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Chapter 818: Obito: I Report, The Uchiha Clan is Planning a Coup
Chapter 818: Obito: I Report, The Uchiha Clan is Planning a Coup
As promised, Kakashi brought Obito to the Hokage's Office.
Upon entering, they saw Yamanaka Ichi standing in front of the desk.
"Third Hokage-sama, Senior Ichi," Kakashi greeted them calmly.
"Good morning, Hokage-sama, Senior Ichi," Obito chimed in cheerfully, addressing Sarutobi Hiruzen and Ichi. His demeanor gave no hint that he was summoned for an inspection, and one might even mistake him for being invited for tea by Hiruzen.
Hiruzen nodded slightly in response and then silently observed Obito.
The day before, he had ordered Obito's entire record to be collected, which he then carefully reviewed.
Hiruzen discovered that Obito was an average ninja, but otherwise, he was a true heir to the Will of Fire.
Even his average ninja skills couldn't be considered mediocre, for Obito had awakened the Sharingan, and any Uchiha who possessed the Sharingan was a skilled Jonin.
"Kakashi should have already informed you about the inspection," Hiruzen asked with a gentle smile.
If Obito had no major issues, Hiruzen could let this matter slide and give Obito a light punishment.
Currently, the Uchiha clan was dominated by hawkish members, and if Obito, with his Will of Fire, returned to the clan, he might be able to help Uchiha Itachi delay the coup and ease tensions.
"It's not that the village doesn't trust you; it's just that the Ninja World is filled with mysterious and powerful ninjutsu and secret techniques. Sometimes, those affected by these techniques don't even realize they've fallen into the schemes of enemy ninja villages," Hiruzen sighed and explained.
"I understand the village's predicament, and I believe it will never wrong a good person nor let a bad one go unpunished," Obito declared with a sense of justice.
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction and said, "Senior Ichi, begin."
Upon receiving the order, Ichi approached Obito.
"Try to relax; it will be easier this way," Ichi reminded him as he reached out towards Obito's head.
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Ichi. I understand," Obito replied, closing his eyes and revealing a relaxed expression.
"Hmm?" Ichi furrowed his brows as his hand hovered just two centimeters away from Obito's head.
Obito's head seemed to be protected by an invisible air wall, and no matter how hard Ichi tried, he couldn't touch Obito's head.
Even when Ichi infused his chakra to enhance his palm, it was to no avail.
Kakashi and Hiruzen found the scene somewhat comical, resembling a silent play where two actors pretended to be blocked by an invisible wall.
"Senior Ichi, what's happening?" Hiruzen asked immediately.
"Third Hokage-sama, it's as if he has an invisible shield. I can't touch him," Ichi reported.
After the unsuccessful attempt, Ichi retracted his hand and turned to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen was a bit surprised, but before he could say anything, Obito spoke up.
"I almost forgot. I've been practicing the Sage's Protective Sage Technique, and it's a technique that makes me immune to all techniques. Perhaps Senior Ichi's actions were deemed harmful by the technique, so it blocked him," Obito explained with some annoyance.
In truth, only Moonbath Leader could achieve the state where the Endless Limit Techniques operated automatically; even Kakashi hadn't reached that level yet.
Obito, having mastered the Clear World and undergone long-term Earring Training with Kakashi, had learned a bit about expanding the Endless Limit, but he couldn't achieve this step.
Obito mainly wanted to intimidate Hiruzen and add credibility to his story. After all, no one in this world understood the Endless Limit, so Obito could make up anything.
"Protective Sage Technique?" The three in the Hokage's Office had varied expressions of surprise and confusion.
"Kakashi, stretch out your palm," Obito instructed, raising his right hand towards Kakashi.
Kakashi didn't hesitate and extended his hand towards Obito.
But just as their palms were about to touch, Kakashi's hand stopped, and both Hiruzen and Ichi could see that Kakashi's body was still exerting force; it wasn't a voluntary stop.
"Try using a ninjutsu," Obito continued.
Kakashi hesitated for a moment, then gathered some chakra, and a flash of lightning appeared on his hand.
"Don't worry about hurting me; go all out," Obito encouraged.
The lightning became more dazzling, but the result remained the same; neither Kakashi's hand nor the lightning could touch Obito.
"I wonder what the defense limit of this 'Protective Sage Technique' is. If it can withstand ten Exploding Tags, it would be almost invincible against most ninjutsu in battle," Hiruzen thought in surprise.
This defense was far superior to defensive ninjutsu like the Earth Flow Wall. With such a powerful defensive technique, one could focus on offense and put immense pressure on enemies.
"Can this 'Protective Sage Technique' be canceled? Otherwise, the inspection will be troublesome," Ichi asked.
"Of course, it's a technique, but I just forgot about it," Obito replied with a chuckle, pretending to seal a hand sign.
"Senior Ichi, please try again," Ichi extended his hand towards Obito's head once more, and this time, he faced no obstruction and successfully touched Obito's head.
Ichi quickly gathered his chakra and closed his eyes, focusing all his concentration on exploring Obito's memories.
After a moment, Ichi opened his eyes and looked at Hiruzen with a serious expression. "Third Hokage-sama, Obito is telling the truth. He has no issues."
As soon as these words left his mouth, both Sarutobi Hiruzen and Kakashi were stunned.
Obviously, neither of them had expected such an outcome.
Kakashi had been thinking about how to plead for Taruto, but it seemed that Taruto hadn't lied after all?
Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent, deep in thought.
The day before, he had not only asked Kakashi to "protect" Taruto but had also dispatched three elite Anbu to keep an eye on him.
According to the Anbu, Taruto had not displayed any abnormal behavior and had not come into contact with Yamanaka Ichi.
Moreover, before Taruto's incident, he had no connection with Yamanaka Ichi, so there was no reason for Yamanaka Ichi to favor him.
As for Yamanaka Ichi and Taruto becoming spies together? That was even more impossible.
The Yamanaka Clan was one of the oldest ninja clans in Konoha, and each clan leader held a significant position in the village. If Yamanaka Ichi were to become a spy, it would spell disaster for Konoha.
Even the Uzumaki Clan, with its significant conflicts with Konoha, had never considered becoming spies; they only wanted to overthrow the Hokage.
When all the options were eliminated, and only one remained, the last one, no matter how impossible, was the truth.
Taruto had truly turned misfortune into a blessing and entered the Six Paths Sage's ruins, gaining immense benefits. He had recently returned to Konoha from the ruins.
"That's truly wonderful."
Sarutobi Hiruzen gently stroked his goat beard and chuckled.
"The village needs outstanding young people like you, Taruto."
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen still felt something was amiss, he couldn't quite put his finger on it, so he could only temporarily accept Taruto's identity.
"Then, Uncle Hokage, do me a favor."
Taruto scratched his head.
"I have no home now, and my clan members think I'm dead. Can you announce my return in the newspaper?"
"Sure."
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought for a moment and agreed.
Taruto's request was reasonable, and he couldn't refuse.
Of course, to prevent any issues with Taruto that might lead to future embarrassment, Sarutobi Hiruzen would not announce anything like "hero's return." At most, he would clarify that Taruto had not fallen in battle.
After Sarutobi Hiruzen's order, the newspaper was quickly published, sparking a small wave of discussion within Konoha.
Everyone debated who Uzumaki Taruto was and how he could be so resilient, having been declared dead and then returning to life.
Aside from those who enjoyed idle chatter, some Uzumaki members also discussed this news.
However, their topic of discussion was not Uzumaki Taruto but Konoha's persecution of the Uzumaki Clan.
"We Uzumaki have contributed so much to Konoha, yet the core power structure has never included any of our clan members. This is blatant persecution!"
An angry Jounin from the Uzumaki Clan exclaimed.
What they cared about was not that Taruto had died and returned to life but that he had once died on the battlefield.
"They won't be able to get away with this for long. In a few days, Konoha will belong to the Uzumaki!"
Another excited member of the Uzumaki Clan said.
Uzumaki Itachi noticed the increasingly fervent atmosphere within the clan and felt uncomfortable.
"Their mouths and eyes only talk about 'the clan,' with such a narrow-minded attitude, how can they possibly succeed in a coup?"
Uzumaki Itachi was deeply disappointed with the current state of the Uzumaki Clan.
Konoha was a collective, and those who only cared about their own clan were not fit to become the Hokage.
"Brother, teach me the art of shurikenjutsu."
Sasuke pestered Uzumaki Itachi.
"Alright."
Facing his younger brother, Uzumaki Itachi's expression softened, and he nodded.
He had already agreed to Danzo's clan annihilation plan, and he didn't have much time left to spend with Sasuke.
...
"Hiruzen, why didn't you inform me about such a significant matter!"
In the Hokage's office, Danzo pushed open the wooden door and entered, looking displeased.
"What significant matter?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt perplexed.
"Uzumaki Taruto! A ninja who disappeared for nine years, and you simply restored his ninja identity like this?"
Danzo spoke sternly.
"What if he has already been brainwashed by another ninja village and is a spy sent to infiltrate Konoha?"
If it were an ordinary ninja, Danzo wouldn't bother, as Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't foolish, and his subordinates weren't incompetent.
The most recent small talk about the book was the most recent small talk!
But Taruto was an Uzumaki ninja and had returned to Konoha precisely at the critical moment when the Uzumaki Clan was about to stage a coup.
This made it impossible for Danzo to feel at ease. After all, he had finally found a way to eliminate the threat of the Uzumaki Clan.
Danzo couldn't allow any unexpected issues with his clan annihilation plan.
"I've already had Ichi check his memories, and there were no problems."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head.
"But this is too unreliable. Hand him over to my Root, and I will definitely uncover the truth."
Danzo revealed his true intentions.
Once Taruto was in Root, even if he wasn't a spy, he would have to become one.
This way, his clan annihilation plan wouldn't be disrupted.
"No."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head.
He had already released Taruto, and sending him to Root now would be a slap in his own face.
Moreover, Sarutobi Hiruzen understood Danzo's intentions. If Taruto truly went to Root, who knew what might happen.
Given the relationship between Kakashi and Taruto, Kakashi would be devastated. His dear friend, who hadn't died on the battlefield, would be tortured in Konoha.
Danzo persisted, arguing his case, wanting Root to interrogate Taruto.
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen's attitude was firm, and he showed no signs of backing down.
"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"
Having no other choice, Danzo left behind a harsh warning and slammed the wooden door of the Hokage's office shut.
After leaving the Hokage Tower, Danzo immediately returned to Root and arranged for ninjas to closely monitor Taruto. If they discovered any unusual behavior from Taruto, they were to capture him and bring him to the Root base.
Even though it violated the program, in order to ensure the annihilation plan proceeded without a hitch, Danzo Shimura couldn't afford to be too careful.
After all, he had directly gouged out Shisui's eyes, and now he was going after a regular Uchiha. It was nothing compared to what he had done.
Both the Root and the Anbu were keeping an eye on Obito.
To be fair, Konoha's Anbu was considered one of the most elite forces in the entire Ninja World.
However, trying to monitor Obito was a different story.
With Obito's Byakugan, this so-called surveillance was no different from standing right next to him in broad daylight.
"The Ninja World is being too nice to me these days."
Obito sensed two more people monitoring him and laughed, then continued with his own business.
Let them monitor; it wouldn't hinder him.
The next day, his shadow clone used the Flying Thunder God Technique to leave. When he found Yamanaka Inoichi and cast an illusion on him, the Anbu didn't detect anything either.
Obito had too many ways to hide from the Anbu.
"I should pay a visit to the Uchiha clan grounds. There are only five days left before Itachi and the others make their move."
Obito checked the time, stood up, and headed towards the Uchiha clan grounds.
Today was his second day in Konoha.
He had already gathered most of the intelligence about this parallel world's Konoha, and it was very similar to the first parallel world he had experienced. Whether it was the publicly known information or the secrets hidden in the shadows, there were no ninjas in this world that could pose a threat to him.
Although Obito believed that with the Six Paths, he was invincible, this was a parallel world. If something happened, there was no Hagoromo Otsutsuki to save him, so he had to be cautious.
What if there was a Six Paths-level ninja hiding in the Ninja Academy or the library who had mastered the Blood Prison technique? That would be a disaster.
After Obito's repeated confirmations, he was certain that this Konoha was indeed not strong. The strongest ninja was none other than Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Because Obito's actions had caused a stir within the Uchiha clan, he was quickly recognized by the Uchiha clan members.
"You're that Obito from the newspaper, right?"
A Uchiha ninja proactively struck up a conversation with Obito.
"Yes, it's me."
Obito nodded in response.
"You haven't even decided on your housing location, and you're already here at the clan grounds. What's the rush?"
The Uchiha ninja asked.
After all, they were planning a coup, and the Uchiha ninjas were tense, worried that their plan might be exposed and that the Konoha forces would surround them.
It was only because Obito was an Uchiha himself that he wasn't driven out by the regular ninjas.
"Well, I just got back, so I'm here to check out my future residence."
Obito explained with a chuckle.
The Uchiha ninja thought about it and found it reasonable, so he didn't bother Obito anymore.
As Obito said, he walked around the Uchiha clan grounds. Just as he was about to leave, he encountered the Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke brothers training in the forest.
Obito arrived just as Sasuke had thrown several shuriken, all of which hit the bullseye with precision.
"Not bad, little Sasuke is really amazing."
Obito applauded and praised Sasuke.
"Hehe."
Although Sasuke didn't recognize Obito, everyone liked to hear compliments, and Sasuke showed a happy smile.
"Do you know Sasuke?"
Uchiha Itachi looked at Obito with suspicion.
He had been monitoring the Uchiha clan for a long time and was well-informed about their affairs.
Sasuke was born after Obito's "sacrifice," and this was Obito's first time returning to the Uchiha clan grounds. So, how did Obito know Sasuke?
"Of course, I also know Naruto."
Obito replied.
"That Naruto guy always wants to argue with me, so annoying."
Hearing Naruto's name, Sasuke pouted, looking a little unhappy.
"He cares about you, but he's not good at expressing himself. That's just how he is."
Obito added an explanation.
"Is that so?"
Sasuke looked at Uchiha Itachi with a questioning gaze.
Compared to a stranger, he naturally trusted his brother more.
"Maybe."
Uchiha Itachi thought for a moment before responding.
Sasuke was as excellent as him, which made Sasuke just as difficult to make friends with.
After all, being too excellent often led to jealousy.
Uchiha Itachi hoped that Sasuke could make more friends because, in a few days, Sasuke would have to walk down his path alone.
"Then I'll talk to him properly next time."
Sasuke said.
Obito didn't waste too much time here and soon left.
However, as he passed by Uchiha Itachi, Obito left behind a chilling remark that made Uchiha Itachi's blood run cold.
"It's better to rely on yourself than to place your hopes in others."
Uchiha Itachi stared intently at Obito's departing figure, but Sasuke called out to him several times without getting a response.
"Could he have found out about the annihilation plan? That's impossible. Even the Third Hokage doesn't know about this plan. How could a ninja who just returned to the village know about it? Could he also be a member of Root?"
Countless speculations flashed through Uchiha Itachi's mind in an instant.
...
"This kid must have been scared by me."
On his way back, Obito thought with a smile.
Regarding Uchiha Itachi, Obito didn't know how to evaluate him.
But since he was going to help save the clan, having a little fun shouldn't be a problem.
"Watch me, Obito the Sage, single-handedly shatter all the tragedies."
Obito hummed a little tune as he walked into the Hokage Tower and headed towards the Hokage's office.
Because of the Anbu's surveillance, before Obito even reached the Hokage Tower, Sarutobi Hiruzen had already received the news.
So, Obito didn't encounter any obstruction and smoothly entered the Hokage's office.
"Third Hokage-sama, I have a report to make! The Uchiha clan is planning a coup!"
After entering the Hokage's office, Obito immediately put on an anxious and urgent expression and shouted.
(End of Chapter)
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