3 Chapter 3 : Inconvenient Truth
They finally arrived at the border of the country facing the country of grass and Obito used Kagura's mind eye to spot chakra signatures 15 km away and he found several of them, they were ninjas responsible for monitoring the border but also patrollers because Kusagakure was at war against the ninja village of another small neighboring country according to the information on the mission scroll and that was a good thing.
"Do you know how to erase your chakra signature ? If we're going to infiltrate it's important that-(stops)" Genma wanted to warn Obito but to his dismay, the 7 year old had concealed his chakra to a frightening level, despite being in front of him, Genma couldn't sense his presence.
"Itachi-san taught me what to learn, I already have the plan for our mission in mind." Obito said calmly as a slight smile appeared on Genma's face.
(three days later)
"May Buddha calm our hearts in these times of trouble and may our deceased find peace. A little money for monks in search of enlightenment? My brother is blind." a monk asked a passerby who ignored him.
The monk was an adult and with him was an even younger monk appearing to be 7 or 8 years old. Obviously, it was Genma and Obito who had used the Transfiguration Jutsu to take the appearance of monks and Obito's eyes were gray in appearance as he walked behind Genma grabbing the back of his robes to follow him while playing his role as a blind man.
It had been two days since they had infiltrated as monks while hiding their chakra by drastically reducing them without erasing them otherwise it would be suspicious.
In two days, they had already located the place where Karin and her mother lived, it was a small house near a somewhat isolated farm, something that would make their task easier.
They went to the small local temple where they had been welcomed and accommodated, they were supposed to leave today and today they would pick up Yuko (I made up that name) and her daughter Karin to take them back with them to Konoha.
It was late afternoon when the two monks arrived in front of the house of the Uzumaki survivors with a large bowl containing prayer scrolls, they had distributed them everywhere while playing their role as monks and now, the next house was Karin's .
Genma knocked on the door and it was Yuko who opened it coughing, she seemed very weak and was coughing, she had returned from a mission a few days ago and the village ninjas overexerted her to bite her to heal their injuries.
She had to leave on a mission the next day so they had to act now.
They greeted her and asked if they could come in, warm and welcoming woman that she is, Yuko accepted and they entered taking the time to greet Karin who was around the same age as Obito.
They started talking to them about Buddha and a whole kind talk while Obito gave her a payer ticket with notes on it.
« My name is Obito Uzumaki and I am a member of your clan but also a Ninja from Konoha who came to save you, don't make any noise because we are probably being watched. » he undid his transformation so that they could see his real appearance while he continued his Buddhist speech from his mouth.
Because of the surprise, Karin almost cried out but her mother reacted in time by closing her mouth.
Yuko looked at Obito as her eyes became watery, she thought her clan was totally wiped out and they were the only survivors.
« We have no time to waste, today is the only chance we have to leave here we have a plan. Wait for the signal and follow us, okay? » was the note on the second paper, mother and daughter looked at each other and although with a little hesitation but also hope, they nodded their heads.
A few seconds later, a violent explosion rang out from the village chief's house but also from several other neighboring houses, believing that it was an enemy attack the village ninjas headed there including those who were secretly monitoring this house, Obito with his mind eye of Kagura felt them moving so he gave the signal and Genma took the lead of the operation.
Genma carried Yuko on his back and Obito did the same with Karin as they walked out of the house towards the big forest.
After they left, a shadow clone of Obito entered with a corpse of an adult civilian woman and then that of a Genin girl around his age from this village whom he had killed himself before placing tags on their corpses.
In a few seconds, a violent blaze engulfed the house because these tags were not explosive but incendiary and of high quality because the heat of this fire was really great.
It was this same clone who was responsible for the explosions earlier as a diversion, he disappeared in a screen of smoke as the violent fire spread.
Far in the forest, Genma and Obito were jumping from tree to tree with the two Uzumakis on their backs.
Obito: It's done, the two charred bodies that they'll find in the house will make them believe that it is them.
Genma: Well done kid, your plan was excellent.
Yuko: A plan ?
Obito: I placed two corpses in your house before setting it on fire, these people will find the bodies and think it's you two so they won't go looking for you.
Yuko: You...you killed those people?
Obito: I'm a shinobi, I do what I have to do. The girl I killed was also a Genin like me, a shinobi so it doesn't bother me. Look at my eye Yuko, those who did this to me weren't even ninjas but had no mercy for children and if unfortunately you were to lose your life for Kusagakure, do you think they would have wait until your daughter grows up to assign your task to her ?
Yuko: No...no, they wouldn't hesitate...
"Alright, let's move on..." Obito said as even Genma looked at him. How the hell was this boy made? He seriously asked himself the question, he did everything perfectly and didn't behave like a child his age.
He had never seen him smile since their first mission. It had been few months since Obito, after his accelerated academic courses, had graduated, a total exception that Hiruzen had made under Itachi's recommendation because only a genius could understand another and a normal academic course would have hindered him more than anything else.
In just a few months, under Itachi's responsibility as Genin, Obito had completed exactly 32 D and C rank missions, mainly thanks to his shadow clones.
An accelerated course and a Genin without a team, these were exceptions made only for him because Obito Uzumaki was an anomaly but because of his hatred against the villagers it was necessary to involve him in ninja affairs and give him a feeling of importance.
Not associating with other children who despised him and Naruto for participating in ninja missions and developing his talents would, according to Itachi, prevent him from growing up in this hatred but rather in responsibility and a feeling of accomplishment.
Itachi's initiative had proven to be a success, especially since, unbeknownst to them, Obito had found the memories of his idol, Tobirama Senju and wanted to protect this man's legacy.
They reached the Land of Fire and one evening by the campfire, Obito was peacefully reading the Second Hokage's journal when the book fell from his hands as a series of information came to his mind.
His clone left in Konoha had just been killed by Itachi.
That night in the village, Naruto and the clone were sleeping when he sensed strange chakra fluctuations in the Uchiha domain with his Kagura mind Eye and went there to find Itachi slaughtering his clan members.
Shocked by this, he faced the one who was like a big brother to him and who had taught him so many things, Itachi knowing that Obito was on a mission and this one was a clone so killed him without giving him any information or explanation.
"I'm sorry…" That's all he heard before disappearing without even understanding how he died.
"Itachi-san…what have you done…?!!" He said in a weak and regretful voice but there was nothing he could do about it. He had become attached to Itachi but for Obito who had experienced cruelty very early in his life, he was not going to worry about it because the only people important to him were his brother and the last members of his clan, Itachi had massacred his clan and his family, something that Obito had been denied from birth so he wasn't going to bother understanding his motivations.
They arrived in Konoha after a few days and it was a good thing because Yuko and her daughter were exhausted.
They went straight to the hokage's office where Genma and Obito gave a brief report of the mission and its success.
"As Hokage of this village I wish you the best here in Konoha, the Uzumaki clan has been an important ally of this village and it will always have a privileged place.Whatever your needs, we will do what we can to help you satisfy them.
Well, I guess you must be exhausted so please go get some rest and I promise to come see you in person. (to Obito) My child, I have important things to talk to you about." He finished in a serious tone while Obito just nodded before summoning a shadow clone who left with Genma and the others.
"If it's to tell me about what Itachi-san did, I already know. One of my clones was present in the village, he confronted Itachi who killed him without hesitation. Don't worry about how I feel about it, I don't really care. » Obito said, crossing his arms, with an almost blank look.
Hiruzen: Hmmm
Obito: Did he leave any survivors?
"Sasuke, his little brother. "
"I guess his only condition was that you take care of him before accepting this atrocious mission." Obito said calmly and Hiruzen wanted to speak but he cut him off "Don't worry Hokage-sama I already told you I don't care. However, I'm not a fool, the fact that I was there before you the hokage and even the Anbu proves to me that you knew about it and looked the other way. Right ?" Obito said with his expression as calm as ever.
"I see, your maturity is truly that of an experienced adult. You know that you must not tell anyone about it, it's a secret on which your life is at stake, my child." Hiruzen told him seriously.
"I already told you that this matter doesn't interest me and I'm not a basic talkative person so your secret is sealed. Besides I'm not strong enough to defend myself against your Jounins in the shadows, yes I can feel their chakra. However, this affair reminds me of a question that I have wanted to ask you for a while."
Hiruzen: I'm listening.
"If my clan was such an important ally of Konoha then what was Konoha doing when the other villages attacked Uzushiogakure, my clan's country ?" Obito asked with clear calm and Hiruzen looked at him with some stress, he didn't know what to answer to the child.
"I have my own idea, you were already hokage at the time and after the three great ninja wars you wanted to establish peace as well as alliances with the other villages to stop shedding the blood of Konoha. I read that although peaceful, my clan was highly feared especially for its Fuinjutsu prowess so you sold information to other villages about us and turned a blind eye when our blood was spilled." Obito told him still in this cold calm.
Hiruzen:…
"I see, you and the other ninjas of this village are complicit in the disappearance of my clan for your comfort and the hypocritical image you have of peace. Don't worry, I have no desire for revenge, what's done is done and just for everything that the Nidaime did, I will remain a ninja of this village until I have what it takes to rebuild my village and establish my clan again. I demand that my clan's basic, medium and high rank scrolls of Fuinjutsu be returned to us, I know you have them so show your dignity Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen: (sighs) Very good.
"Similarly, I wish to pass the Chuunin selection at the same time as my brother at 13 years old. The second hokage created this exam so that no children would be on a battlefield before their adolescence like in his time so I will respect that and it will allow me to accumulate more experience. Also I would like to ask you a favor."
Hiruzen: Which one?
"I would like Naruto to follow training specifically in Taijutsu with the best ninja in the field in Konoha. I've been investigating for a while and Gai Maito seems to be the ideal candidate for it. That's all I would want." Obito said to the hokage without blinking.
Hiruzen: Very well, I owe you that at least and I'm sure Gai would like it.
Obito nodded and headed towards the door to leave but Hiruzen stopped him to tell him that he had not passed a single day without being tortured by remorse for what he had done .
"I already told you, I have no desire for revenge. Thank you anyway for keeping us alive, Naruto will never know because he has a sincere love for this village and he sees you as a grandfather…" Obito responded without turning around before leaving.
"Only 7 years old, such maturity?" Hiruzen said closing his eyes regretfully.
"Hokage-sama, should we monitor him and eliminate him if he tries something ?" One of the Jounins in the shadows asked.
"I forbid you. The child was not crazy to confront me about this subject without considering certain consequences and if he says he has no desire for revenge against Konoha then I believe him. Bring Gai…" Hiruzen said while smoking his pipe.
