Encountering the Reanimated Six Paths Jinchuriki

The night wind outside Angkor Fortress carried a chill that did not belong to this season.

Cang stood atop the fortress's highest tower. Moonlight stretched his shadow long and far, from the edge of the stone steps all the way down into the dark ravine below. He had been standing there for some time. The purple concentric rings in his Rinnegan turned slowly as his gaze crossed hundreds of miles and settled on the burning sky.

"Teacher." Zhi Li's voice came from behind him. She had changed into battle gear, a mask covering the lower half of her face and leaving only her steady eyes exposed. "Senior Kagami has sent word. The Impure World Reincarnation bodies of the four Hokage are moving toward the main battlefield and are expected to make contact with Uchiha Madara within half an hour. Also—"

"Also what?"

"Also, the masked man has intercepted the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails roughly forty li northeast of the Allied Forces' main camp. He did not bring a sacrifice for Rinne Rebirth. He is merely stalling them."

The corner of Cang's mouth lifted slightly.

"Obito..." He murmured the name, with neither mockery nor contempt in his tone—only the faint satisfaction of a chess player seeing another piece settle into place on the board. "You finally couldn't resist making a move yourself."

His fingers lightly tapped the stone railing twice, producing a crisp sound.

"Zhi Li."

"Here."

"Proceed to the edge of the battlefield as planned and await orders. Kagami will remain hidden. Without my signal, he is not to reveal himself." Cang turned around, his Rinnegan glimmering with a cold, ghostly light beneath the moon. "As for those two brats... let them fight for now. Obito wants the Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails. He will not kill them—at least, not