Chapter Thirty-Six: Akatsuki's Next Move

... The great battle had ended, with the Sound Ninja Village emerging victorious. Nagato had his Rinnegan gouged out and now lay on the verge of death in a cave near the Sound Village. Beside him, Yahiko was also gravely wounded, both barely clinging to life, until they were finally rescued by Konan, who arrived afterward.

Konan, a master of the Paper Release technique, was shaken to see the two most important men in her life in such a wretched state. Sheets of white paper began to peel from her body, swirling around her in a cyclone, like a paper tornado.

With a furious cry, the paper tornado exploded outward, every sheet folding itself into a paper shuriken and shooting in all directions to embed themselves deep into the walls of the cave. The force and density of the attack were so great that...

...the cave collapsed.

Amid the rumbling, Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato were buried beneath the rubble.

Konan, now driven to the brink of madness by the series of misfortunes, erupted in rage. With a wild, domineering force, she blasted the cave apart, emerging from the dust and debris with her two battered companions in tow.

Her gaze turned cold and piercing in the direction of the Sound Ninja Village.

She stared for a long while before turning away, disappearing with the two injured men. She did not recklessly seek revenge on the Sound Ninja Village, nor did she return to the Rain Village. No one knew where she and the two men had gone. Their traces vanished utterly, leaving no sign behind.

...

The attack on the Sound Ninja Village by Pain did not cause much stir in the shinobi world; in fact, it was completely overshadowed by news of the Four Kage Summit. Up to this point, the shinobi world neither knew of Nagato nor understood the extent of his power, so the event was largely dismissed.

Only a handful of spies within the Sound Village recorded the incident in detail and sent their reports back to their respective villages. Even so, the information was largely ignored.

Without seeing it with their own eyes, it was difficult for anyone to believe that a single person could possess such strength. The focus of their attention remained on the Akatsuki as an organization, not on any individual within it.

However, within Akatsuki itself, this incident prompted an emergency meeting.

...

On the domed rooftop of the tallest building in the Rain Village, all members of the Akatsuki gathered.

Black Zetsu, pointing at the man beside him who wore a swirling mask with only one eye exposed, said, "Let me introduce a new member to you all. Heh, he will also be our next leader."

Once he had everyone's attention, Black Zetsu solemnly announced, "His name is Madara Uchiha!"

At the utterance of that name, every member present felt their pupils contract. Even Itachi Uchiha, who already knew the identity of the newcomer, looked more solemn.

Though each of them was an S-rank rogue ninja with Kage-level strength, the name Madara Uchiha was enough to make their spirits tense. After all, he was the only one in the Warring States Era who could stand against the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju.

Kakuzu's expression was especially grave. He had survived since the Warring States Era, and had once fought Hashirama Senju and lived to tell the tale. He understood the strength of both Hashirama and Madara better than anyone.

He stepped forward. "So you're Madara Uchiha? Let's fight!"

Kakuzu was no fool, nor was he brainless—his partner Hidan carried that distinction. The reason he stepped forward was to redeem his reputation. Many in the shinobi world knew of his failed attempt to assassinate Hashirama Senju during the Warring States Era, and though he had only faced a shadow clone, it certainly wasn’t as ridiculous as the rumors claimed—that Hashirama had flung a shuriken from hundreds of miles away and scared him off.

Was he really that pitiful? Did he deserve to be made a laughingstock?

After years of honing his abilities, Kakuzu knew he still couldn’t defeat Hashirama or Madara, but he was confident he could at least hold his own for a few rounds.

He was determined to prove himself.

"Yeah, yeah, fight, fight! When you're done, it's my turn!" Hidan cheered, clapping his hands in excitement. To him, Madara Uchiha was just another person to test himself against—he’d believe in Madara’s reputation only after crossing blades.

He hadn't expected Kakuzu to jump in first, and at that moment, Hidan found himself growing fond of his partner—not just for his lust for money.

The other members of Akatsuki remained silent, watching the man who called himself Madara Uchiha and the grim Kakuzu intently. Madara’s name was enough to shock the world, but none of them were weaklings—caution was warranted. Kakuzu’s challenge was only natural.

"A fight, is it?" Obito murmured to himself.

He was not Madara Uchiha, but this was what he and Madara had agreed upon: Obito would act in the name of Madara Uchiha until the real Madara was resurrected.

All for the sake of that grand plan.

For now, he was Madara Uchiha.

With a flicker, Obito launched himself at Kakuzu, striking without hesitation.

Kakuzu snorted coldly, pleased by the direct approach. He had five hearts, each representing a different chakra nature. The best-suited technique for this moment was Earth Release: Earth Spear.

The technique would harden his body to an incredible degree, and his modified version had even developed into another art—Tendril Heavy Fist.

This technique empowered his hardened arms to deliver devastating blows.

The man claiming to be Madara Uchiha rushed forward, forming hand seals as he closed the distance.

Kakuzu’s eyes narrowed, then he smiled faintly. It was Wood Release: Cutting Technique.

He recognized the jutsu—branches would sprout from the user’s arms, impaling the enemy and branching within their body, a technique that was nearly always fatal.

But would Kakuzu let himself be struck so easily?

He launched his Tendril Heavy Fist at the so-called Madara Uchiha, who oddly enough, made no move to dodge.

All the better—Kakuzu was sure his blow would land.

Yet, he was struck by the Wood Release: Cutting Technique.

"What?!"

Kakuzu was stunned—what had happened?

He had punched the man, clearly hitting him, but his fist simply passed through, as if the man had no physical form.

Yet, as the man drew near, he became solid, striking Kakuzu with the Wood Release: Cutting Technique.

Kakuzu screamed in terror, for the wooden spikes were branching within his body, instantly destroying four of his hearts.

He had only five in total—now, just one remained.

It brought back memories of the terror Hashirama Senju had once instilled in him.

There was no way to win this fight.

...

Obito intentionally left Kakuzu with one heart; this was not a battle to the death, so he held back. He followed up with a kick, sending Kakuzu flying, and then turned to face the others.

The fight had ended as quickly as it began, but it was enough to demonstrate his formidable strength.

As expected, everyone’s eyes narrowed; until they fully understood the nature of Obito's intangibility and solidification, none would act rashly.

Obito spoke, "The plan to capture the tailed beasts will continue. Hidan, Deidara, Itachi, Kisame... all of you must prepare for the next great shinobi war. The Four Great Nations must be made to surrender the Eight-Tails."

"As for me, I will pay a visit to the Sound Ninja Village."

Obito’s goal in traveling to the Sound Village was not to eliminate Orochimaru, but to recover the One-Tail and Nine-Tails, as well as the shell of the Ten-Tails. If he could conveniently destroy Orochimaru, so be it.

His focus was on accomplishing the grand Eye of the Moon Plan; until it succeeded, no one would be allowed to stand in his way.

Black Zetsu stood nearby, chuckling inwardly. As Obito set out for the Sound Village, Black Zetsu would follow covertly, ensuring Obito never knew.

His aim was to place Madara Uchiha’s body within Orochimaru’s reach, so that Orochimaru, who possessed the Reanimation Jutsu, would inevitably discover it.

Obito certainly did not want Madara resurrected, preferring to see his own plan through alone. But Black Zetsu had no intention of letting him succeed so easily.

He would see to it that Madara and Obito schemed against one another, while he sat in the shadows, reaping the ultimate reward.