Konan hesitated for a moment, wanting to say something.
But she opened her mouth and ultimately didn't say it.
She knew that even if she spoke, Nagato wouldn't listen at this time.
In her view, Takumi was the one who truly inherited the will of the Akatsuki.
But now, Takumi was on opposing grounds with them.
Speaking up for him now would only make others doubt her loyalty to the Akatsuki.
Especially right after two members had defected.
She knew now was not the time to advise.
But she believed there would definitely be an opportunity in the future.
She silently retreated, transforming into countless papers and flying to her own room.
She needed to treat Obito's injuries.
But when she returned to her room, she didn't see Obito.
This puzzled her.
So where did Obito go?
Of course, to his secret base.
How could someone as cautious as Obito let others treat his wounds?
The person he chose was naturally White Zetsu.
With their abundant Wood Release Chakra, the White Zetsu had a unique advantage in treating injuries.
Back then, half his body was crushed by rocks, and he was still saved by the White Zetsu.
This fully demonstrated how outstanding the White Zetsu's treatment abilities were.
"Your injury looks kind of familiar."
Tobi watched from the side, bored. "But I'd like to try it too, the feeling of bleeding."
But unfortunately, this was just Tobi's wishful thinking.
Just like how he wanted to experiment with how humans defecated.
Unfortunately, he was essentially a plant, not an animal, so bleeding wasn't possible for him.
Naturally, he couldn't defecate either.
This was the regret of Tobi and all White Zetsu.
"This burn... I remember now!"
Tobi suddenly slapped his palm. "It was that kid Deidara, right!!"
"But that's not right! How could Deidara hurt you? And how could you possibly be injured by Deidara?"
Tobi tilted his head, utterly puzzled.
He couldn't figure out how Obito, with his Kamui, could have been hurt.
"Deidara has defected."
Obito said flatly, as casually as if he were saying he had a sandwich for breakfast this morning.
"I see."
Tobi looked enlightened, then suddenly his eyes widened. "Defected?!"
Seeing Obito's calm expression, Tobi couldn't understand how he could be so composed.
In fact, Obito had already gone through the shock.
Or rather, ever since Sasori's betrayal, he had been mentally prepared for others, especially Deidara, to betray him.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have attacked Deidara earlier and knocked him unconscious.
It was actually to prevent Deidara from betraying him and stabbing him in the back upon seeing Takumi.
Although, as it turned out, Deidara still betrayed him and stabbed him in the back.
But this outcome was within Obito's expectations; only the injury was unexpected.
However, at that time, his attention was focused on Takumi. While scheming to drive Takumi away, he had been a bit careless.
Otherwise, he should have noticed the anomaly behind him.
Anyway, no matter how he thought about it, Deidara's betrayal was a done deal.
Thinking about it now was useless.
"Treat me quickly, then have Black Zetsu find the whereabouts of the other Tailed Beasts as soon as possible."
Obito said calmly, a White Zetsu treating him behind his back.
Facing the White Zetsu's somewhat rough treatment, he remained expressionless.
After all these years, he had gotten used to their rudeness.
"He's busy with that. He also knows the situation is tense now."
Tobi waved his hand. "Let's talk about that guy Deidara. Why did he betray us?"
"Why did he betray us?"
Obito snorted coldly. "You should ask why it took him so long to betray."
Thinking about it, Obito became angry.
That guy Deidara was like an obsessed fan meeting his idol; he couldn't move when he saw Takumi.
Ever since witnessing Takumi's mysterious and bizarre explosive ninjutsu, he had unilaterally regarded Takumi as his life's idol.
Every time they saw Takumi, the other Akatsuki's members had to worry about whether Deidara would immediately defect.
"Uh..."
Tobi's simple thought process couldn't keep up with Obito's words.
He sat there as if frozen, pondering Obito's words.
But he was ultimately a plant and didn't have much of a brain.
He couldn't understand things that are too complicated.
And forcing himself to think about things he couldn't understand, aside from overloading his brain, had no effect.
"Who will be next?"
Obito narrowed his eye.
He seemed to have some premonition.
Deidara's betrayal might not be the end.
But the beginning.
After all, the members of the Akatsuki were brought together absolutely not out of loyalty.
They all joined the Akatsuki for their own respective purposes.
Obito knew this very well in his heart.
He was just wondering who the next to betray would be.
The remaining Akatsuki's members flashed through his mind one by one.
Then, he quickly identified a few candidates.
Kakuzu, who loved money as much as life; Hidan, who believed in the Jashin; and Itachi, who was himself a spy.
These three were his current suspects.
But Itachi's probability was the lowest among the three.
Because even if Itachi betrayed the Akatsuki, he couldn't return to Konoha.
What Itachi had done in Konoha back then had made him intolerable to the villagers.
The great crime of massacring comrades was not something that could be easily washed away.
"We must hurry..."
Obito murmured, his gaze gradually becoming firm.
For the sake of a world where Rin lives!
No matter how much sacrifice it cost him, he was willing.
…
Leisurely taking two days to return to Konoha,
Takumi led Hinata and the others to the Hokage's Office to report.
"I see, you've worked hard."
After listening to Takumi's account, Hiruzen immediately looked at them with concern, or rather at Takumi in the middle.
Hiruzen no longer cared much about the mission.
He just hoped Takumi wouldn't have any accidents.
In his heart, Takumi was already his designated next Hokage candidate, bar none.
Although this didn't fit his usual personality,
But after experiencing so many things, especially during the Joint Chunin Exams when everyone watched him get beaten up by Orochimaru and only Takumi stepped forward to save him,
He had already made up his mind.
Throughout Konoha, only Takumi was the one who truly cared about him.
Everyone else only cared because he was the Hokage.
When it came to life-and-death moments, they just sat on the sidelines and watched.
He had seen through it all.
But now was not the time for him to step down.
He would forge Konoha into an iron bucket and then completely hand it over to Takumi.
"I'm very sorry, the Three-Tails was still taken away by the Akatsuki."
Takumi lowered his head, his face full of shame.