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[Warhammer 40K: A Multiverse Saga]
[Warhammer 40K: They Said I Have No Soul]
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Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Outside a certain hidden cavern, Kabuto finally greeted the guest he'd been waiting for.
He pushed up his glasses, smiling like he'd planned ten moves ahead. "Obito… or should I call you, Tobi?"
Obito couldn't even be bothered with a mask anymore. His voice was cold. "I hear you tried to snatch the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki on your own—and then didn't hand him to the leader. Planning to betray Akatsuki?"
Kabuto kept smiling. "Heh. Betray what? There are barely any members left. The 'organization' is a name in tatters—what's there to betray? Besides, taking the Eight-Tails was my own decision, not an order, so I'm not obliged to submit anything."
Obito understood Kabuto's angle and, a little smug, stopped pretending otherwise.
What he didn't understand was what Kabuto wanted.
So he asked directly. "What's your aim?"
Kabuto's smile didn't waver. "Just to strike a deal with you, Obito-san."
"A deal? What do you want? And what's your leverage?"
"Heh. As for leverage—I have the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki. As for what I want… I'm guessing you intend to seize the Rinnegan (Samsara Eye), because its current holder won't move according to your script. Am I right?"
"You know too much. That's not good for your health. Do you want to die?"
Obito's tone went glacial. He wasn't sure whether Kabuto had deduced this or someone had told him—but Kabuto was correct. He intended to take the Rinnegan for himself.
The Tsuki no Me Keikaku (Eye of the Moon Plan) might have holes, but if Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi) could truly be cast, then a world with Rin could truly exist—a world where he and Rin lived and loved. Even if the Infinite Tsukuyomi destroyed the real world, he didn't care; he was filthy already.
After the failed invasion of Konoha, Nagato looked steadfast… but no longer trusted him.
So, to be safe, he'd take the Rinnegan for himself.
As for Kabuto—was this clown also after the Rinnegan?
Kabuto chuckled. "If Obito-san will deliver a single Rinnegan, I'll hand over the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki."
Obito snapped. "Keep dreaming! I can kill you and still take the jinchūriki!"
Kabuto didn't flinch. "I apprenticed under Orochimaru. Hiding is my specialty. If I hide something, it won't be found easily. And as you can see, I've mastered Ryūchi-dō's Sennin Mōdo (Sage Mode). If I stash the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki in Ryūchi Cave, where would you even look?"
Ryūchi Cave—one of the Three Great Sage Realms—was insanely well-hidden.
Right now, no one in the shinobi world knew its location but Kabuto. If he really did that, the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki might never be found.
Even so, Obito shook his head. "Just the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki? That chip won't buy a Rinnegan."
Kabuto had expected as much. Good thing he'd come prepared. He flew through seals. "Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation)!"
Whoom—
A coffin thrust up from the earth. The lid clattered off, revealing—Madara.
Obito's face went stone-dark. "Where did you find his body?"
Kabuto only chuckled and didn't answer. Instead, he pressed. "Then, as Madara's successor, does Obito-san have anything to say to Madara? Shall I restore his consciousness right now?"
Obito ground his teeth. "Seems I underestimated you. You really do know a lot."
"Mm—overpraised," Kabuto said, eyes gleaming like he held all the pieces. "Is this chip sufficient? If not, I might have more surprises. I'm very, very good at Edo Tensei. Perhaps Obito-san would like to see a certain beloved person again?"
"Try it and die."
Obito's fury spiked.
He understood what Kabuto implied—using Edo Tensei as a threat.
If he refused, releasing Madara was one thing. But if Kabuto dared dig up Rin's grave—dared to Edo Tensei Rin—that would be the real catastrophe.
Never mind whether he was ready to face Rin; in his current state, he had no face to meet her again.
And he would not allow this filth to defile Rin, who'd already passed on.
So. Kabuto had found his softest point.
Obito drew a long breath, then forced the words out. "When I get the Rinnegan, I'll give you one. But you do not touch Rin. Or you won't have a grave to be buried in. And then the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki and Madara both come to me. You'd better prepare more Edo Tensei bodies—I'll have uses for them."
Kabuto's smile stretched, satisfied now that he'd reached his goal.
He'd known it would work.
After all, someone who would 'destroy humanity for her' obviously cared about 'her.' Which made Madara the perfect bargaining chip.
With the terms set, Obito stormed off.
He wanted to kill Kabuto right there. But just like Orochimaru, Kabuto was annoyingly hard to kill. If Kabuto slipped away, he might really dig up Rin's grave—or release Madara. Neither outcome was acceptable.
"Damn you. Just wait. You're dead."
… …
Killer intent rolled off Obito as he left—he'd have liked nothing more than to cut Kabuto into a thousand pieces on the spot.
Once Obito was distant, Kuro Zetsu seeped from the ground, voice rasping. "Not bad. You're better than I thought."
Kabuto chuckled. "I only… found the weakness. So, Kuro Zetsu—what's your weakness? Tell me yourself, and I won't have to be so on guard."
Yes—Kabuto was guarding himself against Kuro Zetsu the whole time.
The thing's raw combat power didn't seem impressive—but it was uncertain. Its origins were murky, and that Kagerō (Mayfly) technique was absurdly broken.
What truly set Kabuto on edge was its relationship with Madara. It claimed to 'assist' Obito after Madara's death—but in truth it watched him. The moment Obito stepped out of line, Kuro Zetsu would flip, even going so far as to suppress Madara's revival if necessary.
A creature like that… was dangerous.
Kuro Zetsu gave a ghastly laugh. "Heh. I'm merely Madara's will. No need to pry."
You're seriously telling me not to pry? Sure.
Kabuto had no interest in wasting more breath with Kuro Zetsu. He sealed away Madara's coffin and entered a waiting game—waiting for Obito to snatch the Rinnegan.
He would have to wait. Obito couldn't get it that easily just yet.
He needed timing—needed a window when both Nagato and Konan relaxed their guard. Otherwise, if Nagato, in anger, destroyed the Rinnegan, it would be a loss beyond reckoning.
(End of Chapter)
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