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Sasuke raised his eyes to Obito, his voice heavy. "What exactly do you want me to do?!"
"Hmph, so you've finally softened up?"
Under the mask, Obito's expression eased slightly. He sat down nearby and spoke with a mix of firmness and gentleness. "Well, as a fellow Uchiha survivor, I don't want to force you. I simply hope we can continue to work together for mutual benefit."
Sasuke's gaze sharpened. "Mutual benefit?"
Obito explained, "Your goal is to take revenge on Konoha for driving the Uchiha into despair and to restore the clan's glory. My goal is to gather the power of all the Tailed Beasts and declare war on the entire world."
Sasuke's eyes darkened.
Obito continued, "But on your own, you can't take revenge on Konoha. You should have realized that after fighting me, right?"
"I, Uchiha Madara, have long passed my prime. What you see now is nothing more than an empty shell. Even at my peak, I was defeated by the founder of Konoha, Hashirama Senju."
Sasuke responded, "Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, is already dead!"
"But the will and power of the Senju era have been passed down!" Obito's gaze deepened. "Sasuke, how much do you really know about Konoha?"
Sasuke fell into thought.
Obito said, "Sasuke, you previously compared yourself to Nagato to gauge your chances of attacking Konoha. Let me be clear: even if Naruto doesn't intervene, Nagato still wouldn't have been able to challenge the entirety of Konoha!"
"Sure, if Nagato had insisted on a deathmatch with Konoha, the village might have suffered greater casualties than it did. But in the end, Nagato would have been defeated—even without Naruto showing up."
"So, if you lead Taka to attack Konoha, it'll be nothing more than a path to destruction!"
Sasuke gripped the edge of the stone chair tightly, his eyes filled with frustration.
Obito shifted his tone. "But if Akatsuki assists you, the outcome will be different."
"Hmph." Sasuke suddenly laughed.
Obito frowned. "What are you laughing at?"
Sasuke replied coldly, "You belittle yourself while praising Konoha to the skies. What makes Akatsuki so special? Aside from you, it's just a bunch of white creatures!"
White Zetsu protested, "Hey, hey, Sasuke, there's a limit to underestimating us, you know?"
Obito stared deeply at Sasuke. "Fine, it's time for you to see Akatsuki's true strength."
Sasuke's eyes flickered. "True strength?"
"Come with me." Obito stood and gestured.
Sasuke hesitated but followed.
When they reached the depths of the hideout, Sasuke's eyes widened as he beheld the overwhelming numbers of White Zetsu clones. "What is this?!"
Obito replied solemnly, "Did you think Akatsuki's collection of Tailed Beasts was just a game? Using the chakra of the Tailed Beasts gathered so far and the Gedo Statue as a catalyst, I've cultivated the White Zetsu—those 'white creatures' you mentioned. Their total number is approximately 100,000."
Sasuke was stunned. "100,000?!"
White Zetsu added, "That's more than the total number of ninja capable of fighting on the current battlefield~. By the way, our individual combat ability ranges from Chūnin to Jōnin level. The best of us even reach Kage level~. We're also more versatile than ninja, making us ideal for large-scale warfare~."
Obito continued where White Zetsu left off. "I originally intended to use them as the foundation for declaring war on the ninja world. But since the Five Great Nations failed to unite during the Five Kage Summit, and since I've already captured the Eight-Tails, there's no need to create unnecessary enemies."
"Sasuke, I can provide these 100,000 White Zetsu as reinforcements for your attack on Konoha."
Sasuke's eyes gleamed. "Naruto has already betrayed Konoha. If you're willing to help me declare war on Konoha, what do you gain from it? Wouldn't it be more straightforward to just declare war on Naruto?"
Obito saw through the situation clearly. "Naruto has mastered the Fourth Hokage's Flying Raijin Jutsu. His movements are unpredictable. Without leverage to tie him down, it's impossible to confront him directly."
Sasuke turned his gaze toward Obito. "So Konoha is that leverage?"
Obito smirked. "Naruto told you himself, didn't he? If you attack Konoha, he'll stop you. That way, we can draw him out and trap him, giving us a chance to confront him directly."
Sasuke withdrew his gaze, his hands clenching into fists. "And after your so-called confrontation? How will the spoils be divided?"
Obito replied, "Naruto is ours to deal with. You focus on your revenge. Of course, the White Zetsu army will continue to assist you."
Sasuke's expression darkened, and he remained silent.
"Hmph, Sasuke, are you hesitating because you can't bear to see the only person who considers you a friend being used like this? Or is it simply that you don't trust me?"
Obito, unfazed, continued, "Well, there's no need to overthink it. From a practical standpoint, your large-scale attack on Konoha will also distract Naruto and increase our chances of success. Our interests remain aligned. The decision is yours."
He and White Zetsu waited quietly for Sasuke's response.
Finally, Uchiha Sasuke closed his eyes.
Familiar faces flashed through his mind—former comrades, village elders, his clan, his parents, and Naruto. But in the end, his thoughts settled on Itachi's smile before his death.
The flames of vengeance consumed everything else.
Snap!
Sasuke's eyes snapped open, revealing the cold brilliance of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
He declared resolutely, "I will have my revenge on Konoha!"
"Hmph, as expected, hope is an illusion. No one can escape the cycle of hatred. The Infinite Tsukuyomi is the only way to elevate this world."
Obito's lips curled into a smile. "Very well. Akatsuki will fully support your actions. This war isn't Akatsuki versus the entire ninja world—it's Akatsuki versus Konoha. The outcome was decided from the start!"
"Hm?" White Zetsu's expression shifted slightly.
Obito asked, "What is it?"
White Zetsu replied, "A unit stationed at an abandoned outpost just sent a message. Jūgo and Suigetsu have arrived there to rendezvous with Sasuke."
After a moment of thought, Obito said, "Those two still have their uses. Bring them here."
About half an hour later, Jūgo and Suigetsu, guided by White Zetsu, arrived at Akatsuki's new hideout.
Upon seeing Sasuke, Suigetsu began complaining bitterly about what he and Jūgo had endured since their separation in the Land of Iron.
Sasuke sat on the stone chair, listening indifferently. Only when Suigetsu mentioned something critical did his gaze flicker. "You said you and Naruto participated in an attack on Kumogakure? And he took you to Amegakure afterward?"
Swoosh! Obito appeared in front of Jūgo.
"Don't move!"
Under his mask, Obito's Sharingan gleamed with the light of genjutsu, immobilizing Jūgo.
Obito then pulled back Jūgo's clothing, revealing Flying Raijin markings on both his shoulders.
"Hmph."
With a cold snort, Obito mercilessly grabbed Jūgo's arms and tore them off!
"Argh!!!" The excruciating pain snapped Jūgo out of the genjutsu. He collapsed to the ground, blood and sweat pooling beneath him.
Swoosh!
Using Kamui, Obito sent Jūgo's severed arms into his right eye's dimension.
"Stop the bleeding," Obito said coldly before turning away.
Even Suigetsu couldn't stay silent. He shouted at Sasuke, "Hey!! Sasuke!! Are you just going to stand there and let him treat one of your people like this without saying a word?!"
Sasuke's gaze remained downcast, and he said nothing.
"Huff, huff, huff... No matter," Jūgo gritted his teeth, enduring the pain as Suigetsu helped him up. He looked at Sasuke and said, "Sasuke, Naruto asked me to deliver a message to you."
Supporting his chin with his hand, Sasuke's eyes flickered. "What did he say?"
Jūgo replied, "He said that Danzō is no longer in Konoha. He's gone to Orochimaru's hideout, seeking a comeback. You'd better strike first. I think that's the right call."
Sasuke clenched his fists tightly, his cold gaze fixed straight ahead. "My revenge doesn't need his meddling! No matter how much Danzō relies on external forces—pathetically, absurdly, or pitifully—trying to grasp at the power of the Uchiha, my hatred will utterly consume him!"
"As for Naruto..."
Sasuke's gaze faltered slightly, a flicker of an unreadable emotion crossing his eyes.
"He can barely protect himself. He'd better pray for his own survival."