Chapter 65: Impure World Reincarnation
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Due to the cruel actions of the high-ranking officials of the Land of Grass, the Uchiha clan, acting with a sense of justice, eradicated them.
In order to prevent the Land of Grass from being seized by other nations and plunging into war, the Uchiha clan stepped in, claiming control over the Land of Grass.
They portrayed themselves as protectors, ensuring the safety and stability of the entire country.
For the civilians of the Land of Grass, the identity of the rulers didn't matter as much as the benefits they received. And benefits there were.
As high-ranking officials of Konoha, the Uchiha clan, led by Fugaku Uchiha, opened trade between the Land of Grass and Konoha Village, eliminating the barriers that once separated them.
Konoha's borders expanded to the very edges of the Land of Grass, effectively absorbing it into their territory.
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Meanwhile, in Konoha, at the Hokage Building, the selection for the Fifth Hokage was underway. Tsunade was the leading candidate, with a support rate of 76%.
She was close to securing the position, needing just 4% more to reach the 80% threshold. However, the final decision lay with the Uchiha clan.
"Itachi," Yamanaka Inoichi questioned, "Why don't you support Tsunade as Hokage?"
Itachi, standing resolute, replied, "Konoha's Hokage can be a man or a woman, old or young. But one thing the Hokage cannot be is a gambler."
With that, the meeting took an unexpected turn. Despite Tsunade having the highest support, the Uchiha clan's refusal meant she could never become Hokage.
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That night, at the Uchiha clan's compound, Jiraiya moved swiftly across the rooftops. Itachi, ever alert, sensed his presence immediately.
His body dissolved into a flock of crows, only to reappear on the roof, confronting Jiraiya.
"What brings you here?" Itachi asked, his voice calm yet piercing.
"I want to know why you refused to support Tsunade for Hokage," Jiraiya demanded. "Was it Fugaku's idea?"
"No," Itachi responded, "It was my decision."
Jiraiya, his mind sharp, understood that the Uchiha clan had a plan in motion. He pressed on, "Even if you reject Tsunade, the Uchiha cannot become Hokage."
"I know," Itachi replied, his calm demeanor unnerving Jiraiya.
Jiraiya felt a chill run down his spine. The Uchiha's intentions were far from simple. "What is it that the Uchiha clan really wants?" Jiraiya inquired.
Itachi countered, "Can you make that decision?"
"I can negotiate," Jiraiya offered.
"I want to lead Konoha's Anbu," Itachi stated with unwavering confidence.
Jiraiya's immediate response was a firm, "Impossible. The Uchiha already control the Konoha Police Force. Why seek control over the Anbu too? Do you intend to undermine the Hokage?"
"It's to make Konoha stronger," Itachi explained. "No one is better suited to lead the Anbu than I am."
Jiraiya gritted his teeth. "This is too important a matter for me to decide."
Itachi added, "Even as the head of Anbu, I would still serve the Hokage, not the Uchiha."
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The next day, the Uchiha clan threw their support behind Tsunade, pushing her approval rating to an astonishing 96%. Tsunade was officially named the Fifth Hokage of Konoha.
Her first decree as Hokage was to restructure the Anbu, making it an independent department under the leadership of Uchiha Itachi.
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Meanwhile, in the Hidden Sound Village, Orochimaru's experimental base was bustling.
Sasuke had brought Karin to Orochimaru, requesting that he train her. Despite his twisted nature, Orochimaru was notably kind to his subordinates.
Sasuke, his tone sharp, asked, "Orochimaru, how many combat forces do you have at your disposal?"
Orochimaru responded with a sly grin, "Heh, Sasuke-kun, don't you even call me 'sensei' anymore?"
Sasuke frowned. "Orochimaru, have you gone senile? When have I ever called you 'sensei'?"
Orochimaru, slightly embarrassed, realized Sasuke had never truly seen him as a teacher. Orochimaru was more of a tool—a means to an end for Sasuke.
Orochimaru listed his forces: "Kabuto, Suigetsu, Kimimaro, and Jūgo. I also have four powerful subordinates: Tayuya, Kidomaru, Sakon, and Jirobo."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he glanced at Kimimaro, sitting quietly in a corner, etching something into the ground with a bone spur.
Sasuke couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Kimimaro was Orochimaru's most promising subordinate.
Kimimaro had drawn a flower—a symbol precious to him, representing a memory from his tragic past. Born into the persecuted Kaguya clan, Kimimaro had endured immense suffering.
Orochimaru found him amidst the ruins, clutching the flower, and took him in. For Kimimaro, the flower symbolized a fleeting yet profound beauty, something he cherished deeply.
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Sasuke's true purpose for visiting Orochimaru was to fulfill a promise he had made to Obito—to revive Rin. As Sasuke pondered this, the space around him distorted, and Obito appeared beside him.
Seeing Obito, Orochimaru felt a cold shiver down his spine—a primal fear of the man who now stood before him.
Obito, no longer concealing his identity, stared at the severed hand in the laboratory, which bore the word "Kū" (Void). He coldly demanded, "If you've left the organization, return Akatsuki's ring."
Orochimaru smirked. "So, you're the one pulling the strings behind Akatsuki."
Obito remained silent, his expression unreadable. Sensing Obito's malevolent intent, Kimimaro sprang into action, pulling a rib from his body and rushing at Obito.
The bone spur struck Obito, only for him to reappear behind Kimimaro in an instant, gripping his shoulder.
"You're foolish," Obito muttered, as Kimimaro was sucked into the Kamui dimension.
Turning his gaze back to Orochimaru, Obito asked, "How confident are you in performing the Impure World Reincarnation?"
Orochimaru, unfazed, replied, "I'm fully confident. But without my hands, I can't perform the technique."
Before Obito could respond, Sasuke intervened, "Don't worry about the Impure World Reincarnation right now. We'll let Akatsuki capture Chiyo from the Sand Village and convince Nagato."
Sasuke's plan was meticulous. Orochimaru would use the Impure World Reincarnation to bring Rin back, after which Nagato would employ the Rinnegan's Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to fully revive her.
By using Chiyo's soul to learn the Self-Reincarnation Technique, they could transfer vitality to Nagato, allowing the resurrection process to continue indefinitely.
Sasuke, with Orochimaru's knowledge, could even build an army of the resurrected, amassing a formidable force of the undead.
Turning to Orochimaru, Sasuke pointed accusingly, "You've been holding out on me. Teach me the Impure World Reincarnation!"
Orochimaru, cornered, smiled awkwardly. "The technique wasn't perfected at the time."
He then remembered his position. "Why am I, Sasuke's teacher, being so submissive?"
Orochimaru addressed Obito, "Before you leave, can you release Kimimaro? He's a valuable asset."
Obito nodded. "I won't harm Kimimaro."
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In the Hidden Rain Village, a steady drizzle fell—Nagato's Rain Tiger at Will Technique, sensing every intruder. Yet, as the raindrops touched Obito, they passed right through him.
Obito approached a desolate ruin and sat on a large rock, for the first time removing his mask. His scarred face was exposed to the rain.
He placed the yellow mask beside him, gazing at the endless downpour. The Hidden Rain Village, where the rain never stopped, mirrored the turmoil within Obito's heart.
He was anxious. Rin had died by Kakashi's hand, and now, he was on the verge of bringing her back. The thought filled him with both joy and dread. How would he face her after all he had done?
Despite his inner turmoil, Obito donned his gloves and mask once more, steeling himself for the mission ahead—to infiltrate the Sand Village.
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In the Sand Village, despite the opposition from Elders, Gaara had been named Kazekage.
The villagers were bewildered, and so was Gaara. He couldn't comprehend how someone like him, a Jinchūriki feared and despised, had ascended to such a position.
However, the overwhelming support Gaara received touched him deeply. For the first time, he felt that there were people who truly cared for and believed in him.
Determined to prove himself worthy of their trust, Gaara resolved to become a great Kazekage, even though he had no prior experience.
As night fell, under the light of the red moon, Chiyo was instructing Gaara on how to interact with the villagers and other ninjas.
Gaara, though attentive, couldn't help but think of the Uchiha clan. He admired their strength and the way they commanded respect.
Deep down, Gaara longed to connect with others the way the Uchiha did, but he knew his path as a Kage would be different.
Outside, on a rooftop, Obito stood silently, his long hair swaying in the night breeze. He gazed at the illuminated Kazekage Building where Chiyo and Gaara were conversing.
Obito was calculating his next move—whether to attack now or wait until Chiyo was alone.
After all, Gaara, being the Jinchūriki of the One-Tail, could pose some difficulty. But for Obito, it wasn't a major concern.
His figure slowly faded into the night. Inside the Kazekage Building, Gaara's eyes widened in shock as he noticed a figure materializing behind Chiyo.
Before he could react, Obito's hand was already on Chiyo's shoulder. In an instant, the space around them distorted, and both Chiyo and Gaara were pulled into the Kamui dimension.
Within the Kamui space, Chiyo's face was a mixture of disbelief and fear. "How did we get here? What is this place?" she wondered aloud, looking around at the endless gray cubes that made up the surreal, infinite space.
Gaara, standing protectively in front of her, shouted, "Grandmother, watch out!"
A massive sickle, attached to a chain, came hurtling towards them, narrowly missing Chiyo's head.
The chain was firmly held by Obito, who wielded the Uchiha fan in his other hand. He stared at them with cold, emotionless eyes.
Chiyo, shielding Gaara, demanded, "Who are you, and why have you brought us here?"
"You don't need to know who I am," Obito replied, his voice devoid of emotion. "There's no personal grudge between us, but your deaths are necessary for my dream."
Gaara, confused and angry, asked, "Why must my grandmother die for your dream?"
"Because I'm stronger than you," Obito stated flatly. "And if my dream requires your lives, then I will take them. But for now, I still have use for you."
In the world of ninjas, weakness was the ultimate sin. Obito formed a series of hand signs, then exhaled a massive wave of fire.
Simultaneously, he fanned the flames with the Uchiha fan, creating a towering inferno that bore down on Chiyo and Gaara.
"Fire Style: Fire Fan!"
This was a combination of fire and wind style techniques. Although Obito lacked the wind attribute, the Uchiha fan amplified the flames, making them all the more devastating.
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