"Team up?" Obito was puzzled, then asked, "What do I gain by joining forces with you?"
Although Kabuto Yakushi's intentions were unclear, the situation was that the Akatsuki was understaffed and urgently needed manpower. Unfortunately, Obito didn't welcome spies like Kabuto.
"Soon, you'll go to war with the Five Great Ninja Villages. I can provide you with combat power. These four are all experts, so I doubt you'll refuse them. And besides... I have other pawns."
Kabuto Yakushi's words moved Obito somewhat. That was indeed the case. Setting everything else aside, just these four joining the war would cause a considerable shift in its balance.
"What payment do you want?"
"Uchiha... Sasuke."
Kabuto Yakushi answered almost without thinking.
"..."
"..."
Both sides fell silent. Su Xiao, sitting on the cliff wall, stretched lazily. This matter was more or less settled. Moreover, what was about to happen would make it impossible for Obito to keep pretending in front of him.
"What are you after?"
Obito's voice was low. Sasuke was important to him as well. His Sharingan could evolve into the Eternal Mangekyo.
"Nothing in particular. I'm interested in the truth behind ninjutsu. Ninjas only care whether a technique is powerful, whereas I care about its composition, principles, origins, how it operates, why it operates that way, and so on.
"For that, I need Sasuke—the young and emotionally sensitive member of the Uchiha Clan, the only living Uchiha."
Kabuto Yakushi was clearly coveting the secrets of the Uchiha Clan—all of them.
"I refuse!"
Obito saw through Kabuto's intentions. He also sensed something wrong in Kabuto's tone. The words "only living Uchiha" bothered him greatly.
"Refuse?"
Kabuto Yakushi looked at Obito with a faint, unreadable smile.
"What a... pity."
Kabuto Yakushi pressed his palms together, and another coffin rose from the ground.