Obito, Danzo, and Orochimaru

Deep within the mountains of the Land of Rain, the endless drizzle fell relentlessly.

Danzo had fled all the way to this remote location, taking shelter inside a dark cave, his expression still haunted by lingering fear.

Not long ago, he was the Advisor to the Hokage of Konoha, a towering figure second only to one and respected by thousands. Yet now, he was not only reduced to a rogue ninja, but all his subordinates had perished, and the foundation he had painstakingly built over decades had vanished overnight.

Danzo experienced the profound depths of what it truly meant to be at the end of one's rope.

Why? Why had it come to this?

With this bitter thought, he raised his cane and struck the stony ground with fury, his knuckles tightening until the veins on the back of his hand bulged violently.

Just as Danzo was fuming in helpless rage, a chilling sound echoed through the cavern.

*Hiss, hiss, hiss...*

Accompanied by the sound of a serpent darting its tongue, a pale snake slithered in from outside the cave, transforming with a soft puff into the figure of Orochimaru.

"Heh... heh..." Orochimaru leaned against the damp wall, gasping for breath. His face was even paler than usual, making him appear utterly exhausted.

Though he was the leader of the legendary Sannin, facing adversaries like the Rinnegan-wielder Nagato, Hoshigaki Kisame, and Obito made him look like a fledgling among novices.

To have survived at all was already a stroke of immense fortune.

However, before Orochimaru could even catch his breath, Danzo turned on him with a furious glare and a dark, menacing expression, demanding sharply:

"Orochimaru, didn't you claim that Jiraiya's disciple was thoroughly mediocre? What on earth was going on with that red-haired boy, and how much did you actually keep from me regarding those eyes of his?"

Danzo believed that Orochimaru's faulty intelligence had led to inadequate preparations, ultimately causing their entire force to be annihilated.

"Do not forget, it was you who originally proposed coming to the Land of Rain, and attacking the Akatsuki was entirely your idea as well."

Orochimaru replied coldly, showing not an ounce of deference to Danzo, his former superior.

At that moment, both men narrowed their eyes as they locked gazes, the atmosphere within the cave dropping to a freezing chill.

Danzo and Orochimaru, two villains who had previously conspired together, were now at their wits' end and desperately shifting blame onto each other, looking dangerously close to a complete falling out.

Right at that very moment—

"Hehe, do you gentlemen need some assistance?"

A mocking, irritating voice suddenly resonated through the cavern.

"Who's there?!" Danzo and Orochimaru tensed simultaneously, their eyes darting rapidly across the surroundings.

Under their wary and suspicious gazes, Zetsu, with his head encased in a Venus flytrap-like structure, emerged upward from the earthen floor.

Had they been tracked?

Upon seeing Zetsu, Danzo did not immediately attack; instead, he demanded in a deep voice, "Who are you, and what is your purpose?"

"Like you, we are avengers."

Another voice drifted in from outside the cave. Orochimaru and Danzo turned toward the source, immediately spotting the figure of Obito standing at the entrance.

Obito spread his arms, walked over to stand opposite Orochimaru, and then removed the mask from his face, greeting the latter with a smile:

"Lord Orochimaru, it has been a while."

"It really is you, Uchiha Obito. I see you somehow managed not to die."

Upon recognizing the visitor's face, Orochimaru's pupils contracted in genuine astonishment.

Obito?

Hearing this name, Danzo looked closer, studying the young man carefully before his own expression mirrored that of profound surprise.

During his tenure in charge of the ROOT division, Danzo had frequently poached talent from various Konoha clans. He still retained a vague memory of Obito, the runner-up of the Chunin Exams.

However, back then, Obito's personality had been far too bright and lively, leading Danzo to conclude that he lacked "the aptitude for darkness" and was unsuitable for ROOT. Thus, he had never approached him.

In hindsight, that judgment had clearly been a mistake...

From Orochimaru's words, Danzo learned that Obito had supposedly died long ago, yet here he stood, alive and breathing. What on earth was the truth behind all this?

"There is no need for haste, gentlemen. Please, hear my story."

Sensing the suspicion in their eyes, Obito walked over to a nearby boulder, sat down, crossed his legs, and began to recount his tale in a calm, unhurried manner.

Naturally, it was a heavily adapted version—a blend of truth and deception.

Obito omitted the existence of Uchiha Madara, claiming only that he had miraculously survived the ordeal of the battlefield, awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan in the process. He also touched upon his grievances with Hoshigaki Kisame.

"Because of Hoshigaki Kisame, I lost the woman I cherished most and had one of my eyes stolen. You two, likewise, have been driven to your current plight because of him. Since all three of us share a common enemy, shouldn't we unite to exact our revenge upon Kisame?"

Having concluded his narrative, Obito finally revealed the true purpose of his visit.

"Exact revenge on Kisame?"

After listening, Orochimaru shook his head and replied skeptically, "Obito, you must realize that even if the three of us joined forces, we would hardly be a match for Hoshigaki Kisame, would we?"

"That is precisely why I came to the Land of Rain—to seek out the legendary wielder of the Rinnegan, that red-haired boy named Nagato. Regrettably, my efforts were once again disrupted by Hoshigaki Kisame."

Obito sighed, openly admitting the original objective of his journey.

Hearing this, Danzo finally realized that those terrifying eyes were called the Rinnegan. Moreover, the man who had claimed to be Uchiha Madara was actually Hoshigaki Kisame.

Looking at Orochimaru's undisturbed composure, Danzo suspected that the snake-like Sannin had been privy to this intelligence all along.

Realizing that he alone had been left completely in the dark, ignorant of everything, Danzo grew even more furious, his face darkening with intense malice.

"The good news, however, is that Kisame failed to control Nagato or seize the Rinnegan, which means we still have a chance."

Obito stood up, spread his arms wide, and extended his invitation once more. "Therefore, I hope the two of you will cooperate with me. As long as we find Nagato, persuade him to join our ranks, and expand the Akatsuki together, not only can we exact our revenge on Kisame in the future, but crushing Konoha and Kirigakure, and ultimately uniting the entire ninja world, will no longer be an idle dream!"

This passionate speech failed to move either Orochimaru or Danzo. Both were cunning old foxes; how could they possibly be swayed by Obito's empty promises of grandeur?

Sensing their skepticism, Obito—who had anticipated this reaction—reached into his sleeve and produced two glass test tubes containing emerald-green tendrils of Hashirama's cells.

"I know that both of you have been researching Hashirama's cells for quite some time. I happen to possess far superior results, which I am willing to share with you unconditionally."

With these words, he tossed the two test tubes separately toward Orochimaru and Danzo.

Years ago, Uchiha Madara had bitten a piece of flesh from Senju Hashirama. After awakening the Rinnegan, he had continuously cultivated Hashirama's cells utilizing the power of those eyes.

Madara's research into Hashirama's cells far exceeded anything Orochimaru could ever hope to achieve.

True to expectations, upon receiving the gift, Orochimaru was instantly captivated. Staring unblinkingly at the budding cells within the tube, he murmured softly:

"Flawless... simply flawless..."

Extremely satisfied with the other's reaction, Obito smiled again and addressed them individually:

"Orochimaru, as long as you cooperate with me, I will hand over all my research data on Hashirama's cells and Wood Release. Danzo, I can help you ascend to the leadership of Konoha, giving you the opportunity to become Hokage one day. In return, I ask for only one thing—the corpse of Hoshigaki Kisame."

The two men exchanged glances. Ultimately, unable to resist the temptation, they accepted Obito's terms.

Thus, the trio embarked on the exact same boat.

Yet, considering their immediate circumstances, Orochimaru quickly raised a practical dilemma:

"Where are we supposed to find Nagato? Although the Land of Rain is far smaller than the Five Great Nations, it is still a vast territory. If the wielder of the Rinnegan is determined to hide, we may never find him."

"We require more manpower."

Danzo echoed the sentiment. Accustomed to a life of luxury and having others cater to his every whim, the prospect of personally running around to search for someone was out of the question.

"My plan is... to first unify the Land of Rain, and then mobilize the entire strength of this nation to conduct a carpet search."

Obito dropped this startling declaration.

"Unify it how? With just the few of us?"

Orochimaru shook his head, rejecting Obito's notion on the spot while offering a warning: "Even if we could accomplish that, the process would inevitably draw the attention of Konoha and Hoshigaki Kisame, leading to our downfall all the same."

Both he and Danzo independently concluded that Obito's plan was reckless and naive.

"No, no, no. We do not need to lift a finger; the one who will act is Sunagakure."

Obito wagged his finger, delivering yet another shocking statement. "Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure, will soon launch a war against the Hidden Rain Village and annex the entire Land of Rain. Gentlemen, please follow me."

With an air of lingering mystery, he turned and strode out of the cave.

Danzo and Orochimaru exchanged glances once more, both reading the astonishment mirrored in each other's eyes. Recovering their senses, they hurried to follow him.

Three days later, during the dead of night.

Within the borders of the Land of Wind, the village of Sunagakure.

Heavy clouds obscured the moon. Under the shroud of pitch-black darkness, Sunagakure was wrapped in profound silence. Lights burned sparsely, and the vast majority of villagers were fast asleep in deep slumber.

At the village gates, two on-duty chunin guards were yawning lazily from boredom.

Suddenly, with two dull thuds, both guards collapsed onto the ground without warning. Their bodies bore no physical wounds, but their eyes were glazed over—clearly, they had fallen victim to some form of illusion.

Three figures draped in black cloaks and deep hoods emerged silently from the shadows.

"The lights in the Kazekage Building are still on. It seems Rasa has yet to sleep. Truly a diligent Kazekage."

One of them remarked mockingly. Shortly after, he effortlessly dismantled the outer barrier of Sunagakure, and the trio slipped into the village without a sound, heading straight for the Kazekage Building.

Ten minutes later.

Inside a well-lit room, Rasa, with his short brown hair, stood watch by a cradle, gazing down at two sleeping children.

His one-year-old eldest daughter, Temari, and his newborn eldest son, Kankuro.

Having recently assumed the mantle of the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa had already established immense prestige within the village through his formidable power and unyielding, iron-fist methods.

Usually stern and devoid of smiles, it was only in moments like this that he displayed a rare, tender side.

At that moment, a young woman with sandy-brown hair walked in from the hallway, resting a hand gently upon Rasa's shoulder.

"You've been busy all day and must be exhausted. You should go rest early. I'll take care of the children."

She spoke softly, a faint smile gracing her lips and her eyes brimming with warmth.

This woman was Rasa's wife, Karura.

Hearing her voice, Rasa turned around, grasped his wife's hand, and said with tender consideration: "I am not tired. It is you who just gave birth; you ought to be the one resting properly."

With that, he pulled Karura gently into his embrace.

"My, what an affectionate couple."

Suddenly, a terribly out-of-place voice echoed from the doorway, shattering their intimate moment.

Rasa was instantly startled. Pulling Karura behind him to shield her, he snapped his gaze toward the entrance. Three figures had walked in, lowering their hoods to reveal three unfamiliar faces.

"Who are you? Guards!"

While demanding answers, Rasa attempted to summon the guards stationed outside the Kazekage Building.

"Save your breath; they have already fallen. Rasa, I require your service."

Obito stepped forward, fixing a burning gaze upon Rasa. His three-tomoe Sharingan instantly transformed into the Mangekyo pattern, unleashing a powerful surge of ocular chakra fluctuations.

"Require my allegiance? Don't make me laugh!"

Rasa sneered coldly. Instantly forming hand seals, he prepared to unleash his Magnet Release bloodline limit to subdue these three uninvited guests in one fell swoop.

Yet, halfway through his hand seals, his movements abruptly froze. His eyes morphed into the pattern of the Sharingan, and he stood rigidly in place, completely immobilized.

"Rasa!"

Seeing this, Karura turned pale with shock and terror. Just as she moved to intervene, she too inadvertently fell under the influence of the genjutsu, standing frozen like a statue.

Within mere seconds, both husband and wife had been reduced to Obito's puppets.

"Rasa, what is your next course of action?"

Obito looked down at the Fourth Kazekage before him and slowly asked.

"Initiate a war and invade the Hidden Rain Village," Rasa replied with a smile, his voice dripping with burning ambition.

Witnessing this scene, Orochimaru and Danzo could not help but exchange uneasy glances.

They had watched the entire process as Obito casually infiltrated Sunagakure, effortlessly subdued every obstacle using genjutsu along the way, and then manipulated the Fourth Kazekage with consummate ease.

Was this truly the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan?

It was utterly absurd.

Had they known that two successive Mizukage of Kirigakure had previously been controlled by the Sharingan as well, perhaps they would not have been quite so astonished.

Naturally, not every pair of Mangekyo eyes possessed such overwhelming ocular power.

Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Obito were exceptions: the former utilized a transplanted second-hand Sharingan, while the latter possessed only a single Mangekyo, yet their ocular might far surpassed that of individuals like Uchiha Fugaku, who possessed a natural pair of Mangekyos.

This was because both men had simultaneously mastered the powers of the Senju and the Uchiha, combining those dual capabilities to generate unimaginable might.

Obito's ocular power was vast enough to control the Nine-Tails; subduing a mere Kazekage like Rasa was child's play.

Regrettably, his genjutsu was useless against a near-inhuman monster like Hoshigaki Kisame. To defeat Kisame, one required even greater brute force to overwhelm him head-on.

Having successfully controlled Rasa, Obito turned around and boasted to Orochimaru and Danzo:

"Now, do you finally understand my plan?"

As he spoke, his single Mangekyo emitted an eerie, mesmerizing glow that compelled both men to avert their eyes, not daring to look directly at it.

A cold smile tugged at the corner of Obito's mouth as he reassured them, "Rest assured, you are my allies; I have no intention of using genjutsu to control you."

In truth, his own ocular power had its limits, preventing him from controlling multiple Kage-level powerhouses simultaneously. Otherwise, he would have subdued the pair of them long ago.

Danzo remained silent, but deep within his gaze, a fierce, covetous longing burned for Obito's Mangekyo Sharingan.

He couldn't help but fantasize: if only he had acquired this eye sooner, he would have cast a genjutsu on Sarutobi Hiruzen without a moment's hesitation, ordering the man to hand over the seat of Hokage to him.

Like Danzo, Orochimaru also lusted after the power of the Sharingan, but based on Obito's prior words and actions, he arrived at a singular conclusion: the ocular power of the Rinnegan far surpassed that of the Mangekyo Sharingan.

With this thought, Orochimaru became even more impatient to acquire Nagato's body and eyes.

"For now, we simply sit back and watch the show."

After issuing the directive for Rasa to assault the Hidden Rain Village, Obito spoke with a look of eager anticipation.

To the present Obito, war was nothing more than a game. He cared nothing for how many lives were lost—if nothing else, those people could simply be resurrected later within the world of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Stripped of all moral burdens, he could commit any evil act with a clear conscience, having truly and thoroughly descended into darkness.