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Chapter 22: Oborotsuki: Just Wait and Watch My Performance!
Oborotsuki's question snapped Konan out of her thoughts.
She jolted back to reality but didn't speak—instead, she turned toward the doorway.
Sunlight streaming through the roof cast the silhouette of a tall figure against the door.
Just from the outline of that neat, short haircut, she knew who it was.
"Oborotsuki."
"Madara wants you to come see him."
Sure enough, Deva Path's voice came from outside.
Oborotsuki and Konan exchanged a glance. Then, acting casual, Oborotsuki walked over and opened the door.
Konan used the moment to compose herself, her face returning to its usual calm.
The door opened. Deva Path's gaze swept inside, naturally landing on the lunch box Konan was holding in front of her abdomen with both hands.
"Konan, come with me."
"We're heading out on a mission."
With that, Pain's Deva Path turned expressionlessly and left.
"Wait."
"Konan-senpai is going with you?"
Oborotsuki froze.
"The teams have been reassigned. From now on, I'll be operating with Konan. The others will pair up separately."
"You'll be working with Madara."
Deva Path offered no further explanation—his words were brief and to the point.
Hearing this, Oborotsuki immediately understood: Obito was about to launch the Nine-Tails attack on Konoha.
"Time really flew by…"
He muttered inwardly, then turned to look at Konan.
Just in time—he caught the fleeting flicker of unease in her eyes.
He instantly realized what it meant.
"Akatsuki's goal is to collect all nine tailed beasts and then cast Infinite Tsukuyomi…"
"If they find out Konan is pregnant now, Nagato will never allow her to keep the child."
"And Obito definitely won't agree either."
"With how ruthless that guy is, he might even put Konan in danger…"
The thought made Oborotsuki glance instinctively at her abdomen again.
It looked like—after meeting with Uchiha Madara—he'd need to find a way to get Konan out of here.
Noticing her anxiety, Oborotsuki quickly formed a plan.
…
Soon, Oborotsuki arrived alone at the sealed chamber and met Uchiha Obito.
The man seemed a little impatient. As soon as Oborotsuki entered, Obito spoke:
"Come with me now."
"Huh? Right now?"
Oborotsuki was genuinely stunned.
"Problem?"
"No, just wondering where we're going… and why the rush…"
"You'll find out when we get there."
Obito offered no explanation. He activated Kamui, pulling both himself and Oborotsuki into the vortex—then they vanished.
Plans really couldn't keep up with changes.
This sudden development ruined Oborotsuki's intention to move Konan to safety ahead of time.
…
Land of Fire, Konoha Hidden Village.
A blood moon hung in the sky. The peaceful village of Konoha was already cloaked in darkness, lights dimmed, silence reigning.
At this moment, on the cliff behind the Hokage Rock.
A swirling vortex tore open the air. Two figures appeared simultaneously atop the cliff.
If this weren't the dead of night in a deserted place, anyone witnessing it would have thought they'd seen ghosts.
"Why bring me here?"
Oborotsuki curiously scanned the surroundings.
His gaze finally settled on the massive blood moon hanging high overhead—and his heart tightened.
"So it's tonight…"
He realized Obito's operation was beginning.
"Oborotsuki, did you memorize the Konoha defense layout and sentry positions I gave you earlier?"
Obito asked instead of answering.
"I… think so?"
Oborotsuki nodded hesitantly. Seeing how unreliable he looked, a cold glint flashed deep in Obito's eyes.
But his face remained impassive.
"Whether you can become a core member of Akatsuki depends entirely on your performance tonight."
Obito said calmly.
"What exactly do you want me to do?"
"Jump down from here and attack Konoha?"
Oborotsuki leaned over the edge and looked down. It was quite a drop.
"I want you to cover me."
Obito replied.
"How do I cover you?"
"Follow the defense layout I gave you earlier. Eliminate the guards. And do your best to draw their main forces to this side. I'll set up a large number of traps here."
"This mission sounds pretty challenging… I like it! Just wait and watch me perform, Madara-san! Let's turn Konoha upside down together!"
Oborotsuki became excited. He glanced at the materials Obito had given him earlier, confirmed the layout, then—shouldering the Decapitation Greatsword—leaped away in a flash and vanished.
"…Enjoy your final battle."
Watching Oborotsuki disappear, a contemptuous sneer came from beneath Obito's spiral mask.
Then he too activated Kamui and vanished.
…
Outside Konoha, in a distant barrier.
Suddenly, the cry of a newborn shattered the silence of the night.
On a tree branch stood Obito, kunai still dripping blood in his hand. He coldly watched Uzumaki Kushina, Sarutobi Biwako, and the freshly born Uzumaki Naruto inside the barrier.
"At last… he's born."
Obito's eyes swiftly turned a cruel scarlet. The Mangekyō Sharingan spun as he prepared to strike.
But at that moment, a series of dense explosions erupted continuously around the outskirts of Konoha.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM…
Violent blasts, accompanied by towering flames, spread rapidly toward this location.
Faintly, countless sounds of breaking air could be heard.
"Damn it!"
"That kid really is unreliable! He actually led them straight here…"
A flicker passed through Obito's eyes. Without another word, he flashed forward—passing through the barrier in the next instant and appearing beside Kushina and Biwako.
Biwako didn't even have time to react before Obito's kunai pierced her heart.
But just as he reached for the infant Naruto falling from Biwako's arms, he felt a sudden gust of wind brush past.
And the baby in front of him… vanished.
Obito: "…!?"
"Sensei…?"
That familiar technique made Obito's heart jolt.
If Minato appeared, his plan might be ruined!
"Who are you!!"
Everything happened in the blink of an eye.
The weakened Kushina finally reacted, shouting in fury.
Her shout snapped Obito back to the present.
Since that was the case—act now!
Without hesitation, he leaped forward, undoing the already loosened seal on Kushina and decisively releasing the Nine-Tails.
Instantly, a heaven-shaking roar echoed. An overwhelming wave of chakra pressure surged outward, blanketing several kilometers around them.
"Perish together with Konoha…"
Obito looked up at the Nine-Tails he had just unleashed. Activating his Mangekyō genjutsu, he summoned the beast directly into Konoha Village.
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