In fact.
Back then,
When the masked man heard the news Zetsu brought back in Amegakure,
He had already suspected Kitsune Ogre's true purpose.
After all, a man who had disappeared for so long suddenly appeared in such a bustling city.
Not only did he not hide, but he also brazenly declared war on the bounty hunters.
Doing something this bizarre,
Either he had some problems with his brain, or he had some ulterior motive.
And based on the battle on the night of the massacre, the masked man simply couldn't believe that this Kitsune Ogre was someone simple-minded.
Therefore, he could basically conclude that he absolutely had some kind of scheme.
But regarding this scheme, the masked man couldn't come up with a reasonable inference.
It wasn't until he heard what Kyo just said,
That he suddenly realized.
'This Kitsune Ogre might really be using the powerful allure of the Sharingan to indirectly provoke a competition war among the Five Great Shinobi Villages.'
'But what benefit would that bring him?'
The masked man pondered with a darkened gaze.
Although he still had no clues, indeed, as Kyo said, it wasn't the right time to make a move directly.
A moment later.
The masked man Tobi slowly nodded,
Then, he immediately switched back to Tobi's goofy mode and chuckled:
"Ohh, Kyo-senpai's analysis really makes sense!"
"It looks like this time, we two are going to be the ones pulling the strings from behind!"
"But, speaking of which..."
"Kyo-senpai, you must have watched quite a bit of that Kitsune Ogre guy's fighting just now, right?"
"What do you think, can you beat him?"
The masked man Tobi asked in a very innocent tone.
The reason he asked this was naturally to have some peace of mind.
After all, if Kyo also got instantly defeated in a few exchanges like Itachi back then, then it would all be for nothing.
However, hearing the masked man's words, Kyo just slightly raised an eyebrow, seeming to ponder for a moment, then said with a light smile:
"Fifty-fifty."
"Against opponents with this level of strength, I often solo kill them too."
"...?"
As these words were spoken, the masked man's eyes immediately lit up.
Huh?
Kyo actually said that?
'Then it seems I could be a little more at ease this time.'
The masked man's heart settled slightly.
He couldn't wait to see the PvP between this Golden Eye Kyo and that White Blade Kitsune Ogre.
...
Meanwhile.
Outside Kikyo Castle, inside Konoha Village.
Just after the two intelligence operatives rapidly returned to Konoha from the bounty black market.
Suddenly,
The previously silent Hokage's office was broken by an incredulous voice.
"You say what!?"
"A wanted man called Kitsune Ogre actually brought out Sharingan as spoils of war?!"
Bang!
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, abruptly stood up from his office chair, his face almost turning green.
He stared at the two intelligence team members before him with a very complicated expression. After a long moment, he asked with a difficult expression:
"Are you sure that thing in his hand is really the Sharingan?"
As the words fell, the intelligence team leader below hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said in a deep voice:
"Yes."
"Based on my observation, it shouldn't be fake."
"After all, that blood-red color and eerie feeling, in the entire Shinobi World, only the Sharingan possesses them."
"However, what I don't understand is, how did the Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan, which should have been destroyed long ago, end up in the hands of this outsider."
At these words,
Hiruzen's old face abruptly froze.
He naturally thought of one person.
Shimura Danzo.
The leader of this Root organization, his old comrade, a man who every day wished he could dig out all the Uchiha Clan's eyes.
"Hmph."
"I understand. You two may leave now."
Hiruzen let out a light snort, then with a composed expression, said to the two intelligence members.
Hearing this, the intelligence team leader's expression shifted slightly.
He didn't immediately get up and leave, but spoke very cautiously:
"Hokage-sama, this matter is of great importance."
"To my knowledge, in that Kikyo Castle, besides us, there should be intelligence operatives from other countries."
"They should have also learned about the Sharingan."
"If, this time, those Sharingan in Kitsune Ogre's hands are actually seized by them,"
"Then, they will gain incredibly powerful strength out of nowhere."
"If war breaks out, it will be extremely unfavorable for the future of Konoha."
"I implore Hokage-sama to consider this decision carefully."
The intelligence team leader spoke solemnly.
He was also a former old member of Konoha's Anbu.
Therefore, his ability to analyze information had always been very strong, so he naturally dared to speak frankly before Hiruzen.
After hearing this, Hiruzen's gaze darkened slightly, and he nodded, saying:
"Rest assured, I will be careful."
"Even if other countries and villages learn of this information, they will need some time to get here."
"Konoha still has the advantage."
"The Sharingan is, after all, the private property of Konoha's Uchiha Clan."
"I will do my utmost to retrieve it."
"Now, you may leave."
At the end, Hiruzen slowly turned around, looking out the window at Konoha Village, seemingly lost in thought.
"Yes."
The two intelligence team members finally acknowledged and left.
A moment later,
Looking out the window, Hiruzen suddenly remembered something.
Not long ago,
A few days after the Uchiha Clan massacre incident.
Danzo had once coughed up blood severely and fallen unconscious.
Subsequently, as a senior advisor, Koharu had gone to Danzo's residence to visit him.
But after that visit,
Upon returning, Koharu kept telling people that she seemed to have seen what appeared to be " Uchiha Madara".
Hearing this seemingly absurd story,
Many thought she might be old and hallucinating.
However,
Hiruzen always felt something was off.
So,
Not long after,
He specifically went to find Danzo to understand the matter.
Unexpectedly,
When Hiruzen mentioned words like "Uchiha Madara " and "Sharingan",
The usually calm Shimura Danzo actually showed a brief, strange expression.
At the time,
Hiruzen hadn't paid too much attention to the peculiarity.
But today, after hearing the report from the two intelligence members, Hiruzen immediately sensed something was wrong back then.
'This guy must have some special connection to the Sharingan in that person's hands in Kikyo Castle.'
Thinking this, he slowly narrowed his eyes.
Although in the past,
He had always turned a blind eye to certain of Danzo's actions, after all, it was all for Konoha's good.
But this time it was different.
The power of the Sharingan was known throughout the entire Shinobi World.
If obtained by another village, Konoha's loss would be immeasurable.
This time,
He could no longer tolerate Danzo's reckless actions.
After a long silence,
Hiruzen finally darkened his expression slightly, raised his hand, and with a "snap", he summoned the hidden Anbu's members.
Swish! Swish!
Two swift sounds accompanied by wind.
"Hokage-sama!"
Two Anbu's members instantly appeared in the Hokage's office, kneeling on one knee, very respectfully.
Hiruzen, with his back to them, said in a deep voice:
"Go to the Shimura residence."
"Tell the Root's leader, Shimura Danzo, to come see me in the office."
"Yes!"
Although the two Anbu's members were confused, they didn't hesitate and immediately leaped away.
Hiruzen then turned around and sat back down in his office chair.
He lit his pipe and took a heavy drag.
But his expression remained solemn.
Amidst the swirling smoke,
His old eyes blurred as he murmured, almost to himself:
"This Shinobi World..."
"Is it ultimately going to undergo drastic changes because of the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan..."
...
Time flew by.
Soon, an old man wrapped in bandages with one eye arrived at the Hokage's office.
Naturally, it was Konoha's blame king, Shimura Danzo.
And at that moment,
The moment he stepped into the office,
Shimura Danzo spoke bluntly and indifferently:
"You wanted to see me, Hiruzen?"
He was naturally very confused.
After all, as the leader of Konoha's Root and a direct disciple of the Second Hokage, his treatment in Konoha had always been quite good.
But today was an exception.
Hiruzen actually had Anbu's members directly summon him to his door like summoning a subordinate.
Completely disregarding his reputation.
"..."
After hearing Danzo's words,
Hiruzen slowly looked up, his expression gloomy, and said indifferently:
"Tell me, Danzo."
"Was that so-called 'Kitsune Ogre's' astronomical bounty secretly issued by you back then?"
"..."
As the words fell, Danzo's gaze flickered slightly.
He didn't expect Hiruzen to suddenly bring this up at this time.
However,
He also had no intention of hiding it.
Anyway, no one knew why he put a bounty on Kitsune Ogre, so what if he admitted it?
So,
Danzo confidently raised his chin and said flatly:
"That's right, I issued it."
"!"
However, as the words fell,
Hiruzen's gaze abruptly darkened, and his expression immediately became ugly as he said in a deep voice:
"Then that means..."
"Those Sharingan he used to provoke the entire Shinobi World are also related to you?"
"Did you order him to do this?"
"!!"
Hearing this, Danzo's pupil abruptly constricted, and he froze.
'Huh?'
'Wait!'
'Using Sharingan to provoke the entire Shinobi World...?'
'What's going on?'
'Why the hell am I taking the blame again this time?'