In the end, Jiraiya never t with Uzumaki Shuji.
Uzumaki Shuji did not interfere with him either, allowing Jiraiya to wander freely throughout the village.
These days, there were very few restricted areas in Konoha.
Aside from the three-story wooden tower atop the Hokage Rock—constructed by Hashirama Senju—everywhere else was open to the public.
During this ti, many outsiders had entered the village as well.
They were all investigating how the strongest hidden village in the ninja world had fallen overnight.
The second group to arrive consisted of Obito Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha.
Orochimaru was farther away and had matters of his own to attend to, so he had not arrived yet.
As for Tsunade Senju, she was moving slowly, gathering information along the way and still undecided about whether to return.
"So lax."
Obito stood in a shadowed alley, casually twisting the neck of a captured city-defense shinobi after extracting information with his Sharingan.
"Abandoning the hidden village model and declaring an independent nation…"
His tone was filled with contempt.
Beside him, Itachi remained silent.
The suffocating tension that had once hung over Konoha had vanished.
Over the past two days, he had seen Uchiha clan mbers and ordinary Konoha shinobi interacting as equals, without the hostility and barriers that had defined their relationship for years.
This was exactly the future he had always hoped for.
"What do you think?"
Obito turned toward him.
"Should we strike imdiately?"
"And it seems your father possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan as well."
"You didn't know that?"
They were hidden in one of Konoha's more secluded corners.
Avoiding detection by the city-defense forces was trivial for n of their caliber.
"I had no idea."
Itachi's voice remained calm.
"I never truly understood my father's strength. The Uchiha had very few opportunities to fight openly."
Learning that Fugaku Uchiha possessed the Mangekyō had been a profound shock.
If he had actually attempted to massacre the clan, there was a very real chance he would have failed at the hands of his own father.
"Now that Konoha has beco this…"
Obito's visible eye narrowed.
"There is no reason for it to continue existing."
"We'll bury everyone except the Uchiha."
"Your Mangekyō specializes in illusion, so controlling the Nine-Tails jinchūriki will be your task."
"I'll deal with everyone else and buy you ti."
Obito laid out the plan as though discussing a minor errand.
To him, the world was destined to be remade under Infinite Tsukuyomi anyway.
Destroying this imperfect reality ant nothing.
"This seems too risky."
Itachi frowned.
"They defeated the Third Hokage and seized control of the village."
"They must have so extraordinary ans."
Naturally, he had no desire to see the Nine-Tails fall into Obito's hands.
The consequences would be catastrophic.
"We'll test them."
Obito shrugged.
"If it fails, so be it."
He turned, the crimson Sharingan in his mask's single eyehole glowing ominously.
"Or are you afraid?"
"No."
Itachi's expression did not change.
"I simply believe the risk is too high."
Obito chuckled inwardly.
He knew Itachi was hiding sothing.
But he did not care.
Watching Itachi struggle between loyalty and helplessness was sothing he thoroughly enjoyed.
"Then it's settled."
He looked toward the Hokage Rock.
"I wonder whether that Uzumaki brat is rely a front for the Uchiha."
Itachi gave a slight nod, though inwardly he was frantic, searching for so way to warn the village.
Soon after, the disappearance of the city-defense shinobi was discovered.
Kakashi Hatake imdiately deployed Byakugan reconnaissance teams to investigate.
Fugaku raised the alert level throughout the village.
He was convinced that the so-called "Madara Uchiha" had arrived.
"Did sothing happen?"
Jiraiya, who had now spent two days exploring the transford village, noticed the sudden tightening of security.
He had even encountered Hashirama himself, though he had chosen not to approach him.
"Security is tighter than I expected."
Obito observed from a distance, genuinely surprised.
The Hyuga clan was using the Byakugan openly and without restraint.
The atmosphere felt nothing like the old Konoha.
"Three White Zetsu clones were discovered."
Black Zetsu erged from the ground.
"They escaped by retreating underground."
For Zetsu, infiltration had beco far more difficult.
Ordinary visitors could gather information with ease.
But his preferred thods of stealth were severely hindered by continuous Byakugan surveillance.
"It seems tonight's operation may not be as smooth as expected."
Despite his words, Obito remained completely relaxed.
The power of Kamui filled him with overwhelming confidence.
He had manipulated the Fourth Mizukage, controlled the Nine-Tails, and nearly destroyed Konoha once before.
Only Minato Namikaze had ever truly forced him into retreat.
And Minato was dead.
At worst, Obito believed he could simply escape and try again later.
To him, this world was little more than a temporary ga.
Anything destroyed could be restored once Infinite Tsukuyomi was complete.
"First, we capture the Nine-Tails."
Zetsu's tone grew serious.
"And if there truly is a surviving Uzumaki expert, be careful."
"Those golden chains resemble Adamantine Sealing Chains."
"If you're caught, it could beco troubleso."
Like Hiruzen, Zetsu had assud that the true mastermind was a hidden Uzumaki survivor.
The idea that an eight-year-old child had overthrown Hiruzen Sarutobi and conquered Konoha was simply too unbelievable.
"Then we move at two in the morning."
Obito closed his eye.
"Rest until then."
The three remained outside the village.
For Obito, entering was as simple as stepping through Kamui.
Itachi sat silently, his thoughts in turmoil.
He desperately wanted to send a warning.
But he dared not act.
Because he had the distinct feeling that Zetsu was everywhere.
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