The Plan Is a Go

After thinking it over and over, he still could not come up with a good solution.

Should he just go after Obito directly?

It was not impossible. The one-year agreement depended on the circumstances; it was not absolute.

If he did not want to completely fall out with him, he could act a little more innocent... approach him in the name of sparring. As long as he injured Obito during the exchange, he would have a chance to obtain his blood.

The question was, how would he wrap things up afterward?

Someone who had not long ago solemnly declared... that whatever he did or wherever he went within the next year had nothing to do with him, suddenly wanted to spar with him.

What reason could he give?

That he had failed to destroy Konoha that night and wanted to confirm his own shortcomings by fighting him?

That would be treating Obito like a complete idiot.

Not only would it end in an irreconcilable mess... it would also expose the cards he currently held.

Unless absolutely necessary, it would be best to resolve this without the "two kings" meeting.

Uchiha Obito had been injured and bled before. The most likely occasion was... though he did not know whether that would work.

After a long while, Nagato finally raised his head from his thoughts and asked, "Orochimaru, if blood has been clotted for a long time, can effective genetic material still be extracted from it?"

Orochimaru raised a hand and lightly supported his chin as he pondered. "Nagato-kun, all I can say is that genetic material is far less fragile than you imagine."

"What is it? Did Obito leave behind a similar blood sample somewhere?"

"Yes. During the battle at Kannabi Bridge, Obito had half his body crushed by a massive boulder. There may be a great deal of residual blood on that stone, but that happened at least a year ago. I do not know whether rain and such have affected it."

"Or perhaps Obito has already cleaned up that boulder."

"Nope~" White Zetsu No. 0 spoke up at that moment. "Obito never went back to Kannabi Bridge to specifically deal with that boulder. After all, it was buried beneath a pile of rubble. Who besides someone who knew him inside out and had way too much time on their hands would think to go after that particular rock~?!"

"Exactly, exactly~!" No. 1 chimed in. "Besides... Obito has always presented himself as Madara. He never imagined that anyone would learn his true identity~"

Orochimaru smiled and egged them on. "So, that means the two of you have a role to play, doesn't it~?"

"NO, NO, NO~" No. 0 said, waving a hand. "Kannabi Bridge is already very close to the main base. Otherwise, that kid Obito would not have fallen into Madara's lair back then~"

No. 1 said, "That place is crawling with my brethren on the enemy's side. Even if you tampered with No. 0 and me so they cannot detect that we have defected, doing anything strange right in front of them would still arouse suspicion~!"

"By then, Obito would not even need to make a move. Our brethren would swarm us and tear us into eight pieces~!"

"Right. Even though we are the same kind, they never show mercy when necessary. We White Zetsu are disposable pawns, just like that~!"

Nagato said, "Then it truly would not be appropriate to have you handle this. Focus on returning to the main base and find a way to get the 'Hashirama Artificial Body Cells on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path'~!"

No. 0 gave a thumbs-up. "We have Hashirama Cells in our bodies too~ Though they are inferior. If Nagato-sama does not mind, use mine~"

Of course I mind. Otherwise, would I need to go through all this trouble and pull these tricks?

But Nagato replied with high emotional intelligence, "Sigh, you are both important subordinates of mine~ How could I let you suffer such harm?"

No. 0 immediately burst into tears. "Wuwuwuwu... Nagato-sama, you are far too kind!"

No. 1 also immediately declared, "Even if I am smashed to pieces, I will remove the entire Hashirama Artificial Body from the Demonic Statue and carry it before you!"

Nagato turned his gaze toward Orochimaru... technical matters still needed his judgment. Whether it was necessary to remove the whole thing also depended on his opinion.

After considering it, Orochimaru said, "A small amount will suffice. What matters most about cells is not quantity, but purity. As long as I have a small amount of high-purity cells, I can culture and multiply them."

"Besides... I do not believe you would still make it back alive to Nagato-kun and me after removing the entire Hashirama Artificial Body. Doing this is also for your own protection, is it not?"

A small amount would suffice... Then the difficulty of the mission at their lair did not seem so unimaginably high.

Nagato said, "No. 0, No. 1, though the mission is important, you must both come back alive. Understood?"

He said inwardly, Especially you, No. 0... your assimilation ability will have crucial strategic significance in the future.

"Nagato-sama... we guarantee that we will complete the mission!!"

After saluting, No. 0 and No. 1 both sank into the ground.

Once the two chatterboxes had left, the room fell silent again.

Nagato, Orochimaru, and Yakushi Kabuto were all lost in thought.

In the end, Orochimaru broke the silence.

"Nagato-kun, what are you planning to do about Kannabi Bridge?"

"Konan and I absolutely cannot appear there, much less dig up that boulder." Nagato spoke in a low, resolute voice.

That would be... like tearing off Obito's bloody mask from afar and ruthlessly stomping on his face.

"..." Orochimaru's vertical pupils lowered as well. Just as he pondered how to speak—

"Let me go." Yakushi Kabuto, who had remained silent since they entered the heart of the matter, finally spoke.

Nagato stared deeply at Kabuto. "Kabuto, do not volunteer so lightly. Do you know what you will be facing?"

Kabuto pushed his glasses up with a finger and replied in his calm young voice, "I do. Once I enter the White Zetsu's field of vision, that man will use the ocular technique called Kamui to instantly appear before me, correct? And then my life will..."

Nagato said without reservation, "Taking your life directly might be the lighter outcome. What if he uses the Sharingan to make you divulge information? Everything concerning me would be exposed."

This time, Kabuto met his gaze directly. "Nagato-sama, forgive my bluntness, but this is an objective risk you must bear. All I can guarantee is that I will do everything in my power to end my own life before he can extract information from me!"

Hearing Kabuto's answer, Nagato smiled—a truly heartfelt smile. "You cannot die, Kabuto. Have you forgotten what I asked of you?"

"Huh?" Yakushi Kabuto froze for a moment, recalling Nagato's request that day—"This is also another purpose of mine: to make these Rinnegan, which do not truly belong to me, become genuinely mine—belonging to this body, to 'Nagato'!"

So he was serious? Nagato—someone even Lord Orochimaru eagerly sought after—actually trusted me so much that he was truly willing to entrust such an important mission to me...

It turned out that... until now, Kabuto had not taken those words seriously at all!

It truly made him... feel unexpectedly honored!

After careful consideration, Nagato said, "Orochimaru, if Kabuto is really going, then follow what I am about to say and give him an extra safeguard..."