"Apart from Obito Uchiha and the Akatsuki leader, Pain, the rest of Akatsuki aren't worth mentioning."
Utakata shook his head and answered calmly.
With Mei Terumi back in the village, news of what had happened at the Five Kage Summit had naturally spread through Kirigakure.
Pain, the Akatsuki leader who possessed the Sage of Six Paths' [Rinnegan], had consequently entered the Kirigakure public's awareness.
Utakata was, after all, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.
He acknowledged Obito Uchiha's strength, and he was deeply wary of Pain's [Rinnegan].
But the rest of Akatsuki?
Even another whole squad of people like Juzo Biwa wouldn't make Utakata wary.
"You should know that Obito Uchiha was 'resurrected' during the Five Kage Summit, right?"
Uchiha Minamoto smiled politely and presented more convincing evidence.
"If Orochimaru can 'resurrect' Obito Uchiha, then he can 'resurrect' Madara Uchiha.
"Incidentally, you might not know this, but Madara Uchiha is Akatsuki's true mastermind."
Behind Pain was Nagato, behind Nagato was Obito Uchiha, behind Obito Uchiha was Madara Uchiha, behind Madara Uchiha was Black Zetsu, and behind Black Zetsu was Kaguya Otsutsuki...
The shinobi world was one enormous nesting-doll game.
But for ordinary people, figures like Black Zetsu and Kaguya Otsutsuki were still far too remote.
Uchiha Minamoto only unraveled the "nesting-doll game" as far as Madara Uchiha.
Yet even that made Utakata's expression change dramatically.
He had witnessed Obito Uchiha's strength firsthand on Deserted Island that day.
Uchiha Minamoto was even stronger than him.
And Madara Uchiha was a legendary ninja said to rival the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju!
Utakata could disregard Juzo Biwa, but he couldn't disregard Madara Uchiha!
Mei Terumi was also startled.
"Wasn't Madara Uchiha the one who controlled the Third with genjutsu back then?"
"Yes."
Uchiha Minamoto nodded.
"Madara Uchiha controlled the Third Mizukage, and Obito Uchiha controlled