Border of the Land of Fire.
The Konoha ninjas, in position, waited for the enemy.
"Two more kilometers!!!"
A Hyūga shouted the warning in a sharp voice.
In any scenario, the Byakugan was an unmatched strategic weapon.
Shisui took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
Around him, many of his comrades were tense—even afraid.
"One more kilometer!!!"
The ground trembled slightly.
Flocks of birds flew off in panic.
"For Konoha!!!"
Someone shouted, and soon everyone joined the cry.
Shisui too.
And for the Uchiha clan...
This war could change everything.
Two hours later... Road between the capital and Konoha.
Itachi was calculating in his head:
A ninja moves at 40 km/h. Konoha is one hour from the capital.
But the daimyō travels by palanquin. At 5 km/h, it will take 8 hours.
The sky was now clear.
The convoy moved slowly.
Itachi's team, secretly escorted by an ANBU squad
and protected by two of the Twelve Guardian Ninja,
was supposed to be safe.
And yet, Itachi felt a deep unease.
What if Kumo spies had already infiltrated?
What if an ambush awaited them?
He thought of Shisui's and Izumi's Sharingan...
When will mine awaken?
He didn't know they were already being watched...
---
On a hill overlooking the road.
Obito watched the convoy.
The rugged terrain was ideal for an attack.
The war between Konoha and Kumo was a golden opportunity.
Killing the daimyō would plunge the country into chaos.
Then, sow disorder in Konoha... maybe repeat the Nine-Tails Disaster...
Since that day, Obito had only one goal: the Tsukuyomi Project.
To capture all the tailed beasts, weakening the villages was essential.
He had unleashed the Nine-Tails Disaster.
Then manipulated Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, to keep Kiri in the "Bloody Mist."
Today, a new opportunity presented itself.
If Konoha weakened, Suna and Iwa would take advantage.
Kumo, already weakened, would be vulnerable.
Like a god, I manipulate fate...
For only a god can bring about the Tsukuyomi...
I, Uchiha Obito... am the god of this new world.
"Obito, there's an Uchiha in that convoy," Zetsu murmured.
Behind his orange mask, Obito's eyes turned scarlet.
The Sharingan spotted Itachi.
"The son of 'Bloody-Eyed Fugaku'..."
"It doesn't matter whose son he is."
The Uchiha were an obstacle to the plan.
Each of them could awaken the Sharingan... even the Mangekyō.
Their powers were too unpredictable.
They must be eliminated.
But one problem remained: Pain's Rinnegan.
To control the Gedo Mazo, a conflict was inevitable.
He would need an ally.
"Then... let's test the boy's abilities."
"Stop!"
The convoy came to a halt.
All eyes turned to the man in black blocking the road.
He wore a light kimono, wooden sandals...
and an orange mask with black flame patterns.
Itachi felt his blood run cold.
This man... is a threat.
But his teammates, excited at the prospect of a real fight,
didn't share his suspicion.
"Who are you?!" the sensei barked.
Where were the ANBU supposed to secure the area?
Obito chuckled.
The air trembled imperceptibly...
"Watch out!" Itachi shouted—too late.
A genjutsu.
In an instant,
the sensei, the Guardian Ninja, the porters...
all were paralyzed.
A chill ran down Itachi's spine.
---
... Konoha, Uchiha district.
Sitting in the hallway of his home, Itachi meditated with his eyes closed.
The attack on the daimyō already felt distant... even though it had occurred only hours ago.
After the incident, the ANBU team had taken over the escort and returned the daimyō to the capital.
The official visit to Konoha had been canceled.
The higher-ups had collected the reports and were waiting for the full return of the ANBU team to draw conclusions.
With Denma's death, Itachi's team had been temporarily disbanded.
He was now waiting for new orders.
"Big bro~, are you done with your mission?!"
Itachi looked up.
His sister and mother had just returned from New Year visits.
It was already noon.
Unaware of his mood, Sako ran up to him cheerfully.
"It's lunchtime! You're staying to eat, right?"
"Yes."
His sister's smile calmed his restless heart.
"I'll make lunch," his mother said as she headed to the kitchen.
Sako pretended to follow her, then doubled back.
Moments later, she returned from her room with a neatly wrapped package.
At first, Itachi thought it was a gift for him.
But Sako said,
"Mom! Big bro! I'm going out for a bit, I'll be back in an hour~!"
"Alright."
His mother's gentle voice answered.
She was always so indulgent with her children... sometimes too much.
Itachi frowned, irritated by what he saw as irresponsibility.
The war with Kumo has started. Even the daimyō was attacked...
What if enemies had infiltrated Konoha?
If something happened to Sako...
"!"
He suddenly realized his change in attitude.
He had never criticized his parents before.
But now...
Is it because my Sharingan awakened?
He rubbed his temples, watching his sister leave the courtyard.
After a deep breath, he decided to follow her discreetly.
With the power of the Sharingan, he could now protect her.
And besides...
Who is she giving that gift to?
"Could it be that 'Uzumaki Naruto' she talks about all the time?"
He growled internally, an odd discomfort growing in him.
Good. Let's take this chance to see what kind of boy he is.