---
Minato, Kushina, Naruto, Kakashi, Sasuke, Shisui, and Itachi seven people lined up in a dense forest, about seven or eight kilometres east of the command centre, awaiting their 'guest.'
For now, Minato had temporarily handed over command to Shikaku Nara and Mabui of the Cloud Village.
To be honest, if they could solve everything right here, they might as well leave a pig in charge of the command post.
---
It didn't take long before their visitor arrived.
A man in a blue robe and a white mask emerged from the shadows.
The mask had black circular patterns and three tomoe, with two open holes revealing his left Rinnegan and right Sharingan.
Behind him, six figures stood in formation each one possessing the same left Rinnegan and right Sharingan.
Before anyone could speak, Minato quickly identified each of them aloud, preparing his comrades for battle:
Fū, the Tailed Monk of Sand Village.
Rōshi, the Lava Release wielder from Rock Village.
Han, the Steam Ninja of Rock Village.
Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki from Cloud Village.
Blue B (Burubi), the previous Eight-Tails Jinchūriki from Cloud Village.
And lastly—
"Mito-sama…?"
The final name wasn't spoken by Minato.
It was Kushina her voice trembling.
She had immediately recognized the last figure.
A frail, elderly woman in white, her once-vibrant red hair faded with age, and a rhombus-shaped seal on her forehead just like Tsunade's Strength of a Hundred Seal.
This was Uzumaki Mito, the wife of the First Hokage, the first Nine-Tails Jinchūriki… and the woman who had been like a grandmother to Kushina.
---
At first, everyone had been focused on Tobi, but now, their attention shifted to the old woman.
Shisui rested a hand on his sword, murmuring, "So that's the First Hokage's wife?"
Itachi, his Sharingan spinning, analyzed, "She was known as an incredibly powerful kunoichi. Judging by her chakra, that reputation wasn't exaggerated."
Sasuke glanced at Naruto. "This must be one of his relatives, right?"
Naruto, meanwhile, wasn't looking at Mito.
He was watching Nine-Tails inside his mindscape.
The giant fox was visibly agitated, digging his claws into the ground.
"Naruto." Kurama's deep voice rumbled. "That woman is dangerous."
"She's stronger than my mom?"
Kurama grumbled. He didn't like this conversation.
"Who knows."
"Hah… you're nervous."
"Shut up, brat."
Suddenly—
"Obito! Why would you go this far!?"
Kushina's fiery Uzumaki temper finally exploded.
Seeing her beloved grandmother's corpse being controlled like a puppet, she was ready to tear him apart.
Tobi, however, only scoffed.
"Obito? You must be mistaken."
"That man is dead. Killed in the war just another tragic hero of Konoha."
Minato frowned. "So now you're even denying your own existence?"
"Call me what you like." Tobi dismissed. "It doesn't matter. My only goal is to take the Nine-Tails."
His gaze drifted between Naruto and Kushina as if debating who to target first.
"Obito!" Kakashi stepped forward, fists clenched.
"Rin—"
"Stop."
Obito cut him off immediately, his tone cold and indifferent.
"Don't give me that look, Kakashi."
Kakashi's heart pounded.
"You don't blame me?"
"This world is meaningless. Even if I blamed you, what difference would it make?"
"Your plan is madness!" Minato countered. "Even if you succeed, it won't last. In a few decades, everyone inside the dream will die. Then what? The Infinite Tsukuyomi world will collapse!"
Obito grinned behind his mask.
"No, you're wrong. The Divine Tree will sustain the people forever. Wishes will be granted infinitely. Even immortality will be possible. That world will be eternal."
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, I've heard enough. This guy needs to be beaten up first before we can talk sense into him."
Suddenly, Obito's voice boomed with emotion.
"Naruto!"
Naruto blinked. "Huh?"
Obito pointed at him dramatically.
"You must be suffering!"
Silence.
Everyone just… stared at him.
Obito continued, completely serious:
"You were born a Jinchūriki! From the moment you entered this world, you were forced to coexist with a monster! No matter how your parents tried to justify it, they sealed the beast inside you against your will! You've tasted despair more than anyone! Haven't you!?"
For a moment, the forest was dead silent.
Then—
Everyone turned to look at Naruto.
He was staring at Obito like he was an absolute moron.
Even Sasuke had to resist the urge to facepalm.
"Wait… Naruto was in despair? Was I missing something?"
He stole a glance at Naruto's annoyed expression.
And immediately felt embarrassed for even considering it.
"Yeah, never mind."
Obito, however, was fully convinced.
"You don't have to pretend anymore, Naruto! I understand your pain! This world is a nightmare! But I can free you from it! I will create the perfect world—"
Naruto cut him off.
"So basically, you're offering me a dreamland because you think I'm miserable?"
Obito nodded.
"Then I have just one thing to say to that."
Naruto took a deep breath.
And shouted—
"SCREW YOUR FAKE WORLD, MOTHERFUCKER!"
Obito flinched.
Everyone else just burst into laughter.
Even Minato had to cough to hide his amusement.
Sasuke, still smirking, thought to himself:
"This guy seriously thought Naruto was suffering?"
"Pfft. He should try fighting Gen, Daiki, and Jiro first."
"Then he'll know what actual despair looks like."
---