The forest outside Konoha Village.
Standing on the branch of a tall ancient tree was a man wearing a black long robe and a spiral-shaped mask.
He stood quietly, his gaze seemingly piercing through the vast forest toward Konoha Village in the distance.
Beside him, a peculiar man resembling a pitcher plant emerged from the ancient tree trunk.
When they say "emerged," they truly mean emerged.
It was as if he had grown out of the tree; half his body was sticking out while the other half was still stuck inside the trunk.
These two were naturally Uchiha Obito and Black Zetsu.
Their purpose for coming outside Konoha Village was naturally to execute the Eye of the Moon Plan and seize the Nine-Tailed Fox.
Uchiha Obito had formulated this plan long ago.
Based on the information Zetsu had gathered, the Tailed Beast seal is at its weakest when a female Jinchuriki is giving birth.
Taking advantage of this timing, Uchiha Obito would be able to easily undo the seal and release the Nine-Tailed.
Otherwise, the seal on a Jinchuriki is usually quite firm.
Not to mention Uzumaki Kushina, an orphan of the Uzumaki Clan, the clan most proficient in sealing techniques in the entire Ninja World.
Under normal circumstances, even if Uzumaki Kushina stood right in front of Uchiha Obito, he would have no way to undo the Nine-Tailed's seal.
"Have you scouted out the situation clearly?"
Uchiha Obito's cold voice came from beneath the mask.
"Yes, Konoha's defensive forces have contracted. A large number of troops are amassed near a certain private residence."
"That is likely where the Jinchuriki is giving birth."
Black Zetsu replied.
Speaking of which, Black Zetsu's scouting ability is arguably the strongest in the Ninja World.
Able to move and hide between the earth and trees, he can easily bypass Konoha's defenses and barriers, swaggering right into Konoha Village to investigate the situation.
Just now, he had made another trip to Konoha to find out the exact location of Uzumaki Kushina's delivery, facilitating Uchiha Obito's surprise attack.
"Hmph, ordinary Ninja pose no threat at all."
Uchiha Obito replied dismissively.
He paid no attention to Black Zetsu's report that large defensive forces were concentrated around the place where Uzumaki Kushina was giving birth.
Rather, it would be strange if the esteemed Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of Konoha Village didn't have this level of security during childbirth.
(In the original work, there wasn't, perhaps due to excessive arrogance. It's bizarre that Konoha only had the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's wife, Biwako Sarutobi, attending the birth and guarding the site.)
But for Uchiha Obito, who possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan, ordinary Ninja, no matter how numerous, cannot pose a threat to him.
His Mangekyo ocular technique, Kamui, can evade all damage, and combined with Black Zetsu's stealth ability, no amount of defensive forces can stop him.
"Where are Jiraiya and Tsunade?"
Uchiha Obito remembered something, frowned, and asked.
"They left Konoha last month. They're probably wandering around somewhere in the Ninja World right now."
Black Zetsu replied.
He has been monitoring the area around Konoha for some time now.
The last time Jiraiya and Tsunade returned to Konoha, he felt a bit worried.
After all, Jiraiya and Tsunade are different from ordinary Konoha Ninja; with their Kage-level strength, they could certainly pose a threat to Uchiha Obito and hinder the mission's completion.
Fortunately, Black Zetsu personally saw the two of them leave Konoha Village last month and even sent White Zetsu to track them separately.
Even now, one of them is still peeping into women's bathhouses, and the other is gambling.
They completely disregarded the Jinchuriki's delivery in the Village.
"Hmph! Arrogant Konoha will eventually pay the price."
Uchiha Obito sneered, revealing profound sarcasm.
Since he himself was from Konoha, he naturally understood the mindset of these Konoha people.
Proud, arrogant, believing they have no equal in the Ninja World.
Konoha is the safest place in the entire Ninja World, and no one can invade Konoha, which is guarded by numerous powerful individuals.
This is what all Konoha people think.
When you think about it, it makes sense. From the First Ninja World War to the Third Great Ninja War, Konoha was always fighting 1 vs 4.
And in the end, Konoha always achieved victory.
Furthermore, Konoha Village had never been invaded by an enemy; anyone who dared to offend Konoha was repelled right at the border.
This is the source of the Konoha people's arrogance.
But unfortunately, those achievements were created during Konoha's peak.
The current Konoha has seen the White Fang fall, the Sannin leave the Village, and its core forces either dead or injured.
It is no longer the Konoha it once was.
"Let's go. It's time for Konoha to wake up."
"Remember, the world we live in is a hell!"
Uchiha Obito's tone carried a bloodthirsty and maniacal implication. A powerful suction force emanated from his exposed right eye on the mask, twisting space and pulling Uchiha Obito inside.
"Tch, brat, you better complete the plan perfectly."
After Uchiha Obito left, Black Zetsu suddenly sneered dismissively, then submerged into the tree trunk and disappeared... In a hidden room in Konoha Village at night.
Uzumaki Kushina was giving birth, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's wife was busy assisting the delivery with several medical Ninja.
Outside the room, Minato Namikaze was guarding with full concentration.
A dark figure appeared not far away.
It was a man wearing a black long robe and a yellowish-brown spiral mask.
The man who suddenly appeared looked coldly at Minato Namikaze.
The only exposed right eye was a Sharingan surrounded by three tomoe!
This person was Uchiha Obito, hiding in the darkness and coldly staring at the situation inside the room.
Uchiha Obito's feelings towards Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina were complex.
He resented Minato Namikaze because he was absent during two crucial moments, leading to tragedies happening one after another to him.
The first time was during the Battle of Kannabi Bridge. Minato Namikaze was executing another mission, and during a battle involving his team of three—himself, Kakashi Hatake, and Rin Nohara—the cave collapsed, burying him under a boulder.
The second time, having miraculously survived, he heard that Rin Nohara was being attacked and rushed to the rescue. When he arrived at the scene, he witnessed Kakashi Hatake's hand piercing through Rin Nohara's chest.
This time, Minato Namikaze was absent again.
Although Minato Namikaze had a reason for his absence, and it was a reason everyone accepted, they would not blame him for their injuries.
After all, he had other missions, and Ninja prioritize missions above all else.
However, in Uchiha Obito's view, it was entirely Minato Namikaze's fault.
If only he had arrived a little earlier, wouldn't he have been able to save both him and Rin Nohara?
If only Minato Namikaze had always been by their side, wouldn't the tragedy have been averted?
But he wasn't there!
That's why he was buried under the boulder!
That's why Rin died by Kakashi's hand!
Uchiha Obito, powerless to change reality, could only vent his anger on Minato Namikaze, who seemed responsible.
This exposed the weakness and cowardice deep within him.
"Let's settle this score properly today, Teacher Minato!"
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