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Orochimaru used a soul-based medical ninjutsu on Nagato. Those legs, which even Impure World Reincarnation could not restore to full mobility, were finally made whole again under Orochimaru's skillful hands.
Nagato took a step forward. The feeling of lightness, completely free of any stiffness, made him unconsciously quicken his pace. From a slow walk to a jog, to a full sprint!
Step. Jog. Sprint.
Orochimaru and the others understood Nagato's feelings.
They arrived at the coastline of the island. Nagato stood upon the reef, gazing at the vast, churning sea.
"After my legs were crippled by Hanzo, I developed the 'Six Paths of Pain' technique to compensate for my lack of mobility," Nagato said, looking at his own cracked, fissured palms with a tinge of melancholy. "But Pain had its limits. It empowered me, yet it also shackled me. This body is immortal. Its chakra is inexhaustible. Only sealing can truly counter it. And now, my weakness in mobility is gone. To think… my true peak would only be reached after death…"
Beside Orochimaru, Kabuto couldn't help his curiosity. "How strong is Nagato now?"
Orochimaru said, "I can only say this: the current Sasuke is no match for Nagato. If they were still enemies, Nagato would be more than qualified to serve as the 'final gatekeeper' for the tenth battle."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, lowering his gaze in thought. "So… Sasuke's tenth opponent must be at least on Nagato's current level? Honestly… besides Madara and Hashirama, I can't imagine who could possibly qualify. But those two… they won't return to this world, will they?"
…
At the Akatsuki's lair. On the chest of the Gedo Statue, where Madara had once cultivated the Hashirama clone, white tendrils snaked from its back, connected directly to Obito's heart. This was the contingency plan Obito had devised at death's door—a way to both sustain his life and use the Hashirama cells to repair his shattered heart.
Glug… glug… glug…
With every pulse of the tendrils, Obito's heart was passively stimulated. It started faint, but as the myocardium regenerated, the heartbeat grew steady and strong.
His left eye, blinded from using Izanagi, had already been removed.
Beside him, Tobi whispered provocatively, "That Sasuke Uchiha has gotten ridiculously strong. He gained near-perfect Hashirama power through Orochimaru. Obito, even if you absorb the Hashirama clone Madara left behind, your usable Wood Style power won't surpass Sasuke's. Maa~ If you wore me, maybe you could compete with him in Wood Style… But your left eye is blind. You can't unleash the full power of the Sharingan's paired eyes. That's a big problem…"
Obito had his own unique perspective. "It doesn't matter how strong he gets. What do momentary victories and defeats mean? The one who laughs last is the true winner."
"As long as the Infinite Tsukuyomi can be successfully cast, the threat of Sasuke Uchiha will be effortlessly resolved! Once my heart is fully healed, I will immediately transplant the Rinnegan into my left eye! By then, Kisame should have brought back the Eight-Tails. After sealing it, the statue will only need the Nine-Tails' chakra to become the Ten-Tails!"
Tobi pinched his chin. "Hmmm… But Naruto's whereabouts are still completely unknown."
The corner of Obito's mouth lifted. "I have a good idea where Naruto is."
"Oh? Where? The White Zetsu have scoured the entire ninja world and found nothing!"
Obito spoke with certainty. "The fact that he can evade the White Zetsu's detection proves he is not in the ninja world anymore! He must be under the protection of the Sannin, Jiraiya! Jiraiya has close ties to the remote holy land, Mount Myōboku. Naruto is undoubtedly there!"
"Mount Myōboku, huh… The amphibians that live there aren't exactly pushovers."
"What of it?" Obito raised a hand to his empty left eye socket. "Once I transplant the Rinnegan, I will command the Gedo Statue, raze Mount Myōboku to the ground, and capture Naruto Uzumaki alive!!"
Swish, swish, swish!
Just then, a White Zetsu emerged from the rocky wall. "Trouble! Big trouble!"
Obito scowled. "What's with the panic? Report!"
The White Zetsu stammered, "While Kisame was transporting the Eight-Tails, Samehada suddenly betrayed him! It transferred its chakra to the Eight-Tails!"
"What… did you say!?" Obito demanded.
"The Eight-Tails is now fighting Kisame! But without Samehada, he won't be able to hold out for long!"
"Of all times…!" Obito forced himself upright. He reached back, fingers grasping for the life-giving tendrils. But just a slight pull sent a wave of agonizing pain from his heart, making him break out in a cold sweat. Gritting his teeth against the tearing sensation, he was about to rip the tubes free and rush to Kisame's aid.
But a strong, pale hand clamped down on Obito's shoulder. Tobi's voice was uncharacteristically firm. "If the Eight-Tails escapes, we can capture it again. But if you don't heal your injuries completely now, the consequences will be endless."
Obito regained his cool. He released the tendrils and slumped back into the stone seat, his voice low. "It's just… a shame about Kisame. A loyal, reliable 'piece' like him… I doubt we'll find another…"
…
BOOM!
Deep night over the ocean. The darkness was shattered by the flash of a massive explosion. On the churning waves, Killer B bounced with manic energy, spitting rhymes.
"Yo! Yo! Fortune favors the bold, the octopus takes hold! All you fish in the sea, wave your fins for B!"
"Squeak-squeak-squeak-squeak!" Samehada writhed its ugly blade-body, providing the hype-man vocals.
Kisame, battered and bleeding, floated face-down on the water. His fish-like eyes bulged wide, bloodshot with fury. "Samehada! Look at your pathetic face! Do you love the Eight-Tails' chakra that much!?"
Inside B's mind, the Eight-Tails roared, "B! Don't dawdle! That space-time ninjutsu user of his could arrive as backup any moment! If that happens, we won't get another chance to escape!"
—Whoosh!!!
On the sea, Killer B rapidly shifted control over to the Eight-Tails.
"Cornered shark sings its swan song! The great Killer B is back at full power, droppin' a symphony that'll make you tremble! Hey, shopkeep! Pack up one order of—squid skewers with plum sauce dip!"
Whoosh!
Before the Eight-Tails' gaping maw, a pitch-black Tailed Beast Ball condensed to its maximum size…!
—"Sayonara, the ever-hated yet respected workhorse of our era, Kisame Hoshigaki~~!!!"
BOOOOOOM…!!!
The Tailed Beast Ball surged forward, pushing a wall of water before it.
Facing the oncoming tide of death, Kisame Hoshigaki's eyes held no fear. Only regret. "Mr. Itachi… you said a man only sees his true heart in the moment before death. But all I see… is darkness. As expected… a death without any real accomplishment leaves behind… nothing but emptiness…"
Flicker.
Suddenly, a sliver of brilliant light appeared before Kisame, coalescing into a shimmering silhouette.
That silhouette glanced back over its shoulder, a faint, serene smile gracing its lips.
Kisame's eyes widened to their limit. "You… you are…"
KABOOOOOOOOOM…!!!
The explosion's fireball erupted, churning the sea into a frenzy of towering waves. When the tumult finally subsided… Kisame Hoshigaki was nowhere to be seen upon the vast ocean.
Snap.
In the simple tatami room on the island, Itachi pulled the silk bandage from his eyes.
"The Sharingan is the eye that reflects the heart. A powerful resonance of the spirit can bridge a gap of thousands of miles. These are eyes… that know no bounds between hearts."
"Kisame… this is the only help I can give you. From here on… please use your own eyes to see the path ahead."
Crackle.
Itachi's eyes opened slowly. The light within them seemed brilliant enough to pierce any darkness, to see through the facades of the world and the hearts of men.
Itachi Uchiha. Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Awakened.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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