Not long ago—
Near the valley where Danzo Shimura and Hanzo were locked in battle—
Two figures hid in the shadows.
One possessed space–time ninjutsu.
The other could slip through terrain like a specter.
Their speed far surpassed that of ordinary shinobi.
Before long, they caught up to Yahiko and Konan, who were fleeing.
Ahead of the pair, space twisted.
A spiral ripple opened in midair atop a hill—
And Obito Uchiha stepped out of nothingness.
Moments later, Zetsu emerged from the earth.
Black Zetsu spoke first.
"I checked with the nearby White Zetsu. Nagato isn't around."
Obito frowned.
"A Shadow Clone returns its memories to the original. The last thing Nagato saw was Yahiko and Konan being chased by Root."
He paused.
"If they die here, the blame falls on Danzō."
"Even if Hanzo had no intention of harming them, Nagato will inevitably grow suspicious."
"It's not perfect… but it will let him glimpse the darkness."
The decision came quickly.
Obito's killing intent settled on Yahiko.
Black Zetsu hesitated.
"If Nagato discovers we killed them, he may refuse to cooperate—even to death."
"His will may not matter, but if he turns against us, he could still become troublesome."
Black Zetsu had schemed for thousands of years to free Kaguya Otsutsuki from the moon.
He did not gamble lightly.
But Obito's eyes hardened.
"Then we won't let him know."
"We'll disguise ourselves as Root."
"Konan can live—to carry the news."
"But Yahiko must die."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
Yahiko's influence over Nagato was too strong.
As long as he lived—
Nagato would never fully break.
And worse—
Sometimes, when Obito looked at Yahiko—
He saw a shadow of himself.
He couldn't accept that.
Black Zetsu studied him silently.
Obito had accepted Madara Uchiha's plan.
But he had his own ambitions.
Perhaps he never intended to revive Madara at all.
Black Zetsu did not expose the thought.
Madara was merely another piece on the board.
As long as Obito moved toward the Eye of the Moon Plan—
It was sufficient.
If he failed, Madara could still return.
For now, Obito was in his rebellious phase.
Better to let him move.
Disguise
Obito reached out and seized a nearby White Zetsu.
His half-body, reconstructed with Hashirama cells, carried plant-like traits.
White Zetsu wrapped around him effortlessly—
Like clothing.
"Impersonation Technique."
His form distorted.
When it stabilized—
He appeared as a masked Root shinobi.
Unlike a simple Transformation Jutsu, this technique replicated chakra signatures perfectly.
Even sensory types would be fooled.
During the Fourth Shinobi War, White Zetsu clones had infiltrated the Allied Shinobi Forces using this very method.
Only Naruto's Nine-Tails sensory ability had exposed them.
Under normal circumstances—
No one could see through it.
"I'm going."
Without hiding his presence, Obito charged straight at Yahiko and Konan.
They noticed him immediately.
"Careful! It's Root!" Yahiko shouted.
He pulled Konan to a halt.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball—more than ten meters wide—roared forward.
"So strong—Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
Yahiko countered at full power.
But though water restrains fire—
His technique was overwhelmed instantly.
Compared to Nagato's Uzumaki vitality and Rinnegan…
Compared to Konan's unique Paper Release…
Yahiko's talent was ordinary.
Reaching elite chūnin in only a few years under Jiraiya's guidance was already extraordinary effort.
Without becoming the Deva Path of Pain—
He might have peaked at jōnin.
But Obito—
With Mangekyō Sharingan awakened…
With Madara's tutelage…
Was already Kage-level.
The fireball devoured Yahiko's water wave, shrinking only slightly as it continued forward.
"Move!"
Yahiko and Konan split in opposite directions.
Exactly as Obito intended.
If they stayed together—
There was a risk Konan might die too.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bomb!"
Three streams of blazing fire curved—
Front.
Left.
Right.
Blocking Yahiko's escape routes.
The relentless assault left him breathless.
There was no opening.
No time.
No space.
Flames closed in from every direction.
His pupils trembled.
The heat scorched his skin.
Am I… going to die?
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