Confrontation with Obito!

After that sword strike, the Complete Body Susanoo began to slowly dissipate.

Above the ruins, where smoke and dust mingled, countless green particles of light fell like rain.

Kouchi landed steadily from mid-air, his feet sinking into the bottomless, massive ravine below, which had just been cleaved by Great Ori Cutter.

Deep within the ravine, Deidara and Deva Path Pain lay prone on the scorched ground.

Pain collapsed to the ground, his cold, stern face now devoid of luster, his purple Rinnegan staring blankly at the sky.

Not far away, Deidara also collapsed to the ground, covered in dust and wounds, but still had a faint breath left.

Deidara survived the blow from that deliberately restrained sword strike with remarkable "luck".

As for the remaining two figures—Scorpion and Naraka Path —they had already turned to dust under that sword strike.

"How delightful, Nagato, I'll probably never forget you for the rest of my life."

With his hands in his pockets, he looked down at the completely dysfunctional Deva Path Pain at his feet and said to himself:

Well, although you probably can't hear it anymore anyway.

As he spoke, he raised his hand and reached towards the several Black Receivers on Deva Path Pain's body:

"Now, by sensing the Chakra remaining in these Black Receivers, we can pinpoint the exact location of Nagato's main body."

"Once we get his Rinnegan, everything will be over."

However, just before his fingertips were about to touch the Black Receivers, his hand froze in mid-air.

The relaxed smile on his lips had vanished completely, and a deep chill quickly rose in his eyes.

"That Obito guy... he's really starting to make his move after all."

He spoke in a cold, low voice, then withdrew his hand and gazed intently in the direction of Mist Village.

Just now, the Shadow Clone he left behind in the Mist Village has... completely vanished.

Not long ago, the Mist Village.

Inside the Mizukage's Office, the heavy curtains were tightly drawn, and not a single ray of sunlight shone into the dimly lit room.

The Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, sat stiffly in his large chair as always, his lifeless eyes gleaming faintly in the dim office light.

At that moment, a hand wearing a black glove was positioned less than half an inch in front of Yagura's face.

However, at this moment, this strong wrist was firmly gripped by another long and powerful hand that reached out from the side.

"Heh, you noticed after all, knock."

Obito shifted his gaze from his wrist and steadily fixed it on the black-haired youth beside him who shouldn't have been there.

There was no trace of panic in the single eye beneath his Spiral Mask at being caught in the act, as if he had expected what was happening.

"Logically speaking, you should still be in Konoha right now, fighting to the death with those Akatsuki guys to stop my plan."

"After all, with Nagato's Six Paths of Pain around, they should still be able to hold you off."

Obito stared at Koto, who was expressionless, his hoarse voice carrying a hint of composure and amusement that sounded particularly jarring in the dimly lit office.

"So what's appearing before me now... must just be a Shadow Clone you left behind."

Kou stared coldly at Obito, offering no reply, but tightening his grip on Obito's wrist even more.

Obito seemed unfazed by Kou's aloof silence and continued to ask unhurriedly:

"So, when did you start preparing for all of this?"

Preparing... for the day I betray you.

"Stop pretending to be a victim, it makes me want to vomit!"

Looking at Obito, who was feigning profundity, he scoffed disdainfully:

"Trying to distract me with Konoha's actions, and then take the opportunity to retrieve the Three-Tails and Six-Tails from Mist Village? They've got a really clever plan!"

Doesn't your current behavior prove that you've never truly trusted me?

"Between us, we're all the same!"

He spoke to Obito in a deep voice, the coldness and disgust in his eyes now completely unmasked.

Now that things have come to this, there's no need for him to continue that disgusting performance in front of this guy.

Today, everything will come to a complete end!!

"... Heh, you've misunderstood me, knock."

Obito shook his head and said with some emotion:

"From the very beginning, I knew that your claims of agreeing with the Eye of the Moon Plan were nothing more than lies used to appease me, driven by your survival instinct."

but..."

Obito paused, his gaze meeting Kotori's wary black eyes with a meaningful look:

"I have always believed in you, I believe that you, who are utterly disappointed with this false Ninja World and despise it all from the bottom of your heart, will one day truly accept my plan."

I would willingly go to that Dream World where there is no betrayal, no lies, where I no longer need to wear a mask, and where I can laugh from the bottom of my heart.

Obito spoke softly, his tone, once playful, now tinged with a mixture of regret and stubborn seriousness:

Why are you trying to stop me, knock?

You, who have worn a mask all these years and fought tooth and nail to survive, are the one who should best understand the necessity of the Infinite Tsukuyomi...

What's wrong with the world of dreams?

Hearing Obito's words, which were a mixture of seduction and sincerity, Kō felt a complex mix of emotions.

Although he had probably guessed that Obito had likely seen through his disguise, when he actually witnessed it with his own eyes, a subtle and inexplicable complex emotion welled up in his heart.

This Kenji... he actually gained some intelligence?!

Thinking of this, Koko's gaze towards Obito became strange.

Although thinking like this now is certainly not the right time, as this guy's godfather for many years, seeing this fool finally come to his senses, I can't help but feel a little moved...

Obito sensed the subtle gaze from Kotobukiya and instantly understood what he was thinking. His face darkened beneath the mask.

"You idiot... just how stupid do you think I am?!"

Obito said irritably:

"After all these years, it would be strange if I hadn't noticed your true feelings at all."

"Uh... this would be quite strange if it happened to someone else."

But if it's you, then it's really hard to say."

Kō said matter-of-factly, nodding solemnly to Obito.

Looking at Kō's smug expression, Obito felt a surge of anger.

But what frustrated him even more was that what that bastard said... was absolutely right!

If it weren't for "him" who woke me up back then, I would probably still be completely fooled by Kou's superb acting skills.

Thinking of this, Obito suppressed his frustration and abruptly steered the conversation back on track:

"Answer my question, knock! Why exactly are you resisting the Eye of the Moon Plan?"

"Before my final battle with you, I... need to hear your answer!"

Hearing Obito's solemn question, the mocking and playful smile on Kotomi's lips quickly faded away.

"Isn't it obvious that I disagree with that so-called Eye of the Moon Plan?"

Feeling the gloomy gaze beneath Obito's mask, Kou spoke in a meaningful low voice.

"Let's not even talk about how I don't want to be hung on that broken tree to indulge in some self-deceiving pipe dream..."

From a purely practical standpoint, there's no way I could possibly entrust my future and the fate of everyone in the Ninja World to a jutsu of unknown origin!

He paused, then a complex and profound meaning appeared in his eyes as he looked at Obito:

"Uchiha Obito, have you ever considered whether the Eye of the Moon Plan you learned from that old bastard Uchiha Madara is actually feasible?"

"Infinite Tsukuyomi, is this technique really, as he said, used to create perfect dreams... a technique of peace?"