Yakushi Kabuto's words were half true and half false.
Nagato couldn't help but frown. He had to admit he had acted too hastily this time, resulting in him fighting alone now.
All the Pain of Six Paths had been destroyed, and while his true body entangled with the Nine-tailed Jinchuriki, the enemy Uchiha Obito had appeared.
There was even Yakushi Kabuto, who had been a spy within the Akatsuki.
The situation seemed to be getting subtly dire...
Uchiha Obito, under his mask with his Sharingan fixed on Nagato, spoke in a gloomy voice, "Nagato, I have always had high hopes for you... When you betrayed me because of that brat Uehara, you should have seen this day coming!"
"Shut up."
Nagato frowned, speaking without hesitation as he looked at Uchiha Obito, "Uehara is the successor of the Akatsuki. When you attempted to kill Uehara back then, we became enemies!"
"Don't be so impulsive!"
Yakushi Kabuto clasped his hands with a smile, speaking softly, "Leader, why not continue capturing the Nine-tailed Jinchuriki first? We can discuss our matters later?"
"..."
That sounded too false!
How could someone like Yakushi Kabuto even exist!
Whether it was Tsunade, Uzumaki Naruto, or Nagato, their faces all turned ugly. Even with a new enemy appearing, the hostile relationships among them hadn't changed.
The situation on the battlefield instantly became delicate.
Tsunade clenched her fists fiercely, staring at Yakushi Kabuto and Uchiha Obito, and said in a deep voice, "Did you come here for Naruto too?"
"No."
Uchiha Obito shook his head, then nodded, "The Nine-Tails inside Uzumaki Naruto is just part of the reason. I don't mind temporarily storing the Nine-Tails' Chakra inside this brat..."
The Sharingan in Uchiha Obito's eye glowed with a red light as he looked at Nagato, staring at Nagato's Rinnegan, and spoke, "I came here to reclaim the eyes I once gave to Nagato!"
Uchiha Obito's figure suddenly dashed toward Nagato, reaching for Nagato's Rinnegan in a cold voice, "I should also thank you, Konoha, for helping me deal with the Pain of Six Paths. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare to make a move against him so rashly!"
"Almighty Push!"
Nagato instinctively extended his palm, and a repulsive force burst out from his side. Yet, Uchiha Obito's figure easily penetrated the force, continuing to reach for his body!
Nagato's expression changed.
The next moment, Nagato flipped to dodge Uchiha Obito's attack. His figure suddenly floated in the air, appearing atop the Gedo Statue.
Uchiha Obito let out a cold snort, flipping and jumping along the Gedo Statue's body, appearing on its shoulder with a few leaps, unharmed by any attack from the statue!
Standing on the shoulder of the Gedo Statue, Uchiha Obito looked at Nagato with contempt and said, "Do you think you can escape?"
"..."
A mechanical arm slowly emerged from behind Nagato, turning into a machine gun in the blink of an eye. Nagato's voice gradually calmed down, "Uchiha Obito, do you think you can challenge me? In front of these eyes, no one is a match for the Sage Eye!"
"Hahaha..."
Uchiha Obito laughed darkly and snorted coldly, "Ignorant, what you think is the Sage Eye is merely the ultimate evolution of the Uchiha Clan!"
Staring coldly at Nagato, Uchiha Obito said, "It may seem you are still in control, but in reality, you are on a dead-end path! Each time you use the Rinnegan's power, it drains your life, doesn't it?"
"..."
Nagato's heart tightened.
This had always been his most troubling issue.
Even though Uehara Naraku continuously healed him, he could only gradually restore his body to its peak, unable to replenish his already consumed life.
Even after transplanting Senju Hashirama's cells, he still felt that every time he used the Rinnegan, his bodily burden was indeed lessened, Chakra consumption reduced, but his lifespan continued depleting.
"Because those eyes belong to Uchiha Madara."
Uchiha Obito revealed this secret indifferently and continued calmly, "Those eyes were only lodged in your body to preserve his vitality, and for you to use the Reincarnation Jutsu to resurrect Uchiha Madara!"
"..."
Nagato's expression changed.
At this moment, his face was extremely grim.
Because of these Sage Eyes, he had always thought he was the chosen one, believed he could become a true god, and believed he would bear greater responsibilities.
Everything he had done was due to the confidence these Rinnegan brought him. Without these eyes, he was just an ordinary boy from The Hidden Rain Village!
Nagato suppressed his inner shock, glaring coldly at Uchiha Obito, and strived to steady his voice, "Nonsense..."
Inside, Nagato suspected Uchiha Obito was telling the truth.
The Reincarnation Jutsu was the greatest secret.
Apart from the users of the Rinnegan, no one would know about such a resurrection Kinjutsu unless someone had told him about the Jutsu.
Moreover, when Uchiha Obito was active in the Akatsuki Organization as the mysterious masked man, he had claimed to be Uchiha Madara and had seemed very familiar with the Rinnegan's powers more than once.
"Nagato..."
Uchiha Obito was indifferent to Nagato's words, speaking calmly, "Whether what I say is true, you should be very clear in your heart!"
After saying this, Uchiha Obito's eyes flashed with a red glow, "Considering you are about to die, I'll tell you! The ultimate weapon plan is a lie; the real plan is to become god..."
Uchiha Obito kicked the Gedo Statue beneath him, his voice growing increasingly cold as he said, "Only the Uchiha Clan can bear the Rinnegan without burden, withstand the power of all Tailed Beasts, and become the god ruling this Ninja World!"
"..."
Nagato's expression remained calm.
Even though a storm raged in his heart, his face remained exceedingly calm at this moment; the news received today was truly astounding.
For so many years.
Nagato had persistently pursued the Ultimate Weapon Plan.
Even Konan and Uehara Naraku had continuously supported him. This was the true dream of the Akatsuki members, to create an ultimate weapon, thus bringing peace to the Ninja World through its deterrence.
Someone had denied their plan.
Someone abruptly told him they were merely pawns for others to become gods.
If it was all false... then what was all their hard work for, their sacrifices, the people they killed, the wars they started, all mistakes!
Especially in the past two years, they had never ceased waging wars.
Almost every major nation in the Ninja World had been devastated by the Akatsuki led by Uehara Naraku, their purpose merely to collect Tailed Beasts and spread Akatsuki's deterrence...
Just today, Uehara Naraku had sent him news of having just destroyed a Hidden Cloud Village and captured the Eight-tailed Jinchuriki...
Nagato's fingers slowly clenched.
He suddenly recalled how Konan had hoped Uehara Naraku would never be involved with the Akatsuki, merely wishing him to live brightly as the leader of the Hidden Rain Village.
Yet, due to his own doting on Uehara Naraku, not only had he repeatedly persuaded Konan, but he also often delegated leadership tasks to Uehara Naraku, allowing him to utterly destroy the Hidden Grass Village, nearly igniting a war between Konoha and the Hidden Rock Village...
Uehara Naraku's involvement in the darkness was too deep!
Now, no matter how much one tried to wash it clean, it wouldn't be pure!
While Nagato was lost in thought atop the Gedo Statue, Uchiha Obito seemed eager to see his pain and struggle, making no move, instead leisurely stroking his mask.
While they exchanged words above.
The battle below had already begun.
Tsunade swung her fist towards Yakushi Kabuto with a cold voice, questioning, "Yakushi Kabuto, where is that bastard Orochimaru!"
"How could I tell you such secrets!"
Yakushi Kabuto leapt away from Tsunade's punch, watching as it left a massive crack in the ground, his eyes couldn't help but twitch.
Fortunately, Yakushi Kabuto now had plenty of tricks up his sleeve and the strength to face Tsunade. After evading her attack, he adjusted his glasses with a slight smile, "Lord Orochimaru is in a very secure place no one can find!"
Not even able to be killed.
Because Orochimaru's Yamata no Orochi was now his soul's embodiment, unless someone proficient in soul Jutsu or Fuinjutsu came along, Orochimaru couldn't be dealt with.
What's more, Ryuchi Cave was extremely elusive.
Tsunade slowly tightened her fist, her voice harsh, "When I beat you until you're barely breathing, I believe you'll tell!"
"Oh, really?"
Yakushi Kabuto slowly clasped his hands together, his smile subtle as he spoke, "Then let me test the skill of the Fifth Hokage! Ninpo: Summoning Jutsu!"
A coffin rose from Yakushi Kabuto's hand!
A green-tight-suited bowl-cut ninja stepped out of the coffin, slowly opened his eyes, scrutinized everyone present, and scratched his head, "Ahahaha, turns out I'm not dead yet?"
It was none other than Might Guy, just recently reincarnated!
"Indeed!"
Yakushi Kabuto raised a finger, his voice light, "Thanks to a benefactor like me, you could come back to life!"
"Guy..."
Tsunade's fist subconsciously clenched, her face filled with anger as she looked at Yakushi Kabuto, "He just sacrificed himself, and you bastards disturbed his soul!"
"Bushy-browed senior!"
Uzumaki Naruto watched everything with shock and uncertainty, his eyes shifted to Yakushi Kabuto, a Rasengan forming in his hand, "Granny Tsunade, help hold back the bushy-brow, I'll deal with this guy!"
"..."
Tsunade slowly nodded.
Uzumaki Naruto looked at Yakushi Kabuto, barely suppressing the anger in his eyes, "You desecrate these heroes who died for the village... I will never forgive you!"
"Don't be in such a hurry..."
Yakushi Kabuto placed a finger on his lips, chuckling as he spoke, "Uzumaki Naruto, your current state is something even I don't want to face, so I've specially asked Lord Orochimaru to prepare an opponent for you!"
In the face of Uzumaki Naruto in Nine-Tails Mode, Yakushi Kabuto indeed felt some pressure.
When Yakushi Kabuto finished speaking, a Kunai with the Sword of Love emblem suddenly fell between Yakushi Kabuto and Uzumaki Naruto...
The next moment, a figure clad in a golden Tailed Beast Chakra Cloak, identical to Uzumaki Naruto, suddenly appeared before everyone!
It was the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato!
"Sorry, Naruto."
Namikaze Minato bent down, holding his Flying Thunder God Kunai, looking up at Uzumaki Naruto, an apology flashing across his face, "I never expected we'd meet under these circumstances..."