October 10, 48 Konoha, just before dawn.
The night sky was like a splash of thick ink, shrouding all of Konoha.
Far away in the Land of Water, a sea breeze carrying the salty tang of the ocean swept across the top of Kirigakure's Mizukage Building.
Lin Feng lounged in a newly replaced recliner, a huge Water Mirror constructed from Chakra floating before him.
The mirror clearly showed a hidden cave outside Konoha, shrouded by a powerful barrier.
"Tsk. They're making such a big fuss just to have a child. The Uzumaki Clan certainly knows how to put on a show."
Lin Feng picked up a cup of tea, sounding as relaxed as if he were watching a late-night movie.
From the shadow behind him, Black Zetsu silently emerged halfway, an eager, ingratiating expression on his two-toned face.
"Lord Madara, according to my intelligence, tonight is the day Kushina Uzumaki is due to give birth. That kid Obito should be ready to make his move."
"Mm. Let him."
Lin Feng took a sip of tea, his eyes never leaving the Water Mirror.
"I want to see how this 'avenger,' whose script I tore to shreds, plans to perform a one-man show."
As soon as he finished speaking, the scene in the Water Mirror abruptly changed.
A spatial vortex appeared out of nowhere, and Obito, wearing a tiger-striped mask, stepped out of it.
Without the slightest hesitation, he phased through the highest-level barrier personally set up by the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
"Kamui... Such a convenient, downright unfair ability."
Lin Feng offered his assessment, though it was impossible to tell whether he approved or disapproved.
"Too bad the person using it isn't very bright."
Inside the cave, Kushina's agonized screams could almost be felt through the Water Mirror.
Namikaze Minato anxiously maintained the seal nearby, sweat soaking the tips of his golden hair.
The moment the newborn's first cry rang out, Obito made his move.
A dark blur flashed past, and the midwife and Anbu guards crumpled to the ground.
Holding the newborn in his arms, Obito threatened Kushina, who had just given birth and was at her weakest, in a cold voice.
"Fourth Hokage, step away from the Jinchuriki. Otherwise, this child dies."
Watching this scene in the Water Mirror, Lin Feng nearly burst out laughing.
"See? What did I tell you?" He turned to Black Zetsu. "Classic brainless villain move—taking a baby hostage. Such a narrow perspective."
Black Zetsu let out a hoarse laugh. "He's just a kid blinded by hatred, after all."
What followed was no different from the events Lin Feng remembered.
Minato used Flying Thunder God to save the child, but was forced to separate from Kushina.
Obito took the opportunity to control the newly extracted Nine-Tails with his Sharingan. The gigantic fox appeared in Konoha, roaring as it began to wreak havoc.
The destructive Tailed Beast Bomb, the thunder of collapsing houses, the terrified screams of villagers... The catastrophe had officially begun.
"Here it comes, here it comes! The main event!"
Far from getting nervous, Lin Feng sat up straight, like an audience member who had been waiting ages for the show to start.
Black Zetsu looked puzzled. "Lord Madara, are you going to let him destroy everything? This goes against your plan to stabilize Konoha..."
"Destroy everything?" Lin Feng glanced at him. "This situation is absolutely necessary. First, it gives us a chance to transform the Uchiha Clan's image from harsh enforcers into the heroes who saved the village. Second, we can serve as our final trump card. If the Nine-Tails gets out of control, I can immediately use the Rinnegan to control this big cat. What I want is 'controlled chaos.' Obito's fire is burning at just the right intensity."
The scene in the Water Mirror split in two.
On one side, Namikaze Minato and Obito clashed fiercely in the Kamui Dimension.
The ultimate contest between Flying Thunder God and phasing was dazzling to watch.
On the other side was the brutal battlefield in Konoha, where the villagers fought against the Nine-Tails.
The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, clad in armor and wielding the Adamantine Staff, fought on the front lines, still as formidable as ever.
Yet just as everyone was sinking into despair, an unexpected development occurred.
"By order of the Hokage Assistant! The Konoha Military Police Force, deploy!"
A powerful shout rang across the entire battlefield.
Fugaku Uchiha wore the uniform of the Konoha Military Police Force, with a haori symbolizing his status among the leadership layered over it. He stood proudly atop an intact building.
Behind him were hundreds of Uchiha elites with their Sharingan activated!
The sight left every Konoha Ninja fighting for their lives stunned.
In the past, whenever the village faced a major crisis, the Uchiha Clan had always been ordered to remain on their compound—ostensibly for their protection, but really to keep them under surveillance.
But today, they had actually... taken the initiative to go on the attack?
"First and Second Squads, evacuate the civilians! Don't let a single one slip through!"
"Third and Fourth Squads, come with me and hold the Nine-Tails back head-on! Buy the Fourth Hokage time!"
Fugaku's orders were clear and decisive, without a hint of hesitation.
His three Tomoe spun rapidly as he charged toward the Nine-Tails first.
"Is that... the Uchiha?"
"They've come to save us!"
"Lord Fugaku! No, Lord Assistant!"
Shock and gratitude showed in the eyes of the villagers and shinobi.
The Uchiha Clan, once infamous throughout the village, now stood openly before everyone as its protectors at Konoha's most desperate hour!
Before the Water Mirror, Lin Feng tapped the armrest in satisfaction.
"Do you see, Black Zetsu? This is politics."
He spoke leisurely. "The title of 'Hokage Assistant' was enough to turn the Uchiha from 'suspects' into 'saviors.' This Fugaku fellow is even better at seizing an opportunity than I thought."
Watching Fugaku lead his clan in harrying the Nine-Tails with chains and Fire Style, creating opportunities for the other shinobi to rescue people, Black Zetsu exclaimed sincerely, "Lord Madara, your plans... are truly unfathomable."
At the same time, on the other battlefield.
With a Rasengan and a Flying Raijin Mark, Namikaze Minato grievously wounded Obito and broke his control over the Nine-Tails.
But when Obito, clutching his severed arm, limped back to Konoha to admire his "masterpiece," he was utterly dumbfounded.
What was he looking at?
The Nine-Tails no longer had Sharingan patterns in its eyes. It was attacking indiscriminately in a frenzy.
And facing it were not only the Third Hokage, but also... a whole crowd of Uchiha?
They hadn't been suspected at all. Instead, they'd become the main force resisting the Nine-Tails?
The villagers weren't looking at them in fear. They were shouting, "Go, Uchiha!"
Obito's mind went completely blank.
This wasn't how the script was supposed to go!
This wasn't how the script was supposed to go!
I went to all that trouble to release the Nine-Tails to intensify the conflict between the village and the Uchiha, to make the Uchiha distrusted and wipe them out!
I didn't bring you here so you could raise your reputation and play the heroes!
"W-why...?"
Confusion and despair filled Obito's one crimson eye.
He felt like a clown. He had carefully planned an elaborate drama, only for the actors to ignore his script and even remodel the stage.
"Pfft."
Before the Water Mirror, Lin Feng finally couldn't hold back his laughter.
Pointing at Obito's dazed expression in the mirror, he said to Black Zetsu:
"Look at him. Doesn't he look like a kid crying to his mom for candy, only for her to turn around and hand him a set of five years of exam questions and three years of practice tests?"
"Anger, confusion, hurt, and just a little bit of questioning his entire life."
Lin Feng shook his head, his tone full of "disappointment" in the younger generation.
"You spent all that time looking forward to the Nine-Tails Incident, and ended up handing your opponent a huge assist. Obito, Obito, I gave you a chance, but you weren't up to it."
Just then, the battle in the Water Mirror shifted again.
The gigantic Gamabunta was summoned, with Namikaze Minato appearing atop his head.
Then Kushina Uzumaki rushed over despite her weakened state. Golden Chakra chains shot from her back and bound the rampaging Nine-Tails tightly.
"Here it comes."
Lin Feng's expression turned serious for a moment.
He knew what the couple was about to do.
Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
This was the final act Namikaze Minato and Kushina were offering to the village and their child.
"Lord Madara, shouldn't we intervene?" Black Zetsu asked. "If the Fourth Hokage dies, that would be..."
"No." Lin Feng cut him off.
"Minato's death is inevitable. His very existence is a symbol of an era. Only by dying can he leave Konoha with the legend of a 'hero's child' and usher in a new age."
Lin Feng's gaze grew profound. "But this script is a little too dull, don't you think?"
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