Sure Enough, the Uchiha Were Evil

"That was what I thought at first!"

Uchiha Yan sighed. "But the First has been dead for so many years, and he never appeared. The timing of his appearance now is wrong.

"And judging by his age, he would be eighty or ninety. His physical functions wouldn't be able to keep up.

"If he really is still alive, then he must have gained something during his battle with the First.

"As I said, we need to find the Senju Clan's records before we can deduce the specifics.

"I hope I can make it off the battlefield. Only then will there be hope of using the intelligence to deduce whether Madara Uchiha is still around, where he is, and why he defected from the village."

"Aside from Madara Uchiha, who else do you find most suspicious?"

"No one!"

Uchiha Yan shook his head. "Perhaps we'll know once we've finished organizing the Uchiha family tree.

"Sir, whoever it is, they're not someone you can handle right now. The gap between Three-Tomoe and the Mangekyō Sharingan is far too great.

"I know someone from another village must have placed a Cursed Seal on you. Don't worry. Before I die, I'll definitely find a solution for you.

"If I don't die, find a way to have Lady Konan in the Land of Rain write to me.

"If I do die, find a way to contact Shisui. I'll leave everything with him.

"Remember this! Be patient for now. I've already got a lead!

"If there's really no other way, I'll stake my life on asking the clan leader to give you a Sharingan and Izanagi, so you can use Forbidden Jutsu to change your fate of death.

"Remember! Don't act rashly! Be patient! You're a hero of Konoha and the Uchiha. Even if it kills me, I'll find a solution for you."

Obito silently tightened his hand inside his sleeve and sighed deeply to himself. Rin, what should I do? He's so much like you, just as kind as you were. Like you, he keeps telling me not to act rashly.

Obito wanted to kill Yan, but this guy really knew how to say things he wanted to hear, and he understood his suffering. Most importantly, he seemed as though he really might be able to destroy the Cursed Seal.

If nothing else, the fact that he had instantly thought of using Izanagi to escape the Cursed Seal was enough to demonstrate his intelligence.

After a long silence, Obito unclenched his fist and made up his mind:

"Yan, don't tell anyone about my existence for now."

"Of course! Even if I die, no one else will learn of your existence.

"Every hero who works for Konoha in the darkness deserves to be protected with our lives!"

Obito nodded, then turned and slowly walked away. "I'll be watching you. I hope you won't disappoint me."

"I won't let you down, sir!"

Watching from the shadows, Zetsu was a little surprised to see that Obito hadn't acted. After Uchiha Yan left, he couldn't help catching up to Obito:

"Why didn't you kill him?"

"Kill him? Why? He's as kind as Rin. Do you want me to kill Rin with my own hands?"

"Stop joking! What ninja doesn't have blood on their hands? How could..."

At that point, Zetsu suddenly stopped, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.

"Have you gone mute? Stopping halfway through a sentence-do you want to die?"

"I was thinking that this Uchiha Yan really doesn't seem to have killed anyone."

"Then he's no ninja, and he shouldn't be one."

"You're really not killing him? What if he tells someone about your existence?"

"We can talk about that if he survives the battlefield. The Uchiha Clan has no other merits. Keeping their word is their only good quality."

Obito's face was full of indifference. "Since he promised not to tell anyone, he won't say anything.

"If he really wanted to talk, he would have done it back when Kakashi wanted to kill him."

"I think we'd be better off winning him over."

"Only if he survives Danzo will he qualify to take part in the plan."

"Fine! I'll have White Zetsu watch him."

Meanwhile, Uchiha Yan was making his leisurely way toward the Land of Water battlefield. As far as he was concerned, running was useless. Since Obito had been able to find him, White Zetsu must have provided his coordinates.

He was certain that somewhere nearby, a White Zetsu was watching him constantly.

Acting is like life! Honing your acting skills really can save your life sometimes. That fool Obito is still too young.

If this were Obito during the Fourth Shinobi World War, he wouldn't have listened to my nonsense at all. He definitely would have slapped me dead on the spot.

I'll have to keep acting from now on. This White Zetsu is such a nuisance. I'll have to adjust my plan, or I won't be able to maintain my kindhearted persona.

By the time Uchiha Yan reached Quiet Sea Town on the Land of Fire's border, half a month had passed. The ninja of the Land of Fire and the Land of Water had already begun probing one another.

Led by Root, Uchiha Yan arrived at the command post. At that moment, Danzo was discussing intelligence with the second-in-command of the Hyūga and various other ninja clans.

At the sight of Uchiha Yan, Danzo gave a rare smile:

"Uchiha Yan, I've been waiting for you for a long time!"

"You're too kind, Lord Danzo. I'm just a lowly Genin."

"No, no, no!"

The corners of Danzo's mouth rose, his tone dripping with mockery. "You can manipulate people's hearts. How could you be a mere Genin?

"Rest assured! During the war, you'll be assigned to take part in all the most important missions, and you'll be taking part alone.

"Make sure you don't betray Konoha's trust in you."

Uchiha Yan puffed out his chest, his face full of confidence. "Rest assured, Lord Danzo. Unlike certain useless people, I can naturally complete my missions.

"Whenever I act, my plans never fail. Even my enemies will serve my purposes.

"My only fear is that another idiot like Jinyan will turn up in the command post."

Bang!

Danzo was so furious that he overturned the table. "Uchiha Yan, who are you talking about? Who's the enemy? Who's an idiot?"

"Kirigakure, of course! Unless you think someone else is an idiot, Lord Danzo? Someone who's being used without even realizing it?"

Hizashi Hyuga and the others sitting nearby were dumbfounded. Was he really this bold? Insulting someone to his face? And the Darkness of Konoha, at that? He'd really thrown caution to the wind.

"Good, good, good!"

Danzo laughed in his fury, raised his cane, pointed at Uchiha Yan, and ordered:

"I admire your courage. Here's a mission for you. Find out who Kirigakure's overall commander is this time. I want every piece of intelligence on him."

"Certainly!"

Uchiha Yan spoke slowly. "I want intelligence on every Kirigakure ninja who can participate in decision-making, as well as the leaders of all Kirigakure's major bloodline clans."

"There is none! You'll have to find it yourself. Everyone has missions during wartime. There are no sensory ninja available to assist you. You'll have to act alone."

"..."

Uchiha Yan stared at Danzo, utterly exasperated. This guy really had no shame at all:

"Lord Danzo, not even keeping up appearances will only make people think you're narrow-minded. Would you want a narrow-minded person to become Hokage?"

"Nonsense! When did I ever say I wanted to become Hokage?"

"You didn't?"

Uchiha Yan raised his eyebrows, his eyes full of mockery:

"Do you really not want to? Actually, becoming Hokage isn't that difficult. It's not as if you're becoming the daimyo.

"The ninja clans' seconds-in-command are all here. Win them over, then help them become clan leaders. Wouldn't the Hokage position be yours for the taking?

"Then give their clans a share of the benefits. Wouldn't that secure your Hokage position?"

At those words, everyone's expression changed drastically. Hizashi Hyuga even spoke up directly to reprimand him:

"Uchiha Yan, we're at war. Don't talk nonsense."

"Exactly! Are you trying to cause internal strife in Konoha?"

"Uchiha Yan, stop talking. I'll give you the intelligence you want later."

"Yes, yes! I'll give you some too. Stop talking!"

"Lord Danzo, don't believe a child's words. Winning the war is our most pressing concern right now."

"..."

Seeing their reactions, Danzo froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up. This really might work!

Immediately afterward, Danzo turned his gaze toward Uchiha Yan. How does this guy's brain work? Why didn't I think of a method like this?

That's right! If a clan leader won't support me, I can just replace him.

Sure enough, the Uchiha are evil. He could even come up with such a vicious method.