Obito fell silent.
He thought of Shisui Uchiha.
That boy, known as "Body Flicker Shisui," had intimidated all of Konoha with just a pair of Mangekyō. Even he and Nagato had been deeply wary of him.
If they had not plotted to surround and attack him, Shisui would never have died.
And now, Ryōta, Itachi, Crescent Moon... every one of them was no weaker than Shisui, perhaps even stronger.
In single combat, he was no longer confident he could defeat anyone with a pair of Eternal Eyes, but with the combined strength of the entire Akatsuki... perhaps it really was possible.
"Cough, cough..."
Obito clutched his chest and coughed a few times. Looking at Black Zetsu with a complicated expression, he asked:
"Black Zetsu, just now, you..."
"What, do you have doubts about my strength?"
Black Zetsu turned his yellow eyes toward him and said calmly, "When Lord Madara created me, he gave me a few special abilities. That is all."
Obito fell silent again.
Special abilities?
Those terrifying bone spikes, that bizarre form...
Those were certainly no ordinary "special abilities."
But he did not press the matter. Everyone had their own secrets. Since Black Zetsu was unwilling to speak, asking would be pointless.
Obito pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"With all our strength combined, surrounding and killing the wielders of three pairs of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan isn't impossible."
"But... what about Lin Ze?"
"Since he took in Uchiha Itachi and Ryōta, that means he's already on the opposing side."
Black Zetsu's yellow eyes flickered.
"Try to win him over first."
"If he's unwilling to cooperate..."
Black Zetsu did not finish, but the killing intent in his words said everything.
Obito took a deep breath.
"Then let's return to Amegakure first and discuss our next move with Nagato."