Seeing that Kakashi was at death's door, Guy discussed it with Naruto and Sasuke.
First, they would send Kakashi back to the village, and then they would search for Obito's whereabouts. The three immediately agreed.
Guy, full of youth, carried the one-eyed Kakashi and sprinted back to Konoha at top speed.
In the hospital, Tsunade meticulously treated Kakashi's empty eye socket, damaged nerves, and various injuries left by Obito's assault.
After a long while, Tsunade sighed in relief. "Fortunately, there are no fatal injuries, but one eye…"
Tsunade paused, her gaze falling on Kakashi's pale face. "Future missions and daily life will be somewhat inconvenient."
Kakashi's remaining right eye curved, attempting to force out his usual lazy smile. "It's alright, Tsunade-sama. I'm actually quite used to seeing the world with one eye."
"Besides, I don't have to worry about running out of Chakra anymore. It's quite good."
However, a single eye's vision would have blind spots, making mission execution much more difficult. It was for this reason that he failed to dodge the falling boulder back then, accidentally being knocked to the ground.
Then… Obito was buried under the boulder while saving him.
"Obito…"
He instinctively reached to touch his forehead protector, pulling at his wound, and involuntarily hissed in pain.
Tsunade said, "That's enough. Get some good rest."
—
In the Hokage office.
Guy, Naruto and Sasuke reported their encounter in the Land of Grass. Obito had taken back the Sharingan he had given to Kakashi.
Satoshi said, "Dual Kamui, huh? Sounds a bit powerful."
Guy raised his voice, "No matter what, the three of us have already promised Kakashi that we will bring Obito back for him."
Sasuke interjected abruptly, "No. I'm going to kill him. He's the one who led Itachi down that path of no return."
Satoshi blinked. Actually, without Obito, your brother might have…
"I'm going to kill him too."
Naruto clenched his fists. "That bastard Obito killed my parents. I will absolutely not let him get away with it."
"I'm going to punch, punch, punch his head until it explodes!"
Sasuke stared intently at Naruto. This was the first time he had seen him so angry.
Satoshi tapped the table. "No need to look for him, he will come himself."
"Huh?"
Storming Konoha alone?
The last one to do that, Madara, ended up like a pincushion.
Satoshi didn't explain anything, just stood up and stretched. "Work's over. Let's go buy some fruit and visit Kakashi-senpai. This is a work injury, after all."
...
Late at night, everything was silent.
In a damp cave, only the crackling bonfire illuminated Obito's face, twisted with excitement.
Dual Kamui's power surged through him, giving him a nearly overwhelming sense of control.
He spread out a yellowed map and, by the flickering firelight, drew and scribbled on it, mumbling to himself.
He was undertaking a grand endeavor: Eye of the Moon Plan Version 5.0 – Obito's Custom Edition.
"Troop strength, assault routes, timelines…"
It sounded very professional.
When the first hint of dawn appeared outside the cave, Obito slammed the map, his eyes gleaming.
"It's done! I've succeeded!"
Obito's strategy was simple. He would take Kabuto and all his subordinates, sneaking into Konoha in the middle of the night. Then, they would quickly snatch the two Tailed Beasts, and take Satoshi's Rinnegan.
Kabuto's large group of cannon fodder would draw fire, and then he would use his Mangekyo Sharingan to escape.
After filling the shell of the Gedo Statue, he would summon it with a Summoning Technique.
Then, he would cast the greatest genjutsu – Infinite Tsukuyomi.
By then, he would be able to see Rin again.
As for Black Zetsu, he would tear him to shreds with Kamui.
Why did he always incite him to kill Kakashi? Could that useless person die now?
Idiot!
"Hahahahaha! I, Uchiha Obito, am the greatest mastermind in this world!"
Obito's voice echoed out of the cave, startling countless foraging birds.
A White Zetsu quietly observed for a while, then slowly burrowed underground.
Soon after, it arrived at another hidden underground lair.
It found Black Zetsu, who was designing Eye of the Moon Plan Version 5.0 – Black Zetsu's Revised Edition.
After hearing the White Zetsu's report, Black Zetsu knew that Obito had completely lost his mind.
The old Obito, though extreme, at least still acted within the framework of the script Madara had left.
Now that Madara was wandering the world with his fan, having detached himself from this grand plan, it had caused Obito to develop the fatal delusion that he could do it too, and even better.
Obito simply didn't understand how many of his seemingly smooth early machinations, including controlling Kirigakure, instigating war, and establishing Akatsuki, were due to the hidden pieces Madara had laid out decades ago.
Without Madara's foundation and foresight, relying solely on Obito's impulsiveness and Kamui, it wouldn't work well.
"Obito might become uncontrollable in the future. The contingency plan must be accelerated."
Black Zetsu quickly assessed his strength.
Aside from Obito, the nominal collaborator, the only powerful pawn at hand was Kabuto, who had mastered Edo Tensei and Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode.
His power was astonishing, even surpassing his former superior Orochimaru, and he was definitely a valuable sharp blade to utilize.
But for some reason, every time Black Zetsu observed Kabuto, he felt a little uncomfortable. He always felt that Kabuto resembled another person.
"Could Orochimaru still not be completely dead? Then he's too hard to kill."
...
A sharp bird cry broke the morning silence.
Madara, who was meditating with his eyes closed under a towering ancient tree, impatiently opened his eyes and saw a ninja bird circling above his head, seemingly clutching something in its talons.
"Noisy beast."
The bird seemed to realize that this guy in red armor was not to be trifled with, its feathers bristling in fear.
It unhesitatingly released its talons, dropping the letter it held towards Madara, then flew madly towards Konoha without looking back.
It was so fast that it left an afterimage, fearing that if it were a moment slower, it would be caught and roasted by that menacing figure.
Madara casually caught the falling letter and glanced at the signature. "Satoshi? What's this kid up to now?"
Madara looked puzzled, opened the letter, and nearly got his nose twisted in anger.
The content of the letter was roughly this:
"When do you plan to eliminate Black Zetsu and then meet Hashirama-sama in the Pure Land?"
"You're not having trouble finding Black Zetsu, are you? If so, does our agreement still stand?"
"How about this: in the spirit of mutual assistance, Konoha can provide you with crucial information about Black Zetsu."
"But as a condition, you help Konoha kill a few people. That shouldn't be a problem for you, right?"
"Think it over and come find me. Don't climb over the wall. Konoha's ninjas will treat you as an enemy."
"Damn it…" Madara couldn't help but curse.
This junior's words were infuriating.
Climb over the wall to return to Konoha?
When he defected back then, he walked right through the main gate.
Who was he looking down on?
However, anger aside, Madara had to admit that the cunning old Black Zetsu had vanished into thin air.
Ever since Satoshi exposed his identity in Konoha, Black Zetsu, along with all the White Zetsu he controlled, had completely disappeared.
Only then did Madara belatedly realize a problem: he seemed to have no means of restraining Black Zetsu.
All this time, he had mistakenly believed Black Zetsu to be his own will.
Who would place restraints on their own will? That would be too foolish.
But after this incident, Madara realized that he was the biggest fool. He was even worse than that seemingly naive Hashirama.
"Damn it!"
Madara punched the giant tree beside him, blowing it apart.
And that Satoshi, he was a descendant of his Uchiha clan, yet his actions and style were like that annoying Tobirama.
Always seizing his weaknesses and exploiting them ruthlessly.
"Despicable Satoshi, once I deal with Black Zetsu, I will definitely pin you to the ground and beat you soundly."