Former Friends

Tobi explained his reasons for taking action.

Yamato and Rin listened to Tobi's account, they gradually understood the situation before them.

Simply put, those White Zetsu who had been doing nothing all this time suddenly sensed a signal—the being that could command them had reappeared.

Those were newly formed Rinnegan.

Power at the Six Paths level.

All the White Zetsu were like lost children who suddenly found someone to rely on, a master to serve, and a reason to exist.

There is only one exception.

Tobi.

It crouched nearby, listening to the other White Zetsu chattering about finding a new master, serving that new master, and carrying out any orders that the new master might give.

What does Tobi think this means?

Isn't it good to be free and unrestrained?

So, while the other White Zetsu were excitedly preparing to set off, Tobi chose to stay behind.

But it couldn't resist listening to their plans.

The White Zetsu members concluded in their discussion that the aura of the Rinnegan was coming from the direction of Konoha Village.

Is it possible that their new owner has been imprisoned by the people of Konoha Village?

After all, their predecessors— Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Obito, and Black Zetsu —had always regarded Konoha as their enemy.

Konoha is the enemy; Konoha has imprisoned their new master.

This logic held true perfectly in the simple minds of the White Zetsu, so they made a decision to launch a full-scale attack on Konoha.

They forced Konoha to hand over their new master.

Tobi had absolutely no interest in this plan. All that fighting and killing was too much trouble. Besides, Konoha was so strong; it was no wonder those White Zetsu possibly defeat them.

However, it heard a detail, a detail that changed its mind.

The White Zetsu learned through their intelligence network that Konoha's powerful forces had left the village.

They planned to send some White Zetsu to hold those people off.

Minato Namikaze, Hatake Kakashi, and that... the one named Yamato and the one named Rin.

"So--"

Tobi stood in front of Lin and Yamato, his face, devoid of features, probably wearing an expression that said, "Praise me!"

"I'll pretend to agree to their plan, and then, after they knock you out and drain your chakra—"

With its hands on its hips, it announced triumphantly, "I secretly brought you all out! Don't idolize me too much!"

Lin and Yamato remained silent for a long while before Lin finally spoke, her voice filled with confusion.

"So... why did you save us? You had no reason to join their plan, but you also had no reason to save us."

"This one..."

Tobi suddenly changed his tone, his voice becoming deep and resonant.

"Who knows? Maybe it was premeditated, or maybe it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision."

It remained in that position, completely still.

This line was something it had heard Obito say before, Tobi thought it was really cool, so it used it again.

Lin looked at its pretentious expression and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Then Tobi himself broke down.

"Just kidding--!"

It regained its comical voice.

"A reason—" It tilted its head, its featureless face facing Lin. "If I'm not mistaken, you are Lin, right?"

Lin was taken aback.

"That one outside, that's idiot Kakashi, right?"

Lin's eyes widened slightly.

"Idiot Kakashi"—only one person calls him that.

"The one Obito kept mentioning..." Tobi's voice suddenly became very soft.

"Yes, that's right..." Lin's voice trembled slightly.

"Although I don't know why you were resurrected, or why that idiot Kakashi got old..." Tobi paused.

"But I was thinking—if you died again, Obito would be heartbroken."

Its voice still had that carefree tone, but for some reason, Lin sensed something different in it.

That's the reason.

After Tobi finished speaking, he turned around and faced away from them.

That face, devoid of features, was now gazing out of the cave.

If it had an expression, it would probably be smiling.

"Hello--!"

A sudden sound rang out in the basement, breaking the brief silence.

Lin was looking down, her mind still replaying what Tobi had just said, when the "Hello" pulled her back from her reverie.

She suddenly raised her head, Yamato tensed up at the same time.

Several White Zetsu were slowly emerging from underground.

One, two, three... five.

Their pale bodies emerged from the earth, their faces turned toward Tobi, toward Lin, and toward Yamato.

"Hey, hey--!" Tobi's voice was unusually panicked. "This won't do--!"

It stood in front of Rin and Yamato, its faceless form facing the White Zetsu.

"Senior Tobi."

The leader of the White Zetsu spoke up, "I never expected you to betray us. Alright, we're still friends. Hand over those two."

"Whoa!" Tobi waved his arms frantically. "No way, no way! How did you guys find this place?!"

It turned its head and shouted at Lin and Yamato:

"I clearly hid the entrance! You all saw it, didn't you? I hid it very well!"

Then, it suddenly stopped on its own.

"...Oh, right." Its voice became calm. "You can find people by sensing chakra."

A flicker of despair crossed Yamato's face for a fleeting moment.

"Um... is it possible to reconcile?"

Tobi suddenly changed its tone, adopting a fawning and pleading manner, and pointed at Yamato. "You can take this one named Yamato with you."

Yamato's eyelids twitched a few times. So he really was just doing it on the side?

"But—" Tobi pointed at Rin again. "Rin is very important to Obito. Let her go, okay?"

The White Zetsu were silent for a moment, then the leader shook its head. They slowly, step by step, approached the three of them.

"Damn it..." Yamato his teeth, clenching his fists, but he couldn't do anything. His chakra was still completely empty.

That slow recovery amount is simply not enough to unleash any Ninjutsu.

"If only I had enough chakra..."

He said, unwillingly.

If he had enough chakra, these White Zetsu definitely be no match for him. The power of Wood Release is something these low-level White Zetsu cannot contend with.

But now...

"Huh?" Tobi suddenly turned his head, facing Yamato. "Insufficient chakra?"

"Yes, that's right, but—" Before Yamato could finish speaking, Tobi's body suddenly disintegrated.

It's not a metaphor; it means scattering literally.

That white, soft body, like a blooming flower, then—rushed towards Yamato.

"Put on my body."

Tobi's voice came from the surging white substance, still in that comical tone.

"I don't know why, but I feel like we get along really well."

Yamato could react, the white mass had already enveloped his body.

Starting from the arms, it spread to the shoulders, to the chest, to the whole body—like wearing a white bodysuit.

Then, Yamato was stunned.

Chakra, power; those things that were just moments ago empty were now surging wildly into his body! The speed was so fast that he thought he was dreaming!

"You..." Yamato looked down at the white covering on his body and asked incredulously, "Aren't you one of their kind? Is this alright?"

Tobi's voice came from within the white layer, still in that carefree tone.

"Don't get me wrong! I did all this because of Obito!" His tone was exactly like that of a proud and arrogant child.