Pain himself took action, and the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, Utakata, fell into Akatsuki's hands.
Next on their list was Fu.
But she, unaware of the chaos outside, lived happily in Monin Village. She had made many friends, though she often quarreled with Wu Qianling. In her heart, Shigeo was her boyfriend, and neither she nor Qianling would back down, leading to constant jealousy and small clashes.
Still, one held influence, the other held power—so their rivalry never escalated into real trouble.
That day, Shigeo was in Nanmo City, holding an emergency meeting with Wuyouka and the elders of the Nanmo Nation.
They discussed the shifting situation across the ninja world, and Shigeo emphasized that they had to prepare early to protect their country and its people.
Wuyouka had already instructed all their commercial networks to purchase food, supplies, and other necessities.
Meanwhile, Shigeo contacted Higashihime Island, ordering them to accelerate the production of human weaponry and blade tools.
In the original timeline, the northern fronts were the main battlefields of the Fourth Great Ninja War. But Shigeo's existence had already altered the script. The creation of the Sixth Great Ninja Village meant that Akatsuki now saw them as enemies. Once war began, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu would certainly act to stop them.
Furthermore, reports had come from a southern island cave—where traces of White Zetsu forces had been spotted. That alone convinced Shigeo that the southern Nanmo Nation would inevitably be drawn into the war.
To prevent disaster, they had to prepare in advance.
The meeting dragged on. While Shigeo discussed strategy in Nanmo City's castle, a clone of his remained in Monin Village to handle daily affairs.
By dusk, Shigeo's form appeared within the village—cold and silent as he walked down the main street.
Normally, villagers and shinobi alike would greet him warmly.
But this time, something about him felt wrong—an icy detachment radiated from him, infecting everyone nearby.
They avoided him, keeping their distance, whispering uneasily.
He said nothing.
His gaze swept over the village as he strode forward.
White Zetsu had said that Shigeo's residence was at the highest point of the village—and that the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki lived right next door.
A faint smirk tugged at Uchiha Obito's lips.
Hyūga Shigeo… you'd never imagine that I'd come here myself, would you?
To perfectly impersonate him and infiltrate Monin Village, Obito had done extensive research—security systems, the relationship between Fu and Shigeo, and even the times when Shigeo was away.
And today, the opportunity had finally come.
He was here for one purpose—capture the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki.
Thinking this, the disguised Obito—now appearing as Shigeo—walked forward.
"Lord Mokage! You're back from the meeting? We've been waiting for you! Are we still training at the back mountain today?"
A shinobi suddenly appeared, blocking his path.
Every afternoon at five, Shigeo sparred with the chūnin for training. Even when he wasn't present, his Wood Clone would handle it.
Obito glanced at the man, his gaze filled with something strange.
"Get lost," he said coldly.
His Sharingan spun scarlet.
The ninja froze as genjutsu took hold, then turned around and walked away blankly.
Obito took a deep breath, scanning the area. With one leap, he landed beside Shigeo's home.
Next door stood Fu's residence.
He knocked on the door—but before anyone answered, a woman's voice came from behind.
"Shigeo, weren't you at a meeting? And you're not a clone either, are you?"
To distinguish between clones and his real body, Shigeo's Wood Clones always wore black, while his true self wore a dark blue robe.
The woman before him—clad in deep blue—was unmistakably the real one.
Obito turned his head toward the beautiful woman, his fists tightening.
"What do you want with Fu? Don't tell me—"
Wu Qianling had been at odds with Fu recently, both competing for Shigeo's affection. Seeing him suddenly show up at Fu's door made her instantly uneasy.
"Out of my way," Obito snapped, restraining his urge to strike, and turned back to knock again. He was here for the Seven-Tails, nothing else.
"What's wrong with you?" Qianling frowned, already sensing danger.
At that moment, Fu opened her door. She looked at the two of them and frowned slightly.
"Shigeo, you smell weird today…"
Inside her was the Seven-Tails, Chōmei—a beetle-type Tailed Beast highly sensitive to scent.
So when the impostor stood before her, Fu instinctively noticed the difference.
If she had been more battle-hardened, the day might have ended differently.
But she was too trusting. Despite her words, she didn't suspect him.
When Obito's hand suddenly gripped her wrist, she only giggled.
"Why are you grabbing me? Are we going on a date?"
Beside them, Wu Qianling realized something was wrong.
She took two steps forward and shouted, "Who are you?! Let her go! Guards—!"
But it was too late. Obito struck her with one precise blow, sending her crashing down.
The air around him twisted as space distorted—
and with Fu in his grasp, he vanished from Monin Village.
The real Shigeo received the emergency alert immediately and rushed back to the village.
One glance at the fallen Wu Qianling told him everything. Only one person possessed such space-warping ability—Uchiha Obito.
Without hesitation, Shigeo headed straight for Amegakure—the Rain Village—ready to face them head-on.
But in the drizzle-covered city, there were no traces of Akatsuki.
Just as he prepared to unleash destruction, a cold female voice echoed through the rain.
"If you don't want Fu to die, you'd better think carefully. The Fourth Great Ninja War is about to begin. If you act recklessly, our war objective will shift entirely toward Monin Village.
Hyūga Shigeo—if we go to war with you, do you think the Five Great Villages will help you?
Perhaps we can't kill you. Maybe you'd survive.
But what about the entire Nanmo Nation?"
Konan's chilling tone carried through the rain—empty yet sharp.
"You'd risk your entire country for one girl?"
Shigeo smiled faintly. "Is that so? Then go ahead—try me."
Threats meant nothing to him. He would never fear an event that hadn't happened yet.
As he finished speaking, thunder rumbled above.
Dark clouds gathered, cold wind howled—
"Raiton: Lightning Storm!"
From the sky, colossal bolts of lightning crashed down with deafening roars.
Under the assault of the storm, the Rain Village trembled like an old man in the cold—
helpless beneath Shigeo's wrath.
(End of Chapter)
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