"Obito, Obito! Something bad happened to Itachi and Kisame!" Black Zetsu shouted urgently, looking panicked.
The intelligence he had just received news that the duo had been compromised. They had just finished a meeting, and already things had gone wrong. This was really an ominous sign.
"What?!" Obito was shocked.
Black Zetsu explained everything in detail and finally concluded, "The current situation is that Kisame has been captured by Konoha, and Itachi's whereabouts are unknown. Although a lot of the organization's intel has already been exposed, Kisame knows even deeper secrets, now everything might be compromised."
"I see." Obito fell into deep thought.
Black Zetsu spoke anxiously, "I think it's not that simple. Itachi is definitely suspicious. It's very likely Kisame was set up. The traitor who betrayed the organization might be him."
"Hmm..." Obito remained pensive.
"And there's one more thing. The battlefield didn't show that much damage. We all know that when Mangekyō Sharingan is used at full power, it causes massive destruction."
"You're not wrong," Obito acknowledged. Then he fell silent again, continuing to think.
After a while, Black Zetsu couldn't help but say, "Say something already."
"But I don't think that's entirely correct." Obito's contemplation ended. "Itachi might be a Konoha mole, but it's unlikely that he's the one who leaked the intel."
Black Zetsu was stunned.
"What I mean is, we've always known he had conflicting loyalties, but he didn't sell out the organization. The real Konoha mole must be someone else."
Black Zetsu let out a sigh of relief, thinking Obito hadn't completely lost his sense: "You mean Konan?"
Obito nodded solemnly. "Exactly. Just as you said, she was Jiraiya's disciple, she has motive. And only someone who's always been by Pain's side would have access to the same level of intel. She's the only one who fits both criteria."
"Without concrete evidence, Pain won't act against her. If you make a move, he will definitely turn against you," Black Zetsu predicted.
"Let's wait for his reaction. After all, he's the leader on the surface."
"And what about Itachi?"
"Wait until you find his whereabouts before deciding. The powers of the Mangekyō Sharingan defy logic. Maybe he paid a price to escape."
Like using Izanagi, Obito thought to himself.
---
Far away, in the Land of Rain, inside a tall tower, Black Zetsu had already sent the intel to Pain.
Itachi's whereabouts were unknown, and Kisame was now in prison.
"A truly inauspicious start." Nagato sat on his complex mechanical life-support chair, pale-faced and deep in thought.
Konan stood beside him, looking at him with concern. "What should we do about this? Are we going to rescue him?"
Nagato shook his head coldly. "They were just missing-nin with some value. We only recruited them to help capture and seal the tailed beasts. If they failed, it just means their luck ran out. I'll handle the beast their team was assigned to myself."
He had always been clear-minded. The current Akatsuki was no longer the idealistic group from Yahiko's era. Now, although the organization was full of talent, its members were all schemers and terrorists. They were only using each other. Once world peace was achieved, he would deal with them personally.
"Your body..."
"Don't worry. I won't fall before achieving the same dream as Yahiko." Nagato offered some comfort before continuing, "As for Kisame, if he's lucky enough to still be alive when we attack Konoha for the Nine-Tails, then he'll naturally regain his freedom."
"What Deidara said last time wasn't entirely wrong. Zetsu has always been Madara's man. Is it possible that Itachi and Kisame's incident was his doing? They really targeted him at the last meeting," Konan said with a frown.
Nagato nodded, his gaze sharp and deep. "The atmosphere at that last meeting was off. We need to be more cautious. We can't trust his intel too much."
Konan said with worry, "I fear this is all part of a plot against you."
Nagato responded with absolute confidence. "God is invincible. Whatever schemes they hatch will be in vain."
---
In the Hokage's office, the head of the Hyūga clan and the Third Hokage sat face-to-face across the desk. In front of each was a cup of tea that had already gone cold. Their conversation had been going on for some time.
The discussion had focused heavily on the internal affairs of the Hyūga clan, making Hiashi feel a bit uneasy. At that moment, Hiruzen handed him a written proposal and asked, "Tell me, is the Hyūga clan truly a part of Konoha?"
These words struck deeply. Hiashi responded, slightly tense. "The Hyūga clan is, of course, a part of Konoha. Loyal and devoted, always fulfilling our duties and never crossing the line."
Hiruzen nodded in agreement. "That much is evident, and I do trust you. But as Hokage, I still have my concerns."
Hiashi replied, "Please speak freely, Hokage-sama. I will answer truthfully."
"Whose orders take precedence, the Hokage's or the Hyūga clan's?"
"Naturally, the Hokage's."
"If a Hyūga ninja receives conflicting orders from the clan and the Hokage, who should they obey?"
"Of course, the Hokage."
"What about a branch house member under the Caged Bird Seal, who can they obey?"
"This..." Hiashi began to sweat heavily.
He wanted to say, "The Hyūga clan will always obey the Hokage's commands and will never issue orders that contradict them." But under Hiruzen's meaningful gaze, he couldn't bring himself to say it.
He was both the clan leader and the biggest beneficiary of the Caged Bird system. But he was also a victim of it, his brother had always resented him because of it, and in the end, he lost his twin brother because of that same system. Now, among his two daughters, one of them was bound to become another victim.
This system, originally created to protect the clan, had been gradually distorted over time. His feelings about it were incredibly complicated.
As the clan leader, he felt duty-bound to uphold the traditions. As a father, he longed for change that could free his daughters from their fate.
Hiruzen began telling a story. "Years ago, the title of the strongest clan was still being contested between the Senju and the Hyūga."
Cold sweat beaded on Hiashi's forehead.
"Back then, I was blinded by Danzō, who led me astray. The resulting disaster became a tragedy of historic proportions. But at the root of it all, it was the unresolved conflict between a powerful clan and the village."
He was clearly referring to the Uchiha. Hiashi understood this very well.
"Now I reflect on my past, and every morning I remind myself: Never repeat the same mistake. But when I look at the Hyūga clan today, I see the same shadow that once hung over the Uchiha."
Unjust! Hiashi wanted to cry out, "The Hyūga clan has always been loyal and dutiful! We even donated generously to your recent initiative! How can we be compared to the rebellious Uchiha?"
Hiruzen, reading his thoughts, tapped his pipe on the table and shifted the tone:
"Of course, compared to the Uchiha's issues, the Hyūga's problems may seem trivial. But darkness accumulates. Even if nothing happens in ten, twenty, or thirty years, the risk remains. But I don't want to leave any landmines for the next Hokage to deal with. Hiashi, you've carried the Will of Fire since youth. I hope you understand my concern. After all, you've been directly involved in everything since the Fourth Hokage's time."
Hiruzen refilled Hiashi's cup. "You should also understand my resolve."
Hiashi was silent for a long time before finally saying, "Though I am the clan leader, I alone cannot decide the fate of the Hyūga clan."
Hearing this all-too-familiar line, Hiruzen's eyes grew sharp. Unpleasant memories began to resurface in his mind.
I know this script too well... Just like Fugaku.
Hiashi, you're really starting to resemble an old acquaintance...
Talking about the Uchiha made him angry. Back then, not even the Uchiha clan leader had full control. He was dragged along by the elders. In the end, when things blew up, it was the leader who had to shoulder the blame for everything.
Facing the Hokage's increasingly stern gaze, Hiashi broke into a cold sweat but forced himself to say. "The traditions of our ancestors cannot be cast aside lightly. I must first convene a clan meeting."
Hiruzen looked at Hiashi with a strange expression. "Make sure that clan meeting doesn't end up looking like a rebellion in disguise..."
Realizing that the Hokage was drawing comparisons to the Uchiha, Hiashi panicked and raised his voice in defense. "Absolutely not!!!"
His face was flushed, veins bulging around his Byakugan.
"The Hyūga clan is completely loyal. I personally support your resolution to abolish the Caged Bird Seal. But the clan elders are old and conservative. They need time to accept this new reality, please give me a little more time."
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe and said, "You truly are a ninja with the mind of a Hokage. Go, and show me the leadership worthy of a clan leader."
He tapped his pipe on the desk corner. "Don't let me down, Hiashi."
Those words were spoken to Hiashi, but it sounded like he was also speaking to someone long gone.