Obito and Pain moved through the secret passage without a hitch, as though they were strolling through their own back garden.
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When they returned to the surface, they had reached the heart of Kirigakure. The Mizukage's office building stood not far away, and before them was an elegant, old-fashioned building.
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"Where is this?" Pain asked.
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"The residence of the elder, Genji," Obito replied.
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Ever since Obito had controlled Yagura with genjutsu, many of the policies he issued had been influenced, to one degree or another, by Genji.
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If it had been anyone else, Obito would have killed him long ago. But Elder Genji had spent years building his influence in Kirigakure. His interests were tangled in a vast network, and he also had close ties to officials in the Land of Water's government.
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His death would bring unnecessary trouble, so Obito had simply chosen to deal with him by attrition, steadily chipping away at Genji's power over the years.
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"I respected his years of hard work and originally planned to let him die of old age—don't look at me like that. I'm quite kind to the elderly."
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Obito reached the courtyard gate and gently pushed it open.
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"Unfortunately, some people wanted to make Genji their spiritual pillar and use his name to do things that would make a lot of people unhappy. And he chose to support them."
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The gate creaked open.
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Obito's cold gaze swept over the four Kirigakure shinobi standing behind it, tasked with guarding the elder.
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"So I'll just have to cut off the 'fallback plan' these people have placed so much hope in."
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"Stop!"
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Two enormous swords blocked Obito's path.
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Hozuki Mangetsu's gaze fell on the black cloaks with red