In a dark, damp cave somewhere in the Land of Water.
"Madara, the Mist Shinobi army has been routed. Even the Six-Tails Jinchuriki has been captured."
Zetsu slowly emerged from underground, reporting the latest intelligence to Uchiha Obito.
"A bunch of useless fools!"
Obito had been interrupted while using Kamui, and he spoke with resentment.
In Obito's view, keeping the Mist Shinobi army pinned down in the eastern sea would pose a major threat to Kumogakure.
If things dragged on, victory would be within sight.
Obito had never expected eight thousand Mist Shinobi to be defeated by the Cloud Shinobi in such a muddled fashion.
"What should we do next?"
Black Zetsu rasped.
Obito pondered for a moment, then said coldly, "What else can we do? Assemble our forces and fight the Cloud Shinobi again. This time, have the Fourth Mizukage take the field personally."
The Fourth Mizukage was one of the trump cards Obito could not reveal lightly.
If something went wrong and outsiders learned that the Fourth Mizukage was being controlled by someone else's powerful genjutsu, it would cause a huge uproar in the Shinobi World.
The Five Kage would certainly investigate thoroughly, and the Akatsuki Organization might be exposed ahead of schedule.
That was why Obito had controlled the Fourth Mizukage for so long without letting him go into battle.
But things were different now.
For one thing, the Akatsuki Organization was strong and well-equipped.
Nagato had successfully created the Six Paths of Pain, killed Hanzo of the Salamander, and brought the Land of Rain entirely under his control.
The Akatsuki Organization had capable fighters under its command, including Kakuzu, Hidan, Hiruko, Shinnō, and Yomi.
For another, this was an opportunity that wouldn't come again.
This time, the Three Great Shinobi Villages—Konoha, in particular—had been brought together