Obito walked through Amegakure, looking at the skies, still thick with rain clouds. "Looks like the Evil Cult hasn't imposed strict control over the ninja village! I wonder what they're after."
"Maybe they simply don't want to wipe out the ninja! Besides, a tiny village is far smaller in scope than an entire country," Black Zetsu mused.
"How much intelligence do you have on Amegakure?" Obito looked at Black Zetsu impassively.
Black Zetsu thought for a moment. "Hanzō seems unhappy with the increasingly powerful Akatsuki. Perhaps we can exploit that."
"Mm!" Obito nodded in mild agreement. "The Land of Rain is certainly powerful now, but Amegakure? Heh!" At that, he revealed his Mangekyō. "Then let's stir up the conflict between Hanzō and the Akatsuki! Ideally, we'll get rid of that eyesore Yahiko and make Nagato feel plenty of pain."
"Oh! Have you come up with a new plan, Obito?" Black Zetsu looked at him excitedly.
"Come on. Let's kill a few of Hanzō's confidants and pin it on the Akatsuki."
"But will Hanzō believe such a simple trick?" Black Zetsu asked uncertainly.
"Heh. When you hate someone and want them gone, all you need is a simple excuse!" Obito turned his scarlet eyes on Black Zetsu, who had questioned his decision.
"All right! I'll find out where Hanzō's most capable aide is." With that, Black Zetsu sank into the rain-soaked ground and disappeared.
After finishing his work for the day, Kanzō felt somewhat glum, so he took several colleagues who were also Hanzō's confidants to the village's most famous tavern for a few drinks.
"Lord Kanzō, the Akatsuki are getting more and more out of line. They've snatched up most of the missions." One of the trusted ninja drained his cup in one gulp and spoke angrily.
"Exactly. They don't