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A dark cave.
This was the Akatsuki's temporary base.
White Zetsu, Tobi, emerged from a pile of dirt overhead.
He gesticulated wildly, shouting in an exaggerated tone.
"Obito! Obito! Great news!"
The man he called Obito wore a tiger-striped mask.
Uchiha Obito sat silently on a rock, seemingly meditating with his eyes closed.
The swirling Tobi circled around him.
"It's incredible. The new Daimyo of the Land of Fire has clashed with your Konoha's Hokage."
"I heard that Root leader, Danzō, tried to cause trouble at the inauguration ceremony, but the Third Hokage personally ripped out his heart. Pfft, blood splattered everywhere, it was so exciting."
"I wonder if a person whose heart is ripped out still poops, if..."
"What happened to Konoha?" Obito interrupted Tobi's rambling, his voice icy.
"Oh, oh, the entire Konoha is in chaos now." Tobi immediately got back on topic, gloating. "The Hokage's orders aren't being followed outside the Hokage Building anymore."
"Also, also, the Uchiha are scrambling to send beauties to the Daimyo, the Hyuga's faces are pale with worry, and even the Ino–Shika–Chō are starting to waver."
Listening to Tobi, the single eye beneath Obito's mask instantly filled with crimson.
"A chance. This is a chance." Obito suddenly stood up, his voice hoarse and frantic. "I will go destroy that hypocritical village right now."
"Calm down, Obito."
Black Zetsu emerged from the ground at his feet, stopping him. "You are too impulsive."
The Sharingan in Obito's eye spun wildly, slowly converging into a Mangekyō. His tone was grim. "Konoha's internal strife, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Do you dare stop me?"
"A chance?"
Black Zetsu let out a mocking laugh. "You underestimate Konoha too much."
"Hiruzen may be old, but his strength remains."
"More importantly, Minato..."
"That man's Flying Thunder God Technique has already surpassed the Second Hokage."
"As long as he is in Konoha, it is impossible for you to come and go as you please."
Seeing Obito's eagerness for revenge and undiminished killing intent, Black Zetsu's speech quickened.
"And Uzumaki Kushina."
"Do not forget, she is not only the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, but she is also an Uzumaki with powerful sealing techniques."
"If you go now, it is meaningless except to die."
At the words to die, Obito did not grow angry, but laughed instead, his laughter filled with madness.
He murmured, "Die? Dying is good. If I die... I can go see Rin."
Black Zetsu was silent for a moment, realizing that simple threats had no effect on him.
"Have you forgotten our plan?" Black Zetsu grew anxious.
"The Eye of the Moon Plan? I have not forgotten." Obito remained stubborn. "It does not matter without me, you can find someone else."
Black Zetsu's voice suddenly grew sharp. "What about your revenge for Rin? Are you going to die miserably with empty hands and go see her? Tell her you could not do anything for her?"
"Rin's death, the fault of this world, is that just going to be forgotten?"
The name Rin, like a dagger, pierced deep into Obito's heart.
He trembled all over, and the killing intent around him grew heavier.
Watching Obito ignite with hatred again, Black Zetsu knew the time was right.
His tone shifted, cold and seductive.
"Forcing your way in is the lowest form of revenge."
"I have a better plan, one that will make Minato taste the same despair as you."
Obito suddenly turned his head, his crimson Sharingan staring at Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu spoke unhurriedly. "Minato and Uzumaki Kushina are husband and wife, right?"
"They will have a child sooner or later."
"And when a jinchūriki gives birth, the sealing formula within her body weakens to its extreme."
"At that time, the Nine-Tails' seal will be at its weakest."
The air in the cave seemed to freeze.
Obito's breathing grew heavy.
He understood Black Zetsu's intention.
"At that time..."
Black Zetsu's voice was like a devil's, dripping malice. "We will extract the Nine-Tails from Uzumaki Kushina's body, then let that tailed beast of hatred and destruction roar freely in Konoha, in front of his wife, and in front of his newborn child."
"Let him watch everything he wants to protect be crushed to dust on the same day."
"Let him taste the pain of watching his beloved die helplessly."
"This is the most perfect revenge against Konoha and Minato."
Obito's body began trembling uncontrollably with excitement. "And Kakashi..."
Black Zetsu added, "That's right, and Kakashi. They will all experience the same despair as you from losing what is precious, and all of Konoha will be buried with you."
"Hehehehehehe."
Obito let out a low laugh, louder and louder, turning into a maniacal Uchiha laugh.
"Hahahahahahaha."
"Good. Good plan."
"Let's do it."
Beneath the tiger-striped mask, the Mangekyō Sharingan spun wildly.
Obito's last shred of humanity was completely burned away by the flames of revenge.
He looked toward Konoha, full of anticipation.
Evening.
Konoha.
The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the Hokage Rock red.
Minato left the Hokage Building and walked aimlessly through the streets.
The banners of the izakaya fluttered in the evening breeze, the aroma of barbecue drifted from the grill, and the clear laughter of children chasing and playing stayed crisp.
Everything was as usual.
But everything had also changed.
All that liveliness and laughter, all that Konoha spirit, felt out of place to him.
He saw a few civilian Genin who had just graduated, faces filled with excitement, huddled together in heated discussion.
"Did you hear? Daimyo-sama is personally allocating funds to support the geniuses in our village. We will not have to work so hard on missions to save money for ninja tools anymore."
"More than that. My second uncle's cousin said if you get selected as a Twelve Guardian Ninja, you get a huge sum every month, even higher than an A-rank mission reward."
"That is the strongest guard beside the Daimyo. If we are chosen, we civilian shinobi will really make a name for ourselves."
"Really? Then I have to hurry and sign up. I do not want to pick up trash and look for stray cats anymore."
These uncontrollable bursts of joy and longing pricked Minato's heart like needles.
Once, becoming a member of the Hokage's personal guard was every shinobi's glory.
Once, fighting for the village was a natural belief.
Now, the Daimyo had merely lifted a finger.
The village's hearts no longer belonged to the Hokage.
Minato clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.
The sting, however, was not as great as the bitterness in his heart.
He abruptly turned, no longer walking home.
He was going to find the Third Hokage.
He was going to ask what all of this meant, and what should be done.
But then, he suddenly stopped.
In his line of sight, the ramen shop on the corner glowed with warm light.
A red-haired woman with a ponytail sat inside.
It was Kushina.
She was happily chatting with Teuchi, a steaming bowl of ramen before her.
Feeling watched, Kushina turned her head, and her beautiful eyes lit up.
"Minato. Here. Here."
She waved vigorously, a bright, happy smile on her face.
That smile cut through the bustling street and lit his heart, which was almost swallowed by gloom.
In an instant, all the frustration, anger, and confusion vanished.
Looking at his wife's smiling face, Minato's clenched fists slowly relaxed.
It turned out.
What he had to protect had always been here.
(To be continued.)