Uchiha Kenji!

Not long ago, in a dark corner not far from the valley where Shimura Danzō and Hanzō the Salamander were fighting.

Masked Uchiha Obito and Zetsu hid themselves in the shadows, silently watching events unfold.

"Tut, tut, Hanzō the Salamander actually kidnapped Konan to threaten Nagato and Yahiko... I have to say, this guy really is a pure shinobi!"

Black Zetsu glanced at the situation below, then at the silent Uchiha Obito, and spoke with meaningful undertones.

Uchiha Kenji did not notice Black Zetsu's sarcasm and said in a deep voice, "That's even better. It'll let Nagato experience the darkness of this world more profoundly!"

Black Zetsu could barely keep from laughing. He could not help imagining that perhaps only after Uchiha Obito, this little brat, learned the final truth would he understand what true darkness was!

Right now, in Black Zetsu's eyes, Uchiha Obito was merely a greenhorn forcing himself to feign melancholy!

"They're here!"

Uchiha Obito suddenly perked up and looked toward Nagato and Yahiko, who had appeared at the valley entrance.

The corner of Uchiha Obito's mouth curled beneath his mask in a cold sneer, while Black Zetsu also focused his attention.

They could hardly wait to see what would happen next!

But Uchiha Obito and Black Zetsu's expressions soon froze!

The situation had developed completely beyond their expectations!

"Why? Why would Hanzō the Salamander attack Danzo's supporters?!"

Uchiha Obito simply could not understand why Hanzō the Salamander had made such a choice!

"Could Hanzō the Salamander be trying to protect Nagato and the others? Impossible! How could someone in power like Hanzō the Salamander do such a thing!"

Uchiha Obito furrowed his eyebrows, racking his brains without finding even the slightest clue.

Yet after carefully considering it for a moment, Black Zetsu, an old schemer who had lived for thousands of years, saw a few hints of the truth!

Black Zetsu hesitated before saying, "Perhaps Hanzō the Salamander's vision is even more farsighted than we imagined!"

Uchiha Obito was stunned. "What do you mean?"

Black Zetsu explained based on his own understanding, "Given the Land of Rain's current situation, Hanzō the Salamander can indeed gain certain benefits by cooperating with Shimura Danzō."

"But gains always come with risks!"

"Cooperating with Shimura Danzō, the infamous Darkness of the Shinobi World, is no different from seeking the skin of a tiger!"

"You should know that many of Konoha's policies restricting the Land of Rain's development came from Shimura Danzō!"

"So while Hanzō the Salamander can gain some benefits in the short term by working with Shimura Danzō, once Konoha frees up its hands, the Land of Rain will likely have to pay an even greater price!"

"And more importantly, there is Konoha's current internal situation!"

As Black Zetsu spoke, his tone became increasingly certain.

"Konoha's internal situation?" Uchiha Obito asked in confusion. "What does that have to do with Konoha?"

"Of course it has something to do with it!" Black Zetsu shook his head slightly and explained, "If the will of Konoha's current High-Level Decision-Making Group is compared to a ferocious tiger, then Shimura Danzō is that tiger's claws and fangs!"

"Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others are all too soft-hearted. Without Shimura Danzō, the will of the Konoha High-Level Decision-Making Group would be like a toothless tiger—strong on the outside but weak within!"

"It is foreseeable that Konoha will become weak and easily bullied under their rule!"

"Konoha's foreign policy will also become centered on compromise!"

"From a long-term perspective, such a Konoha would be more beneficial to the Land of Rain's future development!"

"Hanzō the Salamander must have seen this, which is why he made such a choice!"

Uchiha Obito nodded slightly. The doubts in his heart lessened somewhat, but he still asked, "But aren't there rumors in Konoha that the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, is about to step down from the Hokage Position?"

"The Fourth Hokage should be either Orochimaru or... Minato Namikaze."

"Once the New Hokage takes office, the will of Konoha's High-Level Decision-Making Group will change as well, won't it?"

"How can Hanzō the Salamander guarantee that Konoha's foreign policy will not become even tougher after the New Hokage takes office?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's impending resignation was not exactly common knowledge in Konoha, but it was hardly a secret either.

And in their fight for the Fourth Hokage position, Orochimaru and Minato Namikaze's respective Supporters were building momentum for them. Every major shinobi village should have received at least some intelligence on the matter!

After thinking for a moment, Black Zetsu said, "There is no election at all! Orochimaru has already lost the possibility of becoming Hokage. The Fourth Hokage will most likely be Minato Namikaze!"

Uchiha Obito asked in confusion, "Why?"

"The reason lies in the change in the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen's attitude!" Black Zetsu explained. "By both sentiment and reason, Minato Namikaze is not qualified to compete with Orochimaru. His foundation is still too weak!"

"The reason Minato Namikaze can now compete with Orochimaru, and even hold the advantage, is Sarutobi Hiruzen's support!"

"Compared with Sarutobi Hiruzen, Orochimaru is still too inexperienced!"

Uchiha Obito was even more confused after hearing that. "In terms of their relationship, Orochimaru is Sarutobi Hiruzen's Direct Disciple! Shouldn't Sarutobi Hiruzen be supporting Orochimaru?"

Black Zetsu snorted. "So what if he is a Direct Disciple? Before the temptation of power, even one's own son must step aside!"

"Compared with Orochimaru, whose foundation is deep, Minato Namikaze, whose foundation is insufficient, is undoubtedly easier to control!"

"Even if Minato Namikaze becomes Hokage, he will not have that many Close Aides to use and will be unable to grasp all of Konoha's power!"

"And Sarutobi Hiruzen will then have a Justified reason to keep his own people in their original positions!"

Uchiha Obito's expression turned extremely ugly. "So Sarutobi Hiruzen supports Minato Namikaze taking the position because he wants to prop up a Puppet Hokage?!"

"That's more or less it!" Black Zetsu nodded. "So at that time, the will of Konoha's High-Level Decision-Making Group will still be the will of Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others!"

"I have to admit, we underestimated Hanzō the Salamander before!"

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I probably would never have thought of this!"

Black Zetsu was deeply moved as well. He had learned a lesson today!

"The struggles between these people are truly disgusting!"

Uchiha Obito gritted his teeth, his tone filled with resentment!

Just as Black Zetsu was about to offer a few words of comfort, he suddenly noticed something and cried out, "Wait! That Nagato was a Shadow Clone?"

"A Shadow Clone?" Uchiha Obito also saw Nagato disperse into smoke and asked in confusion, "When did that happen?"

"I don't know..." Black Zetsu shook his head. "He hadn't formed any hand seals since earlier, so he must have used the Shadow Clone much earlier... Perhaps he learned Shimura Danzō's purpose and deliberately did not let Nagato's real body come, just in case!"

"So Nagato's real body should still be at the Akatsuki Camp!" Watching Yahiko and Konan flee, Uchiha Obito quickly made his decision. "Come on, let's follow them and take a look!"