Bab 148: Chapter 148
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"Itachi, it's the first time I've seen you in such a sorry state."
In a distorted space, Obito, wearing an Akatsuki uniform and an orange spiral mask, suddenly appeared beside Itachi. Noticing Itachi's battered condition, Obito narrowed his eyes and greeted him.
Itachi paused his attempt to set the transfer seal and, after coughing heavily, asked with an expressionless face, "Why are you here?"
"That's something I should be asking you. Akatsuki strictly forbids members from acting alone. If I hadn't gone to the trouble of tracking you down, your situation could have turned out badly," Obito replied coolly.
In truth, when Itachi learned of Sasuke's recent activities, Obito, who understood Itachi very well, knew that he would certainly go looking for Sasuke.
Intending to gauge Gensou's strength through Itachi, Obito did not stop him and even sent Zetsu to follow Itachi discreetly, ready to relay information at any time.
However, Obito overlooked one thing: having spent so much time in Akatsuki, Itachi had already grown quite familiar with the nature of Zetsu.
By intentionally concealing his whereabouts, Itachi ensured that even with Zetsu's tracking abilities, the best he could do was follow at a distance, resulting in Obito arriving a bit late.
Luckily, he had still made it in time.
Looking at Itachi, who had always kept him cautious, now in such a weakened state, Obito turned his attention to Gensou. Gensou stood casually, observing Obito as if he were a mere passerby, with no trace of surprise or tension in his demeanor.
Obito's eyes behind his mask narrowed slightly.
'So this is the man who was once considered Madara's equal?'
Though Obito now claimed to be "Uchiha Madara" in the current shinobi world, he was well aware of the difference between himself and the real Madara.
Even when Madara was on the brink of death, his body aged and reliant on the Gedo Statue to sustain his life, the aura that Madara emitted with every action and word was something Obito could never forget.
If Madara could exude such presence even in his dying moments, one could only imagine the strength of Hagoromo Gensou, who had been Madara's equal in his prime.
'It seems the legends are indeed true!'
Despite possessing the Mangekyō Sharingan and legendary weapons like the Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror, Itachi had been utterly defeated, while Gensou stood there with his attire barely ruffled.
Even with Kamui at his disposal, Obito had no choice but to remain on high alert.
"I'll send you to rest first," Obito said, grabbing Itachi's shoulder as the spiral-shaped power of Kamui emanated from the eye behind his mask, preparing to absorb Itachi into the Kamui dimension.
Though Obito had his reservations about Itachi, he knew that Itachi could still be valuable in the upcoming battles to capture the tailed beasts. Furthermore, Obito had not forgotten that Itachi had a younger brother.
The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan was something Obito had been eager to obtain for a long time.
As for Sasuke, who was likely to inherit the Eternal Mangekyō, the fact that he was allied with Gensou was an obstacle Obito was willing to navigate.
After all, Itachi's death had to be timed perfectly.
Facing the power of Kamui, Itachi, fully aware of his current state, did not resist. If possible, he wanted to spend his remaining time focusing on Sasuke.
As for the scene of the two legendary figures from the Warring States era, Gensou and "Uchiha Madara," meeting again, Itachi, knowing that Obito was not the real Madara, found himself uninterested.
In an instant, Itachi vanished.
Obito let out a sigh of relief.
He had expected Gensou to intervene, but to his surprise, Gensou had made no move.
What was going on?
At the same time, Gensou watched calmly as Itachi was absorbed into the Kamui dimension, his expression unchanged.
Itachi was the key to Sasuke unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan. Gensou had no intention of interfering with that.
Since Obito had taken the initiative to intervene, Gensou had no objections.
Now, only two remained on the battlefield.
The ominous flames of Amaterasu continued to burn, consuming everything they touched.
Gensou did not immediately reveal Obito's true identity but instead spoke in a detached tone, "Another Uchiha?"
Unlike his interactions with others, Obito refrained from claiming to be Madara in front of Gensou. After all, the man before him had dealt with the real Madara on numerous occasions.
"It's no wonder they say you are a man who stands shoulder to shoulder with gods. I'm Tobi of the Akatsuki. It's an honor to meet you, Lord Gensou," Obito introduced himself.
"First one Akatsuki member, and now another. Is this your way of declaring war on me?" Gensou dusted off his clothes, speaking as if he didn't care.
"Of course not. What you've seen were the actions of Itachi alone, not a reflection of Akatsuki's intentions," Obito clarified. Then, realizing that Gensou, being a relic of the Warring States era, likely possessed knowledge far beyond his own, Obito decided to show his sincerity by revealing a secret.
"Itachi sought to take Sasuke for one reason: to obtain his Sharingan. Only by fusing a brother's Sharingan can the Mangekyō evolve to a higher level."
As expected, Gensou showed no surprise and nodded in understanding, "Just like Madara and Izuna."
Only the roles were reversed.
In the past, it was the younger brother, Izuna, who had elevated Madara.
In the future, it would likely be the elder brother, Itachi, who would elevate Sasuke.
"Izuna? Madara?"
Obito was taken aback.
He had stumbled upon a significant secret.
During his time with Madara, the old Uchiha had never shared the details of Izuna's fate. While Madara had explained that a brother's Mangekyō Sharingan could evolve into the Eternal Mangekyō, he never revealed that he himself had undergone this transformation.
'No wonder Madara knew so much about it. How did he manage to acquire his brother's Mangekyō Sharingan? Murder?'
Unaware of the specifics of the Warring States era, Obito thought such a method suited the shadowy and manipulative nature of the Madara he had known.
But Madara was dead.
Though Obito had agreed to revive him, he had never intended to follow through with it. Pushing thoughts of the man who had shaped his path to the back of his mind, Obito turned to Gensou and earnestly said, "Itachi's actions do not reflect Akatsuki's will. Akatsuki is not your enemy. On the contrary, with the Five Great Shinobi Villages as our common adversary, Akatsuki could be your ally, even your own people!"
As he spoke, a flash of inspiration struck Obito, prompting him to extend an invitation:
"Lord Gensou, would you be interested in joining Akatsuki?"
(End of Chapter)
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone