Drip… drip…
Cold condensed water seeped from the cave walls, falling into shallow puddles below.
The space inside the cave gradually twisted into a vortex, as though a calm water surface had been stirred by an invisible hand.
Silently, a black figure emerged.
Black hair similar to Uchiha Madara's in his lifetime framed the figure's head, yet his face was covered by an orange one-eyed mask with black patterns, exposing only a single cold scarlet Sharingan.
"..."
The moment Uchiha Obito entered the cave, the thick smell of blood hit him.
His eyes narrowed instantly as he looked ahead.
What he saw was Nagato's mobility-support apparatus, completely empty.
Fresh crimson blood still stained the surface of the device, while the ground beneath it had been soaked dark red.
"What happened?"
Zetsu emerged halfway from the earth and froze upon seeing the scene.
Without question, Nagato had encountered trouble.
"My, my~ Has 'Madara-sama' returned?"
Just as unease and anger began rising within Obito, a cheerful voice utterly out of place with the current atmosphere suddenly rang out behind him.
Hearing it, Obito spun around sharply and saw White Zetsu Obito peeking out from the shadows of the cave tunnel.
He still had that innocent, harmless demeanor, one finger resting against where his lips should be.
Yet Obito suddenly felt an intense and indescribable sense of wrongness.
"Obito!"
His hoarse, low voice emerged from behind the mask, cold enough to freeze blood solid.
"Where is Nagato? What happened here?"
Before leaving, hadn't Zetsu ordered Obito to guard Nagato?
So why was Nagato gone while Obito still remained here?
"Eh? Nagato?"
Obito tilted his spiral-shaped head as though pondering how to answer.
Just as Obito impatiently stepped forward, the voice suddenly changed.
'Isn't Nagato standing right in front of you?'
The cold words came from within Obito's body itself.
Then, under Obito's rapidly shrinking pupils, the spiral-shaped head bloomed open like pale flower petals.
Those deep Rinnegan eyes, like bottomless pools, stared emotionlessly into his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Under the oppressive gaze of those Rinnegan, Obito's expression beneath the mask stiffened instantly.
"Nagato… it's you…"
The skin on his face twitched.
"You can stand now?"
"Yes. And I have you to thank for that."
Nagato slowly stepped completely out from the shadows.
Only then did Obito and Zetsu finally notice the black rods still embedded in his back.
Nagato lowered his head to glance at this body now capable of freely walking the earth.
A trace of complicated emotion flickered across his eyes before quickly vanishing as he coldly raised his head toward the so-called "Madara."
"What did you do to Obito?"
Obito recovered his composure and asked in a low voice:
"What exactly happened?"
"Nothing much."
Nagato answered calmly.
"I fought Hanzo and was injured. This White Zetsu named Obito helped me."
"And now it has willingly chosen to stay attached to me."
Willingly…
Nearby, Half-Black Zetsu twitched at the corner of his mouth.
He knew perfectly well Nagato was speaking complete nonsense.
With Obito's hyperactive and restless personality, there was no way it would obediently become a tool and remain worn by Nagato all day.
Nagato had clearly used some method to control Obito and prevent it from escaping.
"You…"
Obito had clearly guessed the truth as well.
He frowned and opened his mouth to speak, but Nagato interrupted him first.
"This White Zetsu allows me to walk freely now. Future operations will become much more convenient."
Nagato clenched his hand experimentally before looking toward Obito with a faint smile.
"As the true leader of Akatsuki, surely you won't mind losing a mere White Zetsu, correct?"
'A mere White Zetsu?'
It was an extremely important special individual with vital abilities.
'Yet this damned Nagato had simply stolen it away!'
Obito's expression beneath the mask instantly darkened.
Yet he could not voice rejection or opposition.
Because he could clearly see the coldness in Nagato's eyes.
He understood Nagato had become angry over the concealment of White Zetsu's abilities.
Perhaps even to the point of nearly turning against him completely.
Obito truly had never wanted Nagato to regain the ability to walk.
In his eyes, Nagato was merely the vessel for those eyes and only needed to fulfill his role as a tool.
That was why he had hidden White Zetsu's true value from Nagato and never used a White Zetsu body to replace Nagato's ruined legs.
But now…
His hopes had clearly failed.
"Of course I don't mind. It's only a White Zetsu."
Obito forcibly suppressed the frustration within him and resumed his usual calm demeanor.
"I simply never expected it could allow you to stand again. Congratulations."
Hearing this, Nagato looked deeply at him.
Unconsciously, the words of "Shadow" echoed through his mind again.
If it had been the old, deceived Nagato, he would never have harbored even the slightest suspicion.
In fact, throughout his past interactions with "Madara," Nagato had always occupied the lower position.
The true leader of Akatsuki had actually been "Madara."
But now, after Arata's manipulations and the influence of that figure atop the mountain of corpses…
The more Nagato looked at the current "Madara," the more suspicious he appeared.
No, not merely suspicious.
Artificial.
As though desperately imitating another person's aura while utterly lacking that person's spirit and presence.
Only capable of copying the voice and appearance.
'Could it really be as 'Shadow' said…?'
'That this man is not Uchiha Madara at all?'
A shadow darkened Nagato's eyes.
"By the way."
Obito, increasingly unsettled beneath Nagato's stare and afraid of revealing flaws, forcibly changed the subject.
"What happened with Hanzo and Amegakure?"
"Hanzo has agreed to cooperate. He has officially joined Akatsuki."
Nagato spoke casually.
"..."
Obito fell silent again.
After a moment, he finally asked in confusion: "You mean… cooperate? Join?"
'Cooperate with the man responsible for Yahiko's death?'
'Make peace with the Hanzo you always hated?'
"Yes."
Nagato nodded calmly.
"Konan has also been assigned to assist Hanzo at his side."
"Now that I've regained mobility, I no longer require Konan beside me."
"In future operations, Amegakure will operate in the open while Akatsuki remains in the shadows. It benefits us more this way…"
Obito and Zetsu both stood frozen.
Listening to Nagato calmly discuss these matters, they genuinely felt as though they had fallen under a genjutsu.
What in the world happened while they were gone?!
Not only had Nagato failed to kill Hanzo,
He had recruited Hanzo into Akatsuki!
He had even sent Konan to Hanzo's side?!
They had only been gone for a single day.
Yet somehow everything felt completely different.
As though everything had slipped beyond their control.
"Wait, Nagato!"
Obito finally could not hold back any longer and interrupted him.
"Are you certain Hanzo can be trusted? He colluded with Danzo!"
"You should understand I would never joke about our plan."
Nagato's tone remained utterly flat.
"Relax. His life is now in my hands."
Hearing this, Obito found himself speechless once again.
The strange discomfort in his chest remained, but he also understood Nagato would never joke about such matters.
Though he still could not understand why Nagato spared Hanzo, Nagato had clearly grasped Hanzo's lifeline rather than gone insane.
The situation… was still under control.
"Though the process encountered some complications, Amegakure now belongs to us."
Looking at Obito, who had visibly relaxed, Nagato continued calmly:
"According to our original agreement, it's time to help fulfill your wish."
"So, what do we do next?"
Seeing Nagato still remembered their agreement, Obito suppressed the turbulence in his emotions and forced himself calm.
Forget it.
With the ninja world already descending into chaos, Nagato regaining mobility would only better ensure the plan proceeded smoothly.
No matter what, their goals remained aligned.
Both sought the Nine Tailed Beasts.
Just as Nagato turned a blind eye to many of Obito's actions, as long as Nagato continued pursuing the tailed beasts, Obito would also compromise and avoid openly breaking with him.
Though their ultimate goals differed and conflict between them was inevitable,
Now was not yet the time.
"First, we recruit members for Akatsuki."
Obito took the initiative again and continued according to the original plan:
"Besides me, we should recruit ten more people."
"Currently, Akatsuki consists of you, Konan, Zetsu…"
"And Hanzo," Nagato added before asking,
"Why don't you count yourself?"
"..."
A vein bulged on Obito's forehead beneath the mask.
Suppressing his growing irritation and unease, he replied:
"When the time is right, I will naturally join. Until then, you will lead Akatsuki."
This was clearly a declaration of authority.
Nagato paid it no mind.
His expression remained calm.
"I currently have two candidates in mind."
Obito raised two fingers.
"First, Kakuzu, the immortal ninja who stole Takigakure's forbidden techniques."
"And second, Sasori, the puppet genius who betrayed Sunagakure."
"Those two…"
Nagato nodded slightly, already familiar with some of their reputations.
"Acceptable. They are qualified to join Akatsuki."
"Hanzo and Konan can recruit them."
Hearing this, Obito frowned tightly.
"You won't go personally?"
"I also have someone in mind."
Nagato's tone remained calm as he looked toward Zetsu beside Obito.
"You mentioned earlier that a very powerful 'monster' appeared in the Land of Hot Water, correct?"
At those words, Black Zetsu, who had been maintaining his silent persona, suddenly opened his eyes wide.
An ominous premonition instantly surged within him.
"Previously, I was curious what sort of person could be called a 'monster' by Zetsu."
"But because I lacked mobility at the time, I had no choice but to set that curiosity aside."
Exactly as Black Zetsu feared, Nagato continued: "Now that I can move freely again, I intend to meet this so-called monster…"
"…and see whether he qualifies to join Akatsuki."
"No!"
Before Nagato could finish speaking, a hoarse voice abruptly interrupted him.