Hayate's Choice

Above Hokage Rock.

A masked man in a black robe stood tall, his clothes snapping in the Wind Release.

Beside him stood a strange man with a pitcher plant growing around his head. He wore a black cloak patterned with red clouds, as though he belonged to some organization.

"Obito, where did you find these geniuses? Were you worried everyone in Konoha had a brain, so you decided to confuse them with some absurd performance art?"

"I just picked a few people who'd lost hope in Kirigakure. I did nothing else. They acted of their own free will."

Zetsu looked doubtful. "Aren't you afraid they'll ruin everything? They're unbelievably stupid!"

"Zetsu, you don't understand."

The Masked Man gave a cold laugh. "You don't need an elaborate scheme to deal with a decaying shinobi village. You just need to drive people apart, simply and brutally. Back then, Kumogakure pulled one little trick and drove a wedge between the Hyuga and Konoha. And the Uchiha are even less likely to swallow an insult."

"I don't expect them to start a war. I only need the rift between them to keep widening. Once trust breaks between people, it can never be fully restored."

Zetsu stroked his chin.

He looked impressed.

"Obito, you're growing more and more mature. I can see Lord Madara in you. But this Mei Terumi... Are you trying to force her to defect from Kirigakure so we can recruit her?"

The Masked Man shook his head. "No. She's too clever. Kirigakure needs fools with no brains, people who'll devote themselves to assassinating the Mizukage and throwing the Land of Water into chaos."

"It doesn't need someone intelligent and capable who wants to build a better Land of Water! I just want her to die in Konoha. That's all."

"Oh—"

Zetsu,