Chapter 260 – A Glimpse of Kaguya?
Obito had received Rin's "guidance" with perfect clarity. He knew exactly what his next steps had to be.
The first—and most important—was Gen.
That man had already set foot on the so-called "path of evolution."
Through him, Obito could uncover truths that no one else could give him.
"Still…"
Even with his renewed determination, unease gnawed at him.
Every time he thought about facing Gen again, a chill crawled down his spine.
He remembered it vividly—
That day when Gen stood alone against both his and Madara's full-fledged Susanoo.
That day when Gen stepped onto the very blade of his Susanoo, climbing effortlessly skyward…
…only to shatter the colossal warrior with a single devastating kick.
That humiliation, that overwhelming display of power—Obito could never forget it. He could not forgive it.
But Rin's voice echoed in his heart, soft yet resolute.
If this is what she wants of me, then I'll do it.
"I'll follow her lead," Obito muttered to himself. "But this time… I'll change the way I approach it."
Taking a deep breath, his form flickered and vanished from sight.
---
Meanwhile, in a secluded corner of Konoha, Yakushi Kabuto had just finished another long day of quietly weaving his web. He stretched, preparing to retreat and rest, when his sharp instincts screamed.
Something's here.
His head snapped up. His glasses caught the faintest glint of moonlight.
"Who's there? Show yourself."
A low, cold voice slipped from the shadows.
"As expected of Orochimaru's spy… and Sasori's, too."
Obito emerged from the darkness, mask glinting ominously in the faint light.
Kabuto froze, then smiled faintly.
"…You?"
His voice was calm, but his eyes were alight with sharp interest.
"Bold of you, sneaking into Konoha alone. You really don't know how dangerous this village has become, do you… Obito-senpai?"
The honorific was laced with mockery.
"Hmph. Drop the fake smile," Obito snapped, his tone laced with scorn.
"I didn't come here to trade words. I came with a purpose. All you need to do… is cooperate."
Kabuto tilted his head, pushing up his glasses with a single finger.
"…And what exactly are you proposing? Is this Orochimaru-sama's command?"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, the moonlight flashing across the lenses and obscuring his expression.
"If this is on Orochimaru-sama's orders, then of course I'll cooperate fully. But if it's not, then the moment I'm exposed, it won't just hurt me—it'll be bad for Orochimaru-sama… and for you as well, won't it?"
Obito didn't answer. He simply stared.
The crimson of his Sharingan glowed with a cold, merciless light. That oppressive aura pressed down so heavily that even Kabuto felt short of breath.
Yet Kabuto's smile didn't falter. He merely looked back in silence, the two locked in a tense standoff.
No one knew how much time passed before Obito's impatience began to show. His Sharingan twitched, power stirring within, and Kabuto deliberately averted his gaze.
"…We should both calm down," Kabuto finally murmured. "If we make a move inside Konoha, we'll both end up unlucky. Better if you tell me what you want first."
"Hmph."
Obito's cold snort cut through the night before he spoke at last.
"Uchiha Sasuke. I want his information. After all, Uchiha Itachi's body is in Konoha's hands."
"Sasuke, huh?"
Kabuto blinked, intrigued.
"…You're after his Sharingan?"
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't."
Obito's tone stayed flat, eyes never wavering.
"All you need to know is that's what I want. Nothing more."
Obito had his own designs. Since he was already in Konoha, it wouldn't make sense to leave empty-handed. Besides, if he wanted to provoke Gen, he'd need a proper excuse. He couldn't risk Gen sensing the truth.
"…Sasuke's information?"
Kabuto's expression shifted oddly. After a long pause, he finally nodded.
"If that's all, I can provide it. But you'll need to give me a little time."
"Fine."
Obito inclined his head calmly. He hadn't expected Kabuto to cough up results instantly anyway. Waiting was no issue—he had preparations of his own to make.
"One week. No more. If I don't have what I want by then…"
The space around him rippled, his outline turning hazy as Kamui twisted reality.
"…you'd best be ready."
With that, Obito vanished, leaving Kabuto standing alone.
The night breeze stirred. Kabuto smirked faintly, tapping the rim of his glasses.
"…Fool. Your little scheme isn't a secret anymore."
---
"Obito has set his sights on Sasuke?"
Moonlight poured over Konoha. Inside his home, Gen's face flickered with a strange light.
Ino and Naruto had already left. Gen had wanted to see them off, but they'd refused.
"Rest well, senpai," Ino had told him. "You've worked too hard already."
Gen hadn't pressed the matter. A bit of rest wouldn't hurt.
He stretched lazily, savoring the lingering taste of Ino's cooking.
She really does have a gift for this. As good as any restaurant in the village.
But his quiet moment was broken when Kabuto's secret message reached him.
"…Obito, active already?"
Gen blinked, caught off guard. He'd left Obito broken and humiliated, his Susanoo shattered beneath a single kick.
Did I really go too easy on him?
That was his first thought. But no—the beating had been thorough. If Obito was moving again, then something else was at play.
He's targeting Sasuke… or maybe he's just using Sasuke as a pretext.
Gen frowned. If Obito had any sense, he'd be quietly gathering tailed beast chakra and preparing for the Ten Tails' revival. That was his only real chance.
So if he was sticking his neck out now, then this wasn't his own idea.
"…Isshiki, huh? Did he really take the bait?"
Gen's lips curved. He had tricked Isshiki before, but he hadn't been certain the Ōtsutsuki would actually swallow it. Obito's sudden activity suggested otherwise.
"…Interesting."
If Isshiki was truly entangled, then Gen had everything to gain. He'd already planned to strip Isshiki bare, and if he could bleed some early benefits out of him—so much the better. Not even Isshiki's "white Kāma" would be spared.
Obito picking a fight with me? Then he's just being used as a tool to hasten Isshiki's release. Good. I'll shear them both for all they're worth.
His thoughts raced.
"And besides… I didn't have Yomi-no-Tsukuni before. Which means my chakra surges have already been broadcast across the world."
He lifted his gaze to the night sky.
"…The true 'heavenly beings' won't be far behind."
If Isshiki had revealed himself, the others surely felt it. Even across vast distances, Ōtsutsuki could sense one another. They would be on their way. Perhaps some were already descending.
"…All the better."
To Gen, they weren't a threat. They were opportunities—raw material to be harvested.
Even if he couldn't absorb them outright yet, their presence would fuel his growth.
His eyes drifted higher, settling on the pale glow of the moon.
"…And what about Kaguya?"
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya—the one who had consumed the fruit. The undying being of unimaginable scale.
She lacked fighting sense, true. But her raw power was undeniable.
Arrogant. Bitter. Sealed away by her own sons. What does she really want?
And what of the Sage of Six Paths and his brother? How would they judge him?
Gen stroked his chin.
In strictest terms, Kaguya was a natural ally. But the variables were too many. Too dangerous.
"…Maybe the only way to know…"
A strange gleam crossed his eyes.
"…is to meet her myself."
The idea took root instantly, growing wilder with each beat of his heart.
And truthfully, with his current power, arranging such a meeting was no longer difficult.
---
While Gen's thoughts swirled, Obito stepped foot on the mist-wreathed shores of the Land of Water.
The damp air clung to him, thick and heavy. Memories clawed at his mind.
"…It was here. Here that Gen humiliated me and drove me away."
His fists clenched, trembling with rage.
But then he exhaled slowly.
"No. Not now. First, I need to find the one Rin showed me—the other candidate for 'evolution.'"