Chapter 265 – Isshiki's Speculation, Urashiki Descends
"Do you really know who you are right now?"
Gen's words didn't strike Obito as deeply—his head was still ringing from the beating.
But within him, Isshiki's expression twisted into something ugly.
This brat… has he already noticed something is wrong with Obito's power?
On the surface, it sounded like a simple question: do you know yourself, your purpose, your heart?
But since it came from Gen, Isshiki refused to take it at face value.
Especially after Gen had fought against Ōtsutsuki Genshiki. That experience alone would have sharpened his senses.
Isshiki immediately checked the Kāma inside Obito. A smile crept onto his face—the battle might have been short, but the results were undeniable.
Even though a great deal of chakra had been burned away repairing Obito's ruined body, the Kāma's unsealing had accelerated.
Yes… keep hitting him. The harder you strike, the faster the Kāma loosens.
Isshiki whispered to himself. But then—
"Of course I know who I am!" Obito roared, fury igniting in his battered frame.
The Kāma's power writhed, knitting his wounds. Every pulse of restoration pushed the seal's release further. He staggered upright, rage blazing in his eyes—until he noticed the strange, terrifying power swirling around Gen's White Fang blade. The sight cooled even his anger.
Then, without warning, Obito activated Kamui—vanishing into the pocket dimension.
Isshiki: "..."
Obito glared from within Kamui, his voice low and bitter.
"Kitagawa Gen… truly, you deserve the title 'Evolver.' But do you really think you're the only one?"
"You mean you?" Gen answered lazily, unconcerned by Obito's retreat into Kamui. He knew pushing too far now risked triggering a full Kāma eruption—and he wasn't ready to let Isshiki hatch yet. Not before he'd wrung everything useful from him.
So, Isshiki could keep "cosplaying Rin" or degenerate into a Isshiki-lama; either way worked.
"You still believe in this so-called 'evolution'?" Gen smirked.
"Because it's real!" Obito snapped, his body fully healed, markings spreading across his skin. Yin–Yang chakra coursed through him like black fire.
"If not for evolution, how else could you explain your strength? How else could you have come this far?"
Gen blinked. For a moment, he was speechless.
Evolution… wasn't that something I just made up to troll Isshiki? And this guy's treating it like gospel?!
"…Wait. Are you jealous of me?" Gen tilted his head, genuinely curious.
"I heard you once dreamed of being Hokage—of being recognized by Konoha. In other words, you wanted exactly what I have now. So, are you—"
"Shut up!" Obito's snarl cut him off, his face burning with anger and shame.
"The only thing I envy is that you unlocked the power of evolution first. But I have something you'll never have!"
Gen raised a brow. "Oh?"
"I have Rin's guidance. I'm never alone. No matter how harsh the road ahead, I'll keep moving forward!"
"..."
"And besides… do you know why I came here tonight? My purpose is already achieved."
Obito's words left Gen silent—not because he agreed, but because for once, he was the one at a loss for words.
Normally, he drove his enemies speechless. But this time, it was Obito spouting delusions so brazenly that Gen didn't even know how to respond.
Obito's form began to blur, twisting with Kamui. He was leaving.
"You wonder what's happening elsewhere?" Obito sneered before vanishing completely.
Gen's eyes narrowed. "Elsewhere…?"
It was obvious now—this whole encounter had been a diversion, orchestrated by Isshiki through Obito. Obito's parting words only confirmed it.
He wants me distracted, chasing after some 'White Kāma,' while they strike at our allies… Most likely Kirigakure. Obito ruled there once, after all.
Just then, Hashirama and Tobirama arrived at his side.
"You alright, Gen?" Hashirama asked, scanning the devastation.
"That guy… ran again?" Tobirama's tone was sharp.
"Yeah. He's gone," Gen nodded. "But it was a ploy. They want me looking the wrong way while they move against our allies."
"You mean… the Mist?" Tobirama's mind clicked instantly. "It's the only allied village Obito knows well enough to exploit."
"Then perhaps…" Hashirama's eyes glimmered. "Could Madara also be there?"
Gen scratched his head. "Hard to say. Last time, Genshiki crushed him. His Edo Tensei body collapsed. Whether he's recovered yet… I don't know."
"Doesn't matter," Tobirama cut in. "This time, we're coming with you. I intend to collect intel on Akatsuki myself."
"I'll go too," Hashirama added. "If Madara shows up, I'll deal with him. Besides—he still has what belongs to our clan."
At that, both brothers' eyes hardened. Obito had stolen their clan's relic before their very eyes. That wound would not be forgotten.
Gen glanced up at the stars, a strange look crossing his face. After a long pause, he nodded.
"Alright. Let's go together. Because this time… I think real trouble is coming."
Trouble that might require his "alternate account"—Ōtsutsuki Genshiki himself.
---
Meanwhile, within Kamui—
Obito collapsed to the ground, coughing blood, his body trembling. He lay there for a long time before forcing himself upright again.
"Damn it… Kitagawa Gen really is something else. No wonder Genshiki recognized him as an Evolver."
Isshiki said nothing. In the recesses of Obito's mind, he could only seethe.
How can someone be this stupid?
Obito's will was firm enough, and he sometimes glimpsed truths with surprising clarity. But most of the time, his thoughts were a complete, incoherent mess. It gave Isshiki a headache just watching.
Still, there had been gains. Both for his Kāma, and for observing Gen.
Isshiki replayed the battle in his mind, expression darkening.
Gen is stronger than before. Either space-time interference clouded my judgment, or… he's evolving faster than expected.
The difference was significant—but it clarified Isshiki's suspicions.
Gen wasn't just strong. His affinity with natural energy, his durable body, his mastery over all chakra natures including Yin–Yang… and that faint trace of the God Tree within him…
Last time, he'd even drawn on planetary energy itself.
Isshiki's thoughts sharpened.
This one… is a lifeform infused with the God Tree's essence, constantly evolving. Or perhaps—he is something born of this planet's will itself.
The idea was absurd… but not impossible.
This planet was far too abnormal: even after producing a chakra fruit, it hadn't collapsed. It continued healing, regenerating. And with intruders like himself, Kaguya, and Genshiki arriving—and more Ōtsutsuki sure to follow—
Did the planet give birth to Gen to defend itself?
Isshiki's eyes glimmered with excitement.
"Whether he's a mutation of the Ten-Tails or the planet's own creation… it doesn't matter. Either way, he's a unique existence. One worth studying—and consuming."
And just like Genshiki before him, Isshiki felt his hunger sharpen.
Neither the Ten-Tails, nor the will of this planet itself—both were things even the Ōtsutsuki coveted.
"Then my plan is sound."
Isshiki drew a long breath, casting a disdainful glance at Obito before shaking his head helplessly.
"Cultivate Kitagawa Gen, let him clash with Genshiki. That path is absolutely viable."
Gen's potential was limitless, far beyond anything Obito could compare to.
The only uncertainty left was whether Genshiki had noticed his White Kāma bait—and what would happen if Gen really did get lured into the trap Obito set.
Isshiki sighed and dismissed the thought. For now, he could take comfort in one fact:
Thanks to Gen's brutal beating, Obito's Kāma was unraveling at a much faster rate. Soon, Isshiki would be able to seize full control.
---
Far above, in the emptiness of space—
Pixelated black blocks unfolded in the void, snapping open like digital shoji panels. From within emerged a warped portal.
A figure stepped out leisurely, a fishing rod slung across his shoulder, his face twisted with playful mockery.
Clad in white, he stood tall against the sea of stars.
Twin Byakugan gleamed as he peered into the distance, while a bony crest shaped like a forehead protector jutted from his brow.
There was no mistaking it.
This was another member of the clan, wielder of Yomotsu Hirasaka—Ōtsutsuki Urashiki.
"Is this the planet where Isshiki's chakra flared?" he mused, tilting his head. "Strange… his chakra feels so weak now."
Urashiki's mission was simple: track down Ōtsutsuki Isshiki and Kaguya.
Originally, he had traveled with Momoshiki and Kinshiki, but for various reasons, their paths had diverged.
Fortunately, this star system wasn't too far from his own. A mere few years' journey—and for an Ōtsutsuki, that was nothing.
"Tch. What a bizarre little world."
His gaze fixed on the blue planet ahead. Even at this distance, he could sense its contradictions.
"It reeks of ruin, yet still clings to life. Was this where Isshiki and Kaguya planted their God Tree?"
He chuckled, amused, before moving toward the coordinates of Isshiki's chakra eruption. At the same time, curiosity tugged at him—he wanted to study this planet more closely.
"Especially since Isshiki's chakra is so faint… and before that, there was another unknown Ōtsutsuki signature here…"
Another rift of folded space spiraled open behind him. Just as he stepped through, Urashiki paused, glancing sidelong at the moon that orbited the planet.
"…And what's with that star? Something feels off."
He looked for a moment longer, then shrugged and vanished through the rift.
But what he didn't see—what he didn't feel—was the colossal golden eye buried deep within the moon's hollow core.
That eye swept across him, silent and watchful.