Since it was suspicion, Black Zetsu felt the need to confirm it.
Black Zetsu would absolutely not allow his plan to have even the slightest error.
Leaving this matter to Nagato was the best option, if it really was that person...
Thinking of this, Black Zetsu narrowed his eyes and thought to himself, 'Then Uchiha Obito is no longer trustworthy, and I can only activate the second plan.'
Fortunately, Uchiha Madara back then didn't put all his bets on Uchiha Obito.
Although Uchiha Obito still seemed to be carrying out the plan Uchiha Madara left behind, Black Zetsu knew that the current Obito had started to have his own ideas.
Moreover, Uchiha Obito had already become suspicious about Rin's death back then and had even been secretly investigating it without his knowledge.
The result of that investigation should have come out by now.
However, even if that weren't the case, when humans gain power, creatures like humans will breed things like ambition.
Black Zetsu, who had lived for a thousand years, understood this point better than anyone.
Seeing Black Zetsu shake his head, Obito shrugged, putting on a helpless expression.
However, under his mask, his face revealed an expression of 'as expected'.
Black Zetsu was indeed hiding some things from him, or rather, to be precise, Uchiha Madara back then was still hiding some things from him.
"Let's go. Since Pain has completely started to suspect my identity, I need to make some preparations in advance."
Obito spread his hands and said to Zetsu.
After speaking, the swirling ripple space once again enveloped the two people, and then completely disappeared.
On the other side.
The Mist Ninja Force's Garrison location.
At this time, the Kirigakure and others were quietly waiting for Yūto to return.
Ranmaru suddenly looked up, his small face showing a surprised expression as he said:
"A figure is rapidly approaching here. Ranmaru feels a very dangerous aura from him."
"Dangerous?"
Zabuza Momochi rested Kubikiri Bōchō (Executioner's Blade) on his shoulder, his face showing a look of interest.
Someone who could make Ranmaru feel dangerous now was clearly very powerful.
Ameyuri Ringo and the others standing nearby also showed interesting expressions on their faces.
They were very curious about what kind of person would dare to directly approach their Mist Ninja Force.
"He's here!"
Ranmaru spoke again, and as soon as he finished speaking, a black figure quickly rushed out from a distance and stood in front of everyone.
Bang!
The black figure stood expressionlessly in front of everyone, his gaze coldly sweeping over them, finally stopping on Kisame Hoshigaki in the crowd.
"The clothes he's wearing... seem to be the same as what Kisame-senpai wears."
Ranmaru examined the clothes Pain was wearing for a few moments, unable to help but ask curiously.
It wasn't just Ranmaru's face that showed curiosity.
The eyes of the others also showed curious expressions as their gazes moved back and forth between Kisame Hoshigaki and Pain, their faces showing interest.
But at this moment, Kisame Hoshigaki's expression was somewhat stiff, his mouth slightly open, and he spoke with a somewhat bitter voice:
"He was once my leader. His strength is not only bizarre but also extremely powerful."
"So, he's an enemy then!"
Ameyuri Ringo's eyes narrowed slightly, and a bright smile suddenly appeared on her face.
The next moment, before Kisame Hoshigaki could even warn them, Ameyuri Ringo and Zabuza charged towards Pain simultaneously.
Ameyuri Ringo seemed to transform into a flash of lightning, instantly appearing behind Pain. The Thunder Blade in her hand was aimed at the location of his back heart and thrust out fiercely.
And Zabuza Momochi also appeared not far in front of Pain at the same time, raising Kubikiri Bōchō (Executioner's Blade) in his hand, then fiercely slashing down towards Pain.
Pain's face was expressionless. Two black iron rods suddenly extended from his long sleeves. Then Pain raised his hands and turned his body sideways.
The two iron rods in his hands simultaneously blocked the attacks of Zabuza Momochi and Ameyuri Ringo.
"Looks like he's an enemy, then Ranmaru is going to chop you to death!"
Ranmaru muttered with a small pout, and at the same time, his body swelled instantly. The Exploding Blade had appeared in Ranmaru's hand at some point.
Ranmaru stomped his foot, and his entire body turned into an afterimage, disappearing from the spot. The next moment, he appeared in front of Pain.
Ranmaru raised the Exploding Blade in his hand and brought it down towards Pain, who was currently blocking Ameyuri Ringo and Zabuza Momochi with both hands.
"Shinra Tensei!" Pain said indifferently.
Boom!
Ranmaru only felt an irresistible repulsive force erupt from Pain.
The next moment, all three were blasted away by Pain.
"I told you, Pain's strength is very powerful."
Kisame Hoshigaki's face was full of caution. He walked out from the side and stood not far opposite Pain.
In a pile of ruins, Ranmaru lay upside down.
"So strong, so strong!"
Ranmaru straightened up, stood up from the ruins again, and said while rubbing his small head.
In the other two piles of ruins, Ameyuri Ringo and Zabuza Momochi also climbed to their feet, their faces showing surprise as they looked at Pain standing in the middle.
Pain paid no attention to the people present. Instead, his gaze was fixed on Kisame Hoshigaki, who was standing opposite him.
"Where is Uchiha Itachi?"
Pain asked in a cold tone.
"He's dead," Kisame Hoshigaki shrugged.
Hearing Kisame Hoshigaki's words, Pain was slightly silent. After a while, he spoke again:
"No one can betray the Akatsuki. You will pay the price for this, along with the Mist Ninja Village behind you."
As Pain's words fell, the entire scene instantly turned cold.
All the people from the Mist Ninja Village looked at Pain with killing intent.
"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."
Kisame Hoshigaki gripped Samehada with both hands and said in a cold voice.
Just as the battle was about to break out.
The sound of light footsteps entered everyone's ears.
"Why do I hear someone saying they'll make the Mist Ninja Village pay the price?" Yūto walked over with a smile.
Pain turned his head and looked in the direction of the voice.
When Pain saw Yūto, his entire body suddenly froze.
At this moment, Nagato, who was controlling Pain, suddenly felt a sharp Pain in his Rinnegan when he saw Yūto.
Along with it, the Chakra he was using to control Pain also experienced a brief pause.
However, the stinging sensation in his eyes disappeared in just an instant, but the signal connecting Nagato to Pain suddenly became intermittent.
"What's going on? Did I overuse the Rinnegan? Or is the distance too far?"
Feeling the faint signal coming from Pain, Nagato muttered to himself with some doubt.
"Just one Deva Path might be a bit difficult to deal with the Mist Ninja Village, and the signal is a bit blurry now. Since that's the case..."
Nagato murmured softly to himself, but his eyes flashed with unconcealed killing intent.
On the other side.
Looking at the suddenly frozen Pain, Yūto's face showed a look of confusion.
"You will pay the price for this!"
Pain, who had been somewhat frozen, suddenly raised his head and said.
The next moment, accompanied by a 'bang' sound, Pain had turned into a puff of white smoke and disappeared from the spot.
Clearly, he had been summoned away.