Black Zetsu brought Obito's body back to a hidden base that had been built long ago by Madara Uchiha.
Mountains' Graveyard.
This mountain graveyard was located on a peninsula near the border between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water.
Beneath it, Madara had hollowed out an immense underground chamber—spacious enough to house the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
The facility was filled with old technology and chakra mechanisms. Here, White Zetsu clones were cultivated en masse—an army of a million silently waiting in their pods.
The remnants of Obito's former power, including his Sharingan, were preserved in this vault-like sanctuary.
Black Zetsu returned silently and entered the sealed chamber where Obito's eye was stored. He gently laid the lifeless body down.
Moments passed.
Obito sat up.
The mask dropped from his face, revealing tired features and a permanently closed left eye—burned out from using Izanagi.
He snapped off the ruined eye without hesitation and retrieved a clean Uchiha outfit and another Sharingan from storage.
He'd planned this escape from Akatsuki since the day Nagato began to change.
With trust shattered, Obito faked his death using Izanagi. Now revived and cloaked in silence, he replaced his eye, donned his gear, and sat on a stone bed, thinking.
Everything was supposed to go smoothly. Capture the tailed beasts, unleash the Infinite Tsukuyomi. But things spiraled.
It all started when that Kazekage showed up. That weird, over-the-top guy who threw the whole rhythm off.
Obito sighed.
The dream world he wanted with Rin seemed farther away than ever.
Black Zetsu stepped closer and asked, "Obito, are you alright?"
Obito looked ahead, voice firm. "I can't give up. I have to create a world where Rin lives."
Black Zetsu hesitated, then said, "So... what now?"
Obito looked at the dim cavern walls.
Would he really just rot here like Madara did?
No.
That wasn't his way.
"You stay in Akatsuki," Obito said. "Keep them busy hunting tailed beasts."
"Nagato isn't focused on that anymore," Black Zetsu replied. "He's obsessed with tormenting that ridiculous Kazekage. It's derailed everything."
Obito frowned. "Then I'll handle it myself."
"You? Alone?"
Obito nodded. "I'm forming a new faction—The Eagle Organization."
"Eagle?" Black Zetsu raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. An eagle flies above everything. No shadows. No hiding. We'll take down anyone in our way. Where Akatsuki hesitates, we strike."
Black Zetsu grinned. "Clear."
This was the Obito he preferred—not Madara's puppet, not a shadowy manipulator—but a man ready to destroy and rebuild the world by force.
"Akatsuki founded a hidden nation. I'll do the same," Obito continued. "My base will be... the Land of Hot Water."
"The Land of Hot Water?"
"Yeah. It's close, hidden, with perfect natural defenses. Known for peace. We'll turn it into a launchpad for war."
Black Zetsu nodded approvingly. "I'm with you."
Rain Village.
Mufasa stood proudly before the massive chakra tanker truck holding the Three-Tails' sealed essence, prepared by Nagato himself.
"Good work, Nagato," Mufasa said as he patted Pain's shoulder like an overfriendly uncle.
"Nagato?"
Both Payne and Konan flinched.
"No good? Should I call Pain again? That sounds cooler, right?"
With his hands behind his back like a retired war general, Mufasa appraised them like they were green recruits.
"Look, we're both high-level officials here. You should work on your image. Those earrings and nose rods? A bit much."
He reached out casually.
Pain stepped back immediately. "These are chakra receivers and sensory transmitters!"
Pain's irritation flared. "Kazekage, we've fulfilled our end of the deal. I'd like to leave now."
"Ah, not so fast. I've got another matter to discuss," Mufasa replied.
Nagato and Konan visibly deflated. When he said "discuss business," it never went well.
Mufasa pulled out a clunky, rugged walkie-talkie.
"Tested this myself—works wonders. I want to order a million of them. Give me a discount."
Konan's eyes widened. "A million? That's... impossible. Our Rain Factory doesn't have that kind of capacity."
"Not a problem," Mufasa said with a grin. "I've got plenty of Sand Ninja in my factories. You supply the materials, we'll handle the assembly. Knock off some of the cost, call it even."
He smiled like he was doing them a massive favor.
"Win-win, yeah?"
But he wasn't just after walkie-talkies.
He had his eye on something else—those black chakra rods Nagato used.
They were more than just receivers.
If modified, they could become chakra-charging wireless transmitters. Install a few across the battlefield, and ninjas could replenish chakra on the go.
A mobile base station for ninjas.
It was the kind of insane tech Kakashi would kill for.
With wireless chakra flow, they could enhance mechs, fuel robots, command remote weapons.
Mufasa's eyes gleamed as he stared at Pain. 'You're young. Full of potential. Now go make me more of those black rods.'
Nagato, unaware of Mufasa's schemes, felt oddly appreciated.
Everything was chaotic.
And money still had to be made.
Nagato said through his paths, "Master Kazekage, wait—let's discuss this first."
Mufasa nodded. "Alright, alright. Let's talk it out."
Payne and Konan stepped aside.
Nagato spoke first. "I think we can go through with this. I can keep generating black rods to earn money from the Sand Village. With the cash flow, we can expand the ninja corps and upgrade our gear."
Konan eyed him warily. "But what about your body? Can it handle that?"
Nagato gave her a confident grin. "No worries. I've been testing the regeneration and physical activation scrolls Mufasa gave us. My body's in better shape than ever."
He flexed a bit for emphasis.
Gone was the pale, skeletal Nagato. Now he looked more like a pro fighter—ripped with eight-pack abs, broad chest, and even functional legs.
He no longer needed to be strapped into his mechanical chair. He could walk freely now.
Konan's face lit up with joy. "I'm glad..."
Nagato sighed with a complicated expression. "But I still can't figure out Mufasa. Is he good or bad?"
He seemed generous—gave them life-saving scrolls and didn't hide anything. But he also spent 80 billion like it was loose change and threatened war without blinking.
Yet, thanks to him, the village was thriving. The people felt safer and more stable.
Nagato muttered, "He's not like Yahiko, all sunshine and warmth... but he's not another Hanzo either."
Konan placed a hand on his shoulder. "Regardless, we still have our goal."
Nagato nodded. "Eternal peace."
To achieve it, they'd eventually have to challenge Mufasa. He was a powerful obstacle in the path to collecting tailed beasts.
Nagato clenched his fists. "We'll take this chance to grow stronger. Use their resources to boost ours."
"Weaken them, strengthen us," Konan agreed.
And just like that, they agreed to Mufasa's trade proposal.
A deal was signed: the Rain Village would provide raw materials, and the Sand Village would set up a factory to produce black rod communication devices.
Mufasa was all smiles.
"Perfect. Absolutely perfect."
His grin practically glowed with satisfaction.
Sasuke, present during the signing, looked baffled. He was only here to secure the three-tailed chakra.
"Lord Mufasa, why do you look happier than the Rain Ninjas?"
Mufasa patted his head. "You really don't understand how circular trade works, do you, kid?"
Sasuke blinked. "Circular what?"
Mufasa sighed. "You're great in battle, but economics clearly isn't your thing."
"Anyway, we're heading to the Land of Lightning next. Time for you to meet someone who'll humble you."
Sasuke frowned. "Who could possibly beat me? I'll fry them to a crisp."
Sasuke returned to the Sand Village with the three-tailed chakra and the first batch of black rod communication components.
Rain Ninja messengers returned after passing along the agreement.
Mufasa informed them he'd visit their village once other business was settled.
Jiraiya hung around with Mufasa for a couple of days before resuming his solo journey.
Land of Lightning — Cloud Ninja Village
The village stood atop a jagged mountain range, always wrapped in clouds and rumbling with thunder. It housed the mighty Two-Tails and Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.
The people were muscular, and famous for their mastery of sword techniques and Lightning Release.
Suspended cableways connected the cliffs, with buildings dotting the landscape. The Raikage Tower stood tall on the highest peak.
Elevators, ropeways, and high-tech systems powered the entire village.
Electric towers crackled throughout the terrain, showcasing their mastery of modern energy systems.
Mufasa and Sasuke arrived disguised as traveling merchants. They landed on a nearby mountain before heading to a local ramen stand run by an energetic vendor named Shen.
While slurping his noodles, Mufasa casually asked, "Hey boss, who's the strongest fighter in Cloud Ninja Village?"
Shen raised an eyebrow. "Obviously the Raikage. Who else? Me?"
Mufasa grinned. "How would I go about challenging him, then?"
Shen nearly choked on his own laughter. "Challenge the Raikage?! You serious?"
"Dead serious."
Shen sized them up—two strangers in cloaks, both looking capable but... not local.
"You guys planning to open a dojo here or something?" he asked.
Cloud Ninja adored hand-to-hand combat. Besides their ninja academy, the village had a whole culture of martial arts schools.
Mufasa smirked. "Why not?"
Shen squinted. "You're not from here, are you?"
"What gave it away?"
"Too clean, too smooth-skinned. We breed warriors with rough edges here. You two look like you just stepped out of a spa."
He leaned in. "I'm just saying, those noodle arms won't take you far around here."
Mufasa wasn't bothered. "Dead muscle isn't everything. I've got what matters—live muscle."
Shen burst out laughing. "You'll need more than 'live muscle' to survive here."
Mufasa shrugged. "If I didn't have the skills, I wouldn't be here."
His confidence was enough to make Shen reconsider.
"So you're really planning to open a dojo?"
"Not just that," Mufasa replied. "I want to fight the Raikage."
Shen's grin widened. "I love nutcases like you. Fine. Here's how it works: beat the top ten dojos in the village, and you earn the right to challenge the Raikage."
"Easy enough," Mufasa replied calmly. "I'll wipe out ten in a day."
Sile blinked. He had never seen someone so bold.
"What's your martial arts school called?"
Mufasa placed his palms together respectfully. "I am Hayato Furinji of the Electromagnetic Fist. And this here is my disciple—Kenichi"
Shen froze. 'Hayato Furinji? Electromagnetic Fist? Never heard of it.'
Mufasa dropped money on the table.
"Keep the change. Kenichi, let's go. Tomorrow we start climbing mountains."
Shen watched them walk off, wide-eyed.
Electromagnetic Fist? What kind of nonsense school was that?
Still... he couldn't help but be curious.
Were they real?
Or just two crazy fools about to get flattened by Cloud Ninja tradition?
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Word count: 1771
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