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Darkness filled the cavern. Obito stood before the Gedo Statue, deep in thought.
Another failure to capture the Nine-Tails. Yet, Shikaku's tactical plan hadn't been flawed. No one could have predicted the speed and ferocity of Orochimaru's reinforcements. The sheer power they brought.
To have the Nine-Tails within his grasp, only to lose it… Obito's jaw clenched. His face twisted with bitter frustration.
If it weren't for Jiraiya and Konan, he wouldn't have missed his window. He wouldn't have been forced to sacrifice Madara's right eye to use Izanagi. He wouldn't be this cornered. Under normal circumstances, Shikaku would have devised something flawless, a plan with zero margin for error.
But this was reality. He had to look forward.
Two paths lay ahead.
First: use the Nine-Tails chakra from the Gold and Silver Brothers immediately. Revive the Ten-Tails. Cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Second: wait. Bide his time. Hunt the complete Nine-Tails.
"Shikaku," Obito's voice echoed in the gloom. "Your thoughts."
He would rely on Shikaku's intellect once more. After all, the man had offered his service in exchange for Tsunade's safety. His goal was to help Obito capture the complete fox.
Shikaku hummed, considering. "Lord Obito, whether to use the brothers' chakra now hinges entirely on one question: can you guarantee the Infinite Tsukuyomi's success?"
He continued, voice calm and analytical. "Based on the intel you provided within the genjutsu that controls me… The statue's transformation into the Ten-Tails requires time. You, becoming its Jinchūriki and mastering its power, requires more time. And for the Ten-Tails to grow into the Divine Tree needed for the Tsukuyomi… even more time. From the moment the statue consumes the brothers to the moment the moon's eye gleams, assuming perfect conditions, there is a window of at least half an hour."
"Half an hour," Obito scoffed. "A blink."
"A blink where everything can change," Shikaku countered. "The enemy camp has multiple Sage Mode practitioners. The sheer natural energy signature of a reviving Ten-Tails would be a beacon to them. And most critically… they possess a spatial eye of their own. They can mobilize and concentrate their forces against you with terrifying speed."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "If you are prepared for all-out war from the moment you begin… if you are confident you can withstand the combined assault of every major power until the technique completes… then by all means, revive the beast. If not… I advise further consideration."
"…" Obito listened, his hand tightening into a fist. His expression darkened. He said nothing.
Shikaku observed the silence. "It seems you have already decided."
Obito sank back onto his stone seat. "Speak, then. How do we do it this time?"
"Compared to Orochimaru's faction, which is guarded by numerous elites including Sasuke… Uzumaki Madara stands alone and vulnerable. He is the more suitable target."
Obito nodded. "My thoughts exactly."
"However," Shikaku interjected, "after your tactical retreat, we lost track of events. The primary objective must be to confirm one thing: in that chaos, did Uzumaki Madara fall into Orochimaru's hands?"
Obito's brow furrowed deeply.
A problem. A major one.
Their enemy's main base… White Zetsu had scoured the lands for months and found nothing. If Madara had been taken there, finding him would be like searching for a needle in the ocean.
Swish, swish, swish…
Just as Obito hit this mental wall, the main body of White Zetsu oozed from the cavern wall.
"My clone in Sunagakure reports contact. Kabuto Yakushi has appeared. He's currently discussing…" White Zetsu's featureless head tilted toward Shikaku. "…some rather clandestine matters with his son."
"Oh? Is that so." Obito's eyebrow rose. A sharp glint entered his eye. "Clandestine matters. Tell your clone to maintain surveillance."
"Can't do that," White Zetsu replied, shaking his head. "That particular clone was captured three days ago. Kabuto is about to use him as a living sacrifice for the Edo Tensei."
Obito's gaze shifted to Shikaku's impassive face.
"Shikaku. Your take?"
Shikaku's voice was low, decisive. "This is our best chance to ascertain Madara's whereabouts. We cannot miss it."
Obito stood. A faint, chilling smile touched his lips.
"Great minds think alike."
…
The figure emerging from the swirling sand to stand before Kabuto and Shikamaru was none other than the host of this desert village.
The Kazekage, Gaara.
He tossed a White Zetsu clone, tightly bound in sand like a grotesque cocoon, onto the ground. Gaara folded his arms, his expression flat as he recounted the events. "Three days ago, this thing infiltrated Suna to scout the numbers of Leaf survivors. My Sand Eye detected it. I intended to execute it on the spot, but Shikamaru suggested it might… prove useful."
Shikamaru eyed the squirming bundle. "This is one of the 'White Zetsu' from Akatsuki, correct? Strictly speaking, they aren't human… Will it work as a living sacrifice for the Edo Tensei?"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "It will suffice. Though, I'm impressed by your… thorough consideration."
Shikamaru's voice was firm. "It's a matter of life and death. How could I not think it through?"
A faint, approving smile touched Kabuto's lips. "Well, we were planning to proceed regardless. But confirming your reliability, Shikamaru-kun, certainly puts our minds at ease."
They were planning to anyway… Shikamaru thought, a chill running down his spine. As expected. They even anticipated why I sought them out. Orochimaru's reach is truly terrifying.
"Now," Shikamaru said, steeling himself. "Can you take me to see him?"
Kabuto pushed his glasses up again, the lenses flashing. "No."
"What…?" Shikamaru's face paled.
Kabuto's smile remained polite, almost gentle. "Lord Orochimaru is exceedingly busy. A small matter like an Edo Tensei… I can handle it for you."
Of course! Relief, mingled with a fresh wave of nervous dread, washed over Shikamaru. His mind raced—don't get your hopes up, don't trust too easily…!
"Let me go, you bastards!!"
On the ground, the Zetsu clone writhed like the maggot it resembled, cursing.
"A stone-face, a fox, and a rat!! Especially you, Kabuto!!! Wearing those glasses, looking all shifty-eyed!! I've had enough of you!! When you finally fall into our hands, I'll chop off your rat head and turn it into duck neck!!!"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his smile growing a fraction more pointed. "I do so enjoy that look on your face. The sheer, impotent hatred."
The Zetsu clone puffed up with righteous indignation. "Kill me, then! Kill me!! For every one of me you strike down, a thousand more will rise!!!"
Kabuto finished drawing the sealing array on the barren ground. He took the tooth—Inoichi's tooth—from Shikamaru's hand and prepared to begin the signs for the forbidden reanimation.
Gulp…
Shikamaru retreated outside the circle, swallowing hard. His mind raced, trying to piece together how he would face his father.
Swish!
Suddenly—a sinister, spiraling vortex churned within the sandstorm!!
A man shrouded in pitch-black darkness appeared without fanfare, materializing directly above the trio. Whoosh—!!!
Black rods shot from his sleeve—disrupting Kabuto's hand signs and forcing the medic-nin to leap back from the array!
The man landed beside the bound Zetsu sacrifice. Slowly, he pushed back his dark hood, revealing a face etched with deep-seated bitterness.
Fwoosh!!!
Shikamaru's shadow was already there—lancing across the ground to connect with the man's feet!!!
"Kabuto! Use him as the sacrifice instead!!!"
Kabuto thought, Quick thinking, Shikamaru. If only it were that simple.
"Heh."
Obito's mouth curled into a cold smirk. With a sucking sound, both the shadow and the intricate lines of the Edo Tensei array were drawn into the vortex of his palm.
Shikamaru's expression turned grave. "An absorption ability… just like 'Naruto's'?"
Obito's eerie gaze fixed on Shikamaru. "Should I… reunite you with your father?"
Shikamaru: "!?"
Kabuto's glasses reflected white light, hiding his eyes. "Obito… Did you not learn your lesson last time?"
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