Amegakure.
Inside a hidden base.
Obito Uchiha sat in the dim underground base with a gloomy expression, several long tubes extending from the enormous creature behind him into his body.
That enormous creature was none other than the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path-the husk of the Ten-Tails!
At that moment, Obito Uchiha relied entirely on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to sustain his life, which flickered like a candle flame.
As he sat there in gloomy silence, a black-and-white figure emerged from underground.
Zetsu!
"How did it go?"
There was not the slightest trace of emotion in Obito Uchiha's voice.
"No problem. Neither Nagato nor Konan suspected anything. If anything, they now believe your explanation about being gravely wounded even more!"
"That barely counts as good news!"
Black Zetsu stared at Obito Uchiha, who exuded a mysterious yet utterly dark aura.
That aura had originally belonged to the real Black Zetsu!
After his fierce battle with Shihōin Naraku, Obito Uchiha had been slashed into unconsciousness. Black Zetsu had tried everything, but at most, he could only slow the deterioration of Obito's injuries. He had been unable to wake him.
Black Zetsu could not allow this to happen, because Obito Uchiha was involved in many plans. If he remained unconscious for a long time, many crucial problems would be impossible to resolve.
So while using the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to sustain Obito's life, Black Zetsu had searched for other methods. If it had not been impossible, he would even have sought out Shihōin Naraku and asked him to help wake Obito Uchiha.
Fear of exposing Obito Uchiha's identity had tied Black Zetsu's hands. He could not explain the situation to the Akatsuki.
Nagato and Konan already harbored suspicions about Obito's identity. If they learned of