Chapter 396: I Know It's You
In the Land of Rain, in a town quite far from Amegakure, a newly opened dango shop stood quietly.
A figure wearing a yellow tiger-striped mask and the Akatsuki uniform sat in the corner of the shop.
On the table in front of him were three skewers of tri-colored dango. The sweet and chewy rice flour dumplings were soft and delicious.
As he savored the sweetness, he could always recall the happiness of the past.
They say those who endure bitterness crave sweetness—perhaps that's true.
The figure was none other than Obito. He lifted his mask and, at an unimaginable speed, shoved an entire skewer of dango into his mouth.
The process was so fast that ordinary people couldn't react.
Suddenly, a commotion arose outside the dango shop, with voices filled with disbelief and shock echoing around.
Obito frowned. Ever since the Third Great Ninja War, he had disliked crowded places.
That was why he had chosen to eat in a newly opened, relatively unpopular shop.
He had even purposely sat in a corner, in an unoccupied spot.
But when someone behind him mentioned, "The Hokage is dying from a terminal illness," Obito couldn't remain calm.
He snatched the newspaper from the speaker's hands. The person, about to curse and grab it back, was frozen in place when he saw a blood-red eye staring at him.
Obito opened the newspaper.
The headline boldly announced that Konoha had declared the Fifth Hokage was suffering from a terminal illness.
"Impossible!"
"That guy... someone who's transplanted the First Hokage's cells can't fall ill that easily."
Suddenly, a name surfaced in Obito's mind.
Hashirama Senju!
The previous God of the Ninja World had died mysteriously, and Konoha never announced the cause of death. No one knew what had really happened.
Hashirama was the source of the First Hokage's cells, and even he had died in his prime, at the peak of his power.
So why would it be impossible?
Obito clenched the newspaper tightly without saying a word, then tore it to shreds, scattering the pieces on the ground.
The man in front didn't dare utter a word, holding his breath in fear of attracting Obito's attention.
It wasn't until the masked man disappeared that he breathed a sigh of relief.
The look in that masked man's eyes was terrifying—a pure, unmasked killing intent.
It was terrifying!
...
In Konoha, at Haneda's house.
Due to the explosive news about the Hokage's terminal illness, the Uchiha compound was packed every day.
It was like a sea of people.
Only around Haneda's house was there some space, thanks to the police force maintaining order.
Naruto, planning to leave for school, cautiously opened the door just a crack to observe the situation outside.
The scene was the same as the previous days—too crowded to get out.
Naruto had learned from the first day's experience of being surrounded with questions. He used the Transformation Jutsu to turn into an adorable little hamster and slipped through the gaps in the crowd.
Only after he was several dozen meters away did Naruto revert to his original form, wiping sweat from his forehead and muttering:
"More and more people... I have to be careful even leaving the house, afraid of being recognized."
"Damn Uncle Haneda! I'm moving to Sasuke's tonight!"
"No way!" Kushina's voice echoed in his mind.
Naruto asked, puzzled, "Why not?"
"No reason. Just no."
"Nagging mom! Hmph, I'll go to Sasuke's on my own. You can't stop me!" Naruto was used to his freedom. A few days ago, he would still listen to his mom.
But as usual...
It didn't last long.
Being rebellious was a must—playing with Sasuke, eating with him, training together.
If he moved to Sasuke's house, there would be another line: sleeping together.
At this moment, in the mental space, Kushina had already gone completely mad, turning into a blood-red pepper!
Minato, standing next to her, remained silent, not daring to speak up for their son.
Kurama, too, pretended to be asleep, his fox head lowered, eyes tightly shut.
As Naruto happily made his way to Sasuke's, he passed a secluded courtyard.
In front of the courtyard gate stood a man in a black cloak and mask, motionless.
"Uncle! Can't find your house key?"
Naruto, completely unaware, walked right up to him without a hint of caution.
The masked man turned to glance at Naruto, then refocused on the courtyard gate.
"Some people are beyond saving. Even if they have the key, they won't return home."
The raspy voice came from the masked man.
Naruto, confused, blinked his big eyes and curiously asked:
"Why?"
"No reason."
"Why no reason?"
The masked man didn't respond, remaining silent for a few seconds before saying to Naruto,
"You're doing a poor job as the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki... ha, I feel anxious for Uchiha Haneda."
Hearing his foster father's name, Naruto asked curiously, "You know Uchiha Haneda?"
The masked man replied, "I've fought him many times. You can call me Uchiha Madara."
"Uchiha Madara?!" Naruto's smile froze instantly.
The masked man asked, "You know me?"
Naruto shook his head frantically. "Nope. Are you famous? Like, super famous in the ninja world, where many countries know about you."
The masked man chuckled, pushing open the courtyard gate and walking in.
Naruto hesitated for a moment, then tried to run, but an invisible hand pushed him inside, nearly tripping him over the threshold.
"What are you doing—ouch!"
"Kill me if you want, but I, Uzumaki Naruto, will never reveal a word about Uncle Haneda!"
Ha—
The masked man chuckled mockingly and asked bluntly:
"Where is Uchiha Haneda?"
Naruto kept his mouth shut, a picture of defiance.
But another voice came from within him.
"The moon. Dare to go? Can you go?"
It was Kurama's voice.
Naruto's face fell, darkening terribly.
"Kurama!!"
The masked man didn't respond, lowering his head as if in thought, scanning the courtyard once more.
There were only a few green leaves on the ground, indicating they had recently fallen.
The masked man was certain. "He will come here."
"Obito."
A familiar voice echoed in the masked man's ears, his eyes flashing with surprise.
He pretended not to hear, not to recognize the familiar voice.
"I know it's you."
The familiar voice sounded again, making the masked man avert his gaze.
He knew who was speaking, and he knew the speaker most likely knew who he was.
The speaker was his teacher, Minato Namikaze, and he was Obito, Uchiha Obito.
...