March brought a warm spring breeze. Grass flourished, and orioles soared through the skies.
On a hill outside Konoha village, gentle spring winds swept across fields of grass that shyly bowed their heads, while clusters of wildflowers bloomed vibrantly.
Deep within an isolated dense forest, Uchiha Aozora sat cross-legged on the meadow, his heart and soul merging into the mountains and wilderness.
Birdsong and insect chirps filled his ears. The fragrance of grass and flowers surrounded him. He felt as if he had truly become one with nature.
After using up all his Katsuyu oil, Aozora could no longer attract large amounts of natural energy. Following instinct, he chose this hillside rich in ambient natural energy for cultivation.
Without the help of Katsuyu oil, however, the absorption of natural energy had drastically slowed down. Recently, Aozora felt minimal progress.
Yet the natural energy drawn without Katsuyu oil did seem slightly problematic. These past few days of practicing purely with natural energy, he noticed his originally smooth skin gradually regaining its jade-like texture.
Both were smooth textures, but one stemmed from Katsuyu's traits while the other originated from his Stone Embryo Body trait.
Far away deep within the forest, a man wearing a swirling mask appeared and asked calmly, "You're saying Uchiha Aozora is somewhere inside this forest?"
Zetsu slowly emerged from the tree trunk, half his body visible, nodding, "Correct. He comes here daily to cultivate alone."
Obito frowned as he looked at the vast expanse of trees, "You don't monitor him up close?"
Zetsu shook his head, "I once tried approaching. Nearly got discovered."
Obito looked surprised, "Does he have sensor talent?"
As Akatsuki's scout, Zetsu's perception and concealment abilities ranked supreme across the ninja world—even Obito himself held great caution toward him.
Zetsu shook his head again, "Not sure. But he seems exceptionally skilled in Earth Release. Getting too close using 'Kagerou no Jutsu' triggers his awareness."
Obito's right eye lit up, "Interesting."
Looking at Obito, Zetsu questioned, "What do you want with him? Kill him and retrieve the South Ring?"
Obito shook his head, "Haven't you considered how useful he could be as… a tool?"
"A tool?" Zetsu expressed surprise.
Obito didn't answer directly, instead reminiscing softly, murmuring, "An Uchiha filled with love — when that deep affection vanishes, it will be replaced by an even fiercer hatred, completely transforming him."
Zetsu silently nodded. He knew the truth behind Obito awakening his Mangekyou Sharingan, having watched him fall from a bright young boy into darkness.
Amused, Obito continued, "A genius youth brimming with the Will of Fire, betrayed repeatedly by both his village and clan. Tell me, what do you think fills his heart now?"
Once upon a time, hadn't he also been a loving boy devoted to carrying forward the Will of Fire?
That was why he truly understood the weight of being betrayed—first by comrades, then by his own village.
Zetsu pondered briefly before suggesting, "Hatred? Despair? Anger?"
Obito smiled confidently, "Exactly. These intense emotions stimulate Sharingan evolution. If he possessed both eyes fully, experiencing this betrayal might even awaken his Mangekyou.
Even without awakening the Mangekyou, he likely now harbors deep resentment toward Konoha and the Uchiha clan."
Zetsu gave a slight nod. With the temperament of an Uchiha, after experiencing such betrayal, there was a ninety percent chance he would go dark.
"You want to recruit him, but with his right eye already gone, his potential is limited!"
Obito coldly replied, "Who says someone with only one eye can't awaken the Mangekyou? If he hasn't done so yet, it means he still holds onto a sliver of hope for Konoha and the Uchiha Clan. Once I crush even that last bit of hope, he will fall completely into darkness."
Thinking about Obito's own example, Zetsu nodded slightly.
"Wait here—you're about to witness our meeting!"
After speaking, Obito twisted his entire body into a vortex before vanishing silently.
While meditating with closed eyes, Aozora suddenly sensed minor fluctuations in the surrounding natural energy and quickly jumped aside.
A masked figure tumbled out of the swirling vortex like a phantom.
Suppressing his surprise, Obito spoke in a hoarse, deep voice: "Not bad reflexes!"
Instantly recognizing this person's identity, Aozora took a defensive stance and asked, "Akatsuki?"
He didn't reveal what he already knew about the masked man's identity. This would help the other side underestimate him while giving Aozora an opportunity to test their intentions.
Obito replied coolly, "Relax—I'm part of Akatsuki, but I'm not your enemy."
Aozora snorted, "What reason do I have to trust someone who hides his face?"
"Trust?"
Red light shone through the holes in his mask as Obito said, "Will this eye convince you?"
"The Sharingan?" Aozora forced a look of surprise onto his face. "How come you possess the Sharingan of my Uchiha Clan?"
By now, he had realized Obito wasn't here to kill him, but had another purpose instead.
Obito coldly stated, "I also bear the name Uchiha. Isn't having the Sharingan perfectly normal for me?"
Aozora abruptly asked, "You were behind the Nine-Tails' Invasion, weren't you?"
Without any hesitation, Obito answered directly, "Why keep a village full of hypocrisy and betrayal? Don't you agree, Aozora?"
Aozora's eyes flickered. What was Obito implying?
"For the sake of the village, you lost your most precious Sharingan. How did Konoha and the Clan treat you in return?
Just because of mere suspicion, they stripped you of your ninja status. Not only did the Clan fail to fight for justice on your behalf, they actually turned against you further."
Aozora went quiet after hearing that. He now clearly perceived Obito's intention—to turn him against the village.
To be honest, Obito's reasoning made perfect sense.
If Aozora hadn't chosen to step down on his own terms, any other Uchiha might've snapped and gone completely rogue on the spot.
After a long silence, clenching his fists tightly, Aozora asked, "Who are you really? What do you want?"
Slowly levitating into midair, arms crossed, Obito answered, "Who I am doesn't matter. More importantly, I can give you what you desire!"
The Uchiha Clan really knew how to raise master manipulators.
Obito's rasping yet commanding voice combined with his levitation instantly created an image of an invincible villain.
Had Aozora not read the original story beforehand, he might genuinely have been deceived.
"You can give me what I desire? With what ability of yours exactly?"
Aozora sneered, his eyes filled with contempt.
After all, he was currently playing the role of a prodigious Uchiha; he couldn't afford to let his act slip.
As he spoke, Aozora flung his arms forward, and dozens of Shuriken flew toward Obito.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Obito produced a long sword, blocking, parrying, and knocking away every single Shuriken Aozora had thrown.
By then, Aozora had already charged forward, reverse-gripping a Kunai.
"Die!"
Aozora moved fast. By the time Obito deflected the last Shuriken, Aozora had already reached right in front of him.
Aozora's lips curled as the Kunai neared Obito's throat.
Yet in the next moment, the Kunai passed straight through without spilling a drop of blood. The clear sensation told Aozora that he had not cut anything at all.
It was like passing through a Phantom—Aozora moved right through Obito.
Before Aozora could even react in shock, Obito had already turned around, stabbing his blade directly at him.
Aozora reacted incredibly fast—Chakra flared beneath his feet and in an instant, he vanished from the spot, successfully dodging Obito's backstab.
Crouched on a tall tree branch, Aozora frowned, clearly stunned.
"Nice reflexes. No wonder you managed to survive under Orochimaru!" Obito praised Aozora with the tone of an elder appraising a junior.
Aozora snorted coldly, activating his Sharingan in his left eye. [Three Tomoe] swirled slowly within the crimson pupil.
Sensing the terrifying power radiating from Aozora's left eye—one far beyond that of an ordinary [Three Tomoe Sharingan]—Obito reaffirmed his judgment. The abilities of a standard [Three Tomoe Sharingan] could never be this intense!
Staring at Aozora's crimson left eye, Obito murmured softly, "So you've really fallen into darkness after all."
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