Returning to Konoha

An almost frozen tension filled the Hokage Office.

Jiraiya paced back and forth in front of his desk, his hands behind his back, his steps quick and heavy, like a beast trapped in a cage. He clutched a specially made Kunai tightly in his hand— the Flying Thunder God Kunai that Neji had left for Tsunade, which he had just taken from the safe. The coolness of the metal seeped through his palms, but they were sweaty.

In order to contact Neji, he specifically sought out Hyuga Hiashi, Hiashi's answer left him somewhat helpless. The Caged Bird Seal could not transmit messages; he could only activate the Curse Mark to make Neji feel pain from the soul. He had no choice but to try anything, even if it seemed hopeless. He then arranged a time with Hiashi to activate the Curse Mark, and waited in the Hokage Office.

Kakashi and Shikaku on the sofa to the side, their expressions quite different.

Kakashi's expression was one of utter confusion. He stared at Jiraiya's pacing figure with dead fish eyes, his mind filled with question marks. Jiraiya only said, "Someone important will be here soon," and told them "not to be surprised," before starting to pace nervously and dismissing all the bodyguards around the office.

An important person? Who?

There are probably only a handful of people in the entire Shinobi World who could make Jiraiya so nervous, to the point of needing to clear the area. But those few are either dead (Nagato), unconscious (Tsunade), or enemies (the leader of Akatsuki)...

Shikaku's reaction was quite different. He leaned back on the sofa, his hands folded on his knees, his eyes calm, even with a hint of understanding. This strategist of Konoha seemed to have guessed something from Jiraiya's unusual behavior and that specially Kunai.

"Lord Jiraiya," Shikaku finally spoke, his voice calm, "Are you sure... the other side will come?"

Jiraiya stopped and turned to look at him. "Uncertain. But it's the only way."

"If they come," Shikaku continued, "What do we need to know? What do we need to ask? And... how much are they willing to answer?"

Jiraiya opened his mouth, but no words came out. He hadn't really figured it out either. Konoha was in complete chaos: the Three Great Shinobi Villages were eyeing it covetously from the outside, Danzo was causing trouble from within, Sasuke wanted revenge, Tsunade was unconscious... He needed intelligence, he needed direction, he needed someone to tell him what to do.

But he didn't know how much Neji knew, or how much he was willing to tell.

"Let's play it by ear," Jiraiya could only say in the end, his voice weary.

Kakashi's brow furrowed even more. He looked at Shikaku, his eyes asking in a questioning tone: You seem to know something?

Shikaku shook his head slightly at him, indicating that he should remain calm.

Just then--

The air was distorted.

It wasn't the wind, nor the fluctuation of Chakra, but the folds in space itself. The air in the center of the office rippled like the surface of water, and light refracted strangely at that point.

Kakashi stood up instantly, his right hand reaching for his ninja tool pouch at his waist. Shikaku also straightened up.

Jiraiya, however, breathed a sigh of relief, even showing a hint of a sense of relief.

Ripples spread, and a figure "squeezed" into reality from the void.

Black robes and red clouds.

The Akatsuki's attire stood out starkly against the soft lighting of the Hokage Office. The newcomer was Neji, dressed in Akatsuki attire, complete with a human skin mask and special lenses.

"Sake..." Jiraiya blurted out the code name instinctively, but immediately shut up.

Neji —or rather, "the one who drinks"—stood in the center of the office, his gaze quickly sweeping over the three: Jiraiya's tension, Kakashi's vigilance, and Shikaku's calm. Then his gaze settled on the Flying Thunder God Kunai in Jiraiya's hand.

The brain completes the analysis in an instant:

Jiraiya took the initiative to contact them, triggering the Caged Bird Seal through Hiashi's old man. Kakashi and Shikaku —two of Konoha's smartest people—were present. All the Anbu were cleared out. They were holding Kunai, clearly indicating that something had happened.

Conclusion: Something big has happened in Konoha. And it's something so big that it requires him, the undercover agent, to risk his life to reveal himself.

"Lord Jiraiya," Neji began, his voice low and unfamiliar, "Don't speak yet."

His hands Hand Seals so fast that they left only afterimages in the air. A more sophisticated and complex barrier unfolded in the office, completely isolating the four people from the outside world.

The moment the barrier was completed, Neji turned around, his eyes fixed on Jiraiya through his glasses, his tone clearly hostile:

"Is Konoha facing another life-or-death crisis? Why did you call me back at this time?"

The subtext of "I'm too busy to play with you guys" was practically written in every word.

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Jiraiya's face. He could certainly sense Neji's displeasure—anyone would be annoyed to be suddenly "summoned" using the Caged Bird Seal and then find two outsiders present.

But he had no choice. The current situation in Konoha meant he couldn't shoulder the burden alone.

"Ning...sake," Jiraiya changed his words, his voice hoarse, "Has the Akatsuki been making any unusual moves lately?"

Neji raised an eyebrow beneath his mask. This opening line was utterly unprofessional. But he answered anyway, his tone nonchalant:

"Sasuke is recuperating. Tobi is probably sealing the Eight-Tails. Konan is handling Nagato and Yahiko's funeral arrangements and preparing to take action against Tobi."

Three sentences, three pieces of information.

Kakashi and Shikaku exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

Sasuke is injured? Tobi is sealing the Eight-Tails? Konan wants to kill Tobi?

"Konan attacked Tobi?" Jiraiya's voice carried a hint of concern. "Is she confident?"

After all, he was once his disciple.

"Anyway, Konan feels confident." Neji's answer was still concise, even somewhat perfunctory.

He didn't want to talk about it anymore. He didn't care whether Konan lived or died— Obito had already decided to kill her, so Konan was doomed. He just wanted to end this meeting as soon as possible and go back to Kabuto.

Jiraiya sensed Neji's impatience, but he had to continue asking. For the sake of Konoha.

"The Kumogakure has recently contacted the Kirigakure and the Iwagakure," Kakashi interjected, his voice steady but his eyes sharp, "Intending to launch a war against Konoha. Konoha's current situation... is rather delicate."

Neji turned to look at Kakashi, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Is this information... accurate?"

"There's at least an 80% chance," Shikaku replied, his tone certain.

That's 100% for sure. Neji thought to himself. That brute A is really impatient. But then again, his brother was captured, the village was destroyed, and he lost an arm. It's no wonder he's going crazy.

"The Akatsuki will not be launching any operations for the time being," Neji said, then paused, looking at Jiraiya, "But Sasuke..."

Jiraiya shook his head helplessly and continued, "Sasuke learned the whole truth about Itachi's massacre of the clan and is preparing to destroy Konoha."

Kakashi's body stiffened abruptly.

Sasuke... is he going to destroy Konoha?

His former student, the child he watched grow up, the younger brother Itachi protected with his life... now he's going to turn around and destroy what Itachi sacrificed everything to protect?

"What Danzo been up to lately?" Neji suddenly asked, abruptly changing the subject.

Jiraiya paused for a moment, then subconsciously replied, "Always jumping around, wanting to become Hokage."

After saying that, he looked at Neji with a complicated expression—you don't really intend to hand Danzo over to Sasuke to kill, do you? After he's killed, can you guarantee Sasuke will stop?

Neji understood Jiraiya's gaze. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Have your Anbu keep a close watch on Danzo," Neji ordered directly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I'll come back to you later to find out Danzo's whereabouts. As long as Sasuke kills Danzo, I guarantee... Sasuke will never think of destroying Konoha again."

Kakashi and Shikaku were dumbfounded.

What... what kind of conversation is this? A member of Akatsuki (who doesn't even know it's Neji) is giving orders to the Hokage? And Lord Jiraiya is actually... seriously considering it?

"Are you sure?" Jiraiya asked, his voice serious.

"Absolutely, definitely, and certainly," Neji answered decisively.

He possesses the Kotoamatsukami Crow. Those are the eyes of Shisui Uchiha, the ultimate Genjutsu capable of forcibly altering the will of even Kage Level powerhouse. It's more than enough to deal with Sasuke, who has just awakened the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

Jiraiya stared at Neji for a few seconds, then nodded emphatically:

"Alright. I agree to this."

The death of Danzo, in exchange for Sasuke, a potential enemy with the Mangekyō Sharingan, no longer threatening Konoha... this deal is too good to pass up.

"Alcohol," Kakashi spoke again, this time with a more pointed question, "Can you find evidence that the Akatsuki's capture of the Tailed Beast has nothing to do with Konoha? Or... can you prove that the person behind the Akatsuki is not from Konoha?"

Neji turned his head, looking at Kakashi through his glasses with an expression as if he were looking at an idiot.

"What?"

He doubted he had heard correctly.

Find evidence to prove that Akatsuki has nothing to do with Konoha?

Nagato was Jiraiya's student. Obito was a student of Konoha, the Fourth Hokage Minato of Konoha (though Kakashi didn't know this yet). Among the Akatsuki members, Orochimaru and Itachi Uchiha also came from Konoha, though they were missing-nin. However, Sasuke has never publicly declared Konoha a missing-nin. Even though Tobi is currently using the name of the missing-nin Madara Uchiha, ultimately it was Konoha's internal strife that caused the Shinobi World War.

How am I supposed to prove it's "irrelevant"?

"No evidence can be found," Neji said directly, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Unless Tobi himself comes out and says, 'I am Madara Uchiha, and I will destroy the world.'"

Kakashi and Shikaku were stunned.

Madara Uchiha? That legendary ninja? Someone who stood shoulder to shoulder with the First Hokage? Is he still alive?

The two of them looked at Jiraiya, their eyes full of questions.

Jiraiya sighed and explained, "Tobi is the current leader of Akatsuki, calling himself Madara Uchiha. But according to the intelligence Itachi sent back... Tobi could also be... Obito Uchiha, who died in the Battle of Kannabi Bridge."

Kakashi's expression froze instantly.

Obito?

Obito Uchiha?

That guy with the silly smile, always late, who gave him the Sharingan, and ultimately died under a rock... Obito?

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

Obito is dead. He saw it with his own eyes—no, he didn't see the body, but given the circumstances, the landslide, the injuries... Obito couldn't possibly have survived.

Even if he survived, Obito should have returned to Konoha. He was Obito Uchiha, a Konoha Ninja who swore to become Hokage, a student of the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, and a comrade of mine and Rin...

Kakashi's brain refused to process the information. He stood frozen, his one exposed eye wide open, filled with confusion and resistance.

Neji sighed inwardly as he observed Kakashi's reaction.

Looks like we need to add some serious ingredients.

"Kakashi," Neji suddenly called his name, his voice still distorted, but his tone serious, "When you fought Deidara, you used the power of the Sharingan. Was it Space-Time Ninjutsu?"

Kakashi snapped back to reality, looking at Neji with wary eyes. "What do you want to say?" This wasn't Kakashi's first encounter with alcohol; he had seen it before during the mission to retrieve Gaara, but there hadn't been a formal, direct confrontation.

"I know more than you think," Neji said, his eyes fixed on him through his glasses. "The evolution of the Sharingan requires intense emotional stimulation from the Uchiha Clan. You're neither Uchiha Clan nor do you seem to have experienced that kind of stimulation... How did your Sharingan evolve into the Mangekyo Sharingan?"

Kakashi's breath hitched.

"And Tobi's ability," Neji continued, each word like a hammer blow to Kakashi's heart, "Is Space-Time Ninjutsu. That's the main reason he was able to capture the Eight-Tails so easily."

"Think about it carefully, Kakashi. Your Sharingan and Tobi's Space-Time Ninjutsu... aren't they too similar?"

The office fell into a deathly silence.

Kakashi stood there, pale-faced. His mind raced, trying to refute the argument, trying to find loopholes, but all the clues pointed to a conclusion he couldn't accept.

Obito... might still be alive.

Moreover, he became the leader of the Akatsuki, the "Madara Uchiha" who wanted to destroy the world.

Seeing Kakashi's state, Shikaku knew he couldn't let this topic continue. He took a deep breath, turned to Neji, and asked the most crucial question:

"Sake, you seem quite certain... that Tobi will start a war? And in the name of Madara Uchiha?"

Neji glanced at Shikaku, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

This Shikaku Nara, his mind works way too fast.

"The Akatsuki capture the Tailed Beast, gather all nine, and create the Complete Ten-Tails. Naturally, they'll have to wage war," Neji said. Now that things were out in the open, he didn't mince words anymore. "We'll summon the God Tree and then implement the 'Eye of the Moon Plan.'"

"Eye of the Moon Plan?" Shikaku pressed.

"A Genjutsu that can cover the entire Shinobi World," Neji answered decisively. "It traps everyone in an eternal dream, where they can obtain everything they desire, without pain, without war, without loss... perfect 'peace'."

Shikaku contracted. "Peace through Genjutsu...?"

"Yes." Neji nodded. "But there's no need to rush. Obito still needs to prepare, and... Naruto is still in Konoha."

His words were quite meaningful.

Naruto is the Child of Prophecy, the protagonist of this world, and the biggest variable in Obito's plan. As long as Naruto is alive, hope remains.

"Alright," Neji glanced at the sky outside the barrier, "The problem is almost solved. I'm going now."

He paused, looked at Jiraiya, and softened his tone slightly. "Keep a close eye on Danzo. Await my news."

After speaking, he Hand Seals, and the barrier was dispelled. Then his body began to distort and blur, disappearing into thin air.

Only three people remained in the office.

Jiraiya slumped into the chair and let out a long sigh.

Kakashi was still standing there, his eyes vacant, clearly not yet recovered from the shock of thinking that Obito might still be alive.

Shikaku walked to the window, looking at the lights outside, his brows furrowed.

The Eye of the Moon Plan... Genjutsu covering the entire Shinobi World... a form of "peace" achieved through this method...

"What a... insane ideal," Shikaku muttered to himself.

But what terrified him even more was the Akatsuki member codenamed "Sake".

He knows too much. He knows everything about the Akatsuki, about Tobi, about the Eye of the Moon Plan... even about the bond between Kakashi and Obito.

Who exactly is this person?

Shikaku turned to look at Jiraiya. He wanted to ask, but seeing Jiraiya's tired expression, he swallowed his words.

Some secrets are better left unknown.

Outside the window, the night in Konoha was a bit chilly.