Pulsating with life force, the Senju cells became a connecting link, fusing Nagato's severed head with a new body. Under the cover of this gruesome operation, Black Zetsu and Uchiha Obito had once again woven their secret loophole into his flesh.
As blood began to flow through the vessels of his new body, Black Zetsu let out a soft, hissing sigh of relief. The main asset was saved.
—So that's what he was counting on when he went to Yue..." said Obito, looking doubtfully at the bulky helmet on Nagato's head and tapping it lightly with his knuckles.
"That's right,— Black Zetsu confirmed, and there was a heaviness in his voice. — An armor capable of accumulating a huge amount of energy and supporting the wearer's life. He thought that she would protect him from the Area of Dead Silence.
He paused. Zetsu knew Nagato's true strength, especially after his recent enhancement — Nagato was more powerful than ever. And what is the result? It seemed like nothing had happened since they found out that Nagato had gone on a suicide mission. And he came back... in the form of just a head. If it weren't for that helmet, there would be nothing left to save now.
Has Uchiha Yue achieved such power? Or was it because of the armor Nagato had given Orochimaru? The answer to this question could only be given by Nagato himself when he woke up.
"It's a good thing I kept Obito from this adventure," Black Zetsu thought, glancing sideways at his partner. "If we had lost his Kamui, it would have been over."
Obito's five-minute invulnerability looked impressive only on paper. If he had been in the epicenter of Yue's power, after that time he would have gone blind and died on the spot, even without the direct intervention of the enemy. And in five minutes, he probably wouldn't even have time to find Nagato.
— Nagato…
Konan silently bent over the operating table. The smell of burning, ingrained in her memory, finally dissipated, but that didn't make it any easier. She looked at Nagato's face, hidden under the bandages like a mummy, and blamed herself.
If only I had stopped him.…
He was so confident, so strong. And so… All that was left of him was his head. She shouldn't have believed him. Had Yue damaged not only his body but also his mind in that battle, depriving him of any sense of reality? And now his life depended on the White Zetsu, a unique creature whose flesh knew no rejection. Without him, Nagato would only be a severed head lying helplessly on the table.
"He should have calmed down now,— Obito muttered, moving away with Black Zetsu to a corner.
—I hope so,— he nodded. Differences were once again forgotten in the face of a common goal. — We are continuing according to the plan. The sealing technique will be ready soon. When Nagato wakes up, he will order Orochimaru to send the Second Hokage back to the Pure Lands. Your identity should remain a secret for now.
However, even if Tobirama had revealed Obito, so what? There was always an explanation. In his current situation, Nagato would have to believe them — he had no choice. At the very least, he could just let him die and find another way to resurrect Madara, saving the precious Rinnegans.
But Black Zetsu was dead tired of improvisations. It was because of these two's initiative that their plan almost collapsed, and the only pair of Rinnegans was almost lost forever. Enough. If Nagato can be saved, then he will live. It is better to move slowly, but follow the proven path. He might not survive another such force majeure.
—So, Mr. Second... will everything go smoothly?" Orochimaru hissed with anticipation in his voice.
"Don't doubt it," Tobirama Senju replied confidently. — Nagato, at her best, will face Yue and gain the upper hand. Our victory is a foregone conclusion!
Orochimaru caught the hidden meaning of the question. He wasn't so much interested in defeating Yue as in ensuring that the Sealing Armor would turn Nagato into their puppet.
And Tobirama was absolutely sure of it. Do not underestimate the genius of the Second Hokage.
He knew that even if Nagato got suspicious and took off his armor, it would be too late. His hidden techniques had already penetrated the host's body. The only way to get rid of control is to replace the entire body below the neck. But is it possible? It's absurd. Cutting off one's own head is suicidal. And the rejection reaction will sooner or later lead to a rebellion of the body against the mind, and the end will be swift and painful.
All that remained was to wait. To wait for Nagato to crush Uchiha Yue, become a deity in the eyes of the world, and for their Konoha to receive a super puppet of the divine level. And then the Leaf will come to a new greatness.
Unfortunately, Tobirama Senju miscalculated. Not in themselves and not in their invention — they worked flawlessly. Nagato failed. He turned out to be the weakest link that was crushed in an instant.
Who would have thought? After all, the owner of the legendary Rinnegan behaved as if the victory was in his pocket.
It was like an old parable: one hero wields divine power from myths, while the other wields power gained through sweat and blood, albeit with unusual mechanics. And so, the "divine" hero declares that he only has to understand the tactics of the enemy, and he will win. How can you not believe it? And then, having understood the tactics, he is beaten to death with his bare hands.
It's ridiculous. It's like hearing the news: "Your childhood hero was bitten to death by a street dog."
Meanwhile, in Konoha…
— How is the village? Naruto muttered to himself as he sat on the hospital bed. —And where did Sasuke go?"
The last few days have been strange. For some reason, he had been unconscious for several days. Granny Tsunade said it was because of poor nutrition. But Naruto felt it was something else.