Chapter 159: Obito: “my Alt Has Been Exposed!”, Ikeizumi And Konan
Mitarai Anko and Uchiha Izumi separated for the time being. Anko, walking home alone, suddenly felt that the surroundings were a bit too quiet, not even hearing a dog bark or a cat meow.
Her eyes narrowed instantly; she was familiar with this kind of atmosphere.
Back then, when the Third Hokage sent a few Anbu Ninja to track and investigate her, the surrounding quiet atmosphere was exactly like this.
Anko’s footsteps stopped. She stood in an empty alley, her body bathed in the shadows of the night.
She asked the air, “Hasn’t the investigation concerning me already ended? It was confirmed that I have no contact with Orochimaru, right?”
As soon as the words fell.
Figures emerged from the darkness. There were six Konoha Ninja, each wearing a strange mask.
Upon seeing the masks and attire of the other party, Anko suddenly froze.
“…Root?”
She realized these six people were not Anbu Ninja.
But Root Organization ninja from Konoha!
Anko realized something was wrong. When the Third Hokage sent people to watch her before, he only sent Anbu Ninja. Why this time, they suddenly deployed members of the Root Organization? If she remembered correctly, the Root Organization had been taken over by Koharu Utatane.
“Mitarai Anko,” a Root ninja spoke with a mature woman’s voice, clearly a female ninja. “As a Konoha ninja, you should not conceal important information from the village. Elder Koharu is giving you an opportunity; we hope you will seize it.”
Before Anko could say anything, the Root ninja continued to question her, “Where is the exact location of the Konoha rogue ninja Orochimaru?”
Mitarai Anko: “!!!”
How did Root know about Orochimaru? Could it be that when she was talking with Uchiha Izumi, some Root ninja overheard her?
After a two-second silence, Mitarai Anko briefly replied, “No comment.”
She firmly believed that Uchiha Ikeizumi would definitely kill Orochimaru.
However, if Orochimaru were handed over to the Third Hokage, or to Konoha higher-ups like Koharu Utatane.
They might deem Orochimaru to have value and thus spare his life.
This…
was clearly something Mitarai Anko could not accept.
“Mitarai Anko! Do you know what you are saying?” A Root ninja took a step forward and sternly shouted at Anko, “How much resources and effort did Konoha expend to train excellent new-generation ninja like you?”
“How much Elder Koharu and the Hokage value new-generation ninja like you? Don’t you feel any gratitude at all? Don’t you care about their kindness at all?”
“Have you forgotten the Will of Fire you learned at the Ninja Academy?”
Anko frowned and said, “Of course, I have not forgotten Konoha’s nurturing kindness. That’s why I am using my own method to make Konoha better. Furthermore, I am not an extreme person like Uchiha Itachi; I will not slaughter my clan. I will only punish the villains in the village in the name of absolute justice.”
She paused and continued, “You don’t need to try to get any information about Orochimaru from me. If you truly want information, you can directly ask Ikeizumi.”
“If Ikeizumi wants to tell you the information, he naturally won’t hide it. If he’s too lazy to say, it means you shouldn’t know.”
“But what if I myself ask you?” a slightly aged voice echoed from behind Mitarai Anko.
Anko’s pupils constricted slightly. When she turned around, she saw Koharu Utatane, protected by two Root guards, slowly walking towards them.
Koharu Utatane stopped about ten meters away from Anko.
The sense of distance and vigilance was obvious to anyone with eyes.
Koharu Utatane, with her wrinkled old face, said to Mitarai Anko, “Anko, I was the one who advised Hiruzen back then not to continue investigating you. You should know gratitude and tell me Orochimaru’s information.”
“Hoo…”
Anko suddenly chuckled. “What a grand occasion. The ninja way I once believed in was swift and decisive, and my word was final. Since I’ve already said ‘no comment,’ I naturally won’t reveal anything.”
Koharu Utatane sighed, “The new-generation elites of Konoha have all been brainwashed to an extreme degree by Uchiha Ikeizumi.”
She looked directly at Mitarai Anko and said, “If you were facing Danzo, you might be dead by now, your corpse already taken by him to steal information. But you are facing me. I am not as ferocious and dark as him; I will not cause you too much harm.”
As these words fell, black snakes slowly emerged from Anko’s sleeves.
She put on a cruelly smiling expression, but the vigilance in her eyes did not diminish. “I am not so easily captured. Although Orochimaru modified some of my memories, I haven’t forgotten the skills I learned from him.”
“Attack. Try not to harm her. Capture her alive and interrogate her using illusion techniques,” Koharu Utatane said, wasting no more words.
She felt that people brainwashed by absolute justice should not be reasoned with.
In any case, there was no point in saying more.
They wouldn’t listen to anything she said, and she didn’t want to hear anything they said.
Koharu Utatane’s words fell.
The six Root ninja swiftly surrounded Mitarai Anko. They all drew their ninja swords, but they did not point the blades at Mitarai Anko. Instead, they turned the sword hilts and swung at her with the flat of the blade.
Anko immediately counterattacked, and the black snakes from her sleeves shot out like arrows from a taut bow towards the Root ninja.
While the Root ninja were cutting down the black snakes with their ninja swords.
Anko bit her thumb and slammed one hand heavily onto the ground.
“Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!!!”
…
In Ichiraku Ramen Shop, located elsewhere in Konoha.
The Hyuga Main Family members maintained absolute silence. Hinata even put down her ramen bowl and sat in a formal posture, her small face showing visible tension.
Every customer entering or leaving the shop drew their attention.
This made many customers patronizing Ichiraku Ramen Shop feel uneasy.
Normally.
The Hyuga Main Family acting this way would surely affect Ichiraku Ramen Shop’s business, and Ayame, the shopkeeper’s daughter, should have come out to persuade them.
But who could blame them for paying so much? The girl with the Byakugan, known as “Miss Hinata,” alone ate over ten bowls of extra-large ramen, nearly twenty bowls.
Suddenly.
Hinata Hyuga’s eyes widened slightly. She unconsciously tightened her grip on Hanabi’s hand, causing Hanabi’s delicate little face to show a pained expression. But thinking of her sister’s instructions not to speak carelessly, she could only cover her mouth and endure.
‘They’re here!!!’
Hyuga Keizuka, whose wallet was significantly lighter, took a deep breath. His gaze fell upon the approaching figure, but he dared not meet their eyes. He could only shift his gaze downward and then stand up to speak, “…Lord Ikeizumi, the Hyuga Main Family is all here.”
It was Uchiha Ikeizumi who had imprisoned most of the Hyuga Main Family in Konoha Prison, leading to their current pathetic state.
Yet, he still had to respectfully address the other party as “Lord,” completely disgracng the Hyuga Main Family.
If only he could be a bit more assertive…
“If Lord Ikeizumi has any instructions, the Hyuga Main Family will fully assist!” What Hyuga Keizuka thought and what he said were completely different. He was afraid that a single misstep would make him a great sinner of the Hyuga Main Family, nailed to the pillar of shame in the Hyuga clan’s history.
“The Main Family will temporarily reside at the inn on Konoha’s Fourth Street,” Uchiha Ikeizumi said directly, without wasting any words. “The rooms have been booked for a whole year, funded by the Konoha Uchiha Police Force. Do not return to the Hyuga Clan Compound for now.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi paused and continued, “Tsunade, one of the Konoha Sannin, is also currently residing at that inn. I have already spoken with her, and she will look after you.”
The Hyuga Main Family members were surprised.
“Meow, ‘looking after’ doesn’t mean doing anything for you, nor does it mean treating you like infants, nor will it grant you any special privileges. Don’t misunderstand,”
Kijiro chimed in, “It’s simply that Lord Ikeizumi feels that some members of the Hyuga Branch Family are not honest, and some extremist Branch Family members might target you Main Family members, especially the women and children.”
“Lord Ikeizumi arranged this lodging for you and assigned one of the Sannin, Tsunade, to deter those petty criminals, to prevent such unnecessary tragedies from happening.”
Hyuga Keizuka’s eyes widened slightly.
This…
Was the reason for bringing the entire Hyuga Main Family here?
To be honest.
Hyuga Keizuka also felt that the current Hyuga Clan Compound was not particularly safe. Especially in the last two days, he always felt that some Branch Family ninja were looking at him strangely, making him, a Special Jonin of the Main Family, feel a chill.
Living under the same roof, if the Branch Family were to attack the Main Family, and the Main Family dared not use the Caged Bird Seal.
It would be too easy!
Just putting some medicine in their food, and the remaining few Hyuga Main Family members could be wiped out!
*Hiss!*
So, Uchiha Ikeizumi was actually looking out for the Hyuga Main Family this time?
The Hyuga Main Family members suddenly felt as if they were in a dream. The day before, the other party had “slaughtered” the Hyuga Main Family; and the next day, he showed such care for them.
Wasn’t that a bit too disjointed?
“Meow,” Kijiro seemed to be able to read their minds, speaking in his peculiar tone, “Lord Ikeizumi doesn’t view others based on their faction, but based on their goodness or evil. You’ve heard so many rumors about Lord Ikeizumi in Konoha, don’t you understand this point?”
Hyuga Keizuka suddenly realized.
In other words, they were the few good people among the Main Family.
For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.
After hesitating for a while.
Hyuga Keizuka bowed his head.
“Thank you!”
This also meant that the Hyuga Main Family agreed to Uchiha Ikeizumi’s arrangement, as it would indeed make them safer.
…
Land of Rain.
Behind Konan, white paper charms transformed into a pair of angelic white wings, lifting her into the air.
Under Juzo Biwa’s gaze, Konan flew directly over the cliff and canyon, arriving on Juzo Biwa and the Wood Style Clone’s side.
The wings behind her scattered with a bang, and she landed on the ground expressionlessly. Several paper charms appeared beneath her feet, supporting her soles.
This prevented the muddy water from the rain from soiling her body in the slightest.
Seeing her fly over so openly and without hesitation.
Juzo Biwa realized that Uchiha Ikeizumi’s Wood Style Clone was right. This woman before him must be a clone! If she were the real body, she wouldn’t dare to stand alone in front of the ‘Lava Release Ferocious Beast,’ unless she also knew that this was just a Wood Style Clone.
The thought flashed through Juzo Biwa’s mind.
He almost got dizzy from the word “clone.”
“The mission I gave you… was to obtain corresponding special information. Not to betray Akatsuki and bring him to the Land of Rain,” Konan’s pair of amber eyes glanced at Juzo Biwa. “When you joined Akatsuki, I warned you. Betraying the Akatsuki organization will come with unimaginably great costs. At that time, ‘death’ might even be a luxury.”
“Hey, hey, hey…”
Juzo Biwa flatly denied it. “Don’t project your malicious assumptions onto me. Did you ever tell me not to bring Uchiha Ikeizumi here?”
He paused, and under Konan’s increasingly cold expression, he continued, “Moreover…”
“The man who truly knows Uchiha Madara’s secret has come directly to you. Doesn’t this allow you to understand Uchiha Madara better? Isn’t this what you wanted?”
Juzo Biwa exhaled. Since things had come to this, he could only put on a brave face.
He looked directly at Konan and then said, “Or is this Konoha’s Lava Release Ferocious Beast making you afraid? Strictly speaking, I have overfulfilled the mission you gave me. Is our Akatsuki organization going to discard its tools after they’ve served their purpose with a newcomer?!”
Konan looked deeply at Juzo Biwa.
Then, she looked at Uchiha Ikeizumi’s Wood Style Clone with a calm expression.
She said, “Even in the Land of Rain, your fame is widely heard. Uchiha Ikeizumi, the Uchiha genius active during the Third Shinobi World War; the founder of the absolute justice ninja way; the man who dared to kill the Daimyo of the Land of Fire alone and still escape from the Capital of the Land of Fire unscathed.”
“You may not know, your deeds have already spread throughout the ninja world. Many busybodies have already equated you and your ancestor Uchiha Madara from back then, believing that you, Uchiha Ikeizumi, will be the second Uchiha Madara.”
At this point, Konan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“As far as I know… ‘Uchiha Madara’ seems very interested in you. He is secretly investigating everything about you. This makes me realize that you seem to hold some of his secrets.”
“How about we make a deal? The Akatsuki organization can help you kill someone, anyone, as long as it’s within Akatsuki’s capabilities.”
“What you need to give Akatsuki is Uchiha Madara’s secret.”
The air suddenly grew quiet. Drizzling rain began to fall again. Konan did not deliberately use paper charms to shield herself from the rain, letting it drench her body, causing her black robe with red clouds to cling to her skin. A few strands of clumped hair also stuck to her fair face.
Juzo Biwa felt the somewhat heavy atmosphere and inexplicably felt a little nervous, which he found absurd.
He, a dignified member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, actually felt nervous in such a situation?
If word got out, it would be utterly humiliating.
Uchiha Ikeizumi’s Wood Style Clone finally spoke. He was also looking directly at Konan, meeting her amber eyes. “I don’t need the Akatsuki organization to help me kill anyone. If we are to trade information for conditions, then all core members of your Akatsuki organization surrendering themselves would perhaps be the best condition for a trade.”
Konan was stunned.
A hint of annoyance flickered across her aloof and cold face.
Before she could speak, Uchiha Ikeizumi’s Wood Style Clone continued expressionlessly, “However… if making the information about that guy public can cause him some trouble and make his life less pleasant, I would be quite happy to do so.”
“If that mentally ill lickspittle can die because of it, then even better, even if it’s not by my hand, but in an infight between villains.”
“Moreover, Uchiha Obito’s secret is not a secret to me at all, it’s not even considered information.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi’s Wood Style Clone’s shocking statement rendered Konan momentarily dumbfounded.
For a while, she didn’t even have time to dwell on being implicitly called a “villain.”
Konan’s brows furrowed. “Uchiha… Obito?!”
“You speak,” the Wood Style Clone glanced at Juzo Biwa.
“Ah? Me?” Juzo Biwa was sweating profusely. He noticed Konan was also looking at him.
*Hiss!* This guy dragged me into it. Isn’t that clearly saying—he also knows ‘Uchiha Madara’s’ secret, but didn’t report it to that woman?
But at this moment, Juzo Biwa could only take a deep breath.
After calming his emotions, he put on a stern face and simply recounted everything he knew.
Konan fell into a deathly silence upon hearing this.
She suddenly felt it was absurd… A Konoha brat younger than herself had managed to fool her and Nagato.
The other party was just a Konoha Genin named Uchiha Obito, and the so-called “Uchiha Madara” was merely him using Madara’s name for clout.
But Konan did not believe this information was false.
Because only then could it explain why “Uchiha Madara” was so interested in Uchiha Ikeizumi.
All doubts were answered at this moment.
No one knew how long she remained silent, nor how much time passed to process such an astonishing amount of information.
A slight ripple finally appeared in Konan’s eyes.
She looked deeply at Uchiha Ikeizumi. “You traveled all the way from the Land of Fire to the Land of Rain to tell me all these secrets, without using them for any trade, but simply wanting to make Uchiha Obito’s life difficult? Honestly, I don’t believe it. My subconscious tells me that your purpose for coming to the Land of Rain is definitely not that simple.”
—Of course it’s not simple! Do you think this guy is targeting just one Uchiha Obito? He’s targeting the entire Akatsuki organization!
Juzo Biwa grumbled inwardly.
“But men like you, as long as you don’t say it, probably no one in the world can guess what you’re thinking,” Konan continued before the Wood Style Clone could speak. “Whatever your purpose, I will give you one piece of advice.”
“Don’t naively think that you can stand against the entire Akatsuki organization with your so-called absolute justice ninja way. Stay away from worlds you shouldn’t be involved in if you want to live longer — this is a reminder, considering you’ve selflessly shared information.”
Afterward, she looked at Juzo Biwa. “I still doubt your loyalty to the Akatsuki organization. This mission does not count. Because you went off track and did some unnecessary things.”
Juzo Biwa: “???”
He almost got killed in Konoha, and this suspicious woman still wanted to exploit a newcomer like him?
However.
The other party’s words also implied that he had not been expelled from the Akatsuki.
Juzo Biwa felt that this woman was acting this way out of consideration for Uchiha Ikeizumi. She wanted to keep him around to establish a channel of communication with Uchiha Ikeizumi, turning him from one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist into a tool for relaying messages!
Juzo Biwa suddenly realized Konan’s true intentions.
While he was lost in thought, Juzo Biwa watched as Konan grew wings behind her.
But at this moment.
A kunai flashed past Juzo Biwa’s ear and, with lightning speed, instantly struck Konan’s throat.
“Allowing a villain like you, who acts so high and mighty and treats innocent lives as a game, to leave freely, even if it’s just a paper clone, still makes me very displeased.”
The Wood Style Clone said indifferently.
Konan narrowed her eyes, and her body instantly dissolved into a large amount of paper.
She…
was indeed a clone.
“So cautious.” Juzo Biwa watched the pieces of paper drift down, and he clicked his tongue. “If it had been her real body, she might have fallen into our hands.”
As soon as he said this, Juzo Biwa himself paused for a moment.
Something is wrong!
Why would he say “fallen into our hands”? When did he instinctively believe that he would cooperate with Uchiha Ikeizumi to destroy the Akatsuki?
Damn it! Could I have been brainwashed by his Absolute Justice?
A Sharingan Illusion Technique?
When did I fall for it?
…
“Hoo… he instantly destroyed my paper clone, so fast that my paper clone couldn’t even react. He’s definitely very strong.”
In an Akatsuki base within the Land of Rain, Konan slowly exhaled.
The memories of the paper clone flooded her mind, causing her to frown slightly.
After a full moment.
She finally recovered.
“Him?” Nagato also frowned. “The rookie Juzo Biwa met your clone, right? He attacked your clone?”
“No.”
Konan shook her head. “Although Juzo Biwa seems a bit unreliable and is likely not fully loyal to the Akatsuki, he doesn’t have the guts to attack an Akatsuki core member for now. The one who destroyed my paper clone was Uchiha Ikeizumi from Konoha.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Nagato’s expression. “He’s come to the Land of Rain?”
“Yes.”
Konan nodded. “It’s exactly as the rough information we initially gathered suggested. He’s a difficult person to communicate with and is very stubborn. I don’t even quite understand what he’s trying to do.”
She recounted what had just happened, which led Nagato to ponder. “He simply gave you that information.”
“Nagato.”
Konan interrupted Nagato’s thoughts. “The information Uchiha Ikeizumi possesses about ‘Uchiha Madara’ is indeed astonishing. The truth is – Uchiha Madara has been dead for a long time. The one cooperating with us is a person from Konoha named Uchiha Obito.”
“Hoo!”
A shadow flickered in Konan’s eyes. “Meaning, a Konoha genin stood before you and me, acting arrogant and dictating to us. He’s just a cowardly junior from Konoha!”
“Juzo Biwa told me… Uchiha Obito is Jiraiya’s grand-disciple, and his teacher is Minato Namikaze. Strictly speaking, he is a junior to us and Yahiko.”
Konan’s voice echoed slightly in the dark cave.
Regardless of Uchiha Obito’s motives, or whether he was truly on the same page as the Akatsuki.
In Konan’s eyes, deception was intolerable. Once she realized that the other party had deceived her, and that it was a monumental lie, Konan lost all trust in Uchiha Obito.
Nagato fell into a long silence.
“Nagato,” Konan continued, “Juzo Biwa… on behalf of Uchiha Ikeizumi, also revealed Uchiha Obito’s abilities and specifically pointed out his weaknesses.”
“In front of you and me…”
“He no longer hides any secrets!”
…
At the same time, whether by coincidence or not, Uchiha Obito returned to the Akatsuki’s secret base in the Land of Rain, feeling uneasy.
Because, he felt that if he didn’t return soon, the suspicious old woman would perceive it as “guilt.”
That woman was secretly investigating the secrets held by Uchiha Ikeizumi.
This meant that the other party had already become suspicious of him.
Uchiha Obito believed that at this time, he needed to show an attitude of “disdain.” After all, the real ‘Uchiha Madara’ wouldn’t care much about ants like Uchiha Ikeizumi.
“Hoo… I was indeed too impatient before, and in a moment of carelessness, I triggered a series of consequences. Black Zetsu still hasn’t recovered, and Uchiha Itachi directly lost his life…”
Obito deeply reflected on himself for a full five seconds.
Then, he put on a mask to hide his face, slightly adjusted his throat to avoid speaking in Uchiha Madara’s voice later, and then, without batting an eye, found Konan and Nagato.
However.
Upon meeting these two, for some reason, Obito felt that they were a bit strange.
Or rather, the atmosphere of the scene was very strange.
His brows furrowed slightly beneath the mask, but Obito didn’t pay it much mind. He said in a hoarse voice, “I went to Konoha earlier to investigate the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Hmph, have the Akatsuki recruited any qualified newcomers during my absence? The plan we need to execute in the future requires quite a few capable individuals.”
Nagato was looking at him.
Konan was looking at him.
“We have recruited someone,” Konan said expressionlessly. “The person is a ninja from the Uchiha Clan, so it’s possible you might know him.”
Obito was startled.
“Who is it?” he asked, his tone outwardly calm.
“Uchiha Obito.”
Konan replied.
…
…
