Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece

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"Then… a pleasant cooperation."

"…Cooperation indeed."

Black Zetsu gave Neji one last searching glance before sinking back into the ground, his form vanishing among the roots and soil.

The plan was vast, almost too vast, but if it freed Kaguya, nothing else mattered. Whatever schemes this "Nian" had, they were secondary to his ultimate goal.

…

Neji stood in the clearing, watching where Zetsu had disappeared. Slowly, his gaze lifted to the sky, piercing through clouds toward the pale glow of the moon.

"So the agreement's sealed. Now the pieces can begin moving."

Black Zetsu couldn't control Obito or Nagato directly, but it could influence them. That was enough. Let them chase the Four-Tails and Six-Tails. As for the Eight-Tails… he knew it would walk right into their hands when the time came.

"To play the final villain, the one who stands against the entire shinobi world… an interesting role." He smirked faintly. "But first… I'll claim the Dragon Vein at Rōran."

His body flickered and vanished. The calm before the storm had ended.

…

Deep in a cavern, Black Zetsu returned to where Obito waited. From the shadows, the masked man's single Sharingan glowed faintly red.

"You took your time. Did you find Sasori's trail?"

"No. But I found something else… the D-Organization's 'Nian.'"

"Nian…" Obito repeated quietly, his voice carrying a thoughtful edge.

"He proposed cooperation," Black Zetsu explained.

"Cooperation?"

"He has both the Two-Tails and the Three-Tails. If we want the full set of Tailed Beasts, we'll have to deal with him."

Obito's eye narrowed. "The Two-Tails as well…? I couldn't find him, yet he found me."

Black Zetsu added bluntly, "Not only can we not defeat him."

That silence hung heavy. Then Obito asked, "What are his terms?"

"When we capture the Four-Tails and Six-Tails, he wants to take a fragment of their chakra for himself. Nothing more. And…"

Obito waited.

"…He intends to destroy Akatsuki."

That gave Obito pause. He had built Akatsuki as his tool, but its survival wasn't essential. Still, the arrogance of the demand rankled him.

Black Zetsu continued, "In exchange, he'll eventually hand over the Two-Tails and Three-Tails. He also claims… the Nine-Tails will be provided by him."

Obito's Sharingan spun faintly. "Bold words."

He remembered well that it had taken a night of manipulation, opportunity, and Kushina's weakened state for him to wrench the Nine-Tails free. For anyone to "provide" it so casually… The thought was laughable. And yet… tempting.

"…Very well. For now, we'll play along. How do we contact him?"

"He left this."

Black Zetsu produced a black, rectangular object. With a touch of chakra, its screen lit up with strange symbols and glowing icons.

"A device…?"

"He called it a 'phone.' With chakra, it can reach him directly." Black Zetsu quickly demonstrated its functions, pressing the buttons with unnerving precision.

Obito studied it silently, then tucked it into his cloak. "…If it serves our purpose, I'll use it. Handle the rest. I'll deal with Nagato."

"Understood."

Zetsu slipped away, leaving Obito alone with the glowing screen for a moment before space twisted and drew him into Kamui's void.

…

Rain drizzled eternally over Amegakure. In the tallest tower, Pain and Konan paused mid-step as they felt the shift in chakra. Obito stepped from the shadows, his masked face half-hidden.

"There's news. The Two-Tails and Three-Tails have been taken by D-Organization. If you want to claim the Eight and Nine-Tails, you'll have to accelerate your plans."

His voice was calm, authoritative — the voice of "Madara."

"Four-Tails and Six-Tails must be captured immediately. If they fall into D's hands, everything unravels."

His body melted back into the shadows, gone as quickly as he appeared.

Pain turned his Rinnegan outward, gazing into the endless curtain of rain. Konan's eyes narrowed beside him.

"Accelerate the plan," Pain ordered. "Send Kakuzu and Hidan after the next target. Deidara and Tobi will hunt the Six-Tails. Kisame and Itachi will capture the Four-Tails."

Konan inclined her head. "Understood."

Pain's gaze hardened. The existence of D-Organization was disruptive, but no obstacle was insurmountable. If this 'Nian' appeared before him, he would crush him as he had crushed countless others.

For a god, there was no room for error.

…

Across the continent, Akatsuki members received their new orders.

Kakuzu and Hidan, the "Immortal Duo," fumed as they stood on the borders of the Hidden Cloud.

"We tracked the Two-Tails all this way, and someone else got to her first?!" Hidan spat, rage bubbling. "I wasted so much time waiting to offer her as a sacrifice to Jashin-sama!"

Kakuzu shot him a sharp look. "Enough. She's gone. We move to the next target."

He unrolled a map, fingers stabbing at the Fire Country. "The Fire Temple. That's where we strike next."

A wicked grin spread across Hidan's face. "Finally. A proper offering."

Kakuzu tucked the map and bounty list into his cloak. "Just don't screw it up. If we fail again, the consequences will be… unpleasant."

The two vanished into the trees, their path set.

The game board had shifted. The plans of gods, rebels, and avengers now tangled tighter than ever.

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