The dark curtain hung overhead, the clouds above Amegakure growing ever heavier.
Fierce lightning crackled within them, and with every flash of light, two colossal figures could vaguely be seen.
The battle still raged, but Obito had completely lost interest.
Both Nagato and Orochimaru, after their initial fierce clash, had begun to hold back. Most noticeably, their fighting area had started to move away from Amegakure, to prevent further destruction.
Obito knew exactly why.
Originally, his massive form had a terrible synergy with Nagato's abilities, and beyond a certain limit, he was practically helpless against him. Following his usual fighting rhythm, he would have been forced to defend passively. But the appearance of Susanoo had caught everyone by surprise.
It directly allowed Nagato to fight Orochimaru on relatively even terms without needing to exhaust himself. Even though he was still at a disadvantage, he at least held his own in terms of momentum.
This was naturally a great thing for the Akatsuki organization and Amegakure, but for Obito, it wasn't good news at all.
Nagato after fully mastering the Rinnegan… thinking about it sent a chill down his spine. He wondered if the contingency Uchiha Madara had left with Nagato would still be effective.
"I can't wait any longer. This is the best opportunity..."
Currently, seven out of the nine Tail Beasts had been acquired. Of the remaining two, the Four-Tails' whereabouts were a mystery. With Orochimaru present in Konoha, obtaining the Nine-Tails wouldn't be possible anytime soon. And as for Nagato, it was unknown if he would ever fight Orochimaru to this extent again.
In other words, this was likely the weakest Nagato would be for a very long time.
With this thought, Obito's eyes flashed with red light, and he vanished into the vortex.
...
In a cave several kilometers outside Amegakure, almost as soon as Obito emerged from the vortex, a plant over two meters tall sprouted from the ground. Two large pitcher plant leaves opened and closed, revealing a bizarre figure that was half black and half white.
The newcomer was, of course, Black Zetsu. He knew more than Obito and naturally understood the significance of Nagato deploying Susanoo.
But he was different from Obito. He only needed one person for the 'Moon's Eye Plan,' and who that person was didn't matter. In the end, it would all be the same. In fact, Nagato's current body was arguably more suitable to house that adult.
Now, should he reveal the 'Moon's Eye Plan' entirely to Nagato, or help Obito seize the Rinnegan…
Even Black Zetsu, who had been plotting in the shadows of the ninja world for millennia, couldn't help but feel torn and hesitant, as both choices carried considerable risks.
By this point, it was hard to say how much effect the small trinket Madara had left with Nagato would have. Although Black Zetsu had vaguely foreseen this possibility when Nagato had the transplant surgery, he hadn't found a suitable opportunity or a strong enough reason to interfere during that time.
After all, he couldn't act directly. For his pawns to make a move, they needed strong justification.
Now, if he were to help Obito seize the Rinnegan… setting aside the consequences of failure, even if he succeeded, without Nagato to act as a shield, who would deal with Orochimaru?
Already at a subtle disadvantage, engaging in internal conflict would be an incredibly foolish move.
But to reveal the 'Moon's Eye Plan' entirely… based on Black Zetsu's assessment of Nagato's personality, the probability of him agreeing was low. After all, Nagato and Obito had different personalities.
So, what if he offered the elimination of Orochimaru as bait, packaging the 'Moon's Eye Plan' as some kind of powerful Ninjutsu…
A brief silence fell in the cave.
Numerous thoughts flashed through Black Zetsu's mind, while Obito on the other side grew impatient. His scarlet eyes narrowed slightly, and he said
"All previous plans are overturned. After Nagato and Orochimaru finish their fight, we must act immediately, or we'll never have another chance to take those Rinnegan."
"We must get the plan back on track."
Compared to Black Zetsu's deep deliberation, Obito hadn't considered so much.
If it failed, so be it. If it succeeded, he would abandon everything, hide with the Gedo Statue, and wait for an opportune moment to try and acquire the Nine-Tails.
There was no such thing as a thief-proof thousand days. One day in the future, Orochimaru would surely make a mistake, and that would be his chance.
As for the waiting process in the shadows… he was already accustomed to such things.
Seeing Zetsu remain silent, a hint of annoyance flickered in Obito's eyes.
"What are you still hesitating about? Don't forget, Nagato would never agree to resurrect Uchiha Madara. Only I would do such a thing."
He had always regarded Black Zetsu as a confidant of Uchiha Madara, a tool to monitor him. At this moment, he didn't mind revealing their relationship.
Facing Obito's questioning, Black Zetsu was still contemplating the possibility of revealing the 'Moon's Eye Plan' to Nagato. After all, he had done this once before, and the probability of success was not insignificant.
Black Zetsu pondered for a moment, a plan forming in his mind. He turned his gaze to Obito and slowly said, "In that case, I will fully assist you from now on."
"Excellent. Tell me honestly, what has Madara left with Nagato…"
As he asked this question, Obito's eyes narrowed slightly, concealing the sharp intelligence within them.
Nagato was different from him. Uchiha Madara's methods of control over him couldn't be too obvious; it wouldn't be like the talisman previously buried in his heart.
If it were an extremely hidden method, then perhaps it was also within his own body…
Black Zetsu's expression remained unchanged, but he guessed Obito's thoughts and chuckled inwardly.
The fully controlled Nagato might have a chance to notice, but did Obito think he could find a clue?
Even if he told him, so what.
…
Outside Amegakure, the wind gradually subsided, and even the clouds that had perpetually shrouded the village began to disperse, revealing a clear sky and gentle sunlight.
The great battle had lasted for nearly half an hour, and now, with Orochimaru being the first to cease hostilities, it finally drew to a close.
Casually sinking the hundred-meter water serpent into the lake, Orochimaru stood on the now calm surface of the water, looking at the slightly damaged Susanoo in the sky. His lips curled upwards.
Stopping now was not because he was exhausted. Orochimaru would have preferred this battle to continue for a longer time.
His heightened spirits and fervent fighting enthusiasm were all beneficial to him in digesting the White Snake-type natural energy and growing more rapidly.
But while he could persist, Nagato could no longer fight. Or rather, the subsequent battle would not be a matter of testing strength or a friendly spar.
Although Susanoo was unexpected, it wasn't a decisive ability after all. If Nagato were to summon the Gedo Statue without reservation, that would be truly dire.
In any case, he had achieved his objective by now. He had even experienced controlling elemental forces like water, earth, clouds, and lightning for the first time, and his mind was filled with many insights that needed contemplation and digestion.
Therefore, Orochimaru went with the flow and stopped first.
Seeing Orochimaru dispel the water serpent, Nagato also dispelled Susanoo and slowly descended from the sky. He pursed his lips, barely suppressing his urge to gasp for air.
If Orochimaru hadn't stopped, or if he had stopped and the other man had continued to press him, then he would have truly had to escalate the intensity of this battle.
Otherwise, it would be like being boiled alive in lukewarm water, and when he was completely exhausted, he would truly be at their mercy.
Orochimaru had chosen the perfect moment to stop, right on the verge of him losing his temper. To have to swallow his breath now was incredibly frustrating.
But at the same time, Nagato had a dawning realization.
Their strengths were comparable, but Orochimaru had coincidentally seized upon his moment of weakness, which was why he had been on the defensive earlier. After clarifying the state of the ninja world and forcing him to hold back, he had then engaged in such a battle.
Each time, he had tested the boundaries of danger but had firmly controlled the situation, leaving Nagato frustrated and unable to fully act.
Perhaps in future confrontations, the contest would no longer be about brute force, but about these subtle, layered tactics.
Although Nagato was weary, his mind was unusually clear and energetic. His thoughts were as transparent as a mirror, and he was like a dry sponge, absorbing the bad influences... no, the knowledge from his senior.
Under the gentle breeze, ripples spread across the lake outside Amegakure.
The two stood facing each other in silence, each contemplating and digesting the knowledge they had gained. Thus, when Jiraiya arrived, wading across the water's surface, he was met with two identical looks of disdain.
Jiraiya stopped in his tracks with a strange expression, even wondering if he had done something foolish.
"You two… are you going to keep fighting?"
Nagato did not answer, but Orochimaru smiled and said, "The future is uncertain, but for now, it's a temporary halt."
He then turned and added, "Let's call it a day. Remember our previous agreement, don't act rashly again, or else…"
"You may not care about Amegakure, but that one in the sky, I will completely take her life, in a way that even the Reanimation Jutsu cannot revive her."
Nagato's expression darkened, and just as he was about to say something, the sunlight above was slowly replaced by shadow.
In the sky, thousands upon thousands… countless paper fragments formed clouds, floating above everyone's heads, silently exerting a certain deterrence.
"Heh… it seems your companion is getting anxious."
Orochimaru's lips curved into a slight smile. He turned to Jiraiya and said, "Let's go."
They exchanged a look, and without any further pleasantries, Jiraiya cast a complex glance at Nagato and Konan, then followed Orochimaru and departed into the distance.
Watching their retreating figures disappear in the distance, Nagato finally relaxed, letting out a long sigh. His body was almost too weak to stand, but his eyes gleamed brightly.
Konan quickly supported Nagato, asking with concern, "Nagato, are you alright?"
After taking several deep breaths, Nagato slowly stood up. "Don't worry, I feel better than ever. It's the most relaxed I've ever been."
Having completely made the Rinnegan his own, it was no longer just a treasure that weighed him down; the pressure from the Gedo Statue had also significantly reduced. The change was like night and day.
But precisely because the change was so apparent, now that Nagato had disengaged from the battle and had time to think, numerous questions surfaced in his mind.
Sharingan, Mangekyou Sharingan, Susanoo, and Sage Mode eyes… what was his connection to the Uchiha clan? Especially his collaborator, Uchiha Obito, what else was he hiding from him, and what were his motives for approaching him?
Thoughts swirled in his mind. Nagato looked at Konan and asked, "Where is that Obito guy right now? I need to ask him something."
Konan opened her mouth to answer, but a voice responded first, "That's quite fortunate. I also have something to discuss with you."
From a distorted air vortex, Obito stepped out, landing on the lake's surface. He began, "For instance, the connection between the Uzumaki Clan and the Uchiha Clan..."
A flicker of surprise flashed in Nagato's eyes. He felt that Obito's aura was somewhat strange. If before it was suppressed pain and malice, now there was an additional sense of boldness.
However, after his battle with Orochimaru, Nagato no longer viewed Obito with much regard. Even though Obito was currently in a weakened state, he said indifferently, "Oh, what connection does my Uzumaki Clan have with yours?"
Konan, standing beside him, also showed a hint of curiosity. Susanoo… she also wanted to know why Nagato could use such an ability.
"It's actually not that complicated."
Obito looked at the two, his eyes flashing with an unusual red light. "A thousand years ago, the Uchiha Clan and the Uzumaki Clan originated from the same source, both being descendants of the Sage of Six Paths."
"Sage of Six Paths…" A thoughtful expression crossed Nagato's face. Konan, on the other hand, interjected, "Isn't that a legendary figure? Could it actually be true?"
Obito let out a scoff. "Heh, before you stands a ninja with the Rinnegan, also known as 'Sage Mode eyes,' and you doubt the existence of the Sage of Six Paths?"
Konan's expression darkened, and her face turned quite unpleasant. She inwardly grumbled that just because he knew a bit more information, he acted so superior. It was truly detestable. If it weren't for the fact that Nagato also wanted to know these things, she would have clashed with him this time.
"Uzumaki Clan, Sage of Six Paths…"
Nagato ignored their discord, repeating the two terms. His gaze became more serious. He looked at Obito and asked again, "The connection between the two should be more than just this, right?"
Obito nodded slightly. "Of course. I have some information that you're interested in, but… I can't tell you right now."
Nagato raised his eyebrows, surprised. "Are you playing coy with me?"
If Obito had been ignorant initially, that would have been one thing, and he wouldn't have resorted to force.
But now, after stating the beginning, he was being secretive about the rest, which was essentially toying with him.
Facing his current self, this guy dared to do such a thing?
"Playing coy? Of course not."
Obito's gaze suddenly shifted in the direction from which Orochimaru had departed. He slowly said, "It's just that the law is not taught to everyone. I fear that other interested parties might overhear."
Nagato followed Obito's gaze, and only then remembered that Orochimaru seemed to possess extremely powerful sensory abilities.