Though no one wanted to admit it, Orochimaru's sensory abilities surpassed even those of the Uzumaki Clan. Discussing sensitive matters here risked everything. If Obito revealed too much, Orochimaru might kill him just to bury the secret.
Nagato understood this and nodded slightly. "Let's return to the village. We'll talk there."
Obito's eyes glinted. "Good."
Then looking Konan, as if casually, added, "You come along, too."
"…Alright," she muttered. She'd been about to ask to join them anyway, but Obito had beaten her to it.
---
Back in Rain Village, they entered a quiet black spire tucked away in a secluded corner. This was Nagato's personal chamber—fortified with layers of sealing techniques that blocked all chakra sensing and ocular jutsu. The safest place in the village.
Nagato sat cross-legged on a wooden bed and turned to Obito. "Speak."
Obito didn't delay. He launched straight into a myth-like tale, laced with half-truths:
"As I said, the Sage of the Six Paths was real. Thousands of years ago, this world wasn't the barren warzone it is now. It was a fertile land where peace once flourished. But evil beasts eventually rose and brought chaos. The Sage fought to protect humanity from them."
His voice echoed in the dark room as Konan and Nagato listened in silence.
"In the end, the Sage defeated the beast, but the world was left in ruins. To restore balance, he reshaped the land, carving rivers and mountains to build a place where humans could survive."
Obito glanced at Nagato. "You've been to the Land of Wind, seen the desert. But beyond that, further west, lies true desolation. This ninja world only exists because of the Sage's efforts."
Nagato felt a flicker of pride—his ancestors had shaped the world itself.
"But the Sage was gravely wounded in the battle. Though once immortal, his end drew near…"
Nagato remained silent, his thoughts spinning. If the Sage still lived, would the world be this broken?
Obito continued, "Before his death, the Sage split his power into nine parts…"
"The Tailed Beasts," Nagato said, his eyes narrowing.
"Exactly," Obito nodded. "He entrusted these fragments to humanity—not as weapons, but to protect peace. But the evil beast's will lingered. When the Sage died, that will corrupted the Tailed Beasts, twisting their minds."
Obito's tone hardened. "But if we could purge that malice… the Sage's power could be restored. The perfect jinchūriki is proof."
"So that's why you pushed me to gather the Tailed Beasts," Nagato muttered, finally understanding Obito's motives.
Yes—Obito had used him. But truthfully, Nagato might have done the same in his position. In the end, Obito hadn't betrayed him outright. That mattered.
"But this," Obito added, "was only one part of the plan to bring peace."
His voice lowered, becoming more secretive.
"The Sage of the Six Paths had two sons, and their descendants live on."
"The Uchiha," Obito said, "inherited the Sage's 'Sage eyes.' The Uzumaki, his 'Sage body.' But…"
Obito paused, his tone heavy. "There's something else. Something only my clan knows—"
Suddenly, a half-black, half-white head emerged from the floor.
"Sorry to interrupt your story," Black Zetsu said flatly, "but I have urgent news."
Nagato and Konan frowned in unison. Obito had just reached the key point—this interruption was ill-timed and frustrating.
"What is it?" Nagato asked.
"Well, it's not a crisis," Zetsu replied, "but the battle with Orochimaru damaged the village. Major sewer lines have broken, and waste is starting to backflow. The villagers are asking for the Paper Angel's orders."
He turned to Konan meaningfully.
In Akatsuki's structure, Konan was the de facto administrator of Rain Village. While Nagato held military power, Konan handled governance. Without her, the village couldn't function.
Konan hesitated. She didn't want to leave now, just as Obito was revealing crucial information.
"Go," Nagato said gently. "There are no secrets between us. I'll tell you everything later."
"…Alright," Konan replied. With a lingering glance at Obito, she transformed into paper and vanished.
Normally, she wouldn't have left Nagato's side while he was weakened. But Obito's openness had eased her suspicions—and after witnessing Nagato's battle with Orochimaru, she no longer saw Obito as a threat.
Once she was gone, Black Zetsu's eyes gleamed faintly before he sank back into the ground.
Obito resumed.
"In the Uchiha compound stands the Naka Shrine. Deep beneath it lies a stone tablet, left behind by the Sage of the Six Paths. Its message can only be read with the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Obito looked straight at Nagato. "It says this: Only by uniting Uchiha and Uzumaki blood can one obtain true power."
Nagato furrowed his brow. "What does that mean?"
"Uchiha possess the 'Sage eyes'—Yin Release. The Uzumaki possess the 'Sage body'—Yang Release. Together, they create the ultimate balance: the Rinnegan."
Nagato was stunned.
So… the Rinnegan isn't a divine gift? It's man-made?
Obito nodded. "Your Rinnegan… was a successful experiment. Or rather, the successful one. All the others were failures."
Nagato's voice lowered. "Go on."
"The Sharingan evolves through intense emotion—loss, love, hate. Almost every Uchiha awakened theirs after watching a loved one die."
Nagato stayed silent, his thoughts darkening.
Obito's voice grew colder. "And your Rinnegan? It was born from the same cycle. Your parents weren't killed in a random raid—they were Madara's followers, deliberately sacrificed in front of you to test your compatibility."
"Your grandparents, too. Generations of failed attempts. If you hadn't awakened the Rinnegan, Madara planned to marry you to a Uchiha and try again with your child."
"You were just a tool. A disposable pawn."
Nagato froze.
He felt no rage—just cold horror.
How many had died before him? How many more would have followed?
This wasn't sacrifice. It was exploitation, cloaked in legend.
He looked at Obito, wanting more answers—but then something inside him shifted.
A thick black substance began spreading across his chest. His limbs stiffened.
From the floor, Black Zetsu emerged—back already.
Almost simultaneously, Obito rushed forward, hand outstretched.
He's after the Rinnegan, Nagato realized, fury flooding his mind.
But just as Obito reached him, Nagato's will ignited. The purple rings of the Rinnegan flared violently, releasing a shockwave that obliterated the tower's roof.
Yet Obito remained unfazed.
His body passed straight through Nagato. Then he reached back, his fingers aiming for Nagato's eyes.
Kamui… Nagato realized, eyes widening. This was all a feint…
Behind him, Obito's expression remained unreadable.
This was his gamble.
Every word he'd said—from the myths, to the truths, to the fabricated horrors—was designed to manipulate Nagato's emotions. To build trust—then shatter it.
He'd expected Nagato's outburst. In fact, he had planned for it.
Obito had even brought a black monster from the Kamui dimension to reinforce himself—just in case.
This was a one-shot plan. All his energy had gone into preparing this single strike.
But one was enough.
Without hesitation, Obito struck.
And a moment later, a scream tore through the air.
_____________________
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