Note: Change Rebel Army to Resistance.
"Nagato! What on earth were you thinking, inviting such a dangerous individual to join the Akatsuki?" Obito Uchiha questioned in an incredibly somber, low voice.
After reclaiming his other Kamui Sharingan from Kakashi, he had immediately returned to Amegakure, putting on a front of indignant interrogation.
Of course, this entire performance was staged for the benefit of Black Zetsu, who stood watching nearby.
Nagato, seated in his mechanical wheelchair, channeled his inner "method actor." He responded with a completely expressionless face: "Because he possesses such value. After all, our goal in gathering the Tailed Beasts was to create a powerful weapon to deter the entire Shinobi world, ensuring no one would dare to wage war lightly. But now, we have a better option: to overthrow the decaying old order built by the nobles, Daimyos, and Hidden Villages. Let the exploited and oppressed commoners manage this world instead. They are the true victims, those who have felt pain and despair firsthand."
"You mean... you intend for the Akatsuki to join the ranks of the Resistance?" Obito feigned frustration and anger.
"Precisely. I have made my decision. From this day forward, the Akatsuki will provide all necessary assistance to the Resistance. Furthermore, I have dispatched Sasori and Deidara to eliminate all the Daimyos and nobles within the Land of Rain. This world no longer has a need for them," Nagato replied with a nonchalant affirmation.
Although his ultimate objective was to eliminate Kaguya, the extraterrestrial interloper, and completely sever the source of the wicked bloodline, he didn't mind clearing away a few obstacles for the dawn of a new era along the way.
In truth, the agreement Allen had reached with him was for the Akatsuki to step forward and trigger the Fourth Shinobi World War. This would deplete the remaining potential of the Great Hidden Villages as much as possible, eventually allowing them to unveil the truth and execute the Progenitor of Chakra before the eyes of the world.
Consequently, once this final battle concluded, the Shinobi would end up like the Samurai of old, completely stripped of the power to resist, eventually swallowed by the surging tide of the masses from the lowest rungs of society.
"But what about our original plan to collect the Tailed Beasts?"
Black Zetsu finally couldn't help himself and spoke up to question them. He didn't care about the lives of commoners, nor did he care what state the world fell into; his mind was singular in its focus to rescue his mother, the one who created him, from her seal.
And the most critical step in rescuing Kaguya was the resurrection of the Ten-Tails, the God Tree! If they couldn't even manage that, the rest of the plan was a moot point.
"Why are you so obsessed with the Tailed Beasts? Now that Allen has joined us, the weapons he possesses already serve as a sufficient deterrent, don't they?" Nagato turned his head slightly, staring at Zetsu with those pale purple Rinnegan eyes.
Instantly, Black Zetsu felt an inexplicable surge of panic. He quickly forced an explanation: "I admit, the weapons he used in the Hidden Stone and Hidden Sand Villages possess immense deterrent power. However, do not forget, he will never hand those weapons over to us. Therefore, I believe the Tailed Beast collection plan must not stop. At the very least, we must hold a trump card of sufficient weight to act as a countermeasure."
"I agree with Zetsu's view. We must never pin all our hopes on one person, and we certainly cannot over-rely on Allen. Have you forgotten the betrayals the Akatsuki endured at its inception?" Obito added, playing along.
"I understand. I don't need either of you to remind me. I have already arranged everything."
With that, Nagato ignored them further. Konan pushed his wheelchair as they slowly vanished into the darkness at the end of the underground tunnel.
Watching the two figures recede, Black Zetsu immediately turned to Obito. "Nagato's current state is extremely dangerous! I believe he has lost interest in collecting the Tailed Beasts."
"And what do you think we should do? Kill him?" Obito asked back with a cold sneer. "Don't be in a rush. Now is not the time. At least until the Three-Tails is resurrected, we must not act rashly. Besides, hasn't someone already started helping us collect the Tailed Beasts?"
"You mean..."
A strange light flickered in Black Zetsu's eyes as if he had realized something.
"Yes. That young man, Allen. Regardless of his purpose for collecting the Tailed Beasts, it will inevitably serve the Eye of the Moon Plan in the end. Furthermore, I believe it's time to start preparing for Madara's resurrection. Do you remember the Reanimation Jutsu that Orochimaru used during the Konoha Crush?"
Obito began deploying his manipulation skills, preparing to lead the two culprits responsible for Rin's death into a trap. What he desired most now was to see the look of absolute despair on their faces when their dreams shattered right before his own death.
"You mean... using Orochimaru to resurrect Madara?" Black Zetsu's eyes gleamed with an eerie light.
Compared to the increasingly self-serving Obito, he clearly preferred Madara Uchiha, who trusted him implicitly. After all, finding a fool who possessed both immense strength and the direct lineage of the Sage of the Six Paths, and who was also so easy to deceive, was no easy task.
Unfortunately for him, Madara Uchiha was one of those fools.
Obito shook his head meaningfully. "No. Not Orochimaru. I mean that fellow under him, Kabuto Yakushi. Compared to the difficult-to-control Orochimaru, he is the most suitable candidate."
"Ah! I see. You want to eliminate Orochimaru and leave Kabuto with nowhere to turn but us. After all, he has already become a thorn in the side of the Great Villages, the Daimyos, and the nobles."
As a long-time partner, Black Zetsu instantly grasped Obito's line of thinking.
Currently, although the Otogakure in the Land of Sound appeared incredibly powerful, serving as the training and modification ground for almost all the high-ranking members of the Resistance, the reality was different. If Allen showed even a hint of abandoning the place, the four remaining Hidden Villages would immediately join forces to raze it to the ground.
Left with no other choice, Kabuto would have no path forward except to join the Akatsuki.
"Exactly. And I don't think Itachi will stand by and watch his younger brother be consumed by Orochimaru. So, remain patient. The entire plan has not slipped from our control," Obito comforted him with feigned mystery.
Black Zetsu nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. As long as Madara-sama is resurrected, all problems will be solved. It seems his choice to view you as his successor was indeed a wise one."
"Heh. Now, I'm going to have a face-to-face talk with Allen to see if I can bring him over to our side. Besides, isn't he interested in the Tailed Beasts? We'll leak information about the Ten-Tails to him and let him be the one to gather all the Tailed Beasts for us!"
Having said this, Obito vanished instantly.
Black Zetsu would never have dreamed that everyone in the Akatsuki, including Obito, was currently putting on an Oscar-worthy performance for him. After lingering for a moment, he too dove into the ground and vanished without a trace.
Once he had completely departed, Kisame Hoshigaki stepped out from the shadows, rubbing his forehead with a sigh. "Allen-sama was right after all. Black Zetsu really does treat us like fools. From start to finish, he has never trusted anyone; he's just using us."
"Hmph! Obito is no different!" Deidara let out a cold laugh.
"Well, Obito-san was a victim just like us, and hasn't he finally seen the light?" Kisame argued on behalf of his old superior.
In a matter of seconds, the core members of the Akatsuki revealed themselves one by one. There was no need to ask, every single one of them had overheard the preceding conversation.