Chapter 5: The Whereabouts of the Rinnegan
When Black and White Zetsu arrived, Su Xiao had already sensed them, but he didn't show it.
"Welcome back to the Akatsuki."
Black and White Zetsu moved between the trees, speaking first.
"Who's the leader now?"
Su Xiao kicked aside the cell clones that had multiplied into a large patch beside his foot.
"Hey, don't treat my spore clones like that..."
"Shut up."
Black Zetsu cut off White Zetsu's words.
"Obito is the leader."
"Obito? He's still using that identity?"
Su Xiao stepped forward toward Black and White Zetsu.
"Almost forgot, you're his collaborator. The current leader is Uchiha Madara."
Black Zetsu's thinking was clearly more flexible.
"Ah, is it really okay to expose Madara's identity so easily?"
White Zetsu seemed surprised, but in reality, he was helping Obito maintain his disguise.
"It's fine. Bai Ye already knew this secret."
Black Zetsu's single eye stared at Su Xiao. He and White Zetsu now shared a body.
Su Xiao quietly watched Black and White Zetsu perform their double act. Obito's Uchiha Madara identity would likely be maintained for a long time, until the real Madara appeared.
"Just in time, the Eight-Tails capture is complete. The other members have gathered and are discussing how to seal it."
Black and White Zetsu signaled for Su Xiao to follow. They were heading to the Akatsuki's new headquarters, established within the Land of Fire.
"Nagato is dead. His body's whereabouts are unknown. Without the Rinnegan, we can't summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, nor seal the Eight-Tails."
White Zetsu's tone carried some regret.
"Then what's the point of capturing the tailed beasts?"
Su Xiao knew exactly why Obito continued capturing tailed beasts. The answer was that Obito wanted to transplant the Rinnegan.
Although Obito had already retrieved his original eye, he still needed to transplant the Rinnegan. Without it, all subsequent plans would be meaningless.
Transplanting the Rinnegan required two conditions: first, possessing the Uchiha clan's bloodline limit, and second, having the Uzumaki clan's powerful life force. Only by having both could one use the Rinnegan without side effects.
Nagato had neither the Uchiha bloodline limit nor the Uzumaki clan's life force. He relied solely on the Uzumaki clan's strong vitality to barely endure, which ultimately left him in that emaciated state.
"Now, only one person knows the whereabouts of the Rinnegan: Konan. That woman has vanished without a trace."
Black Zetsu's tone was low. The plan's inability to proceed frustrated him greatly.
"What a coincidence. I saw Konan a day ago."
"What!"
Even Black Zetsu couldn't remain calm this time. Konan was now a critical link in the plan. Without sealing the nine tailed beasts into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to revive the Ten-Tails, everything was empty talk.
This so-called plan was somewhat complicated because it involved three people's schemes: Uchiha Obito, Uchiha Madara, and Black Zetsu.
Uchiha Obito, the lovesick fool, aimed to release the Infinite Tsukuyomi, trapping everyone in a world of illusion to create a world with Rin Nohara. This was the Moon Eye Plan.
Uchiha Madara's plan was also the Moon Eye Plan, aiming to create a world without war. He was using Obito, who was meant to be a sacrifice, offering himself to revive Madara.
Black Zetsu's plan was also the Moon Eye Plan, but his ultimate goal was to revive Kaguya Otsutsuki, his mother. Black Zetsu was using both Obito and Madara.
The three plans shared the same initial, middle, and late stages, differing only in their final phases.
The Rinnegan, the Ten-Tails, and the Moon Eye were the common points of all three plans.
Now the plan was stuck on the Rinnegan. No wonder Black Zetsu was anxious. He had been preparing for too long, and this was the best opportunity.
Interestingly enough, Su Xiao's main mission was also related to the Moon Eye Plan. His goal was to trigger the Great Ninja War. If Obito's side couldn't produce the Ten-Tails, the war would never break out.
"You saw Konan? Why didn't you bring her back?"
White Zetsu's tone carried a hint of accusation.
"That would be pointless."
"How could it be pointless..."
"Shut up!"
Black Zetsu barked. White Zetsu was indignant but obediently fell silent.
"That was the right choice. Bai Ye isn't skilled in genjutsu and doesn't have the Sharingan. He couldn't extract information from Konan. Not to mention her strength, even if Bai Ye subdued her, she would likely kill herself during the journey back."
Black Zetsu was clearly far more experienced than White Zetsu. He also understood that Su Xiao was not the type to be reasoned with. If White Zetsu kept questioning him, this man would draw his blade.
"Now, Konan's exact location can't be determined. To get the Rinnegan's whereabouts from her, only Uchiha Madara can handle it."
Su Xiao leaped between the trees, considering the future developments.
About three hours later, Su Xiao and Black and White Zetsu arrived at a barren grassland. Without any visible action from Black and White Zetsu, a large stone on the ground shifted sideways, revealing a dark hole with a stone staircase leading downward.
Seeing this entrance, Bubu Wang felt speechless. His expression seemed to say, "Even for an underground organization, do they have to build their base underground? It's too damp down here, and there are too many bugs."
Black and White Zetsu descended the stone stairs. Su Xiao glanced at Amu, who understood his meaning after a moment and stepped down first, with Su Xiao and Bubu Wang following closely.
Even though Su Xiao was now an Akatsuki member and had a cooperative relationship with Obito, he didn't fully trust Obito, just as Obito didn't fully trust him.
After going underground, Su Xiao found that this place had been built into an underground base with all basic facilities. Living here for several months would be no problem.
Boom!
An explosion came from deep within the base, the vibrations causing dust to fall from the ceiling.
"That Deidara guy is going to blow up the base sooner or later."
White Zetsu laughed.
The group gradually went deeper into the base. Just then, a red-haired girl wearing glasses walked toward them. Her cheeks were flushed, and she held a white shirt in her hands, giggling foolishly.
Hearing footsteps ahead, the red-haired girl instinctively looked up and met Su Xiao's gaze.
"Eep~"
The red-haired girl stumbled back three steps. The fujoshi expression on her face vanished, and her body stiffened.
Su Xiao brushed past her. After he walked away, the red-haired girl leaned weakly against the wall. Her name was Karin, now a member of the Hawk Team, meaning she was under Sasuke Uchiha's command.
Karin was terrified of Su Xiao, bone-deep terrified. She had nearly died at his hands several times and had been taken hostage by him multiple times. Those were her most unbearable memories, moments when she seriously believed she had reached the end of her life.
Not only that, but whenever Su Xiao was injured, he would use her healing ability—by biting her. And he always chose spots without existing bite marks: the side of her chest, her back shoulders, and other places. Even now, Su Xiao's bite marks remained on her.
Originally, Karin thought Su Xiao had died in Konoha. She had almost cried with joy. Now, he appeared before her, and his aura had changed. As a sensory-type ninja, Karin could naturally detect the shift in Su Xiao's aura.
If Su Xiao's aura had felt ferocious to Karin before, now it carried a faint scent of blood. Karin dared not imagine how many people he had killed to make his aura reek of blood.
This bloody aura was unavoidable for Su Xiao. It came from fighting in a war world. On a battlefield of hundreds of thousands, if he didn't kill enemies relentlessly, he would be the one dying.
"We're all Akatsuki members... it should be fine, right?"
Karin forced herself to be comforted and walked deeper into the base with a grim expression.
...
In the underground base's meeting room, around a square stone table.
Obito, wearing a spiral-patterned mask, sat at the head. Beside him were Black and White Zetsu, Deidara, and Kisame.
Su Xiao also sat at the stone table, his gaze meeting Obito's.
Obito clasped his hands together, elbows resting on the table.
"Congratulations on surviving against all odds. With your help, the plan will proceed much more smoothly."
Obito's tone carried a hint of amusement.
"Oh? How do you know I'll help you? The original leader was Nagato."
Su Xiao lit a cigarette. Though his eyes were on Obito, he was actually observing the expressions of the other three.
He ignored Black and White Zetsu. Kisame grinned, revealing a mouthful of shark-like teeth. Deidara was also smiling. Between Obito and Su Xiao, Deidara trusted Su Xiao more.
That was right—Deidara trusted Su Xiao more. Su Xiao, Sasori, and Deidara had once carried out a mission together: a frontal assault on Sunagakure to steal the One-Tail, followed by a clash with one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, and then engaging Konoha's pursuit squad. It was no exaggeration to say they had faced life and death together. And Obito? He had always been playing the fool as Tobi.
PS: (The late update today has a reason. Waste Mosquito wants to release four chapters. There will be another one soon.)