Obito's voice changed!
Gone was the usual high-pitched, annoying tone, replaced by a commanding and resonant voice.
But what shocked the members even more was the respect shown to him by the leader, Pain, and the fact that he possessed the same three-tomoe Sharingan as Itachi.
"Tobi! You... you were an Uchiha all along?"
Deidara was stunned.
He had always liked this cute and clingy junior.
But now... it turned out he was an Uchiha!
As for who exactly he was, it didn't matter to Deidara at all; just having the iconic Sharingan of the Uchiha clan was enough.
Betrayal.
A deep sense of betrayal churned within him.
Sasori, Kakuzu, and Hidan were also very surprised.
However, the others remained calm.
After all, they were already aware of Obito's true "identity."
Obito spread his hands and said in a deep voice:
"Let me reintroduce myself..."
"I am Uchiha Madara..."
"I am the true leader behind the Akatsuki organization."
Upon hearing this, Kakuzu immediately shook his head, questioning:
"Madara? You say you're Madara? Hmph... do you take us for fools?"
Madara was a figure from a different era.
Kakuzu simply couldn't believe it.
There couldn't be anyone who had lived longer than him.
Sasori was equally skeptical:
"I've heard of that name. He was someone who stood alongside the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. You say you're Madara? What's your proof? I'm not convinced just by seeing a Sharingan..."
"Heh, in my battle with the First Hokage, I suffered severe injuries. The current me has no power; I'm just a shell of my former self," Obito chuckled softly and continued:
"I won't explain further now; one day, you'll all understand..."
"The reason I chose to reveal my identity now is that the time is ripe. Now... I'm ready to discuss my plan with you all, which is also the true purpose of the Akatsuki organization."
As he spoke, Obito pointed to the Gedo Statue.
"Before I talk about the plan, let me formally introduce this guy."
"Hmph!" Kakuzu snorted irritably:
"Isn't that just the leader Pain's summoned beast, the vessel for storing the tailed beasts' chakra? Once we collect all the tailed beasts, we'll use it as a weapon of war to conquer the world. We all know the Akatsuki's purpose well enough!"
Hearing this, Obito shook his head, "I said, what I'm about to reveal is the true purpose, which is..."
"To fill this shell of the Ten-Tails, which you refer to as the Gedo Statue, with the power of the nine tailed beasts. Then, to merge everything with me, and cast an illusion on the entire world..."
In the darkness, the Sharingan beneath Obito's mask glowed with an even more intense crimson light.
"Ten-Tails' shell? Cast an illusion on everything?"
"What on earth does that mean?"
The members were dumbfounded, as they had never heard of such bizarre terms before.
Obito continued:
"The Uchiha clan has a stone tablet that has been passed down through generations, and it is still hidden beneath Konoha. It contains secrets inscribed by the Sage of Six Paths, which can only be deciphered with ocular powers..."
"Sharingan, Mangekyō Sharingan, Rinnegan—each level unlocks more of the tablet's secrets."
"That's utter nonsense! You heretic!" Hidan sneered:
"The Sage of Six Paths and all that—it's just a bunch of fools' fairy tales meant to deceive the masses! Do you really think we'd believe such rumors?"
"Let me give you some advice—trusting in the Great Jashin is our true destiny! Long live Jashinism!!!"