I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 794 Everyone is actually just a suit of armor, protecting their former self.

"Well said, Dad!"

At that moment, another Nine-Tails in full armor rushed over, landing beside him. It braced its hands against the ninja sword in the Nine-Tails's hand, which was controlled by Minato, and advanced towards Obito. Naruto looked at Obito and said:

"You gave up on becoming Hokage and willingly succumbed to darkness. What makes you think you can compare to my Hokage father?!"

"Naruto? Hahaha~~"

Obito, single-handedly holding off four people and two imposing Nine-Tails, raised his head and laughed wildly, saying, "How could you, basking in the sunlight, possibly understand the will I forged in the darkness and cold of hell, tempered in agony?!"

"I didn't grow up bathed in sunlight; when it comes to darkness and pain, I've experienced just as much."

"Children always feel that they have experienced pain, but for adults, it is just a little bit of wind and snow, not even a grievance."

"Then let's give it a try! I'm determined to defeat you, Uchiha Obito!"

Naruto roared, controlling the Nine-Tails in its armor to unleash its power once more. This time, the blade, which had been unable to advance an inch, seemed to have undergone a slight change.

Minato, Tatsuma, and Sasuke all noticed this change and looked at Obito. Obito's face seemed to show a hint of daze, as if he was reminiscing about the name. Just then, Itachi, who had been lying in wait, suddenly moved.

Using the Body Flicker Technique, he climbed atop the Armored Nine-Tails, then stepped onto its shoulders, leaped high into the air, opened his eyes, and saw his Mangekyou Sharingan spinning.

"Kotoamatsukami! Radiance!"

A dazzling golden light burst forth from his eyes, instantly drawing everyone's attention, including Obito who had just regained his senses. For a moment, he seemed to have entered another world.

The blood moon in the sky transformed into a golden sun, spewing fire serpents as it hurtled toward Obito, seemingly intent on burning him to ashes.

"Stop joking!"

Obito's spirit fiercely resisted, but the powerful will that could even conquer the Ten-Tails allowed him to instantly break free from the control of the genjutsu.

The technique failed, and the backlash of chakra caused blood to gush from his eyes, but Itachi smiled before his eyelids flipped and fell, because...

"Click click click~"

The Heavenly Spear shattered, and the massive ninja sword, propelled by the two imposing Nine-Tails, sliced ​​through Obito's body.

The raging power of the tailed beasts overflowed from Obito's wounds, transforming into the shapes of monsters that struggled in agony, trying to break free from Obito's control.

"Everyone! Let's have one more tug-of-war!"

Naruto reached out his hand, and the Nine-Tails in its armor also reached out at the same time, transforming into ropes that pulled the tailed beasts. At that moment, his chakra resonated with Obito's chakra.

"Lin!!!"

Boundless pain surged in Naruto's heart. In his mental world, the scene of Rin's death played out. At this moment, Naruto and Obito felt the same way, and tears welled up in their eyes.

"So, do you still think your suffering is worth writing about in detail?"

Obito, his eyes glazed over, watched the scenes unfolding in his mental world and asked Naruto a question.

Pain is subjective; two people in the same situation may experience different kinds of pain from the same event.

If Naruto himself saw this scene, he might feel regret and sadness, but he would definitely not be in this much pain.

Because he didn't know Rin, he couldn't possibly feel the same pain as Obito.

But now, he truly empathizes with Obito. The pain that Obito felt, Naruto also feels now. This is a pain that Naruto has never experienced before.

Because he and Obito are ultimately different people, Naruto's optimism helps him control his pain and sorrow. No matter how painful the experience, all he thinks about is starting over.

People who have a vision for the future will not suffer to the point of despair.

But Obito chose to stop. He preserved his pain until the most unbearable moment, and for more than a decade, he has been struggling with this pain.

This pain, like aged wine, intensifies with time, and with the stimulation of Tatsuma's endless replays, it reaches a level that is unbearable for ordinary people.

At this moment, Naruto knelt on the ground in heartache, tears streaming down his face, his hands twisted and stiff as he scratched his body.

"Heartbreaking" is the best description of mental anguish, because when mental anguish accumulates to a certain degree, it can really be transferred into physical pain. This is what Naruto is feeling at this moment.

As Obito watched Naruto gradually succumb to pain, his face remaining numb without any change, he had to admit that Tatsuma's vicious plan was about to succeed.

If things continue like this, perhaps one day he will truly become indifferent to this experience. Perhaps when he forgets this pain and his feelings for Lin, he will be even more tormented.

But none of that matters anymore, because if Naruto succumbs to this, he will have won.

Pulling the tailed beast out of Obito's body is not something that can be done by force alone; the choice of person is also extremely important.

Now, the only one qualified is this boy in front of us, who is in unbearable pain, because he is the only one who has gained the recognition of all the tailed beasts.

That's why he can represent those tailed beasts and fight against himself.

"Such a world no longer has any reason to exist."

As if bewitched, Obito spoke, and because of the empathy brought about by resonance, Naruto actually felt a little in agreement.

Such a painful, hellish world... perhaps it really has no reason to exist.

But is this world really hell?

"No!"

Naruto looked up, his ugly face showing unwavering determination, and continued to deny it: "This isn't the real world! At least not the whole world!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the mental world that was constantly witnessing tragedies changed. A young man with scars on his face appeared, holding a birthday cake, smiling broadly, and said, "Naruto, happy birthday."

"Have some of this!"

A tall figure appeared, holding two popsicles, and smiling as he handed one of them to Naruto.

"I will come to your rescue when you are in danger."

A kind old man said with a smile, his eyes filled with hope.

"Naruto!"

"Naruto!"

A blond young man and a red-haired woman also appeared beside Naruto, their faces showing guilt, but even more so, love.

One figure after another appeared, but Naruto didn't respond. Instead, he looked at Obito and asked, "You've felt all of this too, haven't you? Or are you saying it's all an illusion?"

Naruto could feel Obito's pain, and at this moment, Obito could also feel Naruto's happiness. His numb face finally changed, and he opened his mouth, as if to say something.

But as more and more people appeared around him, the increasingly full feeling in his heart felt like a foreign object blocking his throat, preventing Obito from speaking.

Naruto slowly got up, wiped away the tears on his face, clenched his fist, lunged forward, and threw a punch at Obito.

"Wake up! Are you going to destroy something so beautiful too?! I won't allow it!"

"Bang!"

As Obito was sent flying backward, amidst the dizzying spin, he seemed to see those faces that had once radiated kindness.

Grandma, Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, Kakashi Hatake, Rin Nohara

"I'm so tired. Do I really have to live like this?"

Obito began to feel tired and weak. Surrounded by these people, he seemed to lose sight of the tragedies. He wanted to sleep.

In his spiritual world, he was no longer the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki Obito, but became the scarless, weak but happy Uchiha Obito.

It turns out that there's a vulnerable side hidden within me; perhaps he's the real Obito Uchiha.

The person I am now is merely a layer of armor protecting the vulnerable version of myself from the past.

"What do you want? I'll make it happen for you. I'm very strong now, I can do anything."

The moment he closed his eyes, Obito seemed to enter a deeper spiritual world, facing his former self, and he asked a question.

Obito thought for a moment and said, "I want my grandmother to live a long and healthy life, and then... gain everyone's recognition and become Hokage!"

So that's how it is? I didn't actually have her in my heart.

Obito loosened his grip, releasing what he had been holding so tightly, something that seemed to have been empty all along.

Outside, Tatsuma watched as Naruto pulled the tailed beast out of Obito's body and smiled.

"Ding~ Special talents [Creation +20%], [Genesis +20%], pick them up?"

(End of this chapter)