Obito's Doubts

Outside the Hidden Leaf Village, in a hidden underground cavern.

There was no light here, only a cold, damp wind weaving through cracks in the stone, letting out low, whimpering sounds.

Crack.

A crisp snap broke the silence.

The spare tiger-skin mask in Uchiha Obito's hand was crushed to pieces, fragments sliding through his fingers and falling to the ground.

"What's going on?"

Obito's voice held back his fury, and the Sharingan exposed outside his mask flickered with a dangerous red light in the darkness.

"The White Zetsu clone sent to scout the Hidden Leaf has been out of contact for a full two days. Not even a single spore has been sent back."

Black Zetsu emerged from the shadows, his voice still hoarse and gloomy. "It may have been discovered by the Hidden Leaf's sensory barrier. After all, Minato Namikaze is skilled in sealing techniques and barrier techniques, and his perception of chakra is unusually sharp."

"Wiped out?" Obito gave a cold snort. "White Zetsu's Mayfly Technique can't even be detected by the Rock Village's sensory troops. Since when did the Hidden Leaf have methods like that?"

"Lord Madara," Black Zetsu advised, "something isn't right. A blind spot has appeared in our intelligence network. Why not... postpone the plan? We can act once we've figured out the situation."

"Postpone?"

Obito spun around, his lone eye staring fixedly at Black Zetsu.

"Kushina Uzumaki's due date is tomorrow night! That's the moment when the Nine-Tails seal is at its weakest! If we miss this chance, we'll have to wait several more years, maybe even a dozen! How do you expect me to wait?"

He stood up, his black robe snapping in the wind.

"I have to confirm it myself."

"Especially the Uchiha Clan's situation." Obito's gaze turned dark and vicious. "Those people... are the only variable in my plan. If they've really fallen as the intelligence says, then fine. If not..."

"Then I'll personally send them on their way."

Late at night, October 9, Year 48 of the Hidden Leaf.

There were less than twenty-four hours until the Nine-Tails' Attack erupted.

The air above the Hidden Leaf Village suddenly twisted.

A spiral-shaped spatial vortex appeared without a sound, and Obito's figure flickered in and out of sight in the night. He was like a ghost, hovering in midair as he looked down at the sleeping village beneath his feet.

Naka River Shrine, underground chamber.

Xuan Shi, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.

On his retina, the system interface popped up with a glaring red alert.

[Warning! High-intensity space-time chakra fluctuations detected!]

[Target has entered the net. Coordinates: above the Uchiha Clan Compound.]

"He's finally here."

The corner of Xuan Shi's mouth curled into a cold smile.

He showed not the slightest panic. Instead, he swiftly used the Yamanaka Clan's secret technique—this was a one-use communication scroll he had exchanged for with prosperity points—to relay orders to the clan's core members.

"Attention, everyone. The target has appeared."

"Actors, take your positions."

"Remember, don't look into his eyes, and don't release any killing intent. Treat him like air. No matter what he does, even if he puts a blade to your necks, as long as he hasn't cut down, keep acting for me!"

Obito's figure passed through the wall, drifting into the Uchiha Clan Compound like a ghost.

The streets were deathly quiet.

Several Police Force members lay sprawled all over the roadside benches, still hugging empty wine bottles as they muttered drunkenly.

"Hic... another cup! I'm an Uchiha, you know..."

"To hell with the Hokage... I quit..."

Obito stood before them, watching the scene coldly.

There were no traces of disguise. That smell of alcohol, that decadence and drunken stupor seeping from their very bones, could not be faked.

He continued deeper in.

He arrived at the clan leader's residence.

The study lamp was still on. Obito passed straight through the wall and entered.

He saw Uchiha Fugaku sprawled across the desk, empty wine bottles and some crumpled letters piled in front of him.

Obito casually picked up one of the letters.

On it was written, "To Lord Hokage: Regarding the protest against reducing the Police Force's funding..." The handwriting was messy, and the whole page was filled with complaints and impotent rage.

"Heh."

Obito let out a contemptuous sneer.

"They've fallen, just as expected."

He tossed the letter back onto the desk.

"What Uchiha? What foremost great clan? They're nothing but a pack of trash whose bones have been rotted away by peace. And to think I was worried they'd get in my way, even considering whether I should strike first."

Now, it seemed there was no need at all. These drunken fools lost in their own dreams probably wouldn't even be able to hold their blades steady tomorrow night, let alone stop the Nine-Tails.

Finally, Obito arrived at Shisui's room.

This was the only person he was still somewhat wary of.

The lights were off in the room.

Shisui sat dazed in front of the mirror. His eyes were confused and pained, and he held that short blade in his hand, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the hilt.

"For the village... or for the clan..."

Shisui murmured to himself, his voice filled with struggle and despair. "What should I do... was Lord Danzo right..."

Obito stood in the shadows, watching this junior known as a "genius."

"Confused? In pain?"

There was not the slightest pity in Obito's heart, only the pleasure of watching a show.

"Those eyes... will be mine very soon. The moment you fall into complete despair will be when I reap the harvest."

Confirmation complete.

The Uchiha Clan were all useless trash. They posed no threat whatsoever.

Obito's figure began to twist, gradually vanishing into Kamui's spatial vortex.

"Hidden Leaf, tomorrow will be your doomsday."

"Uchiha, drown in your drunken dreams and be buried with this rotten village."

The spatial fluctuations vanished completely.

That suffocating, icy aura also dispersed with them.

The next second.

The Police Force members who had originally been lying by the roadside, dead drunk, opened their eyes in an instant. Their gazes were clear and sharp. Where was there even the slightest trace of drunkenness?

In the study.

Fugaku slowly straightened up, swept the empty wine bottles in front of him into the trash, and threw those complaint letters into the brazier to burn. There was no expression on his face, only his Mangekyo Sharingan slowly turning in the firelight.

Shisui's room.

Shisui wiped away the mist that had condensed on the mirror from his breathing.

The youth in the mirror was no longer confused, no longer in pain.

He looked at himself in the mirror, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smile.

"Acting skills passed."

Naka River Shrine.

Xuan Shi walked out of the chamber and stood beneath the torii, looking in the direction where Obito had disappeared.

The night wind stirred the hem of his clothes.

"Goodbye, Senior Obito."

Xuan Shi spoke softly, his voice carrying the calm of a hunter watching prey fall into a trap.

"You thought you saw through everything, but what you saw was exactly what we wanted you to see."

"Tomorrow night... we'll give you a surprise you'll never forget for the rest of your life."