Chapter 237 – Kitagawa Gen's Dream, and a Reborn Obito?
"Hey, Sasuke—so, how was last night?"
On the streets of Konoha, Kitagawa Gen strolled alongside the village's younger generation.
Although the village had recently gone through one chaotic event after another, the clean-up had been swift.
With the aftermath no longer their concern, the younger shinobi found themselves on a rare day off, hanging out together.
Of course, Naruto couldn't stay quiet for long. With a mischievous grin plastered across his face, he leaned toward Sasuke and whispered:
"Did they say anything to you? You know, like Gen-senpai mentioned—about stepping up, carrying more responsibility or something like that?"
"…You really are an idiot."
Sasuke shot him a withering look. Naruto could be insufferable at times. Yet despite the disdain on his face, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
For as long as he could remember, Sasuke had yearned for his family's acknowledgment. He still remembered how, as a child, a single phrase—"That's my son"—from his father had left him elated for days.
Now the world had changed, people had changed, but Sasuke clung to the warmth of these past few days. That alone was enough.
"What's this about? Stepping up?" Sakura perked up, curious.
The others exchanged puzzled glances as well—even the usually silent Shino leaned in.
"Heh, it's just—" Naruto began, only to be cut off as Sasuke hooked an arm around his neck.
"Shut. Up."
"What, so it really is a secret?" Kiba's eyes lit up.
"Something must've happened last night," Chōji muttered through a mouthful of chips. "Neji, do you know?"
All eyes turned toward Neji and Hinata, who was holding little Hanabi's hand. After all, the Hyūga clan had been embroiled in a battle the previous night.
But Neji only glanced briefly at Gen before answering with a faint smile. "Nothing worth mentioning."
That rare smile alone made Tenten gape. "Wait—Neji, since when do you smile like that?"
"Yeah!" Lee agreed, equally shocked.
"Just… some good things happened," Neji admitted. "Maybe Sasuke feels the same way."
"…More or less," Sasuke muttered, giving Neji a sidelong glance before nodding.
"Alright, drop it already. Family matters," Shikamaru interjected, rubbing his pineapple-shaped hair. "As long as he's happy, that's what matters."
"You're such a buzzkill," Ino grumbled, then turned to Gen. "What about you, Senpai? You know, don't you?"
"I might," Gen replied with a knowing smile, flicking a glance at Sasuke. "But it's his business. If he wants to say it, he will."
He winked, and Sasuke instantly looked down, his face tightening.
Last night had been joyful, but also suffocating. His mother had patted his shoulder and said softly:
"Sasuke, you've grown so much. I wonder if I'll live to see you marry and have children…"
His father's words had been even more direct:
"We're already dead, Sasuke. As the last of the Uchiha, I'm sorry to leave you with this burden. But your senpai was right—restoring our clan isn't something one person can do alone. Only by having descendants can the Uchiha truly rise again."
Sasuke understood perfectly well what they meant. And it gave him a headache.
"Ehehe…" Naruto's grin widened, clearly enjoying himself.
"Idiot!" Sasuke snapped, scowling. "At least I have a goal. What about you?"
Naruto froze. Then, after a pause, he declared firmly:
"My goal hasn't changed. I'll become Hokage!"
Despite everything—despite having his parents back—Naruto had never wavered from his dream. If anything, living with them had made his conviction stronger. His mother had once dreamed of becoming Hokage herself, and his father had been the Fourth. How could he not carry that torch?
"Sure, it's tough—super tough. But if I don't try, I'll never know!"
"You stubborn idiot." Kiba chuckled, though his grin soon turned serious. "Don't think you're the only one chasing a dream. I won't back down either!"
"Good luck with that," Chōji said lazily between bites.
"Tch, what a joke," Karin muttered, rolling her eyes. "Challenging Senpai for Hokage? Pathetic."
"Still… nothing wrong with trying," Shikamaru mused.
The group quickly fell into a lively debate about dreams. Gen, however, remained quiet, deep in thought.
Naruto… maybe it's time you got an 'update'.
Over the past three years, under his parents' and Jiraiya's guidance, Naruto had grown tremendously. Sage Mode, FTG, Rasengan—he was practically Gen's mirror image, only missing Purple Lightning and the Lightning Cloak.
Sasuke had inherited Gen's Purple Lightning and space-time ninjutsu, while Naruto had inherited Sage Mode and Rasengan.
For a fleeting moment, Gen wondered—was the Sage of Six Paths… just another version of himself?
But reality set in. Even with his current 72% Otsutsuki development, his true potential was still far from fully unlocked. Pureblood Otsutsuki like Boruto, with their terrifying chakra and planetary resonance, reminded him of that.
"Still, raw numbers aren't everything. Without 'skill,' even Kaguya was sealed away despite her overwhelming power," Gen mused inwardly.
He glanced at Naruto. Without Kurama's chakra mode, you're still lacking. If you don't grow stronger, even Obito will outpace you soon.
Obito. The memory of Jigen chasing him still lingered. Would Obito stumble into some strange "opportunity" as a result?
The thought made Gen sigh. The ninja world was in chaos—Nagato revived, Isshiki lurking, Madara on the verge of resurrection, Hashirama and Tobirama needing new vessels.
"Honestly, why is the whole world one big circus…" he muttered.
But part of him was pleased. A turbulent world meant more growth—for himself and for those around him. Especially Naruto and Sasuke, who still owed him certain "debts."
If I want Asura's chakra, I'll need Naruto at his peak. I'll have to push him hard.
His mind turned to other experiments. My God Tree could already cultivate White Zetsu. Maybe it's time to test that resurrection technique…
If Edo Tensei could be undone by Rinne Rebirth, then Self-Resurrection might yield similar results.
And if he used White Zetsu as vessels instead of himself, there was no real risk.
He smirked at the thought. I wonder what expression Madara would make if he saw Hashirama walk back into the world of the living…
"Senpai, what about you?" Ino's voice snapped him out of his plotting. "What's your dream?"
Everyone turned to look at him, even little Hanabi.
"My dream? I thought I already said it," Gen replied with a scratch of his head, glancing at Naruto and Sasuke. "Those two know, don't you?"
"Like anyone believes you," Naruto muttered.
"Say it," Ino pressed, smiling.
"Could it be… Hokage?" Shikamaru tilted his head, curious. If he was going to serve under Gen someday, better to know now.
"My dream's never changed." Gen's lips curved into a faint smile.
"I just want to save up enough money to open a shop. Call it Yorozuya. Do odd jobs, make some spare cash, marry a beautiful wife, smoke a pipe, stare at the clouds… take each day as it comes."
"…Really?"
Everyone stared. Even Shikamaru thought it sounded oddly familiar.
"Yep. That's it."
The group exchanged speechless looks. Was this truly the dream of Konoha's future Hokage?
"…All lies," Naruto muttered under his breath, sulking. "He said the same thing before, but look at him now—already half a Hokage. Damn it…"
Even Sasuke couldn't help nodding, silently agreeing that Gen's so-called "dream" and his current reality were worlds apart.
Gen rolled his eyes. "You two have room to talk. Remember that house you blew up last time? Did either of you pay for the damages?"
"Hiss—"
Naruto and Sasuke froze, both sucking in a sharp breath. The others turned to stare at them in shock, while Gen kept smiling faintly.
"And Naruto," he continued, his tone turning more pointed. "You do know about the Uzumaki clan's decline, right? You're one of the last. That means you've got responsibilities too."
"M–me?"
Naruto jabbed a finger at his chest, eyes wide. His head spun—since when was he part of this conversation?
But the weight of it sank in when he saw his parents exchanging a serious look. Even they knew what Gen meant.
"That's why you two were paired together in the first place," Gen said with a sly smile. His words came out slow and deliberate, like a blade sliding from its sheath.
"You both carry the burden of restoring your clans."
"…"
"And if you're not sure how to start," Gen added lightly, "you could always ask Chōji for advice."
"…"
"Eh?!"
The group fell into awkward silence, broken only by Naruto's strangled squawk. The air in Konoha remained bright and playful—but far away, within the Akatsuki hideout, the mood was very different.
Obito stood before a mirror, staring at his reflection in disbelief.
The half of his body that had once been ravaged beyond repair… had mended. Flesh and muscle knitted whole where only ruin had remained. Even more astonishing, the empty socket of his ruined eye pulsed with something new, something alive, as though it was preparing to awaken.
A strange, alien power coursed through his body, rewriting him, strengthening him with every beat of his heart.
Behind him, Black Zetsu and the others could only gape. Even they had no idea what was happening.
"…Obito, are you alright?" Black Zetsu asked cautiously.
Obito clenched his newly restored fist, his voice low and steady, filled with conviction.
"Better than ever. In fact…"
His lone eye glimmered, sharp and dangerous.
"…I think it's time we move on to the next stage of the plan."