The Hypocrisy of the Third Generation

"Then it is settled." Uchiha Obito tilted his head toward Zetsu. "Zetsu, I leave the barrier formation to you."

"Understood." At these words, Zetsu's form slowly merged into the giant tree and vanished.

Watching the spot where Zetsu had disappeared, Chiya used Kyōka Suigetsu to perceive his surroundings. Finding that Zetsu was still hiding within the massive tree, he sneered inwardly and added:

"And leave that traitor Uchiha Itachi to you. After all, he is a future teammate; I assume you wouldn't want him dying by my hand right now. When night falls, I will feign death at his hands. Until everything is settled, I expect you to keep this a secret."

Having said this, Chiya flashed away, disappearing from Obito's line of sight.

He did not travel far before quietly returning, releasing Kyōka Suigetsu.

He isolated the sensory range of Obito and Zetsu.

Watching the place where Chiya had vanished, Obito waited until his Sharingan could no longer detect a trace of Chiya's chakra before speaking. "Well, Zetsu, has that guy left?"

"Chiya's chakra can no longer be sensed," Black Zetsu replied.

Hearing this, Obito couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, his heart filled with lingering fear.

In the end, he had been too blindly confident in the power of Kamui.

And far too careless.

In just a single exchange, Chiya had pierced through the intangibility of his right eye.

Not to mention that illusion, which was so realistic it could pass for truth.

It had nearly cost him his life.

If the opponent had intended to kill him just now, and without any prior intelligence on Chiya, he might truly have fallen here.

"Madara, what do you intend to do? Do you really plan to recruit Chiya into the Akatsuki? I have a feeling that he is an incredibly dangerous existence! His Body Flicker technique is one thing, but that level of illusion is beyond anything we have known before," White Zetsu asked Obito.

Hearing the name Madara, Obito immediately regained his usual indifference. "Why not? At least for now, his interests align with ours. Furthermore, no matter how formidable Chiya may be, before the Rinnegan, he will ultimately appear pale and powerless."

"That is true," White Zetsu did not argue.

"Black Zetsu, do you have any leads on the technique Chiya used just now? That terrifying speed—I fear even the Fourth Raikage and the Fourth Hokage could hardly match it." The current Obito did not yet possess the breadth of experience he would have in the original timeline.

Black Zetsu pondered for a moment before saying, "It looks somewhat like Sage Mode. But it is different from the Sage Mode of the three great holy lands: Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest."

"Not only did his appearance remain unchanged, but it does not seem to be the power fused by balancing natural energy from the surroundings with his own physical and mental energy, as in standard Sage Mode."

"It is somewhat similar to Orochimaru's Cursed Seal, yet more advanced. It seems to be released directly from within his body, causing his chakra to surge to a terrifying level in an instant."

"Of course, his base chakra reserves are also immense—at least on par with an average member of the Uzumaki clan."

"To be able to control such terrifying chakra... he truly is a formidable fellow."

"Sage Art, huh." Obito repeated, his brows knitting slightly. "It seems this guy has quite a few secrets. Take advantage of tonight's battle to observe him closely; I need detailed intelligence on him. This guy is far too dangerous."

"I understand," Black Zetsu replied respectfully, his pitcher plant form slowly merging into the giant tree.

Chiya stood right beside Obito and Zetsu; having released Kyōka Suigetsu, he had no fear of being discovered. Seeing that the two were keeping their word, he stopped being suspicious, turned, and slowly vanished into the darkness.

On the other side, Uchiha Itachi had already changed into his Anbu attire and arrived at the Hokage building.

The sun was already setting. Not just in the Uchiha compound, but throughout Konoha, an strange atmosphere was permeating the air.

Early this morning, the Anbu operatives who had been monitoring the Uchiha compound were all withdrawn from their posts and concentrated at the Anbu base, entering a state of Level 1 alert while awaiting the Hokage's orders.

At this moment, on the rooftop of the Konoha Hokage building.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood with his hands behind his back. Behind him, Uchiha Itachi, dressed in Anbu gear, knelt on one knee.

"Have you made your decision, Itachi?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, his eyes narrowed as he kept his back to him.

Itachi lowered his head, his tone radiating a resolve he had never shown before. "Yes, Lord Hokage."

From tonight on, he would shoulder the sin of slaughtering his own clan, and the price would be the preservation of his younger brother, Sasuke.

"This is my failure. I never imagined things would reach this point. I had hoped to resolve this peacefully. I did not wish to resort to force." Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a heavy breath, then added, "You need not worry about Sasuke. As long as I am alive, I will not let anything happen to him."

"I am deeply grateful." Hearing this, Uchiha Itachi was deeply moved. Leaving behind those words, Itachi donned his Anbu mask and vanished from the top of the Hokage building.

Not long after Itachi left, Sarutobi Hiruzen gently raised his hand.

Suddenly, two Anbu appeared behind him, kneeling on one knee. These two were no ordinary operatives; their true identities were Sarutobi Hiruzen's eldest son and daughter-in-law—the parents of Konohamaru.

"Go and prepare," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, his face no longer holding its usual gentleness, now shrouded in shadow.

The annihilation of the Uchiha clan was Konoha's highest secret. Even Anbu members like Kakashi, who reported directly to the Hokage, were not qualified to participate and were kept waiting at the Anbu base. Only the most trusted of Sarutobi Hiruzen's inner circle were aware of it.

"Father, are we to take action?" asked Sarutobi Shinnosuke, the eldest son, who wore a patterned mask.

Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated for only a second before saying, "If Itachi and Chiya are not in time..."

He did not finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.

Although he did not believe Itachi would show mercy, the Uchiha were, after all, a vast clan.

If they were alerted, it was possible that some might escape.

Furthermore, if Chiya learned of Uchiha Izumi's death, he would inevitably go berserk.

If Uchiha Itachi failed to take down Chiya after wiping out the clan, the two elite Jonin from the Root Division arranged by Danzo would strike.

If we can't take him down.

Then, Sarutobi Hiruzen's subordinates will have to step in!

This is the final safeguard.

Even Danzo doesn't know about this.

"What if Uchiha Itachi doesn't kill Chiya?" Sarutobi Shinnosuke continued to ask.

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't answer, he just closed his eyes and turned to enter the house.

"I understand!" Sarutobi Shinnosuke understood his father's intentions and responded, after which the two disappeared.

At the same time, at the Shimura Clan Grounds.

"After tonight, the Second Hokage's wish to eliminate the Uchiha will finally be fulfilled by my hands."

Danzo stood proudly on the stone steps, leaning on his cane.

Below him were hundreds of Root Division elites.

ps: First update, requesting recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. I originally planned for two updates, but seeing that [Quasar] generously rewarded 5,000 Qidian coins, I'll make it three updates today.