The hesitation in Hatake Kakashi's eyes flashed briefly, and he began advising, "Don't make a mistake! You want Obito's information because you fear Obito is planning to kill you, right?"
"..."
Uehara Naraku's expression suddenly changed.
Seeing Uehara Naraku's expression, Hatake Kakashi's demeanor gradually became calm, adopting an unhurried attitude, "Then I advise you to release Karin, because right now, only I can help you!"
After speaking, Hatake Kakashi, to ensure the quality of his negotiation, even began praising his old friend, "Obito is the most talented ninja in Konoha's history. Without my help, you won't escape Obito's pursuit!"
"..."
Uehara Naraku's face fell again. He looked at Hatake Kakashi with an indescribable expression, "Kakashi, do I look like an idiot to you?"
"Don't act impulsively!"
Hatake Kakashi saw Uehara's fingers twitch slightly and, fearing he might impulsively kill Karin, hastily advised, "Release Karin first, and we can discuss this slowly..."
"..."
Uehara Naraku hesitated for a moment but still tightly gripped Karin's neck, asking in a deep voice, "If Tobi-senpai is your Konoha's Obito, and he's an agent sent by Konoha, is that right?"
"..."
Hatake Kakashi shook his head vigorously, responding in a deep voice, "That's not it. Obito is now... a traitor of the village. He left over twelve years ago."
"I don't believe you."
Uehara Naraku gritted his teeth and continued, "But regardless of whether he's Konoha's agent or a traitor, Konoha must bring him back!"
"That's also what I'm planning to do."
Hatake Kakashi immediately agreed, and asked, "But you have to tell me where he's been active recently, right?"
Uehara Naraku shook his head, speaking in confusion, "I don't know... Obito-senpai simply hoped I'd carry out a mission to entice a Hidden Mist ninja to defect. I suspect he's been active in the Land of Water."
Hatake Kakashi gently probed for more information, "Then why did Obito want you to entice a Hidden Mist ninja to defect? Is it because he harbors resentment against the Hidden Mist Village? Why did he choose you for this? What's your relationship?"
And clearly, he had you entice one Hidden Mist ninja, but you seem to have enticed three members of the Seven-swords Ninja of the Hidden Mist to defect!
"I'm from a... small village."
Uehara Naraku was silent for a while, cursing Kakashi under his breath, before speaking softly about his own story, "To become someone of high status in the village, I had to accomplish a very difficult task."
"..."
Hatake Kakashi felt he understood a bit, listening to Uehara's words, guessing that Uehara might be the next leader of some small ninja village?
Uehara Naraku made sure his words had no flaws, continuing, "Tobi-senpai recommended me to the village leader for this kind of mission. My teacher, an elder in the village, didn't want me in danger, but the leader agreed..."
"I understand."
Hatake Kakashi nodded, softly continuing, "Why did your village leader agree to such a dangerous proposal from Obito?"
Uehara Naraku gritted his teeth, a mix of fury and grief on his face, "Perhaps the village leader didn't want me to obtain that position... and Tobi-senpai and the leader were on very good terms. The leader listened to his every word. We once suspected the leader was under a Genjutsu, but we couldn't detect any signs."
Uehara Naraku slowly lowered his head, his expression sorrowful, "Before me, in the village, only Obito-senpai could obtain that position, but later I..."
The words were quite subtle.
In a way, it wasn't wrong.
After all, in the Akatsuki, only Uehara Naraku and Uchiha Obito were considered interns, and both were ostensibly aiming to become full members of the Akatsuki.
Even if Hatake Kakashi confronted Uchiha Obito in the future, could Obito voluntarily disclose Akatsuki's information?
"I roughly understand what you mean."
Hatake Kakashi sighed internally, piecing together the information he gathered from Uehara Naraku's cryptic and mixed words with his knowledge.
Years ago, during the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, Uchiha Obito wasn't killed but managed to escape somehow. Later, he witnessed Rin die at his own hands, bore hatred towards the pursuing Mist Ninja, and sought vengeance ever since.
Then, to hide, Obito joined a small ninja village, using Genjutsu to control the village leader.
This wasn't difficult.
If Obito's Sharingan powers had grown, controlling a small ninja village's leader wasn't challenging at all, not to mention even being able to control the Tailed Beasts!
Hatake Kakashi recalled the first time he saw Obito without his mask, when he admitted to killing Namikaze Minato and his wife...
Perhaps, that was true.
If Uchiha Itachi could kill his family and whole clan for power, why couldn't Uchiha Obito kill his teacher?
Hatake Kakashi believed he had analyzed the gathered information and sought the last piece of information, "So, may I ask, which ninja village do you belong to?"
As Uehara Naraku consistently hid his identity, Hatake Kakashi felt a bit unwilling and supplemented from another angle, "If I want to take him from your village, I would need your help with this."
"Kakashi-san."
Uehara Naraku slowly stood up, coldly looking at Hatake Kakashi, "There's no need to ask me that question anymore. The amount I've told you is already the limit... even if you meet me again in the future, I won't admit to disclosing anything about Tobi-senpai to you."
As he spoke, a trace of disdain crossed Uehara Naraku's face, "To be frank, it's better for Konoha's Third Hokage to send someone else to handle this. Kakashi-san's power is somewhat lacking..."
"..."
Hatake Kakashi's eyes flickered.
The Third Hokage of Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was still unaware of Uchiha Obito's situation. At least for now, Kakashi didn't want to inform Hiruzen. Besides, if Sarutobi Hiruzen knew, he would only choose to cover the information and send someone adept at handling dark issues.
For example, Root Leader Shimura Danzo.
Recently, that Root Leader Shimura Danzo had been mysteriously put under confinement. If Obito's story were revealed, wouldn't it allow Shimura Danzo to rise again?
"You may go."
Uehara Naraku waved his hand and turned towards the battlefield where Orochimaru, Hoshigaki Kisame, and Hozuki Mangetsu were engaged, "Just so happens that here, I encountered Orochimaru stealing our village's treasure. I must reclaim the treasure from him."
"Wait..."
Hatake Kakashi glanced at Orochimaru and suddenly spoke, "Sir, Orochimaru is a Konoha traitor; I can also help..."
"Hatake Kakashi!"
Uehara Naraku swiftly turned his head, his gaze coldly fixed on Hatake Kakashi, an aura of murderous intent emanating from him, "Does the Konoha ninja also covet our village's treasure? Leave! Don't force me to kill you all!"