Danzo and Obito, a Win-Win for Me? VS Obito! [Two-in-One]

At the entrance, the two of them could already hear Jiraiya's wailing.

After years of getting used to a carefree life, Jiraiya simply couldn't stand being cooped up in such a cramped room, constantly going over documents.

He had begged several times for Sarutobi Hiruzen to bring out the Crystal Ball so he could peek at the women's bathhouse, but had been refused. He cursed the old man for keeping all the fun to himself.

"Knock, knock!"

After Uchiha Gin knocked, Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice quickly came from inside.

"Come in."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice rang out.

The two opened the door and walked straight in. Jiraiya had naturally noticed someone outside long ago. When he saw they were Uchiha, he remained as he was, sprawled lazily in his chair without a shred of decorum.

"Have you chosen the people who'll pursue him?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked directly.

As he looked at the two men, he paid particular attention to their expressions.

He had wanted to see whether they would react strangely upon finding Jiraiya there, but neither of them showed any expression at all. They were both poker-faced.

His intentions were obvious by now: he supported Jiraiya becoming the next Hokage. But the Uchiha didn't seem to have made any moves. Recently, however, a Uchiha spy had tried to pass him some intelligence but had been struck by the Cursed Tongue Eradication Jutsu and couldn't reveal it. That had left Sarutobi Hiruzen deeply concerned.

Fortunately, Fugaku had only told most of the clan members that they were being injected with a solution to strengthen their bodies. He hadn't revealed anything related to the First Hokage Cells.

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt that too many of the Uchiha's actions were beyond his control. In the end, he decided to join forces with Uchiha Madara. Just as Fugaku had suspected, his first step would be to eliminate Uchiha Gin before turning on the entire Uchiha Clan.

As long as Uchiha Gin was alive, he didn't dare make a move—or perhaps it simply wasn't worth the risk.

After all, he was Konoha's Hokage and had to consider the interests of the whole village. Though his own interests represented Konoha's interests, he would only strike at an organ when he was certain removing it wouldn't be fatal. If the organ merely posed a small risk of death, while removing it could leave the body badly wounded or even kill it, then he certainly wouldn't target it.

"As the one with the Mangekyō Sharingan, I'll pursue Shisui. After all, only the Mangekyō can stand against the Mangekyō."

Uchiha Gin's words were arrogant.

Even Jiraiya was a little surprised. From their earlier conversations, he hadn't thought Uchiha Gin was so boastful.

"Are you going alone?"

"Then I'll send two Anbu squads with you. One squad will gather intelligence on Amegakure, and the other will help you deal with the rogue ninja, Uchiha Shisui."

Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't expected things to go so smoothly, or that Uchiha Gin would go alone.

Something felt off to him, but he thought it was because Uchiha Shisui really was one of the Uchiha. He didn't suspect that Uchiha Gin knew about their plan.

It was a misunderstanding caused by the two sides having unequal intelligence.

"Sorry for the trouble, Third Hokage."

"The Uchiha Clan's rogue ninja has caused Konoha so much trouble."

Fugaku continued to play the humble role as usual.

Sarutobi Hiruzen offered a few words of reassurance, and for a moment, the atmosphere between them seemed quite cordial.

After Fugaku and Uchiha Gin left, Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Jiraiya, "Do you think the Uchiha can still be trusted?"

"Even ordinary people in the village can sense that the Uchiha want to expand their influence."

"This rogue ninja, Uchiha Shisui, may well be the Uchiha Clan's insurance policy. But it also proves they don't want to fall out with Konoha."

Jiraiya gave his assessment based on the information available.

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded.

Unfortunately, there were too many wolves and too little meat. Better to turn the Uchiha Clan into meat than let them become another pack of wolves. That would ease the tensions within Konoha and give the new generation a chance to grow.

He hadn't told Jiraiya about joining forces with Uchiha Madara.

He would bear Konoha's darkness himself. Before Jiraiya took office, he hoped to completely eliminate the threat of the Uchiha and leave him a stable Konoha!

"Does the village really have no way to coexist with the Uchiha?"

Jiraiya suddenly asked.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback. He looked at Jiraiya, his brow furrowing.

"The Uchiha's interests have already turned against those of the entire village. That's what everyone has chosen."

After a moment of silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen replied.

After devouring the Senju Clan, the other clans in Konoha had long since grown spoiled. Sarutobi Hiruzen's position depended on their support, so he couldn't betray their interests.

Jiraiya said nothing. Silence settled over the Hokage's office.

Uchiha Gin met Orochimaru that night and told him he would be leaving the village for a while.

"The Third Hokage is about to make his move."

Orochimaru spoke calmly.

At the same time, his hands were busy gathering Natural Energy and sealing it into scrolls.

"While I'm away, keep a close eye on things."

Uchiha Gin said.

He and Orochimaru were partners, not superior and subordinate, so he couldn't order Orochimaru around. He could only tell him what was happening and let him decide for himself.

"Root has been completely driven out of Konoha. They're only responsible for stealing intelligence from other villages and carrying out assassinations that can't be done openly."

"But my judgment is the same as Clan Head Fugaku's: as long as nothing happens to you, the Uchiha in the village will be fine."

Orochimaru said.

He tied together five scrolls sealed with Natural Energy and handed them to Uchiha Gin.

"Besides the village, there's also Uchiha Madara."

"If all goes well this time, I'll bring back one or two White Zetsu when I return."

Uchiha Gin mentioned the target he was worried about and made Orochimaru a promise.

Since he finally had a chance to go out, he had to make some noise!

"If you can, bring back a few more!"

Orochimaru's eyes lit up.

Neither Root nor his subordinates outside the village had been able to find the White Zetsu Uchiha Gin had mentioned, which had frustrated him. But this time, he should finally get his hands on some and dissect them properly.

Uchiha Gin took the scrolls containing the sealed Natural Energy and agreed.

Then he went home to prepare for his trip out of Konoha. He planned to have some fun, and he needed to bring all his equipment. Not a single one of his stockpiled gemstones could be left behind.

Early the next morning, Uchiha Gin saw two Anbu squads waiting at Konoha Gate and left the village with them.

At nine that morning, Fugaku called together everyone in the Military Police Force.

"We suspect that spies from another village are targeting the Scientific Ninja Tool designs from the Ninja Tool Development Department. They may resort to violence."

"Starting today, Konoha will be under round-the-clock lockdown. If you encounter an enemy who resists, fire a signal flare first, then counterattack. Anyone suspected of suspicious conduct is to be arrested immediately!"

"Call up every Uchiha with awakened Sharingan who's currently resting. They'll join the patrols and help protect the village."

Fugaku addressed every member of the Military Police Force in a stern voice.

Uchiha Gin would make the Uchiha Clan's name known beyond Konoha. Inside the village, Fugaku would remind everyone of the clan's strength. The Uchiha were now even stronger than they had been during the Warring States Period, apart from Uchiha Madara.

He, Fugaku, would rise to the occasion too!

"Yes!"

Though they had no idea what was happening, the Uchiha answered loudly.

Hyuga Himon was stunned. He had a feeling trouble was coming.

As soon as he left the Military Police Force, he went to inform his clan head and the Third Hokage.

"?"

"What is the Uchiha Clan trying to do?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked furious and alarmed.

The Anbu had intercepted spies from the other villages a while back. Now that they had dealt with most of those spies, the Uchiha Clan was pulling this?

"Could the Uchiha Clan know what I'm planning?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression shifted uneasily.

He had thought his chances were around seventy percent, but now it seemed the odds of success had fallen below thirty.

Most of the clans in Konoha also felt a storm was brewing. Tension and unease spread everywhere.

Chapter 66: Danzo and Obito, a Win-Win for Me? VS Obito! [Two-in-One]

Shisui and Biwa Juzo headed to Iwagakure together to capture the Four-Tails Jinchuriki.

"Uchiha Madara arranged this. He doesn't seem to trust Uchiha Shisui. Aren't they on the same side?"

Konan asked Nagato, puzzled.

Not long ago, Obito had asked Nagato to send Shisui's team on a mission, preferably to another country.

"Don't bother with it. As long as they carry out the Tailed Beast capture mission, that's all that matters."

Nagato wasn't concerned.

He didn't trust anyone except Konan.

So as long as these people completed the missions he assigned, he wouldn't interfere in anything else.

Konan nodded and said no more. But she had always believed Uchiha Madara was dangerous. He surely had another agenda!

Uchiha Gin followed the Anbu toward the Land of Rain. He had planned to try absorbing Natural Energy, but now he had no opportunity.

After all, once he'd left the Uchiha Clan Compound, there was nowhere truly safe. He couldn't find a place where he could focus completely on sensing and absorbing Natural Energy.

But Uchiha Gin didn't have much need for a large amount of energy yet. He had brought twenty gemstones filled with magic power. He could throw them as weapons or absorb their magic to replenish himself.

Aside from giving him some information about their target, Shisui, at the start of the journey, the Anbu hadn't said another word.

Kakashi wasn't among them. Uchiha Gin didn't recognize any of the Anbu.

"We can't follow their route all the way. They've definitely prepared a trap for me at our destination."

As they neared the border of the Land of Fire, Uchiha Gin decided he wouldn't keep following the Anbu's route.

If you knew there was a trap and still walked into it, you were either simple-minded or stupid.

Uchiha Gin thought he was strong, but that didn't mean he could guard against every attack.

If Might Guy opened the Eight Inner Gates, if the Third Hokage used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, or if they overwhelmed him with numbers, Uchiha Gin could be worn down and killed.

"You're too slow. I'll go on ahead. Hurry and catch up."

Uchiha Gin suddenly called out to the Anbu behind him.

"?"

The two Anbu squads thought their plan had been exposed. But when they turned around, they saw Uchiha Gin quickly take off his gray cloak.

A pair of pale-purple wings unfolded behind him, spanning the width of his outstretched arms.

Then, under their astonished gazes, Uchiha Gin took flight, soaring above the forest and rising dozens of meters into the sky.

"Captain, what do we do?!"

The Anbu knew the purpose of the mission: to join forces with Shimura Danzō and kill Uchiha Gin.

But their target could fly, and they couldn't.

"That's the newly developed Chakra Armor, isn't it?!"

The person in charge of the operation stared at the Chakra Armor Uchiha Gin was wearing, his head aching.

The armor had already made quite a splash in Konoha, but it wasn't for sale yet. It was still a prototype. They hadn't expected Uchiha Gin to bring it along this time.

"One squad, follow him. The other, go contact Sarutobi Sunset!"