321-325

*Chapter 321: What Madara Uchiha Could Not Achieve*

In the month of September, after the turmoil caused by Hiruko's attack had subsided, the quiet village of Konoha once again found itself buzzing with big news. The Fifth Hokage, Chōza Akimichi, stepped down due to a serious illness, passing the mantle to the Sixth Hokage. Under the watchful eyes of thousands of villagers, the new Hokage donned the Hokage hat and the robe with "Sixth Hokage" inscribed on it, taking up residence in the Hokage Tower, which had stood for nearly sixty years.

The streets erupted in joyful celebration, with Konoha decorated in festive lights for three days straight.

As soon as the news broke,

the entire shinobi world was shaken.

After all,

the new Sixth Hokage was an Uchiha.

This was none other than Uchiha Sōgen, known as the "Flame Demon"!

Most people were unaware of Konoha's tangled past, but the high-ranking members of the other four great ninja villages knew about the fierce competition between Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju for the position of Hokage. After losing the bid, Madara had left in anger, only to later return to engage in the legendary Final Battle with Hashirama. That battle left behind the Valley of the End, a landmark known to this day.

Since then,

the Uchiha clan had been under tight suppression. Not only was becoming Hokage out of the question, but even mere survival had become a significant challenge, pushing them to the brink of a clan-wide coup at one point.

However,

everything changed when Uchiha Sōgen succeeded Uchiha Fugaku, the "Menacing Eye," as the new clan leader. Under his guidance, the Uchiha clan clawed its way out of despair, reaching a peak that Madara himself could only dream of achieving.

What Madara Uchiha could not accomplish,

Uchiha Sōgen has achieved.

This event naturally drew the attention of many.

---

*"The Sixth Hokage, huh?"*

In Kumogakure,

the Fourth Raikage sat in his office, looking over the latest report about Konoha. Staring at a photo of Uchiha Sōgen, who stood on the Hokage Tower rooftop waving the Hokage hat toward the villagers below, he fell into a long silence. After a while, he said, "They actually made that monster the Sixth Hokage. Does that mean all of Konoha's so-called Hokage faction has become useless?"

This news was,

without a doubt, bad news for the Cloud Village.

"I believe that after the deaths of the Third Hokage and Danzo Shimura, there is no longer such a thing as a 'Hokage faction' in Konoha," said Tōdai, who stood by his side. He sighed softly, understanding the Raikage's distress. Even he felt an inexplicable sense of powerlessness upon hearing the news.

It seemed,

that in their lifetimes, they would never see the day when Kumogakure could surpass Konoha as the strongest ninja village.

"Tōdai, what should we do from now on...?"

The normally indomitable Fourth Raikage showed a rare moment of deep exhaustion.

He was tired.

The issues stemming from their defeat five years ago had yet to be fully resolved. As Raikage, he was like a repairman constantly patching the cracks, mentally and physically exhausted.

"Raikage-sama, the future is uncertain. Years ago, my teacher once told me that his generation believed the entire shinobi world would forever bow to the First Hokage. They thought everyone would need to kneel and kiss the ground he walked on."

"None of them ever imagined the First Hokage would pass away so soon. Though he was old, everyone who had met him believed he would live to be a hundred. Life is full of unexpected turns."

"Are you suggesting we hope Uchiha Sōgen meets an untimely end?"

The Fourth Raikage laughed.

The moment he said it, he realized how foolish it sounded.

Wishing for Uchiha Sōgen to die unexpectedly? That was about as likely as a meteor falling and flattening Konoha.

"Of course not. Hoping for our enemy to crumble on their own is laughable," Tōdai replied seriously. "What I’m saying is that Konoha is not necessarily our enemy. While there may be competition between us, it hasn’t reached the point of life and death. Since we can’t challenge Konoha right now, we might as well lower our stance. When the First Hokage was alive, no one could stand tall in front of Konoha. Bowing down isn’t shameful."

"Living by bending to others' will? What a miserable future."

"Life is like that. Good news is rare, while troubles come in droves."

"Before, Konoha was supposed to answer for the matter with the Storm Release bloodline..."

"Konoha has already explained that it was Hiruko, a rogue Konoha ninja, who was responsible. It had nothing to do with Konoha. We should just recall our envoy," Tōdai said bluntly, making it clear that opposing Konoha would only lead to trouble.

"Yet, if Konoha truly gains control over Storm Release..."

"Then let them have it. If our skills are inferior, we have no one to blame. Life isn’t about just taking advantage without setbacks. Raikage-sama, understand this: the Sixth Hokage is not some old war hero without ambition. Konoha is not to be provoked."

Tōdai raised his voice.

"Our skills are lacking, aren’t they?" The Fourth Raikage exhaled deeply, looking defeated. "You’re right. If we can’t match them, then we deserve to lose... Still, I can’t help but wish that old hero were still with us."

Tōdai’s expression turned somber.

Five years ago, they suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of Konoha, followed by a crushing blow from Iwa. This unprecedented loss weighed heavily on Kumogakure, and even the Raikage found himself hoping their enemies might collapse on their own.

Looking out the window, Tōdai saw sunlit mountains,

yet felt no warmth at all.

All he felt was a chill.

---

*Kirigakure.*

The most heavily guarded location here was not the Mizukage's office nor the Anbu headquarters, but rather the residence of the Elder. This old man was Kirigakure’s most treasured figure. Thanks to his presence, Kirigakure had been able to endure crisis after crisis, avoiding a decline within the Five Great Nations.

"Elder, Uchiha Sōgen is now the Sixth Hokage."

The strikingly beautiful Mizukage knelt on the tatami floor across the short table from the Elder, who sat with his bald head shiny like a peeled egg.

"So, the Uchiha clan finally has a Hokage?"

The Elder carefully read through the information the Mizukage had brought.

Though Terumi Mei, the Fifth Mizukage, might not have been exceptionally gifted, she certainly possessed above-average talent. Under her leadership over the past five years, Kirigakure had gradually recovered from the losses it had suffered in previous upheavals, proving herself to be a competent Mizukage.

Gradually,

the Elder had been quietly transferring his power and authority to Mei, fully aware that his time was finite.

The only reason he held authority equal to previous Mizukage leaders was because the former Mizukage hadn't exactly been reliable. If they'd been just a little more dependable, he wouldn't have had to bear such a heavy burden for so long, going his whole life without a moment's peace.

“This is good news!”

After reading the information Terumi Mei brought, Master Gen shared a sentiment entirely different from the Cloud Ninja's.

“The stronger Konoha becomes, the better. As long as Konoha stands firm, there will be less turmoil in the ninja world, and a stable environment is exactly what we need.” Unlike the Cloud Ninja, who remained ambitious even after suffering severe defeats, the Mist Ninja had been all but broken by Uchiha Obito.

To say they were devastated would be an understatement.

If not for Master Gen, the Village Hidden in the Mist might have been completely wiped out by Uchiha Obito.

Besides, with his eighty-seventh birthday approaching, Master Gen had long since lost any desire for rivalry. Even if the Mist Village would one day challenge Konoha’s power, that was for the next generation to worry about. His only wish was for the Mist Village to exist peacefully while he was still alive.

“I understand,” Terumi Mei replied quietly.

“Before coming here, I was already considering sending someone to Konoha to lend a hand to Mangetsu. According to the intelligence from Konoha, the person who attacked recently, Hiruko, was joined by someone claiming to be Uchiha Madara. It’s clear Hiruko and Houma are connected to this individual, who seems to be part of an even larger organization.”

“What do you think? Would you prefer to send someone, or maintain the status quo?”

Instead of answering Terumi Mei’s question, Master Gen responded with another.

After a two-second pause, Terumi Mei spoke. “Strengthening our alliance with Konoha would only benefit us.” The Mist Village and that self-proclaimed Uchiha Madara were sworn enemies, with no room for compromise. Helping Konoha now was essentially helping themselves.

“Then why ask me if you understand this?”

“...I was considering sending Bubbles as Mangetsu’s deputy, to assist him along with Yuri.” Terumi Mei pronounced each word carefully.

Bubbles.

A strange name for a strange man, yet this unusually named person was the Six-Tails’ jinchuriki, a key asset for the Mist Village. Since the Fourth Mizukage had released the Three-Tails, the Six-Tails jinchuriki was the only remaining strategic weapon the Mist Ninja possessed.

Sending a jinchuriki to another country on a mission was, to say the least, a bold idea.

Typically, a jinchuriki leaving the village signaled the onset of war, so they were usually kept under close watch.

“Maybe I wasn’t so bad at choosing the Mizukage after all.” Master Gen suddenly laughed, his old face blossoming like a chrysanthemum. “That’s an excellent idea! Sending the Six-Tails jinchuriki out to gain experience is wise; it will not only strengthen him but also reduce risks within the village.”

Jinchuriki are, indeed, powerful strategic assets, but they are also like time bombs. Most jinchuriki, especially those who haven’t mastered control, always run the risk of losing control. The Six-Tails jinchuriki’s control over his tailed beast was shaky, far from the proficiency of the late Fourth Mizukage.

“My only concern is… if Konoha might have ulterior motives regarding the Six-Tails,” Terumi Mei said hesitantly.

Sending the Six-Tails jinchuriki to Konoha seemed dangerously close to walking into a trap.

If she really did this, she could expect pushback from the village’s hardliners, not to mention doubts among her own supporters.

“Only what we can hold onto is truly ours; anything we can’t hold onto will eventually be taken by someone else anyway.” Master Gen’s rare smile faded, and he spoke in a steady tone. “And don’t forget what you said earlier: strengthening ties with Konoha is beneficial for us. In the foreseeable future, whether or not the village has a jinchuriki may not be as important.”

The same applies: as long as Konoha remains stable, we don’t have to worry about large-scale conflicts erupting.

Master Gen’s view wasn’t without merit.

After all, he couldn’t foresee the existence of beings like Otsutsuki Kaguya or the millennia-old schemer, Black Zetsu. To him, Konoha now seemed like an unshakable rock. As long as Uchiha Shōgen stayed in place, he believed the ninja world would enjoy a prolonged period of peace for the next two or three decades.

No Kage would start a war without a chance of victory! Of course, he hadn’t forgotten the self-proclaimed Uchiha Madara, which was why Terumi Mei suggested sending Bubbles to support Mangetsu in dealing with him.

However, he didn’t believe this so-called Uchiha Madara posed a real threat.

A shadowy figure, using cheap tricks and lurking in the dark, would never accomplish anything. The Mist Village had only been manipulated because of the strength of that person’s Sharingan. But even without that influence, the Mist Village’s own internal issues would have prevented peace.

Honestly, even though the battle against Konoha under his control had left them battered, in hindsight, it might have been a blessing in disguise. Without that conflict, how could the Mist Village have formed an alliance with Konoha? Without that alliance, who knows what state the Mist Village would be in today?

“I understand now. Thank you for your guidance,” Terumi Mei said, resolved in her heart.

“This is your decision, not mine. I’m only here to help you organize your thoughts. Remember, you are the Mizukage. People can advise you, but the final decision is yours alone, as is the responsibility that comes with it,” Master Gen said slowly.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 322: The Sixth Hokage and Hiruko*

Sougen was in an excellent mood!

After years of waiting, he had finally achieved his long-held ambition. With public support, he ascended to the pinnacle of power in the Leaf Village, shedding his former titles as Fire Shadow Assistant, Head of the Police Department, Chief of the Konoha-Kirigakure Rogue Shinobi Joint Investigation Department, and so forth.

Now, he no longer needed those titles to consolidate his power.

The title of Sixth Hokage alone symbolized the supreme authority of the Leaf Village.

Unlike previous Hokage who faced meddling from predecessors unwilling to relinquish control, Sougen held genuine, unchallenged authority—he was nobody’s puppet.

The only title he kept was that of the Uchiha clan leader.

Traditionally, the Uchiha clan leader also served as the head of the Police Department. However, this so-called tradition had only been in place for a few decades. After all, Konoha was relatively young, and the Police Department even younger. Now that the Uchiha clan had produced a Hokage, what did it matter to alter a few rules? It was a minor issue compared to the changes he intended to bring.

Just as he had reformed the Police Department, Sougen believed Konoha needed sweeping changes.

Of course, nothing could be done overnight; he would need to proceed step by step. His first priority was organizing the village’s internal affairs. While he had extended his influence across Konoha's departments even as Fire Shadow Assistant, holding the official title of Hokage brought a new level of authority.

Acting on behalf of the Hokage and being the Hokage were two entirely different matters.

For instance, restructuring the immense ANBU division alone would be a daunting, time-consuming task. Under Hiruzen Sarutobi, the ANBU had expanded drastically, reaching a bloated state. Including support and logistics, its numbers now exceeded 2,000, with another 1,000 or so in training or recovering from injuries. This expansion was partly due to the Fifth Hokage Choza Akimichi's integration of Danzo’s Root faction.

In short, the ANBU was enormous.

Merely appointing a new ANBU Chief would not be enough to wield it effectively.

"ANBU Special Assassination Tactical Force... step by step," Sougen muttered, refocusing on the nutrient tank in front of him. He looked at the clan member submerged in the tank and smiled, asking, "Itao, how do you feel?"

“Not bad,” Uchiha Itao replied. His head was above the tank, with his body submerged in a light green nutrient solution, faintly revealing the outline of his limbs. His arms and legs appeared whole and unblemished.

"Is this...?" Hiruko’s eyes widened as he gazed at Itao, stunned. "I distinctly remember destroying your right arm and leg."

Limb regeneration wasn’t impossible, but current medical technology couldn’t achieve it. Such procedures delved into forbidden techniques, and transplantation alone wouldn’t suffice due to rejection issues unless a near-perfect donor was found.

Itao looked at Hiruko with cold eyes, showing no intent to retaliate. His limbs still needed time to heal, and beyond that, he trusted Sougen’s decisions implicitly. As long as his limbs had been restored and his brother, Tetsuo, was unharmed, that was enough for him.

Sougen wasn’t in the Hokage office at the moment. They were in a lab, originally confiscated from Orochimaru by the ANBU, later used by Root, and now repurposed by Sougen. Previously, as the Fire Shadow Assistant, he could only conduct his research discreetly. But now, as the Hokage, there was no need for secrecy; he could openly utilize the entire village’s resources to pursue his goals.

"What’s so strange about this?" Sougen asked, raising an eyebrow at Hiruko’s astonishment. "Didn’t I prepare you for this already? Why are you acting so surprised?"

"Researching forbidden techniques is not permitted, especially if it involves human experimentation," Hiruko replied sternly. "I was forced into exile after being caught conducting forbidden research."

Sougen laughed.

“Didn’t expect you to be this naive, Hiruko,” he chuckled.

“You’re right, the First Hokage prohibited forbidden research involving human experiments, but do you remember who invented the Kinjutsu of the Chimera Technique? Times change, and so do rules. The First Hokage’s mandates made sense for his era, but not necessarily for ours.”

"Hiruko," Sougen continued, "researching forbidden techniques is not inherently wrong. What matters is not using villagers as test subjects. You and Orochimaru were just too lazy to find other sources. Experiment materials are plentiful if you’re willing to make the effort. But instead, you both took the easy route, experimenting on comrades. Naturally, once you were caught, you had no choice but to flee."

If Orochimaru hadn’t used villagers as test subjects, even desecrating the First Hokage’s grave could have been negotiable. At the very least, with Hiruzen Sarutobi’s fondness for Orochimaru, the situation might have been overlooked.

But Orochimaru’s reckless disregard for life, leading to countless disappearances, soon drew the ire of the major clans. If Hiruzen couldn’t address these concerns, even the Sarutobi clan would face repercussions.

Hiruko’s face contorted, struggling to respond.

He wanted to say something, but the emotions churning inside him were too chaotic, with thoughts rushing into his mind all at once, creating a mental "traffic jam" that kept him from forming a coherent sentence.

"Damn it, damn it!" he muttered.

Wasn't he forced to hide away alone in those deserted mountains for years, all because of researching forbidden techniques? If he’d only known back then... He suddenly felt deflated.

But what use was knowing?

Back then, he was so obsessed with catching up to Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru that it became an obsession—a madness.

He was willing to do anything to gain power.

That mindset was bound to cause problems.

"Look carefully, this is the place where you’ll be atoning for your sins," Sougen said, slightly bending down and patting Hiruko's shoulder. Hiruko was still in his childlike form. "As long as you make enough contributions, when you’ve exhausted your talents, I’ll grant you a swift death."

Despite the complex emotions swirling within him, Hiruko felt exasperated at these words. "You know, most people wouldn’t find this motivating at all. No matter how hard I work, I’m still going to die, right?"

"Isn’t that obvious? You've killed so many people; you need to give an account for all the fallen comrades, don’t you?" Sougen said seriously. "Unless... no, there’s no 'unless.' At least for me, a life for a life is only fair. Letting you live even a few more days is already unfair to the dead. Besides, don't think death is the worst thing. In Konoha, there are forbidden techniques to manipulate the dead. Death isn't the scariest fate—not resting in peace even after death is."

After he finished speaking, Hiruko took a few seconds to process.

"Not able to rest even in death?"

That threat was truly terrifying.

And it wasn't an empty one. He was well aware of the Impure World Reincarnation technique, though he had no interest in techniques that relied on external forces. He always believed that his own power was the only thing he could rely on, even if Sougen had defeated him decisively.

Outside power couldn’t be trusted; only his own strength was dependable.

His failure was merely due to his lack of power.

"I’ll strive to secure a peaceful rest in my homeland." Hiruko responded seriously. Since meeting Tsunade and Jiraiya again, he no longer feared death. After atoning for his sins, he saw eternal rest in his homeland as a gift.

"Good, let’s hope you're not deceiving me. But don't expect a hero’s grave. At most, you’ll get a mound somewhere in the village’s corner."

"That’s good enough."

Bandages covered Hiruko’s disfigured face.

But he seemed to be smiling.

"Suit yourself; as long as you have no objections. But before you begin your atonement, I have a question to ask."

"What is it? Go ahead, as long as I know the answer."

They left Uchiha Inoho’s hospital room and entered a resting area.

Sougen waved a hand, signaling Kabuto to leave and close the door.

"Does your Chimera Technique require the Sharingan to achieve final evolution?" Sougen asked once they were alone.

"Not exactly," Hiruko replied, taking a deep breath without asking Sougen’s intent. "According to my original design, the five major chakra natures—water, fire, wind, lightning, and earth—need to be absorbed to create a perfect cycle. But after obtaining Wood Release from Hama, I started eyeing the Sharingan. Compared to the perfect cycle of the five natures, the interaction of Yin and Yang chakra is a higher level."

"Although Yin and Yang are usually grouped with the five chakra natures, my research shows that Yin and Yang clearly stand above them."

"So you set your sights on the Sharingan?"

"Exactly. At first, I didn’t aspire to a Yin-Yang cycle. While Yin and Yang are fewer in quantity than the five natures, Wood Release and Shikotsumyaku are the only Kekkei Genkai I found containing Yang chakra. But after the Kaguya clan was wiped out, I gave up on achieving a Yin-Yang cycle—until Hama came to me."

He stopped there, having already explained everything in detail.

"Wood Release and Shikotsumyaku represent Yang chakra, while the Sharingan represents Yin chakra, correct?" Sougen asked.

"Correct. Like Yang, there are few Kekkei Genkai with Yin chakra. The Sharingan and the Kurama clan’s Sensory Genjutsu are the only ones I know. Since the Kurama's bloodline is unstable, the Sharingan is much more accessible."

If Hiruko hadn’t fixated on the Mangekyo Sharingan for a more advanced evolution, he wouldn’t have been defeated by Sougen before completing his final transformation.

After all, he had already captured the unfortunate Uchiha Tetsuka by then.

"And what about the Byakugan?"

Sougen asked with interest, curious about the Byakugan’s true power.

"The Byakugan... I'm not sure." Hiruko shook his head. "The Caged Bird seal is incredibly effective, preventing data collection from branch family members. And there are too few main family members. Even if I eliminated the entire main branch, it might not be enough."

Then, he added, "By the way, my research on Wood Release and the Sharingan is based on copies of records left by the Second Hokage. All of my understanding of those Kekkei Genkai comes from the Second Hokage's records. If I’d been regularly capturing Kekkei Genkai users, I wouldn’t have been able to evade Anbu for so many years."

Sougen shook his head, speechless.

If Hiruko hadn’t explained it, he wouldn’t have thought to ask where all Hiruko’s experimental data came from.

Hearing this, he couldn't help but admire the Second Hokage even more. The legacy the Second Hokage left Konoha went deeper than even the First Hokage’s.

"So the Sharingan is absolutely necessary for the final evolution," Sougen muttered.

In the Kurama clan, only Yakumo had awakened the bloodline. She was his obedient first disciple, so experimenting on her was out of the question. The Sharingan seemed to be the only option since he didn’t know of any other Yin-based Kekkei Genkai in the ninja world.

(End of this chapter)

*Chapter 323: The Exposed Truth About Uchiha Obito*

In the end, Hiruko couldn’t quite figure out what Uchiha Sougen’s true intentions were. As a prisoner atoning for his sins, he had no right to question, yet something in him suggested he might finally glimpse the perfect form he had calculated for so long.

By combining the five great Kekkei Genkai,

and establishing a cycle of Yin-Yang energy,

one could attain a higher state of life, reaching the ideal realm of immortality.

This was the conclusion Hiruko reached after years of refining the Jiongu technique, originally developed by the Second Hokage. However, in truth, it remained a theoretical deduction. He couldn’t be entirely sure if it would produce the results he envisioned.

If the opportunity arose,

he wanted to see if his research could indeed bear fruit. This wish, aside from his quest for redemption, was all he had left.

However, their conversation was interrupted by an unexpected visitor.

Uchiha Shisui stormed into the heavily guarded secret research base, looking grim. After all, Sougen’s first action as Hokage had been to take control of personnel management. While appointing a new division head didn’t grant absolute command over the ANBU, not appointing one certainly made direction harder.

Shisui,

the newly appointed head of the ANBU.

For him,

there was no place in Konoha he couldn’t access, except perhaps the private lands of clans like the Hyuga and Aburame.

"Shisui?"

Sougen looked at him as he walked in, sensing an intense, wintry cold from a few meters away.

"What happened?"

"The comparison results are in."

Shisui’s tone was as sharp and cold as an ice blade.

Sougen nodded, seemingly understanding. It looked like they’d finally uncovered the truth about Uchiha Obito from those two mysterious legs, and no wonder Shisui seemed so upset. If he recalled correctly… the two weren’t exactly close, but they did know each other.

Obito had been something of a rare slacker in the clan.

To be honest, many clansmen disapproved of him, feeling that his lackluster performance in the academy brought shame to the Uchiha.

Yet, even Qin Hui had three friends; not everyone disliked Obito. Someone as naturally good-natured as Shisui had inevitably crossed paths with him. Though Obito was indeed clumsy, he was also genuinely kind-hearted.

Their age difference meant Shisui and Obito didn’t interact much. However, when Shisui heard that Obito had died on the northern battlefield, he had gone to the memorial to lay flowers, having had a positive impression of the rare kind-hearted Uchiha.

“What’s the situation?”

Hiruko, sensing the gravity of the moment, discreetly left the room, leaving Shisui and Sougen alone.

"The guy claiming to be Madara—who is he really? He can’t be the actual Madara, can he?" Sougen feigned ignorance.

"Not Madara."

Shisui shook his head. "Uchiha Obito… Remember that name?"

"That underachiever senior?"

"Exactly."

"So, it’s him!"

"Sougen, you don’t look all that surprised."

"It’s about what I expected. After all, the number of fallen clansmen whose bodies couldn’t be recovered isn’t that high over the past few decades. If that masked man isn’t Madara, it’s likely one of those lost clansmen."

"Still… Uchiha Obito, the hero of the Kannabi Bridge, one of the few Uchiha praised by Hiruzen Sarutobi. No wonder you’re upset. If it’s him, then yes, it’s complicated!"

Sougen spoke lightly, as if the “trouble” he mentioned was just a joke.

"I don’t understand."

Shisui slumped onto the couch, staring blankly at Sougen. "If I hadn’t supervised the results myself, I wouldn’t believe Obito would become that mask-wearing killer… Thirty-seven barrier squad members, all killed in one strike, with no hesitation. I can’t understand why he would turn out like this."

"Who knows?"

Sougen shrugged.

"You might want to ask Kakashi. He was Obito’s teammate, after all. And let’s not forget, one of Obito’s eyes is still with Kakashi! Asking me… I don’t have an answer for you."

"Kakashi? Is it okay to involve him?"

Though Shisui was soft-hearted, he was also aware of the importance of rules and wouldn’t let personal feelings override the order.

As the ANBU’s head, he was well aware of the importance of confidentiality.

"As long as it’s not widely spread, it should be fine. Paper can’t cover fire. Some things are bound to be exposed eventually. It’s better to confront them openly than to keep them hidden. Besides, this isn’t likely to cause significant trouble for the clan."

At any rate,

Sougen was Hokage now.

Who would dare take aim at him using Obito as ammunition? There wasn’t anyone in Konoha with that level of audacity. The Sarutobi, Shimura, and other families were all lying low. Forget openly challenging Sougen; they would step aside for a patrolling Uchiha or take a detour to avoid them.

"In fact, consider this your first ANBU mission: Investigate Obito’s whereabouts after the Kannabi Bridge incident. We may not be able to ask anyone directly, but a thorough survey near the Kannabi Bridge might reveal something. According to Kakashi’s report, Obito was gravely injured. Whether he survived alone or was rescued, he likely didn’t get far."

"Also, check Obito’s social circles from back then, alive or dead. Investigate every single one."

Sougen knew why Obito had turned mad,

but he didn’t plan to reveal it. Not that he was worried about how to explain his source—no one would question the Hokage, and even if they did, he could ignore it. But disclosing it now would be meaningless.

Even if they knew the reason behind Obito’s madness, what difference would it make?

Reveal that Madara orchestrated this tragedy?

Then,

should he go further and explain that even Madara was a pawn, part of an even larger scheme?

What would that achieve?

---

*Hidden Intentions*

In the Hidden Rain Village, the bleak, rainy weather persisted.

“It’s been a while, Uchiha Madara.” Pain acknowledged Uchiha Obito, who appeared in the room. His voice was expressionless, yet the way he called him "Madara" carried a hint of mockery.

“So, you know?” Obito glanced at Pain before sitting on the sofa.

“You mean about the Sixth Hokage taking office?”

“That’s part of it,” Obito replied.

“Then what else, Madara?” Konan interjected as she walked in, curious about the conversation between Pain and Obito.

It was confirmed: the use of "Madara" was indeed mocking.

“I’ll admit that I deceived you,” Obito began calmly. “But calling myself Madara wasn’t entirely wrong. I may not be the one who co-founded Konoha with the First Hokage, but I’ve inherited Madara’s will. Using his name and reputation made it easier to carry out my goals.”

“Your real name?” Pain inquired.

“Uchiha... Obito.” Obito removed his orange, spiral-patterned mask, revealing his scarred face. “With your eyes, Pain, it shouldn’t be difficult to recognize the truth of my appearance.”

Upon seeing Obito’s true face, both Pain and Konan were momentarily stunned.

It wasn’t due to a lack of composure; Obito’s face was genuinely unexpected. The right half of his face looked grotesquely twisted, scarred from severe injuries, while the left side was only moderately handsome—average for someone from the Uchiha clan.

“Obito... the hero of the Battle of Kannabi Bridge?” Konan asked, recognizing him.

“Yes. Surprising that you would know my name,” Obito replied, slightly astonished.

“It was a part of my research on the Fourth Hokage,” Konan explained briefly.

“It doesn’t matter now,” Obito continued. “This half of my face was crushed during the Kannabi Bridge battle. At the time, I thought I was dying, so I gave my remaining eye to a... friend, hoping he would protect the person I cherished.”

At the mention of Rin, Obito’s cold expression softened, and his voice lowered.

“But if you’re here now, you didn’t die?” Pain asked. “Madara saved you?”

“Exactly. When I opened my eyes, I saw an old man with white hair—I thought I’d already reached the afterlife. At first, I didn’t believe he was really Madara. I thought he was just a delusional old man,” Obito explained. “At that time, all I wanted was to heal and return to Konoha.”

“Then why are you sitting here now?” Pain asked.

Obito fell silent, his mouth pressed tight as his expression twisted, and his one crimson eye burned with fury, as if magma were about to erupt. Pain and Konan could feel the anger radiating from him—a rage so intense it seemed capable of drying rivers and leveling mountains.

“Because... the teacher I once believed in, the friend I thought I could never surpass—they destroyed my hope! After my grandmother passed, she was the last light I held dear, and they failed to protect her!”

His voice, low and filled with pain, echoed in the room, and that heavy anger pulled Pain and Konan into silence, stirring their own memories of despair and rage that hadn’t faded.

Their hostility toward Obito for his deception quietly eased.

“That day, I saw Hell,” Obito continued, closing his eyes. “I realized this world is... broken. Madara was right—only those who have experienced this pain can understand the essence of peace. So I became Obito, yet also Madara. That’s my story.”

He looked to Pain and Konan, waiting for their response.

“If your identity hadn’t been exposed, would you have continued deceiving us as Madara?” Pain asked.

“Absolutely,” Obito answered. “Madara’s name is a valuable tool, and if I could use it indefinitely, I would have. But I underestimated Uchiha Shougen. I’ve been defeated by him time and time again, and now my identity has likely been discovered. This alias can no longer be maintained.”

“Hmph.” Pain snorted coldly.

“I hope this is the whole truth. If I find out you’re lying again, there won’t be a second chance,” Pain warned. Despite his anger over being deceived, he wasn’t ready to sever ties with Obito. He and Black Zetsu were still valuable to the Akatsuki’s objectives.

As for whatever schemes Obito had in mind, they could wait. For now, they still shared the same goal: capturing the nine-tailed beasts and forging a weapon of ultimate power.

---

*Chapter 324: A Superficial Alliance*

“Pain, do you truly believe what that Uchiha... Obito said?”

“Trust him? I've never trusted a guy who hides behind shadows.” Uchiha Obito had already left, leaving only Pain and Konan in the vast room. At Konan’s question, Pain replied, “I’m well aware that from the beginning, our relationship has been nothing more than a temporary alliance. We’re working together only because our goals align for now.”

“No matter how nice their words sound, I know they’re bound to have their own agenda. But... in the presence of these eyes, even the real Uchiha Madara couldn’t stir up any trouble. So, for the time being, continuing this alliance is the optimal choice.”

His confidence was unmistakable.

Konan nodded in agreement.

The power of the Rinnegan was indeed unrivaled, and she shared his view.

However, this power was also so immense that it was hard to fully control, requiring a long time to tame. If it were simply a matter of destruction, then the power was certainly sufficient, but what he wanted was to foster a peace born from pain—not just to inflict pain on the world.

Thus, he had spent years delving into the power of the Rinnegan, researching the sealing of Tailed Beasts and the creation of Tailed Beast weapons. Though Uchiha Obito had offered assistance, Pain didn’t trust him, so he worked alone.

Konan, meanwhile, took on the administration of the Village Hidden in the Rain.

So, even to this day…

The plan remained just a plan—still on paper, never put into action.

Because he hadn’t yet perfected the technology for creating Tailed Beast weapons.

“What about Konoha? Do we need any preparations?” Konan asked.

“You mean that Sixth Hokage?”

“That’s right. Even if Obito isn’t Madara, his space-time jutsu is still quite a nuisance. And this time, he suffered a huge loss at Konoha’s hands. Adding that to his previous defeats... Konoha—or rather, that Sixth Hokage—could become a serious obstacle in the future. And, according to Orochimaru, that Sixth Hokage knows about you, Pain.”

Konan spoke thoughtfully.

“No need to bother,” Pain said flatly.

“No need... to bother?” Konan looked puzzled.

“Someone’s more anxious than we are.”

“You mean?”

“There’s no need to rush for now. If Obito has indeed inherited Madara’s will, he might still have some trump cards up his sleeve. This could be a good chance to make him reveal them.” Pain replied slowly.

He was confident that the power of the Rinnegan could sweep away any obstacle.

But caution never hurt.

After all, this involved Uchiha Madara; a little extra vigilance was only prudent.

Konan nodded silently.

Pain was right—this situation didn’t require any hasty action.

“To put it another way, if Obito truly can’t handle that Sixth Hokage, then as long as that Hokage doesn’t come knocking, there’s no need for us to make a move against Konoha. Dealing with him wouldn’t be difficult, but if I do, I’ll inevitably expose myself. And then… we might have to face the combined wrath of the Five Great Nations.”

This wasn’t Pain overestimating himself.

The Rinnegan held immense value and allure.

Orochimaru’s covetous gaze every time they met was proof of it—as if he could hardly resist the urge to snatch them right there. So, if the Rinnegan’s existence was exposed, there was no telling what kind of frenzy it would incite.

He wasn’t afraid of the inevitable storm.

However…

He had his plans.

He didn’t want to disrupt the current order.

Even though the plan hadn’t officially begun, everything was progressing smoothly as it was.

What did Obito’s defeat matter to him? If anything, seeing the Sixth Hokage put Obito in his place—forcing him to reveal his true identity and shed his previous arrogant demeanor—was quite satisfying!

“What if that Sixth Hokage leaks the existence of the Rinnegan to other villages, forming an alliance?” Konan couldn’t help but ask.

“Impossible. Have you forgotten the nature of those villages, Konan? Each one is greedy, desperate to hoard all the treasures for themselves. They’d never willingly share such a prize. In the eyes of that Sixth Hokage, my Rinnegan is likely already a trophy reserved for Konoha. It’s just a matter of time to see how long he’ll wait before making a move.”

Ideally,

He hoped that time would stretch as long as possible.

After all, he didn’t want the current order to be disrupted.

But if luck wasn’t on his side, then... he’d resort to more forceful and troublesome means to make this world understand the true meaning of peace.

Their conversation paused.

Without another word, Konan rose and went to the adjacent room to continue her previous work, while Pain closed his eyes and refocused on designing Tailed Beast weaponry.

---

Dark clouds hung over the sky, and after leaving the Village Hidden in the Rain, the drizzle grew slightly sparser.

“So this is your plan, Obito?” Zetsu, the plant-like figure, appeared beside Uchiha Obito. “Are you really willing to expose your past like this?”

“For a new world, nothing is too great a sacrifice.”

His mask concealed his expression.

But Zetsu could sense the cold aura surrounding Obito. Clearly, he wasn’t as indifferent as he made it seem.

“So do you think Nagato trusts you?”

“Who knows? I'm not a mind reader, so how could I know what he's thinking? But… even if Konoha does eventually uncover my name, it’s no big deal. You don’t have to worry about Nagato making any rash moves. Our relationship has never relied on something as fragile as feelings. Shared goals, shared interests, shared enemies—that is the basis of our alliance.”

"Trust doesn't matter, then?"

Zetsu murmured softly, “Exactly. Trust... doesn't matter at all. As long as we have aligned goals and non-conflicting interests, the cooperation can continue.” Uchiha Obito turned, casting a meaningful glance at Zetsu.

Much like the tenuous alliance between Nagato and Uchiha Obito.

Obito was well aware of the talisman placed on his heart, and neither Uchiha Madara nor Zetsu could be trusted.

In the end,

An ideal future is not something you can rely on others to bring about.

Only a future driven by one's own hand is truly worth relying on and hoping for.

But, of course, now isn’t the time to let things fall apart. Dealing with just Uchiha Sōgen is headache enough. When the spoils of victory are within reach, then, and only then, should they turn on each other. The seeds have only just been planted—it’s far too early to start thinking of harvest.

“You’re cold-hearted, you know that?”

White Zetsu didn’t seem to notice the meaning behind Obito’s glance and continued in his usual manner.

"So, what’s next?"

Black Zetsu asked.

The reason for coming to the Rain Village was to reassure Nagato and prevent him from disrupting future plans. The recent setback wouldn’t have impacted the plan much if Obito hadn’t lost a leg.

Biruho and Koma’s lives didn’t matter.

They hadn't officially joined the Akatsuki yet.

But, thanks to Obito’s lost leg...

For a ninja, it wasn’t hard to dig up information from those remains. With Madara's fractured mask fully shattered, Obito was forced to use this nine-parts-truth, one-part-lie act to placate Nagato, feeding him true details other than the ultimate aim, which he kept aligned with Nagato’s desires.

For now,

Nagato has been reassured.

And this secretive underground organization of theirs will remain intact—at least for the time being. Now, it’s time to consider the next steps.

“Next… we need to figure out how to deal with Uchiha Sōgen. I’d love to take him out, but unfortunately, I haven’t come up with any way to handle him yet. With Sōgen, Shisui, and Fugaku around, causing trouble for Konoha won’t be easy.”

At this, Obito sighed deeply.

Not taking the opportunity to wipe out the Uchiha clan during the Nine-Tails attack was his biggest mistake. Back then, he had been solely focused on taking out his sensei, Minato, and overlooked the Uchiha, who had been subjected to endless oppression from the Third Hokage and Danzo, thinking he could deal with them later.

As a result,

Uchiha Sōgen rose to power swiftly.

Not only did he successfully lead the Uchiha through their clan crisis, but he’s now also become Konoha's first Hokage from the Uchiha clan. Taking them out now would be a deadly challenge.

"Next… we’ll try recruiting that guy into the Akatsuki. Zetsu, you didn’t lose him, right?"

“Of course not, we can find him whenever you want.”

White Zetsu replied with his usual cheerful tone.

Obito looked deeply at the Rain Village, shrouded by the rain.

Then, turning around, he said, “Alright, Zetsu, let’s get to work.”

---

The sharp smell of blood permeated the forest, luring several predators to the area. These beasts, however, merely circled the flesh that lay scattered across the clearing, too intimidated to step closer.

Because,

A far more terrifying predator lingered nearby, keeping the beasts at bay, though the tempting scent prevented them from leaving. And so, this strange scene unfolded.

“…Worthless. Muscle density is way too weak.”

"Trash, just another useless piece of trash…”

“Damn it, these Takigakure ninjas are pathetic…”

Sifting through the corpses, Sasori muttered, cursing the lackluster quality of Takigakure’s shinobi. Despite them being part of two separate Anbu teams, he had only managed to find one corpse barely worthy of his use.

The rest were unfit to be transformed into human puppets.

Even the one he deemed usable was only because he’d lowered his standards. In the past, such weak material wouldn’t have warranted a second glance. But now, fallen on hard times, he couldn’t be so picky. He had narrowly escaped from Konoha alone, without a single one of his treasured puppets.

All his hard-earned puppet creations had become part of Uchiha Sōgen’s collection—including his prized work, the Third Kazekage puppet. After escaping Konoha, he was left with nothing and forced to start from scratch.

Initially hunting bandits and rogue ninja, he soon discovered these materials were simply garbage, totally unusable.

After some deep consideration, he ventured into Takigakure’s territory, intending to make its shinobi his first stepping stone to rebuild his arsenal.

Given his current circumstances, he had to avoid skilled enemies, as he couldn’t handle them in his weakened state. He couldn’t afford to stir up trouble in any of the Five Great Nations, so he had no choice but to target a smaller land like Takigakure. Its sole Jinchūriki didn’t concern him—if he couldn’t defeat it, he could always escape.

After all, the strength of a tailed beast lies in large-scale destruction,

Not in hunting down single targets.

However,

He was beginning to think he had overestimated Takigakure.

Remaining neutral in the face of war, Takigakure had enjoyed nearly sixty years of peace. Though it wasn’t entirely untouched, compared to the ceaseless strife among the Five Great Nations, Takigakure’s turmoil was minor at best.

Its ninja, who had grown up in such peace, were woefully incompetent.

“Damn it, these Takigakure ninjas are such garbage!”

Sasori finally grew fed up with the trash heap before him, cursing loudly.

Then,

He turned his gaze to the shadowy forest behind him, “Come on out! Stop hiding! Not even bothering to conceal your chakra—who are you trying to fool?”

“As expected from Sunagakure’s genius puppeteer, your sensory perception is sharp as ever.” Out of the shadows, Uchiha Obito, masked, stepped forward until he stood a short distance from Sasori.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 325: The Path of No Return for Sasori (!)*

"Sharingan?"

Sasori looked expressionlessly at Uchiha Obito. Honestly, the sight of that crimson eye triggered a hint of PTSD in him, and a part of his mind urged him to turn and flee. Thankfully, his puppetized body concealed his inner turmoil perfectly.

When Obito approached him alone, Sasori noticed the spiral-patterned mask and the black cloak embroidered with red clouds. Clearly, this wasn’t Konoha’s ANBU attire. He also didn’t sense any murderous intent from Obito, and most importantly, he detected something lurking in the shadows. Realizing the newcomer might not be Konoha's hunter-nin, he suppressed his impulse for a strategic retreat.

"Who are you?"

"Uchiha… Obito."

Obito revealed his true name, as parading around as "Madara Uchiha" had lost its effectiveness.

"Uchiha Obito?"

A trace of human-like confusion appeared in Sasori's eyes. He’d never heard of this name—not that he was ignorant, but the Uchiha clan had dozens of elite ninja. Only intelligence experts could keep track of all the top names. For most, names like “Enma” or “Body Flicker” were the few known. And Obito? He was practically a ghost.

"Names aren’t important."

Obito cut off the annoying topic. "You only need to know that I'm an enemy of Konoha. Sasori of the Red Sand, I've come to invite you to join our organization and work together against Konoha."

He extended the invitation as a member of the Akatsuki—one of the conditions for Pein’s “forgiveness.”

Sasori looked at White Zetsu with a standardized smile. “To prove I’m not a spy for the Leaf Village, Uchiha Obito, help me hunt!” That smile—almost like a salesperson’s—held an oddly cruel and cold edge.

He was already tired of the junk materials found in Taki no Kuni (the Land of Waterfalls).

Hoping to find high-quality materials in these small countries was pointless. If that was the case… then it was time to search for more valuable prey! Only, right now, he was somewhat powerless to hunt on his own.

However,

The appearance of Uchiha Obito presented him with an opportunity.

“Hunt?”

A flash of insight passed through Obito’s mind as he realized what Sasori meant.

“Exactly, a hunt. Since you came looking for me five years ago, you should know I’m a puppeteer, right? For a puppeteer, useful puppets are essential. Unfortunately, when I escaped from Konoha, I didn’t have a chance to retrieve my former puppets, so now I have to find a way to create new ones.”

Sasori explained honestly that he was in a “weakened” state, his attitude very sincere.

“So, where’s the hunting ground?”

“The South.”

The Land of Waterfalls was located in the northern part of the continent.

To the south lay numerous countries: the Land of Rain, the Land of Grass, the Land of Rivers, the Land of Wind, the Land of Water, and the Land of Fire.

Only,

If he wanted to prove he wasn’t a spy planted by Konoha,

Then the target country for hunting didn’t need to be spelled out.

The two immediately headed south. With their speed, it took just a day to reach the Land of Fire from the Land of Waterfalls. Soon, Konoha’s garrison forces stationed in the Land of Grass began facing attacks—not on the main garrison headquarters, but on seven patrol teams that went missing one by one. Two elite investigation teams also disappeared without a trace.

In the end, even three jōnin who went in search of them vanished.

One of them was an Uchiha clan member.

This was like a dagger thrust into the rear of the northwest garrison forces, a real shock!

When even jōnin were lost, could it be that Iwa-nin had launched a surprise attack?

The high command of the northwest garrison forces was spooked. With the recent example of the eastern garrison being wiped out by Kirigakure forces five years prior, they took no chances, immediately sounding the alarm. The entire garrison was put on high alert, and messages were sent back to the village.

“Too bad Konoha and Iwa didn’t actually end up fighting,” Obito sighed regretfully. Although he hadn’t expected such a small scheme to trigger a full-blown conflict between Konoha and Iwa, seeing the two villages’ ninjas facing off at the border made him briefly wonder if he should take advantage of the situation and instigate a battle.

But before he could act on this,

Uchiha Shisui arrived at the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Earth.

“Even if they did end up fighting, it probably wouldn’t matter much. Iwa’s no match for Konoha now,” Pain said in a low tone, confident that his Rinnegan could crush the entire shinobi world. That didn’t mean he was blind to Konoha’s strengths, though.

“True, though any trouble we can cause Konoha is still a win… But never mind that. What are your thoughts on bringing Sasori into the organization?” Obito asked.

At that moment,

He was in a cave.

Standing atop the finger of a massive statue inside, one of the contact points established by the Akatsuki organization.

Pain, who appeared there, was nothing more than an illusory projection.

“Sasori of the Red Sand?”

Pain pondered for a moment.

“Alright, let him join.”

“Let’s be clear, though—even though Sasori killed dozens of Konoha shinobi himself, including an Uchiha clan member, that alone isn’t enough to rule out the possibility that he’s a spy for Konoha. As I’ve told you, Uchiha Shisui’s Mangekyo Sharingan can manipulate people’s minds,” Obito replied gravely.

Obito had already shared with Pain all known information about the Mangekyo Sharingan of Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Fugaku, and Uchiha Madara.

“It’s no problem. We already have Orochimaru, so one more rogue like Sasori won’t hurt.”

Pain’s response was carefree.

Obito blinked in surprise at that. Good point!

They had never caught Orochimaru leaking information, but he’d never been fully trusted in the first place. And to be honest, there weren’t many secrets in the Akatsuki these days—Uchiha Madara knew of Pain and the Rinnegan’s existence, after all.

Even if Sasori turned out to be a spy, so what?

“Shall we hold a meeting now?” Obito asked.

“Sure, bring Sasori. I’ll contact the others. It’s a good opportunity to introduce you to the rest and… adjust the organization’s structure. Orochimaru and Deidara need to be separated. If we don’t, soon enough, we’ll be down one member.”

Obito was speechless.

That was indeed a tough issue.

Orochimaru was difficult to work with. His former partnership with Kakuzu had led to countless clashes, and after bringing in new members like Hidan and Deidara, they had to separate the two combustible partners.

Kakuzu and Hidan formed a solid team with good synergy.

But pairing Orochimaru with Deidara was troublesome. Deidara couldn’t stand Orochimaru and had often threatened to blow him to pieces. Though he held back thanks to Pain’s warnings, it was only a matter of time before Deidara lost control and acted, likely ending in Deidara’s death.

Deidara wouldn’t be in the Akatsuki without skill.

But there’s always someone stronger, and compared to Orochimaru’s cunning, Deidara didn’t stand a chance. In a clash, Deidara would surely lose.

“I’ll bring in Sasori,”

Obito stood up.

This was Pain’s problem to handle.

Moving from the shadows into the open didn’t seem like a bad idea after all. He’d no longer have to worry about such trivial matters, as their current plan aligned with his goals.

The goal was to gather all nine tailed beasts. As long as that was completed, it didn’t matter who led the way.

Now that the guise of Uchiha Madara had been stripped away, there was no need for secrecy. Instead, he would openly act as an Akatsuki member, hence his choice of Akatsuki attire.

"An enemy of Konoha? An organization?"

Sasori’s pupils constricted.

Interesting.

Enemies of Konoha—where did they get the courage?

"Five years ago, we searched for you," Obito continued, his scarlet eye fixed on Sasori. "But we couldn’t find you anywhere in the shinobi world. Recently, however, an informant spotted you leaving Konoha… On that note, why would a rogue ninja from the Sand Village come from Konoha? Your answer will determine whether you join our organization or say farewell to this world right here."

"The recent attack on Konoha—was that your doing?"

"We merely gave a slight push."

"Uchiha Obito… that white, humanoid creature hiding underground—is that part of your organization too?"

"Hmm? You can sense White Zetsu’s presence?"

Obito’s eyes widened in surprise.

Beside him, a White Zetsu emerged silently from the ground, standing next to Obito and gazing at Sasori with a look of amazement.

This White Zetsu had been tracking Sasori, and without it, Obito wouldn’t have found him so quickly and accurately.

"Wait… why do you have traces of White Zetsu’s chakra on you?" Obito focused his Sharingan to the fullest, detecting faint, well-concealed chakra fluctuations in Sasori similar to White Zetsu’s.

"Because for the past five years, I’ve been studying a corpse nearly identical to the humanoid next to you," Sasori replied, glancing at the live White Zetsu.

He immediately realized these people weren’t affiliated with Konoha.

The corpse he had been studying likely came from an encounter between Uchiha Sougen and these people.

"I must admit," Sasori said, eyeing White Zetsu from head to toe, "that this thing’s ability to mask its presence is extraordinary. After over five years of research, I’ve yet to develop effective counter-tracking techniques. I didn’t notice its presence earlier, but just now, when it got too close, I picked up on a faint trace."

His eyes gleamed with the unmistakable urge to dissect.

In the past five years, he’d sliced the single corpse he had into threads through countless experiments. Now, seeing a living White Zetsu, he could barely restrain his excitement.

"Research… I see." Obito’s expression shifted.

No wonder Sasori had vanished for five years, evading all attempts to find him. It seemed he had been imprisoned by Konoha for research. That would explain the faint traces of White Zetsu’s chakra on him; Sasori must have modified himself. From his chakra, Obito could tell most of Sasori’s body was no longer human, with only a small part retaining any vitality.

Just like that lunatic Orochimaru!

Still, a sense of caution arose within him.

There was a chance Sasori could be a bait or spy sent by Uchiha Sougen. Should he really let this guy join the Akatsuki? Sasori, as a Sand Village rogue, wouldn’t likely serve Konoha, but he could still be bait.

But then…

According to Black Zetsu, Uchiha Shisui possessed a genjutsu capable of twisting one’s mental will.

That made the impossible all too possible.

"Joining your organization… Sure, it sounds like a decent choice. I don’t have anywhere else to go right now, and having a place to stay isn’t a bad thing. Wandering alone isn’t pleasant, especially when resources are scarce," Sasori said slowly, accepting Obito’s invitation.

Obito froze.

Wait—he agreed already?

Wasn’t he going to question the organization’s strength?

Such a quick acceptance only made Obito feel more suspicious.

He suddenly felt conflicted. This impulsive recruitment of Sasori of the Red Sand… perhaps he should have thought it through a bit more before acting.

"That white thing has probably been tailing me since I left Konoha, right?" Sasori asked.