Hanzo of the Salamander saw the ever-growing Akatsuki as the greatest threat to his rule over Amegakure and his grip on power.
Shimura Danzō seized the opportunity to contact Hanzō, and the two formed a filthy alliance.
Together, they laid a trap, using Konan's life as leverage to drive the Akatsuki into a corner.
With no other choice, Yahiko sacrificed himself and met a brutal death.
Watching his lifelong best friend, the man who had guided his ideals and held the Akatsuki together, die before his eyes shattered Nagato's entire worldview.
Agony, rage, and despair consumed him, snuffing out the light in his heart.
Having fallen into darkness, Nagato no longer spoke of gentle peace. He forcibly summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and poured every ounce of his strength into slaughtering the enemy.
In a single battle, nearly all the shinobi surrounding them were killed, their corpses strewn across the battlefield.
Only a handful, including the calculating Danzo and the cunning Hanzō, fought desperately to escape amid the chaos and barely survived.
And as Nagato broke down and slaughtered his enemies, with everyone's attention fixed on the chaotic battlefield, Obito quietly made his move from the shadows.
Taking advantage of the leaderless Akatsuki, he launched a covert attack and silently wiped out every remaining member of the original organization.
With that, Yahiko was dead, their comrades were gone, and the Akatsuki had all but been destroyed.
Discussion continued to ripple across the Shinobi World. Everyone watched the tragedy draw to a close on the Sky Screen, their hearts heavy with conflicting emotions and endless sighs.
"So that's how Kakashi got his Sharingan! It was a gift Obito risked his life to give him!"
"Back then, Obito used everything he had to push Kakashi out of the way,