The Inside Story

Therefore, Uchiha Gen had sensed Namikaze Minato's presence the moment he stepped through the Uchiha gates. At first, he assumed Minato was there to see Fugaku, but he hadn't expected that he himself was the target.

"I've come to bother you today primarily because of Obito. Since he has already been declared a hero and his name is carved onto the memorial stone, I had no choice but to discuss this with you in private, Gen-kun, as I cannot be certain of the truth," Minato said helplessly. As his teacher, he knew Obito's character better than anyone; it was truly hard to believe that the boy, who had always aimed to become Hokage, could commit such acts.

"So that's what this is about? Well, this isn't the place to talk. Let's head to my house. Itachi, if you're free, you should head back now," Gen said, waving a hand to shoo Uchiha Itachi away.

Wait, Itachi? Isn't that kid named Itachi? Did I get the name wrong just now? How embarrassing! Kushina is really something, forgetting the name of her own best friend's child.

"Yes, Senior Gen!" Itachi didn't show much emotion; in this world of ninjas, it was common to encounter matters one shouldn't pry into. Still, the name "Obito" sounded strangely familiar.

Uchiha District – Uchiha Gen's Small Residence

"I don't have much to offer, so just have some plain water to wet your throat." In truth, he had milk in the house, but he couldn't exactly serve breakfast milk to a guest. That would be even worse than plain water.

Uh, Gen-kun's hospitality is certainly unique. Serving plain water? Did he really not have any other drinks in the house? The Uchiha clan was, after all, the greatest clan in Konoha, Minato thought to himself.

"Actually, the person who controlled the Nine-Tails that night was Obito. Although he was crushed by a boulder during the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, he didn't die back then," Gen said, quickly changing the subject to ease the awkwardness.

Upon hearing this, Minato could no longer care about the plain water.

"But even if he didn't die in that situation, he shouldn't have survived. The battle was critical, and given his injuries, only someone like Lady Tsunade could have kept him alive," Minato analyzed. Although he hadn't witnessed it personally, he felt he understood the situation well enough through Kakashi's post-battle report.

"Tsunade wasn't necessarily required. Someone else saved him—someone with deep ties to the Uchiha clan. You've likely heard his name: Madara Uchiha." Gen's words were a bombshell.

Who in the Ninja World didn't know the names of the two legends of the Warring States period? But hadn't Madara Uchiha been dead for decades? According to Konoha's historical records, Madara had defected, returned years later with the Nine-Tails, and fought Senju Hashirama for thousands of rounds before dying in battle, leaving Hashirama to win with heavy injuries. As the current Hokage, Minato was intimately familiar with this history.

"Madara Uchiha did indeed die back then, but the Uchiha clan possesses a special forbidden technique that rewrites reality at the cost of one Sharingan. It is called Izanagi. Madara used this technique to deceive the world. However, given Senju Tobirama's understanding of the Uchiha, he should have been suspicious of the fake death, though even he couldn't have uncovered the truth—after all, it was Madara Uchiha," Gen explained.

"How do you know all this, Gen-kun? Does the Uchiha clan still have contact with Madara?" Minato speculated.

"Impossible. Ever since Madara defected, the clan chose not to follow him, and their relationship was severed. Perhaps only Elder Setsuna still misses him," Gen said, resting his chin on his hands in thought.

"As for how I know? That is naturally the precognitive ability granted by my Mangekyo Sharingan." Making up stories didn't cost a thing. As for his actual Mangekyo abilities, the more mysterious he kept them, the better; muddying the waters made it easier to hide.

"Precognition? That is truly a powerful ability," Minato sighed. Fortunately, Gen was a member of Konoha. Though his personality was difficult, he wouldn't harm the village. His willingness to step up during Konoha's time of crisis proved his nature was good.

The only pity was that Gen's relationship with the Third Hokage and his circle was so poor. But with the Third having stepped back, Minato was now the Hokage; their friction wouldn't hinder Konoha's development. After all, who didn't have a colleague they didn't get along with in a village as large as Konoha?

"Then what about Obito now? What did he go through, and why would he attack Konoha? He still has many comrades here!" Minato asked a series of questions.

"Obito was saved by Madara in his moment of peril, but there is no such thing as a free lunch. Madara only saved him to use him. Madara was already aged and his strength was a shadow of its former self, but to execute the Eye of the Moon Plan, he chose the kind-hearted and naive Obito as his successor. As a clan head who has already awakened the Mangekyo, no one understands its origins better than I do: Obito's innocence and kindness were the best nutrients to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan," Gen said, taking a sip of water as he continued.

So that's what happened during that time? I really was an incompetent teacher.

"To force Obito to awaken the Mangekyo, Madara personally orchestrated the fate of Nohara Rin and Kakashi. Whether it was Kirigakure sealing the Three-Tails or Kakashi piercing Rin's chest, these were things Madara wanted Obito to see. Only by losing what one holds most dear can the legendary eyes of the Uchiha be awakened. Obito awakened his Mangekyo the moment he saw his teammate Kakashi kill Rin with Chidori," Gen said, lifting his cup only to find it empty.

"So that's how it was. No wonder Obito would do such a thing. But fortunately, thanks to you, Gen-kun, no irreparable damage was done. Everything can still be salvaged. I will definitely bring Obito back," Minato said, taking a deep, heavy breath.

"Don't waste your effort. The Obito of today has completely fallen into darkness. He only wishes to create a world where Rin exists. Everything else is meaningless to him—including you, Kushina, Kakashi, the Uchiha clan, and Konoha. His only goal now is to complete the Eye of the Moon Plan that Madara spoke of."