The Ten Tails—Not Something Obito Can Control!

Hatake Kakashi…

He was Obito's destined nemesis.

According to Obito's plan, once Kakashi found the location of the sealed Tailed Beasts, he would teleport him in. Obito would then absorb them into the Gedo Statue.

Instead…

That bastard Kakashi realized what he was planning and beat him to it—freeing Gaara and, with his help, releasing all the other Tailed Beasts!

Clatter… clatter…

Chains burst from the Gedo Statue's mouth.

Harnessing his Rinnegan, Obito manipulated the Gedo Statue, attempting to draw all the Tailed Beasts present into it.

"!!"

Kakashi formed a Lightning Blade, channeling it through a kunai to slash at the chain linked to Gaara—but it had no effect.

"Don't think you can stop me…"

Obito coldly mocked his former comrade:

"Once the Gedo Statue begins extracting a Tailed Beast's chakra, no one can interrupt it…"

Sure enough…

The chain tethered to Gaara's Shukaku tugged violently—as if in a tug-of-war—and wrenched the beast straight out, swallowing it whole.

"!!"

Gaara's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.

Without their beast…

A Jinchūriki was doomed.

Kakashi leapt to his side, but Gaara's heartbeat had already stopped. The Fifth Kazekage was dead.

And Shukaku…

Was only the first.

In rapid succession—Two Tails, Three, Four…

One by one, the Tailed Beasts were devoured by the Gedo Statue.

No one could stop Obito now.

His Mangekyō Sharingan ensured no beast could escape.

"Obito…"

Kakashi stared at his former friend, anxiety rising.

"I didn't expect you of all people to pursue this weapon of war…"

"You think this is a weapon?"

Obito chuckled, mocking Kakashi's naivety:

"You're wrong, Kakashi. Turning the Gedo Statue into a war machine by feeding it the Tailed Beasts is a complete waste!"

"Let me tell you the real goal."

"Neither I, Madara, nor Shigen…"

"We never wanted to create a weapon—but to use its power to bring forth a new world under Infinite Tsukuyomi, where all ninja can dream in eternal peace. That's our true goal!"

"In this dream world, there will be no more war. Rin will live again. She'll have eternal peace… That's the truth behind the Eye of the Moon Plan."

"That's the true purpose of the Akatsuki!"

Standing atop the Gedo Statue, Obito gazed out.

Its eyes glowed—eight in total—leaving him just one step away from success.

This…

Was the final stage.

The Eye of the Moon Plan was finally in his grasp.

Underground.

White Zetsu clones rushed through the earth, panic evident on their faces. They had to report the situation at the Akatsuki base to Madara and Shigen.

Konoha.

The village lay in ruins.

Tsunade, battered and kneeling, glared defiantly at the man in the wheelchair.

Shigen.

This time, Konoha was even weaker than during the Chūnin Exams. Tsunade had deliberately left the defenses light, hoping to avoid needless bloodshed.

Shigen sat calmly in his chair, face veiled in black gauze. Akatsuki members in black cloaks with red clouds surrounded him.

"Where is Naruto Uzumaki?"

Shigen asked quietly.

"What makes you think I'll tell you?"

Tsunade gritted her teeth.

"You'll never find him. You'll never succeed."

"You grew up under me…"

"You should know how familiar I am with the ninja world."

"There's no place I can't find."

Shigen shook his head gently, as if unable to understand her stubbornness.

Then he said softly:

"Mount Myōboku. That's where he is, right?"

"…"

Tsunade's heart clenched. He guessed it!

She stammered out a denial:

"You're wrong!"

"Am I?"

Shigen raised his hand.

A pitch-black space-time portal began to form beside him.

"Lord Shigen!"

A White Zetsu clone burst from the ground, whispering urgently in his ear. It relayed everything that had just occurred at the Akatsuki base.

"And Madara?"

Shigen asked casually.

"Lord Madara… is currently being held off by the First Hokage."

The Zetsu clone sounded anxious, unsure whether to mention the worst part.

Even if Madara escaped, it was too late—the eight Tailed Beasts were already in Obito's hands. And Obito had already vanished again…

"So…"

"If I don't get the Nine Tails now…"

Shigen tapped the armrest of his wheelchair, frowning slightly.

"We'll never stop him. If he gets the Nine Tails' chakra—even just a portion…"

"Lord Shigen."

Kabuto leaned down, whispering:

"I once unearthed the corpses of Kinkaku and Ginkaku from Kumogakure. I gave them to Lord Orochimaru. They possessed part of the Nine Tails' chakra. Will that interfere with your or Madara's plan?"

"Huh?"

The Zetsu clone blanched.

"Black Zetsu?"

Shigen turned to the figure beside him.

"…"

Black Zetsu's face darkened. After a moment's thought, it replied gravely:

"If Obito doesn't care about the Ten Tails being incomplete, even a portion of the Nine Tails' chakra could suffice to revive it."

"If he succeeds in controlling the Ten Tails…"

"…But."

"There's no way he can!"

Black Zetsu's voice hardened with certainty:

"The Ten Tails is far too powerful. That fool Obito can't possibly control it!"

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