Chapter 469: The Perfect Successor Uchiha Madara Needed

If not for the mission details in hand, Takuya wouldn't have believed that Maruboshi Kosuke, the unassuming old man, possessed such impressive intelligence-gathering skills.

But then again, was it really appropriate to entrust a mission like this to someone so advanced in years?

"An elder?"

Minato blinked in confusion.

Though they all operated within Konoha, many shinobi didn't actually know each other. Some hadn't even heard of certain names.

"Yes, an elder worthy of respect, but someone completely engrossed in the Will of Fire."

"..."

Minato sighed and decided not to ask further.

Hearing the phrase Will of Fire was enough to dampen his curiosity.

After all, mentioning the Will of Fire inevitably brought up one particular person: the Third Hokage.

The man was infamous for using the Will of Fire to inspire—or manipulate—others.

Maruboshi Kosuke was a staunch embodiment of the philosophy, though he had been influenced by Tobirama Senju rather than Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"..."

Even after hearing about it many times, Pakura still found the Will of Fire a bit perplexing. Spending time around Takuya, who often ridiculed the concept, had only reinforced her skepticism.

Close to ink, you'll turn black; close to vermilion, you'll turn red. This old saying rang true.

Takuya's disdain for the Will of Fire had rubbed off on those around him, making them view it with a certain detachment.

To summarize in one word:

Manipulation.

It's all just manipulation.

In a dimly lit underground chamber, Uchiha Madara sneered as he glanced at the overly effeminate behavior of White Zetsu.

"So, your plan failed, didn't it?"

White Zetsu had gone out for reconnaissance and returned acting strangely. Where it once constantly asked about trivial sensations like bowel movements, it now seemed unnervingly delicate and fussy.

Could it have caught something from the Third Mizukage?

Madara shook his head, dismissing the thought. Turning to Black Zetsu, he asked, "Have you identified a candidate?"

"Yes, Lord Madara," Black Zetsu's head emerged from the ground.

"After extensive monitoring and evaluation, I believe this boy, Uchiha Obito, is the most suitable candidate."

Black Zetsu detailed Obito's background and traits.

Madara's interest was piqued. "Arrogant and proud, yet naive and filled with love? How intriguing."

In Konoha, Uchiha Obito was notorious as a failure among the Uchiha clan.

But to Madara, Obito wasn't foolish—just somewhat slow-witted.

If he were truly incompetent, he wouldn't have mastered the Great Fireball Technique so proficiently or demonstrated decent taijutsu.

Obito's potential was evident; he just didn't know how to unlock it. Instead, he wasted time helping old ladies cross the street, making grand speeches, and orbiting around Nohara Rin.

A naturally gifted individual with a simple mind and a heart full of love.

Isn't this exactly the kind of successor I need?

Such individuals were easy to manipulate and prone to corruption.

"Find an opportunity to bring him here. I don't have much time left," Madara instructed.

"And that girl, Nohara Rin..."

"With Iwagakure stirring, a new war will soon break out. We'll have plenty of opportunities."

Once Obito was in their grasp, they could exploit countless chances to push him toward the path of darkness.

The more innocent a person, the easier it was to corrupt them.

Especially someone as single-minded as Obito, whose rigid thinking left no room for deviation.

Once corrupted, such individuals were nearly impossible to redeem.

It's finally starting.

Black Zetsu grinned and vanished into the ground.

Madara cast a disdainful glance at White Zetsu before closing his eyes and entering a state of rest. He needed prolonged sleep to conserve his strength.

In a cave somewhere in the Land of Grass, Minato couldn't help but comment, "The shinobi of this country are as unpleasant as ever."

As a minor nation allied with the Land of Fire, the Land of Grass often collaborated with Konoha on missions and requests. Minato had carried out numerous tasks in the region but was consistently irked by what he saw.

"There's an old saying: A dog can't change its habit of eating filth. This village is rotten to its core. Only by addressing the root cause can anything be fixed," Takuya replied, unfazed.

If change were possible, they wouldn't be a nation of opportunists.

Takuya harbored no illusions about the shinobi of Kusagakure. Their conduct in the original timeline was evidence enough of their nature.

It was no surprise that the Third Hokage allied with such a village. If it were up to Takuya, he would have severed ties with Kusagakure immediately.

What frustrated him most was that Kusagakure enjoyed significant support from Konoha.

During the Third Shinobi War, Iwagakure had relentlessly pressed Konoha, not just because Konoha was weakened but also due to Kusagakure's betrayal.

On paper, they were allies. In reality, they turned against Konoha, leading Iwagakure shinobi straight into the Land of Fire.

Minato wasn't prone to complaints, so his grievances spoke volumes about how detested Kusagakure's shinobi were.

I must remind Tsunade not to trust them too much when we return, Minato thought grimly.

There was still time before the scheduled rendezvous.

Takuya gestured for Pakura to come closer, indicating he had something to discuss.

Minato noticed and tactfully excused himself. "I'll scout the area. If anything happens, I'll let you know."

Takuya waved him off. "Go ahead. We'll be fine here."

Pakura knelt gracefully, opting for a proper posture since sitting cross-legged would be improper in her attire. Fortunately, the cave floor was covered in grass, sparing her knees from the cold, hard stone.

Since returning to Konoha, Takuya hadn't had a private conversation with Pakura. As someone he had brought to the village, he felt responsible for checking in on her.

"You've been in Konoha for a while now. How are you finding it?"

Pakura answered calmly, "Apart from some unwarranted hostility, it's been fine."

With Kushina's companionship, Pakura didn't feel completely isolated. Thanks to Takuya and Tsunade's efforts, she was slowly integrating into Konoha, though it would take time for her to feel fully accepted.

"Some hostility is inevitable," Takuya said, studying her Konoha headband with a smile.

"Many Konoha shinobi lost comrades to Suna during the war—some even by your hand. The lingering tension is natural.

"Just ignore them. Their discontent is limited to stares; they won't dare act on it."

"I understand."

Some things could only be smoothed over with time. From the moment she chose to join Konoha, Pakura had mentally prepared herself for these challenges.

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(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 550+ at Patreon com/ Emik01.