Threat and Compromise

Natsume did not stop after that single strike.

Taking advantage of the 8x speed boost from Setsuna, he lunged forward once more.

His entire body transformed into a streak of light, catching up to Obito and mounting him, raining down punches with a wild, relentless fury.

In Natsume's eyes, after all, it was necessary.

If he didn't beat him into a pulp, if he didn't make this a memory etched into his very bones, this "Obito-bro" who had been hoodwinked into a limp by Madara and Black Zetsu would never wake up.

And so, Natsume continued his savage beating.

If not for the fact that his body was still small—only ten years old and not yet fully grown—a punch the size of an adult's sandbag would likely have beaten Obito half to death.

Of course, under the enhancement of Setsuna, Natsume's fists remained blindingly fast and heavy, crashing down like a torrential storm.

Furthermore, every punch, wrapped in Natsume's chakra, invaded Obito's body upon impact, disrupting his chakra and ocular power.

This prevented Obito from mobilizing his ocular power to activate intangibility, leaving him unable to dodge Natsume's pummeling.

What's more, that initial punch had already left Obito nearly dazed.

Now, receiving this round after round of "baptism by love," he probably couldn't even remember who he was or where he was.

He had no strength left to resist!

Before long, Obito's face, which had been decent enough, was beaten into a pig's head.

It was covered in bruises and swellings, looking truly miserable.

Natsume, for his part, was having a great time venting his frustrations.

Not long after, the intense pain in his face and the deep sense of humiliation caused Obito to erupt.

Spotting a gap, he risked the backlash of his ocular power and forcibly pushed his Mangekyo Sharingan to activate Kamui.

He prepared to suck Natsume, who was still mounted on him, into the Kamui Dimension.

"Whoosh—"

Sensing the spatial fluctuation, Natsume didn't linger.

He quickly retracted his fists and retreated.

With the 8x speed boost from Setsuna, his speed was no longer inferior to a ninja who had opened the first four gates of the Eight Inner Gates.

He flashed out of the absorption range of Kamui in an instant, leaving Obito to suck in nothing but air.

After all, using Kamui to pull someone in was inherently slower than the passive activation of intangibility.

Seeing the grab fail, Obito had no choice but to immediately change his target.

He sucked himself into the Kamui Dimension and quickly reappeared on a tree trunk dozens of meters away.

Having escaped, Obito, his face throbbing with pain, leaned against the tree trunk and gasped, his heart filled with resentment.

Every breath he took tugged at his swollen facial muscles, sending waves of sharp pain that made him wince involuntarily.

Ever since awakening his Mangekyo Sharingan, he had never suffered such a miserable defeat!

To be soundly beaten by a ten-year-old brat, and even mounted and pummeled into a pig's head...

If this got out, he would be humiliated to death!

Even on the night of the Nine-Tails incident, when he lost to his teacher Minato, he hadn't been this pathetic!

This brat was truly detestable!

And how did he know the hand seals for the Dead Demon Consuming Seal?

Why was he so knowledgeable about his Kamui?

Why could he instantly burst forth with several times his normal speed?

One question after another bubbled up in Obito's mind.

It made him increasingly unable to see through this junior of the Uchiha Clan. He grew more and more wary of this brat!

Such strength, such intellect, such schemes...

Is this really, goddamn it, a ten-year-old boy?

"At such a young age, his heart is already this filthy! What will he be like when he grows up?!!"

Obito stared fixedly at Natsume in the distance, venting frantically in his heart.

If he could, he would truly love to tear the other party apart right now!

Seeing Obito flee into the distance, Natsume understood that it would be nearly impossible to catch that guy again.

However, he had already had his fill of beating him up.

He would be magnanimous and not hold Obito's offensive actions against him.

Thus, Natsume withdrew from [Setsuna] and deactivated his [Mangekyo Sharingan].

After all, having forcibly activated the third stage of [Setsuna], his ocular power consumption was massive, and it was not suitable to continue the grueling battle.

"Had enough?"

"Want to continue?"

"Still think you can kill me?"

Natsume glanced at Obito, mocking him slightly.

"Brat, don't get too cocky!"

Obito gritted his teeth, his face swollen, shouting angrily with slurred speech.

He looked quite comical.

"It seems that with this outfit, you must have joined the Akatsuki, right?"

"I know there are quite a few experts in the Akatsuki."

"You are welcome to find people to gang up on me, and let them witness again how you were beaten to a pulp by me."

"Of course, you could also take advantage of my absence to make a move on the Uchiha Clan members I led out."

"To be honest, with your ability, it is hard for me to protect the clansmen every single moment."

"However, if you dare to lay a hand on them,"

"I will reveal your identity to Konoha! To Kakashi!"

"You can try..."

Natsume raised an eyebrow, threatening him with a solemn expression.

Compared to strength, his understanding of the entire Hokage world was an even more priceless treasure.

Naturally, he could make good use of it at a time like this.

Of course, Natsume was not stupid enough to tell the other party directly that the 'Eye of the Moon' plan was all a lie.

Without evidence, the other party wouldn't believe such nonsense.

What's more, 'Obito' was striving for this plan as if it were his faith.

Imagine if you traveled back to World War II without warning and told a certain Führer without evidence: Fascism is bound to fail, and Germany is bound to perish.

See if he believes you.

See if he rewards you with a bullet.

"You know my identity?!!"

Obito was suddenly shocked, his inner rage even dissipating significantly.

After all, logically speaking, apart from a few people, there was no way anyone in Konoha could know his identity!

"We are both from the Uchiha Clan, and we both awakened the Mangekyo. Did you think I wouldn't be able to sense that you and that guy Kakashi share the same Sharingan aura?"

Natsume provided a reasonably plausible guess.

It made Obito believe it involuntarily.

After all, the fact that the other party could point out the connection between him and Kakashi was enough to explain a lot.

"You..."

"What exactly do you want to do?"

Obito asked with a gloomy face, clenching his fists, feeling extremely aggrieved.

The feeling of having his true identity seen through was truly unbearable for him.

Moreover, if his identity were exposed to the Hidden Leaf Village, it would only greatly increase the difficulty of his subsequent plans!

Fortunately, this brat likely did not yet know about the Eye of the Moon plan.

Otherwise, that would be troublesome.

"Just don't come and provoke me in the future!"

"If you come again, I will kill you!"

Uchiha Natsume did not waste words.

He glared at Obito once more, leaving behind a cold and stern warning.

It seemed his threat had already taken effect.

Reasonably and logically, Obito likely did not want to expose his identity at this moment.

And he himself did not want his clansmen to suffer innocent losses.

The stakes and concerns on both sides of the scale were now balanced. It stood to reason that Obito would make the right choice.

Having said that, Uchiha Natsume bent his knees and leaped onto a tree branch, chasing in the direction of the main force.

He soon vanished into the dense forest.

Leaving only Obito, his face covered in scars, standing in place and seething with secret rage.

Yet, he had to admit it.

That brat Uchiha Natsume was simply too strong!

Continuing to lock horns with him was not a good choice...

Fine, he would let him go for now.

Continuing to push forward with his Eye of the Moon plan was what truly mattered!

Obito's face darkened, and he had no choice but to compromise.

Meanwhile, back at the Hidden Leaf Village.

The news that Uchiha Natsume had soundly defeated the clan leader Fugaku, severely wounded the Root leader Danzo, fought his way out of the encirclement, and led half of the Uchiha Clan in defection, acted like a depth charge, instantly detonating the seemingly peaceful village.

That night, the entire village was in an uproar; countless ninja rushed about, frantically dealing with the aftermath.

That night was destined to be sleepless.