"So, It's actually you."
Before Obito could even activate his genjutsu, he heard Kazahana Koyuki speak.
But in Obito's eyes, Koyuki's appearance had completely changed. A strange aura radiated from her, making him feel an unusual sense of wariness.
"You know me!?"
Obito instantly went on high alert. Even though this person hadn't revealed their true face, those words alone were enough to make his hair stand on end and send a chill down his spine.
"Of course I know you. I just didn't expect that the one coming this time would be you." Kazahana Koyuki looked calmly at Obito. Her dark eyes carried a mysterious allure.
"Then who did you think it would be?" Obito's right eye shifted ever so slightly. At any moment, he could use Kamui to escape.
"I originally thought it would be someone else from the Akatsuki organization. I never expected you would take the initiative to come here. That is rather surprising to me."
"Who exactly are you?"
"Are you sure you want me to reveal my identity outright?" Kazahana Koyuki looked at Obito with a meaningful expression, her aura growing denser.
"There are only a few people in Konoha with the surname Kamizuki. If you ask around, you'll know who was sent here for this mission."
"And what if I want to know right now?" Obito stared at her, not backing down in the slightest.
"You can protect her for a moment, but not forever. Don't tell me you think that little mental imprint of yours can remain here indefinitely!"
To Obito, the technique this mysterious person was using felt similar to the Shapeshifting Technique, a kind of alternative genjutsu.
When someone tried to tamper with Kazahana Koyuki's consciousness to extract information, they would instead trigger the mysterious person's mental imprint.
A clever tactic—but only effective against ordinary people.
As a shinobi's strength increases, their mental power gradually grows stronger. By the time they reach the level of Jōnin and Elite Jōnin, their mental power is already sufficient to counter low-level genjutsu.
And given Obito's power, combined with the strength of his Sharingan, even Itachi's Tsukuyomi would be ineffective against him, let alone these messy tricks.
"I admit, I can't protect her forever... but who said I left this mental imprint to protect her?"
"My true body isn't here. If you want to find me, then come to Konoha."
"Oh, and before you come, make sure you clean off that disgusting thing clinging to you. I'd hate for someone else to eavesdrop on our conversation."
At the mention of "disgusting thing", Koyuki pointed at the nearby White Zetsu. Then she promptly collapsed onto the desk, sound asleep.
White Zetsu, who had been sitting there like a mascot, froze with a look of confusion.
"Uh, Madara-sama... did she just call me disgusting?"
Obito only cast him a cold glance before phasing into intangibility and vanishing.
"Am I really that disgusting?"
White Zetsu muttered before sinking slowly into the ground, leaving Kazahana Koyuki sleeping peacefully at the desk.
---
Kamui Dimension
Obito sat down in a random spot, muttering to himself.
"Kamizuki... that's a rare surname in Konoha. Most are ordinary civilians. Only one family there consists of shinobi, so this mysterious person must be one of them. I never would've thought such a small clan could produce someone like this. How interesting!"
"Since you invited me to Konoha, I'll come see for myself what exactly you're plotting."
For Obito, losing Kakuzu didn't matter. His true plan was to gather the Tailed Beasts, revive the Ten-Tails, cast Infinite Tsukuyomi, and create a world where Rin still lived.
---
Konoha Camp
Having completed the negotiations, Tsunade was happily drinking with Hikari when suddenly he froze, the cup in his hand slipping.
"Hey, hey!"
Quick as ever, Tsunade snatched the cup before it fell, frowning at Hikari. "If you don't want to drink, then don't waste it!"
[Is Obito coming for me?!]
[So the one who went to the Land of Snow... was Obito!]
At first, hearing the name "Obito" didn't trigger much in Tsunade's memory. But then it hit her.
Uchiha Obito, one of the Fourth Hokage's students, Kakashi's teammate.
But... wasn't he supposed to be dead?
"Sorry, I guess I've been overworking lately." Hikari casually made an excuse, completely unaware that his thoughts had been heard by Tsunade.
[If Obito really plans to come to Konoha to find me, then I need to hurry back first! But what excuse can I use to leave quickly?]
"Drink up."
Tsunade handed him the cup again. With the war against Iwa and Kumo already decided, all that was left was to wait for the two villages to bring reparations and complete the formal handovers.
She couldn't leave yet—Ōnoki and A both still needed her direct supervision.
Hikari downed the cup in one gulp. Just as he was about to speak, Tsunade said, "Your mission was to escort the Land of Snow's princess home. Now that it's complete, and with nothing pressing left here, why don't you return to the village first?"
To Hikari, her tone carried an unprecedented warmth.
Tsunade had never asked his opinion like this before.
But it suited his needs perfectly.
If Obito came to Konoha and couldn't find him, he would definitely go after his brother Izumo. Considering how ruthless Obito was—someone who even targeted his own teacher and teacher's wife—Hikari couldn't assume anything good.
The only possibility was that Obito would take Izumo and Mikan hostage.
Because of his own actions, his family would be dragged in—and that was something Hikari absolutely would not allow.
He hid his strength so that he could live comfortably, not to suffocate himself further.
Besides, aside from the space-time dōjutsu of that one Sharingan eye, Hikari wasn't particularly afraid of Obito.
Tsunade added, "On your way back, bring Shikamaru and the others with you."
Hikari nodded. "Alright."
Tsunade then asked, "Do you know about Asuma?"
[Asuma?]
[Why bring him up all of a sudden?!]
[Could it be... that the incident where Yakumo used a genjutsu to make him sleep with a female monkey has been exposed?!]
"Pfft!"
Tsunade, in the middle of drinking, sprayed sake everywhere. She stared at Hikari in shock.
What the hell was that?!
Asuma was supposed to be cozy with Kurenai!
When did he end up with a female monkey instead?!
And such juicy gossip—why was she only hearing about it now?!
A complete loss—absolutely unfair!
-----
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