"The shinobi forces are assembling!"
With a loud shout, a large number of shinobi began to gather, moving to their assigned positions as instructed.
In the original story, the five great shinobi villages gathered eighty thousand shinobi.
This number might not be wrong, but it definitely couldn't be only the shinobi of the five great villages.
Now, under Itsuki's command as the supreme general, he gathered shinobi from the entire shinobi world.
And thus.
This confirmed the point.
After assembling all the shinobi villages, including the samurai, they managed to gather nearly seventy thousand shinobi.
The main contributors were large villages like Konoha, but recent battles had taken a heavy toll on them.
The surrounding shinobi villages could not be left out of this.
The six major shinobi villages fought on the front lines; could the others really pretend not to see it? No way. The entire shinobi world had to contribute.
Even many rogue ninjas had been pulled in by Uchiha Itsuki.
Itsuki silently watched the assembled shinobi, sighed, and said, "This is an unprecedented gathering, and in the future, it may not happen again."
"Because we have a common enemy!"
This spectacular scene moved the other Kage to sigh as well.
After today, will we ever see something like this again? Will there ever be another Uchiha Obito? No, it seems...
Many shinobi instinctively glanced at Uchiha Itsuki.
If you were to talk about something truly terrifying, it seemed like Uchiha Itsuki was still more frightening.
If there were another enemy for us to unite against in the future, it would probably only be him.
Itsuki noticed the surrounding glances but paid them no mind.
Thinking it over.
Uchiha Obito really wasn't much.
The fact that he was able to collect enough Tailed Beasts was thanks to both Itsuki and the story.
Yes, the story!
Itsuki was sure that the storyline influenced events.
Otherwise, how would you explain Killer B running around by himself while everyone else was scrambling to capture Tailed Beasts?
How would you explain the Jinchūriki going out alone after the Akatsuki had captured so many Tailed Beasts? It was almost as if they were purposely giving the Akatsuki opportunities.
This wasn't even about the Six Paths; it seemed to involve fate itself.
"Everyone, since we have located Zetsu's position, let's send out the vanguard!"
Itsuki spoke calmly.
"The vanguard? So urgently?"
Onoki's face changed slightly.
"No hurry? How much more time do you want to give them?"
Itsuki sneered.
"We can use a few more days to fully prepare our forces!"
The Raikage said gravely, "The difference between being fully prepared and not is immense; our combat strength would be greatly enhanced."
"Unless, the 'month' you mentioned was a lie."
"I already said, I did something to the Eight-Tails. If the Ten-Tails aren't afraid of killing the Eight-Tails, they'll have to take their time dealing with my trick. That timeframe is one month!"
Itsuki's expression remained indifferent. "But this doesn't mean you have a month; we have to make every second count."
"Don't think that we're the only ones preparing. The enemy is preparing too."
"If you give them more time, they might be even more ready."
He clearly remembered in the original story that Kabuto and Obito had captured Yamato and used his cells to enhance Zetsu's strength.
Although it was unclear how much it improved them, tens of thousands of Zetsu, even if their power increased only a little, would be a terrifying force.
Now, though Yamato was safe, Orochimaru's skills might be even more advanced than Kabuto's, and he had plenty of Hashirama's cells! If he had any other means to strengthen a group of special White Zetsu, who knows how many people would die as a result.
Also.
Itsuki remembered in the original story, there was one particularly powerful White Zetsu.
If there were ten or eight of those things, the war wouldn't even be worth fighting.
"This..."
"I'm the supreme commander. I expect you to comply with my decisions!"
Itsuki said coldly, "Form a thousand-man vanguard unit led by the Uchiha, and let's strike first!"
The Kage frowned at each other.
Uchiha Itsuki seemed to be in a rush.
Was the pressure from the enemy that great?
Originally, they felt at ease, believing that with the strength of the entire shinobi world and a madman like Uchiha Itsuki, victory was certain. But now...
The vanguard was quickly assembled.
Uchiha Fugaku took the role of captain, and the group included twenty Uchiha shinobi with three-tomoe Sharingan.
Additionally, the Hidden Fire Village sent twenty Jonin and over a hundred elite shinobi.
With this kind of formation, the other shinobi villages stopped hesitating and sent out their best shinobi as well.
Mangekyō Sharingan holder Uchiha Fugaku had enough power to intimidate anyone.
In just three hours, the thousand-man force was ready.
Fugaku wasted no time. He waved his hand and said, "Move out!"
Watching the thousand shinobi depart, Itsuki spoke calmly.
"Fugaku, anyone who disobeys orders—kill them, no matter who they are. This is a matter of the entire shinobi world; there is no room for personal feelings."
Itsuki's voice wasn't loud, but with the help of Yamanaka Inoichi, it was conveyed clearly to every member of the vanguard.
You could see their bodies momentarily pause.
"Understood!"
Fugaku replied firmly, "I promise to complete the mission!"
What was the mission? Itsuki's exact words: Just cause as much chaos as possible!
Itsuki turned to look at Nara Shikaku and said, "Get the main forces ready as soon as possible."
"Yes!"
Itsuki then turned to Ao and said, "Activate the shinobi world surveillance system!"
"Yes!"
A huge water sphere appeared before them.
This water sphere was different from the one in the original story.
More advanced! Why was that? It was thanks to Sasori's involvement.
As one of the leading scientists of the shinobi world, and a mechanical genius, it made perfect sense for Sasori to develop something like this, didn't it? Itsuki smiled slightly, wondering what kind of reunion it would be when Sasori met Chiyo, who was on her way. Would the jutsu Chiyo prepared for Sasori even be used?
...
Tap, tap, tap!
A group of shinobi ran swiftly.
Leading them was none other than Uchiha Fugaku! He led the vanguard, rapidly approaching White Zetsu's location.
There were tens of thousands of White Zetsu there.
Everyone believed that was their lair.
Where else could they be hiding? Besides, it was unlikely that they'd separate White Zetsu from the Ten-Tails, right? Who else would guard the Ten-Tails?
"Hmph!"
Fugaku grinned confidently.
Maybe the entire shinobi force wasn't even necessary—his thousand might be enough to break through.
Gathering the elite of six shinobi villages, and with a large number of Uchiha among them, Fugaku was confident.
Except for the Ten-Tails and Obito, there wasn't much trouble.
But!
If those two dared to show up, Uchiha Itsuki would definitely take action.
...
"Buzz!"
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu emerged from underground.
"Obito, Itsuki's attack is coming. Uchiha Fugaku is leading a thousand of the shinobi world's elite, and they're not far from us."
Obito had already donned his outfit from the Fourth Great Shinobi War in the original story, complete with a metallic mask.
At this point.
Obito couldn't afford to care anymore. Even if Itsuki had taken the initiative, he was determined to wear that mask.
"A thousand elites?"
Obito's expression darkened as he glanced at Orochimaru, saying coldly, "It's up to you now." "Hehehe!"
Orochimaru smirked. "Should I say, as expected of Itsuki-kun? He chose an elite charge—well, of course, your White Zetsu army would be in trouble if they ran into a group of elite shinobi."
He rose slowly, unfazed by Obito's grim expression.
"Snap!"
"Impure World Reincarnation!"
Orochimaru clasped his hands together, and the scene from the original story appeared.
One by one, coffins emerged from the ground.
The lids opened.
Figures, unsteady on their feet, walked out.
"The Second Hokage!"
"The Second Mizukage!"
"The Second Tsuchikage!"
"The Third Raikage!"
"The Fourth Kazekage!"
"And, over half of the notable experts from the Five Great Shinobi Villages!"
"Like, Sakumo Hatake!"
...
At this moment, Kakashi, who was far away at the headquarters of the Allied Shinobi Forces, suddenly opened his eyes, as if awakened from a nightmare, sweat breaking out all over his body.
"Kakashi, what's wrong?"
Itsuki glanced at him.
Kakashi covered his face with his palm, his expression complicated.
Just now, what was that feeling? It seemed like something important was about to come his way.
But, ever since his father left... hmm?
"Commander!"
Kakashi spoke in a deep voice, "You said Orochimaru might cooperate with Uchiha Obito, right?"
"Yes!"
Itsuki looked at Kakashi, saying, "I was surprised. I thought you would lose control and go after him upon hearing Obito's name."
Kakashi gave a faint smile, speaking calmly, "If I weren't the Hokage, I would have done that. Unfortunately, I am, which means there are things I can't do as I please."
"That's the burden of a Kage!"
Itsuki nodded with a smile, saying, "We all bear the title of Kage, and, well, we lost our freedom a long time ago."
"..."
Everyone in the command center turned to look at Uchiha Itsuki.
Seriously!
How thick-skinned are you to say something like that?
Yes, you are a Kage.
The first Kage! Under your leadership, the Village Hidden in Fire has indeed flourished, but if you claim to be a responsible guy, all I can do is spit at you.
What have you done besides causing chaos?
...
Orochimaru grinned, saying, "Oh, right, and these two guys as well, you go too!"
"Clap!"
Two more coffins rose, and those who walked out left Obito stunned.
Orochimaru, you really have no limits!
These two...
Danzo was one thing.
But the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, what are you thinking?
Even your own teacher, you didn't spare!
Savage!
You're truly savage!
Digging up even your teacher's grave.
Orochimaru sneered, staring at the Third Hokage, his gaze also complex.
He actually longed for the monkey's approval.
Unfortunately!
Until the very end, he never achieved it.
It wasn't that he couldn't do it, but rather he believed that Hiruzen Sarutobi had lost his essence. Such a Hiruzen, even if he approved of Orochimaru, it was no longer something he cared about.
"When you were alive, you made many mistakes. Now that you're dead, do your best to make up for them!"
Orochimaru chuckled softly, "Make it up to me!"
Obito: "..."
Make it up to you for what?
For interrupting your human experiments back then?
To give you some people so you can redo your experiments?
Haha!
Orochimaru, I've realized that you and Uchiha Itsuki are the same; are you two just here for comic relief?
"Step, step, step!"
Thousands of people walked out of the coffins, standing in front of Orochimaru.
The sheer number made even Obito's eyes twitch.
Incredible!
Orochimaru alone, without needing Uchiha Obito, was enough to stir up the entire ninja world.
With so many experts, what couldn't Orochimaru accomplish?
What was his intent in the Eye of the Moon Plan?
Obito tilted his head, his eyes thoughtful.
"Go!"
Orochimaru laughed loudly, giving the order, "Some of you, take down Uchiha Fugaku's vanguard, and the others, go deal with the Allied Shinobi Forces!"
Whoosh!
Thousands of reanimated ninjas vanished.
They split into several groups and began their mission.
Obito walked up to Orochimaru, speaking coldly, "You've done more than necessary."
"I helped you deal with the Allied Shinobi Forces. Shouldn't you be thanking me, Obito-kun?"
Orochimaru chuckled.
Obito stared at him, his voice cold, "Then why did you keep these two?"
"Bodyguards!"
Orochimaru replied without hesitation, "I still have some fear of you, Obito-kun, so please don't make things difficult for me. Otherwise, my two bodyguards will have to make a move."
Obito looked at Orochimaru's two "bodyguards."
Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha!
Damn it!
Having those two protecting you—just how afraid of death are you?
Originally, Obito planned to control Orochimaru through genjutsu after he sent out the reanimated experts, so he could completely take control.
But now?
Forget it!
With those two, there was no one other than Uchiha Itsuki who could take them on.
Hmm?
Wait!
Obito suddenly realized.
He should be stronger than Uchiha Itsuki now.
He had the Mangekyo Sharingan and even the Rinnegan.
At this moment, he had even integrated the power of the Rinnegan into his body, allowing him to use this godly eye.
His combat strength should definitely surpass Uchiha Itsuki!
Why did he keep having these strange thoughts in his mind?
As if whenever he faced Uchiha Itsuki, he would inevitably lose!
Obito lowered his head, his eyes filled with fury.
He needed to build his confidence—the confidence to defeat Uchiha Itsuki.
The best way was Uchiha Itsuki's blood!
"Make those reanimated ninjas act as soon as possible!"
Obito's voice was cold, "Even Uchiha Itsuki wouldn't want to lose too many of these elites."
Orochimaru's expression was curious, "So…"
"So, when Uchiha Itsuki makes a move, I will also act!"
Obito placed one hand over his Rinnegan, his expression icy as he spoke, "It's time for me and him to settle things. I'll show him the true power of the Rinnegan."