Drip... drip...
Cold water seeped from the cave wall, falling into a shallow puddle.
The space within the cave gradually twisted into a vortex, as if a hand had stirred a calm surface, and a black figure silently materialized. It had long black hair similar to Uchiha Madara's in his lifetime, but its face was covered by an orange, one-eyed mask with black patterns, revealing a single, cold, crimson Sharingan.
"..."
The moment Uchiha Obito entered the cave, he smelled a strong scent of blood. His eyes immediately narrowed, and he looked ahead, only to see that Nagato's immobile support apparatus was empty. Un-dried bloodstains remained on the apparatus's surface, and the ground beneath his feet was stained with a dazzling dark red.
"What's going on?"
Zetsu emerged from underground, half his body visible, and was also momentarily stunned by the sight. Undoubtedly, Nagato must have encountered trouble.
"Oh dear, oh dear! Has 'Lord Madara' returned?"
Just as Obito's heart was filled with unease and fury, a light voice, completely out of place with the current atmosphere, abruptly sounded from behind Obito and entered his ears.
Hearing this, Uchiha Obito sharply spun around and saw White Zetsu Tobi peering out from the shadows of the cave tunnel. He still had his index finger pressed to his lips, acting innocent and harmless, but it gave Uchiha Obito a strange and strong sense of incongruity.
"Tobi!"
His hoarse, low voice emanated through the mask, chilling to the bone as if freezing blood solid: "Where is Nagato? What happened here?"
Hadn't Zetsu left Tobi to guard Nagato before he left? Why was Nagato gone, but Tobi was still here?
"Huh? Nagato?"
Tobi tilted his spiral-shaped head, seemingly thinking about how to answer his question. Just as Obito impatiently took a step forward, he suddenly heard Tobi's voice change.
"Nagato, isn't he right in front of you?"
The same cold words emanated through "Tobi's" body.
Immediately, under the gaze of Uchiha Obito's instantly constricted pupils, that swirling head bloomed open like pale white petals.
Those Rinnegan eyes, as deep as bottomless abysses, met the Mangekyo Sharingan with utter indifference. Under the oppressive gaze of the Rinnegan, Uchiha Obito's expression beneath his mask suddenly froze.
"Nagato, it's you…" His face twitched slightly. "You're standing?"
"Yes, thanks to you."
Nagato fully emerged from the shadows, allowing Obito and Zetsu to see the black rods still embedded in his body. Nagato lowered his head, looking at this body that could freely walk on the ground. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, but it quickly returned to indifference as he looked up at this so-called "Madara."
"What did you do to Tobi?" Uchiha Obito regained his composure, asking in a deep voice, "What exactly happened?"
"Nothing." Nagato said calmly, "I fought Hanzo and got injured. This White Zetsu named Tobi helped me, and now he's willingly staying with me."
Willingly…
The half-body White Zetsu beside him twitched its mouth, knowing that Nagato was spouting nonsense. With Tobi's restless and whimsical personality, how could he willingly become a tool and be worn by Nagato like this?
Clearly, Nagato had used some method to control Tobi, preventing him from leaving.
"You…"
Uchiha Obito evidently guessed as much, frowning and opening his mouth to say something.
But before he could speak, Nagato interrupted him.
"This White Zetsu allows me to move freely, which will make executing the plan much easier in the future."
Nagato raised his hand and clenched it, then looked at Uchiha Obito, smiling slightly: "As the true leader of the Akatsuki, you wouldn't care about a mere White Zetsu, right?"
A mere White Zetsu? Tobi was a special individual with important abilities, and Nagato, this damn guy, had just stolen him! Obito's face beneath his mask suddenly darkened, but he couldn't bring himself to refuse or retort.
Because he could see the coldness in Nagato's eyes, guessing that Nagato was angry with him for concealing White Zetsu's abilities, even to the point of potentially falling out with him.
Obito indeed didn't want Nagato to gain the ability to move freely. In his view, Nagato, as the vessel for those eyes, only needed to function as a tool.
So he hadn't told Nagato the true value of White Zetsu, nor had he replaced Nagato's crippled legs with White Zetsu's body.
But now, clearly, things wouldn't go as he wished.
"Of course, I don't care. It's just a White Zetsu."
Uchiha Obito suppressed the frustration in his heart, returning to his usual calm and indifferent demeanor, and said: "It's just that I didn't expect it to make you stand up. Congratulations."
Hearing this, Nagato looked deeply at him, and the words of that 'Shadow' echoed in his mind. If it were the deluded Nagato from before, he wouldn't have harbored the slightest doubt. In fact, in his past interactions with "Madara," Nagato had always been in a subordinate position, with "Madara" being the true leader of the Akatsuki.
However, after being subtly influenced by Hyuga Yun-chan and the figure on the mountain of corpses, the current Nagato found the "Madara" before him highly suspicious. No, not just suspicious, but even… artificial. It was as if he was desperately mimicking someone's demeanor, yet utterly lacking that person's spirit and grandeur, only managing to imitate their voice and appearance.
"Could it really be as 'Shadow' said, that this guy isn't Uchiha Madara at all?" A hint of gloom entered Nagato's eyes.
"Right."
Uchiha Obito felt a chill under Nagato's gaze, worried that his true nature would be seen through, and so he forcibly changed the subject: "What happened with Hanzo and Amegakure?"
"Hanzo has agreed to cooperate and has officially joined the Akatsuki." Nagato said calmly.
"…" Obito fell silent again. After a moment, he asked with a tone of confusion, "You mean, cooperate? Join?"
Cooperate with the sworn enemy who caused Yahiko's death? Shake hands with the Hanzo you've always hated?
"Yes." Nagato nodded, frankly stating, "Konan has also been sent to assist Hanzo. I've regained my mobility, so I no longer need Konan by my side."
"For future operations, Amegakure will be in the open, and the Akatsuki will be in the shadows, which is more advantageous for us…"
Uchiha Obito and Zetsu stood there dumbfounded, watching Nagato speak eloquently. They both felt as if they were under some genjutsu. What on earth had happened here during their absence?! Nagato, this guy, not only didn't kill Hanzo but also got Hanzo to join the Akatsuki, and even sent Konan to Hanzo's side? He had only been gone for a day, yet it felt like everything had changed, as if completely out of control??
"Wait, Nagato!" Obito finally couldn't help but interrupt Nagato. "Are you sure Hanzo is trustworthy? He was in cahoots with Danzo!"
"You should understand that I wouldn't joke about our plan." Nagato's tone was unwavering. "Don't worry, his life is in my hands now."
Hearing this, Uchiha Obito had nothing more to say. He still felt an inexpressible awkwardness in his heart, but he also understood that Nagato wouldn't joke about such matters.
Although he still didn't understand why Nagato would spare Hanzo, Nagato had truly seized Hanzo's lifeline, rather than simply going insane. The situation was still under control.
"Although the process had some twists and turns, Amegakure is now in our hands. According to our previous agreement, it's time to help you fulfill your long-cherished wish."
Looking at a relieved Obito, Nagato's tone remained as calm as ever: "So, what do we do next?"
Seeing that Nagato still remembered their agreement, Uchiha Obito suppressed his turbulent emotions and calmed down.
Never mind, the shinobi world is in turmoil anyway. Nagato regaining his mobility will better ensure the smooth progression of the plan.
Regardless, their goals were consistent: to capture all nine Tailed Beasts.
Just as Nagato turned a blind eye to his actions, as long as Nagato continued to execute the plan of capturing the Tailed Beasts, Obito would also step back and not truly fall out with Nagato. Although their ultimate goals differed, they were destined to clash, but not at this very moment.
"First, recruit Akatsuki members."
Obito took the initiative, stating according to the original plan: "Besides myself, let's find ten more people. Currently, the Akatsuki members are you, Konan, Zetsu…"
"And Hanzo," Nagato added before asking, "Why aren't you included?"
"…"
A vein pulsed on Obito's forehead beneath his mask. Suppressing his irritation and unease, he continued: "I will join when the time is right. For now, you will lead the Akatsuki."
This was clearly a declaration of his authority.
Nagato didn't seem to care, his expression remaining calm.
"I currently have two candidates in mind."
Uchiha Obito raised two fingers: "First, Kakuzu, who stole Takigakure's forbidden jutsu and became an immortal shinobi. And second, Sasori, the puppet genius who betrayed Sunagakure."
"Those two?" Nagato was somewhat aware of Kakuzu and Sasori's information and nodded. "Alright, they are qualified to join the Akatsuki. Let Hanzo and Konan go recruit them."
Hearing this, Uchiha Obito frowned tightly and asked: "Aren't you going to make a move?"
"I also have a candidate."
Nagato's tone was calm and indifferent as he looked at Zetsu beside Obito: "You mentioned before that a very powerful monster emerged from the Land of Hot Water, didn't you?"
Hearing this, Black Zetsu, who had been maintaining his silent and reserved persona, suddenly opened his eyes wide. Looking at Nagato before him, he immediately had an ominous premonition.
"Although I was curious before about who could be called a 'monster' by Zetsu, I had to suppress my curiosity at the time due to my limited mobility."
Just as Black Zetsu thought, Nagato continued: "Now that I've regained my mobility, I'll go see if that so-called monster is qualified to join the Akatsuki…"
"No!"
Before Nagato could finish speaking, a hoarse voice interrupted him.