Obito was extremely confident in his genjutsu—provided the Fourth Mizukage didn't get dragged into any high-intensity battles.
Once the Mizukage entered serious combat, the chakra of the Three-Tails would inevitably start resonating with him. And when that happened, the genjutsu would develop cracks, creating the risk of Obito losing control.
Sure, he could reinforce the illusion.
But the Fourth Mizukage had already left the Mizukage Building.
Casting another genjutsu in broad daylight, in front of half the village, would basically be Obito hanging a sign around his neck that said: "Hello ninja world, I'm the shady guy secretly controlling Kirigakure."
Yeah… not exactly ideal for someone running a long-term world domination plan.
So Obito reluctantly gave up direct control of Kirigakure and allowed the village to return to the Mizukage's rule.
Still, after years of manipulation and bloodshed, Kirigakure was already a mess. The damage wouldn't heal anytime soon. In other words, it wouldn't interfere with his Eye of the Moon Plan.
From that perspective, his operation in Kirigakure had basically been a success.
However, before leaving, there was still one small matter to deal with.
A traitor.
Loquat Jūzō had betrayed him and defected to Nagato.
Kirigakure losing control was acceptable.
But traitors?
Traitors had to die.
Just as Obito was planning how to kill Loquat Jūzō, a sudden series of footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Obito frowned and turned toward the sound.
Walking toward him was a mysterious figure dressed in a black robe, wearing a black fox mask.
Step by step, calm and unhurried.
Obito narrowed his eyes.
Who the hell is this guy?
He searched his memory, but couldn't recall anyone like this in Kirigakure.
After thinking for a moment, Obito decided to test him.
He raised his sleeve slightly. From his palm, a sharp wooden spike suddenly shot out—fast enough that most people wouldn't even see it coming.
Crack.
The wooden spike was caught mid-air.
Snapped in half.
Then casually tossed aside.
The mysterious man was Naruto.
Originally, he had only come to the Mizukage Building hoping to find some secret technique scrolls—something like Konoha's Scroll of Seals. But instead, he accidentally discovered the masked man's presence.
So naturally… curiosity dragged him over.
Looking Obito up and down, Naruto spoke in a low voice.
"Wood Release… Mangekyō Sharingan…"
"Shisui was right. You really do have both Senju and Uchiha power."
Obito's expression instantly became serious.
Breaking wood spikes with bare hands wasn't that impressive. Any decent jōnin could probably manage it.
But this man had just casually mentioned both the Senju and Uchiha bloodlines.
And he even knew Shisui.
That set off alarm bells in Obito's head.
After all, half a year after Uchiha Shisui disappeared, he suddenly reappeared on the night of the Uchiha massacre.
Not only did he completely ruin Itachi's plan, he even led the remaining Uchiha clan to leave Konoha and settle overseas in the ruins of the Land of Uzumaki.
At the time, Obito thought Shisui had simply gone insane.
But now it seemed obvious.
Someone had been guiding him.
And that someone… was standing right in front of him.
Obito's voice became low and dangerous.
"So it was you."
"You saved Shisui and had him take the Uchiha to settle in the Land of Uzumaki?"
Naruto nodded casually.
"That's right."
"Oh, and the white monsters you sent there?"
"I killed them all. Every single one."
"They were invading my territory, after all."
Obito sneered.
"Invading the Land of Uzumaki?"
"Don't tell me… you're actually an Uzumaki descendant."
Naruto nodded slightly.
"By blood, yes."
"The Land of Uzumaki may have fallen, but the Uzumaki clan hasn't gone extinct."
Obito snorted coldly.
"Back when the Uzumaki country still existed, it couldn't produce someone like you."
"And now that it's gone, suddenly it produces a monster like you?"
"Stop joking. Tell me your real identity."
Naruto shrugged.
"Well, the Uchiha were nearly wiped out too."
"Yet somehow… here you are."
He paused, then continued calmly.
"You orchestrated the Nine-Tails attack on Konoha."
"You manipulated the Uchiha massacre."
"And you secretly controlled the Fourth Mizukage for over ten years."
"If I didn't already know Uchiha Madara was dead…"
"I might suspect you were him."
Obito's eyes grew colder.
"And how can you be so sure Madara is dead?"
Naruto snorted.
"Oh please."
"Don't tell me you're about to say you're Madara."
"If you're Uchiha Madara… then I'm Senju Hashirama."
Obito stared at him silently for a moment.
His tone turned icy.
"Enough nonsense."
"Tell me why you're here."
"I've never targeted you before."
"But you killed my subordinates, ruined my plans, and now you've walked straight into my territory."
"So what is it?"
"You want to fight?"
Naruto shook his head.
"I did want to fight you."
"But not today."
"I actually came here to… negotiate."
"Negotiate?" Obito repeated.
Naruto pointed casually toward the village outside.
"I want Kirigakure."
"But judging by the current situation, you're about to lose control of the Fourth Mizukage anyway."
"So why not hand Kirigakure over to me?"
Obito narrowed his eyes.
His hostility faded slightly.
"What price are you offering?"
"Kirigakure may not be the biggest village, but it's not some roadside shack either."
"You don't just get it for free."
In Obito's mind, this mysterious man was dangerous—but not someone he couldn't cooperate with.
After all, he'd just been double-crossed by Nagato and Loquat Jūzō.
He needed allies.
Because frankly, after seeing Jūzō betray him, trusting people like Itachi or Kisame suddenly felt like trusting a hungry shark not to bite.
Naruto thought for a moment.
"Most ninjas care about money or fame."
"But you?"
"You secretly manipulated the Fourth Mizukage."
"So I'm guessing your real goal was the Three-Tails."
"You want a Tailed Beast."
Obito's expression changed slightly.
Naruto had seen straight through him.
After a moment, he nodded.
"Yes."
Naruto smiled faintly.
"In that case, I'll give you one."
"But in exchange, you cooperate with me."
"And help my people become the heroes who 'saved' Kirigakure."
"Only one Tailed Beast?" Obito asked, slightly dissatisfied.
But after thinking for a moment, he still nodded.
"Fine."
"But why do you want a Tailed Beast?"
"If you can control Kirigakure, isn't that enough?"
Naruto shook his head.
"I plan to rebuild the Land of Uzumaki."
"And turn it into the sixth great nation."
"For that, Uzumaki needs a Jinchūriki."
Obito almost laughed.
The sixth great nation?
What a ridiculous ambition.
Even the Land of Rain couldn't claim that title unless Nagato gave up the Akatsuki.
But since Naruto was a potential ally, Obito didn't bother mocking him.
Instead, he changed the topic.
"So who are these subordinates of yours?"
"I'll be taking action soon."
"You'd better tell me quickly."
Naruto replied calmly.
"Mangetsu Hōzuki… and Zabuza Momochi."
Obito blinked in surprise.
Then he sighed.
"So those two actually betrayed Kirigakure and joined you."
"Looks like this village really can't escape being manipulated."
Naruto rolled his eyes behind the fox mask.
"Don't get too emotional."
"You're not actually the Fourth Mizukage."
Obito glanced at the village outside the window.
"…After controlling him for so many years," he said quietly, "you start to feel a little attached."
Then he looked back at Naruto.
"Oh, right."
"There's one more thing."
"I need your help killing someone."
Naruto tilted his head.
"Who?"
Obito looked toward Kirigakure.
His voice turned cold.
"A traitor."
"Loquat Jūzō."
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