Kuro: Let's go, Tobi! Obito: Oss!!
He glanced at Obito sitting in the chair in front of him, then gently closed the door behind him.
The door closed, shutting out all the noise and footsteps in the corridor.
Only the two of them remained in the office.
Afternoon sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the window, casting parallel streaks of light on the floor and desk, with tiny dust particles slowly floating and sinking within the beams of light.
Obito was not wearing a mask.
That face, half old scars and half youthful features, lay there calmly exposed in the dim light.
His chin rested on the back of his hand as he quietly watched Knock approach from the doorway.
Kō looked at Obito, who had removed his mask, and raised an eyebrow in surprise.
A mocking smile slowly curved his lips, his tone carrying the unspoken teasing that had become a habit between them:
"Hey, why did you take your mask off? Are you tired of role-playing, or is it inconvenient to sneak a bite with the mask on?"
Just so you know, I don't have any Anko cakes in my drawer. If you want some, go buy some yourself.
"... a petty person."
Obito stared silently at the knock on the door, his lips moving, but he didn't utter a word in rebuttal.
His gaze passed over the door and landed on the chair where Kakashi had sat not long ago.
Obito looked at the empty space, a hint of melancholy creeping onto his gloomy face.
"It was just... a spur-of-the-moment thing."
"Stop talking, you're too extravagant for me."
Looking at the "seventh-dan of heroic spirit" contestant in front of him, he complained with a face full of disdain.
Obito's face immediately froze.
Having spent most of their lives together, he knew perfectly well what those strange words uttered from Kou's mouth meant.
He glared at Kou with annoyance, a rare hint of genuine anger appearing in his eyes, which were usually filled with indifference and hatred.
Kou gave him a sharp look in return.
"Who doesn't know who? Why are you pretending to be so profound?"
He knew all too well what Uchiha Kenji was thinking.
Wasn't it just that he saw Kakashi, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, and because Kabuto had just mentioned the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, that he recalled those old memories buried deep in his heart and got a little carried away?
It was "just" a spur-of-the-moment thing~ It's utterly ridiculous!
"Sigh, I really don't know where he learned these shameless quotes from."
He silently sighed in his heart, automatically ignoring his usual words and actions.
Obito felt the disdainful gaze from Kotobukiya, an unnamed anger suddenly surged up from the bottom of his heart.
No? In the entire Ninja World, besides that old geezer Uchiha Madara, you're the least qualified to look at me like that, aren't you?
Isn't this the same time you tricked me into wearing green bodysuits with you, running laps around Konoha with those two idiots, Guy and his son, shouting about youth?!
Didn't you become even more finished back then?!
Obito mentally roared out these words, his lips moved for a fraction of a second, then closed tightly.
He knew that even ten of him tied together couldn't beat this grandmaster when it came to verbal sparring, so he simply shut up.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, and put on a serious, businesslike expression.
"... Let's leave these pointless topics here."
"Let's finish discussing important matters as soon as possible, before Kakashi and the others go far."
Seeing Obito's expression turn serious, Kotori's mockery and disdain vanished instantly.
His figure flickered silently in place, and in the next instant, he was already on the chair opposite Obito.
He crossed his arms, leaned back slightly, and looked at him coldly, signaling Obito to continue.
Obito looked at Kokoro, who had suddenly appeared in front of him, without the slightest surprise or wariness in his eyes, clearly having been used to it for a long time.
He looked at Kou and said in a deep voice:
"When... do you plan to set off for Konoha?"
He glanced at him, shrugged as if to feign indifference, and replied casually:
"Anytime is fine, but if I had to say... maybe a few weeks from now."
I've recently had some thoughts on my spiritual practice, and if possible, I'd like to resolve any related issues before setting off."
"... Yeah."
Obito observed the expression on Kokoro's face and murmured meaningfully.
He didn't dwell on the timing, but his tone was more serious than before:
"Then let's proceed with the plan we've already prepared. We'll use the opportunity of going to Konoha to discuss the alliance to gather internal intelligence about Konoha."
The key focus is confirming whether the claim that Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, has returned to the village to succeed Fifth Hokage is true.
At this point, Obito's tone couldn't help but carry a strong sense of apprehension:
"If Jiraiya really does take that position, our plans for Konoha will need to be readjusted..."
Kou raised one hand and lazily waved it, indicating that he understood.
Obito nodded, then changed the subject:
"Also, if you have the opportunity, try to make contact with the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and gather as much information as possible about him."
After all, if it is true that Jiraiya the Fifth Hokage, Konoha's level of protection for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki would only be higher than it is now.
By then, obtaining firsthand intelligence won't be as easy as it is now.
He listened to Obito's reminder and nodded noncommittally.
Without this guy needing to say more, Naruto and Sasuke's core objective for this trip to Konoha was to make contact with these two contemporary reincarnations of Asura and Indra.
The decision to forge an alliance between Mist Village and Konoha was a joint one made by Obito and himself from the very beginning.
His goal was to gain long-term access to Konoha under the identity of "Mizukage Aide - Shiina Sora" after forming the alliance, thus creating more opportunities to meet Naruto and Sasuke.
Obito's purpose was to use his legitimate status as Mist Village official to enter and leave Konoha, laying the groundwork for future operations to capture the Tailed Beast.
They had already finalized the plan on the very day it was confirmed that Konoha would send a delegation to Mist Village to discuss cooperation.
It now appears that everything is progressing smoothly according to the original plan.
"So, what's next..."
Obito slowly stood up from the chair, the hem of his Black Cloak with Red Clouds swaying slightly with his movement.
He glanced in the direction Kakashi and the others had left, his eyes slightly narrowed, but his words carried a barely suppressed smile:
"What we need to do is convince Konoha that Akatsuki's base is located within the Land of Water!"
Once Konoha accepts this false information, their attention will be firmly focused on the Land of Water, making Akatsuki's operations much easier.
Kou did not respond to Obito's words, but instead cast his gaze wistfully out the window, in the direction where he had watched Kakashi and Guy depart.
To truly convince Konoha that Akatsuki's base is in the Land of Water, mere words are far from enough.
The information that Mist Village has about Akatsuki can be the first piece of the puzzle for them to persuade Konoha.
What truly convinces Konoha to make a final decision must be a substantial piece of "evidence" that they can witness firsthand.
And this crucial piece of evidence is precisely...
"Let's go, Senior Kou!"
Obito had put his orange Spiral Mask back on without anyone noticing.
His eyes, hidden beneath the holes in his mask, curved into crescent moons. He raised one hand high, and his voice carried an air of genuine, unfeeling exuberance.
Kou turned his gaze away from the window and took one last look in the direction Kakashi and Guy had left.
He sighed silently to himself, then turned his head, a flamboyant and unrestrained smile slowly spreading across his lips:
"Let's go, Tobi!"
"Oh my!"
(I originally planned to meet in this chapter, but after finishing it I realized I couldn't control myself, so it'll have to be in the next chapter. Sorry, Marseille!!)