Chapter 155 – Uchiha Obito, Arrives on the Scene
Staring at the scene before him, Uchiha Obito couldn't help but feel conflicted. After all, on one side were his fellow clan members, and on the other, his duty as a member of the Konoha Police Force.
But Obito didn't stay confused for long, because the masked ninja had already turned around at the sound of his voice, facing him.
The eyes exposed beneath the mask—those spinning Mangekyō Sharingan—radiated an ominous aura right in front of Obito's gaze.
"Mangekyō Sharingan!!"
Of course Obito could recognize those eyes. That was exactly why he was so shocked.
As far as Obito knew, the only one in the Uchiha clan to have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan was their clan head, Uchiha Fugaku.
But this masked ninja clearly wasn't Fugaku. Regardless of who he really was, Obito understood one thing—he had to get out of here immediately!
The Uchiha bloodline came with innate suppression. A three-tomoe Sharingan was no match for a Mangekyō. That much was clear to Obito.
Ordinary jōnin might sometimes overcome top-tier opponents if they had an elemental or tactical advantage. But Uchiha fights were different—higher-tier Sharingan outright suppressed the lower tiers.
Two tomoe beat one. Three tomoe beat two. And the Mangekyō was the ultimate eye of legend.
More importantly, Obito had witnessed this masked man kill an ANBU member right before his eyes.
If he didn't run now, he might not get another chance.
However, Obito had barely taken two steps before thorny vines suddenly sprouted from the ground and wrapped around his ankles.
"Damn it—genjutsu."
As the vines coiled around his ankles, Obito's heart skipped a beat. His first thought was of the legendary Wood Release jutsu that once dominated the shinobi world under Hashirama Senju.
But Wood Release had been gone for decades. And how could a member of the Uchiha clan possibly use it?
That left only one possibility—he was caught in a Mangekyō genjutsu.
Although Obito hadn't awakened the Mangekyō himself, he had studied the clan's archives. He knew that every Mangekyō was unique, with its own exclusive dojutsu.
The fact that he—a jōnin—had been caught so easily meant the enemy's power likely centered around illusion.
Realizing he was trapped, Obito quickly steadied himself, formed hand seals, and tried to disrupt his chakra to break free.
But a Mangekyō illusion wasn't so easy to dispel.
Worse yet, this wasn't even a genjutsu—it was real Wood Release ninjutsu. Uchiha Makoto had merged Hashirama's cells into his own body.
The vines sensed that Obito wasn't reacting like others had. His lack of resistance angered them, so they rapidly crept from his ankles up his body, wrapping him into a tight cocoon—even sealing his mouth.
Makoto walked over and studied him. Despite Obito's changed appearance, he was quickly recognized.
Back in the ninja academy, Obito had been nothing but disgraceful in Makoto's eyes—yet he had also been one of Kazane's few friends.
Makoto hadn't expected this once-hopeless underachiever to awaken the three-tomoe Sharingan.
That sparked a flicker of admiration.
So Makoto released the vine covering Obito's mouth. With chakra altering his voice, he said mysteriously,
"I am Uchiha Madara. Would you follow me?"
"I can help you awaken your Mangekyō Sharingan."
The painful grip of the vines made Obito realize this wasn't a genjutsu. Hearing the offer, he almost wanted to laugh.
Uchiha Madara?
Even the youngest Uchiha child knew Madara had died at the Valley of the End decades ago.
But regardless of who this masked man truly was, Obito knew his life was in his hands.
So Obito replied,
"Fine, I'll follow you. Just let me go first."
Makoto narrowed his eyes with disdain.
As expected of a loser—no change at all.
But he wasn't worried. Given their overwhelming power gap, even if Obito had ulterior motives, he couldn't cause any real trouble.
Makoto commanded the vines to release him.
Whoosh!!!
Obito burst free, instantly vanishing into a blur.
Makoto didn't panic. In fact, behind the mask, he smirked with contempt.
And then—
The world shattered.
Obito, still tightly bound by vines, reappeared before Makoto.
Makoto had trapped him in a Mangekyō illusion from the start.
A mere three-tomoe could never escape his Mangekyō.
As the illusion crumbled, Obito finally realized the truth.
Even his usual optimistic self couldn't help but feel despair.
So this is where I die…
He knew he could survive if he obeyed.
But Obito's kind and righteous heart wouldn't allow betrayal—not of Konoha, not of his clan.
His resistance had angered Makoto.
If Obito wished to die, Makoto would oblige and send him to join the ANBU he'd killed earlier.
Makoto gave him a final look and whispered,
"Farewell, Obito."
Bound tightly by the vines, Obito awaited death.
But hearing those words, his eyes flew open—his pupils contracting.
Makoto had stopped masking his voice. That familiar sound struck Obito like a bolt of lightning.
Back in the academy, his greatest rival had been none other than—
Uchiha Makoto.
Makoto, who was supposedly long dead. Obito had buried his body with his own hands on the battlefield.
But back then, Black Zetsu had found Makoto mortally wounded and secretly replaced his body with a clone made from White Zetsu.
Now, hearing the unmistakable voice, Obito gasped:
"You're Uchiha—"
But he never finished.
Makoto sent a vine spearing into Obito's body.
Bloodthirsty roots sucked greedily at his life.
No matter how Obito struggled, he couldn't stop the inevitable.
His strength faded, the chill of death creeping in.
Is this the end…?
In that moment between life and death, Obito's life flashed before his eyes like a slideshow.
The jokes he made at the academy, desperately trying to prove himself.
Helping old ladies cross the road.
Narrow escapes from death on the battlefield.
And that day in the Hyūga garden, when Kazane stood up for him.
Then he remembered his final conversation with Kazane—how disappointed he'd looked.
"Yeah… I still haven't married Rin. How can I die now?"
"Kazane's waiting at the top of the shinobi world. How can I die before catching up?"
"You've underestimated me, Makoto. I'm Uchiha Obito!"
"I'm the man who'll become Hokage!"
Though his body shriveled, his resolve only grew.
His mind filled with memories of his friends cheering him on—until it fixed on Kazane's smiling face.
Makoto, watching Obito's desiccating body, felt boredom creeping in.
He turned and began walking toward the alley's exit.
But he hadn't gone far before stopping dead.
No way…
A massive surge of chakra erupted behind him.
Makoto turned mechanically, only to see what was left of Obito—a skin-and-bones husk—now glaring at him like a vengeful spirit.
Blue chakra flared wildly from Obito's body.
His three-tomoe eyes connected and transformed—forming the pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Don't underestimate me! I'm Uchiha Obito!"
Obito roared, his twisted expression fierce.
Massive chakra poured from his eyes, coalescing into a skeletal frame around him.
He had awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan…
And activated the first stage of Susanoo!
Damn it!!!
Obito's sudden awakening rattled Makoto's composure.
Then came the sting of envy.
He remembered the pain and despair when he'd awakened his own Mangekyō—watching helplessly as his father was murdered.
And yet this so-called loser… had awakened his eyes too?
Makoto wanted to kill him before he could master those powers.
But the disturbance had grown too large—Konoha's elites would arrive soon.
If he stayed, he would be in danger.
So Makoto gave Obito one last long look, burning the image into memory.
Then he activated his Mangekyō ability—forming a black hole around himself.
His body was sucked into it, and the hole collapsed before Obito.
Soon, Konoha's ninja began gathering, drawn by the noise of Obito's Susanoo.
The first to arrive was Uchiha Fugaku.
He had sensed the familiar chakra the moment Obito awakened his Mangekyō.
Abandoning his tasks, he rushed over.
Now, seeing Obito wrapped in blue chakra, bleeding tears from his eyes, and the dead ANBU nearby, Fugaku was filled with conflicting emotions.
Excitement—because another Mangekyō had awakened in their clan. A top-tier powerhouse had risen.
But also chaos—this was no time for celebration. The dead ANBU lay right there.
To any observer, it looked like Obito had killed him.
And now… Orochimaru ruled the village. The ANBU reported directly to Kazane.
Fugaku knew Kazane's power well. Even with a Mangekyō, Obito couldn't beat him.
No… even if the entire Uchiha clan fought together, they'd still lose.
While Fugaku was still thinking, Namikaze Minato arrived.
He'd been burning the midnight oil in the ANBU office when he sensed the disturbance.
Now he stood before Obito's Susanoo, saw the tears of blood in his eyes, and the dead ANBU beside him—and Fugaku standing nearby.
Minato's usual smile faded.
That ANBU had been his subordinate—killed within the village.
But anger wouldn't solve anything.
Minato stepped forward and examined the corpse.
The cause of death: strangulation by a broken neck. His clothes were neat, showing no signs of struggle—likely caught in a high-level genjutsu.
He was a jōnin. To subdue someone like that with genjutsu… wasn't something ordinary people could do.
Though Minato believed the Uchiha wouldn't betray Konoha…
The scene and evidence in front of him pointed clearly to one thing—
The ANBU had been killed by Uchiha Obito.