Kawasaki continued, "This evidence is enough to prove that the mastermind of the Nine-Tails Attack must be someone with a Mangekyo Sharingan."
"At the time, the only one in the clan with a Mangekyo was Clan Head Fugaku, and he was under your surveillance."
The Third Hokage finally realized the validity of this point. The rumor that the Uchiha's Sharingan could control Tailed Beasts had persisted for a long time. But the only one ever recorded to have controlled the Nine-Tails was Madara Uchiha. No one else.
Could it be that only a Mangekyo Sharingan was capable of such a feat?
From now on, he would have to be even more careful about letting Kawasaki and Fugaku near Naruto.
Kawasaki's reasoning was sound; it was indeed a major oversight. A Mangekyo Sharingan wasn't something one could just find lying around.
"But that only proves that the Nine-Tails Attack wasn't orchestrated by the Uchiha of Konoha. It doesn't definitively identify the perpetrator as Obito," Kakashi argued, still trying to resist.
Kawasaki waved his hand dismissively. "That brings me to my second point: why I'm certain this person is Obito Uchiha."
"The Uchiha's Sharingan is extremely precious. Very few exist outside the clan."
"To control the Nine-Tails, one must possess the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"And the Mangekyo Sharingan can only be awakened by the original owner."
"There is only one person who vanished without a trace, along with his right Sharingan."
"And that person..."
"Is Obito Uchiha!"
Kawasaki stared intently at Kakashi, watching his expression shift from horror to utter despair.
"That's not right. Obito only had a two-tomoe Sharingan back then, and he only had one eye left," Kakashi suddenly remembered. Before his supposed death, Obito only had two tomoe and had given one of his eyes to him.
Kawasaki grinned. "Ah, but that's his biggest mistake."
"When I was looking for Tsunade, I ran into him in the Land of Water."
The Ibiki Morino squad that the Third had sent to the Land of Water several years ago had failed their mission. They were ambushed on the way; not only was their important intel stolen, but the person they were tasked to protect was also abducted. Later, their informant in the Land of Water went silent, and the internal conflicts there grew increasingly violent. Ibiki and his team had no choice but to retreat.
Afterward, the Third Hokage received fragmented reports. Rumors of the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, being controlled and later assassinated were circulating, though their authenticity was questionable. But one piece of information mentioned that Kawasaki Uchiha had been seen in the area and had engaged in a battle.
How did Obito end up in the Land of Water? And why did he fight with Kawasaki?
The Third took a drag from his pipe, his brow furrowed. "You went to the Land of Water looking for Tsunade and fought with Obito?"
Kawasaki spread his hands, looking helpless. "I didn't know if Tsunade was there or not. But when I arrived, I discovered their Fourth Mizukage was being controlled by Obito's genjutsu."
"The method was identical to the one used during the Nine-Tails Attack, which made me suspect he was the mastermind behind that incident."
The Third no longer cared about Kawasaki's reasons for going to the Land of Water. What could be more shocking than the Mizukage of the Hidden Mist being controlled by genjutsu and turned into a puppet?
And this was Yagura Karatachi, a perfect Jinchuriki!
A perfect Jinchuriki had become a puppet. Did this explain the bloody reign of terror in the Land of Water all these years?
A cold dread washed over the Third. Was the Mangekyo's genjutsu really that powerful?
With these questions swirling in his mind, he was desperate to know the man's identity. Was it truly Obito?
"You still haven't told us what his biggest mistake was," the Third pressed impatiently.
Kawasaki rolled his eyes. "What's the rush? I was just about to get to that."
Seeing Kawasaki drag his feet, the Third nearly had a stroke.
"I don't know how a two-tomoe Sharingan evolves into a Mangekyo, but the eye he had exposed was Obito's right eye. The one he kept covered was his left. Isn't that too much of a coincidence?"
....
Konoha Village.
Hokage's Office.
"It was because I fought him that I discovered he uses Space-Time Ninjutsu, but he can't manifest a Susanoo at all, despite his ocular power being on the level of a Mangekyo."
"Space-Time Ninjutsu, you say." The Third had just received Kakashi's report. The masked man could use Space-Time Ninjutsu, a notoriously difficult technique to master. It seemed the person Kawasaki encountered and the one Kakashi fought were one and the same.
Kawasaki guessed that Kakashi had fought Obito before and must have known about his Space-Time Ninjutsu.
The Third Hokage asked with confusion, "What's the significance of him not being able to use Susanoo?"
Kawasaki glanced towards the Anbu member across the room. The operative, taking the hint, swiftly exited and closed the door behind him.
"This is a secret of our Uchiha clan's Mangekyo Sharingan."
"To activate the Susanoo, one must possess both of their Mangekyo Sharingan eyes."
The clues in the Third's mind began to click into place. "You mean..."
Kawasaki nodded. "That's right. An Uchiha must awaken the Mangekyo in their own eyes. The only Uchiha whose body and eyes disappeared simultaneously was Obito Uchiha. A single Mangekyo cannot activate Susanoo. Therefore, this person can only be Obito!"
Kawasaki fixed his gaze on Kakashi. "Kakashi, I don't believe you fought Obito and didn't notice these flaws. Are you still trying to cover for him!?"
Under Kawasaki's intense questioning, Kakashi finally broke. "It was Obito. I saw his face."
Even Kawasaki was surprised. Obito actually showed his face this time? His own reasoning was based on the premise that only Fugaku had a Mangekyo in the clan. The logic wasn't flawless, but it was enough to shatter Kakashi's psychological defenses. After all, there was much Kakashi didn't know, including the fact that his own left eye had evolved into a Mangekyo.
Kawasaki feigned anger. "You saw his face! Why didn't you say anything!?"
Kakashi stammered, "I... I thought it was a genjutsu..."
Kawasaki refused to accept the excuse, his expression hardening. "Who do you think you're fooling? An elite Jonin can't distinguish between genjutsu and reality? You're trying to protect Obito! Speak!"
Kakashi fell silent, unable to form a word for a long time. The Third could understand Kakashi's turmoil; his depression over the years was deeply connected to Obito's 'death'. Still, the Third couldn't comprehend why Obito Uchiha would do such things.
"Why? Why would Obito do this?" the Third couldn't help but ask.
Kawasaki snorted. "Obito was a bit goofy as a kid, bright and cheerful, known as the Uchiha who was least like an Uchiha. We weren't in the same class, but we were in the same year. I saw him a few times. He always faced difficulties with a carefree attitude. Besides, the Fourth Hokage and his wife were his sensei and master's wife. As for why he'd do something like this... I think Kakashi might know."
Kawasaki tossed the question to Kakashi. When it came to Obito's motives, Kakashi had the most right to speak. It was something he had to face.
Both the Third Hokage and Kawasaki stared at Kakashi, and a heavy atmosphere descended upon the office.
Kakashi could no longer remain silent. His face contorted through several emotions, and tears welled in his single visible eye.
"It's Rin! It must be because of Rin!" Kakashi cried out in agony, the bandage over his left eye becoming soaked with reddish tears. "He's getting revenge... revenge on Sensei, and on Konoha..."
"Rin?" The Third vaguely remembered the medical-nin from Minato's team. A gentle, kind girl with a compassionate heart. She had also died shortly after the battle at Kannabi Bridge. In the end, Kakashi was the only one left from Team Minato.
"Obito loved Rin with all his heart, but Rin died... she died on the battlefield, killed by... my own hand... He hates Sensei for not being there in time to save him..." Kakashi sobbed, his words a jumbled confession, whether to himself or to the two men in the room.
The Third's head throbbed. What kind of logic was this? Kakashi had submitted a detailed report on why Rin died at his hands. Rin Nohara had chosen to sacrifice herself to prevent the Three-Tails from destroying Konoha. What did that have to do with the Fourth Hokage?
Of course, the logic didn't make sense to the Third, because Obito believed he possessed the real truth. The fundamental reason for Obito's revenge on Konoha was his despair with the world. Forget the Fourth Hokage; no one could have stopped him. Although Kakashi's guess was slightly off, it was closely related to the truth.
Kawasaki watched with a cold expression as Kakashi poured out his anguish.
"That day, he took off his mask... it was Obito's face, but I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe it. I told myself it was a genjutsu, that it wasn't him..."
Thud!
Kakashi's words were cut short by a loud noise.
With a dark expression, Kawasaki slammed his palm onto the Third Hokage's solid wood desk, leaving a clear handprint. His fury was palpable.
"I thought I had figured out Obito's identity, that he must have suffered some great injustice to seek such revenge. But to think the reason is so despicable and shameless."
Kakashi started to speak, "He took revenge on the village, but he never targeted the Uchiha clan..."
Hearing Kakashi instinctively try to defend Obito, Kawasaki lunged forward. He grabbed Kakashi by the collar, lifted him up, and roared with a voice that made Kakashi's ears ring.
"Have you lost your mind!?"
"Whether he was getting revenge on you, on the Fourth Hokage, or on the entire village, that is no excuse for making our Uchiha clan the scapegoat! The Uchiha never did him any wrong!"
"He used his Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails and did all of this, tarnishing the name of our clan!"
"Do you have any idea how many misunderstandings we Uchiha have endured?!"
"Do you know how much suspicion we've lived under?!"
"Do you know how many grievances we've been forced to swallow?!"
"Do you know how much we've suffered because of him?!"
"To hell with his love! A love-sick fool is beyond saving!"
"Innocent villagers died! The Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself for nothing!"
"And even now you're still defending Obito! Kakashi, Minato treated you well!"
"Wasn't Kushina good to you?!"
"You ungrateful, heartless beast!"
Kawasaki viciously threw Kakashi to the floor.
Kakashi collapsed, the physical pain nothing compared to the agony in his heart. His expression was one of torment, his thoughts in chaos, and he remained on the ground for a long time.
Kawasaki turned away and let out a breath, the anger still fresh on his face. "Lord Third, this matter will not end here!"
"Tomorrow, the Uchiha clan will issue a statement revealing the masked man's identity as Obito Uchiha. I hope you will also issue a joint statement, clarifying the Uchiha clan's orders on the night of the attack, and restore our innocence."
.....
Hokage's Office, Konoha Village.
"Hmph!" Kawasaki grunted in anger. Without waiting for the Third's response, he kicked the door open and stormed out.
The Anbu members outside the door exchanged glances before looking to the Third Hokage, who could only shake his head helplessly.
At this point, what could the Third Hokage say? When it was discovered that the Nine-Tails was being controlled by a Sharingan, they had increased their vigilance over the Uchiha clan. That night, the Uchiha were tasked with evacuating civilians, yet rumors spread that they had stood by idly, implying their involvement in the attack.
The Uchiha, already unpopular due to their role in the Military Police Force, found their relationship with the uninformed villagers deteriorating rapidly. If not for Kawasaki's intervention, the Uchiha clan might have already been wiped out. All of this was directly related to the decisions made by Konoha's high command. The fact that Kawasaki hadn't demolished his office was an act of mercy.
Whether the Third Hokage agreed or not was irrelevant. The Uchiha were going to publicize Obito's identity regardless. A storm was about to sweep through Konoha and the entire shinobi world.
The Third glanced at the utterly broken Kakashi and also let out a cold snort. His own wife, Biwako, had also perished in the Nine-Tails Attack. He was in no mood for sympathy. He had no time to deal with Kakashi right now.
"Take Kakashi back to the hospital. And bring me Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado..."
"Yes, sir!"
.....
After leaving the Hokage's office, Kawasaki's expression quickly returned to normal. That's right, his anger had been an act. He was fully aware of Obito's character and his motives for revenge, but he had no desire to explain them. Clearing the Uchiha's name was ultimately unimportant, as they had already broken ties with Konoha. However, to support Orochimaru's bid to become Hokage, his first task was to undermine the authority of Konoha's leadership.
The Uchiha had long been marginalized, and their situation worsened dramatically after the Nine-Tails Attack. At the time, some Uchiha had pleaded with Fugaku to let them fight the Nine-Tails, but Fugaku, citing their duty as the Military Police Force to protect non-combatants and obey the village's orders, had stopped them.
The Uchiha's formidable combat strength was well-known, especially to Konoha's high command. Yet at a critical moment, they were kept off the battlefield simply because the leadership feared their power. The precedent set by Madara, that a Sharingan could control a Tailed Beast, was known to all.
Thus, the Uchiha were the first to be suspected. If the Uchiha controlled the Nine-Tails, their power would grow immensely, posing a threat to the village. The attack was initiated by Obito, but at the time, only Minato, Kushina, and the infant Naruto knew of the masked man's existence. Minato and Kushina died before they could inform the Third, and Naruto was a newborn unable to speak. Furthermore, a Jinchuriki's seal weakens during childbirth. Kushina's delivery was kept secret and took place far from the village center, yet the Nine-Tails appeared directly in the center, clearly under someone's control.
With relevant records lost, the Uchiha became the primary suspects, believed capable of summoning and controlling the Nine-Tails with their Sharingan. In reality, this ability was limited to Uchiha with the Mangekyo Sharingan. At the time in Konoha, only Fugaku possessed it. Even so, the leadership likely suspected the existence of a second Mangekyo user.
Therefore, the high command, led by Danzo, restricted the Uchiha from participating on the front lines, keeping them in the rear. Fugaku understood their predicament and had no choice but to comply in order to clear their name. However, after the incident, Danzo proposed moving the Military Police Force headquarters to a remote corner of the village and building high towers around the Uchiha compound for surveillance, which caused intense resentment among the Uchiha. Danzo also spread malicious rumors, causing the conflict between the villagers and the Uchiha to escalate dramatically, planting the seeds for the clan's future rebellion.
.....
Soon, Danzo, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado all arrived at the Hokage's Office. Homura looked exhausted; the old man had just fallen asleep when an Anbu woke him, and he was still drowsy. Danzo and Koharu hadn't been asleep, but they were clearly displeased at being summoned so late at night. Although Danzo was only an honorary elder, he was the most active proponent of suppressing the Uchiha, and the proposal had come from him, so his presence was necessary. They all understood that a late-night summons meant something significant had occurred.
Once everyone was present, the Third dropped a bombshell. "The true culprit of the Nine-Tails Attack has been found."
"What!?" Homura was instantly wide awake.
"Who is it?" Koharu asked urgently.
Danzo's face was grim. "It was someone from the Uchiha clan, wasn't it?"
The Third glanced at Danzo and nodded slightly. "It was indeed a member of the Uchiha clan..."
"Hmph! What did I tell you? The Uchiha are no good! We should have eliminated them sooner!" Danzo interrupted impatiently, a flicker of smugness on his face. As expected, targeting the Uchiha was never the wrong move.
"Ahem." The Third cleared his throat pointedly. "I wasn't finished."
"Although he is an Uchiha, he has no connection to the Uchiha in the village..."
"The man is Obito Uchiha."
"Obito Uchiha?" All three were stunned. Wasn't Obito supposed to be dead?
The Third Hokage then recounted Kawasaki's reasoning, Kakashi's encounter where he confirmed Obito's identity, and the reason why Obito had unleashed the Nine-Tails upon the village.