No one made a move.
The Akatsuki couldn't locate Obito Uchiha's whereabouts, and it was making them hesitate. Even Black Zetsu was unsettled, worried that Obito might suddenly appear as the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki at any moment. Only Shirou and Madara remained calm.
"Ha…" Madara was surprisingly easygoing about the situation. "Even though I'd like to experience the Ten-Tails' power myself, the success of the Eye of the Moon Plan is more important. If we can't stop Obito, and that kid actually manages to bring about the eternal peace we all wanted, that's fine too. It's not really a loss for us…"
As for Shirou, he was the mastermind behind everything.
The Akatsuki just happened to have someone willing to do the dirty work for him. Kabuto, who had handed over the corpses of the Gold and Silver Brothers to Orochimaru, never expected they would become such a huge problem.
Shirou's plan was even simpler: he was only allowing Obito to become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki to gain more power from the situation.
For the past few years, ever since completing the "Child of Destiny" quest that Jiraiya had revealed, Shirou hadn't received any other high-value missions.
"Lord Shirou…" Kabuto asked cautiously, "I assume Obito Uchiha becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki was always part of your plan. It won't threaten your true objectives, will it?"
"How could it be a threat?" Shirou said, toying with a black orb in his hand as he quietly explained its power. "This is a Truth-Seeking Ball—the ultimate combination of all seven chakra natures. In theory, it can erase every type of ninjutsu in this world…"
"This…" Kabuto breathed. So it was basically the bane of all ninjutsu.
"This power can only be wielded by the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki or someone blessed with the Sage of Six Paths' chakra," Shirou continued. "But even then, they can only create nine of these balls after reaching that level of power. Every time they use one, it vanishes, and they never truly grasp what the balls really are…"
"But…" Shirou made the ball disappear from his hand with a flick. "The ones I create are unlimited."
"…"
Kabuto lowered his head respectfully. The gap in their power was ridiculously huge.
"However," Shirou added, "the real enemy we'll eventually face also has power like mine—and she might not be any weaker…"
"!!!"
Kabuto's pupils shrank.
"Just wait for it," Shirou said, tapping his wheelchair thoughtfully. "She'll appear soon enough. Before I truly confront her, all we can do is make every possible preparation…"
Although Kaguya Otsutsuki hadn't made much of an impression in Shirou's memories from his past life, this wasn't a manga world.
To him, Kaguya was still a great mystery—a truly immortal, deathless god.
"Actually…" Kabuto began, sensing Shirou's concerns but unable to help. He decided to change the subject. "I am a bit curious. Orochimaru still seems to be assisting Obito with complete devotion…"
Yes, that was pretty odd.
Part of it was due to Shirou's own manipulation, but even considering how dangerous Orochimaru was, his loyalty to Obito was completely out of character.
"For him, immortality comes first," Shirou mused, though he didn't assume his guesses were entirely correct. "Aside from that, he probably just wants to be the wind that turns the windmill, and right now, Obito is the windmill he's spinning…"
There was one more thing.
Obito was constantly bringing Orochimaru new and interesting things to study. Whether it was the Eye of the Moon Plan or the secrets of the Rinnegan and the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, it was all fascinating material for him.
Of course, Orochimaru might have another idea…
He had probably considered using his possession jutsu to take Obito's body. Obito was always pushing himself to grow stronger, and Orochimaru kept encouraging it—perhaps he was planning to snatch the body right when Obito reached his peak.
Yeah… Orochimaru could definitely pull something like that. He was clever but had no realistic gauge of his own power and didn't truly understand what it meant to wield the might of the Ten-Tails.
Inside Kamui's dimension, Orochimaru was plotting exactly that.
Anyone with a possession jutsu would look at Obito's Kamui Mangekyo and Rinnegan and be unable to suppress their greed.
As soon as Obito becomes the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki… Orochimaru thought, gazing affectionately at Obito.
He had waited far too long for this moment.
That will be the day I reap the rewards of my years of effort…
Of course, Orochimaru hadn't forgotten about Sasuke.
After Sasuke awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan, Orochimaru had transplanted Itachi's eyes into him, granting him Itachi's ocular power and awakening the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
This is… just too hard to choose… Orochimaru thought, looking between Obito and Sasuke, full of longing. He'd never felt so happy. Both Uchihas were containers he desperately wanted.
"…"
Obito noticed Orochimaru's greedy gaze but didn't care. He simply issued his commands.
"Get ready. The Ten-Tails' power is hard to control. It can't be revived here in the Kamui dimension. The amount of Nine-Tails chakra we have is too small, so there could be issues. It will take time for the Ten-Tails to fully form."
"While I am becoming the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki, I will need all of you to hold off any threats from the Akatsuki. After all, the revival of the Ten-Tails won't escape their notice."
"Hopefully, it won't take too long," Orochimaru replied, looking at the reanimated ninjas gathered behind him. "They might be able to resist Madara Uchiha, but they definitely can't hold out against Shirou. That guy can just wave his hand and release any reanimated soul at will…"
"It won't take long," Obito said as he opened Kamui's gate, moving the Gedo Statue and the Gold and Silver Brothers to the outside world.
He was prepared for everything.
"As long as I become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, Shirou will just be a small problem after that."