"So you just stood by and watched me get played by Uchiha Madara?!"
"You just watched Rin die?!"
Obito's emotions spiraled further out of control.
What hurt him more than Madara's manipulation—
Was Ren's indifference.
Especially now, when Ren stood before him like some calm lecturer.
"I had my reasons for standing by," Ren said steadily.
"Obito, you need to understand—this world doesn't revolve around you."
"Not everything happens according to your will."
Ren knew Obito's mindset was unstable, teetering on the edge. Harsh comfort or empty reassurance would only push him further away.
What mattered now—
Was forcing Obito to confront reality.
"The Konoha leadership didn't ask for your consent when assigning you to Team Minato."
"They didn't ask when the war began."
"Madara didn't ask when he chose you as his pawn."
"That is how this world works."
"If you want to sever causality—then you must change the world itself."
Obito fell silent.
Ren's words resonated more than he expected.
In his travels, Obito had already witnessed the cruelty of the shinobi world—and had begun to accept Madara's ideology.
Now, Ren's perspective only deepened that understanding.
"…So you agree with Madara?" Obito asked.
"No," Ren shook his head. "His goal isn't wrong—but his method is deeply flawed."
"I have my own reasons for not interfering."
Obito didn't press that point.
"Then explain. His ideology—his plan."
Ren paused, then asked:
"Did Madara ever tell you his story?"
Obito shook his head.
"He only told me his ideals."
"Then I'll tell you."
"Uchiha Madara was born during the Warring States Period—a time of endless conflict."
"He lost loved ones again and again, and longed for peace."
"He met Hashirama Senju—someone just like him."
"They became friends."
"Hashirama proposed uniting clans to form a village—ending conflict."
"At the time, Madara agreed."
"But first—they needed power."
"Only the strong have a voice."
"Later, war tore them apart."
"They became enemies—until both rose as clan leaders."
"When Madara's last brother, Izuna, died—"
"They were both truly exhausted by war."
"So Madara accepted peace."
"They founded Konohagakure together."
"At first, it worked."
"Clans united. Peace came."
"But other nations followed suit—forming their own hidden villages."
"And Madara saw the problem."
"Villages still had conflicting interests."
"War… would only grow larger."
"He and Hashirama clashed ideologically."
"Madara believed in overwhelming force."
"Hashirama believed in understanding."
"At first, the conflict was suppressed."
"But then—Hashirama became the First Hokage."
"Madara saw it as betrayal."
"He realized Konoha would compromise—and eventually fall back into war."
"So he chose to leave."
"But the Uchiha clan… chose peace."
"They abandoned him."
"That was the final betrayal."
"And the beginning of his descent."
Ren let Obito process this before continuing.
"After leaving, Madara traveled the world."
"And he saw the truth."
"Where there are people—there are conflicts."
"Small conflicts form alliances."
"Alliances create wars."
"This is inevitable—even among animals."
"So true peace… is nearly impossible."
"As long as life exists—conflict will never end."
"And then—"
"He encountered the Eye of the Moon Plan."
"And that… is when he fell into extremism."
Obito frowned.
"But what's wrong with it?"
"A world of only winners… only love?"
Ren sneered.
"Do you even understand what that plan really is?"
Obito hesitated.
Ren answered:
"It traps everyone in their own illusion."
"It sounds beautiful."
"But humanity would stop reproducing."
"No new life."
"Extinction is inevitable."
"This isn't solving the problem."
"It's eliminating those who suffer from it."
"It's no different from destroying the entire world."
"At best—it's a peaceful death."
"And you call that not extreme?"
"…It's still the only solution," Obito insisted.
He understood Ren's point—
But refused to let go.
Ren narrowed his eyes.
"You truly believe that?"
Obito nodded firmly.
"I've seen this world."
"Everywhere—suffering."
"What value does such a world even have?"
"This is my conclusion."
"I will carry out Madara's plan."
"And if it fails—"
"I'll find another way to achieve the same goal."
Ren sighed.
"But have you ever thought about the people suffering?"
"Why do they continue to live?"
"Even insects struggle to survive."
"What do you think life means?"
Obito froze.
He had never considered that.
Why do people endure suffering—
Yet still choose to live?
Ren continued:
"The answer is simple."
"Why haven't you chosen to die?"
Obito frowned.
"…Because I want to change everything."
"I want to end conflict."
Ren smiled faintly.
"That's your answer."
"In the grand scale of the universe, a human life is insignificant."
"Meaningless, even."
"But—"
"We give our own lives meaning."
"You want to make the world better."
"That is your meaning."
"And those people you pity?"
"They have theirs too."
"They may not have your strength."
"But they struggle—to improve their lives."
"To give their children a better future."
"That is their meaning."
"They endure because they still have hope."
"And yet—"
"You would erase them without even asking?"
Obito's expression wavered.
But he clenched his teeth.
"Their vision is limited."
"I don't need their understanding."
"I only need to do what's right."
Ren's voice turned cold.
"'I destroy you—it has nothing to do with you.'"
"That arrogance…"
"Is no different from the Ōtsutsuki."
"You truly are their descendant."
"What makes you think you're right?"
Obito answered stubbornly:
"The Uchiha stone tablet."
"The Eye of the Moon Plan was left by the Sage of Six Paths!"
"How could it be wrong?!"
Ren laughed.
"I've read that tablet."
"And yet people still believe such an obvious lie."
Obito snapped:
"What gives you the right to say that?!"
Ren replied calmly:
"To cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi, one must become the Ten-Tails' jinchuriki."
"And the last one to do that…"
"Was the Sage of Six Paths."
"…So?" Obito frowned.
Ren's voice sharpened:
"Then why didn't he do it?"
"If Infinite Tsukuyomi could save the world—"
"Why didn't he use it?"
"He had the power."
"So why leave it to future generations?"
"Why allow a thousand years of war?"
Obito froze.
He couldn't answer.
The contradiction was undeniable.
If it truly worked—
Why didn't Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki use it himself?
There was only one conclusion—
The stone tablet was false.
Ren spoke again:
"Black Zetsu has been scheming for thousands of years."
"For it to finally find fools like Madara… and you—"
"It must have been waiting a long time."
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