Amegakure,
Tendo Pain stood motionless atop the highest tower in the Village Hidden by Rain. Rain poured over his body as if the heavens themselves wept endlessly, but he did not flinch.
Behind him, a swirl of white paper fluttered and spiraled through the air, gradually assembling into the graceful form of a woman. Her light blue hair flowed with the wind, and her expression was cool, composed—Konan had arrived.
Without turning, Tendo Pain spoke in a calm, deep voice, "Konan, you're here."
She nodded and stepped beside him. Her tone was low, serious. "Nagato, something has happened in Konoha."
His Rinnegan eyes narrowed slightly. "What happened?"
"A man named Uchiha Chiga has returned. He killed Danzo and publicly declared himself the Sixth Hokage."
Pain's voice carried a note of disbelief. "The people of Konoha allowed that?"
"Of course not," Konan replied. "But Uchiha Chiga is terrifyingly powerful. He has awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan—his version of it is far beyond ordinary. Konoha couldn't stop him."
Pain scoffed, turning his head slightly. "Has Konoha grown so feeble that one man with Mangekyo Sharingan can cripple them?"
Konan hesitated before continuing, "It's not that simple. According to reports, he summoned a colossal Susanoo—a half-body version nearly a hundred meters tall."
Just then, a deep, knowing voice echoed behind them. "That... is Susanoo."
A swirling black vortex opened in mid-air. From it stepped a man cloaked in black with red clouds, his face obscured by an orange spiral-patterned mask.
Pain turned and regarded him with cold eyes. "Uchiha Madara."
Though he used that name, Pain never trusted the masked man. Nagato always sensed something hidden behind that vortex jutsu and the man's smooth deceptions. But for now, their shared objective—to collect the tailed beasts and revive the Ten-Tails—forced cooperation.
What Pain did not know was that the man standing before him was not Madara at all. He was Obito Uchiha, once a disciple of Minato Namikaze—and someone who had known Uchiha Chiga personally.
Obito's voice was calm. "The form you described is Susanoo, one of the Mangekyo's highest powers."
"So Itachi had this power as well?" Pain asked.
"Perhaps, but Itachi likely hadn't mastered it when he defected. Uchiha Chiga's Susanoo is not normal—it's on a scale far beyond the typical Mangekyo."
"Can you show it to me?" Pain asked with a raised brow.
Obito hesitated behind his mask. He couldn't show it—he only possessed one Mangekyo, and Susanoo required both.
He chuckled lightly to cover his discomfort. "Using Susanoo causes tremendous strain on the eyes. It risks permanent blindness."
Pain grunted. "Then Uchiha Chiga will be blind soon enough. If he dares to interfere when we take the Nine-Tails, we'll eliminate him."
Obito's tone sharpened. "Don't underestimate him. If his eyes truly are..." He trailed off.
Pain asked, "Are what?"
Obito shook his head. "Never mind. It's almost impossible without a sibling."
Nagato frowned. This riddling manner annoyed him, but before he could press further, space warped again and Obito vanished, leaving only a parting message.
"Do not provoke him—for now. Let me gather more information."
Silence settled over the tower.
Konan's voice was firm. "Nagato, that man is hiding too much. Be careful."
Pain's Rinnegan shimmered. "I know. But until our plan is complete, I'll tolerate him. And don't worry, Konan. Even he cannot defy these eyes."
---
Elsewhere,
Obito emerged in a shadowy cave. He gazed at the stone floor and spoke without looking down.
"Come out."
From the earth rose a jet-black humanoid figure—Black Zetsu.
"How's the intelligence gathering?" Obito asked.
"Based on the testimony of captured Konoha ninja, Uchiha Chiga claimed he awakened the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan."
Obito clenched his fists. He turned to the stone wall and slammed it with a roar of frustration.
"Damn it! Just what is going on!?"
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