Chapter 223 – Attack on the Hyūga? Sasuke's Special Mission!
Time had flown.
It had already been three years since the Second Elder brought Toneri down from the moon into the ninja world.
And in those three years, the suffering had been nothing short of soul-crushing.
On the moon, even when they had no people around them, they still had puppets to serve and ease their daily lives.
But here in the shinobi world? Life was nothing but chaos and hardship.
Not only did they have to remain in constant fear of the Tenseigan's detection from the moon, but they also had to handle every single matter by themselves.
For the first time, the Second Elder truly understood how unbearably difficult life could be—especially when forced to mingle with the "lower lifeforms" of this world, creatures he found utterly repulsive.
And his time was running out. The frailty of his body, the unmistakable sensation of his life force guttering like a candle in the wind—it pushed him to the brink of despair.
No matter what happens… I must do something for Toneri.
The Second Elder knew his end was near. That was why he had decided to stake everything on one final gamble.
For three years he had burned his very life to teach Toneri. And though the boy was blind, his progress had been remarkable.
Before I die, I will prepare a new pair of eyes for him.
His mind was made up. He knew exactly where the Hyūga branch family lived, and he had begun scheming how to seize a worthy pair of Byakugan.
He felt no fear of these "lesser beings." They could not possibly threaten him. His only concern was how to safely withdraw and deliver the Byakugan to Toneri before his last breath.
That black creature… it seems to be a chakra construct. And its target is also the Hyūga clan?
Suspicious, the Second Elder kept his distance. Trust was a luxury he no longer afforded anyone.
Fine. I'll keep watching. The moment he makes his move—that will be my chance.
---
Meanwhile, in the Hidden Rain, deep within Akatsuki's base…
Obito sat in the shadows, his expression dark as he stared at Black Zetsu. After a long silence, he finally spoke:
"So, Konoha has begun paying attention to the Uchiha stone tablet… and since they now have both the First and Second Hokage, they're digging for the Senju's legacy as well?"
"That's right."
Black Zetsu nodded. At his side, White Zetsu chimed in with a grin.
"And they're digging like maniacs too—three feet deep across the compound. We saw all those massive pits when we checked it out, haha."
"Damn it…"
Obito massaged his temple, irritation clear. This was the last thing he wanted.
"How the hell did they even get the idea? They'd never made a move before."
"Likely Ōtsutsuki Genshiki."
Black Zetsu cast White Zetsu a quick glance—at least this fool knew how to play along.
"From my investigations, the Goddess of the Rabbit, Kaguya, bore the surname Ōtsutsuki. The clues must have come from there. And remember—the tablet has always been in Konoha."
"…True. We can't underestimate them."
Obito grudgingly nodded. He didn't like admitting it, but he knew it was true.
"So what now? If they uncover something, we'll never get our hands on it."
"Perhaps… we should create a distraction."
Black Zetsu furrowed his brow, pretending to struggle with the thought—though in truth, he had already made up his mind.
"For example… chaos inside Konoha itself."
"You're insane!"
Obito's eye widened in shock, his voice nearly trembling.
Black Zetsu blinked, taken aback. What the hell? Since when is this guy so cautious?
"Have you forgotten your dream, Obito?"
"Spare me the speeches."
Shame prickled beneath Obito's mask. He inhaled deeply, forcing his tone back to calm.
"My dream hasn't changed—I will create a world of peace, one without tragedies like Rin's death. But you know as well as I do: Kitagawa Gen is already a massive threat. If we provoke him now…"
"I understand," Black Zetsu said smoothly, "but our goals are aligned. If Konoha secures the Senju legacy, we'll never get another chance—unless something diverts their attention."
"I could try stealing it," Obito offered after a pause.
"No. What if it's fake? What if they seal it away? We won't get many chances."
Obito frowned. That was a fair point. The Uchiha stone tablet was a known factor—but the Senju's relics? They were unpredictable. If sealed, they might never be seen again.
Finally, he asked:
"Then what's your plan? Explain clearly."
"We attack the Hyūga clan!"
Black Zetsu's voice was firm, his tone deadly serious.
Obito froze. "…You mean, create a diversion by attacking the Hyūga, forcing Konoha's attention away?"
"Exactly. The Hyūga are one of Konoha's great clans. If they come under attack, Gen will be forced to respond. He's the Hokage-designate—he cannot ignore them."
Obito's mind turned. "That would give us a window of opportunity… as long as the pressure is great enough, he won't dare leave."
"That's the idea. And the attackers will be Edo Tensei."
Black Zetsu smirked. "The reanimated cannot die. Their strength is formidable. Even if they can't defeat Gen, the sheer harassment will keep him occupied. This is the perfect chance."
"Edo Tensei, huh…"
Obito's resistance wavered. Black Zetsu pressed harder.
"And if we can steal some Byakugan in the process—and perhaps even cross paths with Naruto Uzumaki—it will be even better."
"Why Naruto?"
"Because the moment Konoha's attention is consumed, the Mist and Stone will seize the opportunity. Konoha won't know whether this is a feint or not, forcing them to spread themselves thin."
"…Which will strain their alliances and give us an opening."
Obito's silence spoke volumes. Black Zetsu could tell he was hooked.
Too sinister, Obito thought grimly. But the logic was undeniable.
"…Fine. We'll do it your way."
At last, Obito nodded.
"Don't worry," Black Zetsu said with a sly grin. "It will work."
Outwardly he smiled. Inwardly, he sighed bitterly.
The plan looked solid enough—but in truth, he knew it was little more than smoke and mirrors. Still, it was enough to manipulate Obito further along the path he had chosen.
You can't fool yourself.
Even if Edo Tensei had its uses, the gap in power was undeniable, and there were limits to what it could accomplish.
Still… if this scheme can get us what we need while also fulfilling our agreement with Orochimaru, then it's worth it.
Black Zetsu muttered inwardly, glancing at Obito and giving the faintest nod to himself.
And if this helps Obito regain his confidence, then everything is moving according to plan.
---
Beyond Konoha's walls, the storm was brewing.
But within Konoha itself, Kitagawa Gen's life carried on as usual.
"Strange, isn't it? Why didn't anyone end up in the hospital after the last mission?"
At a training ground, sitting with Kakashi and Guy, Gen suddenly voiced the thought aloud.
"…?"
Kakashi blinked, caught off guard, while Guy looked at him with puzzlement.
"Gen, isn't it a good thing that no one was hospitalized?"
"Don't listen to his nonsense," Kakashi sighed, rubbing at his temple. His student always had a way of stirring trouble with his words.
Almost instinctively, Kakashi glanced toward Sasuke, who was sparring with Naruto in the distance. He hesitated, then murmured:
"Maybe it was Sasuke. But perhaps he refused."
"Or it could've been the Second Hokage," Gen said with a straight face, stroking his chin.
"After all, the information we saw was bizarre. Maybe Tobirama simply couldn't accept it… though since it was Edo Tensei, he wouldn't have shown up."
"Hey—do you think you can say things like that out loud?"
Kakashi nearly lost his composure, darting his eyes around to make sure no one else was within earshot. Only Guy was there, staring at them curiously, and that eased his nerves a little.
Guy already knew about Edo Tensei, even if he hadn't been part of the higher-level decisions. Not because he wasn't trusted—far from it. Guy was one of Konoha's pillars, a true elite. He was simply better suited to smashing enemies than sitting in strategy meetings.
"Don't slander the Second Hokage. Even if it's possible, you can't just say it like that."
"Did I slander him?" Gen asked, blinking innocently.
Kakashi's dead-fish eyes narrowed. "…Not yet. But your talent for spouting nonsense is dangerous. Some things can't be said so casually."
"How's it nonsense? Then tell me, Kakashi-sensei—why do the Uchiha appear, but not them?"
"…"
Kakashi was speechless. Truth be told, he had wondered the same thing. Was it really possible that Tobirama had been so furious he outright refused to participate?
He fell into silent thought, while Guy simply blinked, wisely choosing not to pry. Some secrets were better left unasked.
"Speaking of which," Gen said with a faint smile, "the Edo Tensei roster should be just about finalized, right? Kakashi-sensei, Guy-sensei… do you think he will be among them?"
"…I don't know."
The question stunned them both. Kakashi tilted his head back, staring at the sky. After a long pause, he shook his head softly.
"But if I do see him again… there are so many things I'd want to say."
"Me too."
Guy's voice was quieter than usual, tinged with memory. His eyes grew distant, filled with nostalgia. Then he smiled, his expression lighting up.
"I'd probably tell him that I've inherited his conviction. That I finally understood the true meaning of youth, thanks to him."
As he spoke, Guy's mind slipped back to those days—their shared training, the tears of blood and sweat, the bonds that defined his youth. He had once resented, even despised, but in the end… he had understood.
"True victory isn't about 'defeating the strong.' It's about protecting what's precious, even unto death."
Hearing the weight of their words, Gen reached out and patted both his teachers on the shoulder.
He felt it was time for him to add something of his own—for there were plenty of decisions only he could make.
"…Then, should we give Sasuke a chance? Let him show off a little in front of his family?"
As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward Sasuke, still locked in combat with Naruto.
At that very moment, Gen's eyes flickered. His mission log had updated!
[Acquired: Sasuke's Exclusive Side Quest II]
[Mission: The Jōnin's House Visit]
[Objective: Meet Sasuke's relatives and point out his shortcomings]
[Note: Exclusive side quests do not affect normal missions]
[Accept?]
"…"