"What's the point of betraying such an organization?"
Aozora's furious voice echoed through the night sky. His Sharingan spun rapidly, three black tomoe circling within the increasingly intense crimson of his eyes.
With those words, Aozora shot Obito a look of disappointment and yanked the Suzaku Ring from his chest.
"A glorious Akatsuki indeed! The Leader possesses the Rinnegan, and you claim to be Madara Uchiha—I thought you—Madara Uchiha—could accomplish something great, that you might truly create a world without falsehood and betrayal. How disappointing!"
After glancing regretfully at the Suzaku Ring, Aozora flung it straight toward Obito.
"I don't need this ring anymore!"
He turned sharply and prepared to leave.
Obito caught the Suzaku Ring tossed by Aozora, yet deep inside felt as though trampled by a million camels.
Weren't they here to question Aozora?
When had things flipped so completely?
Zetsu didn't hesitate for a moment. Coldly, he declared, "Do you think you can just come and go from the Akatsuki as you please?"
Without delay, he roared, [Wood Release – Great Forest No Jutsu!]
Instantly, over a dozen vine-like tendrils erupted from beneath his Black Cloak with Red Clouds, slithering like serpents toward Aozora.
Sensing the air split behind him, Aozora immediately turned mid-backflip.
"Wood Release, huh?"
Unlike other Konoha ninjas who revered Wood Release, after facing off twice against Yamato, Aozora harbored no fear toward the technique.
[Fire Release – Great Fireball Technique!]
Already circulating Homura Chakra along its designated pathway, Aozora expelled a breath resembling golden magma from his mouth.
The golden inferno shifted with the wind, instantly expanding into a blazing sun-sized fireball, scorching everything in its path and tearing across the battlefield toward Zetsu.
As the spreading vines collided with the colossal fireball, a powerful explosion erupted.
[Boom!]
Following a thunderous roar, a small mushroom cloud detonated within the Dense Forest, igniting brilliant flames among the trees.
Obito finally regained his senses, quickly conjuring countless vines from his right hand, forming a barrier to shield the rising flames.
Though the blaze was contained, the Orange Fire quickly spread along the wooden tendrils.
Knowing how troublesome Aozora's Orange Fire was, Obito and Zetsu severed their wooden extensions and performed Earth Release, causing the ground to quake and swallow up the flames.
Standing atop a tree branch, Obito shouted angrily, "Aozora, do you even realize what you're doing? Don't you worry about drawing attention from Konoha ninjas?"
"Heh," Aozora sneered. "I'm a spy sent by Konoha into your Akatsuki. What do I have to fear?"
At these words, both Obito and Zetsu were momentarily left speechless.
Actually, when Aozora arrived alone, Obito had secretly thought he was still trustworthy.
And Aozora's actions since then proved his innocence—otherwise, how would he explode in rage like this? How could he openly admit being a spy?
If Aozora truly were a spy, shouldn't he already have transmitted secret messages? Yet Zetsu had detected no one following them along the way.
Seeing Aozora's firm stance, Obito's mind raced, desperately thinking how to manage this mess.
A moment later, Obito scolded Aozora like a senior: "Aozora, you're too impulsive!"
Then he asked, "Considering how close you are with Fugaku, don't you think it's natural that Pain would be suspicious?"
Hearing this, Aozora remained silent for a moment, as if somewhat guilty, then snorted softly and turned his head away.
Seeing that Aozora had calmed down slightly, Obito felt relieved inwardly and continued pressing his advantage.
"Jintai Uchiha is kicking you while you're down, but I've always believed in you."
Aozora glanced at Obito and asked, "Then what are you doing here in Konoha?"
Obito replied, "Pain wants someone to test your loyalty. I told him I'd take responsibility for the person I recruited."
Aozora turned toward Zetsu and asked, "Then what was he doing? He actually assaulted me!"
Obito turned his gaze to Zetsu, indicating he should explain himself.
Underneath the pitcher plant, Zetsu's black and white faces shifted expressions, then a comical voice came out: "I was just teasing! Don't take it too seriously, Aozora-kun."
Aozora snorted coldly and said, "I really dislike such games. I hate suspicion and betrayal."
Then Aozora stared straight at Obito and said earnestly, "Believe in me or not, that's up to you, but I hope this will be the last time."
Aozora's meaning was very clear—if he needed to prove himself again, he would betray them without hesitation.
Upon hearing this, red light flickered through the eye-hole in Obito's Swirling Mask, and then he nodded.
He tossed the Suzaku Ring to Aozora and said, "Of course I trust you!"
Aozora caught the Suzaku Ring and rubbed the ruby-like gemstone as he gave a meaningful chuckle.
"Today, Fugaku promoted me to Jonin and appointed me Hokage's assistant!"
"So, do you still trust me?"
At these words, Obito's pupils slightly contracted as his Three Tomoe spun rapidly around his crimson eyes.
Fully utilizing the Sharingan's power of observation, he scrutinized Aozora's lips and eyebrows, attempting to detect what was going on in Aozora's mind.
However, all he could see on Aozora's face was mocking amusement and deliberate provocation.
After a long pause, Obito slowly said, "Of course I trust you!"
Hearing Obito's reply, Aozora praised, "No wonder you're Madara Uchiha—you truly are magnanimous!"
Saying this, Aozora put on the Suzaku Ring and added, "Then I'll be off first. Contact me when there's another mission!"
Before the sound of his voice faded, he had already transformed into a black shadow, swiftly moving toward Konoha.
Watching Aozora's distant figure vanish, Zetsu spoke up, asking, "Do you really trust him?"
"Trust? Is that even the question?"
Shaking his head, Obito replied, "His thoughts are too difficult to decipher! Perhaps because he hasn't awakened the Mangekyou yet, he still has some attachment to Konoha and the Clan, so even I can't be certain whether he's a spy for Konoha."
Curious, Zetsu asked after hearing this, "Then why did you give him back the Suzaku Ring?"
Standing quietly with arms hanging loosely at the treetop, watching Aozora disappear completely, Obito responded indifferently, "He can serve as a useful asset."
Zetsu seemed unconvinced, saying, "But you can't control him at all."
Hearing this, Obito shook his head lightly and said, "We don't need to control him. I only need him to continue carrying out missions for Akatsuki. What we must be careful about is never leaking any critical intelligence about Akatsuki to him."
Zetsu gave a slight nod and murmured, "You want to drag him into this?"
Obito nodded. "No matter his true intentions, as long as he carries out the tasks assigned by the organization, he'll inevitably leave behind clues.
If he really is Konoha's spy, we can use him to redirect other ninja villages' hatred toward Konoha.
If he isn't working for Konoha, then with all the evidence he's left behind, he has no choice but to stay within the Akatsuki."
Obito paused before murmuring, "Nagato still needs time to master the Rinnegan's power, and his body can't handle too many battles. We need enough manpower, or else the Moon's Eye Plan won't succeed.
Whether he's a spy or not, no matter his purpose, if we can make use of him, then he stays."
Thinking about Nagato's frail, bony frame, Zetsu nodded in agreement. "The Rinnegan's power is certainly not something anyone can easily bear."
After a moment's thought, Obito instructed Zetsu, "When you get back, tell Nagato that from now on, all Akatsuki missions should be done in pairs. It'll help us keep an eye on everyone and stop leaks. Aozora... will team up with Kisame!"
Zetsu nodded and slowly merged into the tree, vanishing without a trace.
Obito gave Konoha one last look, then twisted his body and vanished into the Spatial Vortex.
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