As Obito's Kamui flared to life, a huge vortex formed in the air, like a passage leading to another world.
Obito, Konan, Pain, and Kisame Hoshigaki gathered together and arrived beside Itachi.
Their eyes were tired, but they remained firm and resolute, as if they had just escaped the brink of death. In the face of the crisis that had just occurred, they had no choice but to set aside their exhaustion and quickly deal with the next threat.
Obito stepped forward, his gaze firm and resolute.
He knew he had to shoulder the responsibility of leadership and show the team the way forward. "Pain, the plan has changed," he said in a low voice. "This unknown Six Paths Level powerhouse is too strong. I couldn't even fight back. We can't go looking for trouble with him again, or we'll only suffer more casualties."
Pain furrowed his brow. He knew Obito's assessment was accurate. He had also felt that powerhouse's terrifying strength. If they continued to take risks, the whole team could be plunged into an irredeemable situation.
"All right, I understand." He nodded. "What should we do now?"
"We have to accelerate the Tailed Beast Plan," Obito said without hesitation. "It's the only way we can change the situation. We must gather all the Tailed Beasts as soon as possible. Only then will we have enough power to face the challenges ahead."
Konan and Kisame also voiced their agreement. They all knew this predicament wasn't something they could resolve easily. Their only way forward was to follow Obito's instructions, accelerate the Tailed Beast Plan, and complete their mission as soon as possible.
"We need to increase our numbers as soon as possible." Obito's voice rang out among the three of them, his words conveying a sense of urgency.
Juzo was dead. The painful news plunged the whole team into silence.
Obito touched the Orange Mask on his face, a deep discomfort welling inside him.
He knew the enemy had killed him earlier, too. Izanagi had saved him.
But there was a price for coming back to life. The Sharingan he had just transplanted was already used up.
"As you know, that unknown Six Paths Level powerhouse killed me, too. Izanagi was what saved me," Obito continued.
"Izanagi?" Pain furrowed his brow. He didn't know much about the technique, but he could sense its power and importance from Obito's tone.
"That's right. It's the Uchiha Clan's ultimate ocular jutsu." Obito nodded, his eyes showing deep exhaustion. "You don't need to concern yourself with the details. Our ultimate goal is what matters."
Pain said nothing. His profound Rinnegan seemed to hold endless thoughts.
He knew Obito was someone with many secrets, and now wasn't the time to force him to reveal them.
He slowly raised the arm with his right hand missing and said in a calm yet resolute tone, "I lost this hand for the sake of peace. To me, it's no big deal."
Obito nodded slightly. He knew Pain was the kind of person who would sacrifice everything for his ideals. He touched his Orange Mask, as if he could feel the weight of that responsibility through it. "Pain, I understand. Our path is bound to be difficult, but I believe that as long as we persevere, we'll find a way to achieve peace."
Pain turned his head slightly and examined Obito with a scrutinizing gaze. His Rinnegan seemed to hold endless depth and wisdom, able to see through every secret in a person's heart.
Under that gaze, Obito felt as if he were being judged. His right Mangekyō Sharingan spun as it stared back alongside the Rinnegan.
"Madara, this unknown powerhouse's appearance is a variable in our plan." Pain's voice was low and powerful, each word striking Obito's heart like a hammer. "You know we can't defeat him even if we work together. Planetary Devastation was useless, too. I've used up all my techniques and even sacrificed my right hand."
Obito took a deep breath. He knew Pain was telling the truth. He had faced that unknown powerhouse himself and felt his unmatched strength firsthand. It was a power beyond the limits of humanity, as if only the Sage of Six Paths could possess it.
"Pain, I understand." Obito spoke slowly. "Our plan has certainly encountered an unexpected setback, but we can't give up because of it. We have to reassess our strength and goals, then find a new way to deal with this variable."
Pain nodded, a hint of approval appearing on his face.
He knew Obito was a man of firm conviction and wisdom, and believed he could find a solution.
"Then, what do you have in mind?" Pain asked.
Obito fell silent for a moment, all kinds of possibilities and plans flashing through his mind. He knew this predicament wouldn't be easy to resolve. They would have to use unconventional methods.
"We need more power." Obito finally spoke, his voice firm and determined. "We need to find capable ninja with special abilities and recruit them into the Akatsuki. Only then can we strengthen ourselves and face that unknown powerhouse."
Pain furrowed his brow. He knew it wouldn't be easy.
But he also understood that their current predicament called for unconventional measures. He nodded, agreeing with Obito's idea.
"All right, I'll send people to find capable ninja," Pain said. "At the same time, we'll step up our training and work to improve our strength, so we can become stronger in the shortest time possible."
"Pain, the peaceful world of the Eye of the Moon Plan will shine across the entire Ninja World." Obito gazed at Pain, his voice firm and solemn.
Pain's eyes flashed with confusion, but it was quickly replaced by a more complicated emotion.
"Madara, do you really believe the Eye of the Moon Plan can bring true peace?" he asked, a note of probing in his voice.
Obito took a deep breath and met Pain's gaze with unwavering resolve. Looking into Pain's profound, complicated eyes, he couldn't help feeling a strange worry. Did that Six Paths powerhouse knock some sense out of this guy? He needs to get his head straight, or we won't be able to face the challenges ahead.
"Pain, listen." Obito's voice suddenly turned serious. He stared straight into Pain's eyes, as if trying to pass on his conviction and resolve. "I believe the peaceful world of the Eye of the Moon Plan will shine across the entire Ninja World. I know this plan may sound crazy, even unbelievable. But I firmly believe that only this plan can end the conflict and suffering in this ninja world once and for all."
A deep calm showed in Pain's eyes, as if he had weathered countless storms and had now found something that resonated with him.
He fell silent for a moment, as if absorbing Obito's words and feeling the resolve and determination behind them.
In that brief silence, Pain seemed to have a conversation with himself. Then he nodded, accepting Obito's words.
"Now, Itachi Uchiha." Obito's voice echoed through the air as he turned to look at Itachi, his gaze full of complicated depths.
Itachi's eyes were still those distinctive Six-Tomoe Rinnegan, and Liuli still had him trapped in the Genjutsu World.
Actually, Liuli had dispelled the genjutsu after leaving. Did Itachi simply not want to come out?
Obito walked over slowly and stopped in front of Itachi. Their gazes met, an invisible force seeming to flow between them.
Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan fixed on Itachi's Six-Tomoe Rinnegan, as if searching for the secrets and power behind those eyes.
Itachi stood quietly, letting Obito's gaze travel over him.
"Itachi Uchiha is under control. There are six tomoe linked inside his Rinnegan. What beautiful eyes."
Obito's voice echoed through the air. His gaze stayed fixed on Itachi, whose distinctive Six-Tomoe Rinnegan seemed to radiate an eerie, captivating light.
Obito took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He had once thought his Mangekyō Sharingan was powerful enough, but facing Liuli's Rinnegan now, he felt his own insignificance and helplessness keenly.
The power contained in those eyes seemed capable of devouring everything. Even his Kamui had been firmly suppressed.
Was this eye what suppressed my Kamui? Obito thought of the immense ocular power and couldn't help shuddering.
His once-proud Kamui had been completely useless against Liuli's Six-Tomoe Rinnegan, leaving him feeling more defeated than ever before.
As he dodged Liuli's Inferno Style, Obito had tried every method he could think of to break free from the suppression, but nothing worked.
Those Six-Tomoe Rinnegan seemed to possess boundless power. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't escape their restraint.
"Zetsu, you can come out now." Obito's voice echoed across the open space as he called toward the bushes, apparently having sensed something amiss there.
A faint rustle came from the bushes, as if something were quietly approaching.
As the sound drew closer, a figure gradually emerged from the bushes.
It was Black Zetsu, clad in black with shadows obscuring his face.
Black Zetsu stepped out and looked Obito over before turning his attention to the other Akatsuki members.
"Me and Orochimaru were in the lab, researching some..." White Zetsu's voice drifted through the air, then suddenly stopped, as if he were choosing his words carefully.
He and Orochimaru, along with the others, had been beaten half to death by Liuli. Yet now he was hiding in a laboratory, conducting some secret research.
"Yeah, we were researching something that... might change the balance of the ninja world." White Zetsu finally gave a vague answer, but that wording clearly did nothing to satisfy the listeners' curiosity.
"Change the balance of the ninja world?" The Akatsuki members frowned slightly. The description was too broad for them to grasp what it actually meant.
Black Zetsu seemed to notice the Akatsuki members' speechless reactions. He smiled and stepped forward, trying to ease the tension. After glancing at White Zetsu, he turned to the others and said, "Don't mind him. White Zetsu was just joking to help everyone relax a little after that tense battle. We all need a bit of humor to relieve the pressure, don't we?"
Though the others still felt a little speechless, they had to admit Black Zetsu had a point. They nodded, signaling for him to continue.
Seeing that, Black Zetsu continued, "After that Six Paths powerhouse left, I came out of Orochimaru's lab. You know I'd been hiding there, waiting for an opportunity. When I saw Itachi under that Six Paths powerhouse's control, I wanted to sneak up and attack him. But, unfortunately, that Six Paths Level Susanoo armor was simply too powerful. I couldn't get close."
"Yeah, what a missed opportunity! Otherwise, I could've taken out that Six Paths Level powerhouse!"
White Zetsu chimed in jokingly. The others burst into laughter. Even Pain, who usually kept a straight face, couldn't help smiling.
Obito furrowed his brow and asked with some concern, "Where's Orochimaru now? Is he still conducting human experiments?"
Black Zetsu shook his head. "No, Orochimaru has stopped conducting human experiments. He seems to be studying the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan, trying to uncover its secrets. As for where he is now, I'm not sure. It seems he went out again. He's been acting mysteriously."
Obito fell into deep thought. He knew his reserve of Izanagi had been exhausted, which caused major problems for his plans.
After all, Izanagi was one of his most important trump cards, capable of turning the tide at a critical moment.
Now that he had no more of that trump card, they had to find another solution.
At the thought, Obito couldn't help frowning.
Just then, an idea suddenly flashed through his mind: perhaps he could ask Shimura Danzō for some spare Izanagi? He knew Shimura Danzō had always been interested in the Sharingan and forbidden techniques of the Uchiha Clan. He might have some Izanagi to spare.
"What should we do with Itachi?" Black Zetsu asked, his gaze never leaving Itachi's Six-Tomoe Rinnegan. The ocular power within those eyes made him deeply wary. He was certain it had a close connection to the Sage of Six Paths.
Obito fell silent for a moment. His gaze also settled on Itachi, a complicated look flashing through his eyes. Itachi was an exceptionally powerful ninja and a man of deep thought. His presence was both an asset and a potential liability to the Akatsuki.
"I discussed it with Pain. We'll continue expanding our numbers and speed up the Tailed Beast capture plan. We also need to take care of the Jinchūriki," Obito said slowly. "As for Itachi Uchiha, I took a look, and the genjutsu has already been dispelled. For some reason, he seems unable to come out of it and is still lost in confusion."
Black Zetsu nodded in understanding. He knew Itachi had only recently slaughtered his clan, and psychological trauma like that wasn't so easily healed. Even if he seemed to have recovered on the surface, the confusion and pain within him remained.
"True. He only killed his clan a few days ago, but he should have gotten past that psychological crisis by now." Black Zetsu continued, "That Six Paths Level powerhouse even brought Itachi here alone. I wonder what they talked about."
Obito didn't answer Black Zetsu's question. His gaze remained fixed on Itachi.
He was thinking about how they should deal with that unknown, powerful Six Paths Level ninja.
He knew Itachi's loyalty was beyond doubt, but he also worried that Itachi's inner wounds might affect his actions in the future.
"Let's put Itachi aside for now." Obito took a deep breath and decided to set Itachi's problem aside for the time being. He knew the most important thing now was to restore the other three Paths of Pain, so the Six Paths of Pain could once again be complete. This was crucial to their next move.
He turned to Black Zetsu, his gaze firm. "We need to restore the other three Paths of Pain as soon as possible. That's our most urgent task."
Black Zetsu nodded. He understood what Obito meant. He also knew the power of the Six Paths of Pain was essential to their plan. Only with all six Paths of Pain intact could they wield their full strength.
"I'll arrange for people to take care of the repairs as soon as possible," Black Zetsu replied. "At the same time, we need to prepare our next battle plan."
Obito nodded in agreement. "We can leave Orochimaru alone. He's no longer a threat. Once Kakuzu and Sasori return from their mission, we'll hold a meeting and discuss our next battle plan."
Black Zetsu frowned slightly. "Orochimaru may no longer be a threat, but he's still formidable. Do we really not need to consider him anymore?"
Obito sneered. "Orochimaru is powerful, but he's too selfish and cunning. He only acts for his own benefit and will never be our ally. Rather than wasting time on him, we should focus on our other enemies."
Black Zetsu thought Obito's reasoning made sense. He nodded. "I understand. Then we'll focus on restoring the three Paths of Pain and draw up our battle plan."
Pain nodded along from the side. "Then I'll go notify Kakuzu and the others to come back."
"Right. A huge variable has appeared, so we have to make comprehensive plans." Obito, the true leader of the Akatsuki, spoke with determination.
Before you continue