Chapter 51

"Haha! Obito, where did you find such an idiot?" On the rooftop of a nearby residential building, the pitcher plant-shaped Zetsu and the masked Uchiha Obito were observing the conflict in the narrow alley.

Seeing the deliberate provocation by the Kirigakure envoy, the ever-curious White Zetsu chuckled in amusement.

"This world has no shortage of fools. Kirigakure is full of brain-dead idiots. I deliberately picked one of the more radical members of the militant faction. If he were obedient, I wouldn't have chosen him as the envoy."

Obito watched coldly.

"That's true," Black Zetsu added nonchalantly, glancing at Obito. "There really is never a shortage of fools in this world. But... are you sure this will really draw out Uchiha Rēn? This is Konoha. That fool might get taken out before Rēn even has a chance to act."

He changed the subject to avoid saying too much.

"No harm in trying. Besides, that idiot was meant to die from the start. If he can create some value before dying, all the better. Our ultimate goal is to wipe out the Uchiha. Whether it happens due to internal strife in Konoha or during a war with Kirigakure, the result is the same to me."

"If we can uncover Uchiha Rēn's trump cards in advance, it will make things easier for us."

The Mangekyō Sharingan with unknown abilities was extremely dangerous. Even though Obito was confident that few in the ninja world posed a threat to him now, he wasn't about to let carelessness derail the Moon's Eye Plan.

He had sworn to create a world without war, a world of eternal peace.

A world with Rin in it.

Failure was not an option.

"Mangekyō Sharingan, huh? You Uchiha really are terrifyingly strong," White Zetsu muttered with a click of his tongue.

"Exactly. The Uchiha are too dangerous. That's why we must eliminate this threat before we proceed," Obito replied. As an Uchiha himself, he understood just how troublesome their power could be. If this uncertain factor wasn't removed early, it could lead to countless unpredictable consequences.

Someone could even awaken a dojutsu that rivaled or countered his.

And that someone...

Might be Uchiha Rēn.

So this time, unlike the night of the Nine-Tails attack, he chose to use Kirigakure as the vanguard.

"So, getting close to that kid Uchiha Itachi was also part of the plan to destroy the Uchiha?"

"He's an interesting piece. If used well, he might help bring the Uchiha to their end." Mentioning that peculiar child, a cold smile crept onto Obito's face beneath his mask.

The Uchiha needed to be destroyed. But that didn't mean a few useful pieces couldn't be picked out to advance the plan.

Back in the alley, the situation escalated.

The Kirigakure envoy reached out to grab Uchiha Fujika. The three Konoha chunin still hesitated...

Suddenly:

"Whoosh, whoosh!"

Fujika threw her shuriken.

This wasn't wartime. Konoha wasn't a battlefield. No one expected a five-year-old girl to act so decisively, launching shuriken aimed precisely at vital spots like the neck, heart, and kidneys.

This wasn't just about technique. The key was her killing intent and resolve.

The three Konoha chunin guarding the envoy froze, unable to react.

But the envoy wasn't just any ninja—he was a jōnin, and coming from Kirigakure, where even walking required vigilance against surprise attacks, he remained highly alert. The moment Fujika acted, he responded.

A kunai slipped into his palm from his sleeve.

He swatted the shuriken out of the air with practiced ease.

"As expected of an Uchiha. Even a brat has this kind of skill!" The envoy didn't hesitate. He hurled his kunai back at Fujika, fast and deadly. If he could kill this Uchiha girl, it would be worth it—even if he died here.

Another war between Kirigakure and Konoha would ignite.

Konoha, still reeling from the Nine-Tails incident and the loss of the Fourth Hokage, wouldn't be able to stand against them.

If Kirigakure won in the end...

He would die a hero, remembered like the Mizukage of old.

Before leaving on this mission, the Fourth Mizukage had hinted to him: his duty was to die in Konoha. Only through his death could Kirigakure claim the moral high ground and unify its people for war.

If he returned alive, what awaited him would be a hell worse than death.

Death was the expected outcome.

So if death was inevitable, why not go out with a bang and drag an Uchiha down with him?

As for whether his actions would hand Konoha the moral advantage...

The village only needed an excuse. Truth was meaningless, twisted at the whim of the powerful.

"Fujika!"

Naruto and Sasuke were stunned. They wanted to help but couldn't move—their limbs frozen.

They could only watch helplessly as the deadly kunai flew toward Fujika's head.

"Clang!"

A kodachi cut a gleaming arc through the air.

Uchiha Shisui stood firmly in front of the children, shielding them from the lethal aura of the attack.

"Big Brother Shisui!"

Sasuke's eyes lit up as the pressure vanished.

"Are you okay, Fujika?"

Shisui asked with concern. As Rēn's close friend, he knew how much Rēn cherished his family—especially his little sister, ten years his junior. They bickered constantly, but the bond was priceless.

If Fujikawere hurt Rēn might just storm Kirigakure and take down the Mizukage himself!

"I'm fine, Big Brother Shisui. I wasn't hurt," Fujika replied in a low voice.

"Good."

Shisui looked her over carefully. Confirming she was unscathed, he sighed in relief. "Don't worry. It's over. I've already sent the crows to inform Rēn. He'll be here soon."

He turned to the Kirigakure envoy, frowning.

This...was going to be a mess.