Chapter:45

In the underground space that served as Zetsu's secret base, Uchiha Obito, wearing his signature spiral mask, appeared puzzled.

"Konoha has issued a bounty on me?" he asked.

Obito had been stationed in the Hidden Mist Village for more than a month. Using his genjutsu, he had taken control of the Fourth Mizukage and enforced a brutal regime known as the Blood Mist Policy, exacting his revenge for Rin's death. To Obito, Kirigakure was to be buried alongside her.

Many Hidden Mist ninjas had perished under his harsh rule, and his mood had been lifted by their suffering. But now, returning to Zetsu's base, he was met with surprising news.

"Yes, Konoha has issued a 50 million ryō bounty on your head—the highest bounty they've ever offered. How does it feel to be so 'honored'?" White Zetsu said, his tone tinged with amusement.

"What happened?" Obito asked. His instincts told him that something significant must have occurred during his absence.

"An elite jonin from the Uchiha clan named Uchiha Chi was killed. Konoha suspects you, so they put the bounty on you," White Zetsu explained.

"Someone is framing me?" Obito frowned under his mask.

Though he dismissed the bounty itself as insignificant—no one in the underground world had the strength to threaten him—being framed irritated him. With his space-time ninjutsu, even multiple Kage-level opponents couldn't trap him. But having his name used in someone else's plot unsettled him.

"Have you identified who's framing me?" Obito asked.

"No. The only notable wound on Uchiha Chi was one that appears to have been inflicted by Wood Release: Insertion Technique," Zetsu replied.

"If I didn't know you'd been in the Hidden Mist for over a month, I'd probably think it was you," Black Zetsu added.

"Are you sure it was caused by the Wood Release: Insertion Technique?" Obito asked, narrowing his eyes.

"We can't be certain. I couldn't get close enough to inspect the body in detail," Black Zetsu responded.

"It looks like I'll need to head to Konoha to investigate this myself. I can't let anyone else take credit for my work. Plus, I want to talk to Uchiha Shisui and see if he's a potential recruit for the Akatsuki."

Obito made his decision swiftly. With a whirl, his body twisted and disappeared into his signature space-time vortex technique.

Late at night, in the Uchiha clan cemetery, tombstones were arranged in neat rows. A whirlpool appeared out of nowhere, and Obito, still masked, emerged.

He glanced at the tombstones before stopping at one that read Uchiha Obito. A strange smile played at the corner of his lips.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Divide," he murmured, using the earth-style ninjutsu to split the ground in front of Uchiha Chi's grave. The soil parted, and the coffin was raised from the ground.

Opening the coffin, Obito tore off Uchiha Chi's shirt to inspect the wounds on the body.

"It really is a wound caused by Wood Release: Grafting Technique," he muttered, surprised at the familiarity of the injuries. These were the same types of wounds his own Wood Release often caused.

"Besides me, the only other person capable of using Wood Release Ninjutsu is Zetsu, but I know it wasn't him. Which means someone else out there is using Wood Release."

His expression darkened beneath the mask.

"Other than me, the only people who have access to Hashirama's cells are in Konoha's leadership. One of them must've stolen Hashirama Senju's flesh and conducted experiments with his cells."

The realization hit him. The person responsible for Uchiha Chi's death was from Konoha, and this was an internal conflict.

"Konoha's leaders are as skilled at infighting as ever," he mused, recalling the infighting that led to the suicide of Hatake Sakumo, Kakashi's father.

The mention of Kakashi stirred a mix of emotions in him. Even though Kakashi had killed Rin, Obito blamed him for failing to protect her, a betrayal he could never forgive.

Suppressing his conflicting emotions, Obito's gaze turned cold.

"Whoever tried to pin this on me will pay."

With that thought, he disappeared in another vortex.

Obito reappeared in front of a remote and dilapidated house in the Uchiha district. This had once been his home, where he lived with his grandmother. What once brought him warmth now brought only a hollow ache.

After lingering for a moment, Obito left and made his way toward Uchiha Shisui's residence.

Having lived in the Uchiha district, Obito knew exactly where Shisui resided. According to Zetsu's information, Shisui was currently in the village.

In the dead of night, Uchiha Shisui suddenly woke up, his senses alert.

He rolled over, grabbing his katana from beneath his pillow, his eyes transforming into the Mangekyō Sharingan. His instincts, honed through countless missions as an ANBU Black Ops ninja, had saved him more times than he could count.

"Impressive awareness," Obito said, standing calmly in the room.

"It's you!" Shisui exclaimed, recognizing the masked man instantly, thanks to his Mangekyō Sharingan's enhanced perception.

"How did you infiltrate Konoha?" Shisui demanded. Konoha was protected by a massive sensory barrier. Even Kage-level ninjas would struggle to sneak in undetected.

"For others, perhaps. But for me, who once called this place home, it's not difficult at all," Obito replied in a cryptic tone.

"You lived here? Who are you?" Shisui asked, confused.

This masked man had once been a part of Konoha? The revelation stunned him.

"My name is Uchiha Madara," Obito declared, his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning ominously. His voice dripped with arrogance.

In that moment, Obito had completely assumed the role of the legendary Uchiha Madara, the man who once battled the First Hokage and almost conquered the entire ninja world.

(End of Chapter).

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