Chapter 227

Constantly falling on his face, those warm "raindrops," and the indistinct calls echoing around his ears...

"Shut up..."

After a slight tremble of his eyelashes, Chloe slowly opened his eyes and uttered his first words upon waking up.

Kabuto, who was desperately healing Chloe with Palm Sage Jutsu, broke down in tears. He couldn't stop the tears from flowing down his face, biting his lips in silence.

Itachi, equally filled with mixed emotions, also silently shed tears, expressing his gratitude to the heavens, to everything he could be thankful for, grateful that this world didn't take his friend away.

"It's good... It's so good... It's so good..."

Itachi held Chloe's hand, repeatedly muttering how good it was.

After returning to Konoha and calling for support, Itachi and Kabuto had arrived with the reinforcements. Seeing Chloe lying in a pool of blood, they felt like their world was collapsing. (Itachi awakened his Sharingan on the spot.)

But fortunately, luck was on their side.

Thanks to Kabuto's unwavering efforts, Lady Luck smiled upon them.

"Itachi, your eyes..."

Hearing Chloe's weak reminder, Itachi froze, only then realizing...

It seemed he had awakened his Sharingan.

At that moment, Itachi finally understood the condition for awakening the Uchiha eyes—only in the moment of losing someone most important would the eyes awaken!

"Stop talking, I need to concentrate on healing!"

Kabuto wiped away his tears, focusing on healing Chloe's injuries. Although Chloe had regained consciousness, he had lost a lot of blood and was still in a critical condition.

Itachi wiped his tears, making a silent vow. He would use the Sharingan awakened for the sake of his friend to protect his friend!

At that moment, an ANBU ninja who had accompanied Itachi and Kabuto gently patted Itachi's shoulder.

"It's really good, Itachi."

Hearing Shisui's voice, Itachi responded with a heavy nod and finally smiled through his tears.

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, Obito, hiding in the shadows, intending to leave Chloe alive and waiting for Konoha's reinforcements to arrive to eliminate them all, chose to leave without further action.

Because among the reinforcements was someone he despised deeply—Kakashi Hatake!

Initially, Obito had planned to kill everyone and tell Chloe, "Everything you insisted on was meaningless," hoping to crush his resolve. But with Kakashi and Shisui's arrival, he had to abandon that plan.

Kougetsu Chloe—Obito remembered the name and vowed.

One day, he would make Chloe experience the pain of losing a comrade!

He would make him realize that everything he protected was meaningless!

He would make him see that this world is false!

At the same time, Chloe looked at the prestige points he had gained, puzzled as to why he received them from Obito and why Obito spared his life. Yet, he cursed Obito in his heart.

You psycho, just you wait!

If I don't avenge this, I, Black Zetsu, have lived a thousand years in vain!

Watch how I mess with you!

"He... that person has... Sharingan..."

With those words, Chloe finally couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed into unconsciousness.

This crucial information left the three Sharingan users present wide-eyed in shock!

...

During the days Chloe was recovering at the Konoha hospital, Tsunade, and the Uchiha clan quickly mobilized based on the information obtained from the brave battle of the Konoha Genin!

After thoroughly combing through the clan's records and comparing each documented Uchiha, Fugaku submitted a report to Tsunade.

Among the missing bodies not recovered were only Uchiha Obito, presumed dead, and Uchiha Madara, supposedly long gone.

A few Sharingan eyes had been lost over time, but those incidents were too far in the past to be traced.

In the Hokage's office, Tsunade reviewed the report from Fugaku, deep in thought. According to Chloe's testimony, the masked man did not reveal his name.

This implied that the masked man might not necessarily be a stray Uchiha but could also be an outsider who had obtained the Sharingan by chance.

However...

"I hate Konoha ninja. Although it was a coincidence, you can only blame your bad luck…"

This was the only sentence reported by Itachi from his encounter with the masked man. From this, it was clear the masked man harbored deep hatred for Konoha.

Hating Konoha intensely, despising Konoha ninja, possessing Sharingan, and Kushina's final words about a man-made disaster...

Connecting these dots, Tsunade couldn't help but think of Uchiha Madara, the man defeated by her granduncle. It was said that Madara could easily control the Nine-Tails…

"Lord Hokage…"

Awakened from her thoughts, Tsunade pondered for a moment before responding, "For now, until we ascertain the identity of this masked man, this matter should remain confidential."

Initially hoping to clear the Uchiha's name, Fugaku calmed down upon hearing this, realizing that keeping it confidential for the time being was the most rational approach.

"Lord Hokage, please let me investigate the masked man's identity!"

Kakashi spoke urgently, driven by the slight hope that the masked man could be Obito, reviving his spirit.

What if it is Obito?

"Kakashi, that man is likely not your former teammate Uchiha Obito. I've reviewed Obito's profile, and his personality is completely different from the man Itachi described."

Kakashi lowered his head, clenched his fists tightly, and then asked, "Lord Hokage, may I take on the A-rank assassination mission in the Land of Grass?"

...

Half a month later, after completing the assassination mission of a mercenary leader in the Land of Grass, Kakashi followed the painful memories in his mind to the place where he had buried his teammate.

Swallowing a specially made soldier pill, Kakashi began his excavation work!

Using Shadow Clones, Chidori, levers, pulleys, and shovels, Kakashi employed every method and tool he could!

Finally, after three days and nights of tireless effort, Kakashi reached the boulder that had trapped his friend years ago.

Covered in dirt, Kakashi stood before the massive boulder, breathing heavily, with only a tiny bit of chakra left from the soldier pill.

Even so, Kakashi squeezed out every bit of his remaining strength, overextending himself to use Chidori!

Boom!!

Perhaps this Chidori was enhanced by the power of friendship, as it shattered the boulder!

Exhausted, Kakashi closed his eyes and saw beneath the rock. Apart from some long-dried bloodstains, there was nothing.

Kakashi fainted with a smile.

Obito… is alive.

This was Kakashi's last thought before losing consciousness.

...

In Kirigakure, the Land of Water.

On the street, Shinji, having rejected the confession of seventeen-year-old Mei Terumi, rubbed his face where she had slapped him, laughing and crying inwardly.

Black Zetsu had directly reported this to Obito!

Shinji didn't expect these two would have such a love-hate relationship.

"Scoundrel! Don't let me see you again!"

Seventeen-year-old Mei Terumi, vibrant and beautiful, stood with one hand on her hip, glaring at the man who had teased her and earned a slap in return.

"You better think it through, young lady. If you miss this chance, you'll never find a boyfriend for the rest of your life!"

Hearing this, Mei Terumi laughed in anger.

With my looks, I can't find a boyfriend?

"You'll regret this!"

With that, Shinji quickly left. Since Mei Terumi started forming seals, he had no reason to stay. It was unexpected that his first encounter with her would be like this.

He had been wandering the deserted streets, looking for an information broker, when he ran into her.

After Shinji disappeared into the mist, Mei Terumi realized she had forgotten to ask his identity in her anger!

Moreover, she had never seen him in Kirigakure. He wasn't wearing a Kirigakure headband and didn't dress like a Kirigakure ninja. Could it be...

He was a spy from another village?!

Feeling she might have let an enemy spy escape, Mei Terumi quickly chased after Shinji. Unfortunately, the handsome young man was nowhere to be found.

"Damn it!"

Frustrated at losing Shinji, Mei Terumi stared at the dead end, clenching her fist in anger. The Blood Mist Village, under the Fourth Mizukage's brutal policies, was already suffering, and now enemy spies had infiltrated!

"Are you regretting it?"

Hearing the familiar voice behind her, Mei Terumi immediately became alert and drew a kunai from her thigh.

"Who are you?! Which village are you from?"

Seeing Mei Terumi turn around, Shinji raised his hands, saying, "I'm not a ninja. I just snuck in to sell some goods."

"Humph! Do you think I'll believe an ordinary person can sneak into Kirigakure?"

"Believe it or not, I haven't sold my goods yet. Are you interested in buying? I'll leave once I've sold them."

"What goods?"

"Some explosive tags. I heard they fetch a high price in Kirigakure, so I came."

Mei Terumi chuckled, "You must really value money over your life. How many do you have?"

"That's not a good question. Let me ask you, how many do you need?"

"Two… a thousand! Do you have that many?"

Mei Terumi doubted the young man had that many explosive tags. She didn't even believe he was here to do business!

"Alright, let's talk about the price."

Seeing him pull out a thick stack of explosive tags and several sealing scrolls like magic, Mei Terumi was dumbfounded. He really had them!

"Don't think I'll give you a discount just because you're a woman. It took a lot of effort to sneak in."

"Are you… really not a ninja?"

Mei Terumi was still skeptical. If he were just a merchant, he was too daring!

"Can you sense any chakra from me?"

Indeed, she couldn't sense any chakra from him. After thinking for a moment, Mei Terumi turned and said,

"Follow me. We might need those explosive tags. After all, Kirigakure…"

Shinji smiled and followed her through the winding paths of Kirigakure, eventually arriving at a heavily guarded mansion.

"Are you some kind of princess?"

Seeing the guards treating Mei Terumi with utmost respect, Shinji asked curiously.

"Don't ask questions you shouldn't!"