Facing the White Zetsu's ultimatum, Obito's anger flared in his heart. His right hand tightened around Spiral Zetsu's neck, looking as if he would strangle it to death.
However, Obito held back. He couldn't take that gamble. He couldn't lose either Kakashi or the Rinnegan!
Although he had the invincible Kamui, he genuinely couldn't operate both at the same time. Clones could indeed go rescue people simultaneously, but there were two special White Zetsu guarding here. As soon as he released a clone, the opponent would surely control the other White Zetsu to commit suicide together. So, using clones to save people was also impossible. Perhaps White Zetsu had also factored this in, daring to set this trap, right?
"Damn White Zetsu, I truly underestimated you!" Obito roared with a terrifying expression. It certainly didn't feel good to be suddenly slapped in the face by a stray dog on the roadside. Who told Obito to never care about these White Zetsu from beginning to end? Arrogance and pride were indeed the fundamental nature of every Uchiha; it's just that some Uchiha showed it more clearly, and some less so...
"Ugh, ugh—!"
"Obito, choose quickly! I'm curious which one you'll pick?" Spiral Zetsu was indeed half-mad; even facing the threat of death, it still just wanted to force Obito, to see him humiliated. There was no game more enjoyable for it than this.
"What do you want?"
"Now it's Obito's turn to ask what you want?"
"Release Kakashi, hand over the Rinnegan, and I can let you live!"
"Mere lives, do you think that can threaten us?"
"You're really not afraid of death?"
"Hehehe, I can lose, but don't expect to win!"
"You're asking for death!"
"Stop pretending, Obito, you don't have the heart to fight to the death, do you? I was once a part of you; no one knows you better than me. You don't have that courage, nor that resolve! You'll forever be a weak, immature pawn!"
Spiral Zetsu continued to mock, still provoking Obito as if it truly wasn't afraid of death, genuinely confident in Obito's nature. In response, Obito neither got angry nor raged; instead, he slightly raised the corner of his lips and released White Zetsu's neck.
"Do you really think you've already won?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you really think I've been hesitating and struggling to make a decision, talking nonsense with you all this time?"
"You..."
Spiral Zetsu's face suddenly changed, as if it had guessed something.
"Fool! I was waiting for Minato-sensei, what were you waiting for?"
As Obito's words fell, a whoosh! of yellow light shimmered, and a figure instantly appeared behind him. The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, appeared brilliantly, carrying the unconscious Kakashi on his shoulder, flying into this secret room...
Clearly, Obito wasn't alone now; behind him still stood Minato and the entire Konoha Village. They weren't just two mere White Zetsu that they could control!
Ever since White Zetsu used the Rinnegan and Kakashi as two trump cards to threaten Obito back, Minato had already begun to move secretly. Therefore, the reason Obito spoke nonsense with Spiral Zetsu for so long was merely to buy time, waiting for his teacher to succeed.
"Sensei, is Kakashi okay?"
Obito immediately asked. Although he was certain White Zetsu wouldn't kill Kakashi, worry still bewildered him. If he really had to choose one, Obito would give up the Rinnegan; after all, Kakashi was the most important!
"He's fine; his vital signs are normal. It just seems like he's suffered a little torment; he needs a good rest."
Minato smiled faintly, gesturing for Obito not to worry. With him taking action, the White Zetsu body part holding Kakashi hostage didn't even have time to react before it was immediately killed. It was no match at all.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
At the same time, seeing the Fourth Hokage appear, and having already rescued the hostage Kakashi, Spiral Zetsu was instantly shocked and realized that their side had been deceived!
Obito had the natural arrogance of an Uchiha in his heart, looking down on them as mere tools was normal; but Minato was different, that man never underestimated any opponent. With him personally intervening, the small tricks White Zetsu had set up were utterly meaningless!
"You... Namikaze Minato! Obito! You two..."
His beautiful dream shattered, falling from the clouds to the bottom of the abyss, Spiral Zetsu finally revealed a terrifying expression. It truly didn't expect that Obito betraying Konoha Village was enough, but why had his relationship with Minato become so good in such a short time? Hadn't he almost killed Minato's entire family before? Didn't the Fourth Hokage hate Obito? At the very least, he shouldn't trust Obito so much, right? It made no sense!
And Obito, of course, wouldn't explain anything. The "boundless happiness" of returning to Konoha, how could these emotionless White Zetsu understand it?
"Enough! You've lost!"
"It's time to end all this..."
Obito was slightly proud, but before he could properly enjoy the joy of victory, bad news suddenly arrived.
*WHOOSH!*
Another of Minato's clones suddenly returned and delivered the latest information:
"Failed, the Rinnegan is not in the secret room on the left."
"How can that be?"
Obito turned to look at the main White Zetsu body he was controlling with genjutsu. Just now, this person had clearly confirmed himself that the Rinnegan was in the secret room on the left; how could it suddenly disappear? Although his genjutsu ability wasn't the strongest, it was impossible for it to fail on ordinary White Zetsu. Obito was very certain that the information the main White Zetsu body provided earlier was true!
"There are traces of residual chakra in the secret room on the left. He shouldn't be lying; it's just that the White Zetsu body part carrying the Rinnegan has already escaped first..."
Minato's sensory ability was quite good; he easily guessed the truth.
"Right! Obito is stunned, isn't he?"
"You asked what I was waiting for? Of course, I was waiting for my other self to move the Rinnegan and escape!"
"You didn't really think we'd be so stupid as to wait for you to choose one, did you?"
Spiral Zetsu mocked again, its voice still irritating, making Obito's face flush. When Obito turned around and controlled the main White Zetsu body, the Gourd Zetsu carrying the Rinnegan had already received the information and fled underground. How could it still wait for Obito to take it?
"Damn it! Where did he take the Rinnegan?"
Obito was furious, his Sharingan and genjutsu active, instantly dominating this Spiral Zetsu and forcing an answer. This was his first important mission after returning to Konoha. Initially, it was a good opportunity to gain praise and improve his reputation; who would have thought he'd constantly be played by White Zetsu, losing face in the process. Obito was naturally very angry.
"D-don't know..." Spiral Zetsu answered intermittently.
"What?"
"Part of the plan, where that guy went, no need to tell us..."
That Gourd Zetsu was only tasked with taking the Rinnegan and hiding if anything unexpected happened. Therefore, even the main White Zetsu body itself wasn't sure where Gourd Zetsu would hide the Rinnegan. Unless it was confirmed to be completely safe, it would never take the initiative to appear.
"Damn it! You guys are truly this cunning!"
Obito's heart ached with anger. This was truly troublesome; Gourd Zetsu had taken the Rinnegan, and its whereabouts were unknown. This was tantamount to the situation returning to square one. And even worse than before! After all, Obito had already been exposed; next time, it would be impossible to trick it out again.
Even if they managed to capture the most important main White Zetsu body and Spiral Zetsu, the Rinnegan failed to be recovered, which was tantamount to this mission being a complete failure...
"Minato-sensei, I failed!"
Obito's heart was filled with anger and sorrow; he had once again disappointed his teacher! How could he atone for his sins now?
'Rin, the mission failed, perhaps I'll never meet you again...'