Beneath the rain-soaked tower, Konan stood lost and adrift. Obito's parting words had utterly confirmed Sasuke's story.
Orochimaru arrived before them, carrying the corpse of the Deva Path Pain. He'd already learned of Nagato's fate through his telescope technique.
"Konan. We haven't met since parting ways in the Akatsuki."
Konan didn't answer, only gave a slight nod.
Orochimaru laid down the body of the Deva Path. "This vessel, made from 'Yahiko'… He must have been someone very important to you."
So this is Yahiko, Sasuke realized.
"Thank you."
Konan offered her quiet thanks, then manipulated sheets of paper to lift Yahiko's body into the air, holding it suspended.
Sasuke asked, "What will you do now?"
Konan's gaze lowered. She turned her face away, hiding her grief. "I swore to be the bridge that supported both Yahiko and Nagato. In the end… I failed at everything. I watched Yahiko die with my own eyes. And now I've watched Nagato be taken away. Honestly… I don't know where to go anymore."
"Have you thought about saving Nagato?"
Bitterness welled inside her. "Even if I didn't know Obito Uchiha's true identity, I'm confident I understood his abilities. Once someone is pulled into that space-time… escaping requires a space-time ninjutsu powerful enough. Unless he willingly releases Nagato, saving him is… impossible."
That phrase, powerful enough, ruled out options like reverse summoning.
The facts were exactly as Konan stated.
Sasuke tightened his fist slightly, but unlike Naruto, he didn't make a reckless promise. He glanced at Orochimaru.
Understanding, Orochimaru drew a kunai from his robes and handed it to Sasuke.
Sasuke walked to Konan's side and offered her the weapon. "Getting you to trust us completely won't be easy. So, you don't need to give an answer now. This kunai is marked with Orochimaru's Flying Thunder God Technique. If, one day, you seek cooperation… channel your chakra into it. We'll come to you immediately."
Konan looked at the offered kunai, hesitated, then finally reached out and took it.
Sasuke continued, "One more thing. My advice: don't stay in Amegakure."
Her brow furrowed slightly. "Why?"
"Your prepared paper-bomb trap won't kill him. Obito Uchiha possesses not only his space-time dōjutsu, but a forbidden technique called 'Izanagi'."
"!?" Konan's pupils trembled violently. The billions of explosive tags she'd secretly prepared to kill 'Madara'—a secret even Nagato didn't know!
"You… How could you know about that!?"
Originally, Sasuke wouldn't have known.
But in his previous life, during the Fourth Great Ninja War, Naruto had wrestled with Obito, the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki. Their connected tailed beast chakra had allowed Naruto to see all of Obito's experiences—including Konan's death.
After the war ended, Sasuke accompanied Naruto to Amegakure to pay his respects. That was when he'd first heard the name 'Konan' from Naruto's lips.
Sasuke hadn't met her in his past life, so he hadn't connected the dots at first. It was only after confronting the Paths of Pain that his vague, past-life impressions of this history subtly confirmed themselves.
So this is the 'senpai' Naruto always talked about.
Knowing how she had died at Obito's hands in his previous life was precisely why Sasuke had said those words: "Once was more than enough. How could we allow it to happen again?"
His white cloak fluttered lightly as he turned away.
"How I know is irrelevant. I've done what I can and said what I needed to say. Farewell. I hope we meet again."
Konan watched Sasuke's retreating back, pondering his words.
In the end, she decided. She would leave Amegakure, the village that held a lifetime of her grudges, affections, and sorrows. And then… she would think. Think hard about what, if anything, she could still do.
Outside Amegakure, Sasuke and Orochimaru stood side by side.
"Can your Reaper's Hook-Chain pull Nagato out of that other dimension?"
"If I hadn't used the chakra of Hashirama Senju from the Shinigami's stomach for your White Cursed Seal, Sasuke-kun… then perhaps. But as things stand…"
"Then the only way is through the paired left eye. Kakashi's."
Orochimaru nodded. "Kakashi awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan long ago. But it will be roughly two more years before he can actually use that eye. Right now, his chakra is insufficient to even manifest it. Of course, if we were to… acquire that eye for ourselves, that would be a different matter. Sasuke-kun, are you willing to move against your former teacher for Nagato's sake?"
Sasuke's fist tightened, his gaze growing resolute.
"If Madara's Rinnegan falls into Obito's hands now, the consequences will be disastrous. There's no time for hesitation. As for Kakashi… I'll find my own way to atone to him later."
"It's a three-day journey from Ame to Konoha. Orochimaru, during those three days… tell me everything. Everything that happened to Naruto."
Swish.
The vortex of space-time swirled. Obito, having received White Zetsu's report, arrived at the Valley of Clouds and Lightning—the training grounds of the Eight-Tails, Killer B. The site lay in ruins after a full day of fierce battle.
Kisame Hoshigaki stood amidst the wreckage, next to a severed 'octopus tentacle', his expression furious.
"That damn Eight-Tails! He was in his full bijuu form! He nearly killed me! Then he suddenly left an opening, used this decoy tentacle, and ran! If Samehada hadn't sensed the trick in time, and I'd taken this thing back to be sealed… I would have been a fucking joke!"
"Apologies, 'Madara'-sama. Killer B, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, truly is the perfect host. With my power alone… capturing him is likely impossible."
Kisame delivered his earnest conclusion with a bow. Obito did not reprimand him.
His gaze lowered.
"It can't be helped. You could say the Eight-Tails' luck hasn't run out yet…"
Kisame hefted Samehada onto his shoulder. "In that case, only the leader himself can handle it."
"Nagato… is no longer an option."
Kisame stiffened. "What happened?"
"He was defeated by Sasuke Uchiha. And he developed… traitorous thoughts. I've thrown him in the trash."
"Oh? That Sasuke Uchiha has grown so powerful? Then what's our next move?"
Obito placed a hand on the octopus tentacle and absorbed it into his right eye with Kamui. He lowered his hand, his gaze dark, thoughts churning.
Killer B escaped. The Nine-Tails, Naruto, is missing. With Nagato's vitality, even without food, he can survive for about a month. So, to get the Rinnegan, I have to wait a month…
Sasuke knows too much. He might even know that the paired 'left eye' is in Kakashi's possession.
I loathe that eye, defiled by Kakashi, just as I loathe this garbage ninja world. That's why I've repeatedly passed up easy chances to reclaim it and make the pair whole.
But now… I can't let this situation spiral further out of control.
Weighing his options, Obito spoke. "Kisame, return to the Akatsuki hideout and stand by."
"And you, 'Madara'-sama?"
Obito's gaze was dark and profound.
"I'm going to Konoha. I'll be back soon."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (100+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/BingeInk
Happy reading, everyone!