The Assault Begins

Obito Uchiha's face twitched beneath his mask as he looked at the spike Hidan held out to him.

But when he thought of the Eye of the Moon Plan, he took it anyway. Gritting his teeth, he drove it into the half of his body made of White Zetsu Cells.

Then, fighting through the pain, he copied Hidan: he drew a ritual circle with the blood that flowed out, lay down inside it, and began murmuring, "Lord Jashin."

"You were born to join the Jashinist Cult, Tobi!" Hidan exclaimed at the sight.

After all, even among the cult's former members, few had ever prayed with such dedication.

Obito Uchiha kept at it for more than ten minutes, until his mouth went dry, but he felt no response. At last he asked, "Why haven't I heard from Lord Jashin?"

"Perform this ritual a few times every day, and Lord Jashin will answer you eventually," Hidan said as though it were obvious.

Obito Uchiha fell silent. "How many years have you believed in Lord Jashin?"

Hidan scratched his head and thought. "Over ten years, probably. I've lost count."

Furious, Obito Uchiha immediately used his White Zetsu Cells to heal the wound. Hidan had led him completely astray.

Lord Jashin? More likely, some being from the future had seen how gullible Hidan was and posed as him. Hidan had never even seen Lord Jashin in person.

He turned to leave.

"Wait! You really are perfect for our Jashinist Cult!" Hidan shouted after him. "How about I make you the First Elder? Hey, don't go!"

Obito Uchiha quickened his pace without looking back. Black Zetsu silently slipped underground and followed, leaving only Hidan's disappointed muttering to echo through the cave.

Atop the Tower in Amegakure, drizzle fell without end from a lead-gray sky.

Pain