…
Obito Uchiha stared at Itachi Uchiha.
The longer he looked—
The more irritated he became.
…
Rebellious.
…
And I was the one who brought him here.
…
Click.
…
He ignored Itachi.
Shifted his gaze—
Back to Shenyue Yuan.
…
And then—
He froze.
…
Because Yuan—
Did something absurd.
Again.
…
He raised a finger.
Placed it lightly against his lips.
…
"Shhh."
…
Then spoke—
Calm.
Cold.
Measured.
…
"If you treat me like an ordinary opponent…"
…
"You've already lost."
…
"…???"
…
Obito's brows furrowed.
…
"Arrogant."
…
He had seen countless people pretend.
Posture.
Bluff.
Act tough.
…
But this?
…
This was different.
…
Even someone like Kakashi—
Who loved playing the cool hero—
Would look like a joke in front of "Madara."
…
But this man—
…
This man—
…
Was stepping into that same space.
…
Obito's teeth clenched.
…
Why do I always run into people like this…
…
"Come."
Yuan lifted his chin slightly.
…
"Let me see if you have the capacity…"
…
"To test me."
…
"…Capacity…"
…
Itachi paused.
Just for a moment.
…
That word—
…
He used it often himself.
…
But here—
In front of "Madara"—
…
It sounded like a death sentence.
…
The tension—
…
Reached its limit.
…
"Brat."
Obito's voice dropped.
Cold.
Heavy.
…
"Let me teach you a lesson."
…
"You'll regret being born."
…
Yuan sighed.
…
Disappointed.
…
"Then prove it."
…
Silence.
…
At that exact moment—
Obito's Sharingan spun.
…
Mangekyō—
Activated.
…
He reached for Kamui—
…
And—
…
Nothing happened.
…
"…?"
…
Again.
…
Nothing.
…
Again.
…
Nothing.
…
His pupils shrank.
…
What…?
…
No matter how much chakra he poured into it—
…
Kamui refused to activate.
…
"…What's going on…"
…
For the first time—
…
Obito Uchiha felt something unfamiliar.
…
Uncertainty.
…
Yuan smiled faintly.
…
"So…"
…
"You're not as strong as you think."
…
That smile—
…
Quiet.
But cutting.
…
From the side—
Zetsu narrowed his eyes.
…
And Itachi—
…
Also realized.
…
Something—
Was wrong.
…
Before anything could escalate—
…
A voice cut cleanly through the room.
…
"Enough."
…
Footsteps echoed.
Measured.
Steady.
…
Pain—
Entered.
Calm.
Absolute.
…
"I am the leader of Akatsuki."
…
"My evaluation is sufficient."
…
His Rinnegan—
Locked onto Obito.
…
"No further testing is required."
…
Silence.
…
Obito's expression—
Hidden beneath the mask—
Darkened.
…
But he didn't move.
…
Because—
…
He had just realized something.
…
Something dangerous.
…
Yuan—
Was not normal.
…
Not at all.
…
"…Heh."
Obito let out a low chuckle.
…
"A talent like this…"
"Of course I'd want to test him."
…
One step back.
…
A retreat—
Disguised as arrogance.
…
Pain didn't respond.
…
But behind him—
Konan saw it clearly.
…
Obito—
Was backing down.
…
Slowly.
…
He turned.
Ignored Yuan completely.
…
And looked at Itachi.
…
"This…"
…
"Is the new member I brought."
…
"Itachi Uchiha."
…
The tension eased.
…
Barely.
…
Konan stepped forward.
Voice calm.
Formal.
…
"This is Madara—our ally."
"And this is Zetsu—Akatsuki intelligence."
…
Obito's gaze returned—
To Yuan.
…
Waiting.
…
For something.
Shock.
Fear.
Recognition.
…
Anything.
…
But—
…
Nothing.
…
Yuan remained seated.
Relaxed.
Unbothered.
…
As if none of it mattered.
…
That calm—
…
Was what truly unsettled him.