As expected, Obito lost.
After Izanagi ended, Obito didn't even last ten seconds before being defeated by Nagato and the others.
Currently, Obito lay dying on the water's surface.
Sasori's puppet bound his lower body, Kakuzu's black threads wrapped around his upper body, Deidara's mini clay spiders had already burrowed into his flesh, while Itachi lavishly maintained Susano'o, wary with the Totsuka Sword in hand.
In fact, Nagato's black rods pierced Obito's limbs, locking away his remaining, meager chakra.
In this condition, even Madara couldn't turn the tables.
Both of Obito's eyes were blind, unable to see at all; he could only vaguely sense that Nagato and the others were surrounding him.
Obito spat out blood, muttering weakly:
"Finally lost, huh? I'm not willing..."
Nagato stood before Obito, asking flatly.
"Tell me, who are you really?!"
"I am Nagato! The leader of Akatsuki, Uzumaki Nagato!"
"There's no one behind me. No one is controlling me."
"Really you? How could—"
"Go in peace. About Black Zetsu deceiving you, it won't be long before I send him to join you..."
"Black Zetsu? He... he deceived me? He was just—"
"He wasn't created from Madara's will, but rather a product of the Goddess Kaguya thousands of years ago. He was just using you and Madara. There's no salvation at all! The perfect illusion world of the Infinite Tsukuyomi is just a fantasy—all humans will be killed!"
Hearing this, Obito opened his mouth wide, blood continuing to flow, showing how shocked he was.
This was even more devastating than when Kakashi stole his virginity—directly collapsing his entire worldview!
"How... how do you know? This... it's impossible..."
"A Sage told me. Obito, you and I are the same—just fools used by Black Zetsu..."
Obito was completely shattered.
Now, Nagato was most likely not lying—he wasn't the type who was good at lying either.
So what he said was true?
The Infinite Tsukuyomi was a lie from beginning to end?
He and Madara were just pawns of Black Zetsu? Fooled all this time?
This information was too shocking, almost filling the remaining capacity of Obito's already nearly depleted brain...
But Nagato didn't give Obito much time to think. His goal was just to make Obito die with a clear understanding.
"Alright, last words are done. It's time for you to go."
Nagato took a black rod, preparing to deliver the final blow.
"Me, me! Let me blow him up!"
Deidara exclaimed, wanting to kill Obito himself, seeking revenge for being played.
He prepared to detonate the clay spider inside Obito's body.
"That's enough. Leave the corpse intact, it might still be useful later."
Nagato stopped Deidara.
Whether to be used as a Pain puppet or revived with Edo Tensei, the corpse and its genetic material were needed.
This was also a final form of respect for Obito.
"You're going to revive me again... You—"
"Depends on future needs. Besides, they say the afterlife is managed by the Sage of Six Paths. If you happen to meet him, ask for his opinion on this ruined ninja world."
After saying this, Nagato plunged the black rod into Obito's heart—ending the life of the masked man who had manipulated Akatsuki for over a decade.
"This... is he really dead? He won't suddenly come back to life, will he?"
Deidara was still not satisfied.
He approached Obito's corpse, checking if it was truly dead.
The chance to show off his explosion art was missed—he'd make a note of it, and next time it would be doubled!
"Deidara, enough. There's no need to insult the corpse."
Nagato reprimanded him. As the leader of Akatsuki, he also fulfilled the duty that Onoki, as Deidara's teacher, should have done.
Deidara pouted but stopped his actions.
"Sasori, store the body."
Sasori released a sealing puppet, securing Obito's corpse to prevent theft.
According to Nagato, Kabuto—Orochimaru's subordinate—was digging up graves everywhere.
They couldn't let Obito's corpse be stolen and revived—that would be troublesome.
After Obito's corpse was secured, Kisame, who had been silent all this time, finally couldn't hold back.
With his wounded body, he approached Nagato and asked with confusion:
"Boss, what you said earlier, was it true?"
"About Black Zetsu being the real mastermind? The Infinite Tsukuyomi will only destroy the world?"
"This... how could this be? Then what is still real?!"
Kisame also couldn't accept it.
His life had been like a tragedy.
Betrayed by his teammates, betrayed by his superiors, even betrayed by the Mizukage he trusted...
This chain of betrayals made Kisame hate this cruel and false world.
If the real world was full of lies and cruelty—it was better to create a purely false illusion world, at least without suffering...
That was Kisame's reason for Enjoy reading on NovelHub - your free online novel platform.
Now Nagato suddenly said Obito was also deceived, the Infinite Tsukuyomi was fake!
He found it hard to accept...
If even his last goal was fake, what else was real in this world?
Itachi seemed to understand Kisame's despair.
He approached, patted Kisame's shoulder, and said softly: "At least you and I are real. This world is indeed cruel, but don't hope for an illusion world. The meaning of death is so that someone can live better—reducing a little evil in the world..."
"Kisame, haven't you asked me this before? This is the answer I got before I died..."
As one of the most skilled ninja in genjutsu, Itachi was actually the most opposed to being swayed by an illusion world—and now his answer remained the same.
"Itachi, this is your answer?"
"I understand. Thank you..."
Kisame sighed, feeling a little better.
In this damn world, at least he and Itachi were real—that was enough!
"Huh... what are you two talking about? It sounds disgusting!" Deidara grumbled while playing with his clay.
"Hmph! You and Sasori are the same!" Kakuzu muttered cynically.
"What? What did you say, you stingy old man? Want to fight?"
Deidara lunged at Kakuzu, starting to fight again.
Seeing this familiar and chaotic scene, Nagato unconsciously smiled slightly.
It seemed that the Akatsuki he knew had returned...