In the Ame-no-Iwato space, darkness as thick as ink stretched endlessly in every direction, as if it would swallow everything.
It was terrifyingly quiet here, without a sound. Time itself seemed to have lost all meaning.
After who knew how long, a low, unhurried voice finally rang out in the otherwise lifeless darkness:
"Looks like your technique can't hurt me. So, we can have a proper talk."
His voice echoed through the darkness.
Uchiha Shisui was hidden deep within it, his figure blending into the shadows until he was almost impossible to make out.
Earlier, he had launched an attack on Obito.
But Obito had kept Kamui active. The space-time ability made Shisui's attacks miss again and again, as if they were striking empty air. They couldn't inflict any real damage on Obito.
Hearing Obito's voice, Shisui furrowed his brows slightly and replied calmly, "I know all about your weakness. But since you don't want to fight, we can talk."
Obito heard him and felt a surge of disdain. Aside from Madara and Black Zetsu, no one could possibly know the secrets of my Kamui.
He curled his lip slightly in the darkness, but couldn't be bothered to argue with Shisui about it.
He composed himself, then addressed an unknown corner of the darkness in a voice full of persuasion:
"If you can awaken the Mangekyo, then you must have lost someone important to you. This world is full of pain, and reality is too cruel. War and conflict are everywhere, and people live in misery.
"So I'm going to create a world without pain or war, where everyone can live in peace and happiness, and smiles will return to every face.
"You're powerful. Join me, and together we'll create a beautiful, peaceful world. What do you say?"
Obito's voice grew more impassioned, as though he could already see his ideal world.
Shisui knew perfectly well that the world Obito dreamed of creating was nothing more than an illusion brought about by casting the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
But since Obito had extended an offer, how could he simply let it go? He silently worked out how to make the most of it and achieve his own goals.
At that thought, Shisui's lips curved into a faint, barely perceptible sneer. Then he put on a sincere expression and said:
"Sure. My dream is to bring peace to the Shinobi World. I've been working toward that for years. Now that I've found someone who shares my goal, I feel like I'm one step closer to achieving it."
Hearing Shisui's answer, Obito finally felt the weight lift from his heart.
He remembered hearing about Shisui's dream of bringing peace to the Shinobi World back when they were at the Ninja Academy. At the time, he had thought it was hopelessly naive and childish.
But now, that very dream he had once dismissed as naive had become the key to winning Shisui over.
Persuading Shisui to join him had been part of his plans all along. Shisui's strength spoke for itself, and with him on Obito's side, his ambitions would be that much easier to achieve.
"Then we're comrades from now on."
Obito continued, a hint of delight in his voice,
"Now release your dojutsu. Once we're out, I'll bring Akatsuki together, and then we can carry out my plan. As long as we work together, a world without pain or war will soon be within reach."
Hearing Obito's words, Shisui didn't hesitate for a moment. He channeled his chakra and released his dojutsu.
In an instant, the ink-black darkness around them receded like a tide, and everything it had concealed came back into view.
The patter of rain soon reached their ears again. Raindrops struck the ground and splashed up in sheets, mixing with the smell of blood in the air. The world, still reeling from a brutal battle, looked even more desolate.
As soon as the two stepped out of the mysterious space, they found themselves surrounded by wreckage.
The air reeked of blood. Rainwater washed over the ground, but it couldn't rinse away the heavy stains.
The moment Obito emerged, his expression turned wary.
Nagato was the most important part of his plan. If anyone discovered that he had been here, everything he had carefully arranged would come to nothing.
Without hesitation, the Sharingan in his eye shimmered, and he activated Kamui.
Space twisted around him. His figure gradually faded, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished from the blood-soaked battlefield. Only faint ripples in space remained, proof that he had ever been there.
Shisui watched the direction Obito had gone, his expression unchanged. He said nothing.
He knew Obito was only trying to use his strength to help bring his wish to fruition.
But Shisui was no pawn to be manipulated. As far as he was concerned, Obito was just as important to achieving his own goals. With both of them harboring their own agendas, their mutually exploitative "cooperation" had quietly begun.
Shisui turned slowly and looked over the bodies scattered around him.
Some were horribly mangled; others wore ghastly expressions. Rain ran over their wounds, mingling with blood and gathering into dark red streams on the ground.
He frowned slightly, gaining a deeper sense of how brutal the battle had been. He couldn't help wondering what kind of fierce fighting had taken place before he came out.
When he looked into the distance, he spotted two figures.
They were some way off, but thanks to his keen senses and sharp eyes, he recognized Nagato and Konan at a glance.
Looking at Nagato's thin frame, now growing gaunt and skeletal, Shisui understood. He murmured, "Even with me here as an unexpected variable, Nagato still can't escape the course of fate."
Shisui walked steadily toward Nagato and Konan, each step splashing through the muddy water on the ground.
Nagato, weak and leaning against Konan, seemed to sense danger approaching and instantly grew alert. He forced his exhausted body upright,
watching the newcomer warily as chakra began to stir within him, ready to counter any possible attack.
But when he saw that the newcomer was Shisui, the wariness in Nagato's eyes gradually faded. He let out a quiet breath, and his tense body relaxed.
"Shisui..."
Nagato's voice was hoarse and weary.
"Konan, let's go back."
He paused, a complicated emotion flashing in his eyes as he looked at Shisui. Then he continued, "Maybe 'Madara' was right. Shisui, you won our bet. I'll grant you one request, no strings attached. Whatever it is, if I can do it, I won't go back on my word."
Shisui listened quietly, then nodded without saying much. Words were unnecessary now. He already had his own plans for what needed to be done and what he wanted to achieve.
The three of them didn't linger on the blood-soaked battlefield. Supporting one another, they quickly left.
Rain continued to patter down along the way, striking their battered, bloodstained bodies as if mourning the brutal battle.