As the Chunin Exams drew nearer, the atmosphere throughout Konoha Village gradually became more lively and festive. In the village, after meals and during leisure time, discussions about the upcoming Chunin Exams grew increasingly frequent among the populace. This publicly held tournament was also a time of great excitement for gamblers. Many betting parlors had already set their odds and were openly accepting wagers from the public. The varying payout rates for the different participating ninja also became a hot topic of conversation.
On the various betting lists and ranking boards, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Neji Hyuga, and Choji Akimichi were ranked the highest and were the most talked-about participants. Over this past year, the three squads these four belonged to had consistently completed a high number and quality of missions. The ninja and ordinary citizens of Konoha were relatively familiar with their capabilities. As for the other members of the "Konoha 12," most of them also appeared on the betting lists, but their rankings were generally lower.
Regarding the ninja from other hidden villages participating in the Chunin Exams, very few of them were featured on the gambling dens' betting lists. In the ninja world, to protect their promising young ninja, the major hidden villages generally kept information about them confidential and under wraps. It was very difficult for ninja from other villages to gather detailed intelligence on them, and even if they did manage to find some information, they wouldn't dare to openly publicize it. After all, the hidden villages also had their pride and reputation to maintain; these gambling establishments wouldn't dare to openly use their information for betting purposes. They could only select a few of the most prominent or rumored talents to include. The citizens of Konoha Village generally wouldn't choose to bet on these unfamiliar outsiders anyway.
This lively, festive atmosphere significantly diluted the tense undercurrent that had persisted due to the ongoing standoff between the three great hidden villages. However, behind the scenes, Konoha's ANBU Black Ops and the Military Police Force had long since strengthened their vigilance and security measures.
On the outer walls of Konoha Village, Yamato, wearing an ANBU mask resembling a cat's face, was currently on duty with two teammates, patrolling the ramparts. Nowadays, Konoha Village was experiencing a shortage of manpower, and Yamato was occasionally temporarily recalled to perform ANBU missions.
In the sky, a bright moon hung high, casting a silvery-grey curtain of light over the entire land.
Whoosh~
Suddenly, a swirling spatial vortex appeared on the section of the wall where Yamato and his team were stationed. The figure that emerged was Obito.
"Who's there?!" Seeing Obito suddenly appear, Yamato and his two teammates were instantly alarmed.
The moment the words left their mouths, the Mangekyo Sharingan beneath Obito's mask flared, its gaze fixing on Yamato's two companions. The two ANBU ninja immediately collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Both had been instantly incapacitated by Obito's powerful genjutsu.
"Mangekyo Sharingan! Who are you?!" Yamato exclaimed in shock, his voice tense.
Beneath his mask, a cold, cruel smile touched Obito's lips. He didn't answer, instead beginning to walk steadily towards Yamato. Seeing this, Yamato's hands quickly formed a series of seals, then he thrust them forward.
"Wood Style: Great Forest Technique!" Multiple wooden tendrils and branches erupted from Yamato's arms, lashing out towards Obito.
Opposite him, Obito walked directly into Yamato's attack without breaking stride. The wooden tendrils and branches passed harmlessly through Obito's body as if he were intangible.
"What?!" Seeing this, Yamato's expression changed drastically. Obito's speed, however, did not decrease. Yamato immediately cut off the chakra supply to his Great Forest Technique, retracting his arms from the dissipating wood, and his hands once again blurred through a rapid sequence of seals.
"Wood Style: Four-Pillar Prison!" A massive wooden prison erupted from the ground beneath Obito's advancing feet, attempting to trap him within its sturdy confines. However, it was still futile. Obito's body passed directly through the wooden bars as if they weren't there.
By now, the distance between the two of them had become dangerously close. Yamato gritted his teeth and leaped backward, retreating rapidly. Although he didn't yet understand the specific nature of this masked man's abilities, judging from the fact that his opponent was constantly trying to close the distance, it was clear that his close-combat capabilities were likely very strong.
Yamato's gaze remained fixed intently on Obito as his body flew backward through the air. Under the moonlight, Obito's crimson Mangekyo Sharingan glinted with an eerie, unsettling light. Yamato suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, and his vision blurred for an instant. His body went limp, and he began to fall downwards from mid-air, unconscious.
Obito leaped up, and the moment his hand made contact with Yamato's falling body, the swirling spatial vortex appeared once more, slowly engulfing both their figures, and they vanished into the air.
On the village wall, only the two unconscious ANBU ninja remained, lying silently on the cold stone.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh~
More than ten minutes later, a series of air-cutting sounds echoed, and Morino Ibiki, accompanied by several other Konoha ninja, rushed to the scene.
"It's genjutsu! Wake them up, quickly!" Seeing the two unconscious ANBU ninja, Morino Ibiki, whose face already bore two prominent scars, looked even more grim. He ordered one of the ninja beside him.
Immediately, two ninja stepped forward from behind Ibiki and began to rouse the two unconscious ANBU operatives.
"It was an Uchiha… who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan," one of the ANBU ninja said the moment he was revived, his voice urgent.
The moment these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone on the wall changed. Among Morino Ibiki's group, there was one ninja wearing the distinctive uniform of the Uchiha clan.
"Don't panic! Take them back to the village first," Morino Ibiki said, raising a hand to stop the Uchiha clan member behind him who was about to speak. He then gave the order in a low, serious voice.
Soon, after leaving three ninja behind to continue guarding the wall, the group quickly departed.
The next morning. Military Police Force Headquarters, in Uchiha Misuke's office as Captain of the Military Police.
"Sister Misuke, you were looking for me?" The office door opened, and Shisui walked in from outside.
Uchiha Misuke gestured for Shisui to sit down. After he was seated, she said, "This is regarding an attack incident that the Hokage's office just sent over. It happened last night. Take a look." As she spoke, Misuke handed Shisui a scroll.
Shisui's expression turned serious upon hearing this. He took the scroll and began to examine its contents carefully. After reading it, Shisui put down the scroll, his voice grave. "A Mangekyo Sharingan user who also appears to possess space-time abilities? This person should be the one who helped Uchiha Hiroomi escape back then."
Uchiha Misuke nodded affirmatively. "Indeed. It should be him."
Shisui frowned. "How should we report this to Lord Hokage? We don't know this person's specific identity."
Uchiha Misuke replied, "We will report truthfully. I will have someone provide a full account of the events from that time as well."
Shisui pondered for a moment, then said, "Will this arouse Lord Hokage's suspicions? Will it affect the relationship between the clan and the village, which has only recently begun to ease?"
Uchiha Misuke glanced at Shisui and shook her head. "Concealment is what breeds suspicion. That person was wearing our clan's uniform, used a Mangekyo Sharingan to take down those two ANBU ninja, and then didn't take them away. It's obvious he's deliberately trying to sow discord between our clan and the village. As long as we report truthfully, I believe the Fifth Hokage will make the correct decision."
Shisui nodded upon hearing this. After a short pause, he asked, "What about the Clan Head?"
Uchiha Misuke replied, "I have already discussed it with the Clan Head. He respects my decision."
Shisui looked puzzled. "Then why did you call me here?"
Uchiha Misuke said, "I wanted to remind you to strengthen our vigilance. That fellow hasn't returned to the village for over a year now; he must have been held up by something. If any unexpected incidents occur in the village, for the time being, only we can bear the responsibility of handling them."
Shisui nodded silently upon hearing her words.