Uchiha the Madman: He embodies truth and obliterates reality.

Who knew Kakashi was such a smooth talker! He really knows how to talk!

Jiraiya smiled and shook his head, thinking: But for an ordinary guy like me with no great ambitions, becoming Hokage is a dream that is really out of reach!

After leaving Tsunade's residence, Kakashi saw Jiraiya waiting for him outside the door.

"Lord Jiraiya, what brings you here?" Kakashi couldn't help but ask.

"What else could it be? I'm worried about you!"

Jiraiya chuckled and said, "I'm worried that you'll get a good beating from Tsunade. I'm used to being beaten by her all the time, but you've never been hit by Tsunade before. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it."

"But looking at it now, I realize I was overthinking it." Jiraiya winked at Kakashi.

"You heard everything?" Kakashi exclaimed in surprise.

"Haha, I only heard part of it, but I didn't expect you to say it so well." Jiraiya gave Kakashi a thumbs up. "Kakashi, you have the flair of my younger days!"

Instead of just listening to Jiraiya's praise, Kakashi asked Jiraiya a question he had been wanting to ask: "Do you think Lady Tsunade will come back to the village with us?"

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya sighed heavily: "We've done everything we could. The rest is up to Tsunade herself."

Inside the room, Tsunade recalled what Jiraiya and Kakashi had said and finally made up her mind.

Go back to Konoha!

As expected... I still can't rest easy about Konoha! And... I can't let down the reputation of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha.

Chapter 40 Preparing for the Showdown

the next day.

Jiraiya and Kakashi arrived at Tsunade's residence together.

"So... what is your decision, Tsunade?" Jiraiya asked her right away.

Shizune, holding the little pig Tonton, and Kakashi and the others waited for Tsunade's answer.

Tsunade took a deep breath and said, "I promise you I'll go back to the village."

"Hahaha!!"

Jiraiya laughed heartily upon hearing this, "Kakashi, did you hear that? The mission is complete."

"Ok!"

Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Tsunade agree to go back to the village together.

"Give me a high five, Kakashi!" Jiraiya extended his hand to Kakashi.

Kakashi reluctantly gave Jiraiya a high five, somewhat amused and exasperated: "What kind of situation is this? Jiraiya-sama still has the leisure to joke around."

After giving Kakashi a high five, Jiraiya smiled and said, "Let's go!"

"Um... before I leave." Tsunade, who was usually so poised and confident, became somewhat hesitant at this moment.

For some reason, Jiraiya suddenly had a bad feeling.

Tsunade coughed lightly and said, "Ahem... Which of you two has money? Can you pay off my gambling debts?"

After saying that, Tsunade looked at Jiraiya, then at Kakashi.

It's obvious they want the two of them to pay.

"I knew it!!!" Jiraiya couldn't sit still after hearing this, and he looked at Kakashi with a pleading gaze.

Kakashi shook his head at Jiraiya, indicating that he had no money.

"Aaaaaah!!! You greedy bastard!!"

Left with no other choice, Jiraiya reluctantly gave all the money he had to Tsunade.

Looking at his empty wallet, Jiraiya hung his head dejectedly. It was like going back to square one. Making money writing "Make-Out Paradise," you know how hard it was for me!? Now it's all gone.

Kakashi couldn't help but facepalm at the sight. So, one of the three legendary Sannin was a drunkard and a womanizer, and the other a gambling addict and a drunkard?

Tsunade gave the money to Shizune so that she could pay off her debts before they set off again.

Shizune secretly admired Tsunade. As expected of Lady Tsunade, she managed to return to the village together and even pay off all the debts.

"Haha, thanks Jiraiya." Finally, Tsunade smiled at Jiraiya.

Looking at Tsunade's radiant smile, Jiraiya couldn't help but be somewhat mesmerized.

As expected... no matter how many women I see, none can compare to her. Her smile, no matter how many times I see it, is never enough. Oh well... seeing the woman I love smile is enough. I can earn this money after the meteorite impact crisis is over.

Hopefully, we can weather this meteorite impact crisis.

For Konoha, and for ourselves.

After the incident with the masked man, Jiraiya is now almost 100% certain that the meteorite crash is real.

A long way to go!

Jiraiya sighed inwardly.

...

...

The scene changes.

Obito, carrying his Mangekyou Sharingan, returned to the Akatsuki's base.

As soon as he returned to the base, Obito began searching for Zetsu, Black and White.

After failing to find them in their usual spot, Obito immediately approached a White Zetsu and asked, "Where did Black Zetsu and your original body go?"

“They seem to be talking to new members of the organization,” White Zetsu replied.

New organization member?

Obito's eyes darted around.

It seems that Juzo Biwa has returned. He's done a good job, Juzo! With the addition of the members he brought, the Akatsuki's strength will undoubtedly reach a new level. Obito praised Juzo Biwa in his heart.

"Where are they located?" Obito pressed the White Zetsu for an answer.

"Lord Madara, they are..." White Zetsu told Obito the location of Black and White Zetsu.

After learning the location of Black and White Zetsu, Obito headed straight there.

Upon arriving at the location of Black and White Zetsu, Obito saw Black and White Zetsu talking with the new members of the organization.

"Black Zetsu, come out with me for a moment. I have something to ask you."

Without any hesitation, Obito dragged Black and White Zetsu into the Kamui dimension right in front of the new members, leaving them looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Ah Fei, watch your step. Don't you want to keep your identity a secret?" Black Zetsu said with some displeasure.

You were the one hiding your identity! Now you're making a big fuss about it again! Weren't you always playing the fool in the organization? Why aren't you acting like that anymore?

To pull this stunt in front of the new members?! They've really given up on acting!

Are you planning to lay your cards on the table?

Black Zetsu's idea, by sheer coincidence, was exactly the same as Obito's.

Yes!! I'm not pretending anymore! I'm laying my cards on the table!!

Obito had this in mind; he wanted to completely break with Nagato in the coming days.

With Madara Uchiha in his possession, along with the power of his two Mangekyou Sharingan and the strength of the Senju clan, Obito believed he could definitely defeat Nagato and retrieve the Rinnegan for his own use.

That's right! !

He will become Uchiha Madara! He will take his own Rinnegan from Nagato!

Only when Obito truly grasps the Rinnegan, one of the essential conditions for the Eye of the Moon Plan, will he feel at ease.

When Zetsu saw that Obito's mask was damaged, he was immediately shocked.

Bai Jue hurriedly asked, "How did it get like this, A-Fei?"

"I am fine."

"I gained a lot from this trip," Obito replied calmly. "Mainly, it was to retrieve my eyes and regain my true power so that I could contend with Nagato."

Upon hearing Obito say this, Black Zetsu noticed that the eye on Obito's left eye was exactly the same as the pattern on his right eye.

“You’ve gained new eyes, Tobi,” Black Zetsu said to Obito in a hoarse voice.

Obito coldly replied, "It originally belonged to me."

Black Zetsu didn't care about Obito's tone of voice. Right now, he only cared about whether he could revive his mother. As for other things, he would endure them if he could.

Black Zetsu smiled and said to Obito, "Now that you've retrieved your eyes, Tobi, your strength has greatly increased. It seems... our plan can proceed smoothly."

"How is Nagato doing?" Obito immediately asked Black Zetsu the question he was concerned about.

Upon hearing this, Black Zetsu immediately reported to Obito: "Nagato has been keeping a low profile lately and there has been nothing unusual about him. He is waiting for news of the black market to spread to the Five Great Nations before sending members to establish cooperation with the various ninja villages of the Five Great Nations."

"Nagato has been behaving himself lately, that's good." Obito nodded.

"And...Itachi informed Konoha about the meteorite impact, what should we do?" White Zetsu added immediately.

"Hmph."