c96: Do You Understand the Value of Wood Release?
"I checked. The close friends of the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki aren't aware of anything."
"The medical ninja who knows the birth details is imprisoned in the Torture and Interrogation Division, deep underground. That area is triple-warded with sealing barriers, sensory formations, and ANBU presence."
"At this point, making contact would almost certainly raise an alert."
Uchiha Obito nodded, arms crossed. "It's not the time for carelessness."
Although White Zetsu's infiltration abilities were unmatched possessing Hashirama's cells for mobility, silent movement via plant networks, and perfect transformation jutsu they weren't without limits. Against heightened Konoha alertness and skilled sensors like Inoichi Yamanaka or even Minato himself, being discovered was a risk.
"That's fine. If we can't find the source, so be it. Maybe something inside Konoha shifted without us noticing."
He paused, then smirked behind his mask.
"But no matter how many ANBU they throw in, the outcome won't change."
"Obito," Zetsu interjected, "the Third Hokage is also involved now. He was once called the 'God of Shinobi' and a doctor of ninjutsu."
At this point in history, Sarutobi Hiruzen's title as the "strongest Hokage" hadn't yet faded in the public consciousness. His mastery over five nature transformations, high-level sealing techniques, and surveillance ability made him a legend.
Obito's expression darkened.
"So what?"
"With Kamui and hostages in hand," he said coldly, "even the so-called Professor of Ninjutsu is powerless."
"If he dares interfere… I'll tear his heart out before he finishes weaving seals."
He was confident. He hadn't yet inherited all of Madara's legacy, but his body was fused with Hashirama cells, giving him rapid regeneration, powerful chakra, and the ability to partially materialize and dematerialize. He had become a walking paradox: untouchable and deadly.
Obito's arrogance wasn't unfounded.
"Then... continue with the original plan?" asked Zetsu.
Obito shook his head.
"No. The plan needs tweaking. After all, this kind of opportunity doesn't come twice."
"What do you have in mind?"
"Activate all clones currently embedded in Konoha. Have them impersonate foreign spies and launch diversionary attacks on the outer perimeter where ANBU are stationed."
"Cause chaos. Draw attention away from the birthing site."
Zetsu raised a brow.
"All disguised as spies from Kirigakure?"
Obito's eyes narrowed.
"Yes. Let them bear the blame."
His hatred for Kirigakure ran deep rooted in Rin's death, the events of the Third Shinobi World War, and the manipulation by the village's Blood Mist leadership. He would take any chance to stain their reputation further.
"But… won't it be obvious?" Zetsu asked. "My clones aren't proficient in Water Release or Hidden Mist techniques. If they're killed, their true form will be exposed."
"It doesn't matter," Obito muttered. "Just plant the seed of doubt. Confusion is the goal, not proof."
"Got it," Zetsu replied, disappearing into the roots beneath their feet, traveling via the underground network of moisture and biomass.
"I won't be late," Obito said softly to the wind.
Moments later, he appeared at the Konoha Memorial Stone, standing silently at the cenotaph.
It was not Rin's real grave he had preserved her body elsewhere but he often visited this place.
He stared at her name, his heart twisting. The photograph etched into the stone stirred emotions he hated to feel. A soft, genuine smile formed under his mask brief, involuntary.
Then space rippled around him as Kamui activated, and he disappeared into the void.
---
Meanwhile, at the western edge of the Uchiha compound, Uchiha Gen stood on the roof of his home, arms folded, eyes narrowing under the moonlight.
The night wind tugged at his black robe, but he stood still—watching.
"There's no early withdrawal," he murmured.
"The warning I sent was only a prediction. The confident won't act on just possibilities. But…"
He stared toward the heart of the village.
"Dear Hokage… will your preparations be enough against Uchiha Obito?"
"People say 'three points weaker when soft, ten times stronger when dark.' That's no joke."
"If Obito isn't killed, if he isn't stopped, and Konoha suffers again… well, that would be ironic."
He let out a sigh.
"I've done all I can. The rest… is up to fate or rather, up to the strength of the Yellow Flash."
With that, he turned, casting one final glance at the lively village, then leapt off the roof to return to sleep.
If the Nine-Tails still attacked like in the original timeline, sleep would soon be impossible.
Might as well rest while he could.
---
ROOOOAR!
At around 11:00 p.m., Uchiha Gen shot upright in bed as a deafening roar filled with killing intent shook the air.
Barefoot, he vaulted through the window onto the rooftop.
What he saw was a nightmare.
A colossal, orange-red fox loomed over Konoha Kurama, the Nine-Tails. Its nine massive tails lashed through the air, generating hurricane-force winds. Dust, shingles, and debris flew across the sky.
The sheer size of the full Nine-Tails was overwhelming far greater than the yin or yang halves seen post-split.
The complete Kyuubi stood shoulder-to-shoulder with titans like Perfect Susanoo and Hashirama's Wood Golem.
In contrast, creatures like the Sannin's summons, the other Tailed Beasts, Pain's Chikushōdō summons, or the Gedo Statue ranked a level lower powerful, yes, but not monstrous.
An exception was Six Paths Naruto's Kurama Avatar, enhanced by Rikudo Chakra, which could rival or exceed that echelon.
Gen clicked his tongue.
"The Nine-Tails is out. So… Obito's still alive. We didn't kill him."
"Minato… I gave you his intel. What happened?"
"You were aiming at his head one clean Rasengan, enhanced with chakra. It should've burst that skull. He doesn't have Hidan's immortality."
"Then again…"
He frowned.
"Even Hidan wasn't decapitated in canon. So maybe we're underestimating how absurd this all is."
"Or maybe Minato didn't get the chance."
"Too short a tenure… not enough access to records? Couldn't time the kill shot?"
He sighed again.
"Well, it's done. The Nine-Tails is loose."
"But… that also means opportunity."
"My neural reaction speed isn't on Minato's level… but thanks to the Soul-Soul Fruit, my mind is sharper. Faster."
"If I can get the Flying Thunder God Technique…"
Gen quickly formed a seal. Puff! A cloud of smoke revealed a perfect shadow clone.
"You'll infiltrate. Head to the Hokage's house and locate the Scroll of Seals. Focus on recording the Flying Thunder God Technique."
"If not there, check the homes of the Third and Fourth."
The clone nodded with a cunning grin and vanished into the darkness.
The Scroll of Seals, contrary to public belief, was not stored in the Hokage Tower or the village archives. It was kept in the Hokage Residence, the traditional house of the First Hokage, where high-level forbidden techniques and documents were secured under constant ANBU surveillance and sealing barriers.
Sarutobi had once lived there. After retirement, he returned to the Sarutobi compound. Minato, however, lived privately with Kushina unusual, but allowed.
Meaning: the Scroll could be in three places Hokage Residence, Hiruzen's house, or Minato's house.
Naruto had only stolen it years later because Hiruzen had deliberately disabled the security, using Mizuki's scheme as a test. The current defenses were far tighter.
Orochimaru had bypassed those defenses as well, stealing jutsu like Soul Transfer, using his near-unmatched mastery of espionage and jutsu.
With the clone gone, Gen stared at the Kyuubi for a few more moments, then slipped back into his room to dress for combat.
Outside, the beast's roar echoed again shaking rooftops and hearts.
Ninjas across the village jolted awake, rushing out in their nightwear, landing on rooftops or stepping into courtyards only to be struck dumb by the apocalyptic sight before them.
The Nine-Tails had returned to Konoha.
And war… had come with it.
---
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