Obito

"White Zetsu, still no leads?" Obito asked, already growing impatient.

White Zetsu was equally puzzled; a living person of that size had to have daily needs, yet this individual seemed to have popped out of thin air, leaving no trace of a past. "None. I can confirm that when we wiped out the clan, not a single person escaped. I suspect this guy might not even be an Uchiha."

"Oh~?"

Relying on his confidence in his own investigative abilities, White Zetsu suddenly thought of a possibility. "Perhaps we've been looking in the wrong direction. It's possible he isn't a living person at all; perhaps this is all something Orochimaru cooked up using Impure World Reincarnation."

Obito, however, was skeptical of this theory. Impure World Reincarnation was fundamentally different from a living person, and Itachi wouldn't have failed to notice such an obvious distinction.

Yet, for some unknown reason, he did not outright deny White Zetsu's claim.

Suddenly, White Zetsu seemed to be sensing something. "The White Zetsu in Konoha and Sunagakure have sent word." However, after receiving the information, White Zetsu's expression turned strange.

Seeing Obito's questioning gaze, White Zetsu chose to highlight the key points. "In Konoha, a member of the Uzumaki Clan has appeared from out of nowhere, and they can use the Adamantine Sealing Chains. This might affect our subsequent capture of the Tailed Beasts.

"As for Sunagakure, there is a guy suspected of possessing the Sharingan, wearing a white mask, who is clamoring for the One-Tail of Sunagakure to be his pet. Could this be the guy Itachi was talking about?"

Upon hearing this, Obito pondered and said, "Go to Sunagakure first; the Tailed Beasts cannot be lost. As for Konoha, we'll see how things go when we get there. If we can recruit them, we will; if not, kill them on the spot."

"Understood!" White Zetsu slowly sank into the ground.

As expected, three days later, Uchiha Gen faced a Sunagakure that was far more vigilant and furious. Because Uchiha Gen had cast several genjutsu on the guards during his infiltration, the venue had been breached.

For this reason, Sunagakure had made various defensive preparations against genjutsu and set traps in the surrounding area, intending to capture this arrogant fool who didn't know his place. This matter even stirred Chiyo, who had no desire to fight and was planning to spend her retirement in peace.

Temari and Kankuro were furious upon learning this news. What did this guy think Gaara was?! During this time, their assigned mission was to protect Gaara, but even without that order, they would have protected their younger brother regardless!

Three days later, Uchiha Gen used Instantaneous Shift to appear directly in front of the Sunagakure conference table, instantly rendering all of Sunagakure's arrangements useless.

The high-ranking officials were shocked and instinctively launched an attack. In an instant, a barrage of ninjutsu and Kunai flew toward Uchiha Gen.

Uchiha Gen, however, wore a warm smile. While dodging the attacks, he knocked out the most aggressive ninja and began to coax them. "Look, you guys in Sunagakure don't like Gaara anyway. Hand him over to me, and I'll make sure he's well-fed and well-cared for. I guarantee he'll never appear before you again, how about that?"

Uchiha Gen's proposal did indeed tempt some of the high-ranking officials, but if a ninja village were to hand over a fellow ninja—especially a Jinchuriki—they would no longer be able to hold their heads high among the Five Great Nations; it would become a laughingstock for the entire ninja world.

Furthermore, this guy clearly didn't take Sunagakure seriously in his letters. What did he mean by being ungrateful? Did he think that wanting their Tailed Beast was doing them a favor?

In summary, there could only be a fight to the death between Uchiha Gen and Sunagakure!

Yet, Uchiha Gen seemed completely unfazed by the situation, continuing, "I really like Shukaku. How about I bring him to see you every few years? I promise to keep him plump and healthy. Who knows, maybe in a few years, I'll even bring him back with a wife."

By the time he finished this sentence, most of the ninjas were already lying on the ground, unable to respond even if they wanted to. Temari and Kankuro, watching Uchiha Gen step toward the Gaara behind them, felt as if they were drenched in sweat.

This was an immense pressure, and from start to finish, Uchiha Gen hadn't even been serious; the ninjas lying on the ground weren't dead, just unconscious.

But that was what made it even more terrifying. Temari's face turned pale. Was Gaara really going to be taken away like this?

Watching the two of them shielding him, Gaara was suddenly reminded of Naruto and fell silent for a moment. He had to protect them! Just as Gaara was about to tell Temari and Kankuro to move aside...

"Oh my, don't you think you've gone a bit too far, sir?" Chiyo walked slowly toward Uchiha Gen, her tone carrying a sense of aged exhaustion.

Temari felt a surge of joy at this. "Lady Chiyo!" She hadn't expected Lady Chiyo to actually come; Gaara might be saved after all.

However, Uchiha Gen had just received the message from his Shadow Clone being dispelled at that exact moment. Had they already arrived? Looking at Chiyo before him, Uchiha Gen nodded with a serious expression. "I suppose that might have been a bit too far~"

With that, he didn't linger with Chiyo and vanished on the spot right in front of her.

Seeing this, Chiyo's previously dull eyes narrowed slightly. Looking at the many high-ranking officials and Jonin lying on the ground, then back at Gaara, she wondered: with this kind of strength, if this person's goal was Gaara, why go to such great lengths?

He could have just taken the person away; no one would have been able to stop him. Was he really following a principle of voluntary consent? Or did his ability actually have a time limit, which was why he left as soon as she arrived?

Temari didn't have such thoughts; after this incident, she only admired Chiyo even more. Lady Chiyo had scared that man away the moment she appeared.

Uchiha Gen dispelled the other Shadow Clones that were still scouting outside, as each only had a tiny bit of chakra and had been instantly popped when they encountered Obito and the others.

Time to slip away. Although the goal had been achieved, one still had to maintain the pride of a powerhouse; being too proactive would make him look cheap.

Just as he was about to run out of the area under Sunagakure's jurisdiction, Obito suddenly lunged out of the space in front of Uchiha Gen. Just as he was about to say something, Uchiha Gen moved directly behind Obito and slipped away again.

This ability... Obito was certain it wasn't a Body Flicker Technique. He had just felt a fluctuation; was it a space-time ninjutsu like his own?

Uchiha Gen appeared once more on the path Uchiha Gen was running, blocking him. "Who are you? What was that ninjutsu just now?"

Uchiha Gen didn't speak, throwing several Kunai and shuriken to manipulate them, attacking Obito. They all passed right through him. Realizing his attacks were useless, he retorted, "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? I just wanted to pick up a pet, and you went and popped my clones. Now you're chasing me relentlessly—what do you want?"

Ignoring Uchiha Gen's retort, Obito continued to ask, "What is your name?"

"If I tell you, will you let me go?"

Obito snorted coldly. "You are in no position to negotiate with me!"

Seeing this, Uchiha Gen's eyes narrowed. Without sufficient strength, one wouldn't receive the treatment they deserved. "Although I don't want to fight you, that doesn't mean I can't beat you!"

After saying this, Uchiha Gen threw shuriken again, and at the same time, black chakra rose around him. A massive, black hand of Susanoo swiped toward Obito's position!