[The timeline mentioned earlier was not Konoha Year 67, but the winter at the end of Konoha Year 64.]
Shikaku said, "Based on those conclusions, Obito's actions make perfect sense. He left his own corpse outside Konoha's gates for our people to discover, making the world believe he was dead so everyone would let their guard down..."
Konan asked, "Then why didn't he come straight to Naruto and challenge him?"
Naruto said, "It probably has to do with the Curse Mark of Tongue Eradication. Obito swore that, win or lose, he wouldn't attack Amegakure or Konoha."
Relieved, Konan said, "So as long as we stay in the village, he can't do anything to us?"
After careful consideration, Shikaku said, "Not necessarily. There's a workaround for everything. If his oath prevents him from attacking the villages, he can still strike outside them, or send other people into the villages to attack."
Naruto tightened his grip on the armrests. "We've already had that incident with Violet. If he takes our people hostage outside the village to force my hand, I really won't have any choice but to fight..."
Shikaku's expression turned serious. "Naruto... be straight with me. If you fought Obito now, what would your chances be?"
Naruto pinched his chin, looking pessimistic. "If our suspicions are right, I'd have almost no chance at all!"
Shikaku made the decision at once. "Then put Amegakure under a complete lockdown. Neither ninja nor civilians can leave, and no outsiders can enter. Don't give him an opening!"
Konan asked, "What about the Anbu out searching for Obito?"
Shikaku said, "Recall them all. We've pretty much uncovered the truth about him. Even if we're slightly off, it isn't worth risking our necks over. There's no need to find his whereabouts, either. With his spacetime dōjutsu, his