Almost the instant the system prompt faded—
Uchiha Kai felt it.
A cold, condensed, sovereign-level spiritual pressure exploded inside his mind.
It was completely different from the detached divinity he had sensed within Pain's Rinnegan earlier.
This presence carried something far more terrifying—
Absolute order.
The moment it erupted, fragmented core rules transformed into a black torrent, surging violently toward Kai's eyes.
Zzzt—
It felt like molten magma pouring straight into exposed nerves.
Pain far beyond anything he had ever experienced detonated inside his skull.
Not just the back of his head—his entire brain felt as if it were being pierced into a hive of holes.
Buzz—
His vision went pitch black.
Within his pupils, the "666" Mangekyō pattern spun wildly, distorting, tearing at its own structure as if on the verge of collapse.
Drip.
A warm drop slid down from the corner of his eye, carrying a faint metallic scent.
"Haa…!"
A hoarse, suppressed groan escaped his throat.
Kai wiped at it instinctively.
It wasn't blood.
It was a viscous black chakra fluid—dense, cold, and ominous.
As it seeped down his cheek, the pattern within his eyes changed.
A deep, abyssal glow emerged—so dark it seemed capable of swallowing light itself.
"…What is this?"
The Deva Path of Pain, standing closest, was the first to react.
The moment he saw that black chakra, his Rinnegan trembled violently, rippling like disturbed water.
Konan noticed as well, instinctively reaching for Pain's arm.
"What's happening?"
She tried to pull him back—but couldn't move him.
Pain hesitated before answering, uncertainty coloring his tone.
"He appears to be… undergoing a transformation."
Transformation.
The word wasn't loud.
But to elite shinobi, it was as good as being shouted directly into their ears.
The reactions were immediate—and wildly different.
Black Zetsu shot upright from the ground, rising from a puddle of sludge into a rigid, spear-like form.
His eyes gleamed with calculation and greed.
Without hesitation, he surged forward.
—but White Zetsu suddenly coiled around him from behind, restraining him tightly.
Elsewhere, Kisame inhaled sharply.
The moment he processed those words, his shark-like eyes trembled.
Just as he was about to move—
A chilling presence flared behind him.
Like invisible flames crawling up his spine.
Shh—
Kisame stiffened and twisted aside.
Behind him, leaning against the wall, Itachi staggered to his feet.
"Itachi, you—"
Kisame's expression darkened as he started to curse.
But then he met Itachi's gaze.
Scarlet.
The world plunged into darkness.
His body was nailed to a cross.
"…Hm."
Jiraiya, who had been preparing to intervene, narrowed his eyes.
"A big brother stepping in to protect…"
He muttered quietly, then reapplied his facial markings and clasped his hands together.
Disagreements aside—
He would not allow a genius like Kai to die mid-transformation.
Such a talent should not fall in this muddy battlefield.
"Oh?"
Pain's attention shifted fully to the scene.
For the first time, a faint curve appeared at the corner of his lips.
Intrigue.
"What an interesting change."
He did not rush.
Others' intentions didn't matter.
What mattered was obedience.
"Should we attack?"
Konan moved closer, conflicted.
Kai was vulnerable.
From a tactical standpoint, this was the perfect moment to strike.
She knew that better than anyone.
That was why she asked—forcing down her unease.
"Attack…"
Pain hesitated.
He could tell—this boy had never truly aimed to kill.
His actions were strange, chaotic, but his objective didn't seem to be their lives.
Nor the Rain Village.
It felt more like—
He had come here just to fight… and talk.
Ripple.
The ground suddenly began to flow like liquid.
Black waves surged forward.
"…Black Zetsu?"
Pain's eyes flicked sideways.
Only then did he notice—White Zetsu was completely immobilized, bound by dark tendrils.
Black Zetsu's eyes burned with excitement.
Seizing the moment, he lunged.
Now!
"If I can possess him—if I can take this body—!"
"Mother won't even need Uchiha Madara anymore!"
With Kai under his control, everything would fall into place!
"I'm coming—!"
BOOM!
A violent repulsive force erupted.
Black Zetsu was blasted away like a splatter of mud.
"…This feeling—!"
He froze mid-air, stunned.
Turning his head, disbelief twisted his face.
The one who struck him—
Was Pain.
The Deva Path stepped forward, standing between them, gaze lowered.
"No need for ambushes."
"I can defeat him myself."
Black Zetsu: "..."
His expression darkened—but he forced calm into his voice.
"He's an apostate who came to destroy our village."
"Helping him—are you sure you're alright with that?"
Pain hesitated.
Seeing this, Black Zetsu pressed harder.
"Have you forgotten our goal?"
"Our dream—to end all wars?"
"As long as he exists, how can Konoha ever fall silent?"
Goal.
Dream.
Those words struck true.
Pain stepped back.
Black Zetsu exhaled sharply and immediately activated his technique, rushing toward Kai again.
"I'm coming!"
"Caw—caw!"
A swarm of crows suddenly flooded the space between them.
"What—?"
Behind them, Itachi staggered forward, placing himself in front of Kai.
Black Zetsu stared in disbelief.
"Uchiha Itachi?!"
"You're betraying Akatsuki too?!"
Rage surged through him.
First the leader.
Now a member.
Had everyone lost their minds?!
Didn't they understand—
That controlling this boy was the optimal outcome?!
And at that moment, a ridiculous thought surfaced in his mind—
Who actually belongs to Akatsuki anymore?
For a split second—
It felt like Uchiha Kai was the true Akatsuki member.
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