Tobi?!
This masked man just said his name was Tobi?!
In Shimizu's memories from his previous life, Tobi… wasn't that the brat named Obito Uchiha?
But Obito had only just become a chūnin. How could he possibly possess this kind of strength?!
And Zetsu?
He said his name was Zetsu?
Wasn't Zetsu the reconnaissance member of the Akatsuki—the strange half-black, half-white, pitcher-plant-like being?
But the masked man in front of him looked nothing like that plant creature!
And this unbelievably powerful, unknown ninja might have once been involved in the death of the Second Hokage…
That was during the First Great Ninja War—a time before Shimizu was even born.
If it were true, then this Tobi would have to be at least fifty years old…
The whole thing was absurd.
"Names are just codenames. They don't mean much. I've killed more people than I can count. If I had to announce my great name before every kill, that'd be exhausting," Tobi said casually.
Indeed—what did it matter who Tobi was? What did it matter what "Zetsu" meant?
The real question now was how to break the stalemate—and how to exploit the man's big mouth to extract useful information.
"Sounds like you've accomplished quite a few extraordinary things," Shimizu said, softening his tone, even adding a hint of admiration.
He met Minato's eyes and gave a slight shake of his head, signaling him not to act yet.
"Hahaha! Well, I'm a low-profile person. Of course the outside world wouldn't know I exist." Tobi flicked his black cloak and strolled toward Shimizu. "After all, everyone who knew… is already dead."
"When you get to the Pure Land and see Tobirama, remember to send him my regards." His tone was smug.
"You've been monitoring us all along? That's how you knew we'd be here in advance?"
"Us? Hahaha, don't make me laugh. My target was always just the blond one." Tobi exaggeratedly clutched his stomach in laughter, then clapped his hands. "As for you civilian ninja… you're just collateral. Blame your bad luck."
"Then how did you know where Minato would appear? Someone tipped you off, didn't they?"
"Because I see and hear everything. There's nothing I don't know."
So there was a traitor in Konoha. But who?
"Why do you want to kill Minato?"
"…Because I find blonds annoying," Tobi replied indifferently.
"And the Second Hokage?"
"I found white hair annoying too."
Such a ridiculous excuse… and yet he still refused to reveal the truth.
"…You truly do possess strength worthy of pride," Shimizu flattered him again before pressing further. "The Kazekage's disappearance was connected to you. The stolen gold was your doing. Even the Hidden Rain Village's recent isolation—your scheme. And this Third Great Ninja War—you're the one who ignited it. Am I right?"
"Hey, hey, don't dump every blame on me. I can't handle all of that alone. Though… I do have something to do with it."
"As for the war, how can you say I started it? I merely awakened the desires in your hearts."
Tobi didn't deny it.
That meant many of the previous abnormalities were indeed connected to him…
And the hundreds of Hidden Rain ninja before them forced Shimizu to accept that the Hidden Rain had long been Tobi's accomplices.
This Tobi had been hiding behind the scenes all along—and ultimately provoked the Third Great Ninja War.
Why? What does he gain?
"You orchestrated this war to obtain greater power?" Shimizu speculated.
Perhaps the more people who died, the stronger he became?
Was there some secret forbidden technique at play?
"Hehehe… The Third Great Ninja War has already begun. And the flames will only burn hotter and hotter. Just thinking about it excites me!" the masked man said, deliberately avoiding a direct answer.
"Konoha's strength isn't something Sunagakure can contend with. I assume someone as all-knowing as you understands that even better."
In Shimizu's memories, the Third Great Ninja War lasted for years. In its later stages, the other three great nations would gradually be drawn into it as well.
Could it be that all of that had been orchestrated by this masked man calling himself Tobi?
"True… But the gap in strength between Konoha and Sunagakure is only temporary. Originally, Konoha was supposed to suffer far heavier losses in the early stages of the war. Who would've thought you'd discover that other cave months in advance? Strange thing is, I clearly informed them of the movements of those four little rats, yet one still managed to escape… Useless trash—good for nothing."
Wait, one?!
But he and Kurokawa had both survived, hadn't they?
"!!!"
"That shocked expression usually means… you've realized something rather significant?" Tobi had already walked up to Shimizu and crouched down, staring directly into his eyes.
Shimizu lowered his head to avoid his gaze and said softly, "So that ANBU team… the man and the woman… they both died."
"Of course. If I personally stepped in, how could they possibly escape?" Tobi waved his bandage-wrapped right hand in front of Shimizu's eyes. "By the way, I still remember the girl's final scream. Tsk tsk… sounded pretty miserable. I think she was shouting something about 'Mizu'?"
"Sorry, I really can't remember the names of background characters," Tobi added, his apology utterly insincere.
"…"
Following Shimizu's line of sight, Tobi noticed the Konoha ninja had been staring at his own blood pooling on the ground.
"Do you know why I'm telling you all this?" Tobi dipped a finger into a drop of Shimizu's blood and examined it closely.
"…" Shimizu remained silent.
"I'm curious. Why have you never looked directly into my eyes?"
"…"
"You were asking so many questions just now. Why so quiet all of a sudden? When I ask you something, you clam up. That's not fair, is it?"
"…"
"…You don't actually think that staying silent will stop me from killing you, do you?"
In an instant, nearly ten wooden branches shot up from the ground, tightly binding Shimizu. Two of them aimed directly at his heart, ready to strike lethally at any moment.
Not far away, Minato—who had been watching closely—tightened his grip on his tri-pronged kunai.
"…Lean closer. I'll tell you why."
"Don't try to trick me. Otherwise, I'll make you wish you were dead," Tobi warned as he slowly leaned in.
Shimizu opened his mouth—but no sound came out.
"What did you—"
Suddenly, dozens of unexpected water needles burst from Shimizu's mouth.
Water Release: Heavenly Weeping!
These high-speed water needles, fired directly from the mouth, possessed terrifying velocity. Among the Water Release techniques created by the Second Hokage, this was one of the fastest.
Every single needle struck its target in an instant.
Blood splattered everywhere.
"Ah—damn it, that hurts!!" Tobi screamed in pain.
At such close range, with such speed, not even space-time techniques could evade it.
Enraged and humiliated, Tobi activated Wood Release even as he was struck. The two branches already poised to attack immediately shot toward Shimizu.
This little brat actually dared to trick me?!
I would tear this arrogant whelp to pieces!
…
...
......