Chapter 419: I Am the True Savior
"And I, I have seen through this boundless darkness. I am no longer like you all, struggling in vain within these decaying rules, or becoming a pathetic victim!"
His voice rose sharply, carrying a near-fanatical conceit and sense of mission: "I have found the path to true change; I will create a new world!
A perfect world without war, without barriers, without sorrow, where everyone can attain eternal happiness within a beautiful dream. This is the 'Eye of the Moon Plan'!
I am the savior who will lead all living beings out of the sea of suffering and toward the true light!"
"As for the necessary sacrifices in this process..."
Obito's gaze turned cold as he gripped the Soul Kunai in his hand. "Including Minato-sensei, Lady Kushina, and even more lives... they are all just the 'price' that must be paid to reach the new world. In the face of eternal peace and happiness, these temporary pains and sacrifices are worth it!"
He assumed a combat stance, his eyes transforming into the three-tomoe and Mangekyo respectively. "So, Senior, put away your outdated lectures on 'Ninja duty' and 'taking responsibility.' The only thing I didn't expect was for Uzumaki Naruto to be so powerful that I couldn't defeat him even with all my methods.
But I don't regret it. I've spent the latter half of my life fighting for true peace!"
Sakumo Hatake listened quietly to Obito's intense words. The expression on his face shifted from initial calm to gradual gravity, finally turning into a deep sigh.
He was not shaken by Obito mentioning the manner of his death; those sharp eyes seemed to see through the complex core of trauma, paranoia, and self-deception deep within Obito's Soul.
"Change... Savior... Eye of the Moon..."
Sakumo slowly repeated these words and shook his head. "Obito, the 'darkness' you speak of is not something I fail to understand. My end was indeed lamentable."
He changed his tone, which suddenly became as sharp as the blade in his hand. "However, to infinitely amplify the pain you've experienced into the 'original sin' of the entire world, and then to beautify a mad plan of self-destruction that drags everyone down with you as'salvation' and 'change'...
This is nothing more than the actions of a coward and a madman; it has nothing to do with being a'savior'."
Sakumo took a step forward. "The truly strong are those like Naruto, who, after feeling the cruelty of the world, still choose to protect, to change, and to shoulder the burden, even if the road ahead is arduous and they are temporarily misunderstood.
Not like you, who uses the creation of an even greater tragedy to escape your own pain and incompetence."
The concept of a grand unification was too shocking; even Sakumo Hatake subconsciously felt it was impossible when he first heard it.
The Ninja World had been in chaos for so many years; even the First Hokage only integrated the families of the Land of Fire to establish Hidden Leaf Village.
On what basis could a thirteen-year-old child unify the entire Ninja World?
But, he was taking action.
He wasn't just talking; he was truly acting. This alone moved Sakumo Hatake.
Obito was dismissive. "Greed, selfishness, suspicion, hatred... rooted deep within human nature...
These 'evil' natures will jump out again and again to teach him a harsh lesson, telling him how naive and childish his ideas are!"
"Unification? Peace? As long as humans are still humans, as long as there is a distinction between 'I' and 'him,' and as long as there are desires and selfishness, the fighting will never stop.
Today they might unite temporarily because of a powerful external force or a common crisis, but tomorrow they will split again over the distribution of interests or differences in ideology, even breaking out into more intense internal strife.
History has proven this countless times!"
"Everything Naruto is doing is just patching up a broken house in the old world, or even trying to build a seemingly magnificent new palace. But the foundation is still corrupt human nature.
This palace will collapse from within sooner or later, and because of his efforts, the future collapse might be even more disastrous!
Only the 'Eye of the Moon Plan,' which eliminates individual consciousness and conflict at the root, can achieve true, eternal, and undifferentiated peace.
This is the only correct path!"
Even if what Naruto said was true, even if the Eye of the Moon Plan was just a scam, so what?
The Six Paths Sage's mother was powerful, so she could turn people into White Zetsu.
Uzumaki Naruto was powerful, so he could easily kill Obito.
In the end, it all comes down to strength!
"Might is justice, and strength is truth!"
Obito almost roared this sentence at the end, using it as the final justification for all his actions.
"My path may be cruel, it may be extreme, but it pursues the ultimate 'peace' guaranteed by absolute power.
Compared to Naruto's naive attempt that relies on the self-improvement of fragile human nature and is full of uncertainty, my method is more direct and effective."
Sakumo Hatake listened quietly to Obito's declaration. There was no anger on his face, only a deeper sorrow and determination.
He slowly shook his head. "Perhaps it is naive to place hope entirely on the perfection of human nature.
But like you, choosing to completely deny and strip away humanity because of a fear of its imperfections, even worshipping pure power and violence...
That is true cowardice and despair; it is an 'evil' more terrifying than any other."
"What Naruto believes in is not that human nature is inherently good, but that it can strive for goodness. He is willing to gamble on that possibility and put in every effort for it. That is true courage and responsibility."
"As for power..."
The light of the Soul Short Blade in Sakumo's hand was restrained to the extreme, as if all killing intent and sharpness were condensed into a single point.
"Let me use this 'power' born from protection to see just how'solid' your 'truth'—built upon nihilism and deprivation—really is."
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Both sides used Ninjutsu simultaneously.
Obito's Great Fireball was instantly blocked by Sakumo Hatake's Earth-Style Wall.
Then, Sakumo Hatake broke through his own Earth-Style Wall and charged forward, slashing at Obito.
The Ninja Blade passed directly through Obito's body.
Sakumo was a veteran of a hundred battles and had some understanding of Obito's information. He did not panic but used his left hand to block Obito's subsequent attack.
Their hands exchanged a few blows, and then the two briefly separated.
"Although your Taijutsu is on par with Kakashi's, it's still a bit worse than mine. You rely too much on your intangibility."
Sakumo hit the nail on the head regarding Obito's problem.
His over-reliance on his intangibility meant that while his Ninjutsu and Taijutsu could reach the level of an Elite Jonin, they were still insufficient before a true master.
Coincidentally, Sakumo was a Sword Master who also possessed a significant number of Ninjutsu.
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