Two Scheming Members of the Akatsuki

The Akatsuki headquarters was never a warm place.

Deep within the headquarters, before the majestic, mountain-like Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, there was only one figure at this moment.

Obito Uchiha.

He sat on a simple stone seat at the feet of the golem, a rough, cold, and utterly uncomfortable natural rock dug from the ground. But he didn't care. Sitting here, he could look up and see the golem's eight open eyes, and feel the Chakra of the eight Tailed Beast flowing, merging, and gradually transforming within the golem, evolving towards its final form.

Just one last step.

Obito's right hand unconsciously caressed the armrest of the stone seat. His fingertips could feel the fine lines on the surface of the rock, traces left by geological movements millions of years ago, which seemed like some kind of code in the absolute darkness. His eyes were closed, and the mask he had taken off was placed on his lap—a white mask with Mitsudomoe that revealed his eyes.

The ripples of the left Rinnegan were faintly visible in the darkness, its purple light like phosphorescence in the deep sea—cold, mysterious, and full of destructive power.

"Soon..." Obito muttered to himself, his voice echoing slightly in the empty hall. "Soon."

He opened his right eye. It was an ordinary eye, belonging to Obito Uchiha, and it didn't shine with any special light in the darkness. But burning within that eye was an almost insane obsession, a flame that had never been extinguished in the past sixteen years.

Raise your right hand, spread your five fingers, and then slowly clench your fist.

This simple action caused ripples of Chakra in the air. It wasn't Chakra that was actively released, but rather energy fluctuations that naturally emanated from his body and resonated with the golem. The floor of the hall trembled slightly, and the golem's toes twitched gently, as if in response to his movement.

Three days ago, on the border of the Waterfall Country, he experienced the full pleasure of this power for the first time.

It wasn't the thrill of battle—he'd long since become numb to that. Ever since that hellish night at Kannabi Bridge, ever since he witnessed Rin die at Kakashi's hands, ever since he decided to become Madara Uchiha's successor... battle was merely a tool to him, a means to achieve his goals.

But the thrill of power is different.

As he stood before the Allied Forces, watching those so-called Kage— the Raikage's rage, the Tsuchikage's stubbornness, the Land of Iron's general's foolishness—watching them flee in disarray under the onslaught of the Jinchuriki's Six Paths Clones, watching that Ōnoki desperately unleash Dust Release, watching him finally collapse from exhaustion...

That feeling.

It's like standing on a cloud, looking down at the struggles of ants on the ground.

Like a god who controls everything, arbitrarily manipulating the fate of mortals.

And all of this is just the beginning.

The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path has successfully sealed away all eight Tailed Beasts. The One-Tail Shukaku's raging sandstorm, the Two-Tails Matatabi's eerie blue flames, the Isobu's deep-sea Uzumaki, the Four-Tails Son Gokū's molten lava heat, the Five-Tails Kokuō's steam burst, the Six-Tails, Saiken's acidic Utakata, the Seven -Seven-Tails Tailed Chomei's Chomei powder Genjutsu, Eight-Tails Gyuki's lightning octopus—eight distinct Chakra natures and the complete wills of the eight Tailed Beasts are now forcibly imprisoned within this mazo, suppressed, fused, and transformed by the power of the Rinnegan.

Like eight colors of paint that are roughly mixed together, what kind of color will eventually be formed?

Obito didn't know.

But he could sense that the color must be something beyond human comprehension.

It is a power that only a god could wield.

And he himself was about to become that god.

"Only the Nine-Tails is left..." Obito muttered to himself, his left hand unconsciously resting on his chest. Not his heart, but something deeper, the core point where the Chakra meridians converged. There was a jutsu there— Madara Uchiha had carved before his death, used to control him.

A cunning, despicable, and sly trick.

Obito's lips curled into a cold smile.

Did Madara think he could control him forever? Did he think that technique would ensure he acted according to plan? Did he think that Obito Uchiha would willingly be a pawn for life, and then offer his body as a vessel to resurrect that old man Madara?

That's too naive.

"Once I break through to the Six Paths Tier..." Obito's voice was low, but each word was as sharp as an icicle, "Will that technique still be able to control me?"

Of course he knew the answer.

The Six Paths Tier is the legendary realm of the Sage of Six Paths, a power level that surpasses all Kekkei Genkai, Kekkei Tōta, and even the Rinnegan itself. Once that realm is reached, the body becomes completely energy-based, the Chakra merges with nature, and the soul breaks through the shackles of mortals.

By then, all those heart-related techniques, Madara's hidden tricks, and the constraints of the Impure World Reincarnation...

It's all a joke.

Just like humans don't notice the traps set by ants at their feet.

Just as gods don't care about curses inscribed by mortals.

Obito looked up at the top of the golem's head. There, eight of the nine eyes were open, only one remained tightly closed. But once the Nine-Tails was captured, once the last piece of the puzzle was put back in place...

All nine eyes will open at the same time.

The Ten-Tails will be fully revived.

As for himself, as the Jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails and the one who controls this world-destroying power, he will ascend to the highest level, reaching the realm that Madara Uchiha pursued his entire life but never truly attained.

Then, Eye of the Moon Plan can truly begin.

Infinite Tsukuyomi.

A world where there is no war, no suffering, and no loss.

A world where Lin is still alive.

Upon hearing this name, Obito's breath hitched for a moment.

Lin.

Rin Nohara.

That girl who will forever remain thirteen years old, that girl who said to him under the setting sun, "Obito, you have to become Hokage," that girl who was killed by Kakashi's own hands.

Seventeen years have passed.

More than 5,100 days.

Every day, that scene replayed in his mind: Rin rushing towards Kakashi with her Lightning Blade, Kakashi's terrified eyes, the sound of the Lightning Blade piercing his chest, the warmth of the blood splattering on his face, and Rin's last smile—a smile that seemed to say, "I'm sorry, Obito, I've come to find you."

Why?

Why did Lin choose to die?

Why did Kakashi take action?

Why must this world make kind people suffer like this?

Obito closed his eyes, clenched his right fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white from the force.

"Soon, Lin..." he whispered, his voice filled with an almost fragile tenderness, a stark contrast to his previous coldness. "Soon, I will be able to create a world where you exist. A world where no one will ever hurt you. A world where you can always smile, always live, always... by my side."

In the hall, only the golem's deep breathing answered him.

That was the resonance generated by the flow of Chakra, like the snoring of a sleeping giant beast—long, heavy, and carrying an inhuman terror.

Obito put the Mitsudomoe mask back on.

The face behind the mask was expressionless.

He rose from his stone seat, walked to the golem's feet, and reached out to gently touch its rough skin. The texture was unlike that of a living thing; it felt more like some ancient, petrified giant tree. But beneath the skin, he could feel a surge of energy, like a volcano about to erupt.

Obito raised his other hand and formed a hand seal in front of his chest. It wasn't a complicated seal, just a simple one for communication. With this movement, the flow of Chakra within the golem underwent a subtle change. The Chakra of the eight Tailed Beast was no longer a chaotic mixture, but began to arrange and recombine according to a certain sequence.

The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path not merely a vessel; it is itself a source of power. When the Chakra of the Nine Tailed Beasts merges within it, a qualitative change begins to occur, giving birth to a power that transcends conventional Ninjutsu and belongs to the realm of "gods."

Obito, as the controller of the golem, will gain control of all its power.

Our current strength is enough to let those Shinobi World Allied Forces experience what true despair is.

"The Five Great Shinobi Villages have united?" Obito suddenly laughed, the laughter sounding particularly eerie in the empty hall. "Good, very good. This is what makes it interesting. If the opponent is too weak, if victory comes too easily, then the sense of accomplishment in creating a new world will be greatly diminished, won't it?"

He turned around, walked back to the stone seat, and sat down.

His right leg was crossed over his left, in a relaxed posture. His right elbow rested on the armrest, his palm supporting his chin, and his eyes behind the mask were looking towards the entrance of the hall.

He's waiting.

"You think you can rebel against me by uniting?" Obito's voice was soft, but every word was like a poisoned knife. "You think sacrificing Ōnoki and Mifune can stop the Eye of the Moon Plan?"

He shook his head.

"Too naive."

"You simply don't understand what you're fighting against."

"It's not the ambition of one person or one organization."

It's fate.

"This world, filled with pain and loss, is destined to end."

In the hall, the golem's breathing seemed to grow heavier.

It was as if she was agreeing with him.

Obito closed his eyes, lost in memories once more.

This time, the memory is not of Lin's death.

It was even earlier.

It was a bright and sunny afternoon in Konoha's training ground. He was still a bottom-of-the-class student, and Rin was bandaging his wounds while Kakashi mocked him from the sidelines. Minato-sensei smiled and tried to mediate, saying, "The three of you should get along well."

Back then, everything was so simple.

Back then, the pain was just minor things like being too tired from training, having too many difficult tasks, and failing exams.

At that time, his biggest dream was simply to become Hokage and gain everyone's recognition.

"Minato-sensei..." Obito murmured the name, a complex emotion in his voice, "If you were still alive and saw me now, what would you say?"

Will I be angry?

Will I be disappointed?

Will you still... understand?

Obito didn't know.

He didn't want to know.

Because Minato-sensei is dead. He died under the Nine-Tails Fox's claws, killed by the Reaper Death Seal he activated to protect Konoha. That was the beginning of his plan, the first step on his path of no return.

There's no turning back.

From that moment on, Obito Uchiha was already dead.

The one who survived was merely a monster disguised as Obito, named "Madara Uchiha".

A monster destined to bring final judgment upon this world.

"Soon..." he muttered to himself again, "Soon, all of this will be over."

Soon, a new world will begin.

In that world, there is no war, no hatred, no loss.

In that world, Rin was still alive, Minato-sensei was still alive, Kushina was still alive, the Uchiha Clan was still alive, everyone was alive, and everyone was living happily.

As for those who obstruct the Eye of the Moon Plan...

A chilling killing intent flashed in Obito's right eye.

"Just crush it."

The Akatsuki headquarters is structured like an inverted tree.

One of the secret rooms is currently shrouded in absolute darkness.

It wasn't that there was no light, but rather that the darkness itself seemed to have a life of its own, actively devouring all the light. The secret room was devoid of furniture and decorations, except for a simple circular altar made of black stones in the center of the floor. On the altar, two items were placed.

One item was a glass culture jar. The jar was filled with a pale green nutrient solution, and an eyeball was suspended in the liquid.

The eyeball was purple, and the pupil had a wavy, expanding pattern.

Rinnegan.

Nagato's left eye.

The other item was a scroll. The scroll itself was black, with intricate spells drawn on its surface in silver ink. These spells were not conventional Sealing Jutsu, but rather a more ancient, eerie script that seemed to come from another world.

Black Zetsu stood before the altar.

Its body—if it could be called a body—was completely blended into the surrounding darkness, with only its yellow eyes shining in the darkness like two eerie will-o'-the-wisps. Its form was constantly changing, sometimes like a pool of flowing ink, sometimes like a twisted shadow, and sometimes coalescing into a roughly human shape.

But its consciousness remained clear and cold.

"The Five Great Shinobi Villages have finally united..." Black Zetsu's voice, sharp as sandpaper, pierced the absolute silence. "A little later than expected, but... they've united after all."

Its yellow eyes were fixed on the Rinnegan on the altar.

The eye slowly rotated in the nutrient solution, as if it still retained the will of its former self. The will of Nagato, the will of Yahiko, and... the will of Madara Uchiha.

"That Obito brat is getting more and more arrogant," Black Zetsu continued, his tone devoid of emotion, only pure assessment. "The battle in the Waterfall Country made him overestimate his own strength. He thought he had everything under control, that the Eye of the Moon Plan was about to succeed, that... he could break free from Madara's control."

It emitted a low, almost mocking sound.

"Madness."

Black Zetsu's body writhed to the edge of the altar, his shadowy fingers gently tracing the glass surface of the culture jar. The Rinnegan inside seemed to sense something, its rotation speed increasing slightly.

"You think that old fox Madara would leave such an easily broken technique on you?" Black Zetsu spoke to the empty room as if lecturing an unseen student. "You think the power of the Six Paths Tier is something a half-baked novice like you can fully control? You think... the true purpose of the Infinite Tsukuyomi is to create some beautiful, illusory world?"

It shook its head—if the swaying of that shadow could be considered a head shake.

"You're too naive, Obito."

"You and Nagato are both just pawns. Important pawns, but ultimately just pawns. The purpose of a pawn is to pave the way for the player's ultimate victory, and then be discarded when it is no longer needed."

Black Zetsu's yellow eyes turned to a corner of the secret room.

There, embedded in the wall, was a huge crystal. The crystal's surface was currently displaying a live feed of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path Hall—a surveillance system it had secretly set up using the Spore Technique, Obito had never discovered.

In the scene, Obito is sitting on a stone seat with his mask on his lap, his eyes closed, as if meditating.

But Black Zetsu knew he was reminiscing.

Remembering that girl named Lin.

Recalling those long-gone, false moments of warmth.

"Human emotions are such fragile and laughable things," Black Zetsu muttered to himself. "Just because of the death of a girl, just because of that insignificant pain, he wants to destroy the entire world and create some kind of eternal illusion... Ha, even Madara finds this reason childish."

It recalled Madara Uchiha's dying words.

The real, legendary Madara Uchiha, after transplanting the Rinnegan to Nagato and entrusting his plan to Obito, lay on the stone bed in the cave, and with his last breath said:

"Black Zetsu, you need to make sure the plan goes smoothly. Obito... that kid is too emotional. If he goes astray, if he wants to break free from control... you know what to do."

Black Zetsu certainly knew.

It has lived for over a thousand years, ever since the Sage of Six Paths sealed his mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, lurking in the shadows, waiting, planning, and secretly orchestrating everything. It witnessed the battles between Indra Ōtsutsuki and Asura Ōtsutsuki, the feud between the Uchiha Clan and Senju Clan, the establishment of the ninja villages, and the devastation of the three Shinobi World Wars.

And all of this is for one purpose:

Resurrecting Mother.

Let Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, the progenitor of Chakra, the true god who was sealed away for a thousand years by her two rebellious sons, descend upon this world once more.

Infinite Tsukuyomi has never been some kind of Genjutsu that creates a wonderful world.

That was the ritual to summon the God Tree, the process of letting its God Tree spread across the entire planet and absorb the Chakra of all life forms; it was the key to unlocking the seal and releasing Kaguya.

The Eye of the Moon is Kaguya's eye.

"Madara understands at least this much," Black Zetsu said in a low voice. "He craves the Infinite Tsukuyomi not because he believes in some illusory beauty, but because he wants to become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, to obtain Six Paths Tier power, to... become an eternal being, and then for the Shinobi World to achieve true peace under his control."

"As for creating a better world? That's just an excuse he used to fool Obito. A seemingly noble excuse that could make an emotional fool like Obito willingly risk his Obito."

It looked at the Obito within the crystal.

The young man opened his eyes and stared at the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, his right eye burning with a "belief" that made Black Zetsu nauseous.

"But you're different, Obito," Black Zetsu said. "You truly believed that lie. You truly wanted to create a world with Rin. You truly... saw the Eye of the Moon Plan as some kind of salvation."

This is dangerous.

Because a pawn who genuinely believes in lies might do something unplanned.

They might hesitate at crucial moments.

A thousand-year-old plan could be ruined by some insignificant "emotion".

"So, Madara is still more reliable," Black Zetsu concluded. "Although Madara is also troublesome, and although Madara has his own ambitions, at least... Madara is calm enough, rational enough, and understands what the real goal is."

Its yellow eyes turned toward the scroll on the altar.

That scroll contained the complete method for reviving Madara Uchiha.

It's not a low-level, forbidden technique like the Impure World Reincarnation, which is subject to human control.

It is a true resurrection.

Using the power of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the Chakra of the Ten-Tails, and the power of the Rinnegan, Madara's soul was brought back from the underworld, regaining his physical body and the power he possessed in life—even greater power.

"But it's not the right time yet," Black Zetsu analyzed calmly. "Obito is still useful. He needs to capture the Nine-Tails and initiate the first phase of the Eye of the Moon Plan."

Its shadowy fingers gently tapped the altar.

"When the Ten-Tails is fully revived, when Obito becomes Jinchuriki, when he begins to activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi... then the conditions for Madara's revival will be fully met. That will be the best time to replace him."

"Luckily, I obtained Nagato's other Rinnegan beforehand." Black Zetsu's voice carried a rare hint of relief. "Otherwise, even if Madara were resurrected, without both eyes, the Rinnegan wouldn't be able to fully summon the God Tree, truly activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi, or... release Mother."

Black Zetsu returned to the altar.

Yellow eyes stared at the Rinnegan floating in the nutrient solution.

"After Madara is resurrected, he will need time to adapt to his new body and regain control of the Rinnegan. At that time, I will give this eye to him. And then..."

Black Zetsu didn't finish speaking.

But a complete plan had already emerged in its mind.

Obito captured the Nine-Tails, became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, and activated the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

At the most crucial moment of the ritual, Madara was resurrected, replacing Obito and becoming the true mastermind behind the ceremony.

The God Tree descended, Infinite Tsukuyomi enveloped the world, plunging all life into an illusion.

With the seal broken, Mother Kaguya Ōtsutsuki descended once more.

Perfect.

Except for one variable.

Black Zetsu's yellow eyes narrowed slightly.

That variable is called "alcohol".

The Akatsuki's envoy declaring war, Obito Uchiha's most trusted subordinate, was actually Orochimaru's subordinate.

"That guy...something's not right." Black Zetsu muttered to himself. "I've looked into his background. A wandering samurai from the Land of Hot Water, proficient in the Earth Release mutated Kekkei Genkai 'Petrifying Touch', and after joining Akatsuki, he's always been very loyal and efficient."

"The performance was perfect."

"Too perfect to be real."

Black Zetsu recalled "Sake's" performance within the organization. He never questioned missions, never pried into secrets, yet always completed tasks perfectly, always learned from other members, and always offered useful advice at crucial moments.

Moreover, the time Sasuke disappeared...

"The Spore Technique has been removed." Black Zetsu felt a surge of displeasure upon recalling this. "There are no more than five people in the entire Shinobi World who could remove my Spore Technique. Orochimaru is one, Tsunade might be able to do it too, and... that 'sake'?"

It's uncertain.

But it has its doubts.

"If 'Sake' has other identities, if he still has connections with Konoha, if he's planning something..." Black Zetsu's shadow began to churn violently, revealing his inner turmoil. "That could affect the entire scheme."

It pondered for a moment.

Then a decision was made.

"Observe first," Black Zetsu himself. "Before Madara is resurrected, we can't alert him. If there's really something wrong with the 'alcohol,' we'll deal with Madara first after he's resurrected."

"As for now... let Obito be smug for a while."

Black Zetsu took one last look at the image in the crystal.

Obito had put his mask back on and was standing up, heading towards the exit of the hall. Clearly, he was preparing to leave to make final preparations for tomorrow's decisive battle.

"Enjoy your smugness, Obito," Black Zetsu's voice carried a chilling mockery. "Keep believing in your ridiculous ideals, keep creating that illusory world for Rin."

"After you've done all the dirty work, after you've endured all the backlash, after you... think you've finally reached the pinnacle, think you've got everything under control..."

Yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness.

"That's when you, this pawn, are ruthlessly eliminated."

The secret room fell into absolute silence once more.

Black Zetsu's body slowly merged into the shadows on the ground and disappeared.

On the altar, the Rinnegan continued to slowly rotate in the nutrient solution.

As if waiting.

Waiting for the one destined to use it.

Waiting for that, the true Uchiha Clan.