(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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(E/N: Sorry guys, yesterday I had a fever and a nasty headache, so couldn't edit at all, now I'm better)
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In a cave within the Land of Grass, Obito and Black Zetsu listened intently to the information brought back by a White Zetsu, trying to maintain their composure.
"I didn't expect Orochimaru to actually obtain that Rinnegan, and even dare to come and discuss cooperation with us!" There was annoyance in Obito's voice.
From the beginning, he had never considered Orochimaru a threat.
Since Uchiha Itachi could gain superiority over Orochimaru with a single [Genjutsu], Obito believed he could easily do the same.
Unexpectedly, this character he had deemed insignificant would dare to challenge him today.
The Seven-Tails, the Rinnegan, and a way to claim the Nine-Tails' Chakra.
"Why don't you listen to what he has to say? You have to understand what Orochimaru wants before you can make a decision," Black Zetsu suggested. "At that time, if his strength isn't good enough, we can simply kill him and take what we need!"
Black Zetsu cared little for such matters; his focus was solely on the Ten-Tails and the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Seeing Obito's displeased expression, he urged him to act.
Obito snorted coldly and said to the White Zetsu, "We'll wait here for Orochimaru for two days. Tell him to get over here!"
Hearing this, the White Zetsu sank glumly into the ground.
His companions had all been captured, and he had a foreboding feeling about this encounter.
But he couldn't refuse Obito and Black Zetsu's orders.
Orochimaru's response was swift.
The very next day, he appeared before Obito and Black Zetsu.
Looking at Obito wearing a spiral mask, he smiled slyly.
"I didn't expect that the leader of the Akatsuki who claimed to be a god was just a puppet in the end. This world is truly interesting."
Obito was in no mood for Orochimaru's mind games.
He swiftly appeared behind Orochimaru and stabbed at him with a kunai without hesitation.
Orochimaru dodged in an unnaturally fluid motion, grabbing at Obito with his hands, but his attack passed right through Obito's body.
After this brief exchange, both realized that the other person was not to be trifled with.
Obito clearly saw that Orochimaru had transplanted the Rinnegan.
Orochimaru also found Obito's abilities perplexing.
"Even if you kill me, you won't get the Nine-Tails and Seven-Tails chakra, masked ninja-san," Orochimaru taunted, instantly moving to the cave entrance, ready to escape at any moment.
"My name is Uchiha Madara. I was merely testing whether you're qualified to cooperate with me," Obito said in a deep voice, his face unreadable behind the mask.
Of course, Orochimaru couldn't see his expression.
"State your terms. Besides the Rinnegan, how can you give me the Tailed Beasts?" Obito demanded.
But his opposition didn't reply, instead he just looked at him like an idiot.
Orochimaru snorted, "Uchiha Madara? It seems anyone dares to claim that name nowadays."
As for how he knew this masked guy wasn't Madara? This was Orochimaru, of course, he knew.
Madara's grave had been disturbed by him, but he didn't intend to reveal this knowledge now.
Shaking his head, he rejected Obito's proposal:
"I can't give you the Rinnegan."
Surprisingly Obito didn't do anything at that.
But he pressed on, "Give me the Seven-Tails and Nine-Tails, and we'll discuss the Rinnegan later."
Orochimaru offered his own terms: "I want half of the Gedo Statue's body."
"Impossible!" Obito flatly refused.
Separating half of the Gedo Statue? He couldn't believe the guy had dared to even mention it!
Orochimaru said with a smile.
"Don't be so quick to refuse. Not only do I have the Tailed Beasts chakra in my possession, but the upcoming Five Kage Summit will be your greatest challenge and I can be of help."
"The current Akatsuki organization is all bark and no bite. It won't be long before you have no place in the entire ninja world."
"If you agree to cooperate with me, I can not only provide you with the Tailed Beasts chakra you need but also a large army."
"Army?" Obito stared at Orochimaru.
Orochimaru had been chased by Konoha like a dog for years; where did he get an army from?
"To show my sincerity, allow me to demonstrate," Orochimaru said, forming hand seals.
"[Summoning Jutsu: Reanimation]."
Dozens of coffins emerged from the ground, standing upright.
Then, the coffin doors fell to the ground with a bang, revealing figure after figure.
"This is..." Obito's eyes widened.
Nagato, the Second Mizukage, Third Mizukage, Second Tsuchikage, Third Raikage, Third Kazekage, Fourth Kazekage.
There were also dozens of other powerful shinobi of renown.
"[Impure World Reincarnation], a technique invented by the Second Hokage. After my improvements, it can exert strength close to their original power," Orochimaru explained.
"If used in conjunction with White Zetsus, it can even reach the strength of their prime."
Black Zetsu, hiding in the ground, felt a tightness in his chest.
He now understood why the White Zetsus sent to track the Seven-Tails hadn't returned.
Obito looked at the rows of powerful shinobi and felt somewhat moved.
What he needed most now was manpower, and Orochimaru had undoubtedly solved this problem for him.
As for the Gedo Statue, perhaps some of it could be split, but he had to maintain control.
"Half of the Gedo Statue is impossible, even with your Impure World Reincarnation army and tailed beasts," Obito stated firmly.
Hearing the slight loosening in Obito's tone, Orochimaru immediately began to bargain.
"Four and a half tenths!"
"Impossible!"
"Four tenths!"
"Orochimaru, don't push your luck!"
"Alright, then…"
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In the end, they reached an agreement on the condition of one-quarter of the Gedo Statue.
"Orochimaru, how do you plan to capture Uzumaki Naruto?" Once the terms were negotiated, Obito asked the most crucial question.
Orochimaru explained with a chuckle, "There are other people than Uzumaki Naruto in this world who possess the Nine-Tails' Chakra."
He summoned three more coffins.
"All three of these individuals have a certain amount of the Nine-Tails' Chakra."
These three were Kinkaku, Ginkaku, and Sora, son of Chiriku who one of the Twelve Guardian Ninjas of the Land of Fire.
Obito frowned slightly.
This barely met the requirements for awakening the Ten-Tails, but it certainly didn't match the power of the Nine-Tails within Naruto.
"It's not enough. I need your army to cooperate with me in starting a ninja war, with the target being the Nine-Tails inside Uzumaki Naruto."
"Deal!"
Orochimaru agreed immediately.
But he needed more White Zetsus as material.
Obito summoned the Gedo Statue, splitting a part from it.
If the Gedo Statue had consciousness, it would surely curse its fate.
According to their agreement, Orochimaru also gave half of the Seven-Tails' Chakra to Obito, and half of the Nine-Tails' Chakra from each of the three reanimated shinobi.
It seemed fair enough.
"Contact me when you're ready to start the ninja war. I won't interfere with your sealing of the Nine-Tails' Chakra," Orochimaru said.
After the transaction, Orochimaru's form burst into flames with a smile on his face, disappearing from the cave.
"Tsk!" Obito was annoyed.
To explain the issue of splitting the Gedo statue: it can indeed be divided.
In the original story, after Obito's death, the Divine Tree split into two halves.
It wasn't until Madara absorbed the complete Divine Tree that the Nine Tomoe Rinnegan appeared on his forehead.
Moreover, the split Divine Tree can become whole again after absorbing enough natural energy, though the process was extremely long.