"Konan... I want you to prepare yourself, it's time to start with the plan" - said Nagato seriously.
"Are you sure? - asked Konan with concern.
"Yes, it is better that we do so now that Obito has not yet mastered his Rinnegan perfectly," answered Nagato seriously.
"Ok..." - Konan nodded seriously - "Tell me what I have to do"
"It's easy, I want you to gather everything important and prepare to escape when I tell you to, we need Akatsuki, the real Akatsuki to stay alive" - said Nagato seriously. After seeing the change in his only friend and seeing the actions Obito had taken with his beloved group, he understood that it was time to turn the tables.
Konan remained silent before releasing a sigh full of regret - "Ok... just don't forget that I am still here to help you"
". . ." - Nagato closed his eyes for a few seconds before nodding - "Ok, I'll take that into account"
* * * * *
"Has anyone seen Kurama-kun? - asked Mei as she looked around, only to frown when she didn't see the redhead anywhere.
It had been two days since Kurama had disappeared after he said he was going to gather information about Akatsuki.
"I don't know, but I can assure you that he is fine," Kushina said seriously. "Maybe something happened, and he is a little busy right now"
"It is possible, although there are not many things that can cause him to waste his time..." - said Tsunade while b.r.e.a.s.tfeeding her babies - "If I had to say some things that could stop Kurama, it's possibly a woman"
". . ." - the other women of the Uzumaki clan only gave her a blank stare although they had to admit it was one of the few reasons that would stop him.
"Although I don't think that's it this time," responded Kushina as she shook her head, only to feel all the women looking at her - "You can consider it a wife's instinct"
"Okay, let's leave that for another time, now we have to concentrate on this" - said Kurenai as she pointed to the letter they had received.
"Kushina sensei!" - exclaimed Yugao as she rushed into the room - "We've got news from Ame!"
"!" - Kushina opened her eyes in surprise when she heard her student's words, only to have her expression change when she heard the content of the message.
"OK, this was something I never thought possible" - said Anko while raising an eyebrow because she was surprised at the fact that two Akatsuki members were fighting at Amegakure no Sato.
"I think the same thing, I don't understand how the leader of Akatsuki is now fighting the Uchiha" - said Ino as she tilted her head.
"Maybe Akatsuki's leader had a change of heart?" - asked Hinata as she looked at the others.
* * * * *
"Shinra Tensei!" - exclaimed Nagato with his Deva Path.
"Shinra Tensei!" - roared Obito as the two bodies of the shinobis flew away.
". . ." - Pain only frowned as he grunted in irritation - "You are better than I thought"
"You don't fall behind" - answered Obito while he looked at his opponent - "Although it is a surprise that you decided to attack at this moment... tell me, what made you risk coming to fight me?"
"Not putting up with your shit anymore" - answered Nagato with neutrality, only to fly away in the direction of his opponent - "Ugh..."
"Bansho Ten'in" - answered Obito while extending his hand - "Believe me, I had also wished to eliminate you once and for all, after all, you are a pain in the ass"
* * *
"Why are you running, Konan?!" - exclaimed Black Zetsu as he burst out laughing madly. He was chasing the blue-haired woman who was running away - "I promise I won't torture you if you stop and give us 'it'!
". . ." - Konan did not answer him, she just continued to run away at full speed.
"Tch" - Zetsu clicked his tongue as he disappeared into the earth, only to reappear in front of the woman - "OK, that's enough of the games, now I want you to hand it over".
". . ." - Konan quickly stepped back as he squinted - "Don't even think about it, I don't plan on giving you that thing even if it's the last thing I do"
"Too bad, I wanted to give you a quick and painless death, but I guess you don't appreciate my good intentions," replied Zetsu as he shook his head.
"Ugh..." - Konan could only let out a groan of pain as something penetrated her back, a sharp metal object that she knew very well. She slowly turned to see who was responsible, only to notice how Menma was looking at her with her cold blue eyes - "Namikaze... Menma... I knew you would betray us..."
"Don't blame me, blame Zetsu for having my leash..." - Menma responded with neutrality as he looked at the woman - "I'm sorry..."
"At least he apologized although it wasn't very convincing" - said Zetsu while he was laughing - "But well, it was fun while it lasted, now, give me that..."
". . ." - Konan looked at Zetsu, then at Menma.
"I still don't understand why you need the rings," said Menma as she looked at the black identity.
"You don't need to know, you just need to get them back and end this annoying little bitch's life," Zetsu replied with disdain as he felt Menma's anger grow.
"Ok..." - replied Menma, only to open his eyes in surprise when he saw the blue-haired woman take out a familiar scroll - "That's..."
"Kai!" - exclaimed Konan as she injected some of her chakra into the scroll that Kurama had given her, only to feel her chakra begin to increase dramatically.
"That chakra... Is the chakra of the Kyubi!" - exclaimed Zetsu in surprise, only to scream in pain as countless paper figures began to surround him and Menma - ". . ."
"This power may not be mine, but it is only enough to destroy you for trying to kill me..." - exclaimed Konan fiercely - "Shikigami no Mai - Arashi (Shikigami Dance - Storm)!"
"Tch" - Zetsu could only click his tongue in irritation because he had not thought that things would end this way - "Mokuton: Moku Shuriken no Jutsu (Wood Release: Wood Shuriken Jutsu)!"
"Katon: Hikari Karyuu no Jutsu (Release of Fire: Light of the Dire Dragon Jutsu)!" - exclaimed Menma as a huge golden fireball flew out of his mouth in the direction of Konan, who simply ignored the attack as it burned her body to ashes - "A clone..."
"Kami Bunshin (Paper Clone)..." - whispered Konan as four similar silhouettes surrounded Menma's body - "Devanāgarī Kami (Paper Chakram)..."
Four huge paper chakram surrounded Menma's body, only to continue expanding at great speed as the woman's chakra continued to increase.
"It is time..." - said Konan as she made a new hand seal - "This is for you, you blonde idiot... Katsu!"
"!" - Zetsu and Menma opened their eyes in surprise when they heard this, only to notice how all the techniques Konan had launched were now made up of explosive seals.
*Bang!
* * * * *
". . ." - Nagato watched Obito closely, only to notice how the black-haired man was breathing heavily - "You don't understand the power of a god at all... having the Rinnegan is just a curse for someone like you"
". . ." - Obito just looked neutrally at the Uzumaki, only to start releasing his whole chakra - "You may have more experience with the Rinnegan, but unlike you, my Rinnegan is of my own"
"The Rinnegan is mine, I've always had it," replied Nagato as Deva spread his hands.
"I'm sorry to tell you that's not true" - answered Obito while he burst out laughing madly - "Fulfill my goal... boy"
"!" - Nagato opened his eyes when he heard Obito's words, only to feel as if something that had been hidden in the depths of his mind was reappearing before his eyes.
Memories of his childhood appeared in his eyes, how his parents were killed by a White Zetsu, how an old man found him when he was starving and took him to an unknown place, how he lost his vision for a few seconds before feeling how the world seemed much brighter, he could even remember the words the man said to him.
"Fulfill my goal, boy, follow my instructions and I promise you that I will give you the power to get your revenge"
"Who... are you?" - asked the young Nagato in pain.
"My name is not important... but if you want to know it so badly, I suppose I will give you the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e, although later I will have to make you forget because I cannot announce my presence yet"
The young Nagato only looked at the old man in confusion because he did not understand what he was trying to say.
"My name is a curse filled with hatred, my name is synonymous with chaos, power and betrayal, my name is---"
"Uchiha... Madara..." - grunted Nagato as he grumbled over the pain of his new memories - "I always knew... that's why I never believed you were Madara..."
Obito did not reply, he just threw himself at the still exhausted Nagato with a smile on his face.