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Chapter 56 — Obito: These Are My Wings
Deep beneath the earth, inside a dimly lit hall, Obito sat upon a stone throne, chin resting on his hand, lost in thought.
His right eye glowed faintly red.
His posture was oddly skewed — the right side of his body barely on the seat, as though he were trying not to crush something important.
From the stone ceiling above, a pale head popped out. White Zetsu's tone was sing-song, teasing as always.
"Obito, there's news about that traitor, Konan~"
"Call me Madara!" Obito snapped, his gaze flaring with murderous red light.
White Zetsu chuckled nervously. "Y-yes, Lord Madara."
Obito rose abruptly. "Where is that traitor? Tell me now — I'll kill her myself!" His hoarse voice seethed with venomous rage.
"Too late, Lord Madara..."
Black Zetsu oozed down from the ceiling, landing like a puddle of tar at his feet.
"Konan went to Kirigakure. She's already left — her current whereabouts are unknown."
"That traitor went to the Mist Village? For what purpose?"
Obito's brow furrowed deeply. Next to Konoha, Kirigakure was the village he knew best — he'd personally manipulated the Fourth Mizukage and controlled the Mist for over a decade.
He knew every shadowed corner of that place.
"Konan went there to take samples of the Yuki and Kaguya bloodlines," Black Zetsu replied coldly.
"Bloodline samples?" Obito narrowed his eyes. "What does she need those for?"
"Unclear... But she fought Shennong just days ago, and now she's stolen those bloodline samples. Clearly, she's gathering something — planning something."
Black Zetsu's voice was a low, creeping murmur that chilled the air.
A faint, nameless unease stirred in its heart again.
The Yuki's Ice Release was one thing. But the Kaguya clan's Shikotsumyaku — that was different.
Obito didn't understand, but it did.
The Kaguya were descendants of the Ōtsutsuki.
Why would Konan reach for that?
For the first time, Black Zetsu felt a hint of something unexpected unfolding — something beyond its grasp. And it despised that feeling.
Konan... you survived your betrayal, and now you dare meddle with the Ōtsutsuki bloodline?
Unacceptable. You've become a variable — one that must be erased.
Black Zetsu resolved silently to remove her, before she could disrupt the plan that had taken a thousand years to weave.
Obito slammed back into his seat, scowling. "There are a hundred thousand White Zetsu scattered across the shinobi world — and you still can't find her?"
Black Zetsu gave him a look of pure disdain.
This fool never uses his brain. His power grows, but his mind remains small.
Didn't he wonder about the Sky Village crater? About what really caused it?
Of course not.
He truly believed the massive pit had been created by Konan and Shennong's battle.
He had witnessed six billion explosive tags detonating before — to him, a crater that size was trivial.
Probably just another one of her paper bombs, he thought.
Black Zetsu sighed inwardly.
Say what you will about the Uchiha — only someone this single-minded could be manipulated so completely.
Out loud, it said smoothly, "Her base is likely not on land... but in the air.
She must've rebuilt the Sky Fortress from the ruins of the Sky Ninja Village — an aerial base. That's why White Zetsu can't locate her."
After all, White Zetsu could tunnel through the ground — but it couldn't fly.
"So she's been in the sky all along..." Obito muttered, then turned toward the shadowy mass beside him. "What about the thing I asked for — is it ready?"
A low, sinister chuckle escaped Black Zetsu. "It's done."
At that cue, a White Zetsu stepped forward, carrying a pair of wings.
They were deathly white — smooth, flesh-like, and featherless.
Obito took them, unfolding them to their full span — taller than himself.
He weighed them in his hands. "Less than ten kilos..."
Black Zetsu began its explanation. "They were grown using White Zetsu's cells, designed to integrate perfectly with your right half."
That half of Obito's body was already composed of Zetsu matter. There would be no rejection.
"Attachment and removal are simple. Once you wear them, you'll gain the power of flight."
Obito raised a brow. "We'll see about that."
He pressed the fleshy wing joints against his right side.
Instantly, countless white tendrils sprouted, burrowing through his skin, fusing with his back.
The wings drew in close, merging seamlessly — as if they had always been part of him.
A strange sensation — almost intoxicating. They moved as naturally as his own limbs.
He flexed them experimentally.
With a thought, the pale wings flapped, rhythmic and powerful. The air lifted him, and his feet left the floor.
"Excellent... It works."
A grin crept across Obito's scarred face as he glided around the underground chamber with growing ease.
Perfect.
This was the trump card he'd ordered for one purpose — to hunt Konan.
Without flight, he'd never catch her. Kamui only gave him momentary movement in midair, not sustained pursuit.
But now —
"Keh-heh-heh!" Obito's laughter echoed through the stone hall. "White Tiger! You're not the only one who can fly anymore! I, Uchiha Madara, can soar through the skies as well!"
"Your one advantage is gone! Let's see where you run next!"
Black Zetsu watched his ecstatic display, its narrow eyes glinting.
If they couldn't find that traitor soon, perhaps more wings should be made — let the White Zetsu take to the air as well.
And so, thanks to Alex's unseen influence, Obito and his army of Zetsu gained something the original history never had — the power of flight.
...
Out at sea, a medium-sized brown merchant ship sailed at steady speed.
It was Takeda's vessel, now beyond the Mist's territorial waters.
Inside the most luxurious cabin, the bald, rotund merchant eagerly pulled out a small plastic bottle.
He poured out a single blue pill into his palm.
"The last one... Once this job's done, I should be able to request another bottle from the organization."
A lewd grin spread across his pudgy face. "Heh-heh... you three lovely ladies — time for a thorough inspection."
He popped the pill into his mouth and lunged toward the three women on the bed.
At that very moment, outside the cabin window, Konan and Alex arrived silently, unseen by all aboard.
Thump, thump, thump!
"Huh? That sound..."
Alex froze — realization dawning — and cursed inwardly.
Oh, for f— … He's actually doing that in broad daylight?
He was about to stop Konan from looking, but it was too late.
Her cold blue eyes had already turned toward the window.