Black Zetsu had no choice but to feel helpless about Obito's thinking.
He couldn't deny it—Obito wasn't wrong.
For Uchiha lunatics like them, everything went to extremes.
Either they were so kind it was ridiculous… or they were so deranged they became monsters.
Obito was obviously the second type. And yet, somehow, he had zero self-awareness about it.
And as for the plans Obito came up with?
Black Zetsu had always sneered at them.
The Nine-Tails Incident—if Obito hadn't gotten lucky and both Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina had died, Obito wouldn't have been living so comfortably afterward.
But of course, Obito couldn't sit still.
He went and provoked another person who could use Flying Thunder God.
And now?
Not only had his information been exposed—he was being heavily hunted across the Land of Fire.
Worst of all, he still hadn't learned his lesson.
This time… he'd set his sights on Uchiha Shisui.
Sure, their intelligence was solid. They knew about Danzo's dealings. And with Obito hiding inside Kamui, that guy—Ren—couldn't sense the mark.
But Black Zetsu still didn't trust Obito's plan.
He was genuinely worried Obito would screw something up again.
"...Sigh. We'll just take it one step at a time."
"So… where have you been lately? I haven't seen you for days."
Inside Konoha's dango shop, Yugao ate her skewers while looking at Ren with curiosity.
Ren… was the kind of guy who was always a bit too handsy, and sometimes did things she couldn't quite decide whether to praise or scold.
But she'd never deny this:
He was an excellent teammate—someone reliable, someone you could lean on.
On normal days off, Ren would often come looking for her. Whether it was going out, or asking her to guide his training, they almost always moved together.
And that training… Yugao knew it wasn't just training.
Ren was helping her improve.
His swordsmanship was sharp—almost frighteningly so. Many times, she'd explain an idea, and Ren would instantly grasp it.
Sometimes he'd even develop it further than she could.
With his astonishing speed and strength, plus his deep reserves of chakra… Yugao had very little chance of winning against him.
She'd once thought genius meant someone like Kakashi-senpai.
But Ren felt even more exaggerated than Kakashi.
And yet, these past few days… Ren had vanished like he'd disappeared off the face of the earth.
Not only did he not come to see her—when she went to look for him, he was nowhere to be found.
Naturally, she was curious.
"Probably a mission?" Shisui blinked and spoke lightly beside them, clearly aware some things shouldn't be asked too deeply.
"It wasn't a mission," Ren shook his head.
Of course he wasn't going to admit anything mission-related.
And while he was at it, he started laying groundwork—smoothly, shamelessly—so his future "explanations" would sound reasonable.
"I've just had a… really strange feeling."
"I keep feeling like my chakra is boiling. Like my blood is burning for no reason."
"So these last few days, I went to the hospital first. They found nothing. After that, I just found a quiet place to train."
Konoha didn't have anyone who awakened Wood Release naturally through bloodline—at least, not anyone known.
The current Wood Release users were all the result of implants.
So no one truly knew what "awakening" would look like.
Ren's nonsense served two purposes:
it built him a defense story… and it planted a "process" everyone could accept.
"Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Yugao immediately reached out and placed her hand on Ren's.
Even though she was ANBU, she had learned medical basics from the medic corps—enough to check someone.
"Alright, don't worry."
The moment her hand touched him, Ren grabbed it—firmly.
Before she could pull back, he smiled.
"I'm not uncomfortable at all. Actually, I feel great. That's why I called it 'strange,' remember?"
"..."
Yugao stared at the hand he was holding, suddenly at a loss for words.
Shisui, seeing that, laughed—but didn't comment directly.
After thinking a bit, he spoke more seriously.
"Ren, you need to watch your body closely. If it gets worse, take a break."
"Your burden is heavy."
"Especially that traitor—Uchiha Obito. His case still depends on you."
Shisui sounded sincere… but for some reason, a chill ran through his entire body.
It felt like someone was staring at him.
As a shinobi, Shisui trusted instincts like this. A sense like that could save your life.
He glanced around—
But saw no one.
"Yeah, I know," Ren nodded.
He noticed Shisui's expression shift and also scanned the surroundings.
Still… nothing.
So Ren chuckled.
"I think you're the one who needs rest, senpai. Being jumpy isn't healthy."
"You little brat—are you saying I'm a third wheel?" Shisui laughed and scolded him.
But that line made Yugao's face tighten.
"Shisui-senpai…"
She tried to pull her hand away again—yet Shisui stood up at that moment.
"Alright, alright. I won't bother you two."
"I'm done eating anyway. I'll go back and spend time with my little brother."
"Have fun."
As he spoke, he winked at both Ren and Yugao.
Ren, shameless as ever, nodded back openly.
Yugao nearly choked.
You two… acting like this together… is that really okay?!
"See? It's your fault. You annoyed Shisui-senpai and chased him away," Yugao muttered, glaring at Ren.
But before she could say more, a bright, teasing voice sounded behind her.
"Eh? Eh?! Yugao, you're here!"
"Oh wow… you guys—"
Yugao turned—
And saw Anko dragging Kurenai in, both of them wearing playful expressions.
Anko's gaze landed straight on Yugao's hand… still trapped in Ren's grip.
"What was that feeling earlier…?"
On the road toward the Uchiha district, Shisui frowned as he walked.
That sensation—like someone's eyes on his back—had been far too real.
He couldn't ignore it.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, a twisted, unnatural chakra fluctuation rippled.
Shisui's pupils tightened.
He drew a kunai, and his eyes shifted into Sharingan form.
He didn't know who it was—but being prepared never hurt.
"Still that vigilant, huh. Not bad."
A low voice sounded.
Then a black figure appeared.
The newcomer wore a bizarre spiral mask.
Through the single eyehole, a crimson Sharingan glowed.
"It's you—Uchiha Obito!"
Shisui's face changed instantly.
He blurted the name without thinking.
Hearing that name, Obito's fist almost clenched on reflex.
It truly felt like he'd been completely exposed.
But he forced his emotions down and stared at Shisui coldly.
"I've said it before—I'm not Uchiha Obito."
"But if you insist on calling me that, fine."
"I'm here because there are things I want to talk to you about."
"You still want to deny it? Your eye has already been confirmed!" Shisui snapped back.
His eyes transformed again—into Mangekyō.
As one of the operatives assigned to capture Obito, Shisui didn't dare hold back for even a second.
"So you really do have those eyes." Obito quietly nodded inside.
At the same time, he subtly turned his gaze aside.
"For now, I'm not your enemy," Obito said evenly.
"I'm here to tell you something."
"Something?" Shisui didn't understand, but his guard remained high.
Obito's voice lowered, almost amused.
"That's right."
"I came to tell you… the truth."
"The truth about Konoha… and
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