The tower in Amegakure, the dimly lit interior—
Rainwater meandered down the glass window, refracting the light from the Heavenly Screen into distorted patches of color. Nagato sat inside the mechanical device, his thin body pierced by countless Black Rods, the purple light of his Rinnegan appearing particularly cold in the shadows. Konan stood quietly to the side, paper flowers fluttering silently between her fingertips.
In the Heavenly Screen, Six Paths Madara floated in the air, surrounded by nine Truth-Seeking Orbs. He withstood Might Guy's "Daytime Tiger" attack without a scratch. That overwhelming power made the entire Shinobi World tremble.
"That Masked Man... he really was an imposter." Konan's voice was calm, but carried a hint of coldness.
Nagato slightly raised his head, Madara's figure reflected in his Rinnegan: "Ever since the Heavenly Screen revealed Madara Uchiha's true form, he hasn't shown himself again... He's quite sensible."
"Black Zetsu is still transmitting intelligence." Konan frowned. "Should we cut off contact?"
"No need," Nagato's voice was hoarse and indifferent. "As long as they can still provide information on the Tailed Beasts, keeping them alive for now is fine. Anyway... they'll all be eliminated in the end."
Konan nodded and said no more.
Silence returned to the room, broken only by the sounds of battle echoing from the Heavenly Screen.
Nagato stared at Six Paths Madara's posture, his inner turmoil concealed by his Rinnegan.
(That power... far surpasses that of Tailed Beast weapons.)
(If one could master the power of the Six Paths, perhaps there would be no need for Tailed Beasts at all...)
(A moment's pain can make the world submit.)
His fingers tapped unconsciously on the armrest, his thoughts racing—
"The Masked Man may not be Madara, but he must know Madara's secrets," Nagato suddenly spoke up. "The evolution of the Rinnegan... the methods for acquiring the Six Paths Power... he might know them all."
Konan's eyes sharpened. "You want to extract information from him?"
"It's a pity he's hidden himself," Nagato sneered. "But it doesn't matter... our plan will proceed as scheduled."
(The Tailed Beasts remain a necessary bargaining chip.)
(But what if one could simultaneously attain the "Six Paths"...?)
Konan walked to the window, where the lights of Amegakure shone like stars in the rain.
"The Five Great Nations have been making frequent moves lately," she whispered. "A united force is hunting Orochimaru, Kumogakure is deploying defenses on the border, and even Sunagakure has sent out Puppet troops... They seem to have reached some kind of tacit understanding."
Nagato closed her eyes. "Fear... can unite people."
A dark underground cave--
Vines climbed the damp rock walls, and the faint candlelight flickered, illuminating Obito Uchiha's face covered by the Spiral Mask. He crossed his arms and leaned against a stone pillar, his single eye peering through the hole in the mask, coldly watching the overwhelming presence of Six Paths Madara in the Heavenly Screen.
Black Zetsu, like a viscous shadow, seeped from the ground, its hoarse voice echoing through the cave:
Nagato has been quiet lately.
Obito scoffed, "Oh? He's quite composed."
"Ever since the Heavenly Screen revealed Madara's true form, he's had the Akatsuki members go into hiding, doing almost nothing except gathering information on the Tailed Beasts," Black Zetsu added ominously. "And... he hasn't mentioned you even once."
Obito's fingers tightened slightly, a cold smile creeping across his lips beneath the mask, "It doesn't matter, he was just a pawn anyway."
(Doubt me? Ha... Nagato, you're just another piece in the plan.)
His gaze returned to the Heavenly Screen — Six Paths Madara hovered in the air, nine Truth-Seeking Orb orbiting him like planets, having withstood Might Guy's "Daytime Tiger" without a scratch. That power that transcended all living beings made Obito's breathing slightly rapid.
(Six Paths Sage Mode...)
(This must be Madara's ultimate form prepared for unleashing "Infinite Tsukuyomi"!)
Black Zetsu observed Obito's reaction and whispered at the opportune moment, "It seems that Lord Madara had a backup plan... He may have anticipated that Nagato would slip out of his control."
Obito was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled, "Unfortunately, the Heavenly Screen has already revealed the future."
He slowly straightened up, a twisted fanaticism flashing in his single eye:
"Now that I know... I will never let Madara's plan succeed!"
"Only I can unleash the 'Infinite Tsukuyomi'!"
Black Zetsu's lips curled slightly in the shadows, but his voice remained respectful. "Of course, you are the true 'savior'."
Obito watched as the Impure World Reincarnation Heavenly Screen Minato Namikaze, biting Flying Thunder God Kunai, stood before Kakashi despite his severed arms; blood was flowing from Kakashi's left eye.
A barely audible sigh came from beneath Obito's mask.
(Teacher... Kakashi...)
(How long will you continue to struggle in this hopeless world?)
Memories flood back like a tide--
Beneath the giant rock of Kannabi Bridge, Kakashi's Lightning Blade pierced Rin's chest...
Lin gave him her last smile amidst the pool of blood...
And then there's Minato-sensei's perpetually late figure...
(It's okay...)
(Soon, we will be able to reunite in the world of "Eye of the Moon Plan"...)
(There is no war, no suffering there...)
(Lin... will also live...)
His fists were clenched so tightly they cracked, his nails digging deep into his palms.
Black Zetsu quietly observed Obito's emotional fluctuations and spoke at the opportune moment, "The Five Great Nations have already begun their actions. They are searching for and pursuing Orochimaru, Kumogakure has strengthened its border defenses... They seem to want to prevent the future from unfolding in the Heavenly Screen."
Obito sneered, "Foolish."
"However..." Black Zetsu's voice was as slippery as a viper's, "If they find Orochimaru and Sasuke first, it might interfere with our plans."
Obito's eyes suddenly turned cold. "Then find him first!"
He then raised his hand to form a hand seal, and a vortex of Kamui twisted around him:
"Black Zetsu, continue monitoring Nagato."
As for Orochimaru... I will handle him personally.
Before he could finish speaking, his figure had already disappeared into the vortex.
Black Zetsu stood alone in the cave, chuckling softly as he merged into the darkness.
"Mother... please wait a little longer..."
"This time, we will never let the descendants of Hagoromo get in our way again!"
And the light from the Heavenly Screen still shimmered in every corner of the Shinobi World—
The future is uncertain, but darkness... has already begun to spread!