Obito remained silent, his expression under the mask unreadable.
Saint Mi suddenly raised a hand and pointed at Obito’s body: “It seems there’s another presence inside you. Do you need me to help you remove him?”
Black Zetsu immediately fell silent upon hearing this, not daring to make another move.
Obito responded softly: “No need. If everything you said is true, then there’s indeed no need for us to continue fighting, but…”
He changed the subject, “If you want to cooperate, what else can you offer me?”
Saint Mi’s lips curved slightly, and he took out a sealing scroll with one hand, quickly forming hand seals.
As a puff of white smoke rose, the sealing book and some sealed wooden boxes appeared beside him.
At the same time, he took out a wooden box and slowly opened it, revealing a perfectly preserved Byakugan inside.
“I wonder if these are enough?”
Obito’s pupils suddenly contracted: “The sealing book? And a Byakugan?”
This was far beyond his expectations.
He asked in a hoarse voice: “What have you done?”
“I just dug up the Hyuga Clan’s ancestral graves, that’s all.” Saint Mi’s tone was calm, as if he was talking about a trivial matter.
Obito suddenly let out a low, guttural laugh: “Your resolve is truly surprising.”
“So…?” Saint Mi raised an eyebrow slightly.
Seeing this, Obito no longer hesitated, nodding gently: “Of course, welcome to the team, Hyuga’s Saint Mi.”
Saint Mi smiled, said nothing more, and put the sealing book and Byakugan back: “When the time is right, I will come find you.”
Obito was slightly surprised, not expecting Saint Mi to appear so unhurried after reaching an agreement.
This made him even more certain that Saint Mi was not a spy sent by Konoha.
No Village would be willing to use a Byakugan and the sealing book as bait.
“When you’re ready, come find me in Hidden Mist Village.” Obito said.
“The Blood Mist Village, huh? Very well…”
Saint Mi left a meaningful remark, and his figure gradually disappeared into the forest.
After Saint Mi left, Black Zetsu immediately emerged from Obito’s body: “This person, he can’t be allowed to live…”
Obito sneered: “I know, but before the plan is complete, he still has value to be exploited.
“He is a blade, a blade with nowhere left to go.”
Soon after, Obito also left the forest.
Only the aftermath of the battle remained in the forest: broken trees, cracked ground, scorched grass, and a few tattered rags fluttering in the wind.
The entire area returned to silence, as if the fierce confrontation had never happened.
…
…
Konoha.
It was late at night when Uchiha Fugaku pushed open his front door.
The light in the entrance hall illuminated his tired face, the wrinkles between his brows deeper than usual.
“I’m home.” His voice was low and hoarse, as if speaking those few words took all his strength.
Uchiha Mikoto hurried over at the sound, her slender fingers taking her husband’s outer robe, which was damp with dew: “You must be tired. Was today… smooth?”
Fugaku shook his head, a bitter smile twisting his lips: “That old fox Danzo…”
The words caught in his throat, unwilling to worry his wife too much.
These past few days, the Konoha high-ranking officials had been holding continuous meetings, all focused on the various problems exposed during the Nine-Tails Rampage.
In addition to cleanup and maintaining the various facilities in the Village, there was also the condolences of comrades who sacrificed themselves during the Nine-Tails Rampage.
Especially Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, and the Hokage’s wife Uzumaki Kushina.
These ceremonies were for the living to see, and also for the Uchiha Clan to see.
Thinking of this, Fugaku’s expression worsened.
On the day of the Nine-Tails Rampage, the Kyubi’s eyes clearly revealed a pair of Sharingan.
Many people had seen this fact, and the Uchiha could not escape suspicion, no matter what.
As the clan head, Fugaku naturally knew that the Kyubi’s rampage was not caused by a member of the Uchiha Clan.
At least from the information he had, none of the Uchiha Clan members capable of controlling the Kyubi that day were suspects.
But the other people in Konoha Village did not believe it.
In these past few days, the suspicions against the Uchiha had converged into an unprecedented wave, finally turning into substantial pressure on Fugaku’s shoulders.
In the meeting that had just ended, Danzo advocated moving the Uchiha Clan to the edge of the Village, which was also the ruins destroyed by the Kyubi.
Danzo claimed that as a major clan in Konoha Village, the Uchiha should set an example for everyone by participating in the reconstruction efforts in the ruins.
But in reality, everyone knew this was to facilitate overt surveillance of the Uchiha.
Mikoto gently held her husband’s hand, feeling the coldness emanating from his palm: “Go rest first. I’ve brewed the tea you like.”
Just then, a cry came from the baby’s room.
Mikoto’s expression softened: “Sasuke is awake.”
She quickly walked to the baby’s room, and a moment later, came out holding the swaddled infant.
Little Sasuke, with his dark, wide eyes, suddenly stopped crying when he saw his father, stretching out his small hands and babbling.
Fugaku’s stern face finally softened, and he reached out to gently caress his son’s soft cheek: “The little fellow has grown a bit more.”
Just at this warm moment, a respectful knock came from outside the door: “Clan Head, Shisui has arrived.”
Fugaku’s expression hardened, and he handed the child back to his wife: “Let him in.”
The door opened, and a curly-haired young man stood respectfully at the entrance.
He was about fifteen years old, with delicate features but a maturity far beyond his age.
“Excuse me, Lord Fugaku, Lady Mikoto.”
His voice was gentle and polite, and a hint of tenderness appeared in his eyes when he saw little Sasuke.
“Shisui, you’re here.” Mikoto greeted with a smile, “Would you like to try the new pastries I made? Itachi has been pestering you to practice shuriken lately, you must be tired.”
Shisui showed a rare youthful smile upon hearing this: “I enjoy spending time with Itachi too, but today…”
His gaze turned to Fugaku, and his expression became serious.
Mikoto nodded understandingly: “You two talk business. I’ll take Sasuke to feed him.”
She gently patted the infant in her arms, coaxing softly: “Shall we go play with your brother? Itachi should be back today.”
After Mikoto left.
“Shisui.” Fugaku’s voice was more serious than ever, “I’ll make it short. There’s something I need to entrust to you.”
Shisui nodded respectfully, waiting for Fugaku to continue.
Fugaku retrieved an ancient purple sandalwood box from the inner room and solemnly placed it on the table.
The Uchiha Clan crest was carved on the surface of the wooden box, glowing with a dim luster in the candlelight.
Fugaku nodded heavily: “You are the young man I have the most confidence in within the clan. I hope you will represent me, avoid the Anbu’s gaze in the Village, and contact the outside world to gain support for the clan. This is the leverage I can offer.”
Shisui took the wooden box with both hands.
When he lifted the lid, his always calm eyes suddenly widened.
Inside the box lay a pure white eye, its patterns clearly visible.
A Byakugan!
“This, this is?” Shisui’s voice trembled slightly, “Lord Fugaku… This!”
Fugaku had anticipated Shisui’s shock, and looking out the window, he slowly said: “You are a hidden piece. No matter who the opponent is, I have a premonition that in the future… you might be able to save the entire Uchiha Clan.”
Shisui took a deep breath, his fingers exceptionally gentle as he closed the lid: “Clan Head, are you asking me to…”
“I’m leaving it all to you!” Fugaku interrupted, his voice even lower, “Go find those forces that still harbor goodwill towards us Uchiha.”
Outside the window, a dark cloud obscured the moonlight.
Shisui remained silent. After a moment, he simply nodded gently and carefully put the wooden box into his embrace.
Fugaku suddenly placed a hand on Shisui’s shoulder: “Remember, not even Itachi can know about this.”
A hint of pain flashed in his eyes, “As a father, I don’t want him to bear too much.”
Shisui nodded solemnly. As he turned to leave, he heard Sasuke’s gurgling laughter and Mikoto’s gentle humming from the baby’s room.