c138: You Guessed It Right!
"Ho ho…"
"There have always been soul-related techniques in the shinobi world. The Human Path and Naraka Path of the Rinnegan… the Impure World Reincarnation… even the Spirit Transformation Technique."
"But I have never once seen an ability that draws out the soul through fear alone."
The voice paused, lingering.
"At least… not in Madara's memories."
There had been something faintly similar, long ago, but buried in an age before shinobi history was written.
Obito's gaze sharpened. "Black Zetsu. Why are you here?"
"Nagato is under control, for now," the oily shadow replied smoothly.
Obito's single eye narrowed. "Your efficiency is low."
Black Zetsu's voice was unhurried. "Not low. The Mizukage himself bears the Three-Tails' seal. To manipulate him without notice takes subtlety. The preparations are finished. Within days, our goal will be achieved."
The half-black, half-white form shifted strangely, one half animated and speaking while the other sat unnervingly still.
"This soul ability is too peculiar to dismiss. Do not be careless. Take Tobi with you when you move. If you were to fall, the Eye of the Moon plan would collapse."
"…Understood." Obito's voice was low.
He tilted his head, his scarlet eye gleaming. "Could it be Mangekyō?"
The words carried weight. His own Mangekyō housed Kamui, an ability no Uchiha of the past had wielded.
"If he truly awakened a kaleidoscope, then yes… it's possible," Black Zetsu murmured. Long ago, he had seen a soul-controlling power birthed from Indra's line.
But White Zetsu shook his head. "Impossible. The reports say he awakened his Sharingan's first tomoe after his parents' death, and the second when his teammates died. Since then, no tragedy, no loss. He's had no trigger to reach Mangekyō."
Obito's tone grew mocking. "And yet, he wields three tomoe. Where did that come from?"
"Not clear. He vanished from Konoha for half a year on a wandering journey. Perhaps he unlocked it then," White Zetsu answered, shrugging.
"This boy is well-liked among the Uchiha, even among Konoha shinobi," White Zetsu added. "But no deep bonds. No devastating losses. Without such a bond, awakening Mangekyō should be impossible."
"Speculation wastes time," Black Zetsu cut in coldly. "Whether Mangekyō or not, the ability is not invincible. If one does not fear, the soul cannot be stolen."
The dark pupil turned. "Tell me, Obito are you afraid?"
"Fear?" Obito's voice was flat, heavy with venom. "I only know hatred."
"And you, Tobi?"
The spiral mask tilted. "I don't know what fear is."
Black Zetsu: "…"
Each of them postured worse than the other. In truth, White Zetsu's emotions were dulled, almost empty but even he knew fear was not something that could ever vanish completely.
Still, Black Zetsu's voice remained smooth. "Then it is enough. The target's mystery is noted. For now, Mizukage comes first. When the time is right, we will test this boy."
"If there are changes, report back. I'm going to eat."
A spiraling vortex warped the air, and Obito disappeared into Kamui's dimension.
The half-black, half-white figure stayed behind, muttering with two voices in the empty house. Any ordinary man would have fled screaming.
…
The following morning, Orochimaru's battle report reached Konoha.
But the Hokage's desk already carried a packet: intelligence from Root and the T&I Division's informants. Every great village employed double and triple channels to cross-check their commanders' claims.
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a thin stream of smoke, the pipe between his lips glowing faintly. After a long silence, he dipped his brush, preparing to approve Orochimaru's recommendation.
Knock. Knock.
"Enter."
The door opened, and Shimura Danzo strode in, cane tapping against the floor.
"What is it now, Danzo?" Hiruzen asked wearily.
"I hear Orochimaru intends to recommend his disciple… that arrogant boy who shows no respect… as deputy commander."
Hiruzen's mouth curved faintly. "Your spies are efficient."
"I did not intercept the report," Danzo replied coldly. "One of my men on the delivery chain passed it along. That is all."
"Then speak plainly. If it is just personal resentment, leave."
Danzo forced a thin smile. "Hiruzen, I am not so petty."
Hiruzen puffed once on his pipe, saying nothing. Danzo pressed on.
"The boy hides himself too deeply. He is cunning. Ambitious."
"You mean his summon the dragonlike beast and this rumor of souls torn from enemies by fear?"
It was no rumor. Gen had openly drained jōnin, chūnin, even genin during pursuit. Root and T&I eyes had confirmed it.
"Exactly. He concealed it until now, even during the Nine-Tails' night. And now he bares his wings. To kill five Mist jōnin, including one of the Seven Swordsmen… his strength borders Kage-level."
Had Gen overheard, he would have smirked. You guessed it right.
"Perhaps he never had this ability before," Hiruzen mused.
Danzo frowned. "Maybe. But precautions must be taken. A fifteen-year-old deputy commander rising this fast he cannot be trusted with so much."
"You've read the same report. Orochimaru trains him directly. He says the boy adapts quickly, even to command. With Orochimaru in place, nothing will collapse."
"A master praising his pupil proves nothing. Exaggeration."
Hiruzen's eyes glimmered. "Team Nine of the Police Force, was it not? I've heard they run smoothly. No failures, no disorder."
Danzo's lips tightened. He had hoped to undermine Gen's management. But nothing had gone wrong in Team Nine.
"…Perhaps the vice-captain carries the burden," Danzo offered.
"Then he delegated well. Making best use of men's talents—that is leadership," Hiruzen replied calmly.
Danzo's jaw worked, words failing him.
Desperate, he struck another angle. "What about the Fire Country's death row massacre? The bodies with no wounds, faces twisted in terror? We once called it mass hysteria, but now… perhaps souls stripped away."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "…Speculation."
"But too much coincidence!"
"Speculation," Hiruzen repeated. "When that incident occurred, Gen was in Konoha. At most, patrolling. Tell me, Danzo could one boy kill every condemned man across the entire Fire Nation simultaneously?"
Danzo faltered. The scope was too vast. Even he could not argue.
Hiruzen's gaze hardened. "You always preach cruelty to the enemy. Gen uses this ability only against Kiri shinobi. No villager has died this way. So I agree with Orochimaru."
Danzo opened his mouth. "But—"
"You mean he is Uchiha."
Danzo's silence was answer enough.
"Your bias blinds you. Enough. Leave."
"Hiruzen, you will regret this," Danzo said coldly.
Hiruzen sighed. The same old refrain. He waved his hand like shooing a fly, returning to his papers.
Bang! The door slammed shut. Everyone on the floor barely looked up. By now, Danzo storming out of the Hokage's office was routine.
By afternoon, Konoha's swift bureaucracy had already carried the appointment letter to the frontlines.
Gen Uchiha was officially deputy commander.
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