Obito and Nagato
The first thing Uchiha Obito said to Pain was,
"It has always been our mission—to guide those who awaken the Rinnegan. That power was never meant to bloom without purpose."
Pain stared back expressionlessly.
"You know about these eyes?"
Obito gestured toward him.
"You are the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths' will—drawn to stability, yet born in chaos. While the Hidden Villages of the great nations thrive under sunlight, your land, Amegakure, suffers in the shadows, always one war away from annihilation."
He paused.
"That is why you awakened the Rinnegan—because where there is light, shadow must exist. As long as there are victors, there will be losers. Peace begets conflict, love breeds hatred. It's the unbreakable cycle of this world."
Obito's voice grew intense.
"But there is another way. A world where only victors exist—a world of true peace, born through shared suffering. Through the Rinnegan, through pain, we can force peace. And I can help you reach that vision."
He stepped closer.
"You've seen the truth already—Hanzo's betrayal, the destruction of the original Akatsuki, Yahiko's death..."
At the mention of Yahiko, Pain's eyes flared with rage.
"Shinra Tensei!"
With a violent gravitational force, Pain pulled Obito toward him. But as his hand reached out to crush Obito's throat, it phased through his body.
Pain's eyes narrowed.
"Ninjutsu... no, a space-time technique."
Unfazed, Obito continued speaking as if nothing had happened.
"Nagato, Yahiko, Konan—I will reunite you all in the world of dreams. I swear it."
The word "reunite" struck a nerve. Pain's body trembled slightly.
After a long silence, Pain turned and said,
"Follow me."
He led Obito and Zetsu through the rain-drenched corridors of Amegakure. Along the way, they encountered Konan.
She narrowed her eyes at the sight of the intruders.
"Who are they?"
Pain said simply,
"Come, Konan. We're taking them to Nagato."
The group entered a sealed chamber. Inside sat Nagato—gaunt, skeletal, his body bound to the mechanical support of the Gedo Statue. His real body.
Nagato's voice was hollow.
"Can you really guarantee the world you speak of?"
Obito nodded.
"I can. Because I'm here to guide you—not as a partner, but as your shadow."
Nagato's voice grew darker.
"I understand. The cycle of peace and war is cursed. True peace can never exist."
Obito replied,
"Not through normal means. But with the power of the Tailed Beasts, through the Gedo Statue, peace can be enforced."
Nagato frowned.
"So your plan is just to gather power?"
"It's more than that," Obito said.
"You've already summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, but it's incomplete. Only when it absorbs the chakra of all nine Tailed Beasts can it achieve its true form—the Ten Tails. With that, we can cast an infinite genjutsu over the world. No more war, no more suffering. Only a dream of peace."
Nagato lowered his gaze. He knew the statue felt... dormant. Incomplete. Was this truly its purpose?
With such power, he could enforce peace through fear. Make the world understand pain. Realize Yahiko's dream, not as an ideal—but as a reality.
Finally, Nagato spoke.
"Very well. I'll go along with your plan. What comes next?"
"We expand Akatsuki," Obito said.
"Recruit powerful rogue shinobi. Build influence. When the time comes, we will begin capturing the Tailed Beasts."
Nagato nodded.
"Fine. If you need to contact us, speak to Pain."
Obito gave a faint nod.
"A pleasant cooperation, then."
With that, he activated Kamui and vanished. Zetsu sank into the earth and followed.
Konan turned to Nagato, visibly disturbed.
"Nagato, we can't trust them."
Nagato remained calm.
"I know. But this is not about trust. It's about necessity. We'll use them, as they're using us. As long as it furthers Yahiko's dream, it's worth it."
He looked at the Yahiko-bodied Pain and murmured,
"You will always be the leader of Akatsuki... Yahiko."
---
Two Days Later – Graveyard of the Uchiha
Zetsu had split from Obito, returning alone to the hidden chamber beneath the mountain.
Black Zetsu asked,
"Madara, are you really going to let Chi Yu join us?"
Uchiha Madara, pale and hollowed from age, sat slumped against the Gedo Statue. His real eyes were long gone, and even with Hashirama's cells sustaining him, his strength was a shadow of its former self.
"He already knows too much," Madara muttered.
"And he possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan. I lack the power to stop him. For now, inclusion is the only choice."
Black Zetsu frowned.
"He said he found this place by accident, but I doubt it. He likely knew of it already—those snakes he released were spying on you and Obito."
Madara closed his eyes.
"Yes... but power respects power. And currently, Chi Yu's name carries weight in the shinobi world. Neither Obito nor Nagato can defeat him outright. Not yet."
Black Zetsu hissed,
"He's not part of the Eye of the Moon Plan. He's a wild variable, and variables are dangerous."
Madara opened his eyes slightly.
"Everyone has a weakness. Find his. Monitor him while I rest. When the time comes, we'll turn that weakness into our leverage."
A sinister smile formed on Black Zetsu's lips.
"Oh, I already have an idea. His weakness is obvious. Maybe this will work in our favor after all…"
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