Five Kage

"Th..." Obito Uchiha was at a loss for words, a sense of absurdity rushing straight to his head.

Wasn't this a truth universally known throughout the Shinobi World? Why did it even need to be asked? He nearly blurted out a retort.

Yet when he met Nagato's Rinnegan, eyes that seemed to see through everything, all the words at his lips were forcibly swallowed back.

That gaze seemed to say: Your understanding is far too shallow.

An inexplicable irritation rose in Obito Uchiha's heart, but he had no way to vent it.

In the end, Obito could only force out a cold snort from deep in his throat, laden with immense doubt and unease:

"Hmph! I hope... you're telling the truth!"

Before his words had faded, his figure rapidly blurred within a Spatial Vortex, then vanished completely from the oppressive room.

He had to find Black Zetsu immediately. The earth-shattering secret and subversive question Nagato had thrown at him had thoroughly thrown his plans and understanding into chaos.

He urgently needed confirmation. He urgently needed to discuss a countermeasure.

Obito Uchiha's figure finally disappeared beyond sight. Nagato stared in that direction, and an unfathomable smile slowly curled at the corner of his lips.

Although the other man had radiated reluctance when he left, he had ultimately agreed to the proposal.

At that moment, a subtle sense of satisfaction rose within Nagato.

He understood how that "Collector" had felt when facing him back then.

The satisfaction of seeing through someone, exposing their pretentious air of profundity, and feeling a hint of mockery and control.

The confusion and incomprehension now showing in the eyes of the once mysterious "Madara Uchiha," who had seemed to hold everything in his grasp, truly struck Nagato as somewhat amusing.

However, that brief pleasure was quickly replaced