Obito's Decision

"You, why are you always thinking about money?"

Inside the Anbu lounge, Kakashi, already changed, rarely gave a dead-fish eye as he looked at Hyuga Makoto beside him.

Perhaps because they had spent so much time together lately, and because of his performance on these two missions, Kakashi had become increasingly relaxed around Hyuga Makoto.

Still, like Hiruzen Sarutobi, he was genuinely speechless at Hyuga Makoto's display of greed.

"Your Hyuga Clan shouldn't be short of money, right?"

"Yeah. Besides, you took thirty-five million ryo last time."

Tenzo nodded along from the side, and even Uchiha Itachi couldn't help looking over curiously.

"Thirty-five million ryo? That's no small sum..."

"Tch, you're the Uchiha Clan's heir. You've never lacked money since you were little. What would you know?"

Hyuga Makoto had changed as well. He sighed helplessly.

"Thirty-five million ryo is only the bounty for Senior Asuma..."

"Huh? Senior Asuma's bounty isn't that high, is it?"

Tenzo rubbed his chin at that. Kakashi's eyelid twitched as he listened.

"No, seriously, what do you think about all day?"

"After all, I'm from the Branch Family. I've lived through too many hard times, so of course I need money."

Hyuga Makoto shrugged and said matter-of-factly.

"Buying a house in the future, furnishing it, getting married, having children, and so on. Don't all those things cost money?"

"That kind of makes sense..."

Kakashi nodded with some difficulty. He had no idea how to respond to Hyuga Makoto's reasoning.

After all, things like marriage and having children were somewhat beyond the limits of his knowledge.

"Does it really cost that much?"

Uchiha Itachi couldn't help murmuring. He truly had no concept of it, while Tenzo scratched his head beside him.

"Looks like being alone is still better..."

"..."

This time, Hyuga Makoto was the one to roll his eyes. He suddenly realized that all three people around him were lifelong bachelors!

As far as he remembered, neither Tenzo nor Kakashi had children. As for Uchiha Itachi...

That guy was ruthless. Either he had killed the woman he loved with his own hands or let Uchiha Obito do it!

"If there's nothing else, I'll head back first."

Hyuga Makoto couldn't be bothered to think about such things. He stood up and stretched lazily before complaining.

"I hope the next mission will be easier. We can't keep running into people like them."

"..."

Kakashi's dead-fish eyes glared at Hyuga Makoto again. He had a feeling there was a deeper meaning to those words.

But he really felt that, next time they went on a mission, they should drag Hyuga Makoto along to burn some incense!

They were just too unlucky...

He couldn't even tell whether the problem was with himself or Hyuga Makoto.

Still, unlucky as they were, ever since Hyuga Makoto joined them, they had returned safely every time...

"Then I'll be going."

Hyuga Makoto had no idea what Kakashi was thinking. He said goodbye and left the Anbu base directly.

He was in an exceptionally good mood. This operation had gone incredibly smoothly!

"Who would have thought Scorpion would preserve the Sharingan's activity when making puppets? That's quite a technique..."

Actually, it made sense. Scorpion had turned himself into a puppet, so how could he observe his surroundings without "eyes"?

That was probably why all his puppets retained those "eyes"...

"Moreover, the moon's feedback has given me a sufficient understanding of how to use many techniques!"

Although the Lunar Tenseigan's Chakra connection had been severed, all the knowledge gained from that connection remained in his mind.

Whether it was the use of Yin Release and Yang Release or abilities like Shinra Tensei and flight, he now had a clear understanding of them.

"I might even be able to try condensing Chakra Beads myself..."

Chakra Beads greatly enhanced his combat power, especially when combined with the power of the Tenseigan. They were downright terrifying!

Most importantly, Chakra Beads distinguished his fighting style, which would make it easier for him to obscure his true identity.

"I wonder what Black Zetsu will think..."

Hyuga Makoto stroked his chin. He was genuinely curious about Black Zetsu's reaction.

That guy would stop at nothing to save his mother!

"Now that I've shown myself, will he start collecting the Tailed Beasts ahead of time?"

But as soon as the thought appeared, Hyuga Makoto shook his head.

The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had been badly damaged by Uchiha Madara, and Nagato still needed to restore its power. Even if Black Zetsu wanted to act, he couldn't.

"He'll most likely investigate my identity. In that case, I'll have some fun with him—or maybe have some fun with him properly..."

Hyuga Makoto gave a wicked smile inwardly, but he didn't think about it any further.

He planned to hurry back and use the Yin Release he had obtained from Kakashi. He also needed to give the Sharingan he had acquired to that guy Shisui.

"Dammit, it really is you!"

However, just then, Hyuga Makoto suddenly heard a voice from behind.

He turned around in confusion, and his expression immediately became awkward.

Not far away, Naruto was staring at him with a pair of resentful eyes...

"Something like this actually happened."

In Kirigakure, Uchiha Obito listened to Black Zetsu's report with a deeply furrowed brow.

He had remained in Kirigakure all this time. After all, he had single-handedly thrown the village's situation into chaos.

But Ao's death had caused further turmoil in Kirigakure, and more people had begun questioning his decisions.

Even though he didn't care in the slightest, he didn't want the Fourth Mizukage to fall from power so soon. Only then could he better destroy this village!

But the appearance of such news was truly giving him a headache.

He still knew Orochimaru and Scorpion fairly well. One was a fellow countryman who had nearly become Hokage, while the other had nearly become Kazekage.

Yet the two of them had actually been defeated by a mysterious person, and had paid a considerable price just to escape?

"Do we know who did it?"

"Not really, Obito. That guy was terrifying."

White Zetsu blinked his enormous eyes and shook his head, which left Obito dissatisfied.

"I told you, I'm Uchiha Madara now! And weren't you following Orochimaru? How did you fail to find out anything?"

"Don't blame him. If his clone had been even a little slower, we wouldn't have learned any more information."

Black Zetsu glanced at the pitiful White Zetsu before speaking helplessly.

"But that guy's abilities are very unusual. It seems he possesses abilities similar to those of the Rinnegan."

"The Rinnegan..."

Black Zetsu knew exactly how to highlight the important point. Those words immediately made Obito's brow furrow even deeper.

"Can you confirm it? If it really is that eye, then could they..."

"We can't confirm it. Even Orochimaru and Scorpion failed to see his eyes clearly."

Black Zetsu shook his head, but he knew Obito was about to take the bait.

"However, he definitely possesses an ability similar to Shinra Tensei. He also said something about only acting because of 'Asura Chakra.' I think we have to take this seriously!"

"Similar abilities, and Asura Chakra?"

Obito murmured. He didn't understand what "Asura Chakra" was, but someone had attacked over such inexplicable Chakra...

He didn't even dare imagine what that person might attack over in the future!

Especially since this Mysterious Person also possessed abilities similar to those of the Rinnegan. It truly made him uneasy.

"We definitely need to investigate this guy!"

Obito's voice grew firm as he looked at Black Zetsu.

"I'll leave this to you. No matter what, you have to obtain some clues!"

"Understood."

Black Zetsu nodded, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.

Only if Obito was willing to shift his focus onto this guy would Black Zetsu have more time to prepare.

"Clues? I think I know a little."

However, White Zetsu suddenly spoke with a grin.

"Actually, we weren't the only ones who saw him. Orochimaru and Scorpion were fighting Konoha's shinobi at the time."

"Hmph, Konoha..."

When Obito heard Konoha, his eyes immediately filled with disdain.

"And they were Konoha's Anbu."

White Zetsu paid no attention to that and continued cheerfully.

"Kakashi was leading them, and Uchiha Itachi was among them too."

At those words, Obito suddenly froze.

His gaze flickered as well, as though he were thinking about something...