I knew you would come back. When you do, I'll accept your true thanks.
Listening to Madara's words, Aoba felt even more helpless. Madara had practically been poking Obito in the forehead and saying, "I planned this whole thing. Believe it or not!"
Aoba admitted that part of the reason he could see through everything so clearly was because he had knowledge of the future.
But Madara's plan, along with all the hints hidden in his words, was truly excessive.
Even a normal person who failed to realize something was wrong beforehand would certainly have sensed something off afterward and begun to suspect him.
But Obito, after falling into darkness, had completely lost it. His brain was simply no longer capable of normal operation.
Sigh!
Obito left wearing one of White Zetsu's clones, radiating absolute confidence!
As for Aoba, who had failed to change anything, he felt somewhat depressed. Once again, he had experienced his own weakness and the helplessness that came with it.
The only good news was that Madara did not seem to suspect him because of his loose tongue.
After all, no one could have imagined that the body of this child housed the soul of an adult from another world.
"I will sever all the causes and effects in this world... This is why I have returned."
When Obito returned once again, covered in killing intent and an ominous aura, leaving bloody footprints with every step, Madara's downturned lips suddenly curved upward.
Standing beside Madara, Aoba sighed again when he saw the cold look in Obito's eyes—the eyes that had evolved directly from the Two-Tomoe Sharingan into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
This tragedy had still unfolded as scheduled.
Madara's plan had succeeded. He had successfully made that kind, passionate Obito witness Rin's death, witness Kakashi killing Rin with his own hands, and witness the cruelest, most despairing scene in the world.
This had not only successfully caused Obito to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, but had also completely brought him aboard the ship that was destined to sink.
And Aoba still could not do anything. He could only watch helplessly.
"No one else saw it, right?" A satisfied smile appeared on Madara's aged face.
"I was the only one who saw it. Obito killed all the enemies and even comprehended Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence on his own, so there's no problem. He just didn't seem willing to attack Kakashi. But Kakashi didn't see anything. When Konoha's reinforcements arrived, he was still shouting, 'Who took down the enemy?'" White Zetsu explained with a strange smile.
"You couldn't bring yourself to attack a former comrade?"
"No. I just don't care. Whether that guy is still alive in this world or not, I don't care. Because in the world I'm about to create, there will be both Kakashi and Rin. Tell me how to create the world of my dreams, Madara!"
"You don't need to thank me anymore. Come here. From today onward, you are the savior. Look into my eyes..."
In an instant, Madara and Obito both froze completely.
However, having seen this part of the story, Aoba knew that Madara had pulled Obito's mind into his Genjutsu space. There, Madara would entrust the so-called Moon Eye Plan to Obito completely and open a new chapter.
After Madara finished explaining everything to Obito, both their bodies trembled at the same time as they broke free of the Genjutsu space.
"Obito, I've left the Uchiha's forbidden techniques, the Six Paths Techniques, and the Yin-Yang Release Techniques to you."
"Also, I've implanted my will into this guy's body. You can treat half of him as me. He's also a degraded product. You can regard these creatures created with Yin-Yang Release as your pawns. That black mass is the physical manifestation of my consciousness. You can use it when employing the Six Paths Techniques."
"Lastly, this child... You can kill him, or keep him as a pawn. Do whatever you like."
Madara's ruthless, indifferent glance instantly made Aoba, who had been preparing to act, feel as though he had fallen into an icy abyss.
As expected!
From the very beginning, no one had ever cared whether he lived or died!
And Obito...
The now-corrupted Obito did not even spare him a glance. He merely grunted and said that he understood.
After explaining all his final arrangements, Madara took two steps forward. The 'tubes' behind him instantly went taut!
Yet this time, Madara continued straining forward and tearing at them!
As the saying went, opportunity knocked but once.
Damn it, I'm going all out!
Aoba, who had been waiting for this day, immediately bent down and picked up one of the tubes on the ground before pulling it backward with all his strength!
He had always thought this was a mission he was certain to die in, until he suddenly remembered the plot while recalling the story. After passing his will on to Obito, Madara had voluntarily chosen to pull the tubes out of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and kill himself!
This was clearly the key to breaking through the deadlock and completing his mission!
In any case, Madara was bent on dying at this point, so there was a high chance he would ignore Aoba's little maneuver.
As for whether he could succeed and whether the system would recognize it, that was beyond his control. He could only do his best and leave the rest to fate, hoping his life was not meant to end here!
This was the only way he could think of to complete the mission.
Madara, struggling with all his strength to break free from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, truly seemed not to have noticed this minor detail. With a sharp crack, the several tubes connected to his back snapped apart!
Aoba, who had been pulling from behind as well, fell onto the ground on his backside.
Excellent!
First, the tubes had broken. And White Zetsu, Black Zetsu, and Obito had all noticed him but ignored him, focusing instead on the dying Madara!
I got away with it!
The only thing he had to worry about now was whether the system would recognize this opportunistic way of completing the mission.
Ignoring Aoba, who was secretly making his move, Obito's only remaining Mangekyō Sharingan eye widened dramatically!
Staggering back into his seat, Madara struggled to breathe while forcing out his final words.
"All right, go. During the time before I revive, you are... Uchiha Madara!"
After speaking the final word, Madara... breathed his last.
Everything he left behind would be inherited by Obito. Meanwhile, Aoba, who had hoped to cling to a powerful ally, had not gained even a scrap of benefit and now faced Obito's final judgment.
Whether he lived or died was entirely up to a single thought from Obito.
If this had been the Obito of the past, Aoba would not have worried about being in danger at all.
But the corrupted Obito before him seemed like an entirely different person and was exceptionally terrifying. Who knew whether Aoba would be implicated and casually crushed to death?
"What are you planning to do with this child?" Black Zetsu asked casually.
"I haven't decided yet. Let's deal with Madara's body first." Obito walked over to Madara's corpse and reached out, actually removing the Sharingan that Madara had transplanted into the back of his head.
"Since Madara chose you in the end, there's no need for this child to continue existing. Besides, he knows far too much."
"Now I am Uchiha Madara. You don't need to teach me what to do. If you want to die, I can send you off first."
With a single glare, Black Zetsu immediately fell silent.
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