Arms Queen

"Hmph!" Obito Uchiha sneered inwardly at the sight. "Iwagakure, Sunagakure, Kumogakure... even Konoha's ANBU. Looks like the spies of all Five Great Nations are here!"

It was practically a spy convention! That idiot Hidan had probably had every word he said—and every fart he let out—recorded by those spies and sent back to their villages!

Without a moment's hesitation, Obito Uchiha silently slipped back into the Kamui Dimension and vanished without a trace.

Back in the cave, Black Zetsu asked in confusion, "What happened? Why are you back so soon?"

Obito Uchiha sounded both exasperated and decisive. "Hidan is finished. We're cutting off all contact with him."

"Oh? Why?"

"That so-called 'secret' hideout of his is packed with elite spies from other nations, inside and out!"

"They probably know how many bowls of rice he eats each day and every word he mutters in his sleep! Getting involved with him now would be walking straight into a trap!" Obito Uchiha was glad he hadn't shown himself.

Black Zetsu let out a low, eerie laugh. "Heh, heh, heh! What an endearingly stupid fool."

"Looks like that wreck of his has been spotted by countless eyes before it's even set sail. It's bound to sink."

Obito Uchiha said nothing more. He turned his gaze back to the Canopy Screen.

The plan to use the Jashinist Cult had collapsed before it even began. He needed to reassess his path forward. He hoped Nine Nether would give him a pleasant surprise.

Inside a cave in Amegakure, the dampness that lingered year-round condensed into droplets on the stone walls. They fell into the pooled water below with hollow, steady echoes.

In the gloom, several wavering projections formed from Chakra appeared: Kakuzu, Sasori, and Deidara.

Their images fell across the rough rock wall as they faced