Black Zetsu's Poisonous Scheme, Obito Loses His Mind!

A dark cave.

This was a temporary base for the Akatsuki Organization.

White Zetsu, Tobi, emerged from a pile of dirt overhead.

He waved his arms and shouted in an exaggerated tone.

"Obito! Obito! I have some earth-shattering news!"

The one he called Obito was a man wearing a tiger-striped mask.

Obito Uchiha sat still on a rock, seemingly meditating with his eyes closed.

The swirling Tobi circled around him.

"It's incredible! The new Daimyo of the Land of Fire has gotten into a fight with your Konoha's Hokage!"

"I heard that the leader of Root, Danzo, tried to cause trouble at the enthronement ceremony, but the Third Hokage personally ripped out his heart! With a splat, blood went everywhere, it was so exciting!"

"I wonder if people can still poop after their hearts are ripped out. If..."

"How's Konoha?" Obito Uchiha interrupted Tobi's rambling description, his voice icy cold.

"Oh, oh, the whole of Konoha is in chaos right now!" Tobi immediately got back on track, his tone gloating. "No one listens to the Hokage's orders once they're outside the Hokage Building!"

"And also, the Uchiha clan is scrambling to offer beauties to the Daimyo, the Hyuga family is so worried their faces have turned white, and even the Ino-Shika-Cho clans are starting to waver!"

Listening to Tobi's report, the single eye beneath Obito Uchiha's mask instantly filled with crimson.

"An opportunity! This is an opportunity!" Obito Uchiha suddenly stood up, his voice hoarse and manic. "I'm going to destroy that hypocritical village right now!"

"Calm down, Obito."

Black Zetsu emerged from the ground at his feet, stopping him. "You're too impulsive."

The Sharingan in Obito Uchiha's eyes spun wildly, slowly condensing into a Mangekyo, and he said with a chilling tone, "Konoha is in civil war, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! You dare stop me?"

"Opportunity?"

Black Zetsu let out a mocking laugh. "You underestimate Konoha too much!"

"Hiruzen Sarutobi may be old, but his strength is still there."

"More importantly, Minato Namikaze..."

"That man's Flying Thunder God Technique has surpassed the Second Hokage."

"As long as he's in Konoha, you can't come and go as you please."

Seeing Obito's eagerness for revenge and his undiminished killing intent, Black Zetsu's speech quickened.

"And Kushina Uzumaki."

"Don't forget, she's not only the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, but she's also an Uzumaki with powerful sealing jutsu."

"If you go now, it'll be nothing but suicide!"

Hearing the word "suicide," Obito Uchiha didn't get angry but laughed instead, his laughter filled with madness.

He murmured softly, "Die? It would be perfect to die... then I could see Rin."

Black Zetsu fell silent for a moment, realizing that mere threats were useless against him.

"Have you forgotten our plan?" Black Zetsu grew anxious.

"The Moon Eye Plan? I haven't forgotten!" Obito Uchiha remained stubborn. "It doesn't matter if I'm gone, you can find someone else!"

Black Zetsu's voice suddenly became sharp. "Then what about the revenge for Rin? Are you just going to die empty-handed and miserably, and then go see her? Tell her you couldn't do anything for her?"

"Rin's death, this world's fault, are we just going to let it go like this?"

The name Rin, like a sharp knife, pierced Obito's heart.

His body trembled, and the killing intent around him became even more solid.

Seeing Obito's hatred reignited, Black Zetsu knew the time had come.

His tone shifted, becoming cold and seductive.

"Forcing your way in is the most primitive way to get revenge."

"I have a better plan, a plan that will make Minato Namikaze taste the same despair as you."

Obito Uchiha suddenly turned his head, his crimson Sharingan fixed on Black Zetsu.

Black Zetsu spoke slowly and deliberately, "Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki are husband and wife, right?"

"They will have their own child sooner or later."

"And when a Jinchuriki gives birth, the sealing jutsu within their body weakens to its absolute limit."

"At that time, the Nine-Tails' seal will be at its most vulnerable."

The air in the cave seemed to freeze.

Obito Uchiha's breathing became heavy.

He understood Black Zetsu's intention.

"When the time comes..."

Black Zetsu's voice was like a devil's, filled with extreme malice. "We'll draw the Nine-Tails out of her body, Kushina Uzumaki, and then let that Tailed Beast, the embodiment of hatred and destruction, roar to its heart's content in Konoha, in front of his wife, in front of his newborn child."

"Make him watch with his own eyes as everything he wants to protect is crushed to pieces on the same day."

"Let him also taste the pain of watching the one he loves most die, yet being powerless to do anything."

"This, this is the most perfect revenge against Konoha, against Minato Namikaze."

Obito Uchiha's body began to tremble uncontrollably with excitement. "And Kakashi..."

Black Zetsu added, "That's right, and Kakashi. They will all experience the same despair as you, losing those they cherish. The entire Konoha will be buried with you!"

"Heh... Hehehe..."

Obito Uchiha let out a low laugh, which grew louder and louder, eventually turning into a mad cackle.

"Hahahahahaha!"

"Good! A good plan!"

"Let's do it!"

Beneath the tiger-striped mask, his Mangekyo Sharingan spun wildly.

Obito Uchiha's last vestiges of humanity were completely consumed by the flames of revenge.

He looked in the direction of Konoha, filled with anticipation.

Evening.

Konohagakure.

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the Hokage Rock red.

Minato Namikaze left the Hokage Building and walked aimlessly through the village streets.

The banners of the izakayas fluttered in the evening breeze, the aroma of grilled meat wafted from the shops, and the laughter of children chasing each other remained crisp.

Everything was as usual.

But everything had also changed.

That liveliness, those laughs, that Konoha atmosphere, felt alien to him now.

He saw a few civilian genin who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy, their faces alight with excitement, gathered together discussing animatedly.

"Did you hear? The Daimyo is personally allocating funds to sponsor the village's geniuses! We won't have to struggle to save money for ninja tools anymore!"

"That's not all! My second uncle's cousin said that if you can be selected as one of the Guardians of the Twelve, you'll receive a large sum of money every month! It's more than the reward for an A-rank mission!"

"Those are the strongest bodyguards by the Daimyo's side. If we can get selected, we civilian ninja will finally have a chance to make a name for ourselves!"

"Really? Then I need to sign up quickly. I don't want to go around picking up trash and looking for stray cats anymore!"

This irrepressible joy and longing felt like a needle piercing Minato's heart.

Once upon a time, becoming part of the Hokage's guard was the pride of all ninjas.

Once upon a time, fighting for the village was a natural belief.

Now, the Daimyo had merely made a gesture.

The hearts of the villagers no longer belonged to the Hokage.

Minato Namikaze clenched his fists, his sharp nails digging deep into his palms.

The sting was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.

He turned abruptly, no longer heading in the direction of his home.

He was going to find the Third Hokage.

He was going to ask him what was going on! What should be done!

But just then, he suddenly stopped.

In his sight, the ramen shop on the street corner was bathed in warm light.

A red-haired woman with her hair in a ponytail sat inside.

It was Kushina.

She was chatting happily with Teuchi, a steaming bowl of ramen in front of her.

Sensing she was being watched, Kushina turned her head, her beautiful eyes instantly lighting up.

"Minato! Over here! Over here!"

She waved her arms vigorously, a happy and brilliant smile on her face.

That smile cut through the noisy street and shone into his heart, which was almost swallowed by darkness.

In an instant, all his frustration, anger, and confusion vanished.

Looking at his wife's smiling face, Minato Namikaze slowly released his clenched fists.

So.

What he needed to protect had always been right here.