Chapter 114: The Next Target—Kirigakure!
While Oborotsuki was working hard in Kirigakure to revive his clan, on the other side—
Inside a dark, pitch-black mysterious space.
Pain's Deva Path used telepathic waves to pull the minds of Kakuzu, Obito, Black Zetsu, and the others into this place.
"Hōzuki Oborotsuki intervened in our operation at Iwagakure. The Four-Tails and Five-Tails have now been taken by him."
Pain's Deva Path opened with this terrible news.
Kakuzu, usually short-tempered, remained silent for once. It was Black Zetsu who spoke first.
"It seems he really has started making his move."
"What do you think we should do?"
Black Zetsu looked toward Obito.
"The Sunagakure operation was almost ruined by him too, but fortunately I managed to capture the One-Tail Shukaku."
"Since the Four-Tails and Five-Tails have fallen into Hōzuki Oborotsuki's hands, he now possesses at least four tailed beasts: the Three-Tails, Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Nine-Tails."
"Additionally, according to our previous intelligence, the Six-Tails is also in Kirigakure in the Land of Water."
"That means at least five of the nine tailed beasts are concentrated there."
Uchiha Obito said this, a cold glint flashing beneath his mask.
"After we capture and seal the remaining Two-Tails, Seven-Tails, and Eight-Tails, we immediately launch an attack on Kirigakure."
"This way, we can obtain all the remaining tailed beasts in one go!"
"Hōzuki Oborotsuki has essentially done us a huge favor!"
After speaking, his gaze shifted to Black Zetsu and White Zetsu:
"Have you locked down the exact location of the Eight-Tails?"
"Ah… it was confirmed long ago."
"That guy is Kumogakure's perfect jinchūriki. The Fourth Raikage has restricted his movements. He's currently training in a very secretive location. Reaching it will take some time."
"The Seven-Tails and Two-Tails are in Takigakure and Kumogakure respectively—these two can be captured immediately."
Black Zetsu answered at once.
Hearing this, Obito said nothing more and looked toward Pain's Deva Path.
"Then let's move together from now on."
"This time, we absolutely cannot let Hōzuki Oborotsuki ruin our plans again!"
At this moment, White Zetsu couldn't help but ask:
"Aren't we sealing the One-Tail first?"
"We don't have enough manpower right now. Fully sealing the One-Tail would take too long."
"To avoid the remaining tailed beasts being snatched by Hōzuki Oborotsuki first, we'll seal them all together after capturing the rest!"
Obito answered immediately.
Hearing this, the other members said no more.
…
Meanwhile, in Konoha, Land of Fire.
Inside the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was meeting with the Uchiha clan's top genius—Shisui Uchiha, renowned throughout the ninja world for his Body Flicker Technique combined with Sharingan genjutsu.
Also present were the two advisors and Root leader Danzō Shimura.
"Shisui, I've already explained the general situation to you. Sunagakure is currently putting enormous pressure on us."
"If this matter isn't handled properly, the entire village of Konoha will be implicated. Proving the Uchiha clan's innocence can wait for later."
"Right now, the most important thing is to calm the envoys from the Land of Wind…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke earnestly to the young Shisui, using words of righteousness, the greater good, and the big picture to guide and influence him.
As a descendant of Uchiha Kagami, Shisui had been raised from childhood to love Konoha and everything in this land.
Hearing Hiruzen explain the full sequence of events, Shisui naturally understood the severe consequences if war broke out.
To prevent the village from being dragged into conflict, Shisui voluntarily made a request to Hiruzen:
"Lord Third, I request permission to investigate this matter personally."
"If possible, I hope to go to Sunagakure and work together with their elite forces to pursue and capture the mysterious person impersonating the Uchiha clan!"
"As long as we capture that mysterious person and hand him over to Sunagakure, we can prove the Uchiha clan's innocence, right?"
"That way, the village won't have to face the threat of war from the Land of Wind…"
Shisui was very naive.
He believed his idea could definitely resolve the current crisis.
But he didn't know this was not at all the answer the higher-ups wanted to hear.
Sure enough, as soon as Shisui finished speaking, Mitokado Homura's face darkened:
"It seems you still don't quite understand what we mean, Shisui."
"The envoys from the Land of Wind have demanded that we immediately hand over the suspect and compensate Sunagakure for all losses incurred this time!"
"Additionally, they demand the return of the One-Tail Shukaku!"
"Note that they've given us only three days. How could you possibly resolve this in three days?"
Homura's counter-question left Shisui silent.
His Body Flicker Technique was a space-time ninjutsu. Traveling from Konoha to Sunagakure in the Land of Wind would take him only half a day at most.
Time-wise, it was completely feasible.
But the investigation process could encounter any number of unexpected situations, making the exact completion time impossible to predict.
With only three days as the deadline, it was indeed unlikely.
"To ease the anger of the Land of Wind's envoys, we have already agreed to their demands after discussion."
"The current strategy is to calm this incident as much as possible. Everything must wait until the Land of Wind's anger subsides before we can launch an internal investigation of the Uchiha clan."
"As for what comes after—if the Uchiha clan really has been wronged, we will of course not let your clan suffer unjustly."
"Konoha—and even the daimyō of the Land of Fire—will personally stand up for you and demand an explanation from the Land of Wind…"
Koharu Utatane spoke up as well.
Her words were more euphemistic, leaving Shisui somewhat confused and only half-understanding.
"So… what exactly do all of you mean?"
Shisui asked hesitantly, looking toward Hiruzen Sarutobi, then at the other advisors, and finally at Danzō Shimura—who had remained silent until now.
At this moment, Danzō finally spoke.
"We already discussed this with your clan leader Fugaku earlier, but considering the resistance he faces within the Uchiha clan, we decided to explain the situation to you instead."
"As the rising star of the Uchiha clan, you shoulder the future of Konoha, Shisui. Don't disappoint us."
Danzō spoke calmly, even somewhat coldly, to Shisui.
The words left Shisui momentarily stunned and overwhelmed.
"May I ask what exactly I should do, Lord Third and everyone?"
Shisui asked hesitantly again.
After a brief silence in the office, it was Danzō who spoke:
"We need you to cooperate and do some ideological work within the Uchiha clan."
"Make your clan voluntarily take responsibility for this incident."
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