Obito said slowly, "Since that's the case, let me tell you the truth about the Uchiha clan's extermination!"
Sasuke clenched his fist, and in his eyes burst forth a light of eager longing to know the truth.
"Tell me. Now."
Obito cleared his throat and began to tell Sasuke the truth of the Uchiha clan's extermination.
"After the Nine-Tails attacked Konoha, the Uchiha were relocated to the edge of the village, and were also monitored by ANBU..."
People of the ninja world stared at the light screen with great interest. For the sudden annihilation of the ninja world's foremost great clan, many still had deep doubts in their hearts.
[Ōnoki: I bet 50—it definitely has something to do with Danzō!]
[Fourth Raikage: What's there to watch? Light screen, pay some attention to me, I'll perform hand-to-hand against Matatabi for everyone.]
[Shukaku: Are there any brothers still around? If so, make a sound.]
[Nine-Tails: Chirp!]
[Shukaku: Kurama, come save me.]
[Nine-Tails: Hmph!]
...
"The higher-ups of Konoha didn't trust the Uchiha, didn't trust their eyes, and at the same time the Uchiha were dissatisfied with the decisions of the higher-ups. Within the clan, signs of a coup began to grow..."
Obito slowly spoke of that dust-covered history. Sasuke lowered his head and silently looked at the blanket.
"Itachi was innocent?"
Obito nodded. "Yes! He was just a chess piece caught between Konoha's higher-ups and the Uchiha. Danzō ordered him to slaughter the Uchiha, and Itachi accepted. At the same time, his condition was to keep you, the last Uchiha."
The three tomoe in Sasuke's eyes slowly connected into a shuriken. He slowly said, "Konoha, Danzō!"
The truth Obito revealed stunned everyone.
It turned out the history of the Uchiha clan's downfall was not done by Uchiha Itachi alone; behind it lay filthy power struggles.
Konoha.
Danzō watched coldly without saying a word, but in his heart he knew he wouldn't be able to go out for a while.
"Hmph! They should all be exterminated."
A ninja he had sweet-talked during this period pushed the door open and came in.
"Lord Danzō, the Hokage is calling for you!"
Danzō knew that Tsunade was definitely going to give him trouble over the Uchiha matter.
...
A pink-haired girl, her face full of melancholy, swung her feet and glanced at Sasuke in the sky.
She murmured, "So Sasuke's brother was framed. So pitiful—whether it's the Uchiha, or Sasuke and his brother."
Then Sakura looked again at Sasuke's handsome face as if going into heat, and in her heart she thought of the hour-long kiss with Naruto.
"That jerk—even his breath smells a bit."
...
Mount Myōboku.
Naruto had been beaten. He waved his hand to have Sage Fukasaku stop and looked up at the light screen in the sky.
After watching for a bit, Naruto was somewhat shocked. "Konoha... actually..."
That peaceful and prosperous village of the past had unexpectedly buried such darkness. The Third Hokage, like a kind father, could actually tolerate such bloodshed.
Sage Fukasaku tapped Naruto on the head and taught him,
"Naruto! The troubles of growing up are nothing more than this. The adult world is far more complicated than you imagine."
Naruto looked at Sasuke's lonely figure. The lingering feelings for Sakura in his heart vanished without a trace. He clenched his fist.
"Sasuke, wait for me! I'll bring you back."
Sage Fukasaku nodded. "That's the spirit."
...
Sasuke revealed that blood-red eye and said coldly, "I want to destroy Konoha. I want to destroy that disgusting village!"
Obito smiled. "Why?"
"What did Itachi get in exchange for bearing so much infamy? The criminals sit in high positions, the clowns enjoy the peace he brought, but what about him? He doesn't even have a hero's gravestone."
Sasuke clenched his fist, his voice carrying firmness and deep hatred.
Pangolin barged in and shouted loudly, "Bad news, Obito—your conversation with Sasuke was broadcast live."
Obito's face froze, then he cursed, "We're being monitored again!"
He looked up toward the top of the cave.
"Since that's the case, everyone of the ninja world, I, Uchiha Obito, will launch the Fourth Great Ninja War."
...
Itachi sighed, the red in his eyes carrying a trace of loneliness.
Sasuke was just as he thought—guileless at heart and especially easy to be guided by others. With just a few words, Obito had led him into opposing Konoha.
A Pangolin sprang out from the nearby tree trunk. "Uchiha Itachi, what are you planning to do?"
Itachi looked at this Pangolin in surprise.
The Pangolin reported his origin. "Imperial KGB Second Agent—Pangolin No. 2."
Itachi immediately realized it was Kairen's faction. He looked to the sky, fixed on Sasuke's portrait.
"I'm going to guide Sasuke onto the right path."
Pangolin No. 2 replied, "Even if you have the Mangekyō, you're still no match for Obito's Rinnegan."
Itachi shook his head. "That's not what I'm considering. I can't watch Sasuke be used by Obito."
Pangolin No. 2 handed over a sheet of paper. "Join the KGB! We'll help you."
Itachi took it, looked for a while, then nodded. He especially needed Kairen's power right now.
"Sign here! From now on, your codename will be Ink Crow!"
"Alright!"
...
Kairen had Doctor Snake close the live broadcast room and suddenly felt a bit bored.
With nothing new to watch, he could only go grind.
But it was time to change the flavor too.
"Doctor Snake, help me look at the monitored showgirls."
"Okay!"
Doctor Snake pulled up a virtual image—dozens of split screens, each one a beautiful female protagonist.
There were Tsunade, Shizune, Kurotsuchi, Mei Terumi...
Kairen noticed Kurotsuchi's side. She was leading troops to encircle the Four-Tails Son Gokū.
She herself was a handsome female ninja—fair-skinned and beautiful, exceptionally delicate. Most importantly, she had a pair of long, fair, slender legs.
Kairen's eyes were tightly fixed on Kurotsuchi's legs.
Orochimaru looked at Kairen's absent-mindedness and smiled. This lecher had set his sights on the Tsuchikage's granddaughter.
She stepped forward, pinching a tone that was neither yin nor yang.
"Your Majesty, Ōnoki is ambitious and shows no respect for the Son of Heaven. This minister suggests sending troops to the Land of Earth and wiping out the north of the ninja continent in one fell swoop."
Kairen wiped his drool and had Doctor Snake switch the virtual image to map mode.
He nodded. "What Minister Snake says is right. The Empire borders the Land of Rain, and behind the Land of Rain is the Land of Earth. And Obito has just announced the Fourth Great Ninja War."
"Let's declare war too! First take the Land of Earth, then attack the Land of Lightning, and finally the Land of Water—complete the encirclement of the Land of Fire."
The assembled ministers kowtowed in submission. "Your Majesty is wise!"
Kairen laughed loudly. "Hahahaha..."