Obito's Test, Senya's Daily Life

Night fell over the Uchiha Clan Compound, by the Naka River.

"Who's there? Show yourself!"

Itachi Uchiha immediately turned around, drew the ninja sword from his back, and assumed a fighting stance.

Suddenly, the air a short distance ahead of him twisted into a vortex and began to spin. A man dressed in black, wearing an orange-red tiger-striped mask with a single eyehole, emerged from the vortex. His spiky long hair fluttered in the wind behind him.

"It's you!"

Three tomoe instantly appeared in Itachi's eyes. He recalled that during his first mission, this very man had killed his two companions!

He backflipped away to create distance, formed a seal one-handed with his right hand, and drew shuriken from his Ninja Tool Pouch with his left.

"Fire Style—Phoenix Sage Flower Claw Red!"

Several shuriken wrapped in blazing flames flew toward the Masked Man.

"Pointless."

The Masked Man's one exposed eye instantly transformed into a shuriken-patterned Mangekyō Sharingan!

The shuriken passed straight through the Masked Man's body and struck the tree trunk behind him. The scorching flames burned a hole right through it.

"Give up."

"You can't hurt me."

The Masked Man stood there. Even through the mask, Itachi could sense his confidence. Indeed, the Masked Man had used some kind of space-time ninjutsu—most likely his Mangekyō Sharingan's ocular technique.

This was troublesome. For now, he could not determine the weakness of the other man's ocular technique. Even if he used Amaterasu, he probably would not be able to hit him.

"What do you want with me?"

Itachi knew the other party must have been gathering information on him for some time. Otherwise, he would not have known that Itachi often came to the Naka River at night.

"Itachi, the death of your dear friend must have shown you the Uchiha clan's narrow-mindedness."

"Shisui was driven to suicide by the clan. How laughable."

"Wipe out the Uchiha clan. Only then can you protect the village before the Uchiha launch their rebellion and spare it from the Uchiha's retaliation!"

Itachi froze. He only felt that this unknown Uchiha in front of him had something wrong with his head. How could he say something like that? But upon further thought, he decided to go along with him. Perhaps he could draw out more information.

"You're right, but who are you? Why are you helping me?"

"I am a ghost of the Uchiha—the Uchiha Madara."

"Back then, I wanted to lead the Uchiha clan away from Konoha, but those cowardly fools became infatuated with that false life."

"They betrayed me, so I fled alone. I was severely wounded in my battle with Hashirama and escaped."

"Now, I will take revenge on the Uchiha clan—this cowardly, hateful clan!"

Itachi looked at the Masked Man with an empathetic expression, as though he had been moved by "Uchiha Madara's" story. Just like his own current situation within the clan, he too had been betrayed by his clansmen!

The Masked Man also felt that his words had successfully convinced Itachi. They were quite persuasive.

In truth, Itachi had already begun laughing inwardly. Was this Masked Man an idiot? If Madara were still alive, how old would he be by now? If he really were Uchiha Madara, why would he need to seek him out for an alliance? He would have long since taken revenge on the Uchiha clan by himself.

As for the Masked Man before him, he was a complete clown. It was simply unclear who he was impersonating. There was actually an Uchiha outside the village who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. It seemed he would have to ask Senya about it later and tell him about this fake Uchiha Madara as well.

Before telling Senya, though, he might as well stall him first.

"Shisui Uchiha has calmed the clan down considerably. Now is not the time."

"Of course I know. I have already planned things with Danzo. When the plan is carried out, I will appear."

With that, the Masked Man used his ocular technique again. As the vortex in the air twisted, he disappeared before Itachi's eyes.

Itachi sheathed his ninja sword and sighed.

"This guy's intelligence is truly worrying..."

The following afternoon, Senya was processing documents inside the Police Force.

Documents were piled high on his desk, giving Senya a headache. Recently, far too many ninja had applied to join the Police Force. Nearly half the ninja in the village wanted in.

After all, securing a position in the Police Force was a chance for civilian ninja to turn their lives around. Not only was the salary for Police Force members much higher than mission rewards, it was also far safer.

Rather than risk their lives every day by leaving the village for missions, then splitting the pay among several teammates, they might as well take a shot at joining the Police Force. It was safer, paid more, and came with a measure of authority. Compared to others, even if both were Chunin, having the identity of a Police Force member was far more prestigious!

As a result, ever since Senya announced that the Police Force would recruit externally, vast numbers of recommendation letters had arrived every day. Even though Senya had summoned two Shadow Clones to help with the paperwork, it still took an entire afternoon each day just to finish screening them.

What was more, Senya had to personally execute and arrange plans from time to time. He did not trust anyone else with those matters. It gave him the same feeling as when he had first entered the corporate world in his previous life and worked overtime every day.

After all, the Shadow Clones' experiences would be passed on to him once they dispersed. The accumulated mental fatigue from dozens of hours left Senya with a splitting headache and drained his spirits.

Fortunately, Shizune and Kurenai came to visit Senya at his home once a week, bringing him late-night snacks and fruit so he could relax properly.

Unfortunately, ever since that day, the two seemed to have agreed on something and never came together again. Senya found that somewhat regrettable and secretly shook his head. One late-night snack was not enough to fill him up. Two were much tastier together.

As Senya reviewed documents, stamped them, and approved them, he wondered what method he should use to train his body that evening.

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of knocking interrupted Senya's thoughts.

"Come in."

Itachi entered the office wearing his Anbu uniform.

"Senya, there's new information."

"New information already?"

After completing his mission for the day, Itachi had come straight to Senya's office while it was still afternoon. He then told him everything about the Masked Man he had encountered the previous night, who had claimed to be "Uchiha Madara."

The moment Senya heard it, he was amused. Obito was a little too naive. He was probably afraid that Senya's appearance would send Itachi down a different path. Unfortunately, Obito had appeared too late.

If he had spoken to Itachi on the night Shisui died, he might have been able to manipulate him. But now, Itachi, whose will Senya had personally reshaped, had long since seen Hiruzen and Danzo for what they truly were.

Still, Itachi had actually learned how to conceal himself and put on an act. Why did it feel like both father and son had been somewhat assimilated by him ever since they had grown closer to him?

No, what assimilation? They were merely learning from his excellent self. Sigh, was it because he was simply too outstanding? My damn, nowhere-to-put charisma...