"Ahhh—!"
Nagato crashed to the ground, blood gushing from his lower body as a scream of agony tore from his throat.
Already gravely wounded, his injuries only worsened. Without immediate treatment, he would bleed to death.
But in truth, bleeding out was a luxury.
The greater likelihood was that he would die before that could even happen.
Whoosh!
The green spear dissolved mid-flight, breaking apart into nine Truth-Seeking Orbs that drifted back to Uchiha Fugaku's side.
Controlling one of them, Fugaku directed it toward the battered Nagato, aiming to deliver the final blow.
But then—
Vmmm—
Beside Nagato, space twisted. A black vortex bloomed open, and from it, a hand shot out, yanking Nagato into the void.
Before the Truth-Seeking Orb struck, Nagato's body disappeared into the swirling darkness.
It was clearly Kamui—Uchiha Obito had intervened to pull Nagato away.
The moment Black Zetsu realized Fugaku could wield Truth-Seeking Orbs and possessed Six Paths–level power, he knew they were hopelessly outmatched. He immediately ordered Obito to retreat.
And with Obito's Kamui, retreat was always possible.
Whoosh!
Fugaku flickered into the spot where Nagato had vanished.
"You think you can escape like last time?"
He sneered, but his face betrayed no anger at Nagato's rescue.
Because even if Obito saved Nagato, Nagato wouldn't live.
Fugaku crouched, dipped a finger into Nagato's spilled blood, and licked it.
Then, smearing blood across the ground with his foot, he drew a strange circular sigil.
Standing inside the circle, his body shimmered with alternating streaks of black and white.
Shhk!
Drawing a kunai, Fugaku plunged it straight into his own chest, piercing his heart.
This was Hidan's Cursed Jutsu—a ritual that linked one's body to the victim through blood, transferring all fatal damage.
That was why Fugaku knew Nagato wouldn't survive.
Inside Kamui's pocket dimension, Obito regrouped with Black Zetsu and Konan, dragging the critically injured Nagato toward their next hidden base—one they had prepared long in advance.
Suddenly—
Nagato convulsed. A deep, jagged wound tore open across his chest, blood gushing uncontrollably.
Clutching his chest, his pale lips trembled.
"It's… Hidan's curse… Fugaku copied… Hidan's ability…"
"Nagato!"
Konan rushed to his side, pouring healing chakra into him. But no matter what she did, the wound refused to close.
"He won't survive!"
Black Zetsu and Obito exchanged a grim look. Nagato's death was certain. All that remained was to make use of him while they could.
Their minds reached the same conclusion.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Obito suddenly ensnared Konan with wooden bindings, dragging her away from Nagato.
Meanwhile, Black Zetsu split from White Zetsu's body and burrowed into Nagato, seizing control of his dying form.
"Rinne Rebirth!"
Under Black Zetsu's control, Nagato first summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path back—then, at the cost of his very life, unleashed the ultimate Rinnegan technique.
Light burst from Nagato's body, piercing Kamui's dimension and sinking into a coffin outside.
Nagato slumped lifelessly. His breath ceased.
"Nagato… why? Why would you make him do this?"
Konan, bound in vines, screamed in fury at Obito and Zetsu.
"He was dying anyway. At least in his final moments, he served a purpose."
Black Zetsu pulled free from Nagato's corpse, fusing back with White Zetsu.
"I'll kill you both!"
Konan's body exploded into countless sheets of paper, shredding through her bindings and reforming.
Her gaze burned with hatred.
Shhhk! Shhhk! Shhhk!
Thousands of paper blades swarmed toward Obito and Zetsu.
"It seems our partnership ends here."
Their eyes went cold. By forcing Nagato to use Rinne Rebirth, they had shattered any hope of Konan's cooperation. She was now their enemy.
"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!"
Wooden barricades erupted from the ground, shielding against her paper storm.
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
Obito followed with a torrent of fire, incinerating her attacks.
Together, they charged.
Shhk!
In moments, overwhelmed by their combined might, Konan's body was skewered by Obito's wooden spikes.
Blood poured from her wounds as she collapsed, crawling weakly toward Nagato's corpse. Her hand brushed against him—then stilled forever.
"A pity. Two of our members gone in one night."
Obito glanced at the bodies before gouging the Rinnegan from Nagato's lifeless eyes.
"They were only tools. Nothing to mourn. Now, to the next base. He should already be revived."
Zetsu's voice was matter-of-fact.
Obito nodded, warping space with Kamui once more.
Outside, the coffin trembled.
With a heavy creak, the lid slid open, and a hand reached out.
A tall, black-haired man sat up inside. His crimson armor gleamed, and even without eyes, his presence radiated a crushing, imperial pressure that could freeze even the strongest shinobi.
It was none other than Uchiha Madara.
At the last moment, Black Zetsu had forced Nagato to cast Rinne Rebirth—restoring Madara to life.
Vmmm—
A black vortex appeared. Obito and Zetsu emerged, stepping before the legendary figure.
Madara turned his hollow gaze toward them, pinpointing their presence with uncanny precision.
"You've revived me. Does this mean the plan is at its end?"
"No," Black Zetsu replied. "The plan has hit an obstacle. A man strong enough to disrupt everything has appeared. Just now, Nagato fell to him."
"A man strong enough to upset the plan? Who?"
Madara's voice rumbled like thunder.
"The current head of the Uchiha clan—Uchiha Fugaku."
"That talentless boy?"
Madara's brow furrowed. He remembered examining Fugaku in life and finding him unremarkable. Certainly no worthy piece on the board.
Yet now… this same man had become a threat to his grand design.
"We were all deceived. He awakened the Mangekyō long ago, but hid it. Years later, when the time was right, he struck—seizing the Hokage's seat."
"Hiding his power until the moment came? A cunning child indeed… But can a pair of Mangekyō truly disrupt the plan?"
Madara's tone was sharp with disdain.
"That's no ordinary Mangekyō," Black Zetsu said darkly. "From the moment of awakening, they were Eternal."
Madara's eyes widened slightly.
"Awakened directly as Eternal Mangekyō… That bloodline rivals Indra himself."
"More than that," Obito added. "Fugaku has shown power beyond the Kage level—he's likely reached the Six Paths."
"Six Paths–level?"
For the first time, Madara's cold face flickered with genuine surprise.
It had taken him Hashirama's cells and decades of preparation to reach that height. And yet Fugaku had done the same.
"Has he awakened the Rinnegan as I did?"
"No. Not the Rinnegan. But another eye—equal to it."
Madara was silent a long moment. Then he chuckled.
"An unexpected challenger… So be it. Bring me to this boy."
Obito stepped forward, handing Madara Nagato's freshly taken Rinnegan. With precise medical ninjutsu, Madara implanted them, nerves weaving seamlessly into place.
"Let's go," he commanded.
Vmmm—
A swirling vortex opened once more. Madara, Obito, and Zetsu stepped inside, returning to the White Zetsu base.