"You… you mean Izanagi?!"
Uchiha Obito had learned many secret techniques of the Uchiha Clan under Madara's guidance. Among them was the forbidden technique that allowed Madara to fake his death before Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju—Izanagi.
In fact, inside Obito's left eye socket right now was a spare Three-Tomoe Sharingan, specifically prepared for casting Izanagi.
So when Uchiha Ren mentioned Madara escaping death, Obito immediately thought of that forbidden technique capable of rewriting reality.
Ren nodded, confirming his guess.
"You're correct. Before Rin died, I used a Three-Tomoe Sharingan and placed an Izanagi inside her body through a Transcription Seal."
"So on that day, Rin didn't actually die. Shortly after you left, she woke up again."
"However, for certain reasons, I didn't spread the news. Even Kakashi doesn't know that Rin is still alive."
Obito swallowed hard before asking with difficulty,
"Then… why are you telling me now?"
"I originally had no intention of telling you," Ren replied, casting Obito a meaningful glance. "In the future I foresaw, you might do some things worse than beasts. My plan was to wait until that moment—and then let Rin appear and deal you a fatal blow."
"But because of my interference, Yahiko didn't die in the conspiracy of Hanzo of the Salamander and Shimura Danzō. As a result, many things changed."
"As the saying goes, One small change affects everything. When Yahiko escaped that conspiracy, it also dragged you into the chain of events."
"And in that future, you would have been the one to kill Yahiko in place of Hanzo and Danzō."
"But your choice surprised me."
"With a single moment of hesitation, you didn't immediately kill Yahiko—and instead walked toward the brightest future within the darkness."
"That was your own choice."
"Because of that, I realized that I had been too arrogant before. I thought I controlled everything and could guide everyone toward the future I believed was correct."
"But the seeds we plant determine the flowers that bloom."
"In the end, the choice always belongs to you."
"So I changed my decision."
"I chose to step forward and tell you the entire truth."
"As for what you do next—what future you walk toward—that will depend entirely on your own choice."
Obito fell silent.
He could hear the sincerity in Ren's words and knew that he wasn't lying. Ren had truly returned the choice to him.
At the same time, Obito understood something else:
If he chose darkness again this time, Ren would not hesitate to kill him.
Obito did not doubt Ren's ability to do so—after all, Ren knew everything about him.
After a long silence, Obito finally spoke.
"Can you tell me… why you stood by and watched my fate unfold?"
Ren thought for a moment before nodding.
"First of all, because of Madara Uchiha."
"Madara's strength is unfathomable. Even though he was at the end of his life, after awakening the Rinnegan, he had already stepped halfway into the Six Paths level. I wasn't confident I could defeat him."
"And Madara's life was already nearing its end. Even if he realized his path was wrong, he had no time left to search for another one. Words alone could never convince him."
"My ability allows me to see many possible futures—but only after I've discovered enough clues."
"For example, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't even have discovered that Madara was still alive. Nor would I have discovered the existence of Black Zetsu."
"If I had rashly rescued you from his grasp, Madara might have hidden himself again and waited for another opportunity. That would have made things far more troublesome."
"That's also one of the reasons I kept Rin's survival a secret."
"Madara would never allow you to keep such an important bond with the world."
"Only if Rin 'died' could she truly continue living."
Obito nodded slowly.
Having personally received Madara's teachings, he understood just how terrifying Madara truly was.
Ren's caution made sense.
But Ren's next sentence left Obito stunned.
"However… that wasn't the main reason I stood by and watched."
"What do you mean?"
Obito frowned. Could his fate possibly involve someone even more troublesome than Madara?
Ren explained calmly,
"From a purely practical standpoint, the path Madara designed for you is actually the most suitable one."
"Your talent is extremely unusual. With ordinary training methods, you probably would have reached nothing more than the level of an Elite Jōnin in your lifetime."
"But your true potential is far beyond that."
"In the future, you could even reach the level of the Sage of Six Paths."
"And only Madara was capable of fully unlocking that potential."
"Not everyone can inherit Madara's teachings."
"So I thought that if you could gain Madara's inheritance—and still maintain your original heart—then it would benefit you, the village, and even the entire world."
Ren paused before continuing.
"The world belongs to you as much as it belongs to us. But ultimately, it will belong to your generation."
"You are like the sun at eight or nine in the morning—full of vitality."
"My expectations for you were never limited to becoming Hokage."
"After the generation of Minato and myself fades away…"
"I hope you will become the sun that continues to illuminate the world."
Ren's words were sincere.
But they made Obito's entire body tremble.
He had never imagined that Ren's expectations of him were this high.
To become the sun that illuminated the world…
A storm of emotions surged inside Obito's heart. It felt as if the blood that had long gone cold inside him had begun to flow again—boiling with renewed life.
Yes, this world was dark.
But he could become a ray of light that illuminated those dark corners.
He could become a sun.
Obito closed his eyes and slowly exhaled.
When he opened them again, determination had returned to his gaze. The gloomy aura around him had completely vanished.
"Teacher Ren," Obito said with a smile as he removed the spiral mask from his face.
"Can you tell me more about your plan?"
"Of course," Ren replied.
A warm smile appeared on his face as well.
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