The tumult from the death of the Fourth Kazekage in the Hidden Sand Village had not yet dissipated when another piece of news completely exploded across the Ninja World; this news came from the distant overseas Hidden Mist Village.
The Hidden Mist Village issued a WANTED notice for Uchiha Obito.
Not only that, the Hidden Mist Village also revealed information about Uchiha Obito, such as age and photos, as well as his Mangekyo Sharingan abilities.
Aside from these, the Hidden Mist Village simply passed the buck of Uchiha Obito's actions onto the Third Hokage, using this to negotiate with Konoha.
The Hidden Mist Village believed that Uchiha Obito was acting under Konoha's orders, controlling the Fourth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village after the Third Ninja World War, mainly to seize the Three-tailed Isobu within the Fourth Mizukage.
Konoha Village was in an uproar.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, forced by circumstances, finally stopped supporting Hatake Kakashi, issuing an S-class WANTED notice for Uchiha Obito.
Overnight, the Jinchuriki in the great ninja villages were all on edge.
Ever since they learned about Uchiha Obito's abilities, a single Jinchuriki facing Uchiha Obito would be utterly helpless; several ninja villages began to be alert.
In the truest sense, Uchiha Obito became a ninja with no place to stand.
Inside White Zetsu's little cave.
Uchiha Obito's expression was not pleasant; he had long anticipated this day, but didn't expect it to come so quickly.
Originally, he wanted to declare war on the entire Ninja World when he had everything within his grasp in the future, but now he had been listed as an enemy by the Ninja World.
"How did the Hidden Mist Village get the intelligence?"
Uchiha Obito scratched his head, pondering where his mistake might have been: "White Zetsu, could it be that Hoshigaki Kisame has also betrayed me?"
After scratching his head, Uchiha Obito looked coldly at Zetsu beside him: "Or… have you betrayed me too, Black Zetsu?"
"..."
Black Zetsu's expression did not look good.
Uchiha Obito used the word 'also' well.
Now, does this guy Obito really need to keep cooperating with him? Always being suspicious, truly fit for a ninja from the Uchiha clan.
In this regard, Uchiha Obito is far inferior to Uchiha Madara.
Uchiha Madara believed fully that Black Zetsu was his own will.
But as things progressed to this point, it's normal for Uchiha Obito to be upset, suspecting this and that, since his photos were printed on the WANTED notice.
One photo wearing the mask, one without.
Who knows which bastard provided these two photos.
"Tracing the root of the intelligence leak can only be tackled slowly…"
Black Zetsu sighed, glanced at Uchiha Obito, and said: "From now on, you'll find it difficult to move in the Ninja World, you can only stay hidden and help me gather intelligence."
"Hmph!"
Obito punched the table bitterly and said in a deep voice: "This intelligence came from the Hidden Mist Village, the three Seven-swords Ninja of the Hidden Mist in Akatsuki could all be traitors; if necessary, kill all three!"
"Obito, Akatsuki is no longer yours."
Black Zetsu shook his head, looking at the emotionally unstable Uchiha Obito, sighing: "The Five Great Countries' Ninja Villages are looking for your whereabouts; WANTED notices for you are everywhere outside."
"They can't catch me."
"But they could very well interfere with our plans."
In Black Zetsu's words was some dissatisfaction, with a raspy voice: "This time clearly the opponent is targeting you, they perhaps don't yet know the truth of the Eye of the Moon plan. We must hide and slowly probe for intelligence, lest we all be exposed."
After reprimanding Obito, Black Zetsu finally decided to play his trump card: "In case your recklessness implicates Akatsuki, implicates my exposure… Obito, do not act impulsively, you must not disrupt Lord Madara's plan."
"I understand."
Uchiha Obito nodded gloomily.
When Black Zetsu left, his hand slowly moved to his chest, inside this heart was a spell controlling him.
This spell only forced Obito to endure for now.
Inside Konoha Village.
In the Hokage Office.
Hatake Kakashi was in an even worse mood than Uchiha Obito.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in his spot, puffing away at a pipe, the smoke cloud obscuring his face so his expression was unreadable.
"Kakashi, I understand your thoughts."
The Third Hokage's somewhat aged voice flowed within the Hokage Office, his tone full of regret: "Obito ultimately chose the wrong path, we can't tolerate him anymore."
"I understand, Hokage-sama."
Hatake Kakashi adjusted his Ninja Headband, speaking softly: "I request to track Obito's whereabouts and bring him back…"
"I've already assigned others to trace Uchiha Obito."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head, took a puff from the pipe, and said: "Take a good rest for a while, I have arranged a new task for you, we can't dwell on the past anymore, instead, we should focus on Konoha's future."
"I..."
Hatake Kakashi's face showed some hesitation.
"Kakashi."
Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted Hatake Kakashi and said softly, "I've already placed you on the list of Instructor Jonin for next year, don't let me down."
"...I understand."
Hatake Kakashi reluctantly stood up and left the Hokage Office. Before leaving, he suddenly turned around and said, "Third Hokage, if the students don't meet the ninja standards..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up at him and said, "Kakashi, as an Instructor Jonin, you have the authority to decide whether they graduate and become qualified ninjas."
After Hatake Kakashi left the Hokage Office, he bumped into a one-eyed old man wrapped in bandages, which made Kakashi's mood even more irritable.
Shimura Danzo, since being released from confinement, had become active in Konoha again. According to Kakashi's guess, Shimura Danzo was probably the one Sarutobi Hiruzen assigned to investigate Obito.
As Shimura Danzo brushed past Hatake Kakashi, he suddenly stopped him and said, "Kakashi, there's no need to regret that past friend of yours. A traitor in the village isn't worth sacrificing the future of a Konoha Jonin."
"What do you mean by that, Danzo-sama?"
"My meaning is quite simple."
Shimura Danzo slowly turned around and said while looking at Kakashi's back, "I hope you had nothing to do with Uchiha Obito."
"..."
Hatake Kakashi remained silent for a moment, not responding to Shimura Danzo's words, and left the Hokage Tower directly. He needed to find a place to think things through.
Kakashi had a reason to suspect that Shimura Danzo might use the situation with Obito to falsely accuse him, aiming to seize the Sharingan.
A new darkness was about to descend.
The peace in the Ninja World hadn't lasted long before it was plunged back into turmoil, and no one could easily escape this vortex.
Konoha Memorial Stele.
When Hatake Kakashi arrived here, he happened to see a few people digging up Uchiha Obito's grave, removing his tombstone.
Since he wasn't a hero of Konoha, he naturally didn't qualify to be in the Memorial Stele.
Hatake Kakashi sighed inwardly and placed a bouquet of flowers in front of Nohara Rin's tombstone, crouching down to hold his forehead: "Rin... what should I do now?"
Just as Kakashi wanted to find some peace here, a commotion interrupted his thoughts, as if someone was having a dispute.
"Get out!"
"This is too much!"
"Get out!"
"They're already dead!"
Somehow, a blonde-haired little boy appeared here as a spectator. He probably played around the Memorial Stele often and wasn't afraid of the atmosphere here.
Unfortunately, the ninjas responsible for digging up Obito's grave didn't want to see him, pushing the little boy away while cursing him.
"Get lost!"
"Hey, how can you do this!"
The blonde-haired little boy waved his arms vigorously, feeling somewhat indignant: "How can you dig up someone else's grave!"
"Get out!"
The grave diggers were blunt.
Someone finally couldn't resist and pushed the blonde-haired little boy hard, making him fall to the ground.
Hatake Kakashi frowned, walked over to the little boy's side, and stopped their dispute, finally bringing some calm to this land.
The blonde-haired little boy sat beside Kakashi, still muttering in dissatisfaction: "How can they dig up dead people's graves!"
Hatake Kakashi didn't answer, just looked at the blonde-haired little boy and said: "Kids your age should be attending school at the Ninja Academy, right?"
"I skipped class! Iruka-sensei's lesson was really boring today!"
The blonde-haired little boy seemed quite proud of skipping class, not realizing the seriousness of his actions.
Hatake Kakashi choked a bit, patted his forehead helplessly, and said, "Escaping from Iruka's class... you're quite something!"
This kid, besides his appearance, really bears no resemblance to his father, who was considered the perfect ninja.
"You think I'm impressive too, right!"
The blonde-haired little boy turned to Kakashi with a big smile and said, "Senior, I'm Uzumaki Naruto, what's your name?"
"...You'll find out eventually."
"Oh."
The young Uzumaki Naruto immediately seemed a bit deflated, focusing intently on those breaking Obito's tombstone. He couldn't help feeling dissatisfied again and asked, "Senior, why are they digging this place up!"
Hatake Kakashi patted the blonde-haired little boy, took a deep breath, and said, "Because that person no longer deserves to be here."