While Naruto raced against time to master Kirigakure's forbidden technique to counter the newly strengthened Obito, trouble erupted within the Akatsuki's own nest!
"Urgh...!!"
The White Zetsu left to guard the place was impaled by Susanoo's greatsword!
He glared at the boy shrouded in dark purple before him and demanded, "Sasuke!! Why!! Why would you do this!!"
Sasuke said coldly, "This is the conclusion I reached after thinking it over. Staying with you won't accomplish anything anymore..."
White Zetsu shouted, "Then just leave!!! Why kill me!!!"
Sasuke said coldly, "But you'd tip him off, wouldn't you? I don't want that fake Madara ruining my plans. Besides, I need your death to sever my ties with you completely!"
Whoosh!
Amaterasu Flames blazed along the greatsword and spread onto White Zetsu's body!
"You ungrateful... bastard! We treated you... well... Aaaaaaah!!!"
White Zetsu died screaming!
Shing!
The greatsword withdrew, and Susanoo dissipated...
Sasuke gazed around the empty nest, rested his right hand on his left shoulder, and recalled the care Obito had shown him.
"Don't move around. Your left arm was severed. The bone, blood vessels, even the nerves were all broken. I attached white Zetsu cells to the severed ends and barely managed to hold it together, so stay put for a while...
"That's how things stand. To be perfectly honest, I've never lied to you or hidden anything from you."
"It seems your desire for revenge has subsided. That leaves you with two paths: follow Itachi's will and protect Konoha, or follow the Akatsuki's ideals and break the cycle of hatred completely, so Itachi's tragedy never happens again."
"Are you Madara?"
"No."
"I see... Let me be alone for a while."
"All right. Think it over carefully. I won't use force to coerce you again..."
Then he remembered Madara's thunderous rebuke!