"Are the higher-ups in Konoha idiots? There's a powerful figure of unknown identity and allegiance in the Land of Fire, and they're still thinking about infighting? They're honestly even stupider than me!"
Zetsu, who looked like a pitcher plant, stood on the mountain behind the Hyuga Clan Compound and gazed at the forest destroyed by the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack. White Zetsu let out a meaningless sigh, seemingly thinking the Konoha higher-ups were a bunch of fools with no sense at all.
Black Zetsu was silent for a long time, as if deep in thought. Only then did he finally reply to White Zetsu. "No, Konoha isn't stupid. The Uchiha are an unstable Explosive Tag right now. Rather than remain on edge and keep watch over it, they might as well set it off, then unite all of Konoha's forces and have everyone stay alert for the mysterious person who might threaten Konoha."
"Of course, the Uchiha Clan Massacre can also strengthen the unity of Konoha's shinobi and bring everyone together."
Black Zetsu's thoughts were purely malicious. He didn't understand what the Konoha higher-ups were thinking; he was simply pointing out the benefits that would inevitably come from wiping out the Uchiha Clan.
There was nothing wrong with eliminating the Uchiha, really. The Uchiha rarely went on missions. Their main duties were maintaining law and order in Konoha and guarding the prison for serious criminals. Konoha would only be losing a group of security guards and prison guards.
Genin could serve as security guards, and Chunin were all that was needed to guard the prison.
"Doesn't Nagato still need more people for the organization? Should we go look for this mysterious person? I heard Orochimaru was almost beaten to death by the mysterious shinobi!"
White Zetsu pretended to understand Black Zetsu's explanation and abruptly changed the subject, giving Black Zetsu no chance to call him an idiot.
"We can have White Zetsu ask around. The two of us can handle the recruitment together," Black Zetsu said calmly.
"Huh? Aren't we going to bring Nagato or Obito? That guy can punch a hundred square meters at a time. The two of us might not even be enough to fill the mysterious person's teeth!" White Zetsu looked horrified.
"Idiot! Nagato isn't in our faction, and Obito is plotting the Uchiha Clan Massacre. Where would he find the time? Do you think the Uchiha Elite Jonin are all fools?"
"We're only going to keep an initial watch on him. If we confirm he's suitable, we'll bring him straight into our faction. If he isn't, we'll have Nagato and Konan deal with him."
"Black Zetsu-chan sure is as strict as ever!"
"Idiot. Shut your foul mouth!"
Black Zetsu's plans seemed flawless on the surface, but he had no intention of telling Obito or Nagato. He knew exactly what the technique that had left a fist-shaped crater hundreds of square meters wide was called, and until he'd investigated it, he didn't want Obito or Nagato interfering.
Though the chances were extremely slim, it was more likely that the technique had been adapted from the legend of the Rabbit Goddess.
Just like the Fire Temple's "Raigo: Senju Kannon."
But what if it really had something to do with his mother? Then...
"Naruto, stop staring at the pretty Uchiha. You'll get so captivated you won't be able to look away."
Sitting in the Lecture Hall, Fuyuki wore an utterly bored expression as he teased the fox beside him.
Maybe it was because of the Asura Chakra, or maybe the fox was jealous of Two-B's popularity with women. Either way, he kept glaring at Sasuke from across the room for no reason. Two-B often gave an arrogant snort and lifted his chin with a haughty look.
The two acted like they'd been possessed by a pair of quarrelsome spirits. They'd pick a fight whenever there was a reason, and even when there wasn't, they'd find a way to provoke each other.
"N-no! Who would look at that arrogant Sasuke? I'm just looking at the scenery outside!"
Naruto immediately denied all three accusations. He'd never admit he'd been sneaking glances at Uchiha Sasuke.
"Mm-hmm, you're looking at the scenery. As long as you and Sasuke don't make things weirdly gay, I don't care what you're looking at." Fuyuki answered Naruto perfunctorily, then turned to tease Hinata, who was sitting beside him. "Whatever you're looking at, it could never be as pretty as my dear big sister!"
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Hinata, who'd been sneaking snacks with her head down, choked when she suddenly heard someone call out to her and coughed until her face turned red.
"Ugh!"
Naruto looked disgusted and waved Fuyuki away as if shooing a fly. He could go show off his family love somewhere else. Naruto had only been raised by a perverted old man and didn't understand love!
"Ah, that's strange."
Shikamaru, sitting behind Fuyuki, glanced at the clock on the wall. "Fuyuki, use your Byakugan to check the teachers' office. Class is already over, but our teacher still hasn't come to dismiss us."
"I think the teacher's secretly taking a nap in the office and keeping it from us."
Before Shikamaru had even finished speaking, Fuyuki could barely begin to criticize the logic of the lazy bum before the classroom door opened. Iruka-sensei walked in with a smile and said, "I have an announcement for everyone. This afternoon's scheduled lecture is canceled and replaced with an outdoor survival exercise. It'll be your first outdoor lesson."
"Woohoo! Long live Iruka-sensei!" Naruto leaped out of his seat, overjoyed.
Naruto ranked fairly well in Taijutsu and ninja tool practice, but academic classes were different. They tested not only knowledge but also attendance. With Naruto's habit of skipping three classes for every one he attended, he'd only pass academics if he summoned the Fourth Hokage through some kind of ritual.
"Ugh, an outdoor class under this blazing sun?" Ino looked miserable. She hadn't brought any sunscreen!
"Hinata, could I have a potato chip? I just finished my snacks." Choji, unconcerned about class, looked at Hinata hopefully, hoping she'd take pity on him for having no snacks.
Fuyuki's smile slowly faded as he looked at Iruka at the front of the classroom, puzzled.
Fuyuki was usually very low on Chakraton, so he was extremely sensitive to those with plenty of chakra. The amount of chakra inside the Iruka-sensei in front of him was already at Jonin level. He wasn't Iruka-sensei!
"Byakugan!"
Fuyuki formed Hand Seals and silently thought the words. Veins bulged around his eyes as he quickly scanned Iruka, then immediately deactivated his Byakugan to avoid alerting "Iruka."
"Root Division?"
Root Division shinobi were easy to identify. All you had to do was check whether an Anbu had a Cursed Seal on his tongue to tell which unit of Konoha's Anbu he belonged to.
That was also why Danzo didn't like recruiting shinobi from the Hyuga Clan.
Their eyes were far too troublesome. They could often see hidden secrets, and with the Caged Bird, Danzo couldn't control the Hyuga shinobi at all. The Main Branch would never join the Anbu Danzo had formed.
"What's High-ranking Dark Spirit doing? The Uchiha Clan Massacre is about to happen, and he still hasn't come to notify me." Fuyuki muttered to himself, then sent a sliver of his will into the Dark Elf, taking control of its body.
He didn't want Uchiha Fugaku's Mangekyo to fall into Obito's or Danzo's hands. Those Mangekyo Sharingan had to be recovered.
In the original story, no one except Itachi knew Fugaku had awakened the Mangekyo. So after his eyes were dug out, they were mistaken for ordinary Three-Tomoe and thrown into some jar of Ensui.
Fuyuki didn't want to hand over a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan with unknown abilities to his enemies for nothing.
It would be bad enough if the enemy didn't notice. The worst would be if they discovered after changing eyes that they'd just found a candy bean in a pile of shit.
"Hm?" Itachi's expression tightened. "Moon Worm?"
Fuyuki: "???"
It's Eclipse! If you don't want the Mangekyo, you can donate them! You've had them for less than a month, and you're already going blind?
Before you continue