Chapter 267: The Plan is Set, The Duo's Arrival Looms
The sight of Obito's Mangekyo stopped Dark Owl's impending spiritual attack in its tracks.
The Sharingan... right. If Madara chose him as his successor, it's only natural that he would have it, she thought, quickly coming to a logical conclusion.
On the other side of the room, Obito was equally surprised.
Damn that White Zetsu. He never said a word about this, he cursed inwardly, shooting a glare at the cowering Zetsu. So "he" is also an Uchiha. But with Madara's resources, it wouldn't have been difficult to secretly cultivate a few loyal clan members.
Since Madara chose him to assist me, his origins don't matter. I'm sure Madara has already considered all the factors.
He was convinced that if Madara could remain hidden for so many years, it was not surprising that he would have a few loyal Uchiha under his command. Dark Owl must have been one of them. Otherwise, with "his" ability to freely use Wood Release and a Mangekyo Sharingan, it was impossible that "he" would have remained unknown for so long.
The confrontation came to an abrupt halt. With the mystery "solved," neither of them had any desire to continue fighting.
Dark Owl gave Obito's orange mask one last, long look, then sat down and took a sip of the tea that the Mizukage puppet had offered her. "What's the plan?" she asked.
Obito's gaze flickered over Minazuki Saya's puppet-like form before he began to explain.
"I know that a Jinchuriki's seal is at its weakest during childbirth," Dark Owl said with a sneer after he had finished. "The question is, how do you plan to get close to her? Do you think the Anbu are just for show?"
"With the power of my Mangekyo," Obito replied calmly. "You've already seen what it can do."
She remembered the spatial distortion when he had first appeared, and his ability to phase through her attacks. His power is related to space-time? Then it might just be possible...
She ran a finger along the rim of her teacup, her mind racing. After a long moment, having weighed all the pros and cons, she asked, "What do you need me to do?"
"Simple. Her husband, Minato Namikaze, will undoubtedly be there to protect her. Don't worry about him. I'll handle it," he said, a flicker of emotion in his voice at the mention of Minato's name, but Dark Owl didn't notice. "When I release the Nine-Tails, I need you to buy me some time, to hold off any unexpected interference."
"Can't you just use your space-time jutsu to take the Jinchuriki somewhere else? I can't stop Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God," she said, her voice flat.
"I told you, I will deal with him. You need to stop the others. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Uchiha Kyosuke..." he explained patiently.
"...Fine. I'll help you," she said, forcing herself to remain calm at the mention of Kyosuke's name.
With her agreement secured, a light flared in Obito's right eye, and the spatial vortex appeared once more. "The birth should be early next year. I will come for you then."
"And then... the 'Eye of the Moon' plan will officially begin."
"The shinobi world will finally know true peace."
Without waiting for a reply, he vanished.
"...Such a self-important bastard," Dark Owl muttered. She turned her gaze to the silent White Zetsu. She walked over to him, a crimson light flashing in her eyes. "You know his true identity, don't you?"
"E-even if I told you, you wouldn't know him. Does a name even matter to you anymore?" Zetsu stammered, terrified that she would simply erase his consciousness and take the information from his mind.
But she didn't press the issue.
"You're right. It doesn't matter who he is, or why he wants to change the world. None of it matters," she whispered, her expression blank.
"What matters is that I'll be coming for you soon..."
"Early next year... enjoy the rest of your life while you can."
"Imposter!!!"
In a secret cave in the Land of Rain, not far from the Akatsuki's base, Obito appeared in a swirl of spatial distortion.
"How did it go with Dark Owl?" a monstrous figure made of a black, shadow-like substance asked with a grin.
"Nothing special. 'He' is stronger than I expected, but too impulsive to be a true threat," Obito said, leaning against the cave wall. But that's good. The more emotional someone is, the easier they are to manipulate.
But his smile faded as he thought of another, less successful, aspect of his plan.
"Black Zetsu, is there any change with Nagato and the others?"
"No... they are still striving for that foolish dream of theirs," Black Zetsu replied, his voice dripping with scorn.
The problem that had been plaguing Obito was his inability to turn Nagato to the dark side. In the original story, Yahiko would have been long dead by now. But perhaps due to Kyosuke's influence, he was still alive and well. And because of White Zetsu's earlier, clumsy attempts at manipulation, the three of them were now much more wary of such things.
And with the recent changes in Konoha, Danzo had not yet turned his attention to Nagato's Rinnegan, and Hanzo, in turn, had no reason to target the Akatsuki.
And so, Yahiko continued to fight for his "dream."
But Nagato's fate had been sealed from the moment he was born. Obito would not let him escape it.
It was only a matter of time.
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