Chapter 15 — Actually, I'm Not an Ordinary Uchiha
"Such powerful sensory abilities…"
A man with short hair, wearing an orange-and-black spiral mask over one eye and a long black hooded cloak, stood quietly before Konoha's memorial stone.
He replayed the scene from earlier that day in his mind and gave a faint, crooked smile.
If he had been a little slower, that man would have sensed him.
Uchiha…
Memories of the clan surfaced, and he shook his head, expression dimming.
The clan had treated him well.
Even though only he and his grandmother were left, he'd never lacked food, jutsu, or guidance.
Even that strange guy from the clan had eagerly tried to teach him medical ninjutsu.
But really—what Uchiha studied medical ninjutsu?
Yet, if he had learned it…
Rin…
No.
Obito shook his head violently, erasing the thought, then kicked the flowers placed before the tombstone, face cold.
"Without me, the Uchiha clan means nothing.
Without Rin, Konoha means nothing."
His gaze shifted toward Minato's home.
"Nine-Tails… Kushina…"
He had heard the whispers:
The Nine-Tails' seal weakens during childbirth.
This was his chance.
If he missed it, he'd have to wait for Kushina and Minato… to have a second child.
Thinking of Rin—who died without ever experiencing love—then thinking of Kushina having a second child, rage surged through him. He kicked the fruit offerings off the stone tablet again.
"Why should I have a second chance?"
---
Achoo!
Kushina rubbed her nose and gazed toward the Hokage building, a soft smile blooming on her face.
Minato must be thinking about her again.
Asuka, passing by, sped up.
He kept bumping into this woman everywhere. How unlucky.
He had no particular thoughts about the Nine-Tails or the upcoming incident.
A three-tomoe Sharingan was nowhere near enough to control a force of pure destruction like the Nine-Tails. Even a Mangekyou wouldn't guarantee victory against Obito—and blindness wasn't worth the gamble.
Sigh…
Konoha was about to gain another group of orphans.
Maybe he should donate some money later.
He glanced sideways at Kushina, thinking darkly.
The timing of her childbirth must be tightly guarded.
He'd find a chance to give her a checkup and estimate the due date.
Better to prepare quietly.
He had no intention of telling Minato or Konoha's leadership anything.
He couldn't explain why the Nine-Tails would suddenly appear—not without revealing things he shouldn't know.
He'd get no reward.
Instead, the old geezers in Konoha would bury him under suspicions and traps.
Just thinking about it sent a shiver down his spine.
Asuka turned sharply and headed toward a certain house.
Two days ago at the Valley of the End, he'd marked the two attackers discreetly.
He already knew where they lived.
One was widowed, the other was… also widowed.
Breaking into a widow's home during the day was too suspicious.
He checked the surroundings, then used Body Flicker to land on a windowsill, slipping inside.
"Who's there?!"
The ninja inside jerked upright, glaring toward the window.
"It's me."
Asuka waved casually at the man with the swollen cheek, then tossed him an apple.
"Stole this from a traveling merchant on my way here. Don't complain it's small. Buying fruit in the village and showing up here is too obvious."
"…What are you doing here?"
The man ignored the apple rolling across his blanket.
His eyes were glued to Asuka, full of wariness.
"Changed your mind? Want to interrogate me after all?
I won't tell you anything."
"No."
Asuka shook his head and paced around the shabby room before turning back, expression serious.
"Ota… actually, I'm not an ordinary Uchiha."
Ota froze.
Asuka pulled out a small notebook, slapped it against Ota's chest, and said gravely:
"See for yourself who I am."
Ota blinked, picked up the notebook… and nearly choked.
Konoha Jōnin — Uchiha Asuka.
Above the name, in bold black ink:
ASSASSINATION TACTICAL SPECIAL FORCES
"…!!"
Damn.
That was ANBU.
ANBU identities were secret, but certain missions required proof.
A notebook like this was one such identifier.
Facing Ota's shocked expression, Asuka sat down calmly.
"I'm an investigator from the Assassination Tactical Special Forces.
I'm here to investigate information regarding Root.
"We have reason to believe Konoha possesses a powerful military force not under the Fourth Hokage's command.
"That's why I'm here—
to obtain intelligence on Root.
"And of course, the Fourth Hokage has approved a large budget to reward informants.
"Now… do you understand what you should do?"
Terrified, Ota nodded quickly—then stuck out his tongue, pointing at the curse seal, panicked.
"I'm under a tongue curse seal! I can't reveal any secrets about Lord Danzo! You won't get anything from me!"
Asuka sighed.
He didn't want Danzo's secrets.
He already knew them.
What he wanted to know was far more practical:
What underwear Danzo wore daily.
And if possible, track his movements.
He tapped the table lightly, his face stern.
"I don't want information on your leader.
I don't want Root's secrets.
"Just tell me everything about the female ninja who attacked me with you that day."
He placed a stack of cash on the table.
Threats only worked temporarily.
Bribes lasted much longer.
Ota gave him a strange look.
But when he remembered how that "comrade" had slapped him like she was possessed, his cheek throbbed with phantom pain.
That damn widow had hit him too hard.
Her personal info…
Not a big deal.
If this were an enemy village interrogating him, he'd die before talking.
But if the ANBU wanted intel…
That wasn't betrayal—
That was departmental reporting.
After all, Root and ANBU were technically "mother and child departments."
What's wrong with a child reporting to its mother?
And besides…
there was money.
Resolving his moral conflict in two seconds, Ota spilled everything:
her ninjutsu
her skills
her weaknesses
her hobbies
her clothing preferences
her personality
and even the schedule of her menstrual cycle
All without hesitation.