Uchiha the Madman: He embodies truth and obliterates reality.

But the two remained fixed on each other, ignoring the Black and White Absolutes that emerged from the ground.

Seeing the two facing off, Hei Bai Jue immediately understood that they had gotten into a dispute.

Black Zetsu hurriedly tried to smooth things over, "Boss, Madara, we're all comrades. Why can't we sit down and discuss this properly? Right?"

Now is not the time for infighting. I'm still waiting for you to weather this crisis and resurrect my mother, Black Zetsu thought to himself.

White Zetsu smiled and said, "Black Zetsu is right. Let's not argue. Let's sit down and talk things over. We're all comrades!"

Compared to Black Zetsu, White Zetsu didn't have as many concerns. He simply felt that if the two started fighting... he couldn't possibly stay out of it. He couldn't very well help Nagato fight Obito...

Hmm...after all, I did see Obito go to the toilet and poop during his recovery period, right? That counts as a reason. Oh, right! There's also Madara-sama's influence. White Zetsu thought to himself.

Suddenly! Countless sheets of paper fell from the sky, slowly forming a stunningly beautiful woman with purple hair and a tongue piercing. It was Xiao Nan.

She shook her head at Nagato, clearly aware of what had just happened.

Looking at Konan's expression, Nagato knew that Konan had witnessed his argument with Madara. Since Konan was signaling him to show weakness, he might as well give Madara a way out.

"Ok."

Thinking this way, Nagato was the first to back down, "In that case, let's issue a warrant for Orochimaru's arrest on the black market! With a price of 80 million ryo."

"Whatever you want."

Although Obito was dissatisfied, he had no choice but to nod in agreement due to Nagato's Rinnegan power and his status as the leader of Akatsuki.

"This concludes our conversation. You and Black Zetsu, White Zetsu, may leave now." Nagato showed no mercy as he saw them off.

"Humph."

Obito led the black and white Zetsu out of the secret room.

"Obito... are you alright?" White Zetsu asked, concerned about Obito's condition.

Black Zetsu reprimanded, "Shut up, Zetsu. A-Fei needs some peace and quiet."

Outside the sealed room, Otsuchi's eyes were cold.

That Nagato dared to defy me. It seems I really need to teach him a lesson he'll learn who the true leader of Akatsuki is!

This incident deepened Obito's understanding of Nagato. Although Nagato was naive and easily fooled, he was inherently restless. Moreover, it seemed that Nagato truly believed himself to be a god, the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths.

While this demonstrates the success of his deception, it's undoubtedly an obstacle to his future plan to seize Nagato's Rinnegan. Would a god obediently listen to a mortal?

But... Ah, Nagato. Obito sneered inwardly.

Don't think I'm helpless just because you possess the Rinnegan. You're not the true owner of the Rinnegan; I still have Madara's deadly techniques on my hands...

Even if you die, as long as the Rinnegan is in my eyes, there shouldn't be any problem, right?

I will be the savior of this world! I will save this hopeless world in your place!! Let the remaining humanity enter the world of dreams. For that beautiful dream world, anyone can be sacrificed. And the savior can only be me! And it must be me!!

Just you wait and see, Uchiha Shin. Even if you destroy the world, I will create a perfect new world.

Obito's eyes slowly transformed into a pattern of a three-wheeled windmill.

Inside the secret room, Konan looked at Nagato with worry, "Nagato, shouldn't we keep a closer eye on Madara?"

Konan was worried about the negative consequences of Nagato angering Madara. Although Nagato possessed the powerful Rinnegan, Madara was a legend of the Uchiha clan, the strongest man besides "Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi," and it was hard to guarantee that he didn't have some hidden cards up his sleeve.

"Don't worry! Madara's every move is under my surveillance. No one can escape my jutsu surveillance." Nagato was confident of this.

Outside the Akatsuki base, the rain that kept falling from the sky was actually his own ninjutsu—

He infused chakra into the clouds in the sky, creating a sensory ninjutsu that allowed him to control the rain at will.

No matter who they are, no one on this land can escape the surveillance of his Rinnegan. Even that man, Uchiha Madara, is no exception.

Chapter 21 Winning Hearts and Minds

The next morning, Xiao organized a base.

Swish swish swish—

A light drizzle was falling from the gray sky outside, and the rain seemed to never stop.

Obito walked to the window and used his Sharingan to look at the rain outside, discovering some clues within it.

Nagato... is more capable than I thought.

Despite its minute size, Obito's Sharingan precisely detected the chakra contained within the raindrops. And who else in Akatsuki, besides Nagato, possessed this ability?

"It seems you've grown quite a bit over the years," Obito remarked casually, using Madara's voice.

He wore that mask for so long that Obito would subconsciously impersonate "Madara" when no one was around. In fact, Obito could be anyone when he wore the mask—whether it was Tobi or Madara.

Looking at the rain outside, Obito fell into deep thought.

The current members of Akatsuki all favor Nagato. After he seizes Nagato's Rinnegan in the future, how will the Akatsuki members treat him? This will inevitably become an obstacle in his plans.

"If that's the case," Obito thought to himself.

It seems it's time to inject some fresh blood into my ranks. Nagato's decision at the meeting certainly aligns with my own thoughts. The original ten-member Akatsuki system is no longer suitable; cooperating with the five great nations and their respective ninja villages means Akatsuki will move from the shadows to the light. This requires more ninjas and more combat power.

Akatsuki needs more leverage to firmly grasp the power of discourse. Simply relying on their alternate dimension for refuge isn't enough; Akatsuki needs more bargaining chips. Obito thought to himself.

Saving this world is a long and arduous task.

Obito stretched his hand out the window, feeling the raindrops on his hand.

As he felt the icy coldness on his hands, Obito's thoughts became clearer.

I'm currently being monitored by Nagato... If I leave Amegakure, Nagato will definitely find out, so I might as well... start from within.

Today, all the members of Akatsuki are going to carry out their missions. Kakuzu, Shoji, Sasori, and others set off early this morning, while Juzo Biwa doesn't seem to have left yet.

Should we go find him...?

Thinking back to Juzo Biwa, Obito had a fairly good impression of him.

In the previous meeting, Juzo Biwa's attitude towards him, this Tobi, was relatively friendly. Moreover, Juzo Biwa had been given the task of recruiting Akatsuki members by Nagato. If he could bring Juzo Biwa to his side, he could then manipulate the selection of Akatsuki members.

Next...should we start with Juzo Biwa? Also...although Itachi has already sided with us, we should still give him a heads-up.

Obito's gaze was unfocused.

...

...

A little later.

Inside the tower, Obito arrived at the residence of Juzo Biwa.

"Um! Is that you, Kizo-senpai? I have some questions I'd like to ask you." Obito knocked politely on the door.

After receiving no response from the room, Obito knocked on the door several more times.

Finally, thanks to Obito's insistence, the door was opened.

Pipa Juzo yawned as he walked out of the room, looking impatient. "Nonsense! It's so annoying, can't a person get a good night's sleep?"

"Aah~"

Pipa Juzo rubbed his sleepy eyes. "Speak, what is it?"

"Haha, sorry, senior."

Obito scratched his head in his signature gesture and said with a smile, "I just became a full member not long ago, and I wanted to ask you for advice on how to become a full member?"

"Alright, alright! Considering how lively you usually are in the organization, I'll help you out." Without much thought, Biwa Juzo readily agreed.

Obito chuckled and asked Juzo Biwa, "Hehehehe, may I come inside and have a seat, senpai?"

"What a nuisance! I can't do anything with you. Come in with me." Juzo Biwa opened the door and gestured for Obito to enter the room.

After Obito entered the room, Juzo Biwa immediately closed the door.

"Go ahead! What do you want to know? I've been a member of Akatsuki for quite a while now, and I know a lot of things." Juzo Biwa plopped down on the edge of the bed and slowly said to Obito.

"Speaking of which, why did you join Akatsuki, senpai?" Obito asked curiously, feigning ignorance.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to ask for advice? Never mind, since it’s you, Tobi, it doesn’t matter if you say it.” Kirigakure sighed and continued, “My hometown, Kirigakure, is a hateful place. That damned Kirigakure is simply not a place for a human to live.”

"During the Ninja Academy, countless people were killed in order to graduate smoothly. This hateful Village of the Bloody Mist. However, it is said that the current Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, has abolished the Village of the Bloody Mist, but I don't know if it's true or not."

Those painful memories from the past flooded into Pipa Juzo's heart.

"After defecting from Kirigakure, I went through many twists and turns before finally arriving at Akatsuki. To be honest, by now I'm getting a little tired of this endless battle." As he spoke, a ripple of emotion stirred within Biwa Juzo.

“Now that the world has produced that madman from the Uchiha clan, I was a little uneasy at first, but now I think it doesn’t matter. If the world is really destroyed, this kind of liberation might not be a bad choice.” Pipa Juzo said rather nonchalantly, he now has a very open-minded view of life and death.

“Your past must have been quite difficult.” Obito, who had been listening the whole time, nodded repeatedly.

When he came to his senses, Kizo realized that he had said so much to Tobi, an insignificant character in the Akatsuki organization.

"I was so stupid to tell you all this. What could you possibly understand?"

Hibiki Tozo Haruka shook his head and said, "It's about time you told me what you wanted to ask me. Hurry up, I haven't had enough sleep yet."

“Is that so…” Obito nodded. “I understand.”

"Then let's finish quickly..."

Before Pipa Juzo could finish speaking, a voice different from Tobi's rang out in the room.