Please Call Me Tobi!

Night had fallen.

Outside the Tsuchikage's office in Iwagakure, Land of Earth.

A burly, tall man pushed open the door and strode inside.

"Father, did you summon me?"

Kitsuchi asked quickly, his voice deep and resonant.

Inside the room, Ōnoki, who had been rubbing his aching lower back at his desk, hurriedly stopped and turned to face Kitsuchi.

"Ahem—"

"Yes, there is a mission of the utmost importance that requires your completion!"

"Please, speak."

"The high-level meeting held in the village just now was eavesdropped on by an undercover agent!"

"Although the guards discovered the intruder halfway through, they still allowed the individual to escape!"

"Based on the time elapsed, the target should not have gotten far."

"I need you to lead a team and bring them back!"

Ōnoki said with a dark, solemn expression.

It was truly humiliating to admit that such a critical high-level meeting had been compromised by a spy from another village!

"I understand!"

"Does this spy possess any vital intelligence? Should I prioritize capturing them alive, or...?"

"Prioritize capture! If necessary, you may kill them!"

Ōnoki delivered his verdict.

"In fact, you have heard the news from the Hidden Leaf Village two days ago regarding the Uchiha Clan's internal strife and defection, haven't you?"

"I have heard of it. It is said the leader of the defectors is merely a ten-year-old boy from the Uchiha Clan! It sounds utterly absurd!"

Kitsuchi offered his perspective.

In his view, a ten-year-old boy, no matter how monstrous his talent, could not possibly rival an entire ninja village or lead his clan in a defection.

Was this not likely another smoke screen or conspiracy concocted by Konoha?

"This is no rumor! According to reports from our spies embedded in Konoha, fierce fighting did indeed break out within Konoha that night!"

"Dozens of buildings collapsed, a large number of Konoha ninja were deployed, and even the Third Hokage took to the field!"

"The Uchiha Clan's defection is not without foundation!"

"This is actually true?!"

Ōnoki nodded and continued, "This Uchiha Clan defection has inflicted significant damage upon Konoha! Furthermore, it is said that Konoha has dispatched many ninja to pursue them."

"Therefore, right now is the moment when Konoha is at its most vulnerable."

"The village high-level meeting has decided to take advantage of this opportunity to launch a full-scale assault on Konoha!"

"Ah! How could this be?!!"

"Father, have you all gone mad? You would actually incite war again?!!"

Kitsuchi was shocked and hurriedly questioned him in a loud voice.

"This is not a decision made by me alone. The three advisors, the chief counselor, and the representative of the Daimyo among the high-level officials have all agreed to this proposal!"

"Do not forget, many of their own children died in the Third Great Ninja War and the conflict with Konoha five years ago!"

Ōnoki slammed his hand on the desk, revealing the full truth.

"They..."

"Sigh..."

Kitsuchi let out a sigh.

Indeed, the hardest thing to resolve remains hatred.

"In that case, did that spy manage to steal this secret?"

"Yes!"

"We cannot yet determine which other ninja village this spy belongs to. However, if they are allowed to escape, our village's plan for a surprise attack on Konoha will be exposed!"

"I will never allow such an outcome!"

"Therefore, for the sake of the village! Kitsuchi, this mission can only be entrusted to you!"

"I, I understand. I will complete it!"

Kitsuchi paused.

Then, clenching his fist, he gave his solemn vow.

He then quickly departed the Tsuchikage's office.

Leading his men, he gave swift chase in the direction where the spy had vanished.

It was now nine o'clock at night.

Over ten miles southeast of Iwagakure.

Deep within a dark, jagged canyon, a young figure in black was stealthily hiding behind a rock wall.

"Haa... haa..."

Kabuto breathed heavily, stealing a cautious glance outside.

"Not good, I'm surrounded!"

Kabuto sighed inwardly and pulled back.

He slowly pulled out a pocket watch, stared at the dial, and lamented with a heart full of sorrow:

"If not for what happened back then, it would be bedtime by now."

"It has already been five years since I left the orphanage!"

"I really want to see the Director and everyone else one more time!"

It was precisely this longing for the Director and his friends that had allowed Kabuto to endure five years of torment within an enemy ninja village.

Tonight, he had finally eavesdropped on a great secret.

That is: Iwagakure intended to seize the opportunity of the Uchiha Clan's defection to launch a surprise attack on Konoha!

If he could only bring this news back, he would surely perform a great service!

He might even be able to rely on this merit to save the Director from the darkness. It was not impossible.

It was just a pity that his eavesdropping had been exposed.

At this moment, he was facing the frantic pursuit of Iwagakure, trapped on all sides!

Escaping would not be simple.

But for the sake of the orphanage, he had to succeed in bringing the news back!

Kabuto took a deep breath, preparing to find a path to escape once more.

Yet just then, he suddenly heard several miserable cries coming from outside the canyon.

"Who goes there?"

"Stop!"

"Ah!~~"

"Thud, thud--"

Several dull sounds of bodies hitting the ground rang out.

Then, two sets of steady footsteps gradually approached.

"Step, step, step--"

"What happened?"

"The footsteps are getting closer! Have I been exposed?"

"Damn it, then I'll fight!"

Kabuto gritted his teeth, rushed out from behind the rock wall, and looked ahead.

Only then did he suddenly discover that those Iwagakure ninjas had all fallen to the ground.

And before him, there were only two figures wearing red-cloud robes, closing in on him.

"Natsume-kun, your Transformation Technique is truly lifelike!"

Orochimaru suppressed a laugh, unable to help teasing as they walked.

"Please call me Tobi!"

At this moment, Natsume, dressed in a red-cloud robe and wearing a poop-colored spiral mask, was earnestly admonishing Orochimaru.

Today, the one visiting Iwagakure with Orochimaru was 'Tobi' of the Akatsuki organization.

There was absolutely no Uchiha Natsume of the Flame Hidden Village!

"Fine! Tobi..."

Orochimaru shook his head, speechless at this brat's 'flashy maneuvers.'

This kid had far too many little schemes!

He insisted on disguising himself as Akatsuki... with his strength, he could charge into Iwagakure, slaughter a circle, and walk out, and it was unlikely anyone could stop him!

"Alright, that kid Yakushi Kabuto is hiding behind the rock wall over there."

"I have been keeping people monitoring him and Nonō the entire time."

"That kid is indeed quite talented. At such a young age, he has already mastered the A-rank medical ninjutsu, Chakra Scalpel."

"It's just that we seem to have arrived a bit early. The spectacular show of mutual slaughter doesn't seem to have started yet!"

Orochimaru pointed toward the shadows of the rock wall, speaking with great interest.

"It's best if we made it in time."

Natsume felt two parts relieved.

He certainly didn't want to arrive only to find a Yakushi Kabuto who had already turned dark.

"Yo, the brat is coming out on his own!"

"Who are you people?!!"

Yakushi Kabuto poked his head out, looking at Natsume and his companion.

He gripped a kunai in his left hand while keeping his right hand behind his back, coating his palm in chakra to form a sharp Chakra Scalpel, remaining on high alert.

"Hmm... people here to save you."

Natsume smiled slightly.

But to Yakushi Kabuto, this was no different from a devil's deception.

He would never rashly trust these two mysterious individuals of unknown origin!

Wait... why did the person on the right look like Orochimaru, who had already defected from Konoha?

"What, what exactly do you want to do?"

"Don't be so nervous! Put away your ninjutsu. Otherwise, if I make a move, you might lose your life..."

Natsume warned him softly.

To be honest, after learning so many new abilities and seeing his strength skyrocket, he was actually quite eager to test them out.

He was just worried that if he couldn't control his strength, he might accidentally kill Yakushi Kabuto, which would be problematic.

"Stop joking! I'm leaving this place! Don't try to stop me!"

Yakushi Kabuto shouted with intense emotion.

Even if that person was Orochimaru, he couldn't just have close contact with a Konoha missing-nin!

He had to report this information back immediately and earn some merit!

However, just as he prepared to break through, "Swish, swish--"

The sound of two kunai cutting through the air came from above the canyon.

At the same time, a figure suddenly leaped down, lunging straight toward Yakushi Kabuto.