Outside Konoha.
Yechen appeared in the forest.
As usual, he did not use Flying Thunder God to return straight home. Instead, he entered the village through its gates.
However, not long after entering the village, he noticed something unusual.
It was not evening yet, so the streets should have been bustling with activity.
But as Yechen scanned the crowds, he sensed something different, despite the number of people on the streets.
Everyone he saw along the way looked cautious, lacking their usual ease, and the ninja patrolling the streets were making their rounds noticeably more often.
He also noticed Anbu ninja frequently moving through the shadows, as though searching for someone.
All the signs suggested that something had happened in the village recently. Otherwise, it would not have been like this.
With that thought, Yechen quickened his pace and returned home.
The first thing he did was dispel the Shadow Clone he had left behind and absorb its memories from his time away.
Closing his eyes, Yechen carefully reviewed those memories, especially the most recent ones, looking for the reason behind the village's unusual changes.
Sure enough, he found it.
It turned out that Obito Uchiha had visited Konoha again a few days earlier and fought several Anbu ninja.
That incident was precisely why Konoha had tightened its security so much.
Of course, that was only the outward explanation. As for the deeper reason, the Shadow Clone suspected it had to do with Kushina Uzumaki approaching childbirth.
By his calculations, Naruto would be born in a month at most.
And as everyone knew, a jinchūriki's seal would weaken during childbirth, making it the perfect time for anyone with ulterior motives to stir up trouble.
Had Obito Uchiha not appeared, Konoha would have followed the other timeline, tightening security behind the