"What's wrong, Obito?"
The real Tobi asked in a lively voice, his breezy tone completely at odds with the tense atmosphere on the battlefield.
"Didn't you tell me to come out later?"
Obito did not answer.
He simply stood there, his gaze sweeping over the Allied Shinobi Forces pouring onto the battlefield from every direction. As he watched those densely packed figures converge like a tide into ranks that stretched beyond sight, his eyes gradually darkened.
"Hmph. Nothing but a rabble."
Madara Uchiha offered this casual assessment from beside him, his tone full of disdain.
Across the battlefield.
Deidara stood in the middle of the allied formation, still working out how much clay he had left. But when he made out the spiral-shaped White Zetsu atop the Ten-Tails' head, he abruptly froze in place as though struck by lightning.
His blue eyes flew wide, his pupils contracting sharply.
"Tobi?!"
His shout drew glances from the surrounding shinobi, many of whom looked at him in confusion.
Hearing the call, the Swirly Face White Zetsu standing atop the Ten-Tails' head turned to look in the direction of the voice.
He tilted his head and thought for a moment, as though trying to recognize him, then let out an "Ah!" of apparent realization.
"Um... you're called Deidara-senpai, right?"
As he spoke, he waved a hand, his tone taking on a corrective note.
"I'm not the Tobi you know."
Deidara stared blankly at him. Before he could wrap his mind around it, he saw Swirly Face extend a finger and point at Obito beside him.
Then Tobi began his performance.
He struck a wildly exaggerated pose beside Obito and spread his arms as though displaying a priceless treasure, then circled Obito while making all sorts of ridiculous gestures.
"The Tobi you know, the one