With Yahiko's personality, decent strength, dreams and ambitions, sunny disposition, striking personal charisma, and constant talk of comrades and peace—not to mention an overpowered little brother by his side—if he were in any other anime, he would absolutely have been protagonist material.
Unfortunately, he was in Naruto, so his tragedy was inevitable.
All this time, a pair of eyes had been watching his every move from the shadows.
Crash!
Rain filled the skies. The downpour had lasted for an entire week without showing the slightest sign of stopping. In the distance, Yahiko and the others, having completed another mission, were leaving amid the villagers' farewells.
From high above, blood-red Three Tomoe eyes silently watched the scene. A spiral-patterned mask concealed his face, making his expression impossible to read. Behind him, White Zetsu emerged, his body covered by two reed leaves, and asked in a low voice, "Obito, you've been watching them for months. Haven't you found a suitable opportunity yet?"
Obito Uchiha did not turn around. In a deep voice, he said, "Don't rush. Killing Yahiko wouldn't be difficult; with our strength, we could do it at any time. But killing him isn't the goal. We need Nagato to realize the cruelty of this world and then come to us of his own accord. That requires the right timing. But now, it seems the time is nearly ripe. We can begin the plan."
Naturally, Yahiko knew nothing of this. Though he still remembered that Spiral Face, he no longer paid him much mind. After all, he was merely a mysterious man he had met once. There was no need to keep him on his mind at all times.
The most pressing issue before him now was the development of his organization.
His organization had already become the largest in the