Even though Shinji and Minato had left the Akatsuki's secret base for over half a minute, Obito's shock had yet to subside.
Especially Shinji's parting words, whispered like a devil's murmur directly into Obito's ear, "Don't disappoint me, Faker," which sent chills down Obito's spine.
At that moment, Obito felt the fathomless darkness and pure killing intent hidden within that man (Shinji), an urge to tear everything in the world apart! This... is this what a true demon is?
Obito trembled with fear, his heart unable to calm down for a long time. He even felt a tinge of regret. Perhaps he had really introduced an uncontrollable force into the Akatsuki.
To Shinji, the Akatsuki and Obito might just be toys or subjects of observation. If they ceased to amuse him, he might just...
Obito stopped himself there, shaking off those thoughts. Continuing down that path would only deepen his fear of that man.
Even though he managed to stop his rampant thoughts, Obito found his back soaked in sweat and his gloves sticky.
Similarly, not far from the secret base in Amegakure, Nagato was controlling the Deva Path, swiftly returning to the village...
On the way, Konan noticed something off about Pain. His speed fluctuated, as if there was an issue with chakra reception.
"Is it because the distance from the main body is causing chakra reception problems?"
"No, it's not that."
Pain shook his head.
"Then what is it?" Konan asked.
Pain didn't answer directly but changed the topic.
"Konan, that man is too dangerous. He gives me a feeling that even Uchiha Madara can't compare to his sheer presence. Be careful around him."
Hearing this, Konan was momentarily stunned, her thoughts involuntarily drifting back to the past.
Back then, when the person beside her could still show various expressions, he had also warned her not to approach Uchiha Madara lightly.
It was still Yahiko's voice, with similar warnings to be cautious around a particular individual, but...
As Konan reminisced about the past, a subtle sadness welled up within her. Misinterpreting her silence as indifference, Nagato controlled Pain to speak again.
"Don't underestimate him, Konan. Today, he gave me the impression that if he truly wanted to destroy the Akatsuki, it would be effortless. He saw through Pain's secret and pinpointed my location with just a glance. Even..."
Pain didn't finish, and Konan, snapping back to reality, furrowed her brow and asked, "Pain, even you can't suppress that man?"
"No, it's not on the same level. If he hadn't held back, I might have..."
"He attacked you?!"
Konan was startled. She hadn't seen any physical confrontation today, so she was confused. How had they fought?
"Not exactly, just mental pressure. But even that nearly overwhelmed me. His terror is beyond words."
Konan breathed a slight sigh of relief. After Yahiko's death, Nagato was everything to her. If something happened to Nagato...
At the same time, Konan felt an inexplicable resentment toward Shinji. If he didn't want to join, he didn't have to. Was there a need to make a move? Couldn't he be a bit more friendly, considering their past connection?
"I understand."
Forcing herself to seal away those wild memories, Konan nodded coldly. These issues weren't the most pressing right now. The priority was Madara.
Shinji's words today had deepened her suspicions about Madara. Yet, she lacked evidence to prove his ill intentions toward Nagato.
Should she search for evidence herself?
She had always been doing so but with minimal results. Madara was too cautious, leaving no trace.
For instance, the traps during the last mission nearly killed her, but her investigation found no clues. The explosive trap was simply an old, unexploded war relic.
Regardless of how she investigated, it seemed like sheer bad luck that the trap lay in her path.
That lead went cold, and the assassination attempt outside the village left no traces either.
The assassin seemed to appear out of nowhere, attack, and disappear without a trace. Not even footprints were left at the scene!
This could only mean the assassin either deliberately erased their tracks or used a special jutsu—like space-time ninjutsu!
And Uchiha Madara just happened to use space-time ninjutsu!
Moreover, he was the only one, apart from Nagato, Konan, and Zetsu, who knew her mission routes!
Thinking of this, Konan clenched her fists within her cloak. Although she had no concrete evidence, all coincidences pointed to Uchiha Madara!
If it was him, what was his goal in killing her? Nagato? What did he want from Nagato? What did he intend for Nagato to do?
And why did he stop after failing?
Following this train of thought, Konan felt Madara's intentions were increasingly dubious...
However, she was powerless to investigate the truth alone.
Not only was Madara cautious, leaving no evidence, but she also lacked the free time to gather evidence.
She had to stay in Amegakure, always by Nagato's side. This was a certainty.
Thinking back to Shinji's remarks today about puppets and marionettes, Konan wondered if he might know more.
The records mentioned he could see the evil in human nature and thus understand everything. So, could he...
Pondering this, Konan decided it was best to directly ask Angolmanue, even if it might come at a cost.
It didn't matter. To protect those important to her, any price was worth paying!
Body or life, she was willing to sacrifice!
But now wasn't the right time. She needed to wait for a good opportunity, one where she wouldn't alert the enemy...
Of course, Konan overlooked the fact that more than just Obito could use space-time ninjutsu. Even when she was ambushed, a man who also used space-time ninjutsu appeared and saved her!
And even his follower could use space-time ninjutsu!
...
The real culprit, Shinji, now stood with Minato in a small country that seemed to have recently experienced a large-scale war.
This was a small, sparsely populated, and impoverished nation. Shinji and Minato had passed through this country not long ago. It was a peaceful country, internally stable and following the new Zoroastrianism.
However, this peaceful nation recently experienced a war with a neighboring country. Almost everyone, from civilians to the ruling daimyo, was nearly wiped out.
Standing next to a door, Minato surveyed the scene. Once lively villages had turned into ruins, with countless corpses left unburied, some burned to a crisp.
A starving dog, tied to a rope, barked hoarsely at a corpse, likely its deceased owner.
Unable to bear the sight, Minato approached, untied the dog, and watched as it used its last bit of strength to rush to its owner's body.
The dog circled its owner, licking the face, but to no avail; its owner would never wake again.
The dog's whimpering was heart-wrenching. Watching the desperate dog, Minato turned away, unable to endure the scene.
"Mr. Anri, what happened here..."
Shinji glanced at Minato, then turned his gaze back to the dog, now lying beside its owner, and explained calmly:
"This small country had a longstanding grudge with its neighbor due to historical issues. Their military strengths were nearly equal, leading to only minor border skirmishes previously.
But a recent event caused this country's military strength to be halved, and its neighbor seized the opportunity, gathering all its forces to flatten this country in a few days."
"The balance was broken..." Minato nodded. Such things weren't uncommon in this world.
"By the way, Little Minato, do you want to know who broke the balance? Who caused this?"
"Who?"
Minato had just asked when he saw Shinji's mocking expression and realized the answer.
Smart people can deduce the truth from a series of clues.
Seeing Minato's stunned expression, Shinji pocketed his hands and glanced at the dog, now lying beside its owner's body.
"So, as I said before, in the end, you'll find that your actions are no different from theirs. Right? The one who broke the balance?"
At that moment, as Shinji smirked and looked at Minato, Minato felt a chill run through him, contemplating a single question.
Who is the real demon...