Obito's Gaze

'Shisui and Itachi, the two of them have finally met.'

Uchiha Yuan watched the two figures rapidly crossing and flashing, a complex expression appearing on his face.

After encountering Uchiha Itachi, who had just returned from the battlefield last time, Uchiha Yuan hadn't seen him again for several days.

He hadn't expected to meet him with Uchiha Shisui today.

The two were currently sparring with each other.

The Taijutsu they displayed, their ability to adapt to the situation, and their calculations in battle all made Uchiha Yuan secretly praise them.

'As expected of two geniuses.'

Uchiha Yuan didn't go forward to disturb them. After watching quietly for a while, he turned and quietly left.

Seeing Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui together gave Uchiha Yuan a feeling of a shackle of fate gradually tightening around his neck.

Not long after Uchiha Yuan left, the two figures fighting in the forest clearing suddenly separated and landed.

Uchiha Shisui turned his head to look in the direction Uchiha Yuan had left. He had already sensed Uchiha Yuan when he approached the clearing.

Then he turned back and saw Uchiha Itachi also looking in the direction Uchiha Yuan had left.

"Itachi, do you know that clan member from just now?"

Uchiha Itachi nodded slightly, "Yes, I've met him a few times before. He's Izumi's older brother, Uchiha Yuan."

Uchiha Shisui said, "Although Yuan's talent for ninjutsu isn't strong, he has shown great talent in Taijutsu. He's a guy to be admired."

Uchiha Itachi asked, "Is Yuan very strong?"

Uchiha Shisui replied, "Very strong. He single-handedly defeated Shimura Ken and over a dozen others from my grade."

Itachi was surprised, "Yuan seems to be a year below you, Shisui."

Shisui smiled, "Yes, our clan member is actually a genius too."

Itachi said, "I think we can pull Yuan in too, and work together to ease the conflict between the clan and the village."

Itachi was precociously intelligent and had realized the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha very early on.

And Uchiha Yuan's explanation about the war that day had resolved the doubts that had been troubling him, and also made him realize that Uchiha Yuan was different from other clan members, possessing a vision beyond that of ordinary clan members.

Shisui showed a look of regret and said, "I've talked to him, but like other clan members, his attitude towards the village is very strong."

Hearing this, Uchiha Itachi frowned slightly, looking in the direction Uchiha Yuan had left and thinking to himself: 'Yuan, can't you see the conflict between the clan and the village? Or is your breadth of mind also this narrow?'

As time went by, more and more information about the war circulated in the village, and the conflict seemed to be intensifying. Wounded soldiers were constantly being sent back from the front lines.

At the same time, the nature of the war shifted. It was no longer just the major ninja villages launching offensives against Konoha; it had devolved into a chaotic free-for-all.

The first to clash were Iwagakure and Kumogakure, who already harbored deep-seated hatred for one another. Following that, seeing the stalemate in the war against the Land of Fire, the Land of Water shifted its focus toward the Land of Wind, sparking a war between Kirigakure and Sunagakure.

As the chaotic melee between the five great ninja villages erupted, the smaller nations surrounding them were also dragged into the fray.

In an instant, the entire ninja world was engulfed in the flames of war.

The Third Shinobi World War had entered its most intense phase.

After school, Uchiha Yuan parted ways with Hatake Harukaze at an intersection.

He did not return to his clan compound. Instead, he took a secluded path and sprinted straight toward the outskirts of the village.

His destination was the Death Forest.

Upon reaching the perimeter of the village, Uchiha Yuan's figure suddenly faltered, and he came to a halt.

He saw a solitary figure.

It was Kakashi.

That area was the cemetery where the village's fallen ninja were laid to rest, and Kakashi was currently standing before a tombstone.

A delicate yellow flower had been placed in front of the stone. One could faintly make out the photograph on the tombstone: a girl with a gentle and lovely smile.

Uchiha Yuan did not go over to greet him; he knew that Kakashi did not wish to be disturbed at this moment.

However, as Uchiha Yuan passed by the cemetery, his keen perception picked up a strange gaze directed at him.

There was no need to overthink who could be here at this time. Uchiha Yuan immediately guessed that the owner of this gaze must be Uchiha Obito.

Fortunately, the gaze only lingered on him for a brief moment before shifting away. This allowed Uchiha Yuan to breathe a sigh of relief; it seemed Uchiha Obito had not grown suspicious of him.

Nevertheless, to avoid drawing further attention from Uchiha Obito, Uchiha Yuan had to take a detour, keeping his sensory perception active the entire time.

If Obito was here, then Zetsu was likely nearby as well.

A short while later.

Deep within the Death Forest, a place filled with towering trees and a dark, gloomy atmosphere, Uchiha Yuan sped along until he finally stopped in a valley.

His sharp gaze swept the surroundings twice. Then, Uchiha Yuan clapped his hands together, and four Shadow Clones immediately scattered in all directions.

The four Shadow Clones took up positions at the four cardinal points, skillfully forming a hand seal in unison to erect a barrier.

Then, Uchiha Yuan slammed his palm onto the ground. Chakra surged out, rapidly forming a summoning array on the earth, from which a phantom figure emerged.

This figure was none other than Hatake Sakumo.

Next, Uchiha Yuan formed a hand seal, and a Shadow Clone appeared beside him, motionless. Then, Hatake Sakumo's spectral figure merged into this Shadow Clone.

The next second, the Shadow Clone's eyes changed, and Hatake Sakumo's voice emerged.

"I never thought you'd be right. The Third Hokage would rather become the Acting Hokage himself than let Orochimaru become the Fifth Hokage.

I can't believe they would abandon even their disciples for power. But with Orochimaru's pride, he probably won't accept being treated like this. He'll likely bring disaster to the village in the future."

A mocking smile appeared on Uchiha Yuan's face. "Teacher," he said, "that's why they are the source of the village's chaos."

Hatake Sakumo was silent for a moment, then let out a soft sigh.

He then looked down at the Shadow Clone he was possessing and said, "The Chakra this Shadow Clone possesses now has reached sixty percent of my Chakra amount when I was alive. Yuan, your strength is improving faster and faster."

"It's all thanks to your guidance, teacher."

Then, their gazes met, and a sharp aura erupted, clashing fiercely.

The next second, both figures suddenly vanished.

A thunderous explosion suddenly occurred, and a powerful shockwave erupted. They were seen colliding heavily, their palms striking like blades.

Swish swish swish!

The two figures moved like swift winds, flickering and changing positions repeatedly, sharp gusts of wind surging outwards.

Every time they crossed paths, they unleashed incredibly fierce Blade Techniques.

After a while.

The surging wind began to slowly subside.

The ground was covered in crisscrossing, messy slashes. In the center of these slashes, Uchiha Yuan and Hatake Sakumo stood facing each other, unmoving.

Uchiha Yuan's right hand rested on Hatake Sakumo's neck, while his left forearm was raised, blocking the palm strike from Hatake Sakumo.

"I have nothing more to teach you in Blade Techniques," Hatake Sakumo said, retracting his hand.

Uchiha Yuan panted slightly, "No, every spar with you, teacher, allows me to find my own shortcomings."

Hatake Sakumo smiled faintly, then his expression suddenly turned blank and numb.

He released the possession state.

Immediately after, this Shadow Clone also self-destructed and vanished due to Chakra depletion.