One and a half billion in cash, when stacked up, is indeed quite a lot. Seeing all that money, Akira felt ecstatic. One and a half billion—that would allow him to run his life simulation one hundred and fifty times, wouldn’t it?

If he were to truly focus on training quietly, what level could he reach with one hundred and fifty life simulations?

His eyes shone with joy as Akira approached the mountain of cash, ready to touch it.

However, Obito used the Body Flicker Technique and appeared in front of Akira, blocking his way. "One hand for the money, the other for the information," Obito said firmly.

"Right now, you’re alone. Even if I refuse to give you the information and decide to take the money, do you think you can stop me?" Akira smiled and asked, glancing at the determined Obito.

"There are more than just one and a half billion in cash here. I’ve placed several explosive tags among them. If necessary, I can destroy all this money," Obito responded, his face showing he was ready for a fight-to-the-death scenario.

"Fair enough. Such preparations are understandable," Akira nodded, acknowledging Obito’s caution. After all, in this situation, Obito was at Akira’s mercy.

"Alright then, let’s sit down and talk properly," Akira said, using his Wood Release to summon wooden tables, chairs, and benches outside the cabin. Akira sat down first.

"Akira-sama, you go ahead and talk. I’ll go prepare dinner," Hinata said gently, not intending to join the conversation.

"Sister, let me help you!" Hanabi offered, equally understanding.

Alright, even though Obito’s situation was intriguing, with the two Hyuga sisters leaving, it wouldn’t feel right for anyone else to stay behind and eavesdrop. With that, Yusuke, Naruto, and the others found an excuse to leave as well.

Outside the cabin, only Akira and Obito remained.

"Alright, take off the mask. Isn’t it uncomfortable wearing it all the time?" Akira said, looking at Obito as he sat down.

"I’m used to it," Obito replied, not making any move to remove his mask.

In front of Akira, he practically had no secrets left. Perhaps keeping the mask on gave Obito some semblance of security, a way to maintain a sense of privacy.

"So, you’ve grown accustomed to hiding behind that mask? Just don’t forget that it’s merely a mask, not your real face," Akira said.

"Enough about the mask. What is the truth behind Rin’s death?" Obito demanded, cutting straight to the point, not wanting to dwell on meaningless topics.

Indeed, whether he wore a mask or not wasn’t important. What mattered most was understanding why Rin died.

"Alright, since you’ve brought the money, I’ll tell you," Akira said, nodding. He looked at Obito seriously. "But before we start, let me ask: have you told anyone about our deal?"

"No, I haven’t told anyone," Obito replied.

"Good, then let’s start by talking about Uchiha Madara," Akira said.

"Start with Madara?" Obito was taken aback, unsure of Akira’s meaning. Why start with him when it was about Rin’s death?

However, before Obito could ask further, Akira began talking, prompting Obito to focus.

"Back when the village of Konoha was founded, the village was named after the First Hokage’s Wood Release, which made him famous. Originally, the agreement between Hashirama Senju and Madara was that Madara would become the First Hokage. The position was named Hokage, ’Fire Shadow,’ because the Uchiha clan was renowned for their Fire Release techniques.

But for various reasons, the position of the First Hokage went to Hashirama instead. Later, Madara discovered a stone tablet that only those with Mangekyō Sharingan could interpret, and he uncovered some secrets. He left Konoha and was eventually pursued by the First Hokage, leading to the battle at the Valley of the End. Madara used Izanagi to fake his death, fooling everyone.

Afterward, he began preparing the Moon’s Eye Plan and needed to find someone to inherit his will."

"Are you saying that Madara chose me a long time ago?" Obito, now unsettled, quickly interrupted Akira.

"Do you really think everything was just a coincidence?" Akira asked, his tone mocking.

"No... no, it can’t be. How could that be possible?" Obito murmured, stunned.

He had always believed that being chosen by Madara was due to luck or coincidence. Yet, could it be that he was chosen far in advance?

It was like Nagato, who had thought that his Rinnegan was his own, only to find out that Madara had transplanted it. Similarly, Obito, who thought he was chosen by coincidence, now realized he might also have been a pawn all along, just like Nagato?

"No, that’s not right!" Obito suddenly thought of something and shook his head, disagreeing with Akira.

"What part doesn’t add up? Feel free to speak," Akira said, looking at Obito.

"You mean to tell me that Madara chose me long ago? But back then, I was a nobody, an ordinary kid with no special talents. Why would he choose me?" Obito argued.

"First of all, the Sharingan of the Uchiha is unique. The qualifications Madara sought were not about talent for training speed," Akira explained. "Secondly, you went from a two-tomoe Sharingan straight to a Mangekyō Sharingan. Isn’t that proof enough?

Lastly, Madara may have been drawn to your personality," Akira continued.

"My personality?" Obito asked, baffled. "What was it about my personality that could attract Madara?"

"Let me put it this way. Your personality back then was at least 80% similar to Naruto’s," Akira said.

"That... I’m not as dumb as he is," Obito muttered, pausing before asserting that he was a bit better than Naruto.

Naruto could be a bit too naive at times.

Akira rolled his eyes at Obito and continued, "Also, Naruto’s personality is quite similar to the First Hokage’s."

"The First Hokage’s personality was similar to Naruto’s? So, are you saying that the reason Madara took interest in me back then was because my personality resembled the First Hokage’s?" Obito asked, gradually beginning to understand Akira’s point.

"Seems about right," Akira nodded.

"Fine, continue..." With a serious expression, Obito motioned for Akira to go on.

Without wasting time, Akira resumed, "That year, you experienced a near-death event and were seemingly saved by Madara by coincidence. But in truth, everything was orchestrated by him from the start.

Once you had mostly recovered, he staged an elaborate scenario to stimulate your emotions and push you into unlocking the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

You didn’t disappoint him, achieving something unprecedented in Uchiha history—going straight from two-tomoe Sharingan to Mangekyō.

The rest, you already know," Akira concluded succinctly.

The summary was clear: Obito, your entire life was orchestrated by Madara, not the result of mere coincidence.

With his mask on, it was impossible to discern Obito’s facial expression, but his prolonged silence revealed his inner turmoil.

"Everything about me, all my circumstances... were they all planned by Madara from the beginning?" Obito wondered.

He had never thought about it this way. But looking back now, if he approached everything with a conspiracy mindset, things did seem too convenient.

Could it really be that everything about his past had been planned by Madara?

Had he, like Nagato, been nothing more than a tool, all his actions within Madara’s scheme?

As Obito pondered these thoughts, something else crossed his mind.

Akira remained silent, waiting for Obito’s reaction. "I came to you to ask about the truth behind Rin’s death," Obito finally said. "From what you’re telling me, Rin’s death was orchestrated by Madara?

But there’s still one crucial detail you haven’t explained—why did Kakashi kill Rin?" Obito demanded, his eyes fixed on Akira.