Bonds are the most complex relationship in the Ninja World.
Uehara Naraku and the mysterious masked man are both unaware that the gifts they plan for each other are essentially the same, using people's emotions to achieve their own goals.
The mysterious masked man wants to use Karin as a spy to form a bond with Uehara Naraku, then shatter the bond, plunging Uehara into darkness.
Uehara Naraku believes that instead of letting the mysterious masked man secretly track him and plot, it's better to bring him a big trouble.
People must eventually face their past.
Furthermore, Uehara Naraku and the mysterious masked man both have a strong self-awareness and trust in their intelligence, believing their plans to be flawless.
Now, the number of people in the Ninja World who know the identity of the mysterious masked man can be counted on one hand.
The mysterious masked man would never expect that Uehara can travel across borders using the Mayfly Jutsu and quickly reach the Land of Fire; as long as Uehara does not reveal his true identity, the mysterious masked man will not be able to find out it was him.
Hatake Kakashi stepped forward, looked at the mysterious masked man under the tree, and asked, "Who are you? What is your purpose in sneaking into the Land of Fire?"
"This is my homeland."
The masked man, who is Uehara Naraku in disguise, opened his palm and said softly, "Konoha's Anbu, isn't it okay for me to return to my hometown?"
Uehara felt his acting was somewhat perfect, portraying the emotions of a wanderer returning home after many years to the fullest.
Unfortunately, there were only two uninformed audiences beside him, and Konoha's Anbu weren't buying it at all. Uzuki Yuugao, brandishing her ninja blade, pointed at him and said sternly, "Hey, take off your mask first!"
"That might not be fair."
Uehara Naraku touched the patterned mask on his face, raised his head to look at the white-haired ninja, and said softly, "If it's an old friend meeting, shouldn't we both take off our masks? What do you think, Hatake Kakashi?"
Clang!
The white-haired ninja suddenly drew his ninja blade, bent his waist, and assumed a fighting posture, yet spoke casually, "Hmm, knowing that I work in Anbu and can recognize me, it seems you are indeed someone familiar!"
Hatake Kakashi's brain raced!
The masked man in front of him was hiding his identity, indicating that his identity couldn't see the light of day, most likely a traitor from Konoha or a Root Ninja under Danzo.
However, not long ago, after the Uchiha Clan's annihilation in Konoha, Shimura Danzo was inexplicably put in confinement by the Third Hokage, and the entire Root was completely disbanded.
Therefore, it could only be a Konoha traitor.
Coincidentally, Kakashi did know a suitable candidate.
The man who annihilated his own clan and became an S-Class Konoha Traitor was Kakashi's former teammate in Anbu, Uchiha Itachi.
But in Kakashi's understanding, Uchiha Itachi was always well-mannered, whether facing enemies or village companions, always very polite.
The mysterious masked man in front of him was so pretentious; Uchiha Itachi couldn't possibly do such a thing, but the Uchiha Clan were all crazy, who knows what he might become?
Besides Uchiha Itachi, he really couldn't think of anyone else.
Hatake Kakashi gripped his ninja blade tightly, the crimson Sharingan watching the masked man. After taking a deep breath, he asked in a stern voice, "Are you Uchiha Itachi?"
"..."
After a moment of seeming silence in the air, the masked man shook his finger and said, "You guessed wrong... Kakashi!"
Upon hearing his words, Hatake Kakashi fell silent for a moment, then suddenly rushed forward with his ninja blade, saying coldly, "Since you're still being mysterious, let me take off your mask now!"
"..."
The mysterious masked man seemed scared and hurriedly dodged Kakashi's attack, then leaped onto a tree, his voice becoming darker, "No wonder, Kakashi... still so ruthless when killing your teammates!"
Hatake Kakashi's body froze instantly!
At that moment, he once again remembered Rin, whom he dreamt of every night, the girl who painfully died under his Lightning Blade, her body drenched in blood.
Uzuki Yuugao glanced at the stiff Kakashi and loudly defended, "Bastard! What nonsense are you talking, Kakashi isn't that kind of person..."
"Hmph... really isn't?"
The mysterious masked man looked down at the two below, slowly taking off his mask and revealing a face half perfect and half covered in scars.
This is the true face of Uchiha Obito.
The illusion used by Uehara Naraku allowed him to mimic and disguise as anyone, naturally also mimicking Uchiha Obito's appearance.
Holding the mask, with a mocking smile on his lips, Uehara Naraku said, "Kakashi, do you still recognize me?"
"..."
Hatake Kakashi's hands bulged with veins, gripping his ninja blade so hard as if he wanted to crush it!
He couldn't believe his eyes.
Even though many years had passed and Uchiha Obito's appearance had changed a lot, Kakashi could still recognize his features, but how could the person he buried with his own hands years ago possibly come back to life?
Hatake Kakashi took off his mask, eyes wide in disbelief, "You are... Obito?"
"Hahahahahahahahaha..."
The Uchiha Obito disguise of Uehara Naraku burst into laughter and said loudly, "I didn't expect the Sharingan Kakashi to still remember me, the loser, it's really surprising!"
"Obito..."
Hatake Kakashi's voice was somewhat dry. He had no idea how to face his old friend's mockery, the words stuck in his throat.
Standing by Kakashi's side, Uzuki Yuugao said gravely, "Senior, is he the hero Obito who died in battle? Has he... defected now?"
Uzuki Yuugao's words instantly brought the two back to reality.
Nearly ten years had passed, and since Uchiha Obito was still alive, why didn't he return to Konoha, perhaps because of Rin's death in battle?
"Obito, why didn't you return to the village back then... if the teacher knew you were still alive..." Hatake Kakashi's words paused again, their teacher, Namikaze Minato, died in the Nine-tailed Fox Chaos eight years ago.
"Sensei Minato and Sensei Kushina, I killed them both!"
The Uchiha Obito disguise of Uehara Naraku looked down, staring at Hatake Kakashi's stiff face, smiling as he spoke, "Isn't it surprising? I released the seal of the Nine-tails, and used the Sharingan to control it... You probably noticed, right? The gift I gave you when you became a Jonin contains incredible power, doesn't it?"
"..."
Hatake Kakashi's mind was chaotic.
The things Obito said were too shocking, causing his usually calm mind to become confused, and it even seemed like Obito's words were hallucinations.
"Okay, Kakashi, cherish that Sharingan, it has power beyond your imagination. I have to go avenge Rin, goodbye!"
Uehara Naraku waved his hand, leaping away swiftly, and before Kakashi and Uzuki Yuugao could react, his figure had already vanished.
Uehara Naraku hid in the dense forest, using the Mayfly Jutsu to dive into a large tree, watching Kakashi frantically search for Obito's trail, and silently slipped into the ground.
Today, he has done a good deed.