Chapter 378

Whether it was Limited Tsukuyomi or Infinite Tsukuyomi, both were reflections of the real world—mirrored planes of reality.

Just like how many under Obito's rule believed it to be:

You could say it was real.

But what even is the definition of real and fake?

If everything you see, hear, touch, smell, and feel is indistinguishable from reality…

Then it is real.

However, there's one difference—it's unstable.

The world of Tsukuyomi is like the reflection on a lake. All logic and detail might make sense.

But throw in a single pebble, and the ripples it causes can shake the entire illusion.

And if that pebble is a massive meteor?

BOOM!

The lake surface would be completely torn apart!

That's what Gensou and his team did in Obito's world—they dropped a meteor into it.

One second it seemed like a genuine world, and the next, it shattered into nothing.

That is the true difference between the real world and the Tsukuyomi world.

Not truth vs. illusion—

But stability.

So, if the Limited Tsukuyomi world could be made entirely stable, would it then become indistinguishable from the real world?

As Gensou was endlessly traveling through time and space under the Dragon Vein's influence, he realized this. And thus began his careful planning.

The Dragon Vein is a massive structure that spans countless parallel worlds.

Each world already has its set position in the sequence—it cannot be changed.

But if a new world, one outside of that sequence and yet influenced by the Dragon Vein, were to emerge…

Then it would mean breaking the order—escaping the cycle, no longer bound by the Dragon Vein's traditional time-space traversal.

Especially if this world had deep ties to Gensou's original world.

If Gensou activated the Dragon Vein's power, there was a high probability he could return to the original world.

But one problem remained: how to fully stabilize the Limited Tsukuyomi world and make it no different from reality.

He stared at the nine tomoe crystal sphere in his hand, representing that world.

How do you turn a blank sheet of paper black?

By dropping a single, dense drop of ink upon it.

And right now, Gensou had two such drops.

The first—was a segment of the Dragon Vein under his control.

By tearing open a corner of it and pulling it into the Limited Tsukuyomi world, he could grant it the same "qualifications" as a real world.

Under the ongoing influence of the fully-formed Dragon Vein, this world would eventually become an indispensable part of its sequence, like any other parallel world.

Though this would take a long time.

Thankfully, Gensou had a second drop of ink—

The Kaguya from the original world.

By sealing her inside the Limited Tsukuyomi world, even if everything was fake, the presence of a Six Paths-level being would create something out of nothing—turning illusion into truth.

In this way, not only would the threat be neutralized, but he could use the stabilized world to return to the real one—two birds with one stone.

Now, it was time to put this plan to the test.

ROAR!!

The Dragon Vein let out a thunderous howl.

At that moment, under Gensou's will, the Dragon Vein of their current world surged into his body, making him the temporary Jinchūriki of the Dragon Vein.

And that wasn't the end.

Every Dragon Vein from the countless worlds he had marked with Ruler of All Things also let out a collective cry, instinctively sending their chakra through time and space to him.

Very soon, an overwhelming amount of Dragon Vein chakra, enough to shatter any ordinary Jinchūriki, poured into Gensou.

But Gensou accepted it calmly.

He had no limits.

The Dragon Veins did.

Not long after, nearly all the Dragon Vein chakra he had gathered was now within him.

This was what he meant by prying open a corner of the completed Dragon Vein.

Everything was ready.

Gensou gave one final look at the Sage of Six Paths and Kaguya, said nothing, and crushed the nine tomoe crystal sphere in his hand—the same kind of sphere Obito once used to transmit his real body into the Tsukuyomi world.

FLASH!

Dazzling white light erupted from the broken sphere.

"Come," Gensou said calmly, "Let us return to everything I've experienced. Let us return to the final moment."

He stood still as the white light engulfed him, along with the Sage of Six Paths and Kaguya.

Moments later, the light faded.

The three were gone.

And so was the Dragon Vein.

...

Woooo~

A train's high-pitched whistle sounded in the distance.

Gensou opened his eyes. In the distance, he saw a long train puffing out white steam, slowly chugging away.

He smirked.

He was back.

Beside him, Kaguya and the Sage, now possessing Naruto, were also present.

They understood well what the Tsukuyomi world was built upon and curiously observed this recreated realm.

But Gensou didn't give them time.

A black portal opened before him.

With one step, he entered.

On the other side was a battlefield left in ruins—his other self lay there, eyes closed, waiting for death.

As if no time had passed at all.

No person or object had changed.

The dying "Gensou" heard the noise and snapped his eyes open, pupils shrinking in shock:

"You…"

Seeing his real self, dressed like that, and the familiar black portal behind him—it didn't take long for him to figure it out.

But what confused him was—why did he come back?

"I need to make this world indistinguishable from the real one. And for that, I need a genuine anchor," Gensou said directly, looking at the other version of himself.

Strictly speaking, he wasn't someone from this world.

To fulfill his final objective, he needed a fully integrated identity in this realm—one willing to serve as his true self.

"I understand!"

The other "Gensou" froze, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Go on! Live on with everything I have! You are me, and I am you! Only then can this world cease to be a falsehood!"

He tilted his head back.

A soul of radiant light shot from his body, straight toward the real Gensou.

Once, he had hoped to make illusion into reality. That dream hadn't been a lie.

If he could occupy the real Gensou's body, fully fuse with it, and return to the real world as the Limited Tsukuyomi ended, then he had a chance.

But he had overestimated himself and lost to the real one.

Yet now, understanding what Gensou intended—and knowing he wouldn't speak lies—he willingly gave him everything.

To let this world he had lived in for so long, and grown so fond of, remain untouched by pebbles or meteors—he was glad to do it.

Besides, it wasn't a sacrifice.

Gensou was himself.

And in that, it was more like a continuation.

With hope for this world in his heart, the "Gensou" smiled and faded away completely.

Now having fully inherited the other Gensou's identity, memories, emotions—everything—Gensou slowly opened his eyes and looked to the sky.

He could feel it. Because he and the others were no longer considered intruders, and due to his Six Paths-level power, the subtle suppression this world once had over him was completely gone.

Another piece of the puzzle for victory had fallen into place.

Then—

Let the final act begin.

(End of Chapter)

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