Chapter 206 – You Don't Truly Know the Terror of Ōtsutsuki Genshiki
"Tch. We finally had a few years of peace, and now another damn meeting."
Hidan muttered, his stitched-together body twitching as he complained. Even his head was held together by crude seams, yet that didn't stop his grumbling.
"And hey—are you sure you guys picked up all of my body parts? I swear something feels off…"
"You're lucky you're even walking around. Stop whining."
Kakuzu shot him a glare, clearly irritated. But that only made Hidan grin wider.
"Oh? Kakuzu-nii, don't tell me you're not immortal too? Hahaha—"
"You really think you can't die? Weren't you the one always moaning about starving to death?"
"Starving is different, damn it! That's totally normal, yeah!"
Their bickering had become routine—so much so that even death hadn't stopped it.
"Tch. I'll never get used to this feeling."
Jūzō Biwa clenched his fists, muttering to himself. Beside him, Kisame chuckled.
"What's there to get used to? Look at Kurosuki Raiga—he seems fine with it."
Raiga tilted his head, then shook it slowly.
"Konoha's forbidden jutsu… I never thought they had something this twisted. Still, what can the dead really do? You guys haven't seen Kitagawa Gen's true strength."
"Kitagawa Gen…"
Even Jūzō, who had died years earlier, had heard the name during his time as an Edo Tensei pawn. He never imagined that the brat who once ambushed him with violet lightning would rise to such a terrifying level.
He gave a bitter laugh, glancing at Kisame and Raiga.
"Funny, isn't it? So many Mist ninja here. Never expected that."
"Zabuza should've been one of us too," Kisame added, his voice turning oddly flat.
"But Gen stopped it. He's probably dead by now."
The words cast a heavy silence over the three members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Dead or alive, it seemed Akatsuki had a habit of recruiting Mist shinobi. And Mist shinobi… had a habit of falling to Kitagawa Gen.
"Gen…"
In the corner, Itachi Uchiha remained quiet. His condition had improved greatly—his vision restored, his ocular powers stronger than ever. In fact, he might be even more dangerous now than before.
But he knew his body wouldn't last forever. And whenever he thought of Gen, frustration burned deep in his chest.
Three years ago, he had tried to guide Sasuke along his carefully planned path.
But with a single strike, Kitagawa Gen shattered everything.
"Tch. Gen isn't the real threat."
For the first time, Sasori raised his head, his voice detached and cold.
"The real danger is that so-called 'Ōtsutsuki Genshiki.' I don't know what happened after my death, but I'd wager things went very badly."
His words drew the group into silence.
The name "Ōtsutsuki Genshiki" hung in the air like a nightmare.
None of them could forget the way that being had crushed them—effortlessly, mercilessly.
Even those who had already died remembered that humiliation. Warriors who once struck terror into nations had been swept aside like ants. That was the scale of power they were dealing with.
"One day… we'll capture him. Drain every drop of his strength…"
Kakuzu, swathed in bandages, muttered the words—but even as he spoke, his body trembled.
The memory of that battle haunted everyone, living or undead.
"Finished?"
Nagato had let them speak without interruption. Now, as silence settled over the chamber, he finally opened his mouth.
"I know how terrifying they are. I won't deny it—I lost to them both myself. But now… things are different."
His fists clenched, immense chakra surging within him.
"As long as we follow the plan step by step, victory is certain. I am not the same man I was."
And he wasn't lying. Nurtured by White Zetsu's cells, Nagato's body had transformed. His power overflowed, his frame restored to health, and the Rinnegan pulsed with newfound force. Against Kitagawa Gen, he felt confident.
As for Ōtsutsuki Genshiki…
Nagato took a deep breath. That was no mere shinobi—that was a god. And to defeat a god, he would need even greater power. Only by gathering the Tailed Beasts and becoming the Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails could he walk the same path as the Sage of Six Paths.
And like the Sage, he too would succeed.
"It's time to begin our plan."
He exhaled, steadying the fire in his chest, and spoke firmly.
"With years of preparation and the support of the Hidden Cloud, we have the foundation we need. Our goal has always been clear: to create a world of peace. But to do so, we need strength.
"The Tailed Beasts are the key. Gather them all, and the Ten-Tails will rise. With it, we will seize the power to remake the world. That is our true purpose."
No one objected. Whatever reasons they once had for joining Akatsuki, there was no turning back now. And many of them still burned with rage, their defeats and deaths leaving scars that cried out for vengeance.
"Hmph. Looks like he's recovering nicely," Obito murmured in the shadows, watching Nagato. He leaned toward Black Zetsu and added, "Those White Zetsu cells really are useful. But don't worry—he's still under our control."
Black Zetsu nodded slightly, though his gaze lingered on Orochimaru. Control was never absolute; contingencies were necessary. That was why they were also preparing another option—Uchiha Madara.
Thanks to three years of research, Orochimaru had refined Edo Tensei to new heights. With the Cloud's resources, they were close to piecing Madara back together. With that card in hand, Black Zetsu had little to fear from Nagato's recovery.
"By the way," Obito's voice cut in again, "you still haven't found what we need from the Senju?"
"The Senju aren't like the Uchiha. Their legacy is harder to trace. But I've narrowed down a few likely sites," Black Zetsu answered calmly.
"A few?"
"Yes. It'll take time to confirm exactly what and where, but it won't be long."
Obito frowned but said nothing more. Black Zetsu, however, felt no pressure. His preparations were thorough, his plans layered. Even his little 'guidance' for Kitagawa Gen over the past three years had been part of that strategy.
Because unlike Nagato or Obito, Black Zetsu knew the truth: Ōtsutsuki Genshiki's terror eclipsed them all.
He would never put all his eggs in one basket. The stronger Kitagawa Gen became, the better chance they had of surviving what was to come.
"Relax," he murmured. "I promised you answers, and I'll deliver."
Just then, Nagato's voice rose again, cutting through the chamber.
"Our first target is the Seven-Tails in the Land of Waterfalls. To ensure success—
we move together!"
---
Meanwhile, in Konoha's ANBU base—
"Not bad. Your eyes are recovering nicely. And not just your eyes—your whole body looks stronger."
Tsunade finished examining Kakashi, her expression thoughtful.
"Clearly, those White Zetsu cells are doing their work."
"They come from my brother," Tobirama muttered, arms crossed. His cold gaze flicked to Hashirama, who was watching curiously.
"Even weakened, they're dangerous. But oddly enough, that Sharingan of yours balances them out. Remarkable."
"Not really," Gen chuckled lightly. "It's yin and yang—of course they resonate."
Then he pointed at Sasuke.
"Next time we face Obito, maybe let him try it too. After all, he was your student once, Lord Second. And he is the last Uchiha."
"…"
Tobirama raised a brow but didn't argue. Truthfully, he found Sasuke surprisingly tolerable. A 'wicked little Uchiha brat,' yes—but far less hateful than those he remembered.
Even if the boy's eyes never left Kitagawa Gen.
"This can wait. Obito hasn't surfaced in three years," Tobirama said curtly.
"That's right. And what about Itachi?"
Sasuke's voice cut in, sharp and burning with determination.
Three years of brutal training under the Second Hokage, coupled with Gen's constant prodding, had reshaped him entirely. He had mastered countless jutsu, learned the Flying Thunder God, even inherited Gen's Violet Lightning.
Now he burned for the day he would face his brother again.
"I'll find him. And this time… I'll end it."
"They'll make their move soon," Gen said quietly, eyes narrowing.
"There's no way Akatsuki sits idle for long."
Gen shook his head, his expression calm. After all, he had his own sources of information.
Whether it was Kisame or Kabuto, both of them were continuously feeding him crucial intel.
But beyond their reports, he had also stumbled upon something far more intriguing.
"Black Zetsu… is he trying to guide me toward something?"
His expression turned slightly odd. His sensory abilities often picked up traces of Black Zetsu's presence. And each time, afterward, he would conveniently come across documents or records pointing him in a very deliberate direction.
The Uchiha clan's stone tablet. Certain obscure legends. Even strange, specific locations that seemed to beckon him to investigate.
"If I were a native of this world, I'd probably be thanking some so-called 'divine providence.' But I'm not—I've already inherited your chakra, after all…"
Still, Kitagawa Gen didn't expose this discovery. Why would he reject free benefits?
He could more or less guess Black Zetsu's intentions—nothing more than what Konoha and the Allied Shinobi were already hoping for.
"They all want me to deal with… myself."
The appearance of Ōtsutsuki Genshiki was too terrifying. It wasn't surprising Black Zetsu had reacted.
But to try and pin the responsibility on him—now that was almost funny.
"You really have no idea just how dreadful the current Ōtsutsuki Genshiki is."
---
[Status Screen]
Name: Kitagawa Gen
Bloodline: Ōtsutsuki Clan (Development: 62%)
Eye Technique: Tenseigan (Eye of the New Moon)
Unique Ability: Source of the God Tree (Stage Six)
Special Affinities: Ice Release, Magnet Release, Dust Release, Storm Release, Lava Release … (etc.)
---
As he pondered, his brow twitched. A new message had come through from Kisame.
"The Akatsuki are preparing to mobilize in full force—to capture the Seven-Tails?"
Gen rubbed his chin, the corner of his mouth curling upward.
The timing couldn't be better. He'd just been thinking about making his next move—
And now, someone had delivered the perfect opportunity right to his doorstep.