
He flicked Minato's forehead with a finger. While Minato was clutching his head and yelping, Kaito turned to leave, tossing out,
"You should know where Kushina's body is, right? Dig her up these next few days. Leave the rest to me."
Minato froze, then suddenly leapt into the air, face lighting up with excitement as he shouted,
"Yes, yes, yes! Kaito, you're the best!"
Without even looking at the mountain of paperwork on his desk, Minato vanished with Flying Thunder God. He had a new priority—digging up Kushina's grave with Naruto!
...
Amegakure.
Tendo Pain frowned deeply as he looked at Zetsu before him. His tone was displeased,
"You're saying Uchiha Madara went to Konoha… and still hasn't returned?"
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu were still fused together. White Zetsu stayed silent, while Black Zetsu answered gravely,
"Yes. Madara knows space-time ninjutsu. By rights, he shouldn't have gone so long without any word. I suspect he ran into trouble in Konoha."
"Hmph! Always telling me to be cautious of Konoha, yet he goes there himself and gets captured?"
Black Zetsu cursed in his heart,
What the hell do you know? If Obito's gone, do you think an idiot like you could carry out the plan? How will Mother be resurrected then?
Forcing down his anger, Black Zetsu said evenly,
"Madara probably hasn't been captured. But to be safe, I think we should send someone to investigate… maybe even extract him if necessary."
"Hidan and Kakuzu are near Konoha, aren't they? Let them scout."
At the mention of those names, Black Zetsu fell silent. He couldn't help thinking,
"Are those two really reliable…?"