The next day, at four in the afternoon, in the Deputy Commander's tent on the mountainside of the Konoha camp.
A young ninja approached. He wore the standard Konoha vest over a light-blue combat suit, forehead protector tied neatly across his brow. His face was utterly ordinary, so forgettable that it was suspicious.
"Halt." One of the guards, a Chūnin, raised his hand.
The youth smiled politely and bowed. "Please inform Deputy Commander-sama. I have an important report."
"Wait here."
The guard ducked inside. Moments later, he returned and nodded. "You may enter."
"Thank you." The youth bowed again before stepping into the tent. The two guards exchanged a glance, then subtly shifted farther away, pretending not to eavesdrop.
Inside, Uchiha Gen was hunched over a stack of reports. At the sound of footsteps, he raised his head, expression unreadable.
"What is it?"
The young ninja bent low. "Sir, a Konoha envoy has requested an audience with you."
"…An envoy?" Gen's brows lifted slightly. That was strange. Why send a messenger to him? Couldn't the Hokage's advisers speak to him directly through proper channels?
"Where's Orochimaru-sensei?"
"I do not know. My instructions were only to inform you."
Interesting. If Orochimaru also received a summons, why arrange separate meetings with both the main and deputy commanders? Unless the matter itself created conflict between them. But if it was routine military business, there'd be no need for secrecy.
And if Orochimaru hadn't been summoned at all… then the problem was even greater.
Why bypass the main commander and deliver orders to him instead? The only answer he could think of was simple, this was about Orochimaru himself.
But that didn't make sense either. Orochimaru was Sarutobi Hiruzen's personal disciple. Even when the old man discovered his forbidden experiments, he couldn't bring himself to kill him. Would the Hokage truly scheme against Orochimaru now, in the middle of a war?
Or perhaps… they intended to send him, Gen, away on some 'special mission'? Was Konoha that desperate for manpower?
No. Something was off.
Gen trusted his instincts. And his instincts told him this stank of conspiracy.
He kept his expression calm. "When and where?"
"Tonight at nine. Crimson Moon Lake," the young ninja answered quickly, his tone betraying relief that Gen hadn't refused outright.
Gen frowned. "I'm very busy today. I might not have time. Why don't you go in my stead and bring back the message?"
The ninja's composure cracked. "Sir, please don't jest. There are matters I'm not qualified to know, nor do I wish to know. The more one learns, the shorter one's life becomes. The envoy asked for you personally. If I go, it will only be a wasted trip."
"…You have a point," Gen said slowly. "But I really don't have time."
Then he brightened as if struck by inspiration. "I'll send a shadow clone."
The 'ninja' stiffened. This Uchiha… why is he so damned troublesome?
He forced a calm voice. "A clone could fail on the way, sir. And it would be disrespectful to the envoy. Do you really wish to offend the Hokage-sama's confidant? That could only harm you."
Gen studied him, eyes narrowing. "So insistent, hm?"
He leaned back with deliberate arrogance. "Relax. My clones are strong enough to avoid 'accidents.' And as for an ANBU… heh. Even if it's the Hokage's confidant, do you think I care? What can a mere ANBU do to me? I have Orochimaru-sensei behind me."
He smirked. "Technically, I'm even the Hokage's grand-disciple. Should I be afraid?"
The 'ninja' clenched his fists. Damn Uchiha!
Finally, he snapped. His head rose, his tone sharpened. "This is not a request. You must personally receive the Hokage-sama's order. Your obstinacy jeopardizes my mission. If you refuse, I will report it directly... even if you retaliate against me."
Gen's eyes narrowed. So. A mere courier dared threaten him? The pieces clicked together in his mind.
White Zetsu. Obito's hand was in this.
His expression shifted theatrically, anger, then hesitation, as though caught between duty and fear of punishment. At last he exhaled. "…Fine. I understand. You may leave."
The 'ninja' relaxed, even smug. Finally. Responds to force, not to persuasion. He bowed, then strode out.
Once he was gone, Gen activated his Soul Perception. At once he sensed it—the aura was alien, distinctly not human.
He smirked. "So it really was White Zetsu in disguise. Obito's making his move…"
He leaned back, mind racing.
Kill Obito? Risky. Kamui made him nearly untouchable. Genjutsu would likely fail; Zetsu could snap him out of it. Even the Spirit Transformation Technique wasn't guaranteed to break Obito's iron will.
And staking his entire soul on it… too great a gamble.
No. Better to play it safe. Show just enough strength to make Obito wary, perhaps even reconsider him as a target. And if by chance Obito slipped up and died? Well, that would be a delightful bonus.
Decision made, Gen returned to his paperwork, calm once more.
That night, 8:40.
A lone figure left camp, heading northwest toward Crimson Moon Lake. The storm had passed; moonlight poured silver over snowfields and forests, glittering like crushed glass.
Gen's black coat trailed behind him as he leapt branch to branch, cutting a clean line through the winter night.
At 8:53, a kilometer from the lake, he stopped, arms folded atop a tree. He gazed across the snowy plains, moonlight painting the land in shifting shades of silver.
At 8:59, he descended, boots crunching on frost, until he stood at the lake's edge.
Crimson Moon Lake curved like a crescent between two peaks, its surface frozen solid. A solitary figure waited at its center—an ANBU in full uniform, white mask with blue markings, hands folded behind his back.
"Right on time, Deputy Commander-sama," the masked man said.
"I don't make a habit of being late," Gen replied mildly.
Damn Uchiha. Do you think I'm complimenting you? White Zetsu sneered inwardly but kept his voice smooth. "Let's be quick. The cold is unpleasant."
He produced a scroll with one hand, while the other—hidden behind him—palmed a kunai.
Gen approached, extending a hand. The instant he touched the scroll, Zetsu lunged, stabbing for his heart.
But Gen's other hand snapped up, clamping down on his wrist. Crimson tomoe spun in his eyes, and Zetsu's mind was instantly dragged into a genjutsu.
The scroll fell, forgotten. Chakra flared blue along Gen's fingers as he struck straight for the throat.
At that moment, space twisted behind him. A vortex spiraled open and Obito emerged in a swirl of darkness, war fan swinging straight at Gen's head.
Impact. A thunderous boom.
The body exploded into fire and shockwaves, shattering the ice, sending shards and steam across the lake.
Zetsu's disguise burned away, his pale body sprawling limp on the ice.
Obito stood untouched, fan raised protectively. The Uchiha war fan, legendary, indestructible, capable of deflecting chakra itself.
"A shadow clone?" Obito muttered. His single Sharingan glinted. "Useless trash couldn't even spot it."
From the snowy banks, two figures advanced with drawn blades.
One was Uchiha Gen, his true body.
The other, slender frame cloaked in white, pale face stretched in a thin smile, golden eyes gleaming with menace, it was none other than Orochimaru.
Gen had come prepared.
Obito's gaze shifted between them. The hunt had turned into a duel. Still, he sneered. "How did you see through it?"
Gen tilted his head, lips curving. "You really want to know?"
Obito hesitated, then gave a curt nod.
"I'm not telling you," Gen said cheerfully. "Why would I give away something so stupid?"
Obito blinked. Then scowled.
For some reason, those words stung.