After Uchiha Obito disappeared, Hatake Kakashi searched fruitlessly for a long time, eventually leaning against a tree, slowly regaining his ninja composure.
Hatake Kakashi furrowed his brow tightly, first confirming that Uchiha Obito's identity was real, because Obito had said before dying that the Sharingan was a gift to congratulate him on becoming a Jonin.
The term for this Jonin gift was known only to the three of them: he, Nohara Rin, and Uchiha Obito. With Rin already dead, only the two of them were left in the know.
As for the other things Uchiha Obito mentioned, like causing the deaths of Teacher Minato and Mistress Kushina, Hatake Kakashi's initial thought was disbelief. After all, Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina treated Uchiha Obito very kindly…
However, there were indeed many doubts surrounding the Nine-tailed Fox Chaos of those years.
Hatake Kakashi gritted his teeth and punched the tree beside him: "As long as I can find Obito again, I can uncover the truth from those years... If Obito wants revenge for Rin, he didn't kill me, so he must have gone to the Land of Water, or has been hiding there!"
Based on the words Uchiha Obito deliberately left behind, Hatake Kakashi quickly deciphered the information he was seeking.
Hatake Kakashi clenched his fists. His intelligence had always been significantly higher than Obito's, and he quickly deduced Obito's whereabouts.
Just now, Uchiha Obito's emotions were somewhat bitter; his words constantly stabbed at their wounds, completely unaware that he had long since leaked his own information.
"Obito, still as careless as ever..."
Hatake Kakashi put his mask back on; he had already determined Obito's location. As long as he went to the Land of Water, he would definitely find Obito, and then he could unravel all the buried truths.
"Senior... are we heading back to the village?"
Uzuki Yuugao walked up with a conflicted look. Today, she seemed to have learned some incredible secrets, leaving the purple-haired kunoichi a bit dazed.
"Mm... wait!"
Hatake Kakashi nodded, then suddenly said to Uzuki Yuugao: "Whatever we've encountered today, please keep it a secret from anyone. This might cause upheaval in Konoha. Until I've uncovered the truth, no one else can know..."
Uzuki Yuugao solemnly asked: "Senior, should this 'anyone else' include Lord Hokage as well?"
"That's right, there's a lot of hidden context regarding Obito."
Hatake Kakashi rubbed his forehead, whispering: "The turmoil from the Uchiha Clan's downfall isn't over yet, so let's keep it from the Third Hokage for now! Once I've figured out the truth, I'll report everything to him."
"...Okay."
Uzuki Yuugao stared intently at Hatake Kakashi. Seeing the hint of regret on his face, she nodded in agreement to his request.
Concerned that Uchiha Obito might face uncontrollable danger if he retaliated against The Hidden Mist Village, Hatake Kakashi led Uzuki Yuugao back to Konoha Village after a brief rest, and then hurriedly requested leave from Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Uehara Naraku was unaware that he had done a good deed, directly prompting Kakashi to leave the Anbu early.
Right now, Uehara had already arrived in the Land of Waves.
This small neighbor near the Land of Fire was really dirt-poor, and there hadn't been any word of Caddo's name; presumably, the wealthy Caddo hadn't set his sights on this small country yet.
Uehara Naraku quickly lost interest in this country, walking all the way to the dock in the Land of Waves. Seeing rows of fishing boats, he asked: "How much to get to the Land of Water from here?"
"..."
The boatmen looked left and right, each shaking their heads, and one leading boatman replied: "Sir, the Land of Water is a closed-off country where the ninja lords don't allow us to approach."
Uehara Naraku curiously observed them, speaking softly: "Hmm, then how much would I have to pay you to take me to the Land of Water?"
"No matter how much you pay us, we won't go!"
"You can always earn money, but you only have one life!"
"We wouldn't risk our lives for money!"
This group of boatmen proved to have more integrity than Uehara imagined. Born in a poor country with low living costs and pressure, they wouldn't endanger their lives for money.
Suddenly, amidst the noisy clamor, a voice emerged: "Kid, how much are you willing to pay? If the price is right, I don't mind taking you there."
"..."
The group of boatmen immediately quieted down.
Everyone's gaze slowly shifted to a small boat on the edge, where a stranger with a bandaged face sat, seemingly not one of the people from the Land of Waves.
But the man who spoke looked fierce and unapproachable, so the boatmen from the Land of Waves didn't dare to advise him.
Seeing the man who spoke, Uehara Naraku couldn't help but smile. A stack of explosive charms fell to his fingertips: "One hundred explosive charms, is this price enough?"
"..."
The man's eyes narrowed; it seemed that he was momentarily stunned upon seeing the explosive charms before slowly nodding: "Yes."
The price of explosive charms varied throughout the Ninja World.
In some places, due to war, production, and other factors, a single explosive charm could fetch as much as ten thousand ryo; in others, due to prosperity, the price could drop to two thousand ryo.
Uehara Naraku was not being stingy; a hundred explosive charms could easily sell for a million ryo in a place like the Land of Water.
Of course, only ninjas would be willing to accept explosive charms.
Uehara Naraku jumped onto the small boat, looking at the bandaged man in front of him, a smile playing on his lips. It seemed that his luck was good this time; first, he encountered Hatake Kakashi and then one of Kakashi's arch enemies, Momochi Zabuza.
At this moment, Momochi Zabuza was still wearing the uniform of The Hidden Mist Village, perhaps not yet choosing to defect, as the pretty 'tool' person wasn't at his side.
However, this couldn't be determined.
But when Uehara Naraku lowered his head, he spotted a wide ninja blade on the boat, making him glance again at Momochi Zabuza.
Barely a while ago, Biwa Juzo from Akatsuki had died in The Hidden Mist Village, and the Decapitating Carving Knife had been reclaimed by the Fourth Mizukage, then quickly fallen into Momochi Zabuza's hands?
Momochi Zabuza noticed his gaze, not minding his prying look, and simply started the engine on the boat, departing from the docks of the Land of Waves.
The small boat soon arrived in the vast sea.
Momochi Zabuza looked at Uehara Naraku, finally speaking: "Kid, do you recognize this blade?"
Uehara Naraku nodded, speaking softly: "One of the Seven Ninja Blades of The Hidden Mist Village, the Decapitating Carving Knife, no matter how broken it becomes in battle, it can restore to its original form by absorbing the iron from human blood."
"..."
The more Momochi Zabuza listened, the more startled he became. His gaze slowly turned icy: "Kid, it seems you know quite a lot!"
"Just a little more than the average person."
Uehara Naraku humbly waved his hand, looking at the indifferent Momochi Zabuza, smiling as he continued: "Hmm, let me think of how to address you—One of the new Seven-swords Ninja of the Hidden Mist, Demon Zabuza Momochi?"
Crash!
Momochi Zabuza suddenly grabbed his Decapitating Carving Knife, placing it harshly across Uehara's neck: "Since you've recognized me but dare to come with me to the Land of Water, kid, what's your purpose!"
————
Asking for some recommendation votes, the situation is quite dire!