The Five Kage Summit came to a chaotic but "perfect" end amidst a flurry of noise and confusion.
Because of Uchiha Madara's insane "Superstate Unification Plan," the various village leaders rushed home the moment the meeting concluded.
Only Namikaze Minato and Yahiko remained behind, enjoying a pleasant conversation and staying an extra day.
That same day, Obito went to meet Madara.
Thanks to the massive new influx of funds, the Akatsuki headquarters had been completely renovated, despite Kakuzu's repeated objections. Under everyone else's insistence, it had been rebuilt, now shining grandly and magnificently, no less impressive than the Roran branch of Akatsuki.
Only one part was left untouched, the slightly old and narrow corridor on the second floor.
Because this place had witnessed many stories. Because this place was the part of Akatsuki headquarters closest to the falling rain, where one could hear it most clearly.
At that moment, Madara was leaning against the railing, head slightly lifted, gazing toward the Land of Rain and its endlessly falling, inexhaustible rain.
Obito slowly walked up behind him.
Madara stirred slightly, but without turning, spoke directly, "Obito, tell me, when do you think the rain of the Land of Rain will ever stop falling?"
Obito sighed, "If the rain in the Land of Rain stopped, then it wouldn't be the Land of Rain anymore. Perhaps… it will never stop."
Madara said, "Some people say this rain represents the country's tears. What do you think?"
Obito shook his head, "That's only because their lives are filled with suffering, so they see sadness in everything. If life became happy, then this wouldn't be weeping. It would be a gift of nature instead."
"After all, rain nourishes all things. There might even be travelers who come just to watch the rain."
Madara said, "Unfortunately, I might never live to see that day. I can only build the framework, what comes after, I leave to you."
Obito fell silent in thought, "You don't have to die. I have a way now to use Rinne Tensei to bring you back, with very little cost. That was your plan in your previous life, wasn't it?"
Madara replied, "Do you think living the same dull, repetitive life over and over again is a happy thing?"
"I once pitied Hashirama, for dying young because of me, for missing so many beautiful sights."
"But now, I suddenly feel he was the happier one. Life is beautiful because it's short. In his limited time, he already lived brilliantly enough."
"So, if I die, I've decided, I won't come back. Obito, I'll say it again: only if the ninja world faces a great crisis, when life and death hang in the balance, and if I can still be of use, then you can bring me back."
Obito smiled faintly, "Madara, if anyone else heard you say that, pretending to be some kind of guardian spirit of the ninja world, they'd think you were joking."
"Unfortunately, even if you're confident in your own strength, the future world will only be stronger than now. Once you die, odds are… you'll never be revived."
Madara said, "Is that so?"
"Then I'm actually glad. If the whole ninja world becomes as you plan, if one day everyone reaches my level, then Hashirama and I will only laugh together freely in the Pure Land."
He paused for a moment, "This should be my last plan. Make sure you don't mess it up. Consider it the one thing you'll ever truly do for me, out of all our rare moments of friendship."
Obito didn't answer. He would have done it anyway. Instead, he changed the topic, "So, where do you plan to die?"
Madara said, "I haven't decided. Maybe I'll find some deserted place and die quietly. Or maybe I'll die right here. Or perhaps… I'll go back to Konoha, to the Uchiha clan grounds, return my soul to my homeland."
"Anyway, with your ability, finding my body won't be difficult."
Obito nodded and said nothing more. He just stepped beside Madara, leaned on the railing as well, and the two of them watched the rain together.
It wasn't until a long time later that Madara suddenly said, "The mixing of Indra's and Asura's chakra is the condition for awakening the Rinnegan, but perhaps… it isn't the only condition."
Obito blinked in surprise, "Madara, why bring that up now?"
Madara said, "You haven't truly reached the so-called Six Paths level yet. You say you have that level of power, but to ensure nothing goes wrong, you'd better truly achieve it."
Obito became intrigued, "So, you're trying to guide me, to awaken the Rinnegan? How?"
Madara said, "Indra and Asura are only descendants of the Sage of Six Paths. And the Sage himself was a descendant of Otsutsuki Kaguya. If the descendants could awaken that power, then naturally the ancestor could as well."
"You still have two Black Zetsu, don't you?"
"Since you said before that Black Zetsu, to some degree, represents the will, or even the body, of Kaguya Otsutsuki, then just as I fused with Hashirama's cells, you could try fusing with Black Zetsu."
"That might be an even more direct path than Indra and Asura's."
Obito said calmly, "Actually, I already suspected as much from the data Orochimaru gave me. I just never felt the need to take that step."
Madara said, "If a man has no long-term worries, he'll have near-term ones. You think you're invincible in this world, but what about beyond this world? If there are enemies outside it?"
"I advise you to prepare early. Otherwise, if the world is destroyed, you'll regret it too late."
Obito found Madara's words quite reasonable, "It's true. I haven't spoken to Black Zetsu in a long time. When I go back this time, I'll… have a talk with them."
Madara continued to stare at the rain, "Go. There's no need to waste any more time on an old man like me."
Obito thought for a moment, then raised his hand, and erased himself from reality.
Madara watched as Obito's figure vanished, and murmured softly, "The power of a god, is it?"
———
In the Kamui space, Obito appeared before the two Black Zetsu who had been imprisoned there for a long time.
Unfortunately, those two pitch-black lumps weren't human, they couldn't starve to death. Otherwise, Obito could've used them to test his theory about whether someone could starve in the Kamui dimension.
The two Black Zetsu saw Obito appear and immediately started cursing him, "You despicable, shameless bastard! Let us out right now!"
"That's right! You think you're invincible now, completely safe? I'll tell you, if Mother's worries ever come true one day, lowly creatures like you will only be waiting to be slaughtered!"
Obito smiled faintly, "And what if I am a lowly creature? So what?"
"Didn't I still manage to capture you both?"
"What your mother fears… must be the arrival of the Otsutsuki clan, right?"
The two Black Zetsu started shouting again, "Good that you know! Though Mother's strength is unmatched, those clansmen of hers are not to be underestimated. Otherwise, she wouldn't have wanted to create weapons of war."
"That's right! At least we are part of the ninja world. At least we are part of the history Mother created. But those other Otsutsuki, they won't see it that way."
Obito said, "Indeed. That's a serious problem. I should take precautions."
"So I've thought of a great solution. Since you two are lonely in the Kamui space anyway… why don't we just become one? I'll carry out your mother's dream for her!"
Both Black Zetsu gasped in horror. Before they could react, Obito's hand reached out and grabbed them both.
They let out terrified cries, "No! Don't!"
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.