"Cough, cough, cough—"
Inside the Kamui space, Nagato kept coughing as Black Zetsu examined him.
Uchiha Obito stood in silence at the side. Right now, Nagato was in no ordinary state of misery.
His entire body was drenched in blood, and the body that had once regained health now seemed utterly drained, reverting to a skin-and-bones husk.
"To actually lose so miserably?"
Obito muttered, though even he found the words hard to voice.
Casting a glance around, all was wreckage; traces of battle covered everything.
Even on the ground lay pools of blood, clear proof of how fierce the fighting here had been.
'Damn Kakashi, to actually have mastered that eye so well.'
Recalling the battle with Kakashi, Obito's fists tightened involuntarily.
That guy's use of his eye had even exceeded Obito's expectations. What was most critical was that the guy's ocular power was absurdly abundant!
'What the hell is going on with him?'
Obito couldn't make sense of it. He strongly suspected Kakashi had used Senju Hashirama's cells.
Or else—
'Back then, when he cut off my arm?'
Unconsciously, his gaze swept to his right hand. Just now he had clearly felt Kakashi intentionally targeting his right arm.
And with such a violent explosion happening just before, he understood he had been forced to break off the battle with Kakashi.
Yet the current Kakashi left him with no good options, so he could only give Kakashi the chance and slip away.
But his right hand—
'Could that really be the reason?'
Uchiha Obito dared not speak it aloud, knowing such thoughts were tantamount to aiding the enemy.
Fortunately, just then Black Zetsu straightened, and Obito set his thoughts aside to ask, "How is he?"
"Not particularly good."
Black Zetsu's expression was also somewhat grim. After pondering a moment, he finally spoke.
"Kitagawa Gen used some unknown method to inject a peculiar force into his body. That force is still continuing to attack Nagato."
"Still continuing to attack?"
Hearing this, Obito's expression darkened as well.
"How long will this last, could it be—"
"Relax, it won't."
Black Zetsu's tone was strange as he replied. Truthfully, he felt it was already unbelievable that Nagato was still alive now!
That force was extremely peculiar. He had no idea how Kitagawa Gen had done it, and even he himself had no means to deal with such a force.
It was just—
"Kitagawa Gen may not be fully skilled. After Nagato entered the Kamui space, that force had already weakened."
"Kamui space weakened that force?"
Obito was baffled; he couldn't grasp how that worked.
"Indeed…it weakened."
At this moment, Nagato, still utterly weakened, finally spoke.
His expression was full of agony, yet more than the pain in his body, what pained him most was Kitagawa Gen's words!
[I see no difference between you and the past.]
After three or four years, he had believed he could once again tread the path of the Sage.
He had believed that the only true enemy before him was Ōtsutsuki Genshiki!
Yet the result was that he had not even met Ōtsutsuki Genshiki before being casually defeated once again by Kitagawa Gen.
If he had lost at the hands of Ōtsutsuki Genshiki, perhaps he could still understand. But to lose to Kitagawa Gen…
That was something he truly could not comprehend, nor could he accept!
He was clearly the heir to the Sage of Six Paths, he clearly possessed the Rinnegan, so why was this the outcome in the end?
Lifting his head, he fixed a dead stare on Black Zetsu, his voice hoarse as he asked, "Why…is it like this? Why…did I lose to Kitagawa Gen? Why did it turn out this way?!"
Nagato's question left Obito silent. He understood the torment of constant failure, and he could not help but glance at Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu's expression turned unfocused. He had not expected Nagato, who had remained resolute even after being brutally beaten by Ōtsutsuki Genshiki, to finally break down like this.
Still, he could somewhat understand—and to him, this was also an opportunity.
"Obito, do you still remember the information on the Uchiha Stone Tablet?"
"Of course I remember."
Uchiha Obito nodded. Although his eyes were only Mangekyō and he could not see much, he had at least seen the Sage of Six Paths' worries about this world, and the alternative solution he had given.
That was what Obito had been fighting for. But bringing this up now, was it…
"You mean—"
Suddenly, Obito thought of something.
"The chapter about defeating the Goddess of the Rabbit?"
"That's right. Though not lengthy, it did indeed mention a person."
Black Zetsu nodded, making Obito frown and rub his chin, while Nagato's face was a mixture of pain and confusion.
"Who did it mention? What are you talking about?"
"This is an Uchiha secret. That person was the Sage of Six Paths' younger brother."
Obito explained impatiently. The tablet had mentioned it, but only in a single line.
The matter of defeating the 'Goddess of the Rabbit' was barely described, dismissed in just a few sentences.
And since this was something even an ordinary Sharingan could read, Obito had never bothered to think too much on it. But recalling it now—
"Could it be that back then it wasn't only the Sage of Six Paths who fought, but his younger brother as well? Just that the account was too brief, with hardly any details, so much so that it was just…"
"A legend?"
Black Zetsu glanced at Obito. He shook his head and said, "Can you still treat it as a mere legend now? And with Kitagawa Gen's potential and strength—doesn't that already explain everything?"
Black Zetsu's words silenced Obito.
Indeed, the appearance of that outrageous Ōtsutsuki Genshiki…
And this black creature had even said the Goddess of the Rabbit's surname was Ōtsutsuki.
Then, many things truly could no longer be treated as just legends!
"Kitagawa Gen inherited the Sage of Six Paths' younger brother's power?"
Nagato was the most agitated at this moment, like a drowning man clutching at a lifeline.
Ōtsutsuki Genshiki was a God—losing to him was no disgrace.
But repeatedly losing to Kitagawa Gen had truly shaken his faith, the sense of defeat beyond words!
Yet if Kitagawa Gen was also something extraordinary, then…
"Most likely, yes."
Black Zetsu nodded, speaking seriously.
"Otherwise, there is simply no way to explain why he is so strong. For a normal person, even one kekkei genkai is difficult to master—but him?"
"From what's known, he already has Ice Release, and even the kekkei tōta Dust Release, and Wood Release as well."
Obito seemed to sense the problem too, speaking with gravity.
"Not only that, he mastered Flying Thunder God in an extremely short time, and right after graduation he created Purple Lightning. This guy's talent is simply limitless."
"So…he might really be—no, he definitely is—"
Nagato murmured. Although there was still no definite proof, he already seemed convinced of this answer.
Only this answer could put his mind at ease, could allow his will to recover!
"For now, rest well. We will find the answer."
Black Zetsu glanced at Nagato, finally letting out a breath of relief, but then he noticed Obito giving him a signal.
So, after offering Nagato a word of comfort, he followed Obito to the side.
"What you said—is it true? That Kitagawa Gen really is…"
Once sure Nagato could not hear, Obito asked in disbelief, while Black Zetsu shook his head.
"Not certain, but highly possible. Since the Uchiha Stone Tablet mentioned it, perhaps the Senju relics also hold related information."
"Senju relics, huh…" Obito sighed. "How's your search?"
"Almost pinned down, but Konohagakure has been keeping a close watch lately. I'll have to be careful."
"Speed it up. And this time, Uchiha Itachi is dead."
"Hm?"
Black Zetsu froze. Uchiha Itachi…dead?
"Wasn't he no match for Uchiha Sasuke? What about the Seven-Tails?"
"We didn't capture the Seven-Tails, but we collected the chakra. As for Uchiha Itachi…"
At the mention of Uchiha Itachi, Obito's gaze turned gloomy.
"Who knows. Maybe he wanted to die himself. But dead is fine too—when Orochimaru resurrects him with Edo Tensei, it'll be all the more convenient!"
Obito knew full well that Uchiha Itachi had his own designs.
In the past, he might have regretted losing such a capable asset, but now—
his death was actually better!
"And also, investigate the matter of the Sage of Six Paths' younger brother."
Obito steadied his mood. Though they had suffered a crushing defeat, at least they had gained something.
Compared to being utterly routed before, this time wasn't so bad.
"I'll go gather the others. I leave the trouble to you."
"I understand."
Black Zetsu nodded helplessly. Watching Obito vanish, then glancing again at Nagato, who seemed to have regained confidence, he sighed.
'Looks like the Hyūga relics will need to be prepared too.'
Black Zetsu felt a headache coming on.
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