Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 125: I Will Make You Pay in Blood!

"Aren't you going to join in the celebration, Hyuga Fuji-dono?"

"It's just a Shadow Clone. No need," the shadow of Hyuga Fuji replied calmly.

"Ah, I forgot," the daimyo said with a smile, looking at the clone of Hyuga Fuji. "Today is truly a joyous occasion. I must thank you for your various strategies."

"It's nothing. How is your coordination with Konoha's shinobi clans progressing?"

"I've gained quite a bit of support already. I'll be counting on you to help further strengthen the Land of Fire."

"Of course," Hyuga Fuji replied with a faint smile.

After chatting for a moment, the daimyo seemed uneasy and asked, "Regarding today's actions, I know the Fourth Hokage is beyond salvation, but what about Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, and the Uchiha shinobi? If they return, will it pose any trouble for you?"

"They won't pose a problem for me," Hyuga Fuji answered calmly.

But for you? That's a different story.

...

"Damn it, Obito! So, you've fallen after all?!"

Amid a field of fallen ninja, Uchiha Yakumaru lay injured and exhausted, his chakra nearly depleted.

He glared at Obito, who had suddenly appeared and ambushed him. Through gritted teeth, he spat, "Do you even know what you're doing? Teaming up with outsiders to kill your own teacher!"

"Oh? You already know the Fourth Hokage is dead?" Obito sneered. "Not bad."

"Wh-what?"

Yakumaru's eyes widened in disbelief.

How was that possible?

Minato-sama had the Flying Raijin technique. If he wanted to escape, who could stop him?

At most, he thought Minato might have been injured—but to die? That was unthinkable!

"What's so hard to believe?"

Obito smirked, seeing Yakumaru's denial. "Ninja battles are battles of information. Minato was strong, but against enemies whose abilities he didn't understand, even he could be defeated."

To be honest, this battle had taught Obito a valuable lesson.

Thanks to the intel provided by White Zetsu, he had easily dealt with the Xuanyuan Group's leader.

But Minato, who was an insurmountable adversary to Obito, had fallen to the Exploding Worm due to a lack of information.

A technique that rendered a ninja unable to use chakra was indeed terrifying. Without prior knowledge, Obito admitted he might have succumbed to it too, relying on his Sharingan to escape death.

White Zetsu's utility was undeniable—though it was a tool of Uchiha Madara, and using it always felt risky.

Despite Obito's explanation, Yakumaru continued to glare at him, unwilling to accept reality.

Turning to survey the battlefield, Obito gestured at the slain ninjas surrounding them. "Take a closer look. Most of these enemies came from the black market, but some were from Iwagakure."

Yakumaru's gaze shifted to the bodies he had killed, his silence heavy.

Though the enemies had removed their headbands and disguised themselves, certain jutsu could not be hidden. There were indeed Iwagakure shinobi among them.

"This operation to kill the Hokage—Kumogakure acted openly, Iwagakure disguised its involvement, and Sunagakure… merely supplied poisons and funds, too afraid to take overt action."

Obito spoke as though he had already won, patiently sharing the information he knew. "The differences lie in their confidence—stronger villages have greater boldness."

"Even if the Fourth survived the Xuanyuan Group's threat, there were still countless other plans in place to kill him. If necessary, even the other Kage would have taken action. Konoha has long been the enemy of the entire world. This time, only three of the Four Great Villages moved, and even then, they used assassination tactics. You should consider yourselves lucky."

To be honest, Obito found it surprising that the other villages had tolerated Konoha's strength for so long.

Ever since Konoha had risen to prominence, trouble seemed to follow them like a shadow—just enough to deter the other villages from attacking outright.

First came Danzo.

Then the daimyo's bounty.

Finally, the underground black market.

These endless disruptions had forced the other villages to hold off, hesitant to act while Konoha was preoccupied.

It wasn't until now, with the perfect opportunity presented by the black market's initiative, that the Great Shinobi Villages decided to strike in succession.

Even then, Kirigakure had abstained.

What were they afraid of?

They had the chance to weaken Konoha, who had defeated them before, yet they did nothing. Obito found their inaction utterly incomprehensible.

Cowards.

If they wouldn't act, then he would ensure they paid for what happened to Rin.

His growing anger crept into his tone as he continued, "The underground black market, the Three Great Villages, even the daimyo of the Land of Fire—all had a hand in this. Minato's fate was sealed from the start. Now he's gone, his body destroyed. At least the bounty hunters didn't take him to the black market to cash in—that's a small mercy."

Hearing Obito's words, Yakumaru's heart sank deeper into despair.

Minato was truly gone.

Why?

Why did all of you have to act?

Why even the daimyo?

Minato-sama had retreated again and again, yet you still forced him to his end.

Yakumaru's eyes filled with bloodshot rage as the threat of death loomed over him. His fury ignited the spinning of his Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Now that you understand, you can join him in the Pure Land."

Obito smirked under his mask and extended his hand toward Yakumaru's eyes. "I'll be taking those eyes as well."

"Stop!"

A deep voice interrupted, making Obito pause.

Turning, he saw Hanzō approaching with a team. Obito narrowed his eyes before his body dissolved into a vortex.

"I have no interest in fighting the Demi-God today. I'll spare your life for now."

Perfect timing. Zetsu had done well.

With this intervention, the Land of Fire and Konoha would inevitably fracture further.

Within the Kamui dimension, Obito smirked.

He hadn't come to kill Yakumaru but to deliver information.

After all, inciting internal strife within the Land of Fire was far more effective than eliminating a single Uchiha.

Konoha was far too strong. It needed to be weakened from every angle.

Besides, Yakumaru had yet to reveal his Mangekyō abilities, and Obito wasn't foolish enough to risk his life on a whim.

Outside, Hanzō looked at the devastated Yakumaru, his expression heavy. Stepping forward, he asked, "Yakumaru-dono, where is the Hokage?"

"He's dead," Yakumaru replied hollowly, his eyes vacant.

And his body… gone. Not even his ocular powers could do anything about it.

"What?!"

Hanzō was stunned.

The Fourth Hokage… dead in the Land of Rain?

A wave of dizziness swept over him.

…

"Konan… as long as you… survive… that's enough. Nagato… Akatsuki… it's up to you now."

"Yahiko!!!"

Konan and Nagato watched helplessly as their friend died before their eyes. Their minds went blank, tears streaming uncontrollably down their faces, their eyes red with grief.

Nagato's Rinnegan pulsed with power, an overwhelming urge to destroy everything surging within him.

Minato had died saving Yahiko.

Jiraiya's Shadow Clone had vanished, its fate grim.

The single antidote had been left for Konan, given to her by Yahiko just before he succumbed. A white creature had returned her safely, ensuring she took the antidote.

But because of that, they could only watch Yahiko die, powerless to stop it.

They could do nothing.

Nagato felt the Rinnegan's energy surging within him but had no target for his vengeance. The ones responsible for Minato's death had already vanished.

Who was he supposed to take revenge on?!

"The enemies are the underground black market, the Five Great Nations, and even factions within the Land of Fire and Konoha who wanted the Fourth Hokage dead!"

A figure emerged from a vortex—Obito.

He looked at Nagato, whose chakra flared violently, and marveled at the power of the Rinnegan. "I am the leader of the White Zetsu. Your companion was saved by me."

'Actually, it was that Uchiha ninja who saved her,' White Zetsu muttered internally, but Konan had been unconscious at the time and didn't know the truth. She had even thanked it earlier.

"AAAAHHHH!!!"

Overwhelmed by grief, Nagato screamed to the heavens.

"The underground black market, the Five Great Nations, the Five Great Shinobi Villages—I will make you pay in blood and make you feel the same pain!"

Obito's lips curled into a faint smile.

To be an enemy to the entire world—that was the path Nagato was meant to walk.

(Chapter End)