"Hmm? What do you think, Obito? I want to hear the truth. Speak freely."
Fūma's eyes glowed faintly as he looked down at Obito from above, his gaze sharp and piercing, as if he were genuinely interested in Infinite Tsukuyomi.
This time, his question seemed to be waiting for Obito's approval.
Obito lowered his head, pretending to be deep in thought, not daring to meet Fūma's gaze. But inside, his mind was racing for a solution.
'This is bad… this is really bad… Chief Fūma has lost it! What do I do? Damn it, the Uchiha bloodline strikes again!'
Having spent a lot of time around Minato, Obito had learned much about the history of the Uchiha Clan from him.
Minato had once told him that most Uchiha shinobi had obsessive tendencies, and the stronger they became, the deeper their obsession grew.
For example, Madara, who once dominated the ninja world, had clearly co-founded Konoha with the First Hokage, bringing peace to the Land of Fire and even the entire shinobi world.
But not long after, as one of the village's founders, he not only abandoned the Uchiha clan but also chose to return and fight the First Hokage to the death, resulting in his own demise while leaving the First gravely wounded—ultimately sparking the First Great Ninja War.
Having grown up in the Uchiha clan, Obito understood that Minato's words were not baseless.
Whether it was Fugaku, Tetsuka, or even Yatsushiro, after awakening their Sharingan, their demeanor and behavior would inevitably become more arrogant, their personalities more defiant, and their emotions more volatile.
And now, within the Uchiha clan, Minato served as the "disciplinary rod," helping these Uchiha awaken to reality early on, ensuring they could master their own powers rather than lose themselves in their ocular strength.
"But if Chief Fuma falls into obsession, who could possibly snap him out of it? Minato-sensei? Forget it, he's barely on the same level as that Jiraiya guy—just a regular Jōnin!"
Obito shot a sideways glance at Minato, whose face remained expressionless, cursing in his mind, 'This schemer, always going along with Fūma's words!'
'What about Lady Tsunade? If it were her, then… hmm, probably not…'
Obito considered Tsunade but then recalled how she had willingly moved into the Uchiha compound, immediately dismissing the idea.
She had disregarded a century of conflict and married into the clan. With such a personality, how could she possibly admonish Fūma?
'A clan as mighty as the Uchiha… and not a single person can stand up to speak?'
Frantically, Obito searched his mind for names—Shisui, Fugaku, Tetsuka, Yatsushiro—he even considered Aburame Shikuro but was left with a bitter realization: there seemed to be no one who could step up and challenge Fūma.
'Then I have no choice! For the sake of the Uchiha clan, I must speak!'
Taking a deep breath, Obito solemnly raised his head and said slowly, "Chief Fūma, I believe Infinite Tsukuyomi is a mistake.
This stone tablet… may have been altered by someone. It is definitely not the true writing of the Sage of Six Paths!"
Fūma's aura sharpened as his eyes narrowed, exerting immense pressure on Obito.
"Then tell me why. Give me your reasoning."
Ignoring the cold sweat dripping down his forehead, Obito quickly organized his thoughts and chose his words carefully.
"Infinite Tsukuyomi… it sounds ideal, but in reality, it's nothing more than a way to kill everyone in the shinobi world."
"As for fulfilling one's dreams in an illusion, that's just a comforting excuse. In essence, it's still a mass slaughter of all shinobi."
"As for how to achieve peace… to be honest, Chief, I don't know. But I am certain—it is not by making everyone sacrifice their lives to live in an empty dream."
"This… is a massive conspiracy!"
As he spoke, Obito's confidence grew. Under the table, he clenched Konan's hand tightly, as if holding onto her gave him infinite courage.
Fūma sensed Obito's emotions—nervousness, fear, and above all, deep sincerity.
Fūma fell into thought, as if Obito's words had struck a chord. After a long pause, he asked, "Then, Obito… if, in the upcoming war, Konan, Minato, or anyone else important to you were to die, would you still reject this jutsu?"
"The stone tablet states… that within Infinite Tsukuyomi, the dream world and reality are indistinguishable. That way, you could see them again."
Obito didn't hesitate and was about to answer—when his face suddenly stiffened.
Fūma's eyes gleamed with powerful ocular energy, projecting a vision of Konan's death into Obito's mind.
Hollow despair. Powerlessness. Grief…
No one to wipe his sweat, to cook for him, to prepare his lunch with care.
No one who understood his emotions so well, who had accompanied him through his growth and youth…
In the illusionary world, Obito had lost Konan forever…
"Ah… ahhh…!"
A moment later, Obito awoke from the illusion as if breaking free from a nightmare, frantically scanning his surroundings.
Only when his eyes found Konan did he let out a long breath, like a drowning man finally gasping for air.
"Now, tell me again—what is your choice, Obito?"
"If the real world were like that illusion… would you still reject Infinite Tsukuyomi?"
This time, Obito hesitated.
If he truly lost Konan, he was certain—he would do anything to see her again.
But after a moment of contemplation, Obito's gaze became firm once more. He looked straight at Fūma but did not answer the question. Instead, he spoke of Konan.
"Chief… Konan once told me about her childhood…"
"For three days, she could only eat two meals. The only clothes she had were scavenged from the trash. She had to be on guard against rogue ninja trying to abduct her… It was a tough life."
"But even so, Konan survived with determination. And in the end, she waited for you, Chief, to rescue her and bring her into the Uchiha clan, where she finally lived a good life."
"Konan once told me—striving to live on, and holding hope for tomorrow, is a person's most precious treasure."
"So I ask myself—if I were to trap the entire world in Infinite Tsukuyomi, just to see Konan again… what would she think of me?"
"She… probably wouldn't like me anymore, would she?"
"So, if I were to lose Konan, I would do everything in my power to bring her back—but not at the cost of destroying the shinobi world just to chase after an illusion."
With unwavering determination, Obito knelt formally on the tatami mat, bowing deeply as he declared:
"Chief Fūma, I reject Infinite Tsukuyomi!"
Hearing this, Fūma chuckled, sighing, "It seems Konan's influence on you runs deep…"
Standing up, Fūma helped Obito to his feet, ruffling his spiky hair as he said seriously, "Alright, then we'll follow your decision."
"My decision to consume the Tailed Beasts… is partially based on this as well."
"By completely eradicating the Tailed Beasts, I not only gain nourishment but also eliminate this jutsu from the source."
"So, Obito, don't worry. I also oppose the contents of that stone tablet. I've already corrected it."
Fūma chuckled, recalling how he had altered the stone tablet.
He was certain—if Black Zetsu ever saw the changes he had made, the creature would be so furious it might have a stroke.
Hearing Fūma's words, Obito visibly relaxed, patting his chest. "I knew it! Chief Fuma wouldn't fall into the same madness as the others…"
"Hahahaha…"
Fūma's laughter carried a trace of awkwardness—he hadn't expected Obito's biggest fear to be him succumbing to the "Uchiha obsession disorder." Talk about a reversal.
"But Obito, remember this—though the shinobi world is heartless, our clan is not. If you ever encounter a problem, always turn to your own people first."
"A wound like Jiraiya's? In our clan, that's nothing. Even bringing someone back from the dead—I have ways to do it."
Fūma looked at Obito and added.
Obito blinked in confusion before nodding. "Of course, Chief… I'm not that dumb. If something happens, of course, I'll turn to our own people first…"
Nearby, Minato's gaze flickered. 'Fūma… values Obito this much? Testing him personally…'
"Alright, time for training, Obito. Minato's been itching to spar with you."
Obito groaned, sighing as he stood up. "Time to fight the Evil Yellow Flash again…"
Fūma patted his shoulder and dangled a tempting reward. "Do well—if you defeat Minato, you'll be the next Uchiha Clan Leader!"
"WHAT?! Then doesn't that mean I'm doomed—" Obito's eyes widened before he quickly swallowed the rest of his words, dragging Minato away. "Forget eating—let's start training now!"
Minato's face darkened as he sighed helplessly. "This brat…"
...........
Meanwhile, on the other side of Konoha, the atmosphere was eerily silent.
Kakashi, Asuma, Raido, Kurenai, Rin…
The five of them stood before Sakumo like war refugees, saying nothing. He looked at the sulking group of ninja school students and rubbed his temples.
'Such a headache…sigh.'
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