Chapter 140: Surprise! Shock!
Obito's rationality had long since collapsed. He absolutely didn't dare let Yasushi leave. What if Yasushi actually followed through on what he'd said earlier?
Given Yasushi's madness, this was something he would absolutely do. He couldn't risk even the slightest chance. He'd rather fight Nagato to the death right here.
"Zetsu, forget about waiting for the right opportunity. Today, we..."
Obito's words immediately made Zetsu's expression change drastically. He hastily stepped forward, covering Obito's mouth and whispering a reminder:
"This is Pain, not Nagato."
"Today won't work!"
"We'll begin executing the plan soon and let you achieve your goal. Then you can do whatever you want!"
Under Zetsu's repeated pleas, Obito finally agreed with a dark expression.
Only then did Zetsu smile apologetically at Pain:
"Don't worry, Leader. We'll go execute the mission now and definitely bring back the Three-Tails."
"Leave Obito to me. I won't let them fight again."
Because of Zetsu's earlier tip-off, Nagato believed Zetsu genuinely didn't want the two to clash, so he nodded in agreement.
His gaze swept over both of them once more, warning again:
"Some things can be done, some cannot. Not affecting the Akatsuki's plans is the bottom line. Think carefully before acting in the future!"
After speaking, Pain snorted coldly and turned to leave.
Seeing his plan fail, Yasushi disappointedly curled his lip, shot a provocative look at Obito across from him, then led Yashiro and the others away with a flourish.
After both Pain and Yasushi left, Zetsu pulled at Obito with a massive headache, trying to take him away.
But Obito completely ignored him. He just snorted coldly. A small vortex appeared before him, spiraling and sucking his form inside before he vanished from the spot.
Zetsu took a deep breath, still feeling that Madara's chosen successor was truly terrible.
Yasushi's group was heading back when a figure suddenly flickered in the distance, revealing Orochimaru's form, waving at him from afar.
Huh?
Yasushi paused, puzzled.
Why was Orochimaru so enthusiastic about this mission?
Was there something at Sunagakure attracting him?
While his mind turned this over, Yasushi signaled Yashiro and the others to stay in place while he ran toward Orochimaru's direction.
After approaching Orochimaru, Yasushi greeted him cheerfully.
"Yo, Orochimaru-sama! I thought you'd still be in your laboratory researching your Byakugan right now!"
"Why so eager this time?"
"Hehe..." Orochimaru laughed sinisterly, his smile full of malice.
"Yasushi, you think bringing in Nagato can stop me?"
"Today, I'll let you experience what it feels like to lose a beloved family member!"
Before his words finished, white smoke burst forth. "Orochimaru" transformed into Obito's appearance, clapping his hands together.
"Wood Release: Cutting Technique!"
Twisted spear-like branches immediately shot from Obito's body, stabbing directly at Yasushi's heart.
"Damn, it's Transformation Jutsu!"
Yasushi's heart jumped in alarm. He hastily turned his head and indeed saw space behind Yashiro and the others begin spiraling. A figure emerged from the vortex—also Obito—charging straight toward Uchiha Sachi.
"Oh no!"
Yashiro and the others were shocked, hastily drawing their blades to intercept. But the phased Obito couldn't be blocked at all. In an instant, he passed through their defensive circle, right arm raised, piercing from front to back—with a "squelch," he ran Sachi through completely.
"Hahahaha..."
Having succeeded with one strike, Obito felt immensely satisfied. He hoisted Sachi's body high on his right arm, letting blood flow down his arm and drench his entire body, standing there laughing maniacally.
"Yasushi, you didn't expect this, did you!"
"I came back!"
"Surprise! Shock!"
"I told you—today it's you or me!"
"Come on, tell me—watching your most beloved brother get killed by me right before your eyes, what are you feeling right now?"
However, his words received no response, making him extremely displeased.
When he turned his head to look, he was shocked to discover that distant Yasushi acted as if he hadn't noticed the incident at all. He'd activated Susanoo, blocked his Wood Clone's sneak attack, then casually smashed that Wood Clone to pieces.
After that, Yasushi didn't come over. He just stood there in the distance, coldly watching him.
Not only was Yasushi's reaction strange, but Yashiro and the others' reactions were equally wrong.
Previously, these three would risk their lives to protect Uchiha Sachi. But now that they'd failed, they weren't the least bit anxious. Instead, they retreated far away, standing on Yasushi's side, likewise watching him with cold eyes.
This bizarre reaction immediately gave Obito an ominous premonition.
He woodenly twisted his neck back, his gaze returning to "Uchiha Sachi's" face. The mask on his face had now been soaked through with blood spraying from inside. His breathing was fading, head hanging low.
That thin, delicate body hung on his arm as if weightless, unable to move at all.
However, those red Sharingan eyes had somehow faded from red, revealing a clear, transparent base color.
This clarity... so familiar!
When he looked carefully, he saw these pure eyes contained no hatred or pain. Instead, they were filled entirely with sorrow and compassion.
"No, no, it can't be..."
Obito's body began trembling involuntarily. He slowly moved his shaking hand to that mask and lightly touched it. The mask fell away, revealing a face that once haunted his dreams.
"Obito..." Rin's voice was thread-thin as she weakly called his name, her voice as tiny as a mosquito.
Obito screamed miserably, as if struck on the head by a thunderbolt from clear skies. His entire being froze.
In that moment, his heart seemed to stop beating. He couldn't even breathe.
The Mangekyo in his eye spun faster than an electric motor. The gloomy aura around him grew increasingly dense, thick enough to overflow.
If this could be distributed among ordinary Uchiha, it might easily create eight or ten Mangekyo users.
At this moment, Obito's entire world spun. Time itself seemed to stop.
If someone wanted to kill him now, it would be effortlessly easy.
But Yasushi was a pacifist—he didn't enjoy killing!
He preferred keeping people alive, suffering alive!
Yasushi came over laughing cheerfully, bobbing his head back and forth beside Obito, his face blooming with a smile as brilliant as a flower.
"Hehehehe..."
"Obito, you didn't expect this either, did you? I left you such a big present."
"How about it?"
"Surprised!?"