Mastermind of the Akatsuki

Bewilderment clouded Obito's face as he watched the scene unfold in White Zetsu's projection. Was this a genuine ninjutsu lesson? Or some cruel joke?

However, the two figures sparring on screen stirred a strange familiarity within him. Weren't those... Byakuya and Nagato? The same duo who'd saved Rin a while back?

A sudden realization struck him. Why do Nagato's eyes look like spirals? Could it be they'd disguised themselves during their encounter?

And what in the world was Uchiha Madara doing, intently observing these two?

Like, the people in the projection were still teens and an old man like Madara observing them seemed… a bit creepy if you ask Obito.

As if reading his mind, Madara spoke with an unnerving calmness.

"The Rinnegan, quite a sight, isn't it? Those were once my eyes. Now, mere replacements."

Obito furrowed his brow, confusion etching a line on his forehead.

"Replacements? But your eyes – they were Sharingan, weren't they?"

"Ordinary Sharingan evolves. It goes from three Tomoe, then Mangekyō. What's so outlandish about them eventually becoming the Rinnegan?"

Madara explained, his voice devoid of urgency.

"If those were originally yours, why are they in someone else's head?"

Obito pressed, suspicion hardening his resolve.

A slow smile crept across Madara's face.

"For the Eye of the Moon Plan. I will create a world free of pain, with no suffering. A world where everyone exists within a blissful illusion, aging peacefully until their inevitable deaths."

Obito scoffed, dismissing Madara's plan as the delusional rantings of a broken old man.

"A fabricated reality leading to an equally fabricated death? You're truly a joke, old man. I'm getting out of here once I repay my debt for saving my life. I want to live in reality."

Madara remained undisturbed by the youthful jabs.

"Back to the matter at hand. Nagato's talent surpasses yours, wouldn't you agree? Even without a ninjutsu scroll, he unlocked the Rinnegan's potential."

For the first time, Obito found himself speechless. There was no denying Nagato's prodigious talent, far exceeding his own.

However, in the next moment, Obito seemed to think of something and retorted.

"Maybe Nagato is more gifted but maybe your teaching methods are old and poor! Throwing a dusty scroll at me – who learns like that? If you'd actually guided me properly, wouldn't my progress be faster?!"

A satisfied smirk played on Madara's lips. The seed of doubt had been planted. Obito saught his guidance, a perfect opening for manipulation.

He only needed to bide his time, weaving a web of lies that would inevitably lead Obito down a path of despair, a path that would ultimately serve his grand scheme.

---

Inside the Akatsuki base.

The scene shifted to Nagato's training ground. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the ground where Nagato sat cross-legged. He raised an eyebrow as Byakuya materialized beside him, a black rod clutched in one hand and a weathered scroll clutched in the other.

"Byakuya, are we continuing to research the abilities of the black rods today?"

 Nagato inquired. The sight of Byakuya engrossed in the mythical texts exploring the Rinnegan's abilities had become familiar.

Nagato himself shared Byakuya's growing suspicion.

The Sage of Six Paths, he believed, had documented the Rinnegan's potential within these historical texts, a legacy for future generations to inherit. Until Nagato's own awakening, however, the texts had been relegated to the realm of mere myth.

The Yin-Yang Release technique, while impressive, only managed to create the black rods, not true life. Perhaps his own power simply wasn't on par with the legendary Sage. A nagging sense of incompleteness lingered, a feeling that something was missing, something essential for the creation of true life.

Despite their limitations, the black rods were far from useless. They possessed the unique ability to restrict chakra flow, act as communication channels, and even manipulate animals within the forest by transforming them into controllable beasts through rod insertion.

"Today, we'll develop other abilities. We won't be studying the black rods for now."

Byakuya replied, shaking his head. He sheathed the Yin-Yang Release longsword he'd recently tasked Nagato with forging and fell silent, contemplating the best course of action.

Fabricating techniques to guide Nagato in unlocking the Rinnegan's remaining powers posed a significant challenge.

Abilities like those granted by the Naraka Path and the Human Path were particularly intriguing; they held the potential to significantly enhance Nagato's prowess.

As Byakuya deliberated, he couldn't help but sense a familiar presence hidden within the gnarled trunk of a nearby tree – a White Zetsu, its surveillance becoming an unwelcome routine.

Nagato's growing power had recently yielded Byakuya an unexpected reward – the "Mind's Eye of the Kagura."

This potent sensory jutsu, the pinnacle of Uzumaki clan techniques, amplified his perception, extending his sensory range for dozens of kilometers. Thanks to this newfound ability, he could pinpoint the exact location of the White Zetsu.

However, the constant scrutiny fueled a growing suspicion.

It was clear that Madara was keeping a watchful eye on them, a fact that reinforced the necessity of his cautious approach.

Directly revealing the Rinnegan's abilities and providing explicit guidance to Nagato would not only raise Madara's suspicions but potentially sow distrust in Nagato himself.

A solution presented itself after delving into the texts, uncovering a passage about the Sage of Six Paths' ability to absorb chakra from others. Inspired by this discovery, Byakuya approached Nagato with a plan to unlock the Rinnegan's chakra absorption ability.

Nagato's mastery of the technique was swift.

As Byakuya weaved hand seals and conjured a torrent of water, Nagato focused, absorbing the chakra infused within the jutsu.

With a swift, silent motion, the water stream dissipated instantly, leaving behind only the faintest ripple on the forest floor.

"I've mastered another new ability."

Nagato's face broke into a wide grin as he exclaimed, a genuine thrill evident in his voice.

Byakuya mirrored Nagato's satisfaction, a chime echoing within his mind.

[System Prompt: Akatsuki gains a Kage-level strongman, rewarding Uzumaki Clan Sealing Technique]

A flicker of surprise momentarily crossed Byakuya's features. Kage-level? Had Nagato truly reached that level of power already?

Reflection cleared his initial shock. It made sense.

Nagato was sixteen now, his body mature enough to handle the basic demands of the Rinnegan. He'd already mastered a formidable arsenal: Shinra Tensei, Banshō Ten'in, chakra absorption, and black rod creation.

Each of these abilities could elevate an individual to elite jonin status. Combined, they undoubtedly pushed Nagato into the Kage tier.

However, this milestone also presented a challenge. Significant leaps in power would become increasingly difficult.

To reach the coveted "super Kage" level, Nagato would need to refine his mastery over the Rinnegan's vast potential and seamlessly integrate them into his combat style.

This "super Kage" level, not mentioned in the original series, denoted a ninja surpassing the prowess of the Five Kage. In the system's language, it implied possessing the combat strength to take on an entire shinobi village single-handedly. At his peak wielding the Six Paths of Pain, Nagato could arguably reach this level.

Pushing the thought aside, Byakuya claimed the system's reward – the Uzumaki Clan Sealing Technique. It wasn't just a single technique but rather a comprehensive package resembling the basic Paper Release, encompassing a variety of Uzumaki sealing methods.

[You have obtained the Sealing Technique: Four Symbols Seal]

[You have obtained the Sealing Technique: Adamantine Sealing Chains]

[You have obtained the Sealing Technique: Dead Demon Consuming Seal]

[You have obtained the Sealing Technique: Contract Seal]

The sheer number of sealing techniques flooding his repertoire overwhelmed Byakuya. He knew these would require significant practice in the future.

There was no escaping his connection to the Uzumaki clan; any attempt to distance himself would be met with disbelief.

A tinge of disappointment pricked him – no Rinnegan reward this time. He understood that these rewards were rare, likely reserved for when Akatsuki boasted a member surpassing the super Kage level.

Some experience with the system had revealed its pattern: rewards were tightly linked to the organization's members' strengths.

Ordinary members yielded basic elemental techniques like Fire Release or Water Release.

Only jonin and higher-caliber members triggered valuable rewards for him. Yet, even basic attributes, when accumulated, could snowball into a terrifying force.

Shaking off his momentary lapse, Byakuya decided to contribute a few of the simpler sealing techniques to the organization.

If others within Akatsuki could utilize these techniques, it would strengthen the group as a whole, potentially leading to even more advantageous rewards for him.

===

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