286-290

*Chapter 286: The Stepfather Who Worries Endlessly About His Two Step-Sons*

“What do you want?” Sasuke shuddered slightly under Aizen’s gaze, feeling uneasy. If he could, he would avoid this guy altogether.

But Uchiha Itachi was so close, and all of his years of effort had been directed toward killing this man.

At this point, he had lost too much to turn back.

If there were any chance at all, he wouldn’t want to miss it.

“Relax. I already said I won’t interfere in your fight with him. However—”

Sasuke felt his heart sink; he dreaded hearing that “however.”

“After using your Mangekyō Sharingan last time, you should’ve noticed its side effects. The more you use it, the greater the burden on your body. You also risk going blind. Surely, by now, your vision has worsened a lot.”

“So what?” Sasuke frowned, unable to discern Aizen’s intentions.

“Oh, nothing.” Aizen stepped closer to Sasuke with a mischievous smile.

“What are you trying to do?” Sasuke started to panic, instinctively trying to flee, but his vision suddenly went dark.

When he came to, Aizen’s hand was already on his head.

Sasuke felt dizzy, and his Mangekyō Sharingan quietly regressed to a Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Once Aizen released him, Sasuke regained his clarity.

“What did you do to me?” Sasuke demanded, his breath quickening with fear.

Aizen responded, “I sealed your Mangekyō Sharingan. In your current state, it only makes you reckless, like last time. You relied on it too much, leaving no room for proper battle strategy.”

“Besides, I’m curious. Can you defeat him without the Mangekyō?”

“He’s waiting inside. Whether you go in is up to you.”

Leaving those words, Aizen formed a quick hand sign. With a poof, he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

When he reappeared, he was in the underground chamber of the Uchiha hideout.

At that moment, Mrs. Mikoto was reminiscing with her older son, Itachi, about his childhood and the years they had missed.

Itachi listened quietly, his lips curving into a gentle smile.

Meanwhile, Chika listened like a curious observer, studying her half-brother with interest.

Through their conversation, Itachi learned that his mother had found happiness over the years—genuine happiness.

This revelation brought him peace and a sense of acceptance toward Aizen as his stepfather.

But the more Itachi smiled, the more Mikoto’s heart ached, as memories of their past together surfaced.

She regretted not guiding him down a better path, one that wouldn’t have led him to such extremes.

She then confessed that she was suffering from a terminal illness and didn’t have much time left.

Seeing her older son, who had come back to atone, about to fall at his younger brother’s hands, was devastating for Mrs. Mikoto.

She didn’t even notice when Aizen arrived, tears streaming down her face.

While Mikoto didn’t notice, Chika did; she nestled into Aizen’s arms, which brought Mikoto back from her painful memories.

“Sorry, Aizen, I got carried away and spoke too much.” Mrs. Mikoto wiped her tears, giving Itachi a final, sorrowful smile. “Sasuke should be arriving soon. Let’s go back.”

Aizen nodded, placing a gentle hand on Mikoto’s shoulder. “Do you have anything else you want to say?”

Mikoto turned to Itachi one last time. “Itachi, it’s truly wonderful to see you again.”

With that, Aizen took Mrs. Mikoto and Chika away from the underground chamber.

Just then, Sasuke’s footsteps echoed from the dark passage.

“I feel the same, Mother,” Itachi said, wiping his tears as he composed himself. He looked toward Sasuke in the passageway and said, “How far can your Sharingan see?”

“I can see your death,” Sasuke replied, stepping from the shadows, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan fixated on Itachi.

After returning Mrs. Mikoto and Chika to the Hidden Rain Village, Aizen comforted Mrs. Mikoto a bit more before hurrying back to the Uchiha hideout, where Itachi and Sasuke had already begun a genjutsu duel.

“Give me some room, would you?” Aizen merged with the stone ceiling, addressing Zetsu, who was peering out with his black-and-white face.

“Aizen?” White Zetsu gasped. “Isn’t that the Mayfly Technique? When did you—?”

“Don’t misunderstand. This isn’t the Mayfly Technique. It’s just advanced chakra manipulation, perfect for spectating.”

Feigning innocence, Aizen asked, “By the way, where’s Tobi? Isn’t he interested in all this action?”

“Tobi’s busy intercepting the Leaf’s shinobi,” Black Zetsu replied cautiously, eyeing Aizen with suspicion.

White Zetsu chimed in, “But it looks like he’s in big trouble right now.”

“Oh? My little apprentice, perhaps?” Aizen asked, feigning concern.

“Yeah, that girl’s incredible! She forced Tobi to use Izanagi! Just as powerful as you were back then,” White Zetsu said, impressed.

Black Zetsu, fearing that White Zetsu would give away too much information, quickly hushed him. “White Zetsu, be quiet.”

While they spoke, Itachi and Sasuke had finished their genjutsu battle and started a shuriken showdown.

“Strange,” Black Zetsu murmured.

“What’s wrong?” White Zetsu asked curiously.

“Until now, Sasuke hasn’t used his Mangekyō Sharingan, even against Itachi’s strongest genjutsu, Tsukuyomi. Is he holding back?”

“Impressive! Winning against Itachi’s Tsukuyomi without even using the Mangekyō. Looks like this battle belongs to Sasuke,” White Zetsu declared enthusiastically.

Aizen ignored their chatter and watched the brothers’ fight in silence.

Perhaps because the battle had reached such an advanced level, Aizen found himself somewhat disinterested.

Meanwhile, Tobi, who had been intercepting the Leaf’s shinobi, was overwhelmed by Konoha’s forces, led by Chika. He was unable to respawn at any location without being detected by her “sensory” abilities.

Seeing no choice, he used Kiba, the weakest among the Leaf shinobi, as an escape route. Just as Izanagi’s duration ran out, he sacrificed an arm to escape from Kiba’s Fang Over Fang.

Then, to prevent the Leaf shinobi from interfering, Tobi teleported to the Uchiha hideout with Kamui, setting up the Uchiha Fire Barrier to separate the hideout from the outside world.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 287: The Snake Perishes in the Background*

The fight between Sasuke and Itachi was reaching an intense climax, their battle escalating from indoors to outdoors.

They had already blasted holes through the ceiling of the Uchiha hideout. Itachi burst out first, as if afraid of mortally wounding Sasuke. He went from forming five seals in a second to one seal every five seconds, calmly executing his Fireball Jutsu in mid-air.

Sasuke, in hot pursuit, unleashed his own Fireball Jutsu in response.

Watching their fight, Tobi, who had just set up the Uchiha Flame Formation, knew Itachi was holding back. Regardless of how it played out, this battle was destined to end in Sasuke's victory.

"Looking rather rough, aren't we, Lord Madara—or should I say, Tobi?" came Aizen’s teasing voice beside Tobi's ear.

Tobi turned to see Aizen and Zetsu rising slowly from the ground.

Snorting, Tobi replied proudly, “If it weren't for the injuries I suffered in the Valley of the End, I would never let those Leaf shinobi be so arrogant.”

Yeah, keep up the act.

Aizen held back his contempt and feigned ignorance, replying, "True, it’s hard to imagine that the legendary Uchiha Madara, who was equal to the First Hokage, could have lost so much power."

"I'm just a guy who likes to watch a good fight. I’d love to see Uchiha Madara in his prime," Aizen added.

"Then just wait and see," Tobi responded coldly, frustrated by how strong Aizen had become. Even the young girl Aizen had trained was proving troublesome. The desire to gather all nine Tailed Beasts, resurrect the Ten-Tails, and become the second Sage of the Six Paths burned even hotter within him.

“Tobi, the Leaf shinobi are closing in. What’s your plan?” Black Zetsu warned, sensing the Konoha team approaching.

"Relax, I'm just here to watch. You all handle your own opponents," Aizen said playfully, knowing that Tobi preferred to keep his "Madara" reputation untarnished.

Black Zetsu was speechless. White Zetsu chuckled, adding, “Tobi, looks like they’re underestimating you.”

“Hmph, mind your own business,” Tobi grunted, raising his left hand. Scarlet flames ignited around his fingers, and he slammed his hand down.

*Uchiha Flame Formation.*

A colossal blaze erupted from the ground around the Uchiha hideout, forming a flaming barrier in seconds.

“Well, that’s more like Madara,” Aizen shrugged.

Meanwhile, the battle between Sasuke and Itachi was interrupted briefly as both looked over at Aizen, Tobi, and Zetsu’s location, each assuming that Aizen was responsible for the barrier. Without a word, they resumed fighting.

Far away, the sudden barrier caught the attention of both Konoha and the Snake Squad, halting their pursuit.

“What is that?” Naruto exclaimed, his eyes wide.

Kakashi, Shino, and Naruto all recalled seeing Aizen use a similar Flame Formation during the Chunin Exams. A cold sweat broke out as they realized its destructive potential.

“It’s unmistakable—this is…,” Shino turned to Kakashi, swallowing hard.

“Indeed,” Kakashi said to the group. “It looks like this mission is over.”

“What? Why?” Naruto protested, frustrated with Sasuke so close.

“This is the Uchiha Flame Formation,” Kakashi explained. “By channeling chakra into his fingers and transforming it into fire, the caster creates a blazing barrier around a target, amplified by the earth beneath it. The heat is so intense that even Tailed Beasts can’t touch it. It’s known as the Inferno Wall.”

“Naruto, you’ve seen this technique before. You know who’s responsible.”

Naruto, though unwilling, nodded. He remembered the immense power Aizen had shown before.

“Don’t even try it. His power is far beyond ours,” Kakashi continued. “Charging in recklessly will be suicide, especially for you, Naruto, as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.”

Naruto’s pupils dilated as he gasped for breath, feeling his chest tighten.

“Naruto!” Kakashi hurried to his side, helping him to breathe slowly.

After a few minutes, Naruto regained his composure.

While the others were concerned for Naruto, Hinata, Karin, and Chika looked toward the Flame Formation. Hinata activated her Byakugan, her white eyes filled with concern as she saw Aizen standing with Tobi and Zetsu. Karin and Chika, however, noticed that the chakra wasn’t coming from Aizen but from the masked man.

"Kakashi," Chika spoke up, “That barrier’s chakra feels like it’s from that masked man I defeated before.”

Karin nodded in agreement, adding, “Aizen… he has a way to hide his chakra presence, so we can’t know for sure if he’s really there.”

Sighing, Kakashi asked Hinata to confirm, “Hinata, can you check with your Byakugan? If Aizen is there, we’ll have to withdraw for everyone’s safety.”

“Aizen wouldn’t hurt anyone,” Hinata replied, making it clear she had spotted him. She was confident he would not harm them.

Naruto looked reassured, his resolve returning. “Hinata’s right. Aizen isn’t our enemy. Let’s go get Sasuke.”

Determined, he gathered chakra and took off toward the Uchiha hideout. Kakashi and the others followed, resigned to continue.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Sasuke climbed to the highest point, summoning lightning with his Chidori, now a roaring thunderstorm over the hideout. He aimed down at a weakened Itachi, blood trickling from his mouth.

This move, inspired by Aizen’s own powerful jutsu, filled Sasuke with fierce confidence. He intended to strike down Itachi and even Aizen along with the other Akatsuki members standing nearby.

Sasuke threw his lightning attack, shaped like a massive kirin, down toward the hideout.

A deafening roar erupted, obliterating the hideout and sending debris and smoke skyward.

As the dust settled, Tobi and Zetsu emerged from the rubble unharmed. Itachi lay collapsed on the debris, his Akatsuki cloak torn.

But Aizen stood untouched in the same spot, a protective barrier shielding him, arcs of lightning flickering around it. He looked calm and unbothered, as if Sasuke’s attack hadn’t fazed him in the slightest.

“Damn, I really can’t hurt him?” Sasuke thought bitterly, feeling a mix of frustration and satisfaction as he looked at the fallen Itachi.

Sasuke’s chakra was drained, his Sharingan fading as he collapsed, exhausted.

Then, he saw Itachi stand once more, encased in a massive red skeletal figure—Susanoo. As it completed its form, it wielded a shield in one hand and a flaming sword in the other.

“This is my ultimate weapon, Susanoo, a power only those who awaken both Mangekyo eyes can access,” Itachi said, taunting Sasuke. “If your Sharingan wasn’t sealed, you might be able to use it. But it’s too late; that last move of yours was all you had left.”

Itachi had hoped to draw out Orochimaru, and indeed, as Orochimaru emerged in the form of a massive eight-headed snake, Itachi swiftly sealed him with the Totsuka Blade.

Chapter 288: Obito's Revelation

"The legendary Sannin, Orochimaru... dead?"

Watching Orochimaru get completely absorbed by the Totsuka Blade, the Konoha team looked on with somber expressions. Even now, they could hardly believe their eyes.

Not long ago, they had still planned on capturing Itachi alive. But with this Susanoo technique, they’d be lucky just to escape capture themselves.

This Susanoo, which combines offense and defense, capable of sealing and repelling any attack, was simply overpowered.

Even Karin's adamantine sealing chains might struggle to bind it and could be severed in an instant.

Obito, who was also frowning, looked at Sasuke, who had drained his chakra and even had his curse mark extracted, still struggling on the brink of death.

He then glanced over at the similarly weakened Itachi, who was coughing up blood.

He considered whether to take this opportunity to remove Itachi, who had been a hindrance.

But as he caught sight of Aizen standing atop the "stone pillar," he dismissed the idea.

The reason? It was simply too risky.

He couldn’t guarantee that Aizen wouldn’t make a sudden move.

Nor could he be sure that Itachi didn’t have a hidden counterattack waiting.

Approaching him recklessly could mean sacrificing his right Mangekyo eye just to use Izanagi for survival.

Just as Obito, Black Zetsu, Kakashi, and the others thought that Itachi was winning the brothers’ battle, Itachi only reached out to lightly tap Sasuke’s forehead.

“Forgive me, Sasuke, for the last time,” he said, smiling softly before collapsing in front of Sasuke.

At that moment, Kakashi's left eye, with its three-tomoe Sharingan, morphed into a Mangekyo in the shape of a sickle.

“Go!” Kakashi shouted as he unleashed Kamui, tearing open a hole in the fiery barrier. The Konoha group charged into the flames.

Hinata, Chika, and Karin’s role was to "keep an eye" on Aizen, preventing him from taking action.

The rest, including Kakashi, charged towards Sasuke, intending to reclaim him.

However, Obito had anticipated Kakashi's plan. As soon as Kakashi activated Kamui, Obito didn’t counter it with his own Kamui. Instead, he immediately brought Sasuke and Itachi’s body into his Kamui dimension with himself.

By the time Kakashi and the others reached the spot, they were too late; there was nothing there.

Once again, Naruto was separated from Sasuke, overwhelmed by pain and despair.

“Aizen, what’s your plan? These three are tough opponents,” Zetsu remarked, glancing at the three women standing in formation and looking up at Aizen on the pillar.

Aizen didn’t answer, just gave a quick wink at the women and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

As Aizen left, Zetsu decided not to linger either. The giant pitcher plant he encased himself in closed up, then sank into the ground. He needed to inform Kisame of this development.

Otherwise, if the Konoha group came after him, even Kisame might be in danger.

They couldn’t risk losing this crucial piece before the Tailed Beasts were fully captured.

However, Zetsu was unaware that, as he merged into the ground, a glint flashed in Chika's eyes as she read his thoughts almost entirely. So they planned to resurrect a “mother” by gathering the Tailed Beasts. It seemed he wasn’t entirely aligned with Obito or even Uchiha Madara.

Once Aizen and his allies left, the Uchiha flames dissipated, and a light rain began to fall.

Only Naruto, left crying in the rain after failing to retrieve Sasuke, remained.

---

Akatsuki's Eastern Hideout.

In a dimly lit cave, the candles flickered.

Obito, having just finished bandaging Sasuke’s wounds, tore off his damaged Akatsuki robe and reattached his severed arm.

Just as he was about to remove his mask and replace his Sharingan to prepare for any traps Itachi might have left, Aizen’s voice echoed through the cave. “You specifically brought Sasuke here—are you trying to recruit him into Akatsuki?”

“When did you…” Obito turned, shocked and furious, as Aizen emerged from the shadows. He was just about to remove his mask, but had been completely unaware of Aizen’s presence until he spoke.

“Don’t look at me like that. I have no interest in the face under your mask. Whether you’re the real Madara or an impostor makes no difference to me.”

Aizen shrugged, seated himself beside Sasuke, and casually began treating Sasuke’s wounds with ninjutsu. “I’m just curious as to what you’re after with all this cloak and dagger. Is it truly, as Pain says, to conquer the world by collecting the Nine Tailed Beasts? I doubt it’s for something that shallow.”

“Does it matter?” Obito glanced at Sasuke, whose injuries were visibly healing under Aizen’s skill. He felt a growing wariness towards Aizen, especially now, as it seemed Aizen’s medical ninjutsu surpassed even the legendary Tsunade.

“Of course it matters.” Aizen stood up, stretched his limbs, and added with a calm but deadly air, “Because your answer determines whether you live or die.”

“I know it was you who orchestrated the Nine-Tails attack all those years ago. My parents died because of you.”

“And I also know you haven’t transferred your left eye to a new Sharingan yet, and your right eye is the source of your space-time jutsu. Without Izanagi, I can kill you instantly before you can even teleport.”

“You should know by now I don’t forgive easily. Look at what happened to the Sarutobi and Shimura clans—none left to even leave a soul behind.”

As he spoke, Aizen’s right hand flicked, and a sword appeared in his grasp.

“You…” Obito was alarmed and quickly entered his intangibility state, only to see Aizen extend five fingers, “Five minutes. That should be the limit of your intangibility. If you don’t convince me within five minutes, consider this your end.”

Obito fell silent, realizing he would have to provide a convincing reason or face death.

Then he burst into laughter, trying to put up a front. “Hahaha…”

“What’s so funny?” Aizen, who knew full well how nervous Obito must be, raised an eyebrow.

“Nothing,” Obito responded, his laughter fading as he maintained a calm expression. “Fine. If you insist on knowing, I’ll tell you. I seek to become whole.”

Aizen feigned surprise. “Whole?”

Seeing that Aizen seemed intrigued, Obito's eyes glimmered with subtle triumph. “To unify everything into one, to create a world without pain or division.”

“Sounds interesting.” Aizen raised his sword, pointing it at Obito. “By ‘everything,’ I assume you mean the Nine Tailed Beasts?”

“Yes, and the Gedo Statue serves as the medium, or rather the container for this fusion. I intend to become the Jinchuriki of the combined Tailed Beasts.”

“So this ‘unification’—is it just about ruling the world?” Aizen prodded.

Obito, sensing Aizen’s curiosity, replied, “I’d prefer not to see it as mere domination. More like true peace. The plan is to revive the Ten-Tails and cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi.”

He proceeded to give his usual speech on the Moon’s Eye Plan.

“Subjecting the entire world to genjutsu to escape reality… seems rather extreme,” Aizen replied, not lowering his sword.

“But it’s the best solution, isn’t it?” Obito replied, shrugging. “With your understanding of the cruelty of the ninja world, you should understand this plan to some extent.”

Obito's face darkened as he thought back to Rin’s death, his voice turning cold and bitter. “This is a world without hope—a place where hope and despair coexist. Hope is just an empty lie.”

“You really have lost a lot,” Aizen sighed, rubbing his temples and thinking to himself that Obito truly was beyond saving.

Obito nodded solemnly, continuing in a gentle tone. “For the sake of your family, you didn’t hesitate to destroy the Sarutobi and Shimura clans. Don’t you wish to create a world where your parents are still alive?”

“You really are a hopeless case,” Aizen remarked, finally lowering his blade.

“Does that mean you’re in agreement with the Moon’s Eye Plan?” Obito asked, his tension easing. With Aizen’s power aiding him, the plan would be almost guaranteed.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not interested in your plan,” Aizen replied, crossing his arms. “But I am interested in watching the process unfold.”

“What do you mean by that?” This response baffled Obito. Not interested, yet wanting to be involved?

“You know me—I enjoy a bit of chaos. As long as things stay interesting, I’m willing to help… at least until the plan is complete,” Aizen answered with a sly smile. “Of course, on one condition.”

“What condition?” Obito asked, indifferent to the cost as long as his plan succeeded.

“I despise quitters,” Aizen said. “If you abandon this plan halfway through, I’ll kill you.”

“Regret?” Obito scoffed, not believing he would ever regret his path.

“Then, let’s work together,” Obito extended his hand.

"Pleasure working with you." Aizen extended his right hand with a smile, and the two shook hands.

Obito was surprised but also excited to see Aizen actually shaking his hand. Just as he was considering whether to use this opportunity to pull Aizen into the Kamui dimension to eliminate this unstable factor, Aizen’s next words made Obito break out in a cold sweat.

"I thought you might take this chance to pull me into that other dimension of yours," Aizen said.

"Of course not. Since we’re partners now, I wouldn’t do anything to you." Obito pulled back his hand, though his black battle glove was already damp with sweat.

"Alright, since you’re so wary of me, I’ll show my sincerity." After a brief hesitation, Obito slowly removed his mask, revealing a face lined with wrinkles and a single, blood-red Sharingan.

"So, it really is you, Uchiha Obito," Aizen remarked, showing no surprise.

"You knew it was me?" Obito’s eyes flashed with surprise. He didn’t recall leaving any clues.

"I had my suspicions. According to Konoha’s records, you were supposed to be dead," Aizen explained. "But seeing Kakashi use the same eye technique as you... One in the left eye, one in the right—it was unlikely a non-Uchiha would awaken a Mangekyo. And with your abilities clearly not matching Uchiha Madara’s, it wasn’t hard to guess your identity."

Obito was stunned, then heard Aizen continue, "Well then, since you’ve shown your sincerity, it’s only fair that I show mine."

While speaking, Aizen formed a quick seal with his right hand and released Danzo, who had been locked away in his system storage for three years.

Obito was startled. Danzo?!

Realizing this, he slowly put his mask back on. "The outside world believes Danzo defected from Konoha. I never thought he’d end up in your hands."

"Of course. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi fell victim to his schemes. I wouldn’t allow Danzo to plot in the shadows either," Aizen said, turning to Sasuke. "I imagine you plan to lure Sasuke into joining the Akatsuki, using him to capture tailed beasts and other schemes, don’t you?"

"Danzo might be a useful bargaining chip. No one in the shinobi world would want him dead more than Sasuke. I’m looking forward to seeing their showdown. It’ll be entertaining."

"You're just here for the spectacle, aren’t you?" Obito rolled his eyes, briefly reverting to his lighter-hearted self.

As the two spoke, Sasuke’s eyelids fluttered as he began to awaken.

"Well, I’ll leave Sasuke to you. You’re better at manipulation than I am." Aizen put Danzo away and turned his back to Sasuke. "Oh, and keep the body of Shisui’s heir safe for me. Once the eyes are removed, hand them over."

"Also, I’ve already released the seal on Sasuke’s Mangekyo. When you implant him with Shisui’s Sharingan, don’t discard his blind Mangekyo. I have a use for them."

With that, Aizen disappeared from the cave.

As soon as Aizen left, Zetsu emerged from the stone wall of the cave. White Zetsu asked, "Obito, can we trust this guy?"

Black Zetsu added, "He’s too powerful. Other than Lord Madara, I doubt anyone in the shinobi world can control him. Not even Pain, especially since he already found out so much about you. Pain is probably no exception."

"No worries. He’s just a guy who finds amusement in toying with others. It was the same with Hiruzen, Danzo, Orochimaru, and the battle between Itachi and Sasuke. Now that Itachi’s dead, he’s eager to find his next thrill. As long as the Eye of the Moon Plan succeeds, nothing else matters."

Obito spoke dismissively, understanding that Black Zetsu was urging him to revive Uchiha Madara. However, he had no intention of doing so.

He would achieve the Infinite Tsukuyomi himself.

*Chapter 289: Enforcing the Husband’s Authority*

“So what’s your plan, Obito?” Black Zetsu turned to Sasuke. “It won’t be long until he wakes up.”

“I’ll persuade Sasuke to help us capture the Eight-Tails. As for the Six-Tails, find its whereabouts and have Pain capture it himself. Once we seal both the Six-Tails and Eight-Tails, we can have Pain take on another target himself.”

Obito said with a somber expression.

“But wasn’t it supposed to be Aizen going after the Eight-Tails?” White Zetsu asked, confused.

Obito replied, “That guy will never go after it. Even if he did, he’d likely let it escape just like he did with Orochimaru. He’s only interested in his twisted amusements and seems to enjoy watching Sasuke get hurt, yet he doesn’t want him to die.”

“When it comes to the Eight-Tails, Sasuke won’t hold back. Aizen will be there to assist, so there won’t be any risk of failure.”

“Understood. I’ll leave it to you, then.” Zetsu said, blending into the ground.

The moment Zetsu disappeared, Sasuke finally stirred awake.

Obito vanished into the darkness, only to reemerge, cloaked in mystery. “You’re awake,” he murmured.

The manipulation was about to begin.

---

Elsewhere, Aizen had just teleported back to Tsunade’s home using his Flying Thunder God technique.

Months had passed since his last appearance, and Karin’s mother was startled, dropping a vase in shock.

In a flash, Aizen caught the vase, preventing it from shattering.

“Lord Aizen?”

Aizen nodded gently and handed the vase to Kaoru.

Following his perception of Kurenai’s chakra, he went upstairs and knocked on her door.

“Come in,” called Kurenai’s gentle voice from within.

Entering, he found Kurenai tending to her plants, her belly slightly rounded and a pure gold ring on her left ring finger.

Surprised to see Aizen, Kurenai put down the watering can and rushed over to him.

Aizen quickly stepped forward, wrapping her in his arms and whispering, “You should be more careful. What if you hurt the child?”

“I’m a Jonin, after all, and the baby’s only three months along. It’s not a problem,” Kurenai blushed, though she’d never admit her reaction was because she was excited to see him.

“Still, that won’t do.” He guided her to sit on the bed, a hint of reprimand in his tone, though Kurenai could feel his concern.

At this moment, she felt a warmth in her heart.

It’s well known that pregnant women often feel a lack of security.

As members of the Akatsuki fell, even Hinata had grown anxious over Aizen, let alone Kurenai.

Seeing Aizen return now made her happier than anyone.

Amidst their affectionate reunion, footsteps approached quickly outside, and soon Tsunade burst in, slightly out of breath.

Her sharp gaze flicked toward Kurenai nestled in Aizen’s arms. Kurenai met her with an equally fierce look.

In front of outsiders, Kurenai treated Tsunade as the Hokage, but in front of her own husband, she viewed Tsunade as a rival.

Tsunade saw things similarly. She wouldn’t use her Hokage authority over Kurenai, but she would deliver a punishing punch to Aizen himself.

This time, however, her worry for Jiraiya’s life outweighed any jealousy over Aizen’s flirtations.

“You finally decided to come back. Tell me, is Jiraiya alive or not?” Tsunade rushed to Aizen, her chest heaving with emotion.

“I thought you might greet me with a punch, or ask if this was a bad time!” Aizen extended his other hand, smiling playfully.

“Tell me, now.” Tsunade grabbed him by the collar, tears brimming in her eyes.

Her mind drifted back to memories with Jiraiya. She owed him so much.

Although unreliable at times, he always put himself in harm’s way to protect others.

If Jiraiya had been Hokage, he would have been the one sent to investigate the Hidden Rain Village, not her.

Aizen didn’t answer immediately, his smile fading as he looked at Tsunade, a slight bitterness in his gaze—a man accustomed to provoking jealousy now felt strangely betrayed.

The tension in the room thickened. Kurenai, too, felt at a loss, sensing that Aizen was genuinely angry this time.

Tsunade realized her mistake. Her eagerness had led her to ignore the fact that she was questioning her husband about another man she loved.

She released his collar and, uncharacteristically, softened her tone, like a wounded kitten.

Watching this transformation, Kurenai was taken aback. Was this the Fifth Hokage she knew, one of the legendary Sannin? Or just a young woman who felt wronged?

“Do you realize your mistake?” Seeing Tsunade’s demeanor, Aizen’s anger cooled, though he kept a distant tone.

“Mm.” She nodded, her voice quivering slightly, a vulnerable expression on her face.

“What did you do wrong?” Aizen turned to wink slyly at Kurenai, who stifled a laugh. Aizen really had Tsunade in his hands this time.

“I shouldn’t have doubted you, especially over Jiraiya,” Tsunade’s voice broke, realizing how much she valued Aizen’s presence.

“If you’re that worried, what if I left and took Kurenai with me?” he teased, helping Kurenai to her feet.

“Wait…” In her panic, Tsunade’s mind raced, as if fearing he’d truly leave with Kurenai.

Aizen turned back, feigning a scowl. “Will you do this again?”

“No, I won’t,” she replied, tearfully.

“Good girl.” Aizen held Kurenai close and offered his other arm to Tsunade, who finally relaxed, embracing him tearfully.

“I thought you’d leave me…”

“Well, that depends on your behavior from now on,” Aizen teased, feigning lingering resentment.

Kurenai watched in admiration; he had Tsunade completely under his control.

---

That night, Aizen spent the night in Tsunade’s quarters and the next day alone with Kurenai.

Before returning to the Akatsuki’s eastern base, Aizen finally shared information with Tsunade about the Akatsuki, hinting at Pain’s Six Paths, advising her to prepare.

He had also decided, for the first time, to help Konoha by planning a setup where Naruto would confront Pain in a carefully arranged battle.

The following evening, as the sun dipped low over the sea, Sasuke stood on the shore, sword at his side, memories of his brother flooding his mind.

At that moment, an easygoing voice called out.

The group turned to see Aizen appear beside Obito with a puff of smoke.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, his Mangekyō Sharingan gleaming as he charged forward with his sword drawn.

But Aizen remained calm, and Obito stepped between them, warning, “Sasuke, if you attack Aizen, you’ll die.”

Sasuke ignored him, his face twisted in rage. “Why? You knew about Itachi. Why didn’t you tell me? If I had known, I wouldn’t have…”

Aizen’s cold smile deepened. “And then what? Knowing the truth would erase the massacre, change Itachi’s fate? Do you really think killing your parents and clan was the only option?”

Sasuke’s rage grew, summoning flames to attack.

Aizen deftly countered, blowing the black flames back toward Sasuke, who fell into the sea as the flames raged around him.

“Aizen!” Obito shouted. “Sasuke’s our ally!”

“Relax. He may call me his father figure, but I won’t kill him,” Aizen replied with a smirk.

*Chapter 291: Confirming a Fact*

“It looks like it's time to get serious.” Red chakra gradually enveloped Killer Bee, with eight chakra-formed tails swaying in the air. Killer Bee formed an “I love you” gesture with his fingers. “Guess I’ll use the eighth blade.”

“Be careful, Sasuke! This monster’s coming!” Suigetsu warned.

As the words left his mouth, Killer Bee, now half-transformed into the Eight-Tails, zoomed past Suigetsu and Jūgo, charging straight at Sasuke.

Sasuke’s Sharingan glinted as he anticipated Killer Bee’s moves with precision, dodging just in time.

Unexpectedly, Killer Bee had only faked him out. The moment Sasuke dodged, Bee rushed toward Aizen instead, thinking confidently, No matter how much chakra you have, you’re still just a medic-nin without much offensive power.

Plus, targeting the medic-nin first—standard strategy.

“Uh-oh.” Suigetsu was shocked to see Killer Bee targeting Aizen, but as Sasuke dodged and Bee shifted focus, Suigetsu’s face twisted into a mocking grin—half for Aizen, half for Killer Bee.

Aizen had intended to observe the battle, but Killer Bee had clearly mistaken him for an easy target.

The partially transformed Killer Bee didn’t know what Suigetsu was thinking as he condensed a massive bull-skull bone on his beastly right arm, aiming a powerful blow right at Aizen’s chest. “Lariat!”

Boom. The ground shattered instantly, smoke and dust filling the plaza, with flashes of golden lightning visible in the haze.

The violent shockwave blew the rest of Taka Squad off the edge of the Cloud Thunder Gorge's circular plaza.

“Cough, cough.” Sasuke, nicknamed “Second Pillar,” choked on the dust, immediately calling out to his teammates, “Jūgo, Suigetsu, you okay?”

“Still hanging in there…” Jūgo replied, though he'd used his tough body to shield Sasuke from the worst of the blow.

Suigetsu, meanwhile, had been hit by rubble and fallen into the water.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Suigetsu said as he surfaced, eyeing the two monsters up top. “Though, I’m not so sure how those two monsters are doing.”

At Suigetsu’s words, Sasuke’s three-tomoe Sharingan fixated on the dust-covered plaza above. He replayed the moment in his mind, thinking, Did he take that monster’s attack head-on? This guy...

Within the smoke.

Killer Bee, still in his half-beast state, kept his arm pressed to Aizen’s chest, his bull-bone shattered and scattered across the ground.

Aizen, however, was unfazed, standing still and serene, unaffected by Killer Bee’s exerted force.

“How… how is this possible?” Killer Bee’s eyes widened in disbelief, the Eight-Tails within him equally stunned.

“A Lariat, huh?” Aizen smirked. “Half-beast mode, fully channeling Lightning Style chakra, and generating bone on the elbow to slam into the target… quite a move. But it’s not effective.”

“Ninja combat is all about chakra, and with your level, I can easily suppress you with my own chakra.”

“No way it didn’t work!” Killer Bee roared as he swung his cloaked fist at Aizen, the fierce gale dispersing the dust around them.

But it was futile. Killer Bee’s half-beast fist, even at best, was only on par with Tsunade’s monstrous strength—not quite enough.

Aizen caught his fist with one hand.

“One more thing,” Aizen continued, grinning at Killer Bee. “You seem to have chosen the wrong opponent. If you hadn’t picked me, maybe you’d have walked away unscathed.”

With a slight squeeze, Aizen’s grip crushed through the bones in Killer Bee’s fist, making a sickening crack.

“Ahh!” Killer Bee cried out, dropping to one knee, steam escaping from his mouth. He cursed in his usual rhyming fashion, “That hurt like hell, you jerk, you punk!”

As the dust settled, the rest of Taka Squad finally got a clear view of the scene.

With looks of horror, they watched Aizen hurl Killer Bee into the air, following up with a fierce kick that bent Bee’s body like a shrimp. He hurtled like a cannonball, leveling mountains and causing lakes to overflow.

Suigetsu’s jaw dropped as he stared at Aizen with newfound dread.

“What kind of monster is this guy?”

Strong beyond reason.

One kick, and the Eight-Tails had been left defenseless and utterly defeated.

Jūgo furrowed his brows, wondering if all of Akatsuki’s members were like this.

Meanwhile, Sasuke felt something deeper than shock—he felt bitterness. No matter how much he trained, how hard he tried, it felt like he could never surpass this guy who had once driven Orochimaru to target him in the first place.

“Hey, hey… is the Eight-Tails even alive?” Suigetsu resurfaced, asking Sasuke.

“Who knows. The Sharingan doesn’t have X-ray vision.” Sasuke scoffed, clenching his fists, wondering just how strong Aizen truly was.

“It was a pretty intense attack,” Jūgo commented. “Even for the Eight-Tails, it would be tough to survive that… though I imagine he’s alive, just unconscious since they need a living Jinchuriki.”

“You’re wrong about that,” a voice sounded from behind them, startling Taka. They turned to see Aizen standing there. “The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki isn’t as fragile as you think. In fact, he’s the only perfect Jinchuriki still alive today.”

As they spoke, a rumble emerged from the rubble of the collapsed mountains. A massive creature with a bull’s head and octopus body crawled out, roaring with a distinct rapping tone.

“You jerk! You punk! You’ll regret facing me! Get ready to taste my true power, you puny brats, as Eight-Tails will take you down!”

“Bee, stop messing around. That kid is dangerous,” the Eight-Tails urged him. “Use all your power, or you might lose.”

“OK, lil’ Eight,” Bee sang in response from the mental space, as a dark sphere of chakra began to form in his mouth.

“Wh-what is that? Can chakra even do that?!” Suigetsu stammered in disbelief.

“Sasuke, what do we do? That’s a long-range attack, we’re...” Jūgo trailed off, his gaze shifting to Aizen, realizing they would likely have to rely on him to survive.

Sasuke activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, considering summoning Susano’o to defend, but Aizen’s voice interrupted, “Give it up, Sasuke. That Susano’o of yours can’t withstand this. You’d be obliterated.”

“Then what do we do? Just stand here and die?” Sasuke shouted in anger.

“Still impulsive, aren’t you? Watch closely,” Aizen responded. He bit his finger and pressed his hand to the ground. The moment the Tailed Beast Bomb launched, five ominous gates rose up before them.

Sasuke and Suigetsu gasped as they recognized the Summoning Jutsu of the First Hokage, though Orochimaru had only ever summoned three gates at most.

As the Tailed Beast Bomb collided with the gates, it obliterated the first three almost instantly. Yet it lost momentum upon striking the fourth and dissipated entirely against the fifth.

Boom! Smoke cleared, revealing a massive crater, with lake water flooding into it.

“It… it was blocked,” Killer Bee stammered in disbelief, the Eight-Tails equally astonished.

“This is the First Hokage’s Summoning Jutsu, the Fivefold Rashomon,” the Eight-Tails urged. “We need to keep up the attack or they’ll overwhelm us.”

“Hold on—I have another idea,” Killer Bee smirked.

In his mental space, the Eight-Tails frowned, “If your brother finds out, you’ll regret it.”

“No worries, he won’t know if we keep it on the down-low,” Bee rapped.

In a flash, he lunged forward with his eight tails, striking relentlessly. Aizen, however, simply patted Sasuke on the shoulder, vanishing from the battlefield.

As in the original story, Sasuke countered with his Amaterasu, eventually trapping the Eight-Tails in the lake. Thinking he had won, Sasuke departed with a piece of the beast in tow.

In the Eight-Tails' mental space, Killer Bee asked, “Are they gone?”

After confirming, Bee severed his octopus appendage and swam out of the lake, only to find a blade aimed at him.

Following the blade’s edge, he saw a calm smile on Aizen’s face.

“Damn it! What do you want?” Bee shouted.

Aizen raised the blade to Bee’s bells. “Sing another line, and I’ll cut these off.”

Bee gulped, returning to a normal tone, “What do you want?”

“I just need to confirm something,” Aizen replied, casting his genjutsu.

With Killer Bee now hypnotized, Aizen entered Bee’s mental space. He confirmed his suspicion: if he hypnotized a Jinchuriki, the Tailed Beast within would also fall under his control through their chakra link.

“All in all, a worthwhile confirmation,” Aizen mused. “