"In the kamui, studying the eyes, I also have wood release cells, attempting to evolve into the Rinnegan"
Tobi told a lie. Nagato gave him a glance, noticing the flicker in his eyes, and figured it out. Probably just not in this dimension, he thought.
"Happy?" Nagato asked abruptly, without a preamble, but Tobi understood completely.
Indeed, he was happy. Someone had regained their ability to speak. Though speech was still imperfect, it was something—enough to make him glad. If Nagato and Konan knew, they would probably be happy too. Yet, he reminded himself, Kita's existence shouldn't be known to them.
"Ah… yeah, a little thing happened. Finally, there's some hope."
Although problems remained, something had improved, and that was enough.
"Is that so?" Nagato followed his words, thinking of what could make Tobi happy—probably only the Infinite Tsukuyomi. He asked casually.
"Infinite Tsukuyomi?"
"Eh?"
Tobi froze for a moment, then waved his hands repeatedly. "No, no, it's not that. I mean… the thing I've been working on… there's some hope."
Infinite Tsukuyomi… he had given up on that when he learned of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. The technique was powerful, but it would unleash more than just an ancient youkai. Tobi felt it inappropriate to speak of it; after all, in Nagato's eyes, he was still the Uchiha Tobi obsessed with the Infinite Tsukuyomi. So he added hesitantly, "I have other things to do besides the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
That's good, Nagato thought.
Being too obsessed with something is madness, Nagato knew from experience. He had once been so fixated on making the world feel pain that the people around him suffered first. The goal remained—to collect tailed beasts for military deterrence—but it wasn't all there was to him. This restraint preserves a bit of sanity, he thought, allowing him to care for those around him and consider the world seriously.
"Good… to find things beyond your main goal. Good," Nagato said twice, affirming Tobi.
Tobi scratched his head, nervously picking up a matcha cookie from the table. Not as good as red bean, he thought.
"Uh… there's something I want to ask," Tobi said cautiously. Nagato nodded.
"Ask."
"When do we start collecting the tailed beasts?"
"In three years," Nagato replied promptly, adding, "You still have three years. Right now, you can't beat me."
Tobi froze, muttering softly, "So soon…"
Soon? Nagato thought, expecting him to say slow.
"Do you have a problem with that?"
Tobi shook his head. "No." Then he remembered what Shonin had said:
—If you play with tailed beasts, I'll be in trouble.
"Uh… can we not play with tailed beasts?" Tobi asked. Realizing the words might sound wrong, he added, "I mean, we can use other methods. If we team up, we can handle most of the tailed beasts anyway."
"You won't handle all of them," Nagato said rationally, not understanding why Tobi didn't want to play with the tailed beasts. So he asked bluntly, "Don't you usually love playing with these things? Change your mind?"
"Uh… I care about the little animals, haha~"
A weak laugh. Nagato glanced at him and changed the topic. "Did you hear about what Orochimaru did to Konoha?"
"Ah… yeah, I heard." Tobi continued, keeping pace. "I heard Hiruzen died."
"Is killing your master a tradition in your line?" Nagato asked. Orochimaru had killed his teacher, and Tobi, as a descendant of Jiraiya's student line, had killed the Fourth. One link missing, and the chain would have been perfect. Given the circumstances, Nagato himself seemed the most likely to act next.
Tobi's expression darkened. What had been done was done. His sensei wasn't killed by his own hands but died because of him. Nagato noticed the subtle disappointment but did not console him. Reality was reality; Tobi had to face it, whether he liked it or not.
"Kita once told me… you don't belong in Akatsuki."
Tobi's heart skipped a beat.
"You Uchiha are extreme. Itachi too, though he's better. But you… you're not just light or dark. You don't accept the in-between."
His heart caught up again. Tobi didn't reply, just picked up another matcha cookie while Nagato started shelling sunflower seeds.
"She said leaving was the only way to not destroy you."
"She told me the same," Tobi said, recalling their conversation. Nagato nodded. "She said you refused, reasoning you had nowhere to go, no place to return."
True. But now, Tobi didn't know how to respond.
"And now?" Nagato asked, chewing slowly. Tobi scratched his head.
"You… care about my inner world?"
"Something like that."
Surprisingly honest.
Tobi blinked, slyly asking, "Can I consider this my home?"
Nagato shrugged, offering no answer. Then he retrieved a letter from the drawer under the table. "When you left, Kakashi Hatake entrusted this to be sent via the Feets Shinobi."
This was the main purpose of the conversation.
Tobi froze, covering his face. "H-how did he know I'm here?!"
"He doesn't. He sent one to every country's mail hub. The Shunan Group has collected all the letters," Nagato said lightly.
Tobi looked at the letter, then at Nagato, and finally couldn't resist taking it. "Thanks."
"No problem. The organization averages eight missions a month. Do the math yourself—how many you need to complete."
"I'll make sure to finish them."
"Good. Go," Nagato said, sipping his warm tea while continuing to shell seeds. Before Tobi left, Nagato's voice rang out again.
"Tobi… if I find you hiding things you shouldn't, you won't just lose the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
The words were soft. Tobi turned to look, only seeing Nagato calmly shelling seeds, emotionless, as if the words had never been spoken. Should I respond truthfully, or pretend I don't understand? Tobi didn't know and decided not to answer.