Obito's Invitation

March 24, Year 58 of Konoha

Three months after rescuing the Uzumaki mother and daughter, Uzumaki Yuka's white hair had returned to its beautiful red color, and even her bite marks were slowly healing.

Hyuga Kei could not help marveling at the Uzumaki Clan's immense vitality. His half-baked Sage Body was no match for it.

Under Uchiha Izumi's guidance, Karin Uzumaki had also begun learning ninjutsu.

As for Hyuga Kei, he had mastered the Main Branch's secret techniques, such as Gentle Fist Style: Twin Lion Fists and Divine Air Strike, while continuously developing the Tenseigan's abilities.

While Hyuga Kei was training, a figure appeared outside the town. Wearing a Red Cloud Cloak, he followed the marks left by White Zetsu and found Hyuga Kei's residence.

Uchiha Izumi, who had been teaching Karin Uzumaki outside, immediately spotted the figure. His familiar aura struck her, along with an overwhelming sense of terror.

Uchiha Izumi shoved Karin Uzumaki. "Get inside. Go call Lord Kei."

Seeing Uchiha Izumi's grave expression, Karin Uzumaki hurried into the house to find Hyuga Kei.

Kunai in hand, Uchiha Izumi watched the black-clad man she had assumed came with hostile intentions. Yet he made no further move. "I'm looking for Hyuga Kei."

Sensing Obito's chakra, Hyuga Kei opened the door and saw the anxious Karin Uzumaki. He rubbed her red hair.

"Madara, what are you here for?" Hyuga Kei had already guessed part of the reason when he saw both of Obito's exposed eyes.

He had retrieved his Sharingan. No wonder—after their fight, had he found one eye rather inadequate?

"I'm here to invite you to join the Akatsuki Organization."

"Akatsuki is an organization dedicated to bringing peace to the ninja world..."

Hyuga Kei bluntly cut him off. "Not interested. You should tell me what you can offer me."

Obito did not mind Hyuga Kei's rude behavior. "Then listen to my plan first."

"Then let's talk through the Sharingan!" Obito opened a pair of three-tomoe Sharingan, while Hyuga Kei simultaneously opened his Three Tomoe Sharingan. They both cast genjutsu.

Their minds entered a pristine white space.

"At the beginning of the world, there was no such profession as ninja. Then a woman descended from the heavens..."

Various scenes appeared before Hyuga Kei's eyes as Obito recounted the history of the ninja world.

Of course, Hyuga Kei knew it even better than he did.

"Driven into a corner, the Rabbit Goddess ate the fruit of the God Tree. Later, she used the people's faith to give birth to two sons: the Sage of Six Paths and his younger brother..."

Hearing this, Hyuga Kei put on a deeply interested expression. Seeing his reaction, Obito spoke with even greater enthusiasm.

"The Sage of Six Paths joined forces with his younger brother to seal their mother, while the Ten-Tails transformed from the God Tree was sealed within his body..."

"After the Sage of Six Paths died, he divided the Ten-Tails' power into nine Tailed Beasts, while its husk was sealed in the sky..."

"And what I intend to do is gather the nine Tailed Beasts once more. I will become the new Sage of Six Paths and use the moon to cast a genjutsu called Infinite Tsukuyomi. Everyone in the world will live forever in a beautiful illusionary world."

After hearing this heavily altered version of the story, where the Sage of Six Paths had become a rebellious son hungry for power, Hyuga Kei smiled faintly. "I may have found where we can cooperate."

"Go on."

"I want the God Tree's fruit. I'll help you complete the Moon Eye Plan, but you must make the God Tree bear a second fruit."

Naturally, Hyuga Kei did not expect Obito to be capable of doing that. What he wanted was Kaguya's body. He wanted to become an existence surpassing the Sage of Six Paths.

Uchiha Obito looked at Hyuga Kei's excited expression and found no sign of pretense. "Of course. Once I become the second Sage of Six Paths, that will be nothing more than a thought."

Hyuga Kei extended his hand. "Looks like we'll become good comrades."

Obito clasped Hyuga Kei's hand. "We share common interests."

Pretending not to know, Hyuga Kei voiced his question. "Madara, I have a question. What about the Rinnegan you mentioned? Without the Rinnegan, isn't all of this just empty talk?"

"I placed it in the hands of Akatsuki's leader. He's a very useful pawn."

"I understand."

Outside, Uchiha Izumi, Karin Uzumaki, Uzumaki Yuka, and the others could only watch as the two stood there blankly.

Then Hyuga Kei opened his eyes and smiled. "Izumi, Yuka, Karin, pack up. We're preparing to leave this place."

Izumi and Yuka nodded and went to pack their belongings, while Karin was somewhat reluctant. Since her birth, this was the first time she had so clearly felt the warmth of a home. She could not bear to leave it.

"Lord Kei, are we leaving this home?"

Hyuga Kei rubbed Karin's red hair again. "Of course not. Wherever I go will be your home."

"Mm, I understand."

Obito disappeared once more into a vortex. "The organization is in Amegakure. I'll wait for you there."

"Also, my name in the Akatsuki Organization is Tobi. Don't forget it."

Not long afterward, Hyuga Kei took the three women and their packed belongings, bought a carriage, and set off for the Land of Rain.

Sitting in the carriage, Hyuga Kei sensed his chakra. Ever since awakening the Tenseigan, all of his chakra natures had been filled in.

He was attempting to fuse Kekkei Genkai. During a mission, he had once obtained the corpse of a Kumogakure Storm Release Bloodline Limit ninja and studied it.

The founders of these release techniques had subtly altered their own genes, making it easier for their descendants to master those bloodlines.

This meant that Hyuga Kei could also create such special release techniques. Through this method, he wanted to draw parallels and complete his research into Kekkei Mōra such as Truth-Seeking Orbs.

There were levels to the power in this world.

Ninjutsu < Kekkei Genkai < Kekkei Tōta < Kekkei Mōra < Otsutsuki Divine Technique

Although a higher power level did not necessarily mean greater power, it definitely meant a higher limit.

Otsutsuki Divine Techniques, in particular, possessed unsolvable abilities capable of changing the world.

This work had yet to yield any clues, but Hyuga Kei was in no hurry. You had to eat one bite at a time, and his growth rate was already very fast.

The lack of progress in his research made Hyuga Kei somewhat irritated. He stepped out of the carriage and came to Izumi's side as she drove. "How much farther?"

Izumi glanced at the map in her hand. "We should reach the Land of Rain by this afternoon."

Karin Uzumaki leaned over as well. "Lord Kei, why is it always raining in this country?"

"Because this country is crying."

"The country is crying?"

A vision of this place in the near future flashed through Hyuga Kei's eyes. A great war would erupt here. Ever since awakening the Tenseigan, his perception of the future had grown stronger and stronger. From time to time, he would see scenes of the future.

But he could not control it. This Future Sight could activate at any time.

"War is coming..."

"Lord Kei, if war is about to begin, shouldn't we go to a great country like the Land of Fire? Why are we coming to this small country?"

"Don't worry. This country's god will protect it."

"A god?" Karin's understanding of that word remained limited to Buddhist statues and faith.

A scene appeared before Hyuga Kei's eyes: Pain stood high in the sky, using Shinra Tensei to sweep across the battlefield.