Chapter 358: Different
"What's going on?"
"Did my power level increase?"
Li Yao wore a confused expression. Back in the first Hokage world, when Madara and Black Zetsu rescued him and fused White Zetsu cells into him, a binding curse had also been left on his heart.
But even up to the point when he turned on Madara and decisively swapped bodies, Li Yao had never once sensed the binding curse left on his heart.
He had always assumed it was because the technique was Six Paths-level—too high for him to detect.
But what was going on with this world's Obito?
As soon as he successfully possessed Obito and turned him into a clone, he instantly sensed the curse Madara had placed on Obito's heart. He even quickly analyzed the general effects and capabilities of the curse.
Logically speaking, he shouldn't have been able to sense it at all before obtaining the Kekkei Mōra.
And yet now, he sensed it clearly.
Li Yao thought about it. Either the two worlds were different—or the situations were different.
After all, Obito was not like him. Obito didn't have his absolute chakra control talent, so the curse placed on his heart didn't need to be that advanced to be effective.
But for Li Yao himself, higher-level methods were required.
Still, it was all speculation.
Li Yao wasn't certain of the exact reason.
"Whatever."
Unable to figure it out, Li Yao stopped thinking about it. With a mere thought, the Obito clone condensed a similar chakra signature to the curse and casually dispelled it from his own heart.
Now, as long as Black Zetsu didn't try to take control of the body, there was nothing that could threaten the Obito clone.
"Next, it's all yours."
Li Yao turned to the clone. Obito's clone smiled. "No problem. I won't let Killer Bee escape."
Now that he possessed Li Yao's memories, the Obito clone wouldn't be fooled like in the original story—tricked by a severed tentacle.
This time, regardless of how incomplete Sasuke's team was without Jūgo, Killer Bee would not escape.
In a critical moment, the Obito clone would act personally.
Li Yao was planning to retrieve Kakashi's other Kamui Sharingan soon. Once Obito's clone had both eyes, simply wielding Kamui alone would make him nearly unbeatable.
Even Edo Tensei Madara would be useless against that.
Obito was now Li Yao's clone, and wielding the Rinnegan was no issue. Why fear another Uchiha?
"Still, I didn't expect my plans to change so quickly."
Using the Flying Thunder God Technique, Li Yao returned to Tsunade's house, quietly sighing to himself.
Originally, he had intended to wait and let the familiar plot play out, then seize a key moment to possess Obito and transform into Sage Obito.
But after accidentally entering Kamui space, Li Yao had an epiphany.
With his strength, he could just step in personally and gather all nine Tailed Beasts much faster, allowing the Obito clone to become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki without needing to wait at all.
So there was no reason to spare Kakashi's Kamui eye.
Poof!
Li Yao created a shadow clone. "Go get Kakashi's Kamui Sharingan and bring it to the Obito clone."
"Got it." The clone smiled and entered the interstitial space, heading toward Kakashi's house.
By now, the sun had set and the streetlights of Konoha lit the roads.
On his way to Kakashi's home, Li Yao's clone happened to pass by Jiraiya and Tsunade.
Tsunade was on her way home, her face glowing with the excitement of seeing her beloved.
Jiraiya walked beside her, shoulders slumped, his face full of regret.
Everything he'd learned that day had made him suddenly realize how serious things had become.
He had already been dead for more than half a month. The Six Paths of Pain could invade Konoha at any moment.
But the coded intel he'd sent back had only been deciphered to the first layer. The true message—"no real body"—hadn't been revealed yet.
And Naruto had gone to Mount Myōboku to learn Sage Mode!
Sage Mode!
Jiraiya knew Naruto's talent wasn't actually bad. His "dead last" title during academy days was just due to the Nine-Tails' chakra disrupting his chakra flow, making it hard for him to control and cast jutsu efficiently.
Once Naruto trained with him and learned to control the overflow of Nine-Tails chakra, those limitations were gone.
But even so—this was Sage Mode!
Jiraiya himself had needed years to learn it.
Even if Naruto had talent, it would still take him months—if not years—to master it.
Months?
By then, Pain would've already attacked Konoha several times over.
Jiraiya knew his disciple well.
Once Nagato realized Jiraiya had relayed intel to the village, he wouldn't remain idle. He would launch an attack as soon as possible.
In fact, the fact that half a month had already passed without an invasion had surprised even Jiraiya. But it only meant the Six Paths of Pain could arrive at any moment.
And now, during such a crisis, Naruto had just left to learn Sage Mode.
"That's not how I imagined this going at all…"
Jiraiya was struggling to accept it. The way he envisioned it:
His coded intel would reach Naruto, who would decode it quickly and discover that the Six Paths of Pain were just puppets—and that defeating Nagato meant finding the real body.
Then, when Nagato arrived with the Six Paths—
Konoha, armed with that knowledge and rallied by Naruto's charisma, would stand united and defeat Nagato, saving the village from disaster.
That's the story Jiraiya had wanted to see unfold.
He never saw the Child of Prophecy as a lone savior-type hero, but as a leader who could inspire and unite his comrades toward peace.
That was the real Child of Prophecy, who would bring true peace to the shinobi world.
Those who relied solely on personal strength—like Nagato now—created a false peace rooted in fear.
Jiraiya didn't want Naruto to become that kind of person.
But now, Naruto seemed to be heading down that path.
At this point, all Jiraiya could do was hope Naruto would master Sage Mode quickly and return.
Anything beyond that… he didn't dare imagine.
Especially when he thought about the terrifying presence hiding in Tsunade's home, Jiraiya couldn't help but worry about Konoha's future.
"No… I have to find a way to warn Tsunade about that man's existence!"
From what he'd learned today, Jiraiya had heard from others that Tsunade didn't have a man in her life.
Which meant the man in Tsunade's house was very likely someone dangerous hiding in plain sight.
He had to let Tsunade know before that man decided to act—otherwise… otherwise…
Jiraiya couldn't finish the thought.
His eyes widened in shock, his mind going blank as he saw Tsunade clinging to Li Yao like a koala, both legs and arms wrapped tightly around him.
"Darling, are you hungry?"
Tsunade's cheeks flushed, her mature, alluring body swaying slightly as she spoke in a coy, gentle voice—then kissed the corner of Li Yao's lips.
(END CHAPTER)
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