"Where were Itachi and Kisame assigned by Nagato?"
"...Konoha." Facing Obito's question, after hesitating for a moment, Black Zetsu finally gave an answer.
Centered on Obito's right eye, space began to distort.
Several seconds later, he completely vanished before Zetsu's eyes.
After Obito left, White Zetsu spoke up: "Do we really need to stay here? We could be exposed at any moment."
Although neither Obito nor Nagato could outright kill them directly, some of their techniques were still troublesome.
For example, Obito's Kamui could imprison someone in another dimension indefinitely, while Nagato's Human Path could extract souls.
These abilities were no joke.
"But the Rinnegan and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path..."
Black Zetsu was still thinking about the mission Kaguya had given him. He really didn't want her to think he was incompetent.
White Zetsu thought for a moment, then suddenly had an idea. "Hey, Black Zetsu—what if we just take the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path with us directly? After all, we have nearly one hundred thousand bodies."
"..."
Black Zetsu paused briefly, clearly unimpressed.
What kind of logic is that? It makes no sense at all.
His IQ swings wildly.
"As long as the Rinnegan remains on Nagato, it doesn't matter where we hide the Demonic Statue—it can always be reclaimed," explained Black Zetsu.
Sighing slightly, Black Zetsu fell into thought.
The Two-Tails, Three-Tails, and Eight-Tails were essentially already under Mother's control.
If Nagato wanted to continue collecting Tailed Beasts, he would inevitably come into conflict with Konoha and Kumogakure sooner or later.
Which meant the Demonic Statue would eventually return to Mother's hands anyway.
Once he realized this, Black Zetsu understood immediately—Kaguya had only given him this task to keep him occupied.
Understanding that made his heart clench with bitterness.
Shaking off his thoughts, Black Zetsu urged White Zetsu to lead him to Kakuzu and Sasori of the Red Sands.
"The Rinnegan and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path can't be taken yet, but there are still other things we can do."
"And aside from that, none of the White Zetsu clones should be left behind either."
"Income this month was... expenses were..." Holding a brush pen, Kakuzu muttered to himself while scribbling figures into a ledger.
Suddenly frowning, he shot an annoyed glance toward a certain direction. "Can't you see I'm busy?"
Black Zetsu chuckled.
Kakuzu snapped the ledger shut and growled, "Out with it! Did the LEADER issue another order?"
"Which Leader?" asked Black Zetsu. "Pain? Obito? Nagato? Or someone else?"
Kakuzu blinked. "Obito? Nagato? Has the organization recruited new members again? Can they even compare to our Leader?"
"Oh definitely. These two aren't ordinary men—they can eliminate Pain anytime they want."
"You're kidding me," Kakuzu said, giving him a strange look.
"That man who's always proclaimed himself a god before us—Pain—is actually just a puppet..."
At the same time, White Zetsu told Sasori of the Red Sands almost the exact same thing.
"Pain is nothing but a corpse, a puppet without a heartbeat. As a puppet master, surely you haven't overlooked this?"
"The one truly pulling the strings is actually a frail invalid who can't go anywhere without Konan."
"What are you trying to say?" Sasori of the Red Sands asked flatly.
"Pein isn't a god—he's merely a cripple, a coward hiding behind others! I can take you to see the true god!" White Zetsu exclaimed excitedly.
Sasori of the Red Sands remained silent, lowering his head without responding.
At Kakuzu's place.
"What 'god of U?' I only believe in the god of money. Can the god you mentioned make me rich?" Kakuzu impatiently shot back after listening to Black Zetsu talk about Nagato, Pain, Obito, and Konan.
Black Zetsu only gave an eerie smile, saying nothing before vanishing right before Kakuzu's eyes.
After he left, Kakuzu stood quietly for a moment, then walked out from where he was staying.
A stooped silhouette appeared within his sight.
Sasori of the Red Sands also emerged.
The two exchanged glances, then looked toward the direction of the Tall Tower in the Country of Rain. Kakuzu spoke indifferently, "Zetsu said Nagato had always been there, crippled in both legs, unable to go out, and too afraid to show his face."
"He spoke to you as well?" Sasori's voice was low and hoarse.
Kakuzu nodded.
To be honest, it shook his perception—he had always assumed the overwhelming, commanding Pain was the true leader.
Now Zetsu had unexpectedly revealed that the so-called "Pain" was just a frail, emaciated cripple.
The cool factor plummeted.
Behind Pain stood Nagato—and behind Nagato loomed yet another Uchiha Obito.
Though neither cared much for Akatsuki's grand schemes—staying mainly out of freedom to operate as they pleased—the tangled layers of deception still stirred something uneasy within them.
What was it? Did they know their true appearances wouldn't hold up, or perhaps lacked strength, forcing them to hide themselves?
"I really want to see what this Nagato looks like," Sasori coldly snorted, walking toward the direction of the Tall Tower in the Country of Rain.
Kakuzu chuckled and followed close behind.
As for Zetsu's motive in revealing all of this, they simply didn't care.
In Konoha.
Izumi Uchiha stared blankly at Itachi's face.
Thinking for a moment, Itachi's eyes turned indifferent as his Sharingan activated, transforming into the Mangekyou pattern.
"Itachi, are you going to use Tsukuyomi again?" Izumi tried her best to remain calm.
"Sleep for a while, and everything will be over," Itachi sighed softly, his voice devoid of warmth.
The person who was long presumed dead had now reappeared.
There could be only one explanation—a calculated scheme.
Whether it was a plot against him or something much bigger.
Izumi laughed bitterly, her voice dry and hoarse, "Itachi, when you decide others' fates, what exactly goes through your mind? Do you think yourself a ruler with insects beneath your feet?"
"You're too arrogant!"
Her voice turned colder, growing louder with each word, her tone sharpening like a blade.
Itachi's expression froze, but said nothing.
In his eyes, Izumi's Sharingan awoke in an instant, its Three-Tomoe pattern forming a shape he had never seen before.
Izumi stared at him directly, her expression filled with sorrowful confusion, yet burning fury and deep resentment.
"No one has ever truly understood you, because you've never allowed anyone into your world."
Itachi's expression turned complex, his face freezing in that very moment.
As if all strength had abandoned her body, Izumi Uchiha staggered backward a few steps before collapsing flat onto the ground with a thud, her gaze empty and unfocused as her eyes reverted to their natural black.
"Why isn't Itachi moving?" From nearby, Hiroki exclaimed in surprise.
Kaguya gave a playful, intrigued look. "Your judgment is indeed impressive."
Hiroki looked at her questioningly.
"The Uchiha Itachi standing before us now is merely an illusion, likely created by Izumi Uchiha. The real one must have already been sent to some unknown space — I just felt the dimensional ripples coming from it..."
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