Chapter 72: High Risk X High Reward
“Join forces?” Obito was puzzled, then asked, “What benefit do I get from joining forces with you?”
Although Orochimaru’s intentions were unclear, the current situation was that the Akatsuki organization was internally depleted and indeed in urgent need of manpower. Unfortunately, Obito did not welcome spies like Kabuto.
“Soon you will go to war with the Five Great Ninja Villages, and I can provide you with combat strength. These four are all experts; you surely won’t refuse them. And… I have other pieces on the board.”
Orochimaru’s words somewhat swayed Obito. The truth was exactly that—setting aside everything else, just these four joining the war would significantly alter the war’s landscape.
“What reward do you want?”
“Uchiha… Sasuke.”
Orochimaru answered almost without thinking.
“…”
“…”
Both sides fell silent. On the cliff wall, Su Xiao stretched lazily. This matter was practically settled, and what was about to happen would prevent Obito from continuing to act smug in front of him.
“What is your goal?”
Obito’s voice was low. Sasuke was also important to him; the other’s Sharingan could evolve into the Eternal Mangekyō.
“No particular goal. My interest lies in the truth of ninjutsu. Ninjas only care whether a technique is powerful; I care about its composition, principles, origins, how it operates, why it can operate that way, and so on.
For that, I need Sasuke—that young and emotionally sensitive Uchiha, the only surviving member of the Uchiha clan.”
Orochimaru was clearly coveting the secrets of the Uchiha clan—all of them.
“I refuse!”
Obito saw through Kabuto’s thoughts, and he sensed something off in Kabuto’s tone. The phrase “the only surviving Uchiha clan member” bothered him greatly.
“Refuse?”
Orochimaru looked at Obito with a half-smile.
“What a… pity.”
Orochimaru clasped his hands together, and another coffin rose from the ground.
“I’ll give you one last chance.”
He extended his long tongue and licked his lips.
“Give me a chance?”
Killing intent surged in Obito’s single eye, but he vaguely sensed something was wrong.
At that moment, the newly risen coffin opened. It stood upright on the ground, directly facing Obito.
With a loud crash, the coffin lid slammed onto the ground, stirring up dust. A corpse stood inside the coffin, its eyes tightly shut.
Seeing this corpse, Obito’s pupils sharply contracted.
“So, ‘Uchiha Madara’ sir, what is your answer this time?”
Orochimaru looked at Obito with a full smile, then glanced up at Su Xiao.
“Mr. White Night is not easy to deal with. You must have claimed to be Uchiha Madara to him, right?”
Perched on the rock wall, Su Xiao witnessed the scene below. Inside the coffin stood a man with pitch-black hair, his shoulders and upper body bound in light red armor. Though he stood there with eyes closed, he exuded a powerful sense of oppression. This was… Uchiha Madara himself!
Su Xiao had actually known this would happen all along. Orochimaru’s defection was also within expectations.
“This… this is…”
Obito lost his composure for the first time.
“Did you think I came to see you unprepared? That’s right—you cannot refuse.”
Orochimaru’s move had effectively checkmated Obito, hitting his fatal weakness.
Currently, Obito was using Madara’s identity to “swindle and bluff.” Without this identity, even if he could complete his plan, it would be an uphill battle.
Setting aside everything else, just the people within the Akatsuki would be enough trouble. He wasn’t Madara? Then who was he? You’d better explain clearly, or they’d kill you.
Don’t think this is absurd—it was a real possibility.
“You bastard, where did you get this?”
Obito stared at Madara’s corpse. Forget the threat this posed to his identity—if Kabuto actually activated the Impure World Reincarnation, Uchiha Madara’s combat power…
Thinking this, Obito sighed inwardly.
“It’s a long story. Rest assured, I won’t leak this matter. But what about that one? He’s not easy to talk to.”
Orochimaru tilted his head.
“Ha, haha.”
Obito suddenly laughed. The smile on Orochimaru’s face gradually faded.
“Kabuto, you don’t understand me, and you don’t understand White Night. I’ve cooperated with him too many times—far more than with other Akatsuki members. With his observational skills, he actually discovered long ago that I’m not Uchiha Madara.”
Obito looked at Orochimaru with murderous intent. Orochimaru looked up at Su Xiao again. Su Xiao still sat there, his expression unchanged.
Obito gestured to Su Xiao. Su Xiao nodded slightly. This time, Obito was relieved. He had actually long suspected that Su Xiao would doubt his identity, just as he said—they had cooperated too many times.
Arranging the battle between Sasuke and Itachi, guiding Sasuke toward darkness, the Five Kage Summit, the subsequent pursuit of the Kage, handling Danzo’s death, attacking the Hidden Stone Village, and so on.
“Impure World Reincarnation has a weakness: if the caster is killed, the technique collapses on its own. Although holding off Uchiha Madara, Nagato, Itachi, and the other six might kill me, before that happens, you might already be dead at White Night’s hands. Don’t forget, I’m skilled in space-time ninjutsu, and he excels in swordsmanship. I can help him close in on you quickly. Then, the one who dies will definitely be you.”
Obito raised his left arm and grabbed his mask.
Seeing this, Orochimaru frowned.
“In war, I have the ability to summon an army of Impure World Reincarnation.”
Hearing this, Obito’s hand paused before the mask.
“Kabuto.” Obito lowered his hand and continued, “I never thought you would grow to this extent. Fighting you now would only uselessly weaken our side’s strength…”
He paused for a moment.
“So you chose to come here now, taking advantage of the Akatsuki’s internal weakness. Truly a well-prepared fellow.”
Obito’s tone made a sharp turn.
“So that means?”
Orochimaru began to lose track of what these people in the Akatsuki were thinking.
“Fine, I’ll join forces with you.”
Obito’s attitude made a 180-degree turn. Earlier, he wanted to kill Kabuto, and now he was cooperating with him.
“But Sasuke cannot be handed over to you now. It has to wait until after the war.”
“Truly a reasonable person.”
Orochimaru readily agreed.
“As expected of Uchiha Madara—your caliber is truly different.”
This statement might have been harmless before, but now it carried a hint of mockery.
Thus, Orochimaru successfully joined the Akatsuki. This meant the Ninja World War was about to begin—much sooner than expected. It might start within ten days at most.
Orochimaru and Obito walked into the underground base. A bat flew toward Su Xiao. He grabbed it, and an alchemical array flashed. The bat was rapidly decomposed into broken materials, which soon turned into white powder, slipping through Su Xiao’s fingertips.
“Finally lured Kabuto into joining. This should be a great boost for you, Obito.”
If following the original plot’s timeline, Kabuto would only approach Obito at least a month later. Orochimaru was drawn in by Su Xiao.
As for how to find Kabuto, it was simple. Su Xiao and Obito had handled Itachi’s funeral arrangements. Su Xiao knew exactly where the body was buried. He set up surveillance equipment there, and Kabuto, the grave robber, would come looking on his own.
Su Xiao was no longer worried about the main mission. Now, even if the Five Great Ninja Villages didn’t want war, Obito, with Orochimaru’s assistance, wouldn’t agree. Instead, he could catch the Five Great Ninja Villages off guard.
Konan’s whereabouts had been found, meaning finding the Rinnegan was not far off. With sufficient forces on his side, if Obito didn’t start the war now, he might as well go find a piece of tofu to smash his head against.
Moreover, whether Obito could defeat the Five Great Ninja Villages in war wasn’t really important. He only needed to be able to confront them head-on. The final Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was the key.
With the main mission resolved, Su Xiao now needed to focus on the hunt mission. That outsider was far too slippery.
Once the hunt mission was completed, Su Xiao could freely operate in the Naruto world, even participating in the Ninja World War. That was a golden opportunity to reap benefits.
With the main mission and hunt mission completed, as long as he wasn’t in combat, Su Xiao could leave the Naruto world at any time.
Although the Ninja World War was only eligible for fourth-rank contractors, with the safety net of returning to Reincarnation Paradise, the Ninja World War wasn’t impossible to attempt.
On the battlefield, it could be said that Jonin were as common as dogs, Kage-level fighters were everywhere, and only Super Kage-level could make a move—and even then, they might get killed by Six Paths-level beings.
Su Xiao had never considered Six Paths-level, but if he had the chance to kill a Super Kage-level powerhouse, a Legendary Chest would be within reach.