Jie's voice sounded beside Obito's ear like a demon's whisper, and cold sweat instantly soaked Obito's back.
'When did he get behind me? I didn't notice him at all. If he had attacked just now, would I even have had time to use Kamui?'
For a moment, Obito did not even dare to breathe too loudly.
Feeling him stiffen, Jie smiled faintly and casually left a Flying Thunder God mark on him. Now, this rat hiding in his hole had truly lost any chance of escaping.
"Uchiha Madara, huh? You really think wearing someone else's name makes you impressive?"
Since the mark had been placed, Jie let go of Obito's shoulder. As long as Obito remained in the ninja world, Jie could track him.
Even the Kamui dimension was no longer completely safe. One small opening would be enough for Flying Thunder God to follow the mark straight to him.
Obito did not know what Jie was planning, but the moment that hand left his shoulder, he finally managed to breathe.
It had only been resting there lightly, yet it felt like a mountain pressing down on him.
Then he heard Jie's words and clenched his teeth. "I'm not wearing anyone's name. I am Uchiha Madara."
Jie almost laughed.
"I called you Uchiha Madara once, and you actually dared to answer. Do you really think I don't know who you are? ...Uchiha Obito."
"You hide behind Madara's name, pretending to be some mysterious mastermind, stirring up trouble everywhere… only to end up as someone else's fool."
"And still clinging to that stolen name like it means something. Hopeless."
Jie gave a disdainful laugh.
Obito's face darkened. Jie had truly recognized him.
Where had the information leaked? How did Jie know his identity?
Question after question flashed through Obito's mind, but he could not find an answer.
Black Zetsu also froze awkwardly after Jie appeared. He was still controlling Nagato's raised left arm. Taking the second eye was impossible now, but lowering the arm would be too obvious and might draw Jie's attention.
Besides, he did not believe he could take the second Rinnegan before Jie stopped him.
Jie, of course, had never let his guard down against this thousand-year-old schemer.
Although he seemed to be focused on Obito, his Thousand-Pupil Byakugan had been active the entire time.
Its three-hundred-sixty-degree vision stayed locked on Black Zetsu, giving him no chance to make a move in secret.
Through the Thousand-Pupil Byakugan, Nagato's thin body looked especially miserable. Seeing that, most of Jie's anger faded. Nagato had been using the Gedo Statue to smash him around earlier. Now, he had already paid a heavy price.
The scene fell silent.
Obito was still wondering how his identity had been exposed. Nagato was under Black Zetsu's control and could barely speak.
Black Zetsu did not dare draw Jie's attention.
As for Konan, she had been Jie's enemy moments ago, yet now she had to rely on him to survive. With the situation this complicated, she did not know what to say.
After another look at Nagato's miserable state, Jie's anger cooled.
Speaking of which, Nagato and Konan did have some connection to Konoha. They were both Jiraiya's disciples, and Jiraiya was now one of Jie's subordinates. For Jiraiya's sake, Jie decided to spare them this once.
Of course, there had to be a price.
Nagato's Rinnegan would belong to him, and Konan would have to stay in Konoha for a while as a tool to atone for her actions.
After all, anyone who could manage the Land of Rain so well clearly had some ability. More importantly, with her Paper Release ninjutsu, she was practically made for producing Explosive Tags.
Surely no one really thought Konan had bought that many Explosive Tags herself, right?
Even basic Explosive Tags cost money. With that amount, the cost would be far beyond what a group of missing-nin could earn through missions. If Akatsuki really had that much money, the Land of Rain would not still be in its current state.
So while some of those tags may have been bought, most of them had definitely been made by Konan herself.
Someone like Konan was basically a human money-printing machine. Letting her leave would be a waste. Besides, she had only stayed by Nagato's side from beginning to end. She had never personally attacked Konoha, so she had not crossed Jie's bottom line.
Taking all of that into account, Jie decided to give them a chance.
After organizing his words, Jie coughed lightly and spoke calmly.
"Konan. Nagato."
"I know you're Jiraiya's disciples, so you do have some connection to Konoha. For that reason, I can spare you this time."
Konan was stunned. Then she frowned. Even with Jiraiya's name involved, she knew Jie would not let them go that easily.
"But..."
The moment she heard that word, she knew Jie's conditions were coming next.
"...Akatsuki ends here, and Nagato's Rinnegan belongs to me."
"Konan, you'll make Explosive Tags for Konoha. Both of you will remain under Konoha's watch for the next twenty years, with no permission to leave the village."
"Accept those terms, and come back with me."
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