Black Zetsu: I was just a little bit away from ripping Six Paths Sasuke's heart out!

As Obito's Kamui bloomed, a massive vortex formed in the air, resembling a gateway leading to another world.

Obito, Konan, Pain, and Kisame Hoshigaki gathered together, arriving beside Itachi Uchiha.

Their eyes were weary, yet they maintained a sense of firmness and resolve, as if they had just escaped the brink of life and death. Facing the crisis that had occurred only moments ago, they were forced to set aside their exhaustion and respond swiftly to the challenges ahead.

Obito stepped forward, his gaze firm and powerful.

He knew that he had to shoulder the responsibilities of a leader and point the way for the team. "Pain, the plan has changed," he said in a low voice. "That mysterious Six-Paths-level expert is too powerful; I didn't even have the strength to fight back. We cannot go looking for trouble with him again, or we will only suffer unnecessary casualties."

Pain frowned, knowing that Obito's judgment was accurate. He, too, had felt the terrifying strength of that expert; if they continued to act recklessly, it would likely lead the entire team into an irredeemable situation.

"Very well, I understand," he nodded. "What should we do now?"

"We must accelerate the progress of the Tailed Beast Plan," Obito said without hesitation. "This is the only way we can change our current situation. We must collect all the Tailed Beasts as quickly as possible; only then will we possess the strength to face future challenges."

Konan and Kisame Hoshigaki expressed their agreement. They both knew that their current predicament was not something they could easily resolve. The only way out was to follow Obito's instructions, hasten the Tailed Beast Plan, and complete their mission as soon as possible.

"We must increase our numbers as soon as possible," Obito's voice echoed among the three, his words revealing a sense of urgency.

Juzo was dead, and this heartbreaking news left the entire team in silence.

Obito touched the Orange Mask on his face, feeling a sense of discomfort deep within.

He knew that he had been killed by the enemy earlier as well, and it was Izanagi that had saved him.

However, this resurrection was not without a price; the Sharingan he had just transplanted had already been exhausted.

"You know, that mysterious Six-Paths-level powerhouse killed me as well; it was Izanagi that saved me," Obito continued.

"Izanagi?" Pain frowned, as he was not familiar with this technique. However, he could sense the power and importance of the jutsu from Obito's tone.

"Yes, it is the ultimate ocular technique of the Uchiha Clan," Obito nodded, his eyes revealing a deep sense of exhaustion. "You don't need to worry too much about that; the ultimate goal is what we pursue."

Pain did not speak, his deep Rinnegan seemingly filled with endless contemplation.

He knew that Obito was a man who harbored many secrets, and now was not the time to force him to reveal them.

He slowly raised his arm, which had lost its right hand, and said in a flat yet firm tone: "This hand was lost in the pursuit of peace. To me, it is not a significant matter."

Obito nodded slightly, knowing that Pain was the type of person who would sacrifice everything for his ideals. He touched his Orange Mask, as if he could feel the heavy weight of that responsibility through it. "Pain, I understand what you mean. Our path is destined to be difficult, but I believe that as long as we persevere, we will surely find a way to achieve peace."

Pain turned his head slightly, examining Obito with a gaze that bordered on scrutiny; his Rinnegan seemed to hold endless depth and wisdom, capable of peering into all the secrets of the human heart.

Under the gaze of those eyes, Obito felt the scrutiny of a judge; his right-eye Mangekyo Sharingan rotated, watching in tandem with the Rinnegan.

"Madara, the mysterious powerhouse who appeared this time is a variable in our plan," Pain's voice was low and powerful, each word striking Obito's heart like a heavy hammer. "You know that even if we combined our strength, we could not defeat him; even Chibaku Tensei was useless. I exhausted all my techniques and even sacrificed my right hand."

Obito took a deep breath, knowing that Pain spoke the truth. He had also faced that mysterious powerhouse personally and deeply felt his unrivaled strength. It was a power that transcended the limits of humanity, as if only the Sage of Six Paths could possess it.

"Pain, I understand what you mean," Obito said slowly. "Our plan has indeed encountered an accident, but we cannot give up because of it. We must re-evaluate our strength and goals and find new ways to deal with this variable."

Pain nodded, a hint of approval appearing on his face.

He knew that Obito was a man of firm conviction and wisdom, and he believed that Obito would surely find a way to solve the problem.

"Then, do you have any ideas?" Pain asked.

Obito was silent for a moment, various possibilities and plans flashing rapidly through his mind. He knew that their current predicament was not something they could easily resolve and that some unconventional methods must be employed.

"We need more power," Obito finally spoke, his voice revealing firmness and determination. "We need to find those ninjas who possess special abilities and strength to join the Akatsuki; only in this way can we enhance our strength and deal with that mysterious powerhouse."

Pain frowned, knowing that this would not be an easy task.

But he also understood that their current predicament indeed required them to take unconventional measures. He nodded, signaling his agreement with Obito's idea.

"Very well, I will send people to search for those capable ninjas," Pain said. "At the same time, we will also strengthen our own training and improvement, striving to enhance our strength in the shortest possible time."

"Pain, the peaceful world of the Eye of the Moon plan will shine upon the entire Ninja World," Obito stared at Pain, his voice firm and deep.

Upon hearing this, a trace of doubt flashed in Pain's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a more complex emotion.

"Madara, do you truly believe that the Eye of the Moon plan can bring about true peace?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry.

Obito took a deep breath, looking back at Pain with a firm gaze. He watched Pain's deep and complex eyes, and an inexplicable worry welled up in his heart. Has this kid been beaten stupid by that Six-Paths powerhouse? His thinking must remain clear, otherwise, we will be unable to face the challenges ahead.

"Pain, listen to me," Obito's voice suddenly became serious. He stared intently into Pain's eyes, as if trying to transmit his own conviction and determination to him. "I believe that the peaceful world of the Eye of the Moon plan will shine upon the entire Ninja World. I know this plan might sound a bit crazy, or even unbelievable. But I am deeply convinced that only this plan can completely end the strife and pain of this ninja world."

Pain's eyes revealed a profound sense of calm, as if his heart had already weathered countless storms and had now found a resonance.

He was silent for a moment, as if digesting Obito's words and feeling the determination and persistence within them.

In this moment of tranquility, Pain seemed to have a conversation with himself in his heart, then nodded, agreeing with Obito.

"Then, Itachi Uchiha," Obito's voice echoed in the air. He turned to look at Itachi, his gaze filled with complexity and depth.

At this moment, Itachi's eyes were still the unique Six-Tomoe Rinnegan, and he was still being controlled by Liuli's illusion world.

In truth, Liuli had lifted the illusion after leaving; was Itachi Uchiha unwilling to come out himself?

Obito walked over slowly. He stood before Itachi, their gazes meeting in the air, as if an invisible force were flowing between them.

Obito's Mangekyo Sharingan stared intently at Itachi's Six-Tomoe Rinnegan, as if probing the secrets and power behind those eyes.

Itachi stood there quietly, allowing Obito's gaze to linger upon him.

"Itachi Uchiha has been controlled; there are six tomoe connected within the Rinnegan. It truly is a pair of beautiful eyes."

Obito's voice echoed in the air. His gaze remained locked onto Itachi, and those unique Six-Tomoe Rinnegan seemed to emit an eerie and mesmerizing light.

Obito took a deep breath, attempting to steady the shock within his heart. He had once believed his Mangekyo Sharingan was powerful enough, but facing Liuli's eyes, he felt his own insignificance and helplessness profoundly.

The power contained within those eyes seemed capable of devouring everything, even suppressing his Kamui firmly.

Is Kamui being suppressed by these eyes? Obito thought of the terrifying, vast amount of ocular power and could not help but feel a palpitation.

The Kamui he had once taken such pride in was rendered completely useless before Liuli's Six-Tomoe Rinnegan, leaving him with a sense of frustration he had never experienced before.

While dodging Liuli's Inferno Style, Obito had tried various methods to shake off this suppression, but all were to no avail.

Those Six-Tomoe Rinnegan seemed to possess endless power; no matter how hard he tried, he could not break free from that binding and restriction.

"Zetsu, you can come out now." Obito's voice echoed across the empty field as he called toward the bushes, seemingly having sensed the anomaly there long ago.

A subtle movement immediately rustled through the grass, as if something were quietly approaching.

As the sound drew nearer, a figure gradually emerged from the brush.

It was Black Zetsu, a figure clad in black with a face shrouded in shadow.

Black Zetsu stepped out, his gaze sweeping over Obito before shifting to the other members of the Akatsuki.

"Orochimaru and I were researching something in the lab..." White Zetsu's voice drifted slowly through the air, though he paused for a moment, seemingly weighing his words.

He, Orochimaru, and the others of the Six Paths of Pain had been beaten half to death by Liuli, yet here he was, hiding in a laboratory conducting some unknown, secret research.

"Yes, we were researching something... that might change the landscape of the ninja world." White Zetsu finally offered a vague answer, but such phrasing clearly failed to satisfy the audience's curiosity.

"Change the landscape of the ninja world?" The members of the Akatsuki frowned slightly; the description was too broad, making it impossible to grasp its specific meaning.

Black Zetsu seemed to notice the speechlessness of the Akatsuki members; he smiled and stepped forward, attempting to ease the tense atmosphere. He glanced at White Zetsu before turning to the others. "Don't mind him. White Zetsu just wanted to crack a joke to help everyone relax a bit during this intense battle. After all, we all need a little humor to relieve the pressure, don't we?"

Hearing this, although the group remained somewhat speechless, they had to admit that Black Zetsu made a fair point. They nodded, signaling for Black Zetsu to continue.

Seeing this, Black Zetsu continued, "After that Sage of Six Paths left, I came out of Orochimaru's laboratory. You know, I had been lurking there, waiting for an opportunity. When I saw Itachi Uchiha being controlled by that Sage of Six Paths, I had intended to sneak an attack. Unfortunately, that Sage of Six Paths-level Susanoo armor was simply too powerful; I had no chance to get close."

"That's right, I missed the chance to attack, otherwise I would have finished off that Sage of Six Paths-level powerhouse!"

White Zetsu chimed in humorously. The group burst into laughter at his words. Even Pain, who had been keeping a straight face, could not help but reveal a hint of a smile.

Obito, however, frowned and asked with some concern, "Where is Orochimaru now? Is he still conducting those human experiments?"

Black Zetsu shook his head and replied, "No, Orochimaru is no longer conducting human experiments. He seems to be researching the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan, wanting to explore its mysteries. As for where he is now, I am not entirely sure. He seems to have gone out again; his whereabouts are mysterious."

Hearing this, Obito fell into deep contemplation. He knew that his spare Izanagi had been completely exhausted, which undoubtedly brought great trouble to his future operations.

After all, Izanagi was one of his vital trump cards, capable of turning the tide of battle at a critical moment.

Now that this trump card was gone, they had to find other solutions.

Thinking of this, Obito could not help but furrow his brows.

Just then, a thought flashed through Obito's mind: perhaps he could go to Shimura Danzō to get some spare Izanagi? He knew that Shimura Danzō had always been very interested in the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan and forbidden techniques, and it was highly likely that he possessed some spare Izanagi.

"What should be done about Itachi Uchiha?" Black Zetsu asked, his gaze never leaving Itachi Uchiha's Six-Tomoe Rinnegan. The ocular power contained within those eyes filled him with a deep sense of wariness. He could conclude that this power had a great connection to the Sage of Six Paths.

Obito fell silent for a moment upon hearing this. His gaze also landed on Itachi Uchiha, a complex look flashing in his eyes. He knew that Itachi Uchiha was an extremely powerful ninja and a man of deep thoughts. His existence was both a source of power and a hidden danger for the Akatsuki.

"I have discussed it with Pain; we will continue to expand our numbers and intensify the Tailed Beast capture plan. At the same time, the Jinchūriki must also be handled properly," Obito said slowly. "As for Itachi Uchiha, I checked, and the genjutsu has been lifted. He seems to be lost in confusion for some reason, unable to move past it."

Black Zetsu nodded in understanding. He knew that Itachi Uchiha had just experienced the massacre of his clan, and such psychological trauma was not something that could be recovered from easily. Even if he appeared to have returned to normal on the surface, the confusion and pain within his heart remained.

"That is true. He only just finished killing his clan members a few days ago, but this psychological dilemma should have passed by now," Black Zetsu continued. "That Sage of Six Paths-level powerhouse even took Itachi Uchiha aside; I wonder what they talked about?"

Obito did not answer Black Zetsu's question, his gaze remaining fixed on Itachi Uchiha.

He was thinking about how exactly to deal with this strange, powerful Sage of Six Paths-level ninja.

He knew that Itachi Uchiha's loyalty was beyond doubt, but he also worried that his internal trauma would affect his future actions.

"Let's put the matter of Itachi Uchiha aside for now." Obito took a deep breath, deciding to shelve the issue for the time being. He knew that the most important task currently was to restore the power of the remaining three paths of Pain so that the Six Paths of Pain could be complete once again. This was the key to their next operational plan.

He turned to Black Zetsu, his expression firm. "We need to restore the power of the remaining three paths of Pain as soon as possible. This is the most urgent task at hand."

Black Zetsu nodded, understanding Obito's meaning. He also knew that the power of the Six Paths of Pain was vital to their plan. Only with a complete Six Paths of Pain could they exert their greatest combat strength.

"I will arrange for people to handle the repairs as soon as possible," Black Zetsu replied. "At the same time, we also need to prepare our next battle plan."

Obito nodded in agreement. "There is no need to worry about that guy Orochimaru; he is no longer a threat to us. Once Kakuzu and Sasori return from their missions, we will hold a meeting to discuss our next battle plan."

Black Zetsu frowned slightly. "Although Orochimaru is no longer a threat, his power should not be underestimated. Do we really not need to consider him anymore?"

Obito sneered. "Orochimaru's power is indeed great, but his personality is too selfish and cunning. He acts only for his own interests and will not become our ally. Rather than wasting time on him, it is better to focus our energy on dealing with other enemies."

Black Zetsu found Obito's analysis reasonable. He nodded. "I understand. Then we will focus our energy on restoring the power of the three paths of Pain and formulating our battle plan."

Pain, who had been listening from the side, nodded as well and said, "Then I will go notify Kakuzu and the others to return."

"Yes, a huge variable has appeared this time; we must have a complete plan in place," Obito said firmly, as the true leader of the Akatsuki.