After thinking it over and over.
Obito decided to make a trip to Kirigakure after all.
"But to play it safe, I'll need to make some preparations."
Obito activated Kamui and quietly returned to Konoha.
Then he crossed through space again and arrived at the Akatsuki Hidden Village.
He made his way into Nagato's office with practiced ease.
Nagato looked somewhat surprised to see Obito.
"Obito, what brings you here?"
"And that recent piece of news about you..."
Obito sat down across from Nagato and spoke.
"Senior Brother Nagato, that's exactly why I came to see you."
"If my guess is right, the person targeting us from the shadows is one and the same."
"And... (eight hundred words omitted)"
Obito told Nagato about his recent experiences and the conclusions he had drawn.
Nagato frowned after hearing him out.
"You're saying they might be controlling the Fourth Mizukage?"
Obito nodded slightly.
"That's right. And I have good reason to suspect they're also a member of the Uchiha Clan."
Startled, Nagato blurted out instinctively.
"No wonder... if it was the Sharingan, that would explain it."
Aside from the Sharingan's special abilities, few techniques could deceive his eyes.
Even if he had been somewhat off his game that day...
Obito nodded and said gravely.
"And based on your earlier description, they've probably awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and possess an extremely powerful genjutsu-based dōjutsu."
"With the Mangekyō Sharingan's abilities, controlling a powerful fighter who isn't particularly strong mentally wouldn't be difficult."
Nagato's brows were almost knotted together.
"That does make things tricky..."
The person behind all this had taken control of a village's Kage.
If they wanted to deal with that person, it would be tantamount to declaring war on all of Kirigakure.
Seeing Nagato sink into thought, Obito spoke.
"Senior Brother Nagato, I'm