Obito crossed his arms. "I'll ask you one last time—will you hand over the Jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails?"
Although startled at first, A quickly regained his composure. "Save your stupid talk. Do you really think we'd be intimidated by you?"
Obito gave a slight nod and spoke loudly, "Very well. Since you've chosen war, then war is what I shall give you. I hereby declare—the Fourth Great Ninja War has begun!"
After saying this, he turned his gaze toward Sasuke. "Looks like you don't intend to return?"
Sasuke's eyes remained calm. "I already told you—this between us is just a transaction!"
A faint smirk appeared at the corner of Obito's mouth. "Don't you feel your vision getting worse? Can't even see clearly anymore?"
Sasuke's expression darkened. "You don't need to say that!"
Obito pulled from the space a small glass bottle filled with liquid, inside which soaked a pair of crimson eyes. "You wouldn't regret not taking Itachi's eyes back then, would you? Want them? I can give you the chance to take them now if you want!"
Sasuke mocked, "You'd actually be that generous?"
"You're right. That's exactly how generous I am!" Obito chuckled lightly and threw the glass bottle toward Sasuke.
Catching the bottle swiftly, Sasuke asked in surprise, "What exactly are you planning?"
Obito sinisterly laughed again. "The more one chases power, the deeper into darkness they fall. Just like you once sought strength and turned to Orochimaru, I'm waiting for the day you once again come crawling back to me in pursuit of the Rinnegan's evolution!"
After speaking, Obito transformed into a vortex and vanished.
His words made everyone look at Sasuke with suspicion and caution.
After all, Sasuke did have a history!
Onoki's mind couldn't help but make a troubling association—thinking about someone else who once chased power and transplanted his younger brother's eyes. He warned, "Young man, I advise you to discard those eyes. He's right—chasing power only draws you closer to the abyss."
Sasuke shot him a cold glare. "Just because I've broken away from Akatsuki doesn't mean I'm returning to your side. Don't think you're qualified to lecture me yet!"
Onoki replied solemnly, "Then don't blame us for removing potential threats beforehand—for the peace of the shinobi world!"
Sasuke laughed mockingly, "All these nice words, and yet you're driven by nothing but fear of the Uchiha's power!"
Just as the two sides were on the verge of a clash, Sakura nervously stepped forward and shouted, "Everyone, calm down! Don't fall into the enemy's trap!"
However, no one was listening to her at all.
Sakura turned to Naruto for support, but found him looking like he was about to throw up but couldn't!
"Hey, Naruto, what's wrong with you?"
At this moment, Seiki (a mysterious figure who had known Obito's thoughts) stepped forward. "If you're worried that Sasuke might turn to Akatsuki for the power of the Rinnegan, then there's no need, because I also know how to evolve the Rinnegan!"
Everyone's heart trembled and refocused their attention on this equally mysterious man.
From how he had exposed Obito's inner thoughts earlier, he clearly knew many things.
"You know too?" Onoki was momentarily surprised, then asked, "May I ask—who exactly are you?"
"This is part of what I wanted to tell you earlier," Seiki said seriously. "If you're willing to accept the Seal afterward, I naturally won't hide anything from you!"
"The Seal, huh?" Everyone considered it carefully and, this time, didn't show the same resistance as before.
For one thing, it was Uchiha Obito who declared war, which indeed proved the crisis Seiki had mentioned.
For another, it was Seiki's demonstrated power—given his strength, he probably wouldn't need to go through so much trouble if his intention was truly hostile.
Plus, they could let Seiki seal them one by one; if Seiki truly harbored ill intentions, they should be able to detect it from the first few seals.
Therefore, everyone hesitated only slightly before agreeing.
At this moment, Seiki turned his gaze toward Sasuke, who stood nearby. "If you're interested, you can come over and listen too."
"Me?" Sasuke hesitated slightly. He could feel the other man's protective and affectionate attitude toward him.
Besides, it seemed to be this very man who ended Danzo's life!
So he didn't hesitate much further. "Alright!"
Receiving his response, everyone made their way back toward the conference hall.
...
As Seiki recounted the matter of the parallel world to the others, a space filled with sci-fi elements appeared.
"Kaguya's son? Cooperation?" Jigen, sitting on the throne with one leg crossed over the other, rested his cheek on one hand, smirking slightly as he looked at someone standing before him, barely concealing their fear. "You actually dared come before me knowing my identity—you've got guts, I'll give you that!"
Black Zetsu took a deep breath. "Though I'm afraid, I fear even more that 'Mother' won't find salvation!"
Jigen clapped his hands appreciatively, filled with emotion. "Compared to those two guys, your filial piety is truly touching!"
Black Zetsu puffed out his chest proudly. "This is the very power that drives me to stand before you!"
Jigen fell silent, gently tapping his fingers on the armrest. Inside the room, the only sounds were the tapping and the breathing of the two men.
Finally, as Black Zetsu waited anxiously, Jigen softly laughed. "Although I'd like nothing more than to kill that Kaguya bastard too, there's one thing you said that's right—we, alongside Kaguya, are at a disadvantage compared to Hagoromo and the Main Family. The underdogs should stick together!"
Black Zetsu excitedly asked, "Then you agree?"
"Exactly!" Isshiki Otsutsuki, who had been hiding inside Jigen's body, flew out from Jigen's ear, returned to his normal size, and calmly plucked his right eye out before tossing it over. "Bring me Madara's eyes!"
"Yes, sir!" Black Zetsu hurriedly handed over Madara's eyes.
Isshiki caught the eyes, placing one into his eye socket. "Hmph! Madara's dojutsu is somewhat interesting!"
Afraid that the other might change his mind, Black Zetsu didn't dare to stay longer. "Then I'll take my leave first!"
Isshiki waved a hand casually. "Scram!"
After Black Zetsu left, Isshiki lightly chuckled as he touched his right eye. "Let me go face those nuisances head-on and waste my energy while you hide behind me, planning to revive Kaguya. What a great plan! Too bad you underestimated the Otsutsuki clan!"
Black Zetsu himself didn't even know that for a few seconds earlier, he had been controlled by Isshiki and that all his memories had been completely read.
Isshiki rubbed his chin, smiling slightly. "Such inferior creations—I can control them with a snap of my fingers!"
"Now that I think about it, that Big Bro in his memories really seems like a tough one. He actually figured out my existence and location just from some subtle clues, and deliberately avoided meeting me in person by sending this guy to speak for him. He's definitely cautious!"
"And he was actually bold enough to use the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki as bait to draw me out! I have to admit, that kind of daring actually surprised me—and got me excited! If I can use my eye power to control that guy 'Obito' from his memories, I'll have a fighter almost as strong as me at my side. That'll give me the edge in the final showdown!"
"Heh! Could it be he saw this far ahead—deliberately pulling off this kind of obvious move to make me move before I'm ready?"
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