Naruto: Uchiha Rejects Konoha

Rain Shinobi Village. On the high iron tower, Tendo and Konan stood together, looking down at the village shrouded in heavy rain.

"More and more outsiders have come to the village recently, including shinobi from Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure. Have they noticed something?"

Konan said, worry evident in her voice. Ever since they had killed Hanzō of the Salamander and secretly taken control of Rain Shinobi Village, the village had been entirely under their rule.

They had always maintained the illusion that Hanzō of the Salamander was still alive, rarely making any moves in the ninja world and hiding very well.

Now, people from the Five Great Shinobi Villages were beginning to frequent Rain Shinobi Village, which was not a good sign for Akatsuki.

"I heard from Zetsu that Orochimaru was captured in Konoha. Perhaps he leaked the information."

Tendo said with an indifferent expression. As a corpse, his face remained emotionless no matter what he did, except when he was beaten.

"The issue is that Konoha has not taken action. If Orochimaru had leaked information, Konoha would have been the first to test us, yet the visitors are all from other villages."

Konan continued, her concern deepening. The current goal of the Akatsuki organization was to capture the Tailed Beasts. Although they had not yet acted due to limited strength, such an objective was enough to make them the ninja world's public enemy.

"Konan, you're mistaken. The shinobi from Konoha were the first to arrive, but they didn't enter the village. They only moved around the outskirts. You didn't notice it."

Tendo said, slowly raising his hands.

"Universal Pull!"

With a loud roar, several figures were pulled from the shadows of the building and fell heavily at their feet.

"They're from Kumogakure... If this continues, they're bound to discover what's happening in Rain Shinobi Village. Nagato, what should we do?"

Konan looked down at the unconscious shinobi, her worry deepening.

"Find a way to extract their information and determine their purpose here. Also, inform the others and investigate what's happening in the world of the shinobi."

Tendo was silent for a moment, and after activating the Rain Tiger Free Technique, Konan became even more aware of Rain Shinobi Village's current state.

****

Elsewhere, outside Konoha Village, a swirling vortex appeared, and Obito, wearing his mask, emerged from it. Black Zetsu, covered in its signature aloe-like appendages, also appeared on the ground.

"Uchiha Mingfeng's eyes seem to have grown stronger again. I've only seen Susanoo of that scale with Madara-sama."

Black Zetsu spoke slowly, his words aimed at provoking Obito.

Since the encounter with the Mist shinobi, Obito had wanted to reclaim his Sharingan, but despite the time that had passed and their long period of lurking in Konoha, he had yet to make up his mind.

"Do you think he could reach Madara's level?"

Obito looked toward the Hokage Rock and spoke in a low voice.

"Of course... that's impossible! Madara-sama was the one who awakened the Rinnegan.

However, Uchiha Yagami's strength is already obstructing our plans.

The Three-Tails is still in his hands.

If you want to retrieve it, you'll have to face him."

"Inevitably, with the current combat strength of the Uchiha clan, even if Nagato were to come, he might not gain any advantage."

"Furthermore, that brat Uchiha Yagami seems to have noticed our presence. The recent actions of the Uchiha clan have brought a lot of attention to Rain Shinobi Village. Nagato may not even get a chance to confront the Uchiha."

Black Zetsu continued, noting that while the power of the Six Paths of Pain with the Rinnegan is indeed formidable, the Uchiha, armed with multiple Sharingan, shouldn't be underestimated.

Especially with Shisui's Distinguished Heavenly Gods—such a dominant genjutsu could be too much for Nagato to handle, considering those eyes aren't even his own.

Nagato was merely chosen by Madara to sustain his Rinnegan. Although he can use part of Rinnegan's power, he cannot wield it to its full potential as Madara could.

"What a change! Since Uchiha Yagami appeared, the Uchiha clan has become an obstacle to us..."

Obito murmured, glancing toward Konoha's cemetery with a rare glimmer of tenderness.

"Rin... don't blame me... Where is Kakashi right now?"

The tenderness faded quickly, and Obito returned to his usual tone.

"He's currently patrolling the Sixth Street of Konoha with two Chūnin accompanying him."

Black Zetsu replied with a grin.

"Then let's go!"

The space vortex appeared again, swallowing Black Zetsu and Obito. When they re-emerged, they were within Konoha.

Although Konoha had fortified its defences due to the damaged barrier, aiming to deter invasions from other villages, Obito's Kamui rendered these measures useless.

Soon, the two spotted Kakashi on patrol, and Obito couldn't help feeling puzzled.

Why can't I sense my other eye, even when I'm so close to Kakashi?

"Can't you feel it? Danzo had taken Kakashi's eye earlier. After being returned, it underwent some unfavourable changes, so he sealed it."

Black Zetsu noticed Obito's confusion and explained.

Black Zetsu, while not possessing other abilities, excelled at gathering information. During his time lurking in Konoha, he had uncovered a great deal.

"I see… Kakashi really is a failure. He couldn't even safeguard an eye, let alone protect Rin..."

Just as Obito finished speaking, the space vortex swallowed him again, and he reappeared behind Kakashi.

"Captain Kakashi! Watch your back!"

Kakashi appeared behind Kakashi. Kakashi himself didn't react, but one of the Chūnin with him spotted the figure and quickly shouted a warning.

Kakashi reacted instantly, drawing the dagger on his back and stabbing at Obito from a sharp angle.

"What?"

As Kakashi saw his dagger and arm pass through the masked man's body, he froze. Just as he considered if it was an illusion, the figure struck him hard in the abdomen.

The searing pain told him that this was no illusion; the person before him was real.

"Sharingan! You're..."

Noticing the red eyes beneath the mask, Kakashi's whole body tensed while the other two members of the Police Department had already sent out a signal. Konoha, in a state of heightened alert, responded swiftly.

"An Uchiha wearing a mask? Could it be..."

Among the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, Shikaku's expression shifted instantly upon seeing the man facing Kakashi.

Few details remained from the Nine-Tails Rebellion, but some clues persisted—such as the mask and the Sharingan—otherwise, the Uchiha clan wouldn't have been suspected.

As a longtime member of the Nara clan and an active figure in the Hokage office, Shikaku naturally knew the significance of this.

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