Starting as the mastermind behind Naruto

Chapter 21 That's right, I am Uchiha Obito!

Bonds are the most complex relationships in the ninja world.

Neither Uehara Naraku nor the mysterious masked man knows that the gifts they are planning to give each other are actually the same in nature—both are used to exploit people's emotions to achieve their own desired goals.

The mysterious masked man wants to use Karin as a spy to form a bond with Uehara Naraku, and then break that bond, causing Uehara to fall into darkness.

Uehara Naraku believed that rather than letting the mysterious masked man secretly track him down and plot against him, it would be better to bring him a big problem.

Everyone has to face their past sooner or later.

Furthermore, both Uehara Naraku and the mysterious masked man have a high degree of self-awareness and are very confident in their intelligence. Both of them believe that their plan is flawless.

The number of people in the entire ninja world who know the identity of the mysterious masked man could not possibly exceed the size of one hand.

The mysterious masked man would never have imagined that Uehara could use the Mayfly Technique to cross the border and quickly reach the Land of Fire; secondly, as long as Uehara did not reveal his true identity, the mysterious masked man would not be able to find out that he was the one who did it.

Kakashi Hatake stepped forward, looked at the mysterious masked man under the tree, and asked, "Who are you? What is your purpose in infiltrating the Land of Fire?"

"This is my homeland."

The masked man, who was actually Uehara Naraku, opened his palms and said softly, "Lord of the Konoha Anbu, can't I return to my hometown?"

Uehara felt that his acting skills were almost perfect; he had perfectly portrayed the feelings of a wanderer who had been away from home for many years.

Unfortunately, he only had two unsuspecting onlookers with him. The Konoha ANBU ninjas weren't buying it. Uzuki Yugao brandished her ninja sword at him and said in a deep voice, "Hey, take off your mask first!"

"That's probably not fair."

Uehara Naraku touched the patterned mask on his face, looked up at the white-haired ninja, and said softly, "If we are old friends meeting again, we should each take off our masks. What do you think, Hatake Kakashi?"

Clang!

The white-haired ninja suddenly drew his ninja sword, arched his back, and assumed a fighting stance, while casually remarking, "Hmm, knowing I work in the Anbu and recognizing me, seems to be someone I know well!"

Kakashi Hatake's mind raced!

The masked man in front of them was hiding his identity, which meant that his identity was not to be seen in the light of day. He was most likely a rogue ninja from Konoha or a Root ninja of Danzo.

However, not long ago, after the Uchiha clan of Konoha was wiped out, Danzo Shimura was inexplicably imprisoned by the Third Hokage, and the entire Root organization was completely destroyed.

Therefore, it can only be a rogue ninja from Konoha.

Fortunately, Kakashi did know a suitable candidate.

The man who destroyed his own clan and became an S-rank rogue ninja of Konoha was none other than Kakashi's former teammate in the Anbu, Uchiha Itachi.

However, in Kakashi's mind, Itachi Uchiha had always been very well-mannered, and he was always very polite, whether facing enemies or his fellow villagers.

The mysterious masked man in front of us is so pretentious, Itachi Uchiha shouldn't be capable of doing such a thing, but the Uchiha clan are all lunatics, who knows what he might turn out to be?

Besides Itachi Uchiha, he really couldn't think of anyone else.

Kakashi Hatake gripped his ninja sword tightly, his crimson Sharingan fixed on the masked man. After taking a deep breath, he asked in a low voice, "Are you Itachi Uchiha?"

"..."

After a moment of apparent silence, the masked man raised a finger and shook his head: "You guessed wrong... Kakashi!"

After hearing his words, Kakashi Hatake remained silent for a moment, then suddenly rushed forward, gripping his ninja sword, and coldly said, "Since you're still playing tricks, let me help you take off your mask now!"

"..."

The masked man seemed startled, hastily dodging Kakashi's attack before leaping into a tree. His voice grew increasingly sinister: "As expected of you, Kakashi... you're still so ruthless when killing your teammates!"

Kakashi Hatake froze instantly!

At this moment, he once again thought of Lin, whom he dreamed of every night, the girl who died in agony under his Raikiri, her body covered in blood.

Uzuki Yugao glanced at Kakashi, who was frozen in place, and loudly protested, "You bastard! What nonsense are you talking about? Senpai isn't that kind of person..."

"Hmph...really not?"

The mysterious masked man looked down at the two people on the ground, and slowly removed the mask from his face, revealing a face that was half intact and half full of scars.

This is Obito Uchiha's true appearance.

Uehara Naraku's innate illusionary charm can imitate and disguise himself as anyone, so naturally he can also imitate the appearance of Uchiha Obito.

Uehara Naraku held the mask in his hand, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "Kakashi, do you still recognize me?"

"..."

Kakashi Hatake's palms were bulging with veins as he gripped his ninja sword tightly, as if he wanted to crush it into pieces!

He couldn't believe his eyes.

Even after so many years, Obito Uchiha's appearance has changed, but Kakashi can still recognize his outline. But how could the person he buried with his own hands so many years ago possibly come back to life?

Kakashi Hatake removed his mask, his eyes widening in disbelief: "You are... Obito?"

"Hahahahahaha..."

Uchiha Obito, wearing the Uehara Naraku sign, burst into laughter, shouting, "I never expected that Sharingan Kakashi would still remember a loser like me! That's truly remarkable!"

"Obito..."

Kakashi Hatake's voice was somewhat hoarse. He had no idea how to face his old friend's mockery, and many words were stuck in his throat but he couldn't say them.

Uzuki Yugao stood beside Kakashi, her expression grave. "Senpai, is he the fallen hero Obito? Has he... defected?"

Uzuki Yugao's words instantly brought the two of them back to reality.

Nearly ten years have passed. Since Obito Uchiha is still alive, why hasn't he returned to Konoha? Is it because of Rin's death in battle?

"Obito, why didn't you go back to the village back then... If our teacher and the others knew you were still alive..." Kakashi Hatake paused again. Their teacher, Minato Namikaze, had died eight years ago in the Nine-Tails' attack.

"I killed Minato-sensei and Kushina-sensei!"

Uehara Naraku, disguised as Uchiha Obito, lowered his head, staring at Hatake Kakashi's stiff face, and said with a smile, "Unexpected, isn't it? I was the one who opened the Nine-Tails' seal, I controlled it with my Sharingan... You noticed it too, didn't you? The gift I gave you to become a Jonin that day hid an astonishing power, didn't it?"

"..."

Kakashi Hatake's mind was in complete chaos.

Because what Obito said was so shocking, his originally calm mind became chaotic, and even what Obito was saying now seemed like a hallucination.

"Alright, Kakashi, cherish that Sharingan. It possesses power beyond your imagination. I still need to avenge Rin. Goodbye!"

Uehara Naraku waved his hand, then leaped into the air and jumped away into the distance. Before Kakashi and Uzuki Yugao could react, his figure had already disappeared.

Uehara Naraku hid in the dense forest, using the Mayfly Technique to sneak up into a large tree. He glanced at Kakashi, who was frantically searching for Obito's whereabouts, and silently sank into the ground.

Today, he did a good deed.

(End of this chapter)