Chapter 75 Leaving / Warring States Period (Three-in-one with bonus...)
After learning that their son was the reincarnation of the First Hokage, Minato Namikaze and Kushina initially found it difficult to look at their little one, who did nothing but eat and cry, and would occasionally unintentionally release a little chakra, making a mess of the house.
The feeling was very subtle, as if I was holding not an ordinary baby, but a little tyrant who was burning hot.
Minato, in particular, always changed Naruto's diapers with an inexplicable air of careful respect, leaving Kushina both amused and exasperated.
However, this "sense of distance" did not last long - "fortunately" their son Naruto fully demonstrated his "troublesome" side as a baby: crying incessantly at night, only calming down when held and moved around, wailing loudly when unhappy, and crying when not seeing anyone... very typical "traits" of a high-needs baby.
All the ups and downs quickly brought the newly-minted parents back to reality.
Those grand narratives about reincarnation and the power of the six realms seem so distant and unreal in the face of a baby's crying, bottles, and diapers. Their biggest worry right now is how to get this little troublemaker to sleep a little longer at night and stop bothering them so much; even ninjas would find it exhausting.
So, some people might ask, why would the two believe such a bizarre story?
Minato Namikaze knew Yan Sheng's true identity as an otherworldly visitor and had personally witnessed his terrifying power in overwhelming the Nine-Tails and breaking Kamui. Such a being had no reason to deceive him on such matters, making his words highly credible.
Kushina's traits stem more from her "carefree" personality and unconditional trust in those she approves of: once she approves of someone and feels that the other person is reliable and trustworthy, she will choose to believe them no matter how unbelievable their words may be.
Yan Sheng saved their family. He was powerful and had a refined demeanor. In her mind, he was already considered "reliable," so she was willing to listen to and believe what he said.
night.
Kushina gently pushed the stroller, soothing her son who was about to cry again. In the soft light, she carefully examined Naruto's little face. Soft golden baby hair, clear blue eyes, and the three mustache-like birthmarks on his cheeks, a natural consequence of being the son of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
"He really is... a carbon copy of Minato." Kushina murmured to herself, trying to find similarities between her son and herself. "Hmm... maybe his nose and mouth are slightly like mine?"
As she looked at it, a thought suddenly popped into her mind: she couldn't recognize the original at all.
The moment the idea crossed her mind, she couldn't help but laugh. Like the original? Absolutely not! Children naturally resemble their parents; they can't possibly mutate genetically.
"Little Naruto." She leaned down and gently tapped her son's little nose with her finger, her tone filled with tender expectation, "I wonder if, when you grow up, you will become a strong and reliable man like the First Hokage?"
Of course, this expectation was fleeting. Deep down, Kushina actually hoped that her son could grow up healthy and happy like an ordinary person.
They don't have to bear the heavy responsibility of the village, nor do they have to face the complexities of human nature. They can cry freely, laugh unrestrainedly, and have an ordinary yet warm childhood.
***
Minato Namikaze classified the fact that Obito Uchiha was the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails' rampage as top secret, limiting it to a very small number of trusted confidants who were present at the time, and issued a gag order. He also chose to keep it a secret from his wife, Kushina.
The reason for this is—
First, Obito was a member of the Uchiha clan. The relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha had become delicate and tense since the First Hokage, and the rift widened especially by the Third Hokage, with both sides treating each other as enemies.
After he came to power, he managed to ease the situation somewhat by virtue of his personal prestige and relatively fair attitude, as well as his own desire to befriend the Uchiha. Once the news of Obito's plot to unleash the Nine-Tails' attack is exposed, it will inevitably trigger collective panic and hostility towards the Uchiha clan within the village. The fragile balance he has painstakingly maintained will collapse instantly, and it may even lead to internal strife.
This is something he absolutely does not want to see.
Secondly, there is selfishness.
Obito was his former student. Minato Namikaze felt guilty and heartbroken that the sunny, optimistic boy who always shouted "I want to become Hokage" had become the stubborn, cold-hearted person he is today who has caused disasters.
He felt an inescapable responsibility as a teacher. If only he had been a little faster at Kannabi Bridge, if only he had been a little faster with Rin... Just like Obito said, why was he always a step too late?
In conclusion, Minato Namikaze wanted to save Obito.
This idea is undoubtedly selfish. Who should bear the pain and loss of those innocent villagers and ninjas who lost their loved ones and had their homes destroyed in the Nine-Tails' attack? The crimes committed by Obito are too numerous to count; how can they be so easily dismissed with a simple "the teacher didn't teach him well"?
Minato Namikaze was well aware of this.
However, he was not a saint after all; he also had his own selfish motives. Torn between maintaining stability in the village and his complex feelings for the students, he made a difficult and inevitably controversial decision—to temporarily conceal the truth.
......
Beneath Konoha, deep within the prison.
The place was heavily guarded and dimly lit, with only the flickering candlelight on the walls casting dappled shadows and providing a little light.
Obito Uchiha was imprisoned here, his body wrapped in layers of sealing talismans, and his limbs were locked by specially made chakra-suppressing shackles.
There was nothing that could be done about it. Obito's Mangekyou Sharingan ability, "Kamui," was too troublesome, involving the spatial dimension. Without using the highest level of sealing, he would definitely escape.
The flickering candlelight illuminated Minato Namikaze's profile, highlighting the deep guilt and heaviness in his eyes. He stood outside the cell, looking through the specially made bars at the figure huddled in the shadows of a corner—
Obito was almost completely absorbed into the darkness, as if he himself were part of that decay and rot, exuding an aura of despair and death.
...Ever since that day when he was forced to reveal all the truth under Yan Sheng's gaze, and his emotions briefly erupted as he hysterically questioned Namikaze Minato, Obito has remained in this state, silent, neither eating nor drinking (he is sustained entirely by nutrient solution), like an empty shell devoid of a soul.
Minato's gaze fell on Obito's face, half of which was covered in hideous scars and disfigured, and he recalled the other half of his body in the same terrible state. In this state, his bodily functions would inevitably be affected, and the impact would certainly be devastating. To be honest, it was truly unbelievable that Obito had survived.
...What kind of suffering did his students go through after what everyone thought was "death" to become the way they are today?
Minato's usually eloquent and soothing speaking skills seemed to be blocked at this moment, and he couldn't utter a single word.
But he actually had a lot to say.
He wanted to say, "Obito, I'm sorry, it's all my fault. You can hate me, resent me, blame all your pain on me..."
He wanted to say, "The fault is all mine. If you want revenge, come at me alone. Don't involve innocent people."
He also wanted to say: "Many people in the village were truly kind to you. After your death, the elderly people you often took care of spontaneously organized themselves to sweep your grave, visit you, and spread your story so that more people would know about your bravery. They felt as if their own grandson had sacrificed his life, both proud and saddened... Kushina even treated you like her own younger brother. No one wronged you, so why did you have to do this to them?"
However, he knew perfectly well that saying all of these things was pointless.
Obito was no longer listening; such words might only provoke deeper mockery and anger in him. Thus, all his words ultimately amounted to a heavy, almost suffocating sigh, which dissipated into the cold, oppressive prison air.
***
The Third Hokage had already inquired about the identity and motives of the mastermind. Minato Namikaze could only temporarily deflect the question with excuses such as "the other party's identity is special, involving major secrets, and further investigation is needed to ensure the stability of the village."
But he knew that this excuse wouldn't last long, and that the three generations were not easily fooled.
Danzo Shimura and his "Root" organization brought even greater trouble: Danzo repeatedly exerted pressure, both overt and covert, at high-level meetings, questioning why Minato Namikaze had been so slow to reveal the culprit's identity and why he was keeping the culprit so well hidden. He even subtly hinted that the culprit was the Uchiha, and since the Fourth Hokage had always been close to the Uchiha, was there some kind of illicit collusion between them?
This suspicion is not unfounded. After all, many people witnessed the killer's unique Sharingan. And Minato Namikaze's stance in protecting the Uchiha clan is also well-known. His actions certainly raise suspicions.
Fortunately, Obito's actions during the Nine-Tails' attack were genuine—he showed no mercy to his former teacher, each move aimed to kill, and his primary targets were clearly the Fourth Hokage and his family. Kushina nearly lost her life as a result.
These facts became powerful evidence for Minato Namikaze to refute Danzo, proving that he was by no means an accomplice of the murderer.
Danzo, choked with emotion, fell silent, only staring coldly at Minato Namikaze with his gloomy, scrutinizing gaze, and said in a chilling tone, "You'd better not let me find any fault with you."
Minato Namikaze appeared calm, but his inner unease had reached its peak.
He knew Danzo's character; he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Therefore, Danzo would never let this go easily and was likely plotting something in secret, trying to uncover this secret or use this incident to strike at him.
It's worth noting that the Anbu is not simply equivalent to "Root". "Anbu" is an abbreviation for "Assassination Tactical Special Forces", a collective term for a position and organization, and not Danzo's private property.
Each Hokage has their own directly subordinate Anbu force. The Third Hokage had his "Sarutobi" branch Anbu, and after Minato Namikaze came to power, he naturally cultivated and appointed a group of Anbu members who were loyal to him.
However, due to Danzo's long-term management, the "Root" faction has become deeply entrenched and infiltrated, making it particularly prominent and troublesome.
......
Recently, Kushina has noticed the lingering heaviness in Minato Namikaze's brow, his occasional absent-mindedness after returning home, and the light that stays on in his study late at night.
She knew her husband as well as she knew the lines on her palm. The man who always wore a sunny smile and seemed capable of solving any problem was now being suffocated by some invisible burden.
"Minato, what happened?" Kushina couldn't help but ask softly after dinner, her voice filled with worry.
Minato snapped out of his daze, quickly putting on his usual gentle smile, and reassured his wife, "It's nothing serious, Kushina. It's just that the reconstruction work and some diplomatic affairs are a bit tedious, giving me a headache. Don't worry."
However, this deliberately crafted ease failed to deceive Kushina. If it were merely ordinary work stress, Minato would never be in this state. She could tell that her husband was hiding something.
Kushina was very worried, but there was nothing she could do. Minato was the Hokage, and there were certain responsibilities and secrets he had to bear alone. All she could do was silently brew him a cup of calming tea, offer him her shoulder when he was tired, and express her support through her actions.
—This powder keg, which Minato Namikaze tried so hard to cover up, was eventually ignited in a seemingly accidental conflict.
One side of the conflict was a member of the Konoha Guard, a young Uchiha clansman.
The Uchiha clan serving as the village guard is a rule established since the early days of Konoha. Although the relationship between the Uchiha and the village is delicate now, changing this rule, given that the First Hokage has only recently passed away and the Hokage position has only recently been passed to the Fourth Hokage, would be disheartening. Therefore, even if they wanted to change it, they couldn't.
In fact, if it weren't for the Third Hokage's constant suppression, given Danzo Shimura's fear of the Uchiha clan, he probably would have already tried to strip them of this responsibility long ago—in fact, Danzo and his "Root" group never stopped secretly hindering and suppressing them in this regard.
On the other side of the conflict was an ordinary villager who lost his wife and two children in the Nine-Tails' attack. Logically speaking, a commoner like him shouldn't even have the right to know about the existence of the mastermind behind it all, let alone know that the murderer was connected to the Uchiha clan.
But the problem is that a rumor has recently begun to circulate in the village that "the culprit behind the Nine-Tails' rampage is the Uchiha clan."
This is true, but it was strictly suppressed by the higher-ups. Now, however, the news is spreading rapidly among the common people, and its source is intriguing, as if an invisible hand is pushing it from behind the scenes.
This villager, believing the "rumors," transferred all his immense grief over losing his loved one and his unvented anger onto the entire Uchiha clan. The seeds of hatred grew wildly in his heart.
That day, a young Uchiha man was patrolling his neighborhood as usual, maintaining order. This villager, blinded by hatred, suddenly rushed out from around the street corner with a sharp dagger tucked into his arm, uttering a shrill curse, and lunged at the Uchiha man.
For a well-trained ninja, the body's instinctive reaction to such a sudden and murderous attack is far faster than thought.
The thought of an enemy flashed through the young Uchiha's mind in an instant. Almost instinctively, he turned to the side, blocked, and counterattacked—a clean and efficient taijutsu move, a precise strike imbued with chakra, directly hitting the attacker's vitals.
"Thump!"
The villager staggered and fell to the ground, his short sword clattering to the ground. Only then did the Uchiha youth see the attacker's face and clothing clearly; he was obviously an ordinary Konoha villager.
The previously bustling crowd fell silent instantly, followed by gasps of alarm. Several neighbors who recognized the fallen villager rushed forward to check on him.
"Yamada! What's wrong?!"
Why did you attack others?!
The villager known as Yamada lay in a pool of blood, his life force rapidly fading. He glared at the bewildered Uchiha youth, and with his last breath, roared with resentment, "Uchi...ha...it's all your fault...you killed my whole family...!"
These words, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirred up a storm in the hearts of the onlookers. Those who had initially harbored some reservations about Yamada's act of violence fell silent instantly.
All eyes—doubt, fear, anger—were focused on the young Uchiha.
The Uchiha youth was stunned, and then a huge sense of injustice and anger surged to his head.
Killed your whole family? We Uchiha didn't even get close to the scene!
He recalled the night of the Nine-Tails' rampage, when they were all ready to go, but were forcibly stopped near their clan's territory by the Root members under the pretext of "preventing the Sharingan from going out of control or being used, and remaining in place."
They possessed power, yet could only watch helplessly as their village was destroyed, listening to the distant roars and screams. Now, this unforeseen accusation had been forcefully placed on their heads?
On what grounds? Do you think we Uchiha are easy to bully?
Young and impetuous, he lost control of his emotions instantly when faced with the complex and piercing gazes around him.
What followed was like toppling the first domino, rapidly sliding in the worst possible direction.
The conflict quickly escalated from individual to group, with other Uchiha clan members who rushed to the scene forming a standoff with some of the more agitated villagers. The news spread like wildfire, soon reaching all of Konoha and landing on the Hokage's desk.
When Minato Namikaze received the report, his heart sank. His worst fears had come true. The secret he had so carefully concealed had, in the most violent and bloody way, finally been torn open.
He knew this was just the beginning. The hidden manipulators would never let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip by.
Hokage Building, conference room.
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, puffing on his pipe, the smoke swirling around him, yet unable to dispel the oppressive atmosphere.
The two advisor elders, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, had serious expressions.
Shimura Danzo had his eyes half-closed, as if he were in deep meditation, but the fingertips that were tapping his cane slightly betrayed his inner turmoil.
Minato Namikaze sat in the main seat, his golden hair appearing somewhat dim under the light. He straightened his back, and his hands, resting on his knees, tightened slightly.
“The details of what happened are clear now,” Koharu Utatane said first. “Members of the Uchiha Guard were attacked while on duty and retaliated, resulting in one death. The attacker’s motive stemmed from misunderstanding and hatred towards the Uchiha. The most urgent task is to calm public sentiment and prevent the situation from escalating further.”
"Misunderstanding?" Danzo raised his eyelids, his sinister gaze fixed on Minato Namikaze. "Is it really a misunderstanding, Fourth Hokage?"
He paused, slamming his cane heavily on the ground, and his voice suddenly rose: "On the night of the Nine-Tails' rampage, many people saw the masked man controlling the Nine-Tails, that Sharingan! The abilities of the Uchiha Sharingan are incredibly diverse, and controlling a tailed beast is not unprecedented! Madara Uchiha did it back then. Now, rumors are rampant in the village, and the people are filled with fear, all because the truth has been covered up!"
His gaze was fixed intently on Minato, his tone laced with undeniable pressure: "Fourth Hokage, you've repeatedly used the excuse of 'further investigation' to delay revealing the killer's identity. Now the conflict has escalated, leading to bloodshed! For the sake of the village's stability, and to give the victims some closure, how long will you continue to conceal this?"
Danzo leaned forward, his single eye flashing with an almost aggressive light, and said, word by word, "Or do you know who the murderer is all along, but are deliberately covering it up for some...unspeakable reason?"
The air in the conference room seemed to freeze. All eyes were fixed on Minato Namikaze.
Minato remained composed. He had anticipated Danzo's attack and was prepared. Taking a deep breath, he calmly said, "Elder Danzo, this matter is far-reaching, and the culprit's identity and motives are extremely complex. Revealing it hastily could trigger even greater turmoil. I need time..."
"Time?" Danzo sneered, interrupting him. "How much time do we have left to wait? Until the Uchiha and the villagers are completely at odds? Until the next bloodshed occurs? Fourth Hokage, your indecisiveness is pushing the village to the brink of collapse!"
He stood up abruptly, his cane pointing towards the water gate, his voice as cold as ice: "Stop making excuses! If you have a clear conscience, if you truly care about the village, then immediately, at once, hand over the murderer! Hold a public trial to set the record straight and quell public anger!"
"Hand it over!"
Shuimen remained silent.
It's definitely not possible to pay it.
If he hands it over, Obito will undoubtedly die, the Uchiha clan will be thrust into the spotlight, his efforts to mend relations with the Uchiha will be in vain, and the village will likely descend into internal strife; but if he doesn't hand it over, how will he face Danzo's interrogation? How will he face the villagers who lost their loved ones in the Nine-Tails' attack? How will he explain his seemingly protective actions?
The immense pressure and inner struggle left Minato Namikaze speechless for a moment, leaving him with no choice but to remain silent.
His silence, however, was like a bright signal flare in Danzo's eyes. His single eye suddenly burst with amazing light, and his initial doubt of seven or eight points suddenly soared to ten.
He had only maliciously speculated that Minato was hiding something, but he never expected that Minato actually knew the culprit's identity and was desperately trying to cover it up.
There's definitely something fishy going on here! Something incredibly fishy!
Danzo felt a surge of wild joy, like a shark smelling blood. He gripped Minato's silence tightly, pressing closer step by step:
"What? Speechless now, Fourth Hokage?" His voice carried a hint of barely suppressed excitement and sarcasm. "Your silence is the best answer. You were indeed protecting that murderer, protecting an Uchiha who almost destroyed Konoha."
He turned to the Third Hokage and the two advisors, and said righteously, "Hiruzen, you have all seen it. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, as Hokage, abused his power, protected a serious criminal, and disregarded the safety of the village. How can he still serve as Hokage after such behavior? I suggest that his Hokage duties be suspended immediately, and I will take over the follow-up investigation. I will definitely find the culprit and punish him severely!"
The atmosphere in the meeting room was tense.
Just as Minato fell silent, Danzo was at the height of his power and was preparing to exert further pressure, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been silently smoking his pipe, slowly spoke.
"Enough, Danzo."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, the result of decades of wielding power in Konoha and the resulting prestige.
In fact, although he has stepped down, his network of relationships, cultivated over many years, has given him "invisible power" that often surpasses that of the Fourth Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his pipe, ash falling softly, and calmly swept his gaze over Danzo: "The matter has not yet been investigated. To question the Hokage based solely on rumors and speculation, and even to demand the suspension of the Hokage's authority, is far too hasty."
He turned to Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado: "The most urgent task is to calm the public, properly handle the aftermath of this conflict, and strengthen the management of rumors. As for the security forces, I will personally communicate with Fugaku Uchiha. As for the investigation of the real culprit..."
He looked at Minato Namikaze, his eyes deep: "The Fourth Hokage will continue to be in charge, but the pace must be accelerated, and the village must be given an explanation as soon as possible."
These words, seemingly blaming both sides equally, actually reveal a clear bias. He downplayed Danzo's coup as "hasty," temporarily shifting the focus of the conflict from "handing over the murderer" to "appeasement and management," while still leaving the investigation to Minato.
Danzo's face instantly darkened to the point of being black with gloom. He stared intently at the Third Hokage, then glared fiercely at Minato Namikaze, letting out a heavy, cold snort.
He knew that with Hiruzen Sarutobi trying to smooth things over, it was impossible to achieve his goal today.
"Hmph! I hope you won't regret your decision today, Hiruzen!" Danzo said this harshly, then, leaning on his cane, strode out of the conference room without looking back, his back view filled with suppressed anger.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness and a hint of worry in each other's eyes. But since the Third Hokage had spoken, they couldn't say anything more and got up to leave one after the other.
After everyone else had left, the Third Hokage stood up and said to Minato Namikaze, "Minato, come with me for a moment."
The Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage sat back in the chair he had sat in for many years and gestured for Minato to sit down as well. He picked up his pipe, refilled it with tobacco, lit it, took a deep drag, let the pungent smoke swirl in his lungs, and then slowly exhaled.
The office was silent except for the faint crackling sound of burning tobacco.
"Now, there's no one else here." The Third Hokage raised his eyes, his gaze calm yet possessing a penetrating power, and looked at his chosen successor. "Minato, tell me, what exactly happened? What are you hiding?"
Minato Namikaze's hands, resting on his knees, tightened slightly. He knew that a simple evasion wouldn't suffice in front of the Third Hokage. He struggled internally for a long time before this elder who was both a mentor and a father figure to him.
The third generation didn't urge him, but waited patiently, as if he had enough time to sort out his thoughts.
Finally, Minato raised his head and said with a wry smile, "That person... is Obito."
"Obito?" The Third Hokage paused slightly in his smoking, a flicker of recollection and surprise crossing his eyes. "Uchiha Obito? I remember that kid was a very un-Uchiha. Optimistic, cheerful, and helpful; many of the older folks in the village who watched him grow up liked him very much. So he didn't die?"
Minato nodded heavily and said, "I don't know what he went through outside to become like this... I won't speak up for him; that would be unfair to all those who died in this disaster."
"Therefore, I only speak for myself."
At this point, Minato closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with unyielding guilt: "I am his teacher, the Third Hokage. The tragedy of the Kannabi Bridge mission... I bear some responsibility. I could have been faster..."
“Minato.” The Third Hokage interrupted him, his voice steady and powerful. “That wasn’t your fault. On the battlefield, things change in an instant, and anything can happen. If you hadn’t gone to save that squad back then, they would have been the ones who died. There are never two perfect solutions in this world. No matter what choice you made back then, if you have the same mindset as you do now, you will regret it. As the commander, you made the most reasonable choice under the circumstances, and no one can blame you.”
The Third Hokage's words were like a rock, trying to calm Minato's wavering heart. But Minato shook his head.
“I understand the reasoning, the third generation. But,” he sighed, “he’s my student. I also… have my own selfish motives.”
He uttered his last words almost in a breath, filled with helplessness and self-reproach.
The third generation took a deep drag on his cigarette, the thick white smoke obscuring his facial expression. He remained silent for a long time, the only sound in the office the crackling of the burning tobacco.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse with the huskiness of someone who had seen it all: "You want to protect him, don't you?"
This is not a question, but a statement.
Minato didn't look away. He met the Third Hokage's gaze and, despite the difficulty, nodded firmly: "Yes. If possible."
"Heh." The Third Hokage let out a sound that was hard to tell if it was a sigh or a bitter laugh. He took the pipe away from his mouth and stared intently at Minato. "Konoha will not accept him. Never."
He paused. "Take him away. Leave Konoha and never come back." His tone became incredibly serious, carrying a strong warning. "And you must promise me, and promise all the victims—that Obito Uchiha will never do anything like the Nine-Tails' attack again! Otherwise..."
The Third Hokage didn't say what he was going to say, but the resolute and coldness in his unspoken words made Minato understand that there would be no room for maneuver at that time.
Minato Namikaze's tense nerves relaxed a little, and he solemnly replied, "Okay, I understand."
However, his relief was short-lived, as more practical and thorny problems soon followed: How should he deal with Obito? Where should he exile him to ensure he would no longer cause trouble, while also giving him a way to survive? Would Obito's obsessive and almost insane mind truly be willing to remain silent?
Minato Namikaze couldn't guarantee any of these things; he could only take it one step at a time and try to make up for it and prove it through his actions.
***
Filled with worry and a sliver of unrealistic expectation, Minato Namikaze knocked on the door of the neighboring Yansheng family.
Two minutes later.
Looking at Minato Namikaze sitting opposite him, his face serious, his brows furrowed with deep sorrow, and seeking advice with a hint of hesitation, Yan Sheng's calm, dark eyes flashed with a faint silence.
He didn't understand what this family took him for—a confidant? Or an all-knowing answerer? — Not long ago, Kushina had approached him, subtly inquiring whether Minato was in trouble. After he said he didn't know, she earnestly asked him to lend a helping hand if Minato was in difficulty.
Now, Minato Namikaze also came to him with questions and a desire to find solutions.
Did this couple trust him a little too much?
Yan Sheng remained silent for a moment. He could have stayed out of it, but considering he still needed to accumulate merit in this world, and thinking of Obito's future role as a key force against the Otsutsuki, he spoke up:
"I'm going to see Obito."
Currently, Obito is kept in the dark, firmly believing in the "Eye of the Moon" dream woven by Black Zetsu. Fortunately, this plan has only just begun, and the "costs" Obito has invested have not yet reached the point of no return; there is still a possibility of pulling back from the brink.
Of course, it's only a "possibility".
As for whether Obito will break down, become even more insane, or be even slightly shaken after the truth is revealed, that's not something Michikatsu cares about.
How to guide and settle Obito Uchiha after his beliefs collapsed was a headache for Minato Namikaze, who was determined to protect him.
...
In the dark and damp underground prison, the candlelight still flickered.
When Yan Sheng and Minato Namikaze reappeared outside the cell, Obito, huddled in the shadows, didn't even raise his head, as if he had completely turned into a decaying statue.
Yan Sheng didn't exchange any unnecessary pleasantries or opening remarks. He walked straight to the fence and met Obito's empty, numb eyes.
The next second, a massive and icy stream of information, like a flood bursting its banks, forcefully surged into the depths of Obito's consciousness.
—What Yan Sheng transmitted was not a complete memory, but rather key information about the core deception of the "Eye of the Moon Project" that had been filtered: Black Zetsu's true identity, his alteration of the Uchiha stone tablet, his ultimate goal of guiding Madara Uchiha to awaken the Rinnegan and planning the Eye of the Moon Project in order to revive Kaguya, and the cruel fact that Madara Uchiha was also deceived and became a pawn.
Regardless of how much time passed in Obito's mental illusion to process this mind-blowing information, in the real world, only a second had passed.
Obito's body suddenly trembled violently, as if struck by a high-voltage electric current. His Sharingan was instantly covered in blood vessels, and his pupil contracted to its maximum.
"Heh, heh heh... Hahahaha!" A hoarse, broken laugh filled with utter despair and self-mockery squeezed out from deep within his throat.
The laughter grew louder and more manic, echoing through the empty prison and sending chills down one's spine.
He laughed so hard he almost fell over, tears streaming down his face along with the filth, as if he had heard the most ridiculous and tragic joke in the world.
He gave everything, betrayed everything to achieve the "Eye of the Moon" project, the goal to which he placed all his redemption and hope... but it turned out to be an elaborate deception from beginning to end.
Seeing Obito's near-collapse, Minato Namikaze's face was filled with worry. He instinctively took a step forward, but didn't know how to comfort him.
Yan Sheng remained expressionless. He knew the root of Obito's inner turmoil—the death of the girl named "Nohara Rin" was the source of everything that twisted him. Simply exposing the deception would only plunge him into deeper nihilism and a destructive urge.
When Obito's desperate laughter subsided and only his heavy breathing remained, Yan Sheng finally spoke up: "The future world is going to be destroyed anyway, so if we all die together, it's a kind of peace, don't you think?"
Obito's manic expression froze abruptly, his laughter ceasing abruptly. He raised his head, his crimson Sharingan fixed on Yan Sheng, bloodshot and filled with chaos: "...What?"
Yan Sheng did not answer immediately, but simply met his gaze calmly.
The reason he only conveyed the information about the Eye of the Moon deception, and chose to verbally state the threat of "Otsutsuki," was to "chemotherapy" Obito—to use a greater, more inescapable despair concerning the survival of the entire world to challenge his current narrow despair, which was limited to personal love and hate and false ideals.
"An enemy from beyond the heavens, named 'Otsutsuki,' will descend upon this world in the near future." Yan Sheng's voice was not loud, but it sounded like a death knell to Obito's ears. "Each of them possesses strength surpassing Kage level, and at the very least, they possess power at the Rinnegan level."
Seeing the shock and disbelief flash in Obito's eyes, he continued to describe the cruel future in a cold tone:
"Whatever you want to do now, whether it's revenge, destruction, or clinging to that false dream... in the end, it's all meaningless in the face of those beings, and you'll just turn into cosmic dust along with this world."
He paused, then delivered the final blow, completely shattering Obito's possible wishful thinking that "what happens after death doesn't matter":
"I have some unfortunate news to tell you: this destruction will happen in your lifetime. You will witness the end of everything."
A deathly silence fell over the cell. Obito stood frozen in place, the muscles in his face twitching slightly. The madness, despair, and resentment in his Sharingan seemed to be frozen by this greater, irresistible prophecy of the end times.
The Eye of the Moon is a hoax, the world is about to be destroyed... All his persistence, all his struggles, all his pain, at this moment, seem to have become an utterly pale joke.
Minato Namikaze also looked at Yan Sheng in shock, not expecting Yan Sheng to "persuade" Obito in this way.
But that's exactly the effect Yan Sheng wanted. Only by completely shattering the old prejudices could a "new life" be built from the ruins.
Alright, he's done what he was supposed to do. Now, let's see how Minato Namikaze takes over this mess.
***
Whether it was the terrifying prophecy of "the world will eventually be destroyed" that shattered Obito's shackles of being trapped in past tragedies and false ideals in a distorted way, or whether Minato Namikaze's subsequent conversation with him, which no one knew about, played a key role... in any case, the dense, impenetrable aura of death surrounding Obito finally began to dissipate.
He no longer cowered in the shadow of self-destruction, nor did he obsess over venting all his resentment on Konoha and Minato Namikaze personally.
He seemed to have found a new target—the looming threat of the "Otsutsuki," which could descend at any moment.
Minato Namikaze also kept his promise to the Third Hokage: on a night when no one knew about it, he personally released Obito from the seal and sent him out of Konoha.
After that, Minato Namikaze and Obito maintained a very secretive, intermittent connection. They seemed to be working towards a common goal.
On the other side.
Two years ago, after experiencing the devastating loss of his teammates, Kakashi Hatake closed himself off and immersed himself in missions and darkness.
Minato Namikaze couldn't bear to see him so depressed, so he suggested and arranged for him to join the Anbu, becoming one of his direct subordinates.
Kakashi was completely unaware that Obito was still alive and the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails' attack. However, Minato Namikaze seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally reconnecting him with his "dead" comrade. When there were messages from Obito that needed to be replied to, Minato would delegate these tasks to Kakashi.
Although Kakashi was somewhat confused about the source of the information, out of trust in Minato-sensei, he never asked any questions and simply carried out the orders faithfully.
In the darkness, two lines of fate that should have been severed intersected once again in this secretive way.
***
Yan Sheng ultimately stayed in this world for about two months.
During this period, he mostly kept to himself, occasionally offering guidance to Minato Namikaze on higher-level chakra usage. It must be said, conversations between geniuses are effortless; Minato understood immediately. He might also answer some of Minato's questions about the Otsutsuki clan.
Then, on a peaceful day, he received the merit points "deposited".
The Fourth Hokage certainly did not disappoint his trust.
Now that the merits had been earned and the mission had been exceeded, Yan Sheng naturally had no reason to stay any longer.
Without farewell, without warning, in the very little house where he lived, the space twisted almost imperceptibly, and Yan Sheng's figure vanished like ink spreading in water, leaving behind the world whose trajectory had been altered because of him.
......
The feeling of traveling through time is as bland as drinking plain water—to put it bluntly, it's unpleasant.
When his vision cleared again, deafening shouts of battle, the clanging of metal, and the explosions of ninjutsu flooded his senses like a tidal wave.
The air was thick with the stench of blood and the smell of scorched earth, and beneath our feet lay muddy ground stained with dark red blood.
Clearly, he was in the middle of a chaotic battlefield.
Looking around, one could see two groups of people engaged in a fierce battle.
One group wore purple armor with a fan-shaped family crest resembling a ping-pong paddle printed on their backs; the other group wore red tunics with a thousand-armed family crest on their backs.
The most eye-catching figures on the battlefield were two young people.
One had spiky black hair and wielded a huge flaming fan, extinguishing the flames that swept across the battlefield with a wave of his hand; the other had smooth black hair and with a clap of his hands, enormous trees burst forth from the ground, entwining, attacking, and defending.
The two were like two dazzling new stars on the battlefield, clashing fiercely; their battle was a microcosm of the entire battlefield.
Is this...his era?
The Warring States period?
-----------------------
Author's note: This is the last world!
This world is for saving Izuna—Black Zetsu! You no longer need to worry about saving Kaguya. Your strength is gone! (crossed out) Final Destination! [clasped hands]
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