The Common Ancestor of the Senju and Uchiha

On the surface.

After the Kakashi Squad entered the underground space, the Pitcher Plant Black Zetsu emerged from a tree trunk and asked Obito, who was beside him, "Obito, are you just going to watch them break into our base like that?"

Obito replied indifferently:

"Anything of value inside the base was moved away long ago. What does it matter if we let them take a look?"

"However, this guy Kakashi is still as smart as he was back then. To think he could judge that our previous base was hidden within the borders of the Grass Country just by analyzing the Battle of Kannabi Bridge."

Since you're so smart, why didn't you just die in Rin's place?

Kakashi had deduced that Madara's base was near the Kannabi Bridge based on the Battle of Kannabi Bridge.

This information had been told to Obito by Youhu.

After receiving the news, Obito immediately left Konohagakure and used the Floating Technique to arrive near the Grass Country a day early. On one hand, he wanted to seize the opportunity to take back his Sharingan.

On the other hand, he also wanted to take the chance to meet with Itachi and see if he could plant the seeds of the Infinite Tsukuyomi in Itachi's heart.

Black Zetsu listened silently to Obito's muttering, offering no opinion.

However, he felt that compared to the deceased Rin, Obito cared far more about the still-living Kakashi. Otherwise, he wouldn't constantly have Kakashi on his lips, nor would he have delayed reclaiming his Sharingan for so long, dragging it out until now.

After venting his dissatisfaction, Obito regained his composure. With a detached expression, he spoke, "Let's go. We'll see what Kakashi and the others actually manage to find in our base."

With that, Obito used his phasing ability and slipped into the ground.

Black Zetsu nodded and hurriedly used the Floating Technique to follow.

Seeing Kakashi walk into the library, Obito frowned: "Kakashi went to the library. Is he trying to learn how to skillfully use the Mangekyo Sharingan to deal with me?"

"But without the Uchiha bloodline, how many times can you actually use Kamui?"

Seeing Uchiha Itachi walk into the equipment room, Obito chuckled:

"You want to get your hands on the divine weapons left behind by Madara to stop your clan's coup? It's a pity that the Gunbai, the symbol of the clan head's authority, has long since fallen into my hands."

"Give up on such unrealistic fantasies. Only the Infinite Tsukuyomi can save the Uchiha and save this world."

However, when Obito walked into the room where Youhu was located and saw Youhu staring at the stone wall in meditation, he could no longer maintain his cold persona. With a puzzled expression, he asked Black Zetsu:

"Black Zetsu, can one really gain enlightenment from these murals of the Uchiha deity on the wall?"

Hearing this, Black Zetsu also noticed Youhu meditating before the stone wall. He shook his head and said, "These are just ornaments left behind by Madara; they have no special function."

"Youhu is probably just admiring the mural."

"Are you sure?" Obito stared at Black Zetsu, his eyes filled with suspicion.

Black Zetsu nodded slightly and explained earnestly, "This really is just an ordinary stone wall. You've been here for several years; if there were any special effects, wouldn't you know by now?"

"Besides, Lord Madara has already handed down his entire legacy to you."

Hearing this, Obito finally dispelled the suspicion in his heart. He might doubt Black Zetsu, his monitor, but he could never doubt his own talent.

After all, he was the Uchiha with the highest talent and the greatest strength since Madara.

If the Uchiha Deity on this stone wall truly had any miraculous effects, he would have realized it long ago.

Youhu must simply be appreciating the mural, or perhaps he was just putting on a show of mystery in front of Kakashi and Itachi, pretending to be profound.

Kakashi had done such foolish things in the past as well.

Seeing Kakashi and Itachi walk into the room where Youhu was, Obito hurriedly burrowed into the rock layer. He didn't want to expose himself just yet; he wanted to continue eavesdropping on the Kakashi Squad's conversation.

At this moment, Black Zetsu asked, puzzled:

"Obito, aren't you going to take this chance to ambush Kakashi?"

"As long as you can retrieve your Mangekyo Sharingan, no one in the entire Ninja World will be able to stop you, and we will be better able to implement the Moon Eye Plan."

"My affairs don't require your interference..."

Obito glared at Black Zetsu, then, as if thinking of something, added:

"Besides, who said I haven't made preparations? I already sent people to lie in ambush nearby—two powerful rogue ninjas."

"Hmph, after encountering a formidable enemy this time, will you choose to sacrifice yourself to cover their retreat, or will you, like before, rely on the protection of others and continue to linger on in the Ninja World?"

After experiencing a "moment of enlightenment" that lasted for half an hour, Youhu recovered from his trance.

Only then did Youhu notice Kakashi and Itachi beside him. He said in surprise, "Captain Kakashi, Senior Itachi, have you finished searching the other rooms so quickly?"

We've been here for nearly half an hour. Is it just a fleeting moment for Youhu?

It seems Youhu really has obtained tremendous benefits here.

Kakashi thought to himself, but he didn't explain immediately. Instead, he asked curiously, "Youhu, you were staring at this stone wall—did you gain anything special?"

"Gain, you say?"

Youhu pondered for a moment, checked his own body, and said:

"I feel like my ocular power has increased quite a bit. My current Sharingan should be stronger than a standard Three-Tomoe. Other than that, there's nothing particularly special."

"This mural can strengthen the Sharingan?"

Kakashi was slightly startled, then turned to Itachi and said, "Itachi, you should try it too. I remember you also have the Three Tomoe Sharingan."

"This stone wall is useless to me."

Itachi shook his head gently. While Youhu had been staring blankly, he had already examined the stone wall.

The Uchiha Deity depicted above had no effect on him; it couldn't even influence his mind.

At this moment, Youhu suddenly clutched his head, his body swaying unsteadily. With a pained expression, he said, "Kakashi, Captain Kakashi, a blurry memory suddenly appeared in my head..."

Kakashi flashed to Youhu's side, catching him just before he fell. He scanned the surroundings vigilantly and asked, "What kind of memory appeared in your head? Is someone ambushing you from the shadows?"

Youhu struggled for a moment, his complexion finally returning to normal, and he muttered:

"Captain Kakashi, I'm fine."

"I just saw the ancestors of the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan kneeling at the feet of a mysterious old man, chanting words about Tailed Beasts and the God Tree."

"At the very end of the memory, they both looked toward where I was standing..."

How could this involve the ancestors of the Senju and Uchiha? And they were kneeling before the same old man.

Kakashi felt the world suddenly becoming strange; it was filled with riddles and riddlers. The mystery of why Obito had transformed into the Masked Man hadn't been solved yet, and now Youhu was starting to act cryptic as well.

Itachi glanced at the stone wall, then at the pale-faced Youhu, a realization dawning in his heart.

There must be some kind of Fūinjutsu: Copy on the stone wall. Youhu had accidentally triggered this seal, which was why he experienced an epiphany and gained significant benefits from it.

He just didn't know who had left this technique here.

Was it Uchiha Madara, who had mentored Obito, or perhaps some other formidable ninja from the clan's history?

If he had arrived just one step earlier, perhaps he would have known the answer.