To this day, no one had managed to grasp the full extent of Kawasaki's abilities. What everyone did know, however, was that it was best not to provoke the Uchiha.
Yet this Obito fellow was always looking to cause trouble for them.
Such a large-scale migration could not possibly be carried out in secret, especially with the Uchiha clan having a substantial civilian population. The pace of the relocation would be agonizingly slow. Based on Obito's past actions, specifically his manipulation of the Nine-Tails, it was all but certain he would try to take advantage of this opportunity.
It was then that Hizashi recalled something Kawasaki had told him about a deal he was making with Orochimaru.
"Brother, I believe Kawasaki must have made preparations."
While the two brothers were discussing the matter with confidence in the safety of their home, they had no idea that their entire conversation was being overheard by a White Zetsu.
After gathering all the necessary information, White Zetsu used the Mayfly Technique to transmit the intelligence.
...
When the notice was posted on the public bulletin board, all of Konoha was in an uproar.
"Due to the Uchiha clan being unable to receive fair treatment in Konoha."
"Following a clan-wide vote, Uchiha Clan Head Kawasaki has decided that the Uchiha clan will officially secede from the Village Hidden in the Leaves, effective immediately."
"Henceforth, we shall have no further ties to Konoha."
"The Uchiha will complete the evacuation of the first group of clan members within ten days."
"The remaining members will be evacuated in a second wave, with the specific time to be determined."
This was notice 027, issued by the Uchiha clan.
There was another notice, this one from the Konoha administration.
"Following a joint decision by the Fifth Hokage, the Third Hokage, and the Konoha Elders, the Uchiha clan is hereby permitted to establish its independence."
"The Uchiha clan's ownership rights to their land will remain valid; the current Uchiha compound will remain their property."
"Henceforth, should the Uchiha purchase goods through Konoha's merchant caravans, a ten percent tax will be levied on said goods."
The villagers gave Konoha's notice a cursory glance before dismissing it. Their attention was instead captivated by the announcement from the Uchiha clan. The very first sentence alone was enough to send their minds racing with speculation.
While most of the villagers didn't understand the intricate politics at play, some were sharp enough to read between the lines. Just from the opening statement, they could guess the underlying meaning: the Uchiha were implying that there had been foul play in the last Hokage election.
Everyone knew in their hearts who had manipulated the outcome, even if no one said it aloud.
Aside from civilians, the village was filled with an abundance of ordinary genin. The Uchiha had previously organized a practical combat training event that had earned them the support of many of these young shinobi. As a result, they now had their own opinions about the Hokage election, and their faith in the older generation of leadership was largely gone.
Many felt that this outcome was unfair to the Uchiha clan. But since the decision had been made, all they could do was express their regret and sigh in disappointment.
At the same time, the other four Great Shinobi Countries—Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure—all began to publicly announce their willingness to form an alliance with the Uchiha. The news sent shockwaves through the smaller villages and various powers across the shinobi world.
Those who normally had no dealings with the Uchiha began to wonder where the powerful clan would choose to settle. It was a decision that would significantly impact the future balance of power. The Uchiha clan, however, made no official statement on the matter.
Ten days was not a tight deadline for a trained shinobi, but for the Uchiha civilians, it was a bit of a rush. Not only did they have to pack their personal belongings, but some also had to arrange for the transfer of their businesses to family members who were staying behind. Others chose to move their entire families, using the remaining time to hold farewell gatherings with their friends in the village.
The Uchiha compound was a scene of bustling activity...
...
In a cavern hideout.
Tobi quickly returned after making a round through the village. Black Zetsu didn't interfere with his antics; though the fellow seemed unreliable, he had yet to make any real mistakes.
Upon learning that Danzo's mental state had somewhat recovered, Tobi immediately informed Black Zetsu and Obito. Danzo, who had intended to operate from the shadows, was now forced to communicate with Black Zetsu directly. He believed that if Obito also sought revenge against Konoha, cooperation was their best option.
Sometime earlier, Nagato had exhausted his power using the Rinnegan. Obito had personally gone to a special dimension to rest, recover, and familiarize himself with the abilities of his newly acquired eye. It was during this time that he received the news of the Uchiha's impending departure.
...
When Obito had just returned from that mysterious space, Black Zetsu eagerly shared a piece of good news.
There was a new discovery on the moon!
Obito was delighted to hear this, as it was crucial for his plan to recover the Gedo Statue.
"Where did you find the clue?" he asked.
Black Zetsu smugly recounted the information White Zetsu had brought back from the Hyuga compound. To Obito's surprise, such valuable intelligence had fallen right into their laps before they had even made a move.
"That was an easy answer to get," he couldn't help but remark.
The intelligence revealed that, besides himself, an expert from the Hyuga had also detected the energy fluctuations originating from the moon. Furthermore, it seemed this person had access to historical records on the subject. Knowing this calmed his mind considerably.
Black Zetsu laid out their future plans. "For now, we just need our complete puppet, Hyuga Kaito, to continue gathering the data we need. We'll have him pretend he also just noticed the phenomenon."
Obito nodded in agreement. "It's a good thing you had such a strategy in place." He silently reflected on how dismissive he had once been of his partner's schemes, yet now they had become a vital part of their success.
Just then, Danzo's body, controlled by Tobi, slowly phased up through the ground.
"Heeello..."
Seeing this, Obito's eyes narrowed slightly. He'd managed to master such an advanced technique with that body!
"Wanna know what news I've brought?" Tobi asked in his usual flippant tone, a joyous expression on his face.
His performance, however, did not amuse the others.
"Cut the crap and get to the point," Black Zetsu interrupted flatly.
At that, White Zetsu immediately dropped the act. The body's expression shifted, becoming the real Danzo. A chilling glint appeared in his eyes before being quickly suppressed—he couldn't reveal his true emotions in front of others.
"The Uchiha have officially announced that they are leaving Konoha."
The statement stunned even Obito.
"Leaving Konoha?!"
Black Zetsu was equally surprised. After receiving confirmation, he pressed for the location of the Nine-Tails.
Danzo replied that Naruto was still in the village, though he was currently away on a mission.
After a moment of thought, Obito realized something. The only one who could restrain him was another wielder of the same eyes. Without Kawasaki as an opponent, infiltrating Konoha would be virtually unopposed.