Chapter 12 Traps And Uchiha Obito
Training time always flew by quickly.
Especially when there was a cheat-like ability assisting, mastering techniques became swift, and growth was visible to the naked eye, making it easy for people to forget the passage of time.
Fortunately, time manipulation was one of the auxiliary effects granted by Uchiha Yue's Mangekyō Sharingan's illusory power.
Thus, even if he was completely absorbed in the joy of cultivation, once he chose to pause and rest, everything happening in the outside world remained firmly within his control.
"Haha, this Danzo guy really works hard! And his efficiency isn't bad either. Looks like a good show will be starting soon."
"Also, Uchiha Itachi… really loyal to Konoha! Such a pity. Even with your loyalty, the village will never fully trust someone bearing the Uchiha name and Sharingan eyes."
After a short break, Yue reactivated the secret monitoring he had placed on Danzo earlier via his illusion imprint, learning everything that had transpired overnight in Hokage's office.
This outcome, which he had already foreseen, only made him sneer inwardly with derision.
"Well, White Zetsu's spore cloning technique is ridiculously convenient. And after absorbing the original Hashirama cells, awakening the Sage Body and perfecting the Wood Release, its capability seems even greater. Maybe there are even more functions waiting to be developed."
Not taking Danzo's actions too seriously, Yue's attention shifted again to his own growing arsenal of abilities.
Indeed, whether White Zetsu or Hashirama's living cells, both were rare anomalies even in the Naruto world, filled with untold mysteries tied back to the divine tree and Kaguya Ōtsutsuki herself.
Although his Mangekyō Sharingan had perfectly integrated these powers, thoroughly exploring their hidden depths would require significant time—after all, even Hashirama himself had only used the abilities rather than fully understanding them, and even Senju Tobirama's brilliance couldn't decipher the full mystery of his brother's cells.
Thus, Yue now felt that his very existence housed countless precious treasures waiting to be unearthed, leaving him with the joyous headache of too many possibilities and too little time.
"Well, let's put aside these experiments for now! The show is about to start."
Muttering lightly, Yue reimmersed himself into his illusory world, continuing his cultivation with renewed vigor.
Time slipped away again.
While Uchiha Yue continued to strengthen himself, Uchiha Itachi and Konoha's high command, following a night of tense discussions, swiftly began executing their revised plan.
The first step involved Itachi sending a secret signal through a coded method—a technique similar to the crow-based communications he had mastered—to lure the "Masked Man" into a meeting within the village that very night.
Afterward, Konoha's Anbu Black Ops and Root operatives would set a meticulously prepared trap, hiding in the shadows, waiting for their prey.
The entire plan seemed simple—almost absurdly so—but therein lay Konoha's terrifying efficiency as the strongest shinobi village in the world.
Preparations passed swiftly, and as night fell fully over Konoha, the rendezvous time drew near.
Uchiha Itachi, arriving early at the designated location—a deserted courtyard not far from the Naka Shrine—waited quietly, every sense sharpened.
Then, almost precisely at the appointed time, a spiraling space-time distortion appeared midair, and a lone figure stepped forth from the twisting void.
"Long time no see, Itachi. Reaching out to me so soon… are you planning to act earlier than agreed?"
Speaking as if unaware of the numerous ANBU lurking in ambush, the orange-masked figure—Uchiha Obito—calmly approached, his voice low and indifferent.
"Madara… you violated our agreement."
Staring at the man before him, Itachi responded, the three-tomoe Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes spinning into vivid existence.
"Hmph. Breaking the agreement? I'd say the current situation doesn't exactly make me the violator."
Obito sneered coldly, glancing around nonchalantly.
Naturally, he had sensed the ambush long before stepping into the courtyard. With his Kamui's intangibility and teleportation abilities, unless Minato Namikaze himself returned from the dead, no one in Konoha could truly catch him.
Moreover, Obito still valued Itachi's potential. He wasn't eager to make a complete enemy out of him if it could be helped.
"Tsukuyomi."
Without warning, Itachi released a powerful genjutsu the moment Obito's gaze locked with his.
In an instant, the world around Obito twisted—black and white colors inverted—and a massive blood-red moon loomed overhead, signaling entry into the nightmare realm of Tsukuyomi.
Within this illusion, Obito found himself bound to a cross, his body immobilized.
"Welcome to my world. For the next seventy-two hours… you'll be at my mercy."
Drawing a long blade, Itachi stepped forward, ready to inflict relentless psychological torture.
"Wait. There's no need to rush," Obito spoke quickly, his eye narrowing in alarm. "I'm not your enemy, Itachi."
"I also didn't raid Root. If I had, I wouldn't be standing before you like this."
Itachi's hand, mid-swing, paused slightly, his gaze sharpening further.
"I can't prove it directly—the impostor covered his tracks well—but think carefully, Itachi. You know me. You know I wouldn't jeopardize our arrangement without reason."
"Moreover, recall who invited whom to wipe out the Uchiha Clan. You asked for my assistance, and I agreed. Now, suddenly, someone else strikes during this critical moment—doesn't that seem suspicious?"
Obito's tone was steady but edged with cold killing intent.
In truth, ever since White Zetsu reported one of their clones assigned to monitor the Uchiha had gone missing a few nights prior, Obito had suspected trouble.
Though Obito had sent other White Zetsu scouts to Konoha immediately, no one had found anything conclusive.
It was only after Root's sudden breach and Konoha's frantic emergency meeting that he realized someone had impersonated him to provoke chaos.
Thus, confident in his Mangekyō's unmatched Kamui escape abilities, Obito had deliberately walked into this trap—not to fight, but to deliver critical information and preserve his alliance with Itachi.
Finding the mysterious individual wielding a Mangekyō—someone strong enough to fool both Konoha and Root—was now his highest priority.