Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 90: A Sudden Change in Konoha (BONUS)

"Thank you."

Orochimaru's face still carried traces of lingering anger.

There was nothing in this world more terrifying or infuriating than having one's greatest secret exposed—especially when it concerned his very survival.

The one person who bore the Heaven Curse Mark...

Was also the only person in Konoha to whom Orochimaru still harbored a sliver of genuine attachment.

"Lord Shigen, isn't this a bit dangerous?"

The Deva Path couldn't help but voice his concerns.

"Hardly."

Shigen showed no concern about heading to Konoha, nor did he consider it a dangerous endeavor. Besides, he had Zetsu to assist him.

To be frank...

Shigen could even walk into Konoha openly.

The village was in no position to do anything to him. To Shigen, this was actually a great opportunity—this era was bound to generate numerous missions. After all, the two true protagonists of the ninja world's story had already appeared.

And...

There were more than enough individuals capable of triggering his system.

From what he understood of his system, missions were usually tied to well-known ninjas. During his last resurrection and travels across the ninja world, he had encountered many skilled individuals, yet none had triggered any missions.

Outside Akatsuki's base...

Shigen and Zetsu set out on their journey.

"If we're heading to Konoha..."

"We might as well deal with the problem of Obito," Black Zetsu remarked in its eerie voice. "Uchiha Obito was someone left behind by Madara. Lately, he's been staying in Konoha..."

"Obito isn't really a problem," White Zetsu interjected, disagreeing with Black Zetsu. "He's just impulsive. He shouldn't defy Lord Shigen's will. He sees himself as Madara's successor, which is why he tries so hard to act like Madara—haughty and arrogant."

"Like Madara, huh?"

Shigen seemed curious about this Uchiha Obito, who was working so diligently behind the scenes in Konoha. His Rinnegan, however, concealed any emotions he might have had.

"He's nothing like Madara," Black Zetsu scoffed, seeing through Obito completely. "Heh... Madara's will was far more resolute. Obito is nothing more than—"

A mere pawn.

Of course, Black Zetsu wouldn't say that part out loud.

Madara had indeed been arrogant, even to the point of being dismissive of others. But he had never been a fool.

Obito, on the other hand, was not only arrogant but recklessly so—so blinded by the belief that he was the world's savior that he had lost all sense of perspective.

Still...

If this were the past, Black Zetsu wouldn't have minded Obito's delusions.

But now that the true savior, Shigen, had returned, Obito's existence was nothing more than an irritating obstacle.

"Something major has happened with Obito!"

A White Zetsu clone suddenly emerged from the ground beneath them, its face filled with disbelief as it relayed the shocking news.

"Did he die?"

Black Zetsu's voice carried a hint of satisfaction.

If Obito was dead, that would be perfect. Then there'd be no need to worry about him disrespecting Shigen.

"Huh?"

The White Zetsu clone shook its head and quickly explained. "No, something happened in Konoha! Uchiha Obito and some guy named Uchiha Itachi massacred their entire clan. Only a seven- or eight-year-old child survived!"

"???"

A flicker of light passed through Shigen's eyes.

"Why would they slaughter the entire Uchiha clan?"

White Zetsu was utterly baffled by the situation.

"I don't know..."

The clone was just as confused.

If Obito had wiped out the clan on his own, that would have made some sense. Zetsu was well aware that Obito needed spare Sharingan eyes to use a powerful survival technique.

But why did Itachi help him?

That part made no sense at all.

White Zetsu's limited intelligence was completely unable to process it.

"Where are they now?"

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White Zetsu's main body quickly asked.

"They were still in Konoha when I left..."

The clone scratched its head, looking embarrassed. "But I told Obito that Lord Shigen had been resurrected, so he should be on his way back, right?"

"Let's go meet them."

Shigen tapped his fingers lightly against his arm.

"This is a major event..."

Black Zetsu sighed deeply, recalling the first time it met Shigen—when Shigen had assassinated Indra.

The Uchiha were Indra's descendants.

And...

They had always been a clan that Black Zetsu kept a close watch on.

After all, Kaguya's revival required the Rinnegan, and the Uchiha were the only ones capable of awakening it.

But now, the near-total annihilation of the Uchiha clan had thrown everything into disarray.

This meant...

They could no longer afford to fail in reviving Kaguya.

For if the Uchiha were truly extinct, then Madara might very well be the last person in the world to ever awaken the Rinnegan.

The plan...

Could not fail again.

At that moment...

Shigen and Black Zetsu's thoughts were in complete alignment.

Shigen tilted his head up, gazing at the moon in the sky. His voice carried the weight of a gambler with no retreat left.

"Black Zetsu, if the Uchiha really are extinct... then Madara may have the last pair of Rinnegan in existence. We can't afford another failure."

"We won't fail,"

Black Zetsu immediately reassured Shigen.

Its mind was a storm of emotions, but it had to do everything it could to calm Shigen's concerns.

It tried to rally Shigen's confidence.

"Besides, at least one Uchiha survived, right? That kid could still be useful."

—

Land of Fire.

The sky was bathed in the eerie glow of a blood-red moon.

In a dense forest outside Konoha...

A masked man stood atop a tree, waiting for the arrival of Uchiha Itachi—the latest recruit to his cause.

This masked man had long desired to bring Itachi into Akatsuki. The young Uchiha was immensely powerful, had a complex ideology, and possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Until now, however, Itachi had repeatedly refused his offers.

But then...

Something unexpected happened tonight.

Out of nowhere, Itachi had proposed helping him exterminate the Uchiha clan.

The masked man had been surprised by the offer...

But he had seen no reason to refuse.

And so, he had assisted in the massacre.

The results?

A great haul.

The masked man was immensely pleased—he had harvested plenty of spare Sharingan. These would be invaluable for using a certain powerful jutsu.

A good night's work.

The only downside...

Was the news that had just reached him.

Orochimaru had once again used Edo Tensei to revive Shigen.

And Zetsu had sent word that he should go and pay his respects to Shigen, as if he were some subordinate.

This news...

Did not sit well with him.

Why was some old relic of the past coming back to life again?!

The masked man knew that, in every conceivable way, he was inferior to Shigen.

Yet, he still wanted to be the one in control.

Even if Madara himself returned, the masked man would still want to oversee the Eye of the Moon Plan.

He would personally create a new world.

This cruel, false world...

Would be reshaped by his own hands.

As the masked man contemplated how to maintain control of the plan, movement stirred within the forest.

Swish!

A figure landed beside him.

The man was clad in the uniform of Konoha's Anbu, still reeking of fresh blood. His voice was calm, yet it carried the unmistakable weight of forced composure.

"Kept you waiting."

"Not long."

The masked man's voice was deliberately composed and arrogant. "Did you deal with your tail?"

"Handled."

Itachi did not elaborate.

"Then let's go."

The masked man nodded, his tone shifting slightly.

"I originally invited you to join my organization to show you a different path... but I've just received news that some changes may be coming."

"Changes?"

Itachi's sharp eyes narrowed.

"Yes."

The masked man looked up at the sky, his lone Sharingan glowing red beneath his mask.

"Let me properly introduce you to my organization..."

"And to the real figure behind it all."

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