Chapter 34: A Loser is Forever a Loser
Obito's face beneath the mask immediately turned livid.
He hated most when people looked down on him. Immediately, in a hoarse, rough elderly voice, he shouted:
"Ignorant brat!"
"Just because you've luckily obtained a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan, you look down on everything, thinking yourself so superior."
"I've dominated the shinobi world for decades, eliminated countless powerful enemies, and together with Senju Hashirama pacified the chaotic era and created the village system. How dare a brat like you question me?"
"Tch!" Yasushi glanced at him disdainfully, sneering coldly: "Uchiha Madara was so domineering—how could he hide his head and tail like you?"
"If you've got guts, take off that mask and let everyone see your true face beneath it."
Obito naturally refused, only pretending: "When I left Konoha Village years ago, I fought a great battle with Hashirama and injured my face, so I cover it with a mask. I never expected this would cause you, a brat, to look down on and doubt me."
"Seems I need to teach you a lesson so you'll understand my power!"
Yasushi pursed his lips, turning to look at Pain sitting in the head position, spreading his hands:
"Say, Leader, I didn't provoke trouble first this time. Can I kill him?"
"Within the organization, internal fighting is forbidden!" Pain's face darkened as he blocked Yasushi's request.
Mainly because Pain had fought "Uchiha Madara" and knew his ocular techniques were extremely powerful. He didn't believe this newcomer Yasushi could threaten Madara and didn't want to let Madara continue establishing authority through this.
This left Yasushi feeling very regretful internally.
He'd originally thought if Pain agreed, he'd seize the opportunity to strike ruthlessly, giving Obito a good ambush.
Even if White Zetsu could sustain Obito's life and he couldn't kill him outright, he'd definitely strip off a layer of his skin—collect some interest first. The remaining debt could be settled slowly later.
"Ah, what a shame!" Yasushi sighed as though losing motivation, sprawling on the table and saying nothing more.
"Alright." Pain knocked on the table: "You'll all be comrades within the organization hereafter. You'll have opportunities to understand each other."
"Yasushi, let me introduce the other members to you."
"Currently all Akatsuki members are here."
"My codename is 'Zero,' Konan's is 'White'—we two are a team."
"The left team is Zetsu and Biwa Juzo, codenames 'Black' and 'South' respectively."
"The right team is Sasori of the Red Sand and Orochimaru, codenames 'Jade' and 'Sky' respectively."
"Madara is the organization's cooperative partner, sharing our common goals but not an organization member—no codename and no need to team up with others."
"You and Itachi are newcomers, codenames 'North' and 'Scarlet' respectively."
"Right now neither you nor Itachi have partners. Since you likely don't want to partner with Itachi, you'll both act independently for now. Once new comrades are found, we'll form teams."
The moment Pain finished speaking, Yasushi raised his hand high again.
"Leader, I'd like to team with Lord Orochimaru. I'm sure Lord Orochimaru would also be willing to discuss Konoha's destruction plan with me."
Who knew Orochimaru didn't want to be used by him. Very ungraciously shaking his head, he sneered coldly:
"Though I'm a Konoha rogue ninja, I have no particular interest in destroying Konoha."
"However, if you have intelligence on how the Fourth resisted the Pure Land's summons after using Reaper Death Seal, or how he resurrected from death, I might change my mind."
"Understood, understood..." Facing Orochimaru's decisive refusal, Yasushi dismissively waved his hand as though not seeing it, still grinning: "I know—Lord Orochimaru is only interested in immortality, forming the 'Immortal Duo' with Sasori of the Red Sand!"
"But you needn't set your sights on Minato Namikaze. His soul should still be in the Reaper's belly. That appearance earlier was merely chakra he preserved in advance inside Naruto's belly."
"When he emerged to fight earlier, most of what he consumed was Nine-Tails' chakra. His ability to control the Nine-Tails was likely Kushina Uzumaki's doing from inside Naruto."
"He did this probably wanting to leave his son some life-saving means. Now that it's used up, naturally there won't be any more later."
"However, I have other intelligence about 'immortality techniques' that will definitely satisfy you."
"So that's how it is! But..." Orochimaru's vertical pupils suddenly contracted. His long snake-like tongue extended, licking around his lips as he said sinisterly: "Even I don't know such top-secret intelligence. How does an ordinary Uchiha jonin like you know it? How do I know if your intelligence is true or false?"
"Hey hey, I can tell you so you can verify it!" Yasushi shrugged carelessly, spreading both hands. "As for how I know—does that matter?"
"I just know!"
"And I know many more things!"
"For instance, that guy over there pretending to be Uchiha Madara and acting superior is actually the Konoha hero who should have died long ago—Uchiha Obito."
"Kekeke... How about that? Didn't expect it, right?"
"Hmm?" At this, everyone's gaze immediately shifted over.
Everyone had actually harbored some doubts about this Uchiha Madara's identity. After all, Uchiha Madara had long become a shinobi world legend, already too old.
The shinobi world's population had already changed several generations. No matter how powerful a figure, they should have died of old age long ago.
Moreover, Obito had always worn a mask to maintain an air of mystery. No one present had seen his true face.
This naturally deepened everyone's suspicions about him.
But since the leader had introduced him, even if he wasn't Uchiha Madara, he must certainly be an extremely powerful ninja. This barely allowed everyone to treat him as Uchiha Madara.
Now hearing this Uchiha Madara was indeed a fraud, everyone's eyes immediately filled with playful amusement.
Not only toward Uchiha Madara, but also toward their own leader Pain.
If this was a fraud yet the leader calling himself "God" hadn't discerned it—instead being pointed out by a newcomer—that would be interesting.
Obito's psychological quality wasn't as strong as Itachi's. Now with his identity exposed, his heart immediately panicked. Instinctively, he snorted coldly and refuted:
"Hmph!"
"Nonsense!"
"What does a brat like you know?"
"I don't know who fed you such wild rumors to make you believe them. Now you actually dare question my identity!"
"Truly absurd!"
"Was it Kakashi who told you?"
"Tch!" Yasushi sneered disdainfully. "I just know these things!"
"What you all think is top-secret intelligence has absolutely no secrecy in my eyes."
"Not only do I know you're Uchiha Obito, I also know your ocular technique is called 'Kamui'—a space-time ninjutsu that lets you escape into another dimension."
"Hehe... Indeed, a loser remains a loser even after awakening the Mangekyo—utterly worthless, only knowing how to escape!"