After saying that, Black Zetsu slammed into the ground with a dull bang and didn't move again, as if he were already dead.
This instantly made Obito anxious.
Just moments ago, in front of Uchiha Hikaru, the face beneath his mask had already flushed red with rage.
Black Zetsu collapsing like this became the final straw that shattered Obito's restraint completely.
"Get in there!"
As he shouted, he didn't forget to grab Black Zetsu and hurl him straight into the laboratory's nutrient tank.
If Uchiha Hikaru knew that Obito had developed such terrifying emotional self-control and managerial "competence," he would probably feel a little sad.
Because the Obito who used to blush at the slightest provocation was already gone.
A boy's blush means everything—but time erodes it. It fades, twists, and eventually disappears.
Until what remains becomes an indescribable existence, a face swollen wider than sky, sea, and earth alike.
The fun is gone forever.
Obito paced back and forth before the nutrient tank, watching as Black Zetsu's body gradually stabilized and slowly crawled out of the glass container.
"Well?" Obito asked coldly. "Did you get the Rinnegan?"
Now that he had calmed down, his tone was eerily composed. For a fleeting moment, he carried the same oppressive mystery as the white-masked figure from legend.
Black Zetsu opened his mouth… then closed it again, unable to find the words.
Several long seconds passed.
Then—
Smack!
A sharp slap landed across Black Zetsu's face.
Before he could react, another slap followed immediately, fast as lightning.
Pia!
To properly "thank" his number-one ally—the legendary Brother Tuzi, strong beyond measure, firm of will, yet unable to hide his tears—Black Zetsu involuntarily performed a full midair spin before crashing back down.
"Why can't you talk?" Obito snapped.
"Opening and closing your mouth like a goldfish—what, only got a seven-second memory?"
"Or did Nagato crush your vocal cords along with everything else?!"
Black Zetsu staggered to his feet. His head buzzed, and his heart overflowed with suffocating frustration.
You… you dare hit me?!
Even my mother never hit me!
How dare you, Uchiha Obito?!
Mother… I miss you so much. When will these days finally end…
Black Zetsu forcibly suppressed his rage, repeating to himself over and over that Mother is the only one worth everything in this world.
"The Rinnegan couldn't be taken," he finally said, voice hoarse.
"Nagato is far stronger than expected. I didn't anticipate that he had already mastered Six Paths–level techniques."
Obito fell silent.
The silence was the same as that day—when he went to Rin's house and saw Kakashi's sandals at the entrance.
Even if he already knew the answer, he wouldn't stop until he saw the ending with his own eyes.
Until he opened that door.
All that remained afterward was the sound of a heart shattering—and a famous blade breaking.
Back then, Obito had stared at Kakashi and Rin's backs, drowning in grief and fury.
"Kakashi… slow down. Don't hurt Rin."
That was Obito.
A clown who wouldn't give up until he reached the river—and even after reaching it, wouldn't stop until he drowned.
When he saw Black Zetsu return half-dead, he already knew the attempt to seize the Rinnegan had failed.
But he still had to ask.
Just like when Rin abandoned him—he still roared at her:
"Where am I inferior to Kakashi?!"
Rin had smiled faintly, with unmistakable contempt.
"Nowhere."
That was Obito.
He couldn't even feel his own tears when he cried.
Because his will was so extreme that his body automatically entered a hollow state—tears simply stopped registering.
I'm so strong that I can't even hide my tears…
In the end, he could only use genjutsu to deceive himself.
Yet even in illusion, he didn't dare create a world where only he and Rin existed.
He merely constructed a place where he could stand beside Kakashi and Rin.
Pathetic.
…Heh.
Obito looked at Black Zetsu, still dazed from the blow, and felt the rage coiled in his chest finally disperse. It was as if he had entered a strange state of clarity.
Turning his back to Black Zetsu, he spoke flatly.
"Forget it. It was only an attempt. Failure doesn't matter."
"I've already declared war on the entire ninja world. The Fourth Ninja World War has begun."
"When the time comes, we'll draw all ninjas to the designated battlefield and revive the Ten-Tails."
"It will all end there."
With that, Obito vanished into thin air.
Black Zetsu remained alone, staring blankly for a long time before silently crawling back into the nutrient tank.
Uchiha Obito… you little brat.
You're using me as an outlet for your anger, aren't you?
If I didn't still need that body… how could I tolerate such humiliation?!
Just wait. I've changed my mind.
I won't use Madara's body as the sacrifice anymore.
I'll use yours instead, Obito—your living body—as the medium to resurrect my mother.
I won't even let you qualify to enter the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
...
At the Rain Country Ninja Association headquarters, once it was confirmed that Obito had left, Nagato arrived shortly afterward.
What he saw left him momentarily speechless.
The assembled leaders were calmer than ever, united as if nothing had happened—model representatives of the Ninja Association.
"Nagato, you're here," Uchiha Hikaru said calmly.
"Nothing major happened. How was it on your side?"
Nagato raised an eyebrow and glanced at the massive hole punched straight through the center of the round table.
…This didn't exactly look like nothing.
"Hikaru—President," Nagato corrected himself.
"Black Zetsu attempted to attack me and take my eyes."
"That's right," Hikaru waved casually. "If anything goes wrong, I'll handle it."
Nagato nodded.
"Black Zetsu was weaker than expected. He retreated after only a few exchanges."
"It's a shame—I couldn't capture him alive. He escaped too quickly."
Hikaru looked at Nagato's clearly dissatisfied expression and nearly laughed.
You old man with thick brows and serious eyes…
You're not regretting letting him escape.
You're annoyed you didn't get a proper fight, aren't you? (￣▽￣)
"Didn't catch him?" Hikaru said aloud.
"That's unfortunate, but it's not your fault. That thing specializes in escaping."
"As long as you're fine, that's what matters."
"Come," he added. "Let's sit down."
After further discussion, the entire ninja world officially agreed to unite and confront the coming Fourth Ninja World War together.
President of the Ninja Alliance — Uchiha Hikaru
Chief of Staff — Ōnoki
Deputy Chiefs of Staff — Tsunade, Mei Terumi, Rasa
Commander of the Allied Forces — A
Alongside specialized divisions: intelligence units, infiltration and reconnaissance teams, and surprise assault forces.
Once the core structure was finalized, the Allied Shinobi Forces adopted a unified forehead protector—bearing only a single character:
忍
A symbol of all shinobi, setting aside differences to move forward together.
The Ninja Alliance was officially established.