The bald man seemed to have anticipated Kakuzu's question and quickly reiterated, "You heard me right, Lord Kakuzu. It's three hundred million."
"The Uchiha were screwed over by this Obito a few years ago. They hate him down to their bones."
"Add to that his Space-Time Ninjutsu, and you get a bounty this high."
A jolt went through Kakuzu as he quickly took the file. Space-Time Ninjutsu.
In the shinobi world, anyone who mastered Space-Time Ninjutsu was a formidable force.
Back in the day, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was virtually unstoppable on the battlefield with his Flying Thunder God Technique.
In this mission-oriented world, it was permissible to abandon a mission and flee upon sighting Minato Namikaze. That alone spoke volumes of his power.
If you could beat him, you couldn't catch him. If you couldn't beat him, you couldn't escape. The Fourth Hokage decided where, and when, the battle would take place.
He always held the initiative, which was why Minato Namikaze was hailed as the Hokage with the most potential.
Unfortunately, he died mysteriously during the Nine-Tails Attack, a fact that other villages gloated over while secretly investigating the cause of his death.
Naturally, they found nothing.
Obito had hidden himself too well. Even now, within the Akatsuki, only Nagato, Konan, and Zetsu knew of his existence.
Who would have thought that after so many years, the true culprit Konoha failed to identify would be found by the Uchiha clan?
And the witness was Kakashi.
However, the strange silence from Konoha's upper echelons made the whole affair shrouded in mystery.
No wonder Obito was worth so much.
Kakuzu cared little for the drama between Konoha and the Uchiha. All he wanted now was money. Seeing the massive bounty on Obito's head, he felt a flicker of temptation, but the man had Space-Time Ninjutsu. With limited intel, he had no idea where to even begin.
Still, Kakuzu committed the information to memory.
...
Land of Rain, Hidden Rain Village.
The sky, as always, wept.
Konan soared through the air.
She came to a stop before a tall, dilapidated tower that looked completely abandoned.
Spotting a crack in the wall, Konan retracted her wings and squeezed through.
Inside was a vertical shaft leading straight down. Konan unfurled her wings once more and descended.
Deep underground, a maze of sewer pipes crisscrossed the darkness. Konan navigated the familiar path with ease, turning left and right until she reached a hidden basement.
The room was lined with several cylindrical pods that extended from the floor, each containing a bed-like platform.
All six of Nagato's Paths lay on these beds.
This was where Nagato maintained the bodies of his Six Paths of Pain.
Konan passed through a side door and found Nagato sitting in a wooden, wheeled chair.
He was resting with his eyes closed, his breathing even and steady in sleep.
Konan didn't wake him. Instead, she began preparing a meal nearby.
After returning home, Nagato had put all six of his Paths into maintenance and had fallen into a deep sleep to recover his energy.
Based on the various pieces of intelligence Kawasaki had revealed, Nagato couldn't bring himself to believe it all, but he was at least seventy percent convinced.
He had become extremely wary of Obito and Zetsu.
His physical condition was his greatest weakness.
So, he was no longer pushing himself as he used to, trying to recover as much stamina as possible before considering the Akatsuki's future development.
After a long wait, Nagato finally awoke.
He looked up. "What's the situation outside?"
Konan stirred the meat in the pot as she answered, "The village is as usual. I left a paper clone, so there shouldn't be any problems."
"Obito went to the Uchiha compound and nearly died there. Fugaku Uchiha was seriously injured."
"Afterward, Obito took Kakashi's Sharingan. His current whereabouts are unknown."
"Kawasaki Uchiha has announced that he will take over as clan head in one month, which confirms the news of Fugaku's severe injuries."
"He also exposed Obito as the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails Attack, had him officially disowned, and declared a permanent hunt for him."
As she spoke, Konan handed a lunchbox to Nagato. He freed his hands and took it, eating slowly.
"So he was behind the Nine-Tails Attack. He hid it well."
Nagato's body was weak, but daily rest had brought some improvement. He could now speak without difficulty.
The more he delved into the details of the past, the more inconsistencies he found.
He seemed to recall once falling into a coma for several days, and when he woke up, his eyes felt different.
He had been too young at the time to understand.
But Nagato remembered the day his parents died with perfect clarity.
His father, Ise, was a medic working on the battlefields of the Hidden Rain, and his mother was a nurse. How could they not have known the dangers of war?
Yet they went to save people, fully aware of the risk to their own lives.
Judging by Ise's seasoned experience on the battlefield, this act of rescue was clearly not his first; he was an expert.
But that one time, Nagato was with them.
As parents, how could they not know their son was timid and frail?
It was almost a certainty that Nagato would make a sound.
When the Konoha ninja burst into their home, their first words were, "Who's in here?"
At that moment, his father, Ise, had rushed forward and grabbed the ninja's hand.
The ninja's second words were, "Damn it, an enemy?"
To his dying breath, his father never shouted that they weren't enemies, that they were doctors.
His actions seemed protective of Nagato, but in hindsight, they looked more like a suicide mission.
A doctor who constantly saved lives on the battlefield should know that surrendering to save oneself was a perfectly normal response to danger.
How could he have saved so many people if he couldn't even distinguish between friend and foe?
Nagato wasn't sure if Ise had been caught in a genjutsu at the time.
But logically speaking, his father's actions had been bizarre.
...
In the land of endless rain.
Nagato sipped the meat soup, one small mouthful at a time. A warmth he hadn't felt in years spread through his body.
Ever since he had sealed away the power of the Six Paths, his chakra was no longer being overdrawn as it used to be.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path demanded less of him as well. Now, all he had to do was build up his strength and wait for the right moment to confront Obito.
His first priority was settling the score with Obito.
As for the matter of a superweapon, Kawasaki's words had struck a deep chord within him.
If what Kawasaki said was true, then his Rinnegan certainly held some secret backup plan left by Madara.
The available intelligence all but confirmed that the masked man was, in all likelihood, Obito.
With the information from Kakashi, Obito's identity was set in stone.
Although Kawasaki's words had a ninety-nine percent chance of being true, Nagato still wanted to confirm it with Kakashi himself.
Once Obito's identity was proven, Kawasaki's claims would be validated, regardless of whether the Otsutsuki were coming or not.
Obito was a target Nagato had to eliminate.
Of course, he didn't need to find Kakashi. He could just ask Zetsu, or even confront Obito directly.
Obito didn't know that Nagato was already aware of the Eye of the Moon Plan. In the past, he had deceived Nagato by claiming they were developing a weapon of war together.
Even if Obito's identity was exposed, he would probably still try to play games with Nagato, thinking he was still in control.
In Obito's eyes, Nagato was still just a pawn.
Understanding this, Nagato said to Konan, "Konan, I'm going to contact Obito."
Konan's brow furrowed. "Why would you do that?"
"Since Kawasaki has already exposed Obito's true face, we might as well confront him directly," Nagato said, his tone firm. "He still needs me to control the Rinnegan, so he won't turn on me. He'll likely confess his identity."
"Obito doesn't know that Kawasaki told us about the Eye of the Moon Plan."
"We can pretend to continue cooperating with him while secretly building our strength."
Konan objected, "That's too risky. It's too dangerous for you."
Determination filled Nagato's Rinnegan. "Obito has reclaimed his left eye from Kakashi. His ocular power is probably even stronger now."
"If we don't take some risks, we might not have a chance at all."
"If the Rinnegan doesn't truly belong to me, then they must have a contingency plan involving me. Hiding won't do any good."
Over the past few days, Konan had also undergone a significant internal shift. In the past, they were willing to sacrifice everything for their dream.
But Kawasaki had shown them that there was another way.
Konan, too, hoped that Nagato could live with fewer burdens.
...
Inside Kamui's dimension.
A majestic, blue-green Susanoo stood atop a stone platform.
A moment later, Obito, panting, dispelled the Susanoo.
Good. His ocular power was still growing.
He had spent the last few days testing the Susanoo's various abilities. He had never used it before.
Furthermore, the Susanoo consumed a massive amount of ocular power. If he didn't control it properly, he wouldn't even be able to enter the Kamui dimension.
After a short rest, Obito opened a vortex and vanished.
He reappeared on the border of the Land of Fire.
Zetsu stood on a branch, staring boredly at the sky. He had been waiting for a long time.
"What took you so long? Do you know how long I've been waiting?" White Zetsu's voice was tinged with impatience.
This guy, always ordering me around while he enjoys himself in the Kamui dimension.
Obito's face was impassive. "I lost track of time. Any movement from Konoha?"
His attitude toward Zetsu was different now.
Black Zetsu's eyes held a complex expression as he chuckled darkly. "I'm afraid you're in trouble."
Obito's brow twitched. "What trouble?"
"The Uchiha have publicly announced your identity, including your role in the Nine-Tails Attack. They've also announced your expulsion from the clan registry."
"Expulsion... from the clan registry?"
Obito's face darkened. They were cutting all ties, not even leaving him his surname.
"Hmph!"
Obito sneered. As if I care.
In his mind, the fragmented memories of the Uchiha clan shattered into dust.
"Is that all?" he said, putting on a brave face.
Black Zetsu grinned. "Not just that. Kawasaki has also placed a three-hundred-million-Ryo bounty on your head and has spread word throughout the entire shinobi world that you use Space-Time Ninjutsu and were impersonating Madara."
So it came to this... Obito had been prepared, but he hadn't expected Kawasaki to announce it to the entire world.
Back then, Madara had wanted Obito to inherit his will and carry out the Eye of the Moon Plan in his name.
In truth, Obito never planned on reviving Madara. He knew the procedure; why work for someone else when he could be the boss?
Madara's name was a useful cover, but Kawasaki had seen through it when he was recruiting Kisame.
And now, he had broadcast it to the entire shinobi world.
This would be extremely detrimental to his future operations.
"Also, Kawasaki will become the Uchiha clan head in one month. He's invited many shinobi clans and the leaders of the great villages."
Obito's expression was grim, his eyes flickering...
Just then, a ripple of chakra passed through the air.
Nagato?
Obito and Zetsu exchanged a glance. They both guessed it was about Obito's identity being exposed.
After all, Obito had been using Madara's identity as a cover.
The two of them simultaneously activated their abilities, their minds traveling through space to an unknown cavern.
In the empty cave, there were only four figures—Konan, Pain, Obito, and Zetsu.
From the shadows, a pair of pale purple Rinnegan slowly opened.
"So you're Obito, not Madara Uchiha..."
The voice was slow and measured, yet it held a hint of mockery.
Obito was silent for a moment. "That's not important. Our goal is the same. What difference does it make if I'm Obito or Madara?"
"Heh, heh."
Pain's tone was rich with emotion, but Obito could hear the sarcasm.
"One cannot know true peace without first knowing pain," Obito said flatly.
Pain's smile vanished as he fixed his gaze on Obito.
"There is no peace in this world. That is the truth."
"Only by realizing our plan can the world be set right."
Obito now possessed a complete pair of Mangekyo Sharingan, and his ocular power was growing rapidly.
He didn't want to clash with Nagato right now. It wasn't easy to find someone who could resonate with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
So his words were purely a test.
Pain said nothing. He was no longer as reliant on Obito as he once was.
His attitude even bordered on contemptuous.
Obito had already anticipated this shift.
Their partnership had always been one of mutual use and mutual suspicion, but Pain's wariness of Obito had always been greater.
After all, Obito had always used Kamui to appear and disappear without a trace.
He had even been the one to teach Nagato how to control the Rinnegan and pilot the Demonic Statue.
This had made Nagato secretly raise his guard against him.
Even if Obito wasn't Madara Uchiha himself, he was clearly a troublesome character.
But now, with his identity suddenly exposed and Kawasaki disowning him from the clan, Obito had been reduced to a "stray child" with no right to the Uchiha name.
The fall from the lofty mantle of "Madara Uchiha" was immense.
Although Obito's abilities hadn't changed, Nagato couldn't help but feel a sense of disdain for him.
At that moment, a thousand thoughts raced through Obito's mind as he tried to gauge Nagato's current attitude.
"Perhaps Kawasaki's inauguration as clan head is an opportunity to test them."
"Not necessary!" Pain cut Obito off without hesitation, his voice firm. "The organization is at a critical juncture where we must remain hidden."
"Going to Konoha now will only expose our information. How will we capture the Tailed Beasts later?"
"Your identity was exposed on your last trip to Konoha. And Zetsu, you leaked a lot of intelligence as well."
"The organization is not strong enough yet. We need to stay hidden and bide our time."
Zetsu's voice was heavy with apology. "My apologies."
Obito sneered inwardly. My ocular power is still growing. Once my transformation is complete, I will leave you in the dust.
You really think you're a god?
Obito's face remained blank, but his words conveyed concession. "I understand."
...
Hidden Rain Village.
Pain opened his eyes.
Konan asked, "What did Obito mean by that?"
"Obito was testing our attitude," Pain replied calmly. "He's suffered a major setback. If we were still deferential to him, he would have become suspicious."
"His identity was exposed, which means more people will be wary of him, but his strength hasn't diminished."
"He's taken back his left eye, and he thinks I don't know the secret of having both Sharingan. That's why he's deliberately acting weak."
"Such forbearance proves he's hiding something."
"Compared to Obito, I'm more inclined to trust Kawasaki."
Konan said that being around Obito always felt precarious, like trying to snatch food from a tiger's mouth.
Pain nodded. "Then let's give it a try..."
He closed his eyes, and a wave of mental energy was sent out.
...
Uchiha Compound.
Kawasaki's expression shifted slightly. Nagato is contacting me?
He dismissed everyone around him.
Lying down, he found a comfortable position and activated a secret jutsu, his consciousness drifting far away.
When he opened his eyes again, he was in an unfamiliar cavern.
Opposite him was the figure of Pain.
Kawasaki raised a hand, examining his own virtual form. The experience was like a video call, with occasional signal distortions.
The connection isn't great.
Still, it was an incredible feat—a long-range, encrypted communication method that was one of a kind.
"You've come."
Pain's tone was completely different from when he spoke with Obito.
With Kawasaki, he sounded casual, like an old friend.
"How did Obito react?"
Kawasaki guessed Obito would choose to hide for now.
Pain nodded. "With his identity exposed, I deliberately acted tough, and he backed down."
Kawasaki stroked his chin. Obito was always cautious, preferring to pull strings from the shadows.
His plan had succeeded because he knew everything about Obito.
Obito, on the other hand, had no idea how thoroughly Kawasaki understood him.
With his intelligence leaked, even Fugaku had been able to scheme against him.
It all came down to information asymmetry.
Now that Obito knew his abilities were completely exposed, he would naturally be more careful and wouldn't show himself so easily.
"Obito has lost to me several times. Now that he has his left eye back, his power will increase rapidly. He'll definitely choose to lay low."
"Your Akatsuki will also need to continue developing in secret."
"Your physical condition..." Kawasaki paused, thinking.
The Nagato before him was clearly much weaker than Obito.
Now that Obito had both his eyes, it meant he could also use the Susanoo.
Combined with the intangibility of his dual Kamui, he would be almost impossible to deal with.