Chapter 209
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"Danzo, we cannot openly clash with the Uchiha. They're still Konoha's ninjas, our comrades in the village."
After a long pause, the Third Hokage exhaled smoke slowly, his voice quiet and reflective. The haze, the dim light, and the crimson Hokage hat obscured his face, making his expression unreadable.
"... I understand," Danzo replied, a trace of satisfaction in his tone. With the Third's subtle agreement, he had what he needed to ensure Shisui's downfall.
As for achieving his goal without an overt conflict with the Uchiha—it would be simple enough.
"And the Uchiha clan... what are your plans for them?" he pressed further. "Will you leave that decision to the Fifth Hokage?"
Satisfied with the response, Danzo continued to scrutinize the Third Hokage. The Uchiha had posed challenges since the village's founding—surely the Third also wanted to resolve these issues once and for all.
"Uchiha... for now, we'll pursue peace," Sarutobi replied, his gaze lifting to the portraits of the First and Second Hokage on the wall. He left his words intentionally vague, refraining from any direct comment on the Uchiha's future.
"Is peace truly the priority?" Danzo murmured. Although Sarutobi had spoken only a single ambiguous sentence, years of partnership had taught Danzo how to read his 'friend' well, picking up the unspoken message hidden in his tone.
And the Third's lingering look at the portraits of his predecessors revealed the inner conflict simmering within him.
"Lord Danzo!"
As soon as he stepped out of the Hokage's office, two Root members, hooded and masked, flanked him on either side. Though Danzo had obtained the response he sought from the Third Hokage, he knew he needed to tread carefully.
The presence of Uchiha Toshiro required him to meticulously consider his next steps regarding both Shisui and the Uchiha clan as a whole. Absently, he touched the bandaged right eye beneath the wrapping, his stride slowing as he pondered his strategy.
Meanwhile, in another village shrouded in thick mist, within the Mizukage's office, a small, diligent figure worked methodically through documents.
"Obito... Obito!"
"Something isn't right!"
A figure, half-covered in aloe-like vines, rose slowly from the floor, and a shrill, chattering voice called toward the figure working behind the curtain, urgency coloring every word.
"Quiet! You'll alert the ANBU outside!"
Before Obito could respond, a second, raspier voice from within the same plant-like body joined in, cautioning in a low tone.
"Relax. The ANBU out there can't hear anything happening inside."
"Even so, be cautious," the raspy voice insisted. "Ninjas possess unusual abilities. Who knows if one of them can penetrate the barrier and overhear us."
Just as the chatter threatened to turn into a heated argument, a calm, deeper voice cut through, commanding attention.
"Enough... White Zetsu!"
"Black Zetsu is right—we must remain cautious," came a calm, measured voice from the shadows behind the desk.
From the darkness stepped a figure in a striped mask: none other than Uchiha Obito.
"And how many times must I tell you, do not call me by my name in front of outsiders—I am Madara now," he reminded sharply. He cast a sidelong glance at the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, who was standing nearby, his eyes briefly flashing a menacing crimson.
Sensing a faint resistance from Yagura, Obito's Sharingan intensified, and with a surge of power, Yagura suddenly slumped forward, collapsing onto the desk in an unnatural stillness.
It wasn't merely a momentary loss of consciousness; when Yagura awoke, he wouldn't remember any of what had just transpired.
"Now, tell me—what's happened?"
"Is Nagato already out of funds?" Obito muttered.
The Akatsuki organization was still in its early stages, recruiting members and building its strength, and so far, it was largely financed through the resources Obito transferred from the Hidden Mist Village.
"No, it's not about Nagato's funding," replied White Zetsu, his tone carrying a hint of excitement. "It's Orochimaru's side—We've made a new discovery!"
He chuckled mischievously. "Want to know? You'll be astonished! But first, maybe you could tell me how it feels to experience..Constipation hmm?"
As if anticipating Obito's irritation, White Zetsu quickly added, "Trust me, it's something really important!"
"Enough! Black Zetsu, what is it?" Obito cut him off sharply, fixing his gaze on the shadowy figure beside White Zetsu, ignoring his antics.
"Uchiha Toshiro has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Compared to his counterpart, Black Zetsu was far more composed and reliable, delivering the news with a weight that captured Obito's full attention.
"What?" Obito's reaction was sharp; the news of Toshiro unlocking the Mangekyō made him tense, nearly losing his hold over the Fourth Mizukage and the Three-Tails sealed within him. He managed to regain control quickly, though, and turned to Black Zetsu with an urgent look.
"When did this happen? Do we have any specifics on his Mangekyō abilities?"
"Not long ago," Black Zetsu replied. "Orochimaru sought him out and ended up in a fierce battle. We were nearby, observing. We saw Toshiro manifesting Susano'o."
"A fight with Orochimaru!"
Obito had known that Orochimaru was using White Zetsu to track down Toshiro, so he had instructed White Zetsu to follow along and see if they could gather any valuable intel. However, he hadn't anticipated such a shocking revelation.
"What are Toshiro's Mangekyō abilities?" he pressed.
For Obito, the abilities of a Mangekyō Sharingan were crucial. He himself relied heavily on Kamui, which granted him a significant edge in the ninja world. If Toshiro had also awakened a similarly formidable technique, it could complicate things considerably.
"I don't know," Black Zetsu replied.
Obito's visible eye narrowed beneath his mask as he repeated sharply, "You don't know?"
He'd always regarded Black Zetsu with suspicion, knowing it to be Madara's watcher. His tolerance for its ambiguity was wearing thin.
"Yes, after Toshiro used Susanoo, he and Orochimaru ceased fighting, and we had no way to gather information on his abilities," Black Zetsu said, sounding frustrated. He had intended to gather intel, but Toshiro's actions didn't give him any opportunity.
"This... complicates things," Obito muttered, propping one hand on the desk as he considered how to handle the sudden development.
With Toshiro showing such power, Obito worried about the potential for other Uchiha to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, posing an increasing threat to his plans. Another Mangekyō user, another like Toshiro—could spell disaster.
"Obito," Black Zetsu continued, "Uchiha Toshiro can't be allowed to remain unchecked. If we don't act, he'll certainly become an obstacle to the plan."
Toshiro had once been the ideal executor for his plans, showing extraordinary talent from a young age, and Obito had come to rely on him heavily. But now, with Toshiro awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, Zetsu realized it would be best to eliminate him before he became a barrier to the resurrection of his mother.
"Don't worry too much," Black Zetsu interjected. "Without the enhancements of White Zetsu cells, Toshiro faces severe limitations with the Mangekyō Sharingan. He won't pose a significant threat—for now, let's wait until we've wrapped up our current operations."
"Indeed," Obito agreed. "We're nearly done with the preparations needed to control the Fourth Mizukage long-term. Once that's complete, we'll take care of him as well."
The strain on Toshiro Mangekyo Sharingan should be significant; unlike himself, the Toshiro doesn't have the advantage of a partially white Zetsu body, which allows him to use his ocular powers without reservation. This keeps the threat level within a manageable range.
Although he has gained control over the Fourth Mizukage, maintaining long-term control will require additional precautions; otherwise, the Mizukage could potentially break free.
He also plans to go to Konoha to gather specific information about the Ten-Tails. Although Madara possesses a complete set of information, he cannot fully trust the old man.
"Are you sure about Orochimaru? That guy clearly has his own agenda for joining the organization," Black Zetsu questioned, just as Obito was about to end the conversation.
"Given his nature, he'll certainly take an interest in Nagato's Rinnegan. We should let him stay in the organization, this way we can keep a closer eye on him, just in case any issues arise."
Nagato—or rather, the Rinnegan he wields—is critical, and Black Zetsu thought it best to remain cautious. If anything were to happen, there would be no way to replace the Rinnegan.
"Orochimaru was recruited by Nagato himself. With Nagato watching, nothing will go wrong."
Obito sounded confident about the Rinnegan's safety. Even though Orochimaru is one of the Sannin, he's unlikely to cause much trouble.
Obito agreed with Nagato's approach; rather than having a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, it was better to keep him close, where his actions could be observed. This way, they could also leverage Orochimaru's abilities to benefit the organization.
"Wait, I have news!" White Zetsu, who had been silently listening, suddenly spoke up as the conversation was winding down.
"Uchiha Toshiro has a sample of my cells!"
"What?"
"How did that happen?"
White Zetsu's words startled both Obito and Black Zetsu, who immediately pressed him for details.
"Obito, don't you remember?"
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