After a mont of inner conflict, Kakashi finally spoke.
"I'm not entirely sure. Based on the current clues and what he said about his past… maybe it really is him."
"But the change in his personality is hard to comprehend. On top of that, there’s also the issue of his age."
"Oh? His age?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama. Obito and I are about the sa age. Ten years ago, he would’ve only been thirteen or fourteen years old—not necessarily capable of creating such a disaster, let alone facing off against the Fourth Hokage."
"That’s certainly sothing to think about."
Hiruzen nodded in agreent with Kakashi’s point, but Danzō let out a cold snort.
"So what if he was thirteen or fourteen? Didn’t Uchiha Itachi kill his entire clan at that age?"
"..."
Hiruzen was getting exhausted. Was this old friend of his deliberately saying the worst things at the worst tis?
He gave Danzō a hard glare—but had to admit, the old man had a point.
"It’s sothing we need to consider. Once the Mangekyō awakens, Uchiha undergo a qualitative transformation. We’ll need to conduct a serious investigation."
"This really is a pain."
Jiraiya let out a sigh, feeling like the situation was only getting more complicated.
"So what’s our next move for the investigation? Do we continue to dig deeper in Kirigakure, or…?"
"I think Kirigakure is still our best lead."
Kakashi’s voice grew heavier—he seed to have realized sothing.
"If it really is Obito, then Kirigakure would be the better angle. After all—"
"You an—"
Hiruzen’s expression shifted as he too recalled sothing.
"Your old teammate, Nohara Rin?"
"Yes."
Kakashi slowly closed his eyes, as if revisiting mories too painful to bear.
"Maybe soone manipulated him. After all, I once promised to protect Rin, but…"
"That might be a good starting point—and we can continue investigating that mysterious organization as well. After all, Gen did say he seems to be connected to it."
"That’s actually a solid lead. It might even explain his change in behavior."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. Investigating Kirigakure seed promising—at least he wouldn’t have dragged Shimura Danzō out for nothing.
Speaking of Kitagawa Gen, he couldn’t help but express so admiration.
"Kakashi, you’ve taken in quite the disciple. Regardless of who he was facing, the way he handled things was nothing short of impressive."
"And his intelligence analysis was razor-sharp. Even if the opponent got careless, that’s still credit to him. Not to ntion, he even developed a completely new jutsu."
"Gen, huh…"
Just the ntion of his one and only disciple lifted Kakashi’s spirits a little.
"He truly is exceptional. He stays calm when faced with problems and learns at an incredible pace."
"That Lightning Release technique—he ca up with it all on his own and developed it independently. His talent far surpasses mine at that age."
"And he’s a child with a deep-rooted Will of Fire!"
"Oh?"
Shimura Danzō’s eye twitched slightly at that assessnt, though he didn’t dare speak up.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was also surprised—Kakashi had co to value this boy so highly in such a short ti?
That certainly wasn’t how he acted back when he was in the Anbu.
And Hiruzen hadn’t forgotten what kind of prodigy Kakashi used to be… For him to speak of this boy so highly—well, maybe it really was warranted. Especially considering the display of that Purple Lightning—it still lingered vividly in his mory.
"In that case…"
A thought began to take shape in Sarutobi Hiruzen’s mind, and his gaze subconsciously shifted to Jiraiya.
That look made Jiraiya shiver all over.
...
"Finally done!"
Back ho, Kitagawa Gen flopped onto his bed with a heavy sigh.
Uchiha Obito had fled. He’d taken the opportunity to discreetly prod at the man’s identity, but everything beyond that was far above the paygrade of a low-ranking genin like him.
"Still, I did manage to score myself a free security detail."
His gaze flicked toward the window. Kitagawa Gen was well aware of the hidden Anbu stationed nearby to guard his house.
He never imagined there’d co a day when he would receive such treatnt.
Then again, it made sense. He’d just gotten the better of Uchiha Obito—who could say the man wouldn’t circle back for revenge?
And not just him—Naruto was under similar protection. Even Sasuke hadn’t returned to the Uchiha compound and had instead been temporarily sent to Naruto’s house before other arrangents were made.
"Though to , it doesn’t really change anything."
All system operations took place in his mind. And his background was squeaky clean.
On top of that, he was Kakashi’s disciple—and Jiraiya was back!
And what did that an?
He was officially part of the Hokage faction!
The Hokage, huh...
If everyone in line for the position was on your side, did it really matter who ended up taking the seat?
As for Gen—he’d certainly earned a place in that line for the future.
"Not to ntion, I’m the disciple of the future Sixth Hokage."
With a smirk, he shifted his attention back to the system. The reward tally should be complete by now.
And the mont he looked—his heart began to race!
[Side Quest Complete: Don’t Get Cocky, Dead Last]
[Reward Earned: Uchiha Obito’s Yin-Yang Release Technique]
[Exclusive Kakashi Quest Complete: Help Kakashi Reconnect with His Friend, Uchiha Obito]
[Reward Earned: Uchiha Obito’s Special Yin Release Power]
“Yin-Yang Release… and Uchiha Obito’s special Yin Release?”
Even soone as well-versed and experienced as Kitagawa Gen couldn’t help but feel his heart race as he stared at the two rewards.
If he rembered correctly, these were two of the jutsu that Uchiha Madara had personally instructed Black Zetsu to teach Obito—right before pulling out his own oxygen tube.
As for the other jutsu, according to Madara, it was one of the ‘Uchiha Forbidden Six Paths Techniques.’
“Looks like my luck really is holding out.”
Kitagawa Gen murmured to himself. While the fact that it was labeled a forbidden Six Paths technique by Uchiha Madara certainly piqued his curiosity, it didn’t actually spark much interest.
After all, if it really turned out to be sothing only usable by Uchiha, then even if he obtained it—
“…It’s not like I couldn’t learn it. Don’t forget—my bloodline is from their ancestor!”
Scratching his head, Kitagawa Gen reminded himself to proceed with caution. Even among the Ōtsutsuki, there were different tiers.
An Ōtsutsuki who had devoured the Chakra Fruit from the God Tree was an entirely different concept from an ordinary Ōtsutsuki.
Now for the other reward…
“Obito’s special Yin Release—does that fall under Sharingan-based powers?”
Gen raised an eyebrow. Honestly, he was a bit disappointed. Why wasn’t it the power from the white half of Obito?
If he wasn’t mistaken, that side contained Hashirama’s cells.
Sure, White Zetsu was indeed raised by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, but after Black Zetsu and Uchiha Madara’s modifications, they were no longer the sa as before.
It was hard to say for sure, but those two talking White Zetsu always acted like idiots, yet Madara seed oddly indulgent toward them.
Was it because, in Madara’s eyes, their personalities resembled Hashirama?
“Whatever. Let’s just accept the reward first.”
Shaking his head, Gen lost interest in Madara and Hashirama’s little backstory. What he really wanted was to beco stronger.
Using Shadow Clone combined with Sage Mode to ambush Obito had worked out pretty well, but Obito wasn’t so dumb that he wouldn’t adapt.
After taking a hit like that, there was no way he’d fall for the sa trick twice. Which ant the only solution—was to strengthen himself.
He could take his ti learning Yin-Yang Release. With his Ōtsutsuki bloodline as a foundation, it would be much easier anyway.
“So let’s first see what kind of power Obito’s Yin Release has to offer!”
With that thought, Kitagawa Gen decisively selected that reward.
And yet, even with his prior experience of integrating Ōtsutsuki bloodline, the mont he activated the special Yin Release—
His mind went blank for an instant.
He could clearly feel a vast surge of Yin Release energy surging through his brain, before rapidly flooding into his eyes.
...
Sowhere deep within a forest in the Land of Fire—
As space warped and twisted, Uchiha Obito stumbled out from Kamui’s dinsion, looking utterly battered.
Beside him, the ground cracked open as a pitcher plant erged. Half of its white face peered at Obito’s disheveled appearance—and broke into gleeful laughter.
“Hehe, Obito, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you this ssed up.”
“You believe now, don’t you? That kid’s no pushover. But how’d you end up getting outplayed by him—just like Biwa Jūzō?”
“Shut up!”
Obito shot White Zetsu a frosty glare. After taking a mont to calm down, he finally spoke in a detached voice.
“I got careless. That kid probably just got lucky. He was aiming for a sneak attack, but sohow ended up striking a vital spot.”
No matter how much Obito tried to wrap his head around it, he just couldn’t understand.
Even if that kid had guessed he was using space-ti ninjutsu—and knew he’d have to launch an attack in order to expose a weakness—there was no way he should’ve figured out Kamui’s essence so precisely.
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he beca: the brat had just gotten absurdly lucky!
He probably just wanted to ambush him using a Transformation Technique. But Obito had let his guard down for a second—and accidentally sucked a Shadow Clone into Kamui.
Which led to that whole disastrous scene.
“Yeah… that must be it. Even if the kid is smart, there’s no way he analyzed everything that quickly!”
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