Obito's expression grew grave.
"Even your first step alone would face resistance no less than the Eye of the Moon Plan," he said slowly.
"Sure, if true unification succeeds, large-scale wars might disappear. Most conflicts could be settled through negotiation."
"But not everyone has your perspective."
"Most people only care about immediate interests."
"The Five Great Nations have fought for generations. Blood debts run deep."
"And what you're proposing isn't just territorial unity."
"It's ideological unity."
"Alignment of stance."
"That's far harder."
He shook his head.
"It's practically impossible."
Jin's expression didn't change.
"You're right. It's difficult."
"But not as impossible as you think."
He continued calmly:
"When Konoha was founded, there were countless objections from both the Uchiha and the Senju. Centuries of hatred don't vanish overnight."
"Madara and Hashirama suppressed those voices with sheer personal authority."
"But a few years later, when Madara attempted to leave the village and take the Uchiha with him…"
"How many followed?"
"None."
Obito went silent.
"Most people are short-sighted," Jin said, "but once they see tangible benefits, resistance weakens."
Reality supported the argument.
Obito couldn't refute it.
After a pause, he asked:
"And after unification? What then?"
"There's too much to detail," Jin replied. "Some solutions depend on timing and geography."
"But broadly speaking—"
"Reduce internal contradictions."
"And where possible… transform internal contradictions into external ones."
Obito blinked.
"External? If the world is unified, what external enemy remains?"
Jin smiled faintly.
"Have you forgotten the Ōtsutsuki?"
Obito froze.
Right.
Beyond the shinobi world—
There was still a cosmic threat.
Jin continued:
"When a common enemy appears, internal divisions fade."
"Unity strengthens."
"And if the Ōtsutsuki can travel the stars…"
"Why can't we?"
His eyes lifted slightly, as if gazing beyond the sky.
"Their existence proves something."
"We are not alone in this universe."
"There are resources beyond this planet."
"Opportunities beyond this world."
"Why limit ourselves to a single sphere?"
"Our battlefield shouldn't be this land."
"It should be the stars."
Obito stared at him, stunned.
He and Madara had once believed themselves extreme.
Now?
They seemed almost conservative.
If Madara's plan was to erase reality—
Jin's ambition was to conquer it.
Mad.
Grand.
Terrifying.
And yet—
If it succeeded…
If the shinobi world truly unified…
If class divisions softened…
If all nations faced outward instead of inward—
Would that not be closer to peace than Infinite Tsukuyomi ever was?
Maybe even permanent peace.
But—
Rin.
No matter how brilliant the vision—
Rin was dead.
A perfect future meant nothing without her.
The more Obito understood Jin—
The more he agreed with him—
The angrier he became.
If Rin could not exist in that world—
Then what was the point of that world?
His chakra fluctuated violently.
His expression twisted.
"I will never acknowledge your path!"
Obito's single eye burned.
"The Eye of the Moon can vanish into dust for all I care."
"But from this day forward—"
"My life's purpose is to oppose you, Uchiha Jin."
"I will destroy your plan."
"No matter the cost."
Jin blinked.
"…What?"
They had just been having a relatively rational conversation.
What happened?
Ah.
Uchiha.
Of course.
Before Jin could ask, Obito answered.
"Because of Rin."
"Because you watched her die."
To Obito, Jin now looked no different from the Ōtsutsuki he condemned.
Cold.
Detached.
Arrogant.
Jin's indifference toward Rin's death ignited something uncontrollable.
Obito wanted him to pay.
"Oh. Rin."
Jin sighed lightly.
"You misunderstood."
"I said I observed your path."
"I never said I did nothing for others."
"You are you."
"Rin is Rin."
"Not interfering with Madara's manipulation of you does not mean I ignored her fate."
Obito's eye widened.
"…What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said."
Jin's voice was calm.
"Rin is alive."
"I saved her."
Silence.
Obito trembled.
"That's impossible!"
"I confirmed it myself! Her heart was destroyed!"
"She couldn't have survived!"
Jin looked at him evenly.
"Decades ago, Hashirama and Tobirama confirmed Madara was dead."
"And yet Madara lived."
Obito: "!!!"
The world tilted.
If Madara could survive certain death—
Then… could she?
For the first time since that day—
Hope.
Dangerous, fragile hope—
Flickered in Uchiha Obito's eye.
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> patreon.com/warewolvesTL