"Tiehuo, the Masked Man is Obito."
"The Masked Man is Obito?!"
Tiehuo knew very little about the Masked Man.
He only knew that during the Nine-Tails' Rampage, a masked ninja had controlled the Nine-Tails and attacked the village. Back then, he and the Clan Head had been stopped outside the clan grounds and prevented from rushing over to help.
After the village lost many Jonin and the Fourth Hokage, it had only barely managed to seal the Nine-Tails.
It was around then that rumors began spreading through the village that the Masked Man was an Uchiha, further worsening the Uchiha's already poor reputation.
He had always believed it was slander spread by the Hokage Faction, but Youhu told him it had been Obito.
"Lord Youhu, how could it be Obito? Didn't he die in the Battle of Kannabi Bridge? I even attended his funeral. Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
"I'm certain it was Obito. Obito has been resurrected."
Youhu was completely sure.
Seeing Youhu's serious expression, Tiehuo's certainty wavered, though he was still confused. "Obito didn't have the strength to attack the village, and he had no reason to."
"With his ability and status as the Fourth Hokage's Disciple, he might even have become Hokage one day."
"Why would he attack the village and frame the clan?"
Youhu shook his head gently.
"Obito inherited Uchiha Madara's Inheritance. The Uchihas of that era saw us as traitors, and as Madara's Successor, Obito inherited Madara's hostility toward us."
"Besides, the ninja Obito loved was killed by someone from the Leaf."
"He wants the clan and the village to destroy each other."
Youhu's words rang out with force, striking Tiehuo hard.
He didn't want to believe Obito had been resurrected, nor could he believe Uchiha Madara had wanted to destroy the Uchiha in Konoha.
But coming from Lord Youhu, the claim was already ninety percent credible.
If Lord Izuna had left behind an inheritance, then Lord Madara, who was even stronger than Lord Izuna, must surely have left one of his own. Unfortunately, Obito had taken it and was using it against the village and the clan.
If Obito had returned to the village, the Uchiha would now have been strong enough to stand up to the Hokage Faction.
Unfortunately, Obito wasn't on the clan's side. He wanted to destroy both the clan and the village.
Thankfully, Lord Youhu had obtained Izuna's Inheritance and was willing to share it. Otherwise, Tiehuo couldn't imagine how long the Uchiha Clan could endure, caught between internal and external threats.
Thinking of this, Tiehuo knew he had to do something. He turned to Youhu and asked:
"Lord Youhu, what should we do next?"
Youhu considered this for a moment, then said:
"We don't need to worry about Obito for now. I've crossed paths with him, and he won't move against the village anytime soon..."
"You can spread the news that Obito has been resurrected, and you can let more people know about Izuna's Inheritance, but it's best not to reveal that I obtained it."
"I still need to remain undercover near the Hokage."
After a pause, Youhu continued:
"Also, this parchment records the connection between Wood Style and the Sharingan. This vial contains some Wood Style Cells for research. You need to find a way to study them."
"The few of us Uchihas certainly can't defeat Obito, who has inherited Madara's legacy. We have to rely on the inheritance Lord Izuna left behind. I hope that one day I'll see the First Hokage's power in you, too."
With that, Youhu opened his palm. A vine appeared out of nowhere and writhed across his hand.
"The First Hokage's Wood Style?!"
Tiehuo's eyes widened, and admiration filled his gaze. "Lord Youhu, you awakened the Wood Bloodline!"
"But with Wood Style and the Mangekyō Sharingan, couldn't you become Hokage?"
Youhu stood with his hands behind his back and spoke calmly.
"Don't underestimate the shinobi of this world. Obito also has the Mangekyō and Wood Style. His Mangekyō even has the Space-Time Attribute, and he's every bit as strong as the Fourth Hokage."
"If my Mangekyō and Wood Style are exposed, both Obito and the Hokage will grow wary of me."
"Besides, I don't think this is all the strength Obito has. He has several monsters who wield Wood Style following him. He might even have an entire Wood Style Legion behind him."
"Tiehuo, the waters of the Ninja World run far deeper than you can imagine."
"To survive in this turbulent world, we have to be careful—extremely careful."
"Yes."
Tiehuo had long since become wholeheartedly devoted to Youhu. He felt that the fact Youhu hadn't given up on the clan and was still willing to remain with them was already more precious than anything.
After giving Tiehuo some things to keep in mind, Youhu dispelled his Wood Clone, leaving a tree stump behind.
Staring at the stump Youhu had left behind, Tiehuo froze. Even with the insight of his Three Tomoe Sharingan, he hadn't noticed that Youhu had come as a Wood Clone. He was astonished.
Lord Youhu's strength had reached this level already.
Just how powerful were the Hokage Faction, who could make Lord Youhu wary, and Obito, who had obtained Uchiha Madara's Inheritance?
Holding the Inheritance Parchment in one hand and the Glass Vial containing the Wood Style Cells in the other, Tiehuo was overwhelmed with excitement.
He decided that sleeping for just two hours a night would be enough.
He'd spend the rest of his time convincing clan members to join the Uchiha Fan Faction. Only by recruiting more of them could he complete Lord Youhu's mission for the entire clan. The Uchiha could only achieve greatness under Lord Youhu's leadership.
My dear mentor, Yachiyo the Jonin, you're the Leader of the hawkish faction. I'll start by convincing you.
Even if it costs me my life, I'll correct your mistaken ideas and let you experience Lord Youhu's grace. We'll all unite under Lord Youhu.
Youhu had no way of knowing what Tiehuo was thinking.
Even if he had, he would have simply said, "Well done."
The Uchiha needed workaholics like you, willing to work around the clock of their own accord. Keep it up, and spread the word far and wide.
"Looks like the Wood Clone has finished the job. I'll see what happens after I wake up."
After receiving the Wood Clone's memories, he was satisfied and went to sleep.
It turned out that drinking energy drinks to stay awake only made you sleepier.
Outside Konoha City.
Uchiha Obito was running through the forest, evading Kakashi's pursuit.
A few hours earlier, after escaping from Kakashi, Youhu, and the others, he hadn't left Konoha. Instead, he'd decided to take advantage of the idea that the safest place was right under their noses and hide within Konohagakure.
He wanted to see if he could find an opportunity to make contact with Uchiha Itachi.
Instead, he ran into Kakashi and Yamato, who were patrolling together.
Against the two of them, Obito wasn't confident he could win, so he'd fled all the way into the depths of the forest. Only there had he managed to evade Kakashi and Yamato.
"I shouldn't have given Kakashi the Sharingan."
Resting on a tree branch, Obito wanted to slap his past self. He grumbled bitterly to himself.
Just then, the White Zetsu who had been with Youhu emerged from the ground and called out to Obito, "Lord Madara, Lord Youhu asked me to bring you a letter. It seems he has a suggestion about the Moon Eye Plan."
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