After saying goodbye to Obito and Lin, Kakashi headed straight home alone. Today's primary task was to meet the new Jonin squad leader. After that, it was time for training.
Just as Kakashi was preparing to train in the yard, a head emerged from the living room floor, followed by a torso made of earth.
Hakushi's Earth Clone—the Earth General.
"Coming over at this time, is there something you need?"
Kakashi asked unsurprised.
The Earth General placed a scroll in Kakashi's hand, then sank into the ground and disappeared.
After the Earth General left, Kakashi unraveled the scroll and read its contents.
Upon finishing, Kakashi frowned.
The intelligence recorded on it was very straightforward: his new teammate, Uchiha Obito, had attracted the attention of a mysterious force.
Moreover, being part of Minato's Class, he himself needed to be cautious and handle situations carefully.
"That idiot, what could possibly be gained by targeting that guy?"
Kakashi was slightly surprised. Although he didn't think there was anything on that idiot worth coveting, the situation was real, and he indeed needed to keep an eye out.
Kakashi burned the scroll with fire, leaving no traces, then went to the yard to start practicing swordsmanship.
◎
After delivering the intelligence to Kakashi, the Earth General began trailing one of the targets, moving along with them.
The target moved within the earth for most of the day before showing signs of stopping; it was no longer within the boundaries of the Land of Fire.
The Earth General realized that ahead was likely the enemy's stronghold.
Based on the intelligence, there was a Sharingan Ninja with powerful pupil techniques in the opposing camp; it was necessary to proceed cautiously.
Illusion Techniques were too troublesome, unsuitable for dealing with such enemies.
Hence, the Earth General decided that further movement should be cautious.
The Water Clone residing within its body was let out.
Then a piece of paper was taken out, words written on it.
—I will accurately blow up the enemy's base in five minutes. Five seconds after the time, immediately use the Reverse Summoning Jutsu to summon me back.
The Earth General showed evident wariness against powerful illusions.
So, it required the water snake to use Reverse Summoning Jutsu five seconds after its explosion, to avoid direct combat with the enemy.
The water snake, formed from flowing water, nodded and then slithered into the grass, disappearing from sight.
The Earth General began its careful exploration by burrowing underground towards the front.
◎
"Lord Madara, I have found a suitable target. He certainly meets your criteria."
In the dim cave, White Zetsu returned with good news.
The old man sitting on a wooden chair—Uchiha Madara—immediately opened his eyes, the scarlet magatama exuding an eerie color aimed at White Zetsu.
White Zetsu felt no fear at all and grinned at Madara frivolously.
"Lord Madara, this is the information on that guy. I've almost gathered it all. I guarantee he will be the perfect candidate."
White Zetsu eagerly recounted various details about Obito to Madara.
Their personality, future ambitions, usual lifestyle, including the people they liked, and even how many times in a single day they helped elderly women cross the street was all meticulously recorded.
"It's unbelievable; that guy sometimes helps over twenty elderly women in a single day. Even I find the probability of encountering elderly women at such a rate surprising. This special trait that attracts elderly women is stranger than us."
White Zetsu spoke with a mischievous grin.
Madara didn't mind White Zetsu's extravagant manner of speaking. Aside from its stealth abilities, Madara didn't believe such creatures could possess a brain.
White Zetsu's words often lacked thought.
Madara was well aware of this.
After listening carefully to White Zetsu's story, Madara immediately conjured an image of Obito in his mind.
Endowed with intense love and kindness, lacking in mental acuity, having beloved and cherished goals, and being a ninja of the Uchiha Race.
Indeed, it was the most suitable candidate.
"Uchiha Obito, is it?"
"Exactly. Lord Madara, should we bring him over now?"
White Zetsu inquired.
"No, not yet. It's not the time. Arranging the rest of his life is very troublesome."
Madara calmly stated.
"I see? Then let's leave it for now. However, I'm a bit skeptical about this kid—is he strong enough, considering he's not a genius of the Uchiha Race."
White Zetsu referred to the matter of the Sharingan.
"The age of awakening does not directly correlate with talent. Everyone's life experiences differ, and for a Uchiha ninja, gaining power requires sinking into darkness. Witnessing the destruction of cherished ones before their eyes is the beginning of their downfall. Then, making them see the darkness and tragedies within the Ninja Realm, stimulating them with even darker forces... this is his life as a puppet."
The darker it becomes, the more it stimulates the growth of the Sharingan.
Especially for inherently kind Uchiha, the fuller their past kindness and love, the more complete their descent into darkness.
Such intense darkness stimulates the evolution of the Sharingan.
"Now that's truly something to look forward to."
White Zetsu giggled.
Zetsu couldn't comprehend human grudges; he had no experience of joy or sorrow.
Madara's orders were the will of White Zetsu.
No need for thought, simply acting in accordance with commands.