Chapter 160: Obito Breaks Out In A Cold Sweat! Making Use Of The Useless Uchiha Itachi
“Lady Tsunade, are you really going to agree to Uchiha Ikeizumi and take care of the Hyuga Main Family’s women and children?”
Inside a certain inn in Konoha, Shizune, holding Tonton, curiously asked Tsunade: “In that case, doesn’t that mean Lady Tsunade will have to stay in Konoha for a while longer?”
“Whatever!”
Tsunade waved her hand, her carefree sitting posture not very elegant, and the loose clothes draped casually over her body even showed a bit of exposure.
But on site, there were only her and Shizune, at most also a dwarf sow pig named Tonton, so Tsunade didn’t care.
Tsunade continued: “That kid let us pick up so much money on Tanzaku Street, I’ve been gambling for almost half a month and haven’t lost it all yet, so this can be considered a favor, right? I’m just repaying that kid’s favor now.”
Shizune muttered: “I don’t know if it’s my illusion, but I always feel that Lady Tsunade, that’s not what you really think in your heart.”
Tsunade slightly lifted her eyelids, glanced at her, and asked Shizune: “Then what do you think I’m thinking?”
Shizune said weakly: “Lady Tsunade doing this is actually supporting Uchiha Ikeizumi’s absolute justice, right?”
Tsunade was stunned.
Shizune continued: “After all, with Lady Tsunade’s personality, if you usually encounter this kind of situation, you would directly refuse the other party. For example, back then when Lady Tsunade insisted on leaving Konoha, even though the Third Hokage, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru tried their best to persuade you to stay… you still left directly.”
“On the contrary, at a time like this, you didn’t refuse Uchiha Ikeizumi, which can only mean that deep down, you recognize his justice. You even want to support him, but due to the face of your senior, it’s not easy to say it so clearly.”
“So Lady Tsunade supports Uchiha Ikeizumi in this way, just like how you rushed to the scene several times to stand up for him and boldly confront the Hokage and others.”
Tsunade: “…”
After being silent for a few seconds, Tsunade couldn’t help but touch her smooth chin and muttered: “Am I really that obvious?”
Just then, a series of light footsteps came from the corridor outside the inn, followed soon by a knock on the door.
Tsunade raised her eyebrows: “Came pretty fast.”
She casually pulled up the loose clothes on her body, slightly covering the severely exposed areas.
“The door isn’t locked, just open it directly.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the inn’s sliding door was carefully pulled open by someone.
Hinata Hyuga was holding Hanabi Hyuga, standing timidly outside the door.
Behind her were the remaining few Hyuga Main Family clan members.
Under Tsunade’s gaze, Hinata Hyuga said in a voice as weak as a mosquito: “Lady Tsunade… h-hello.”
Tsunade nodded slightly.
Which also served as a response.
Then her gaze passed over Hinata Hyuga and fell on Hyuga Keizuka, the Main Family Special Jonin behind Hinata, Tsunade furrowed her delicate eyebrows and asked: “What is a Konoha Special Jonin like you doing here?”
Hyuga Keizuka was stunned: “Ah… it was Senior Ikeizumi who told the Hyuga Main Family to temporarily stay in this inn, and I am also from the Main Family.”
Tsunade said: “What I promised that kid to protect are these weak women and children, not a Special Jonin.”
She waved her hand again and said: “Whatever, since you’re already here, you can also serve as my errand runner!”
“Oh no…” Tsunade corrected herself: “I already have an errand runner, so you can be my errand runner’s errand runner!”
Shizune, holding Tonton, was stunned: “Eh?”
Hyuga Keizuka: “…”
He seemed to have no right to refuse. After all, one was Uchiha Ikeizumi, and the other was Tsunade; in front of these two people, he had absolutely no say whatsoever.
For the continuation of the Hyuga Main Family’s bloodline!
He could only endure this pressure!
“Yes, Lady Tsunade.”
Hyuga Keizuka forced a smile at Shizune: “Lady Shizune, if there is anything you need, feel free to send me anytime.”
…
“Huff… huff…”
Mitarashi Anko was breathing rapidly, she looked quite disheveled, her left shoulder seemed dislocated, making her entire left arm hang down.
The right side of her face had some obvious bruises, the hair tied behind her head had come loose, and the fishnet lining on her body was torn in several places.
She showed complete exhaustion.
And on the ground under her feet lay dozens of black snakes that had been cut into two sections, and a white giant snake that could seemingly swallow a whole person was now covered in wounds.
“Tch, go play by yourselves, anyway they won’t take your life. Next time you encounter so many enemies, don’t call me out.”
After the wounded White Snake spoke to Mitarashi Anko, it instantly turned into a puff of white smoke and disappeared.
With the summoned beast slipping away directly, when she saw a Root Ninja swinging the back of his blade at her.
Anko could only immediately raise her right arm to block with a kunai.
But already quite exhausted, under this weapon clash, the kunai in her hand was directly knocked flying.
“You indeed learned quite a few skills from Orochimaru.”
Koharu Utatane looked at the unarmed Mitarashi Anko.
She took a step forward and said expressionlessly: “But this old lady’s Root Ninjas are also elite Konoha ninja drawn from the Utatane Clan, including even two Special Jonin, one Konoha Jonin, and the rest are all elite-level Chunin.”
“For you to hold off these six people alone and persist until now, no wonder… back then Orochimaru became your guiding Jonin and treated you as his disciple. Though now, you are just a disciple he abandoned.”
Mitarashi Anko gritted her teeth slightly, just as she was about to say something.
A familiar voice came from far to near in the distance.
“Root Organization! What are you doing!?”
Both Mitarashi Anko and Koharu Utatane were stunned simultaneously.
“…Izumi?!”
Anko immediately turned her head to look toward the voice, and saw a familiar figure rushing toward them. She recognized the other party at a glance—Uchiha Izumi, who had separated from her after leaving the dessert shop!
But her home and Izumi’s home weren’t in completely different directions?
How did Izumi appear here?
“Lady Koharu, it seems to be that subordinate of Uchiha Ikeizumi, the Uchiha genius who awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan at a young age.”
A Root guard whispered to Koharu Utatane.
“This old lady knows her.”
Koharu Utatane’s old face darkened; if there was anyone in the vast Konoha she had the biggest grudge against, it was undoubtedly Uchiha Ikeizumi.
And the second biggest grudge was Uchiha Ikeizumi’s ninja cat; the third was Uchiha Ikeizumi’s subordinate!
She clearly remembered this Uchiha girl had mocked her!
And it was right in front of her, mocking without any restraint!
She was as rude as Uchiha Ikeizumi.
No sense of respect between seniors and juniors at all!
After Uchiha Izumi arrived, she unhesitatingly stood beside Mitarashi Anko. Seeing Mitarashi Anko in such a wretched state, her slightly youthful pretty face also turned cold.
Izumi’s cold gaze swept over the surrounding Root Ninjas.
Finally locking onto Koharu Utatane, whose expression looked somewhat unpleasant.
“Elder Koharu, as the Root Leader, is this how you indiscriminately attack ninja in the village for no reason? Your actions tonight are those of a blatant villain and scum.”
“Perhaps Root is a dark abyss, not only making Shimura Danzo the source of all evil, but also dragging you into the abyss of sin.”
Izumi didn’t give the other any good face, because in her eyes, Mitarashi Anko was already her best companion.
Moreover, Mitarashi Anko also believed in her senior’s absolute justice.
She had even received Senior Ikeizumi’s approval.
Root Ninjas attacking Mitarashi Anko wasn’t that equivalent to indirectly attacking absolute justice?
“Don’t put such trumped-up charges on this old lady, this old lady is not Danzo, I won’t fall for your tricks.” Koharu Utatane unhesitatingly retorted, opening her mouth coldly.
“If Root really wanted to kill Mitarashi Anko, do you think she could still be alive now? Every one of this old lady’s subordinates held back, none had killing intent.”
“The reason for acting against her is that Mitarashi Anko, as a Konoha Special Jonin, completely failed to shoulder the responsibilities and obligations of a Special Jonin.”
“She clearly knew intelligence about the rogue ninja Orochimaru but didn’t share it with the village. If this old lady doesn’t take her down, how would I know if she still harbors loyalty to Orochimaru?”
Koharu Utatane paused, then continued: “What if she is Orochimaru’s backup left in Konoha? If she becomes Konoha’s rogue ninja and brings major harm to the village, who will take responsibility?”
Koharu Utatane just thought she had bluffed the kid in front of her.
But unexpectedly, the other party unhesitatingly said:
“I’ll take responsibility!”
Izumi’s little face was tense, the three-tomoe Sharingan in her eyes had unknowingly activated, and she stared straight into Koharu Utatane’s eyes.
“Mitarashi Anko is absolutely not Orochimaru’s backup in Konoha, this is something Senior Ikeizumi has already confirmed!”
“And…”
Izumi’s scarlet eyes narrowed slightly: “All this is just your one-sided statement, I think you’re hiding something.”
“Huff…” The slightly panting Mitarashi Anko suddenly explained: “She tried to have Root Ninjas capture me and use illusion techniques to interrogate me. But since Ikeizumi doesn’t want to share the intelligence with the village, I absolutely won’t let Root succeed, so we fought.”
Izumi’s hand on the ninja sword hilt involuntarily tightened slightly.
It seemed the village side was also very concerned about Orochimaru.
But they might not want to kill Orochimaru! After all, if they wanted to kill Orochimaru, they could just watch, because Senior Ikeizumi would definitely act against Orochimaru.
They perhaps thought Orochimaru had some use; after all, for them, as long as it benefited the village in their eyes, any dangerous person could be utilized.
No matter what evil deeds those dangerous people had done before, they could be forgiven.
‘Perhaps… this is one of the reasons why Senior Ikeizumi has always been uninterested in the village’s higher-ups.’
Such a thought flashed through Izumi’s mind.
Just then.
A figure suddenly flickered into appearance, the other also wearing ninja garb and also wearing a mask.
But not a Root Ninja, rather an Anbu Ninja from the Hokage’s direct troops!
The Anbu Ninja whispered to Koharu Utatane: “Elder Koharu, the Hokage requires you not to escalate the conflict too much.”
Koharu Utatane’s brows furrowed tightly.
What did this mean?
…
Land of Rain.
At this moment, Obito was really sweating profusely, the palms hidden in his sleeves were oozing cold sweat, and he discreetly wiped some sweat inside his sleeve.
The single eye exposed by the mask was full of calm indifference, but the face under the mask had drastically changed in horror, to the point that his facial muscles were twitching uncontrollably.
—Uchiha Obito! This woman actually said this name! How did she know this name? What is her purpose in saying this name in front of him?
—Has she already learned of my hidden secret? Does she already know that “Uchiha Madara” is not Uchiha Madara?
—Is she warning me? Is she threatening me?
One unbelievable thought after another flashed through Obito’s mind.
His heart even let out one unthinkable roar after another.
The reason Obito traveled thousands of miles to the Land of Fire to kill Juzo Biwa was to prevent Konan from learning his hidden secret.
And this time, though he failed to kill Juzo Biwa, it should have scared the other into not returning to Akatsuki, right?
In this situation…
How did the woman in front of him know the name Uchiha Obito?
“Uchiha Obito…” Obito tried his utmost to make his tone exceptionally calm, maintaining a hoarse voice from start to finish, his single eye level with Konan as he said: “It is indeed a Uchiha junior that leaves some impression on this old man, a rather talented ninja from the Uchiha Clan, whom this old man paid attention to for a while.”
“Unfortunately, he is a junior toyed with by fate. He died during the Third Shinobi World War. Yet you mention this Uchiha Clan junior’s name in front of me.”
Obito’s eyes narrowed, paused, then continued: “Heh, someone must be using his identity to deceive you. To deceive even Akatsuki, it seems the other party has some guts.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi didn’t deceive me with fake intelligence? —This was the doubt that suddenly arose in Konan’s mind.
Because she found the “Uchiha Madara” in front of her so confident.
Or…
The other really was Uchiha Obito, just pretending to be dumb and not willing to admit the exposed truth!
Just then.
Nagato, who had been silent, spoke up, his voice somewhat weak, clearly his physical condition wasn’t good: “Perhaps we need to speed up recruiting qualified rookies and making money, because Uchiha Ikeizumi’s existence makes the future full of uncertainty, and further delay might lead to accidents.”
Nagato changed the topic, not letting Konan dwell on it, nor continue to press aggressively.
Konan frowned slightly and looked at the expressionless Nagato.
Obito inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling his calm performance just now had probably fooled the other again.
Regardless of whether this Konan-like woman believed it, Nagato should have believed his explanation anyway.
“Indeed, it should be advanced.” Obito crossed his arms and said expressionlessly: “But not because of that junior Uchiha Ikeizumi, the uncertainties in the ninja world aren’t just him alone.”
This was a lie!
Obito’s thoughts were the same as Nagato’s, but he couldn’t say it, because he felt Uchiha Madara’s persona wasn’t like that.
After a brief exchange, Obito turned and left with a taut face, appearing as calm as still water.
A few minutes later.
Konan then asked Nagato: “Why stop me from exposing his identity face-to-face? Clearly, if I pressed him a few more times, he would have been exposed. I could see he couldn’t hide it, the loopholes in his words have already been discovered by me.”
Nagato didn’t look at her, instead fixing his gaze on a stalactite, slowly saying: “He wants to be Uchiha Madara so badly, we’ll just pretend he really is Uchiha Madara.”
He paused, then continued: “Before our plan is complete, don’t create external troubles within Akatsuki. We just need to know he can help us complete the plan.”
“Konan, you need to look further ahead, we shouldn’t waste too much energy on such small matters.”
Konan took a deep breath.
“…Understood.”
…
Uchiha Obito, leaving the Akatsuki secret base, immediately entered the Kamui Space.
He directly removed the mask from his face and tossed it aside casually.
One could see his entire face was already covered in sweat.
His eyelids were jumping uncontrollably.
The current Kamui Space still faintly echoed with Black Zetsu’s miserable screams.
Making Obito, whose mood was already bad from Konan’s stimulation, even more irritated.
“Obito, did you come in to take a shit?” The vortex-faced White Zetsu was also in the Kamui Space, taking care of Black Zetsu here. When it saw Obito appear, it immediately came over and squatted behind Obito.
It raised its head, seemingly trying to stare at Obito’s rear.
Obito turned around very unnaturally, his face unpleasant as he gritted his teeth: “That woman knows the name Uchiha Obito, she’s even suspecting if I’m Uchiha Obito! She said in her mouth that recently a newbie named Uchiha Obito joined Akatsuki, but actually that’s hinting at me!”
“I feel it’s very likely Juzo Biwa wasn’t intimidated by us and instead came back to die, passing the intelligence to her!”
Obito’s “wisdom” was indeed lackluster, but it didn’t mean he was a fool.
Konan had already mocked so obviously.
How could he not hear it? He was just pretending not to!
“Eh?”
The vortex-faced White Zetsu stood up, scratched its head, and asked in a somewhat strange tone: “Then what should we do?”
“Hmph, good thing I’m clever, I played along in front of them, they probably think it’s fake intelligence.”
Obito snorted coldly.
Then he and the vortex-faced White Zetsu stared at each other, both silent for a full few minutes, unable to come up with any proper solution, seemingly both clueless about handling this unexpected situation.
And the smartest one among them was still screaming miserably!
Obito somewhat suspected that after the dojutsu on Black Zetsu wore off, and it no longer felt the onlooker-horrifying pain.
Could Black Zetsu still be normal?
…
Konoha.
Koharu Utatane, harboring a ball of pent-up anger with nowhere to vent, stared intently at the suddenly appeared Anbu Ninja, while the Anbu Ninja sent by Sarutobi Hiruzen looked back at her without any qualms.
The silent atmosphere lasted a few seconds, Koharu Utatane glared unwillingly at Mitarashi Anko and Uchiha Izumi.
“Withdraw!”
With his order, the several Root Ninjas she brought also retreated one after another, not continuing to entangle further.
This made Uchiha Izumi, who had been somewhat vigilant, breathe a slight sigh of relief inwardly.
Although she had prepared for conflict with Root, there were too many Root people, plus Mitarashi Anko was injured.
If she clashed with them, defeat was 100% certain.
However, the indignation in Uchiha Izumi’s heart did not dissipate.
She helped Mitarashi Anko up, then looking at Koharu Utatane’s back as she turned to leave, directly said: “Elder Koharu, you who sent Root Ninjas to injure fellow Konoha villagers for the absurd reason of ‘not sharing intelligence with Konoha’, have already committed an evil deed worthy of judgment in the eyes of absolute justice! Can’t you even say a single apology to the victim?”
Apologize?
Koharu Utatane almost laughed in anger at this word.
She turned around, looking distantly at Uchiha Izumi, her old face gloomy as she said to the girl: “You’ve been with Uchiha Ikeizumi too long, it seems you’ve forgotten where this is. You’ve also forgotten that what governs Konoha is the Will of Fire, not absolute justice.”
“As a ninja, possessing intelligence on a rogue ninja but not informing the village is a principled error under Konoha’s rules!”
Izumi directly interrupted and questioned: “Since you say you’re acting according to Konoha’s rules, then I ask you… which rule stipulates that ninja must share all intelligence they know with you, Koharu Utatane? Please, Elder Koharu, explain the exact source of the rule to me in detail.”
“If it were the Third Hokage asking Mitarashi Anko about Orochimaru’s intelligence, and Anko didn’t tell him, in the eyes of most in Konoha, that would indeed violate Konoha’s rules. However…”
“You, Koharu Utatane, are just a senior advisor, you only have the qualification to make suggestions to the Hokage. You are not the Hokage!”
Koharu Utatane’s fists almost clenched hard; talking to someone brainwashed by absolute justice, she felt she would be angered to death sooner or later!
But she had no way to continue Izumi’s words, because the so-called rules were just her, Koharu Utatane, making things up.
She thought she could bluff these two juniors, but unexpectedly failed.
“So you insist on making this old lady apologize to her?”
Koharu Utatane’s mouth muscles were twitching.
Izumi said seriously: “Not only that! You not only need to apologize to Anko, you also need to be sentenced by justice! You who dispatched Root Ninjas to privately injure fellow villagers without just cause… should at least be sentenced to five years imprisonment!”
Koharu Utatane: “???”
Five years?!
With the so-called “injuries” on Mitarashi Anko, the most serious was the dislocated left shoulder, but it just needed to be popped back in, and her most serious injury would recover as good as new.
And the rest of Mitarashi Anko’s abrasions and bruises could probably recover in a few days with some medicine.
She looked so disheveled on the surface, mostly because she was exhausted.
This probably didn’t even count as a minor injury!?
Sentencing to five years—what harsh law was that!?
This was absolute justice?
They’re all crazy!
Koharu Utatane took several deep breaths harshly, her chest heaving, her lungs nearly exploded by Uchiha Izumi, gritting her teeth: “This old lady already said, Konoha is not absolute justice’s Konoha, Konoha is the Will of Fire’s Konoha! Don’t impose your so-called absolute justice rules on Konoha Village! Your so-called absolute justice has no right to arrest this old lady!”
With that said.
Koharu Utatane no longer bothered with Izumi, she left without looking back, suppressing her anger, and the group of Root Ninjas followed closely behind.
Looking at their backs, Mitarashi Anko exhaled turbidly. She smiled bitterly and asked Uchiha Izumi: “Aren’t you afraid you’ll provoke her into losing rationality and trying to kill us?”
“She has taken over Root, and Root is Konoha’s Darkness. Such a person, when emotional, can do anything.”
Izumi nodded candidly: “I’m afraid.”
“But if out of fear, one is unwilling to stand up for others, then what’s the point of believing in justice? Senior Kijiro also said that when Senior Ikeizumi was still young and weak, even if he couldn’t directly act against certain evils of the ninja world, he still made those villains uncomfortable in all sorts of ways.”
Izumi reached for a scroll at her waist: “Moreover, if she tears off the facade, I might still have ways to counter her.”
This was a “Fire Sealing Seal” scroll, with a mass of Uchiha Itachi’s “Amaterasu fire” sealed inside!
Uchiha Itachi was being put to waste use.
…
“No need to question this old man.”
Inside the Hokage’s Office Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen had his hands behind his back, looking at the night outside the window.
When he heard the huge door-pushing sound, even before Koharu Utatane could speak, he directly interrupted her.
Making the words Koharu Utatane was about to blurt out stuck firmly in her throat.
Then Sarutobi Hiruzen turned around, took a deep breath, and said somewhat exasperatedly: “Didn’t this old man already remind you to try not to take extreme measures? Especially taking extreme measures against Ikeizumi’s subordinate, it will only backfire on you.”
Koharu Utatane’s teeth nearly shattered: “You knowing I tried to take extreme measures, doesn’t that mean your people have been watching my every move from start to finish?”
“You actually also want to extract Orochimaru’s intelligence from Mitarashi Anko, but you’re afraid, aren’t you? Uchiha Ikeizumi has already made you feel fear!”
“Hiruzen, don’t forget you are Konoha’s Hokage. And Uchiha Ikeizumi is just a Police Force Ninja, he isn’t even the Police Force’s Captain!”
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned and retorted: “This old man is not afraid of Ikeizumi, this old man is worried you will get into trouble.”
Koharu Utatane said coldly: “If it’s for Konoha’s benefit and I get into trouble, even at the cost of life, this old lady will never regret it.”
“Hiruzen, you are really too indecisive, you disappoint me greatly. Some of Danzo’s past evaluations of you might be correct.”
