Outside a rundown toilet on the outskirts of the Land of Fire, Obito came to a stop.
Don't get the wrong idea—Obito, having merged with Hashirama's cells, no longer needed food or the restroom. He was only here because the nearest black market exchange was hidden inside this very latrine.
"Wait here," Obito said to Uzuki Xiyang behind him before dragging Beisuke's body inside.
Bang!
As he stepped through the doorway, Zetsu emerged from Obito's body.
"What is it?" Obito asked.
"It's rare for me to be in a human toilet. I want to study the meaning of... defecation," said Zetsu's excitable half—still as fascinated with bizarre topics as ever.
"Don't get any of that filth on your body," Obito muttered.
Zetsu wandered off, and Obito approached a wall inside the stall. He pressed his hand gently against it. Clunk! A hidden door fell away, revealing a passage.
In the dim chamber of the black market exchange, rows of refrigerated cabinets lined the walls, used to store corpses.
Thud!
Obito threw Beisuke's body to the floor. "Exchange."
The man behind the desk was a rugged-looking bearded dealer. He was smoking lazily until he saw the mangled corpse. His eyes flicked from the body to Obito's youthful face, and his expression stiffened. The damage was extensive, but the identity was still recognizable.
A boy this young... and this powerful? the man thought. But in the ninja world, judging by appearance alone was foolish. Many prodigies had appeared during the war.
Without speaking, the man stubbed out his cigarette, dragged the body into a freezer cabinet, then checked the bounty list. He drew a red X through Beisuke's name, pulled a box of money from beneath the table, and pushed it toward Obito.
Black market rules were simple: no questions asked. One hand gave the corpse, the other took the money.
Obito didn't bother to count it like Kakuzu would. He grabbed the box and turned to leave.
"First time here? Not going to count it?" the dealer asked, lighting a new cigarette.
Obito paused. "No need."
"In this world, trusting people too easily can be dangerous. Aren't you worried I shorted you? Or gave you fake bills?"
Obito turned halfway, his eyes calm and deadly. "Then I'd have a reason to kill you and take everything you own."
The dealer froze, a chill crawling up his spine. He was dead serious.
Clearing his throat, the man smiled nervously. "Just joking, kid. Our group makes money off the dead, not by cheating the living. Looking forward to future business."
Obito left without another word.
Outside, the scene made him frown. Zetsu was crouched over a pile of dried feces, prodding it with a stick.
"Can you not use Wood Release for this nonsense?" Obito said flatly.
"Relax," Zetsu said, tossing the stick. "I just invented a new jutsu! Stronger than Wood Release!"
"What technique?"
"Ninpo: Escape Technique!" Zetsu made a hand seal.
Nothing happened.
"Huh? Did it fail...?" Zetsu scratched his head.
The area was now filled with the distinct stench of idiocy. Obito muttered, "What a... flavorful technique," and turned away.
Zetsu tried to follow, arms wide. Obito recoiled. "Stay away. You smell like crap."
He opened the money box and tossed a wad onto the ground. Zetsu grinned, grabbed the cash, and disappeared into the earth.
Uzuki Xiyang, waiting outside, finally saw Obito clearly. She was stunned—he looked even younger than her.
"Where to next?" she asked, steadying herself.
"A hundred miles away. My home," Obito replied.
"A hundred miles? Even at full speed, that would take at least two days."
"No... only a blink."
Obito placed his hand on her shoulder. His Mangekyō Sharingan activated.
Whoosh!
A swirling vortex consumed them.
"That's... space-time ninjutsu!" Xiyang gasped before vanishing into the Kamui dimension.
Hundreds of miles away — Underground Base
Xiyang stumbled into a large, strange facility. White zetsu clones patrolled the area. Giant demonic statues loomed in the shadows.
She was still absorbing the sight when Zetsu emerged from the ground.
"Took you long enough," Obito said.
"I'm not like you. Space has rules," Zetsu replied.
"Is everything ready?"
Zetsu nodded and placed a box on the ground.
Obito turned to Xiyang. "Your room is next to mine. This box has clothes and some basic rations. I'll have a private hot spring opened for you soon."
Without waiting for her reaction, Obito took his money and left.
Still reeling from the teleportation, Xiyang blinked and followed him silently.
At his room, Obito paused. "Stay in your room at night. Don't wander. If you need anything, ask Zetsu or the white clones."
With that, he entered and shut his door.
But later that night, her curiosity got the better of her.
Creak...
Xiyang stepped quietly out of her room. She paused outside Obito's door, considering an attack. But she shook her head. It wouldn't be that easy.
"I should learn more about this place first..."
She crept to the end of the corridor, where a thick iron door stood. All the others were wood. Something important was hidden behind it.
Checking for traps, she climbed up to the skylight and used a small mirror to peek inside.
The room was filled with massive scientific equipment. One large cylinder held green liquid, with a shadowy figure floating inside—wires and tubes attached to their body.
Drip... drip...
At the base of the machine, golden blood dripped into a glass tube—already a third full.
Before the tank stood a man in a white robe. Slender, long-haired, and elegant. A hemp rope tied at his waist. His back was unmistakably familiar.
Xiyang's breath caught. No way...
The man turned slowly.
BAM! Her heart clenched.
Those eyes... those vertical pupils!
"Ahhh!!" she gasped and fell backward.
It was him. Orochimaru.
The footsteps behind her halted.
"Didn't I tell you not to wander?" Obito stood behind her.
"I..."
"Go back to sleep."
Inside the Laboratory
Kabuto glanced at Orochimaru. "Shall I intervene?"
"No need," Orochimaru rasped. "Let her be."
"Understood."
Orochimaru chuckled. "It seems Yu-kun, for all his power, still has sentiment. An affectionate Uchiha... delightful. Let's see if my masterpiece here will stir something deeper within him."
He looked at the golden blood, smile creeping wider.