The atmosphere in the laboratory fell into an eerie silence.
Everyone's eyes turned toward Uchiha Obito, who had been quietly watching the show until now.
Nagato slowly turned around and looked at Uchiha Obito with a strange gaze.
At this moment, he suddenly felt that whether there were Hashirama cells or not didn't matter anymore.
Compared to improving his Wood Release slightly, what he truly wanted now was to confirm the identity of "Uchiha Madara."
If Nagato had turned and looked at Black and White Zetsu at this time, perhaps he could have found the answer.
The expressions of Black and White Zetsu were different.
Black Zetsu had a blank face, silently staring at Izayoi, who was smiling playfully. No one knew what he was thinking.
White Zetsu, on the other hand, was stunned. His eyes were full of disbelief, as if he couldn't believe that besides them, someone else actually knew the true identity of Uchiha Obito.
The only ones who didn't know Uchiha Obito was pretending to be "Uchiha Madara" were Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi, both staring at Obito in shock.
Orochimaru even gasped, "Besides Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi, there are still living Uchiha in the ninja world? Then… that time-space ninjutsu just now, is it also a unique Mangekyō Sharingan ability?"
Uchiha Obito didn't speak—he hadn't recovered from the sudden blow.
If everyone present had the ability to sense emotions, they would have found that Uchiha Obito's emotional fluctuations were like a storm.
Fortunately, he was wearing a mask. Otherwise, the expression on his face right now would've made Nagato stop fearing him—or even look down on him.
As Obito remained silent, Nagato's suspicion of him only grew deeper.
Nagato couldn't help but ask: "Madara, what's going on? Who is Uchiha Obito?"
Seeing this, Black Zetsu cursed silently in his heart.
Idiot! You lost your composure just because someone said your real name? Isn't that the same as admitting it?
Where's the mental strength you had when you orchestrated the Nine-Tails Rebellion and manipulated the Hidden Mist Village?
"What? Uchiha Madara?!"
Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi were both shocked by Nagato's words and instinctively stepped back a few paces. Orochimaru exclaimed in disbelief, "Wasn't the Shura of the Ninja World killed by the First Hokage in the Valley of the End?"
Then, Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi both turned to look at Izayoi, puzzled why he called him Uchiha Obito.
Uchiha Obito finally snapped out of it and, with a low and hoarse tone, praised: "Not only can you sense the Hashirama cells in my body, but you can also tell I'm using the Sharingan… You truly are the descendant of the Senju who awakened the orthodox Wood Release. Remarkable. You… remind me of that hot mom from back in the day."
As if he hadn't heard the name "Uchiha Obito" at all, he didn't clarify his identity as Uchiha Madara either. But his words hinted enough.
Clap clap clap clap…
Just as Nagato and Orochimaru were stiff with tension, Izayoi suddenly applauded loudly.
"Nice acting!"
Crackling blue and white arcs sparked around Izayoi's palm. He gave Obito a thumbs up and praised, "Even Kakashi couldn't help but stab Nohara Rin's heart with Chidori after hearing that. I give you a big thumbs-up!"
Boom—
These words were like the fuse of a bomb.
The moment he heard them, Uchiha Obito's calm was shattered. In his mind, the image of Hatake Kakashi piercing Nohara Rin's heart replayed vividly.
Just like when he first witnessed that scene, his Sharingan with two tomoe evolved into the Mangekyō Sharingan. At this moment, chakra fury surged almost uncontrollably from his body.
Seeing this, Black and White Zetsu both covered their faces silently.
It's over.
The corners of Nagato's lips lifted slightly. It felt like a boulder had been lifted from his chest.
Getting the Hashirama cells didn't matter anymore.
He had gained the biggest reward—and now had no more worries.
In this moment, Nagato's view of Uchiha Obito changed.
The "Shura of the Ninja World," who had supposedly lived for nearly a hundred years and once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the God of Shinobi, who survived long after the God of Shinobi died…
Now looked like a pitiful, cowardly mouse hiding behind lies, afraid to even show his true face.
Although it was still unclear how Obito got access to the Six Paths Technique and Yin-Yang Release, the only thing worth fearing about this man was his ability to warp through space-time.
The real enemy was the person behind him—the true wielder of the Rinnegan and Yin-Yang Release.
That might be the real Uchiha Madara—or perhaps a descendant of the Sage of Six Paths. In any case, it was the true mastermind.
As for Uchiha Obito and Black and White Zetsu?
Just pawns on the board.
There was another mysterious enemy, but Nagato didn't panic.
Because he was certain that person was dead.
He guessed the reason those two came to him was not only for the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, but likely… the Samsara Rebirth technique!
That person behind the scenes wanted to use him to be reborn!
They must have left a backdoor—either in his body, or in the Rinnegan itself.
As long as that backdoor was triggered, he would be forced to use Samsara Rebirth and revive that person.
However, Nagato had already regained the strength of his prime. And yet, these two still hadn't made a move.
Considering the requirement of Samsara Rebirth—that the caster must clearly see the other's corpse to call the soul back—Nagato guessed the backdoor needed a key.
That key was likely in the hands of Uchiha Obito or Black and White Zetsu.
With this in mind, Nagato wanted to break off all ties and take the opportunity to kill them right now.
But rationality stopped him.
The man behind the scenes had already planted two pawns beside him. Who's to say there wasn't a third lurking nearby?
If he didn't find the true backdoor, he'd still be dancing on someone else's chessboard.
Tearing things apart now would only alarm the enemy and put himself at a disadvantage.
For Konan's and Yahiko's dreams, he had to endure.
"Look, isn't this urgent?"
Izayoi made a face and gestured at the completely broken Uchiha Obito, smiling at Orochimaru.
"Ohh~ Moses Roy…"
Orochimaru stared at Obito with great interest and chuckled, "I remember Minato had three students. Besides Kakashi, there was another Uchiha who died during the war and whose body was never found. So it was you."
"Not only that," Kabuto added with a smile, "Kakashi's Sharingan was a gift from that Uchiha before he died. Kakashi has the left eye, and this guy's mask only shows the right eye… it matches perfectly."
Obito, you've become a clown.
White Zetsu's gaze grew a little pitiful as he looked at Uchiha Obito, who was now being stared at like a monkey in a cage.
With his identity exposed, he no longer had a place in the Akatsuki.
Nagato and Uchiha Itachi would no longer fear him.
Even if Nagato didn't kick him out, Obito would have zero leverage in future discussions.
If this information spread, even the title of "Konoha martyr" would be stripped from him.
If people found out he caused the Nine-Tails Rebellion, they'd probably dig up his bones.
No one cared about him anymore… except maybe Hatake Kakashi.
Black Zetsu didn't say anything but quietly glanced at Nagato, hesitating whether to possess him now.
But his senses suddenly warned him—he gave up the idea and continued hiding.
Uchiha Obito, whose psychological defenses had been broken by someone pressing his reverse scale, suddenly calmed down.
He didn't attack Izayoi—after all, it was just a Wood Clone.
Realizing his identity was completely exposed, he stopped pretending and asked, "How did you find out? And why are you so sure?"
That was the thing he couldn't understand.
Logically, they weren't even from the same era.
When Obito launched the Nine-Tails Rebellion, Izayoi was just a baby. Even his closest teachers never figured out who he was. So how did Izayoi know?
And speak with such certainty?
"Because I'm not blind."
Izayoi gave him a look like he was a fool, then complained, "Back when I was in the Academy, you used to come to Konoha every now and then. Every November 15th, you went to the cemetery to mourn someone named Nohara Rin. You wore a mask with only the right eye exposed. With clues this obvious, anyone with a brain could investigate Nohara Rin's connection to Kakashi and find you."
"… … …"
Uchiha Obito fell silent again.
You idiot!
Black Zetsu cursed again in his heart. How could you leave such obvious traces?
Nagato and Orochimaru had completely confirmed his identity.
"You figured all this out as a kid, and I didn't notice… Looks like your Wood Release awakened early. Impressive." Uchiha Obito could only accept reality and even complimented Izayoi.
The atmosphere became extremely tense.
Orochimaru and Kabuto stood behind Izayoi, staring at Nagato and the others warily.
Nagato, however, ignored them and asked Obito, "Do you have anything to say?"
"I'll explain. You take care of them first and get what you want."
Uchiha Obito activated Mangekyō Sharingan and cast an illusion on Orochimaru.
But just as he was about to act further, Izayoi smiled and gently uttered a technique name:
"Wood Release… Tree World Birth!"
Rumble—
The entire underground lab and base began to quake violently.
Thick tree roots like ancient giants tore through the ground and burst into the base.
In an instant, a tidal wave of green engulfed everything.
Even the four Pains maintaining the Four Red Yang Formation above were affected.
Towering trees pierced up from below, shaking the ground. Even Pain had to cancel the barrier and teleport away from the surging roots.
Orochimaru's base was beneath a vast plain in the Land of Rice Fields.
From a distance, it looked as though giant green serpents had erupted from the earth, coiling into massive peaks.
The violent tremors spread across the land.
And when it finally settled, a lush green oasis had appeared in the middle of the plain.
If you didn't know better, you'd think you were looking at the Forest of the Land of Fire.
Inside the forest, Nagato, who had never been to Konoha's Forest of Death, stared at the mountain-sized trees around him and muttered: "Such powerful Yang chakra. To have this much chakra at that age… This guy is just like me."
On top of one of the towering trees, Black and White Zetsu emerged.
Sensing the chakra in the forest, White Zetsu exclaimed, "If A Fei hadn't borrowed the leader's chakra… he'd be nowhere near this kind of Wood Release!"
Black Zetsu said nothing. His mood had hit rock bottom.
His thoughts now echoed those of Sand Village's Chiyo:
"How did the ninja world become so unfamiliar in just a few months?"
He once thought Otsutsuki Toneri, like Nagato, only had transplanted Sage eyes.
Turns out he was a true awakener, just like Uchiha Madara.
Though Black Zetsu had never seen Hamura use the Rinnegan, and didn't know what it could really do… Toneri clearly had the gravity and repulsion powers—likely a Rinnegan evolution.
And what about next time?
If his Rinnegan evolves again, could he gain a unique ability like Madara did?
Then even Nagato wouldn't be his match.
But that's still manageable—he could still use Toneri to drain Nagato's strength. Or rely on Obito's Kamui to salvage the situation.
As long as the Rinnegan remains, Black Zetsu doesn't panic.
Once the Tailed Beast resurrection begins, and the Plan of the Moon Eye launches, he just needs one shot to revive Madara.
Nagato in his prime, Toneri with evolved Sage eyes, Izayoi with true Wood Release, and Obito whose identity is now public…
Now Black Zetsu truly feels the rhythm is out of his hands.
Luckily, Madara's body is in his control, and he has already restored it using the Outer Path Statue, White Zetsu, and Hashirama cells.
With Wood Release + Sharingan + Rinnegan, Madara in his prime won't fear Toneri or Izayoi.
But recalling the aura he sensed from Nagato earlier, and realizing he was already being guarded against, Black Zetsu muttered to himself:
"I need a backup plan."
Still, Obito's exposure is now the top priority.
Even a Yin-Yang Release product like Black Zetsu felt a headache coming on.
Losing initiative was fine—he was tired of Obito anyway.
Now he just worried that Obito might be kicked out of Akatsuki, making things even more troublesome.
You idiot!
Black Zetsu cursed again in his heart, then used the Mayfly Technique to sink into the earth and go meet with Uchiha Obito and Nagato.