In the underground base, Obito released Yamato from the Kamui dimension.
"I truly did not expect that child to have survived, and to have been kept by that old fox Danzō at his side. Raito, you really do act with decisive swiftness, managing to take that child right out of Root's territory."
Orochimaru remarked in his hoarse voice.
"Rather than dwelling on that, what is the plan going forward?"
Obito asked with cold indifference.
Orochimaru walked to the front of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path: "This massive statue serves as the vessel for cultivating Hashirama's artificial body. Inserting the sample directly should be enough to complete the catalysis."
"Zetsu."
"Leave it to us!"
Glug glug glug. Several White Zetsu emerged from beneath the ground and dragged Yamato into the statue.
Hsss hsss hsss. Shortly after, above the statue, large amounts of smoke rose from the surface of Hashirama's artificial body, and at the same time, great masses of trees began sprouting from the rock walls on all sides.
"What tremendous life force. Subarashii!"
Orochimaru's eyes lit up as he extended his characteristically large tongue.
Obito's gaze burned with intensity, for he knew that this artificial body of Hashirama Senju had now reached absolute perfection, indistinguishable from Hashirama's original self.
Withdrawing his gaze, Obito glanced over at Orochimaru: "I have helped you perfect the sample, so you must deliver me a satisfying result and extract the most flawless original cells from the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju."
Orochimaru said: "Hmm, I have a feeling this will be the most perfect work in history. No, the most perfect work that has ever existed and ever will exist. Of course, this will require time."
"How long?"
"One month. During that time I will work without sleep or rest, never stepping away from the equipment, because the extraction process demands extreme precision. The slightest carelessness and everything will be ruined, so there is no room for any negligence whatsoever. Therefore, Raito, during this period I must not be disturbed in any way."
Orochimaru said.
Obito regarded Orochimaru from the corner of his eye and said in a deep voice: "As long as you do not scheme anything underhanded, Zetsu will not disturb you. As for Danzō and Konoha's Anbu, you need not worry about them either. I guarantee they will not find this place."
Orochimaru smiled: "Oh my, then I shall be in your care, Raito."
"Likewise."
Obito withdrew his gaze.
The artificial body of Hashirama was detached from the Demonic Statue and placed into Orochimaru's extraction device.
After setting up an additional barrier around the underground base to ensure its safety, Obito stood before the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, lost in silent thought.
It had been approximately three months ago, while Obito was still training his ninja skills, that the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had vanished once during that period, and then returned here after a brief interval.
'Summoning the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Over on Nagato's side, the awakening has already occurred.'
Yes, though Obito had not intervened in the affairs of Amegakure, what was destined to happen had still come to pass.
Yahiko had founded the Akatsuki organization and steadily expanded it, drawing the attention of Hanzō, the man known as a demigod and the leader of Amegakure.
It was the waning period of the Third Great Ninja War, when the fighting between Konoha and Iwagakure had reached its most intense point, and the battlefield had naturally taken shape in a nameless country at the borders of the Land of Fire, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Wind, which also happened to be where Amegakure was located.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had attempted to end hostilities through negotiation, but Danzō did not want the war to conclude, and so he did everything he could to obstruct that effort, using the Akatsuki organization in the process.
Goaded on by Danzō, Hanzō ultimately chose to move against the Akatsuki with lethal force.
The ones assigned to assist in the cleanup were Konoha's Anbu under Danzō's command.
In that battle, Yahiko died a terrible death, Nagato went berserk, and the power of the Rinnegan awakened further as the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was summoned, killing large numbers of Rain-nin and forcing Hanzō and Danzō to retreat.
Danzō's obstruction ended in failure, and Konoha and Iwagakure ultimately succeeded in reaching a ceasefire agreement, bringing the Third Great Ninja War to a close.
Deeply threatened by Nagato, Hanzō, after escaping, organized a hunting party to search everywhere for Nagato and the remaining Akatsuki members.
Unlike before, without Obito's support, Nagato had been drained of strength by the Demonic Statue, left gravely injured, and had already been driven to the edge of death multiple times by the hunting parties. At this rate, things did not look promising.
'Before my own Rinnegan awakens, I need Nagato and the Akatsuki to collect the tailed beasts. Moreover, the Outer Path Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique seems to demand life as its price, so in every sense, the use of Nagato's Rinnegan is something I must secure.'
"So, are we heading to Amegakure? That village sits at the crossroads of the three great nations and the road is long. We should move sooner rather than later."
Spiral Zetsu said.
"No need. Summoning jutsu is also a form of space-time ninjutsu. Once Nagato is truly driven into a desperate corner and attempts to summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path again, I can use Kamui to resonate with it and travel there. As the saying goes, it is better to arrive at just the right moment than to arrive too early."
Obito's gaze deepened.
Several days later, at Amegakure.
Hanzō's hunting party had once again located the hideout where the Akatsuki were concealed.
After a chase, at the shore of the inland lake that encircled Amegakure, Nagato, Konan, Kyusuke, Daibutsu, and the other Akatsuki members were cut off with no route of escape.
The enormous salamander loomed tall, and Hanzō, the man called a demigod, stood atop its head, his eyes cold and empty as he gazed down at the few cornered figures by the lake's edge.
"Konan, take Nagato and run. We will hold them off here!"
Daibutsu said.
By this point Nagato's legs were crippled and his body was gaunt and skeletal from synchronizing with the Demonic Statue. He was being supported by Konan.
"No. You are the last members of the Akatsuki, our comrades. I do not want to watch any more of you die!"
Nagato said.
"Nagato, you are the Akatsuki's hope, the one who carries on Brother Yahiko's will. We will protect you with our lives!"
Kyusuke shouted.
"Not a chance. Not a single one of the Akatsuki's remnants will leave Amegakure alive."
Hanzō's cold words fell, and with two fingers he formed a seal as barriers rose on all four sides, enclosing them within.
The Rain-nin all pulled on their gas masks.
Hiss. The salamander beneath Hanzō's feet opened its great maw and spewed forth a massive cloud of toxic mist that rapidly filled the entire barrier.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
Kyusuke formed seals as a water formation wall rose up, and with a shift in his hand seals it transformed into a solid concrete wall.
The toxic mist was blocked for a moment, then began seeping in from above.
"Raaaah!"
Daibutsu spun the large hammer in his hands, whipping up a powerful gust that kept the toxic mist from drawing close.
"Futile struggle. Attack!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh. The Rain-nin hurled a volley of kunai strung with explosive tags, and then boom after thunderous boom followed.
In the blazing eruption, Kyusuke and Daibutsu died horribly before Nagato's and Konan's eyes.
"Ahhhhh!"
Nagato let out a roar that shook the heavens, and a violent storm of chakra scattered the toxic mist entirely.
"Nagato, stop. In your current condition, using that technique again will surely kill you!"
Konan called out frantically.
Hanzō's pupils shrank: 'That sensation. He is about to use that technique again. I must not let him succeed. Ichimatsu!'
Hanzō vanished instantly from atop the salamander's head, and the scythe in his hand went flying toward Nagato.
But for reasons unknown, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path did not appear.
And Hanzō's scythe was already closing in.
"This ends here."
"That remains to be seen."
Swoosh. A spiral rift tore open in midair as Obito descended.
Clang! He swung the Uchiha war fan and deflected the scythe, and behind the mask, the Sharingan gazed coldly at the man before him who was called a demigod.