Starting as the mastermind behind Naruto

Chapter 50 Are you Konoha also eyeing our village's treasure?

A fleeting hesitation crossed Kakashi Hatake's eyes before he spoke first, advising, "Don't do anything wrong! You want information about Obito because you're afraid he'll kill you, right?"

"..."

Uehara Naraku's expression changed drastically.

Seeing Naraku Uehara's expression, Kakashi Hatake gradually calmed down, adopting a composed attitude: "Then I advise you to release Karin, because only I can help you now!"

After finishing his statement, Kakashi Hatake, to ensure the quality of his conversation, even went so far as to praise his old friend: "Obito is the most talented ninja in Konoha's history. Without my help, you definitely wouldn't have escaped Obito's pursuit!"

"..."

Uehara Naraku's expression faltered again. He looked at Hatake Kakashi with a rather complicated expression: "Mr. Kakashi, do I look like an idiot to you?"

"Don't act impulsively!"

Kakashi Hatake saw Uehara's fingers twitch slightly and, fearing he might impulsively kill Karin, quickly advised, "Release Karin first, we can discuss this slowly..."

"..."

Uehara Naraku hesitated for a moment, but still gripped Karin's neck tightly, and asked in a deep voice, "If Tobi-senpai is Obito from your Konoha Village, and he is a spy sent by Konoha, is that right?"

"..."

Kakashi Hatake shook his head violently and said in a deep voice, "That's not how it is. Obito is now a... rogue ninja in the village. He left the village twelve years ago."

"I don't believe you."

Uehara Naraku gritted his teeth and continued, "But whether he's a spy for Konoha or a rogue ninja, Konoha must bring him back!"

"That's exactly what I'm going to do."

Kakashi Hatake immediately agreed and asked, "But you have to tell me where he's been active lately, right?"

Uehara Naraku shook his head and said in confusion, "I don't know... Obito-senpai just wanted me to carry out a mission to lure a Kirigakure ninja into betraying him. I suspect he may have been active in the Land of Water all along."

Kakashi Hatake patiently probed for information: "Why did Obito ask you to lure a Hidden Mist ninja into betraying the village? Was it because he hated the Hidden Mist Village? Why did he send you? What is your relationship?"

Furthermore, you were tasked with enticing one Hidden Mist ninja to betray you, but it seems you've instead lured three members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to betray you!

"I am from a...small village."

Uehara Naraku was silent for a while, cursed Kakashi a few times, and then quietly told his story: "Because I want to become a person of high status in the village, I must complete a very difficult task."

"..."

Kakashi Hatake suddenly realized something. Listening to Uehara's words, he roughly guessed Uehara's identity. He guessed that Uehara was the next leader of some small ninja village.

Uehara Naraku checked his words to make sure there were no loopholes, and continued, "Tobi-senpai recommended me for this mission to the village chief. My teacher, an elder of the village, didn't want me to be in danger, but the chief agreed..."

"I see."

Kakashi Hatake nodded and continued softly, "Why would your village chief agree to such a dangerous suggestion from Obito?"

Uehara Naraku gritted his teeth, a look of grief and indignation on his face: "It's probably because the village chief doesn't want me to get that position... and Tobi-senpai has a very good relationship with the chief. The chief listens to everything he says. We once suspected that the chief was being controlled by illusion magic, but we couldn't see any clues."

Uehara Naraku slowly lowered his head, his expression sorrowful, and said, "Actually, before me, only Tobi-senpai in the village could get that position, but later I..."

This was said in a very veiled way.

In a sense, that's not entirely wrong.

After all, the Akatsuki only had two trainees, Uehara Naraku and Uchiha Obito, and both of them outwardly wanted to become official members of the Akatsuki.

Furthermore, even if Kakashi Hatake confronts Obito Uchiha in the future, would Obito willingly leak Akatsuki's information?

"I roughly understand what you mean."

Kakashi Hatake sighed inwardly. Amidst Naraku Uehara's evasive and mixed-up words, and combining this with the information he already possessed, he began to analyze the intelligence he had obtained.

More than a decade ago, during the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, Obito Uchiha did not die in battle, and it is unknown how he escaped the predicament. Later, Obito witnessed Rin die at his hands and was also angry with the Kirigakure ninja who were pursuing him. He has been looking for an opportunity to take revenge ever since.

Later, Obito joined a small ninja village to hide, and used genjutsu to control the village's leader.

This is not a problem.

If Obito's Sharingan power were greatly increased, controlling the leader of a small ninja village would not be difficult, and he could even control the tailed beasts!

Kakashi Hatake recalled the first time he saw Obito remove his mask and confess to killing Minato and his wife…

Perhaps, that thing is true.

If Itachi Uchiha was willing to kill his parents and entire clan for power, why couldn't Obito Uchiha kill his own teacher?

Kakashi Hatake, believing he had analyzed the information he had gathered, wanted to obtain one last piece of information: "So, sir... which ninja village are you from?"

Because Uehara Naraku had been hiding his identity, Hatake Kakashi was still somewhat unwilling, so he added indirectly, "If I want to take him away from your ninja village, I will need your help."

"Mr. Kakashi."

Uehara Naraku slowly stood up, looked at Hatake Kakashi and said coldly, "There's no need to ask me that question anymore. I can only tell you so much as I can... Even if you see me again in the future, I will not admit to revealing anything about Tobi-senpai to you."

As he said this, a hint of disdain flashed across Uehara Naraku's face: "Excuse my bluntness, but this matter should be handled by someone else sent by the Third Hokage of Konoha. Kakashi-san's abilities are rather inadequate..."

"..."

Kakashi Hatake's eyes flickered.

Their Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is unaware of Obito Uchiha's situation; at least for now, Kakashi doesn't want to tell Hiruzen Sarutobi. Moreover, once Hiruzen Sarutobi finds out, he will only choose to keep the news under wraps and send out someone skilled at handling dark troubles.

For example, Shimura Danzo, the leader of the Konoha Roots.

Not long ago, the leader of Root, Danzo Shimura, was inexplicably imprisoned. If Obito's affairs are revealed now, wouldn't that allow Danzo Shimura to rise to prominence again?

"You may leave."

Uehara Naraku waved his hand and turned to walk towards the battlefield where Orochimaru, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Hozuki Mangetsu were fighting: "I just happened to run into Orochimaru here, who stole our village's treasure. I'm going to take the treasure back from him."

"etc…"

Kakashi Hatake glanced at Orochimaru and suddenly spoke up, "Sir, Orochimaru is a rogue ninja of Konoha, so I can help..."

"Kakashi Hatake!"

Uehara Naraku abruptly turned his head, his eyes icy as he stared at Hatake Kakashi, a murderous aura emanating from him: "Do the ninjas of Konoha still want to covet our village's treasures? Get lost! Don't force me to kill you!"

Thank you to reader 20200724104610430 for the generous donation!

Thank you for the generous donation from Chicken and Watermelon!

Hahahaha!

(End of this chapter)