"Mirai-sama, may I ask how I should address you from now on?"
Kisame Hoshigaki asked Uchiha Mirai solemnly while staring at him.
Since he had already decided to submit, he needed to show proper respect.
As for Uchiha Mirai, he wasn't particularly bothered by this.
Looking at Kisame, he replied softly, "You can call me whatever you'd like."
"You're a ninja from Kirigakure. You'll serve there from now on."
Upon hearing that, Kisame Hoshigaki nodded in agreement. "Understood, Mirai-sama."
No sooner had Kisame finished speaking than Mirai suddenly slammed one hand against his body.
Immediately afterward, several pale humanoid creatures began growing out of Kisame's body.
After appearing, these human-shaped creatures' bodies started irregularly swelling.
Soon enough, they collapsed onto the ground like deflated balloons.
At the same time, Uchiha Mirai's mind once again heard the System notification sound.
[Ding! Congratulations, Master! You've successfully looted a reward: +1 Spiritual Power!]
[Ding! Congratulations, Master! You've successfully looted a reward: +1 Chakra!]
[Ding! Congratulations, Master!]
[Ding! Congratulations, Master! You've successfully looted a reward: Spore Technique!]
"T-This is..."
Looking at the White Zetsu corpse lying on the ground, Kisame Hoshigaki was taken aback.
Why did something like this appear on his body?
It looked like that mysterious "Zetsu" individual from the organization's techniques.
The opponent had actually managed to leave something like this on him without his knowledge...
Indeed, no one who could join the Akatsuki was an ordinary person.
Thinking about this, Kisame spoke solemnly, "Mirai-sama, should I provide some intelligence regarding the Akatsuki?"
Uchiha Mirai smiled. "Kisame, I think I have more information about the Akatsuki than you do."
"Of course, you even know that Madara Uchiha is actually Obito Uchiha in disguise. Naturally, you understand things much better than I do."
"However," Kisame first offered praise before shifting tone slightly, speaking softly, "even you probably have some blind spots or details you haven't noticed."
"Although they've lost to you in our previous encounters, for an organization as powerful as the Akatsuki, any additional understanding is beneficial."
Truly, such a traditional ninja.
Looking at Kisame's serious expression, Uchiha Mirai couldn't help but burst into loud laughter, radiating overwhelming self-assurance.
"An elephant doesn't waste time studying an ant's strength; a god doesn't deign to concern himself with human matters."
"Any enemy I have defeated was never truly my equal to begin with."
"With pure power alone, I can easily crush all my enemies beneath my feet."
Looking at Mirai Uchiha's composure and poise, Kisame couldn't help but feel genuinely awed.
This was how he'd always pictured Madara Uchiha to be.
If Obito Uchiha had even half of Mirai Uchiha's composure, he definitely wouldn't have been so easily manipulated.
"Alright, Samehada will be yours to use."
Mirai casually tossed Samehada to Kisame.
Given his strength, Samehada wasn't particularly useful to him anyway since its chakra absorption offered him no real benefit.
Turning toward the stunned Takigakure ninja who had long since stood frozen in place, Mirai said softly, "Now that the trouble is resolved, we should talk about the compensation you'll provide."
When they heard Mirai's words, all the Takigakure ninja felt uneasy.
Receiving help from someone this powerful must come with a huge price tag, right?
If they couldn't offer appropriate payment, things might become even more complicated...
Inside a dark and damp cave, Zetsu's body slowly emerged from underground through the ground.
Obito Uchiha, who had been waiting for quite some time, immediately asked, "How did it go?"
Zetsu shook his head and replied, "I was discovered again. My concealment techniques are no match for Mirai Uchiha's sensory abilities."
Upon hearing this, Obito showed disappointment: "So you're saying you still didn't obtain any intelligence?"
As Zetsu spoke those words, White Zetsu's defiant voice interrupted, "Of course we got some intelligence!"
"Obito, that guy Mirai Uchiha not only possesses the Rinnegan, but also easily killed Sasori of the Red Sand with one strike."
"Kisame Hoshigaki has defected from the organization and pledged allegiance to Mirai Uchiha."
Hearing this news, Obito didn't show much reaction.
He had always known that opposing Mirai Uchiha would never end well, but Nagato had stubbornly refused to listen.
Now they'd lost two S-rank ninjas pointlessly...
Obito couldn't help but say, "Nagato's such an idiot. If it were me instead, I'd never let Mirai Uchiha get the better of me so easily."
At this, White Zetsu suddenly seemed to remember something exciting and eagerly said, "Almost forgot to mention even more important intelligence—something about you specifically, Obito~"
Obito looked confused as he asked, "What intelligence?"
White Zetsu mischievously winked before continuing, "Mirai Uchiha has already figured out your true identity!"
"What?!" Obito couldn't help but exclaim loudly, "How could Mirai Uchiha possibly know my identity?"
White Zetsu shook his head: "I'm not sure either. Maybe he figured it out during your last fight with him."
"If Kisame hadn't learned about your underdog status, he wouldn't have betrayed the organization so easily."
Obito Uchiha ignored the mockery in White Zetsu's tone and silently bit his lip.
No wonder Mirai Uchiha had mocked him as a dead last during their last fight—he must have already known Obito's identity!
That bastard Mirai Uchiha was just toying with him!
Thinking about how Mirai had known all along yet still watched him seriously pretend to be Madara Uchiha, Obito couldn't help blushing slightly.
Making such a fool of himself in front of someone he once knew well was so embarrassing!
Still, this was really strange.
Back when he was a nobody, getting tricked by Mirai could be understandable. But now that he had inherited Madara's legacy and learned all the secrets of the ninja world, why was he still being toyed with by Mirai?
Damn it!!!
Obito shot a cold glare at White Zetsu and warned, "Don't tell Nagato anything about me, got it?"
White Zetsu patted his chest, "Relax. If your identity gets exposed, our carefully built image will collapse completely. I know what's at stake."
It was rare to see White Zetsu acting serious, yet Obito felt no joy whatsoever.
He felt like his heart had been stabbed multiple times, making it hard even to breathe.
Did his reputation really suck that bad?!!
Libel!
Do you even know how to spell libel?!
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