Hiruzen persuaded me to die

Somewhere in the Land of Rain—

Uchiha Obito sat in still silence, his new left eye shimmering ominously—Kakashi's Mangekyō now his own.

"How's the adjustment?" Black Zetsu rasped through the gloom.

Convincing Obito to take it had been difficult. There was something strange about Kakashi… a tether. Even now, Obito had hesitated.

But now?

"Not bad," Obito said coolly.

He hadn't wanted to attack Kakashi—but with both Mangekyō in place, his ocular power had surged immeasurably.

"Can you use Susanoo?" Black Zetsu asked, eyes gleaming.

Obito smirked. Chakra erupted around him—cyan skeletal ribs wrapped his body in an instant.

"If this place were bigger," he said smugly, "I'd show you the third form."

Uchiha Madara's notes had been thorough. From ribcage and arms to the full skeletal titan. The third form—an elite among ordinary Mangekyō users.

"Mastery achieved," Obito muttered.

Black Zetsu nodded. That level of Susanoo rivaled any user short of the Eternal Mangekyō.

Still… "You were too soft. You should've ended it cleanly when you took the eye."

Obito's expression darkened.

"Enough. What about Kirigakure? Is Yagura dead?"

White Zetsu chuckled as Black Zetsu hesitated.

"There's good news and bad news," White Zetsu grinned. "Which first?"

Obito scowled. "How many times must I say it—call me Madara. Or at least Toby."

He waved dismissively. "Start with the good."

White Zetsu's grin widened. "Fourth Mizukage Yagura is dead."

"Hmph." Obito sneered. "He got off easy."

But then his brow furrowed. "Wait… What happened to the Three-Tails?"

If Isobu had died with Yagura, its rebirth would delay their plans.

"The Three-Tails survived," Black Zetsu said coldly. "But it was taken—by Hyūga Naraku."

Obito stilled. "…Naraku?"

If he weren't wearing a mask, they'd see his eye twitch.

The one person who shouldn't have gotten his hands on a Tailed Beast… had now taken two.

White Zetsu added cheerfully, "Not just the Three-Tails. The Eight-Tails from Kumogakure too. Naraku sealed both—brought them back to Konoha."

"…He's collecting them?" Obito muttered.

It didn't feel random anymore. A trophy? Maybe once. But this? Intentional.

Black Zetsu's frustration boiled beneath the surface. "That man is sabotaging everything. I spent a millennium setting this up… and he's unraveling it in months."

Project Tsuki no Me—Uchiha Madara's legacy—was at risk. Naraku was becoming a threat they could no longer ignore.

"The collection of Tailed Beasts must be accelerated," Obito said, voice now hard as steel.

He had already reclaimed his eye. The Moon's Eye Plan had to succeed.

"And Akatsuki's strength must grow."

"Agreed," Black Zetsu said. "Kakuzu is still hunting bounties, and Kisame holds Kirigakure. We've also recruited Kakuzu's old associate, Hidan, but…"

He trailed off.

Obito turned. "What?"

"Hiruko—the one researching the Chimera Technique—has joined Akatsuki. Says he'll become the strongest if it succeeds."

Obito snorted. "He said 'invincible'? Hah. Bold of him."

Black Zetsu wasn't impressed either. "He may be overconfident, but if the technique works, it's worth the investment."

Then he unfurled a scroll.

"In exchange, he's asked us to help capture shinobi with the following kekkei genkai."

Obito glanced at the list:

"Wood Release, Sharingan, Swift Release, Dark Release, Steel Release, Storm Release, Scorch Release, Crystal Release…"

He barked a laugh.

"Seriously? He wants Wood Release? Does he think Senju Hashirama left it lying around?"

"And Sharingan? Why not just ask me to catch an Uchiha from Konoha while I'm at it?"

Black Zetsu grimaced. "He dreams big."

Obito kept reading. "Well, any of these we can gather?"

"We've assigned the others," Black Zetsu explained. "Your team gets one."

Obito's eyes drifted down. "Storm Release is off-limits—Cloud is under siege by Iwagakure. Too risky."

"Then…"

He tapped the scroll. "Scorch Release."

"Sunagakure's Pakura," Black Zetsu said, already reading his thoughts.

"She made waves in the Third Great War. High-profile target. Easy to track."

Obito's grin widened. "Perfect. While we're there, we'll grab Shukaku too."

For the first time in the meeting, Black Zetsu nodded without complaint.

With Hyūga Naraku on the move, their margin for error had vanished.

No more delays.

The hunt for the Tailed Beasts… had truly begun.