"Him? Hmph... just another pawn on the board."
"Let me see, ah, here it is."
Kawasaki selected a scroll from a large pile of sealing scrolls and undid the seal. Inside was a stack of smaller, densely written scrolls.
"Here, read this on your way," Kawasaki said, picking one out. "Go back and discuss it with Nagato. You might not be able to kill him, but it's worth a try."
"I have other matters to attend to, so I can't stay. Next time, have Nagato come see me directly. I'll give him more information then."
"If you need to find me, go to the Sound Village. If I'm not there, have Itachi pass on a message for me."
Konan unrolled the scroll. On it was a portrait of the masked man. Below it was a summary: "Obito Uchiha. Critically wounded at the Kannabi Bridge and saved by Madara Uchiha, becoming the inheritor of his will. His Mangekyo Sharingan abilities are..."
Kawasaki packed away the table, chairs, and teapot into a storage scroll. Then, he started walking in the direction of the Village Hidden in the Sand.
Konan quickly scanned the scroll's contents and finally understood why Kawasaki had said Obito couldn't be killed.
Just then, Kawasaki's voice drifted back from the distance.
"Those brought back by the Reanimation Jutsu have a limited time to act. It is not a long-term solution. Use this technique with caution."
Clutching the scrolls on Edo Tensei and Obito's identity, Konan instantly unfurled her paper wings and soared into the sky.
That despicable Obito Uchiha, that disgusting schemer.
..
Though Obito had his own tragic story, it didn't stop Kawasaki from despising him. Brainwashed by Madara at such a young age, he had completely abandoned the kind, cheerful, and loyal person he once was—someone who cherished his comrades. For the death of Rin, he sought to make the entire ninja world pay.
To obtain the power of the Rinnegan, he stopped Kyusuke and Daibutsu from rescuing Yahiko, pushing Nagato down a path of darkness. To weaken Konoha and reclaim the Nine-Tails, he released the beast while Kushina's seal was at its weakest during childbirth, showing no regard for his own master and his wife, let alone the innocent citizens of the Leaf.
For funds and personnel, he used his Sharingan to control the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, enacting a reign of terror in the Mist Village. While amassing wealth, he eliminated anyone who threatened his plans or Yagura's position, carrying out a brutal campaign of vengeance against the Mist. This led to the extinction of numerous clans with kekkei genkai in the Land of Water.
And that was to say nothing of the countless casualties and shattered families caused by the Fourth Great Ninja War. Obito's sins were truly beyond measure.
Although Obito was just a pawn to Madara, and another would have simply taken his place, that was no excuse. Kawasaki was deeply dissatisfied with Kakashi's mercy in the Kamui dimension. How ungrateful, to forget the deaths of his own master and his wife.
Madara had collected so many Sharingan over the years; how many were left for Obito? To kill Obito one more time, to destroy those eyes of his, would be immensely satisfying. Any obstacle Kawasaki could place in Obito's path brought him immense pleasure.
One day, when he was strong enough, he would crush this disgusting pest into dust!
....
Kawasaki continued his trek under the blazing sun. The desert offered few landmarks for navigation, making it easy to stray from one's path. He periodically checked his compass to ensure he wasn't veering off course. Awkwardly, however, he entered an area with a powerful magnetic field that rendered the compass useless.
Kawasaki scratched his head. After walking a bit further, he planned to stick a rod in the sand and use its shadow to determine his direction. Just then, a violent surge of chakra erupted in the distance, accompanied by a faint tremor.
His expression changed slightly as he rushed toward the source of the chakra.
Cresting a sand dune, the scene before him made even the well-traveled Kawasaki gasp in amazement. The most abundant thing in the desert was, naturally, sand. Nature had many spectacular sights, but a tornado was certainly among the most impressive.
When a tornado formed in the middle of the desert, the sky turned as dark as ink, filled with swirling yellow sand. A colossal vortex blotted out the sun, and this one was clearly man-made.
A figure floated in mid-air, arms outstretched, as a rapidly spinning funnel of sand reached from the ground to the clear sky. Sand was continuously sucked into the cyclone and then violently thrown out. As it moved, following the figure's gestures, it stirred up the earth.
Looking closer, Kawasaki saw something shiny occasionally flying out of the tornado and landing in the distance. Activating his Mangekyo Sharingan, the distant scene became crystal clear. Zooming in, he saw that the glittering objects were particles of gold dust, which had already formed a small mountain.
Wow, what an easy way to make money.
Kawasaki sighed in admiration. He had already recognized the man: Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, also known as the Desert Gold Digger.
It didn't take long for Rasa to notice him. After all, a lone figure standing in an endless sea of yellow sand was rather conspicuous.
"And who are you supposed to be?"
Rasa lowered his arms, and the spinning sandstorm exploded, cascading downward like a waterfall and kicking up a cloud of dust. His first instinct was to take out a sealing scroll and secure the gold dust. Not because he feared the stranger would try to steal it, but because he didn't want it scattered during a fight, forcing him to waste time gathering it again.
Rasa was extremely confident in his abilities. Though his chakra was somewhat depleted, the desert was his home turf. He could even handle Shukaku with ease here. That was why he never brought anyone with him when he panned for gold; they would only be able to stand and watch anyway.
Kawasaki removed his bamboo hat and donned his Leaf headband.
"I am a ninja of the Hidden Leaf!" Kawasaki shouted. He had no choice; the area was vast, and they were still separated by a dune.
Rasa was speechless. The man had just pulled out the headband. Could he be any more obvious? Nevertheless, he flew over on a cloud of sand. Kawasaki watched with a mixture of envy and resentment. Another one who could fly.
Rasa landed gracefully in front of Kawasaki as the sand cloud dissipated.
"Who are you, really?"
Kawasaki took off his headband and examined it. It looked fine. "I'm from the Leaf. Didn't I just say that?"
Rasa frowned but said nothing.
A look of realization dawned on Kawasaki's face. "Oh, I'm an Uchiha. If you don't believe me, look. I have the Sharingan."
In an instant, Kawasaki's eyes shifted into the three-tomoe Sharingan. Rasa instinctively glanced at them, and the three tomoe immediately morphed into a pinwheel and began to spin.
"Tsukuyomi!"
Kawasaki had finally used Itachi's signature technique. Using a one-time jutsu from his system consumed no chakra, but since it was a Mangekyo ability, Kawasaki could infuse it with his own ocular power to enhance its effect.
What the hell?!
In an instant, Rasa's consciousness plunged into absolute darkness.
....
Deep beneath Konoha.
"What are the results of the experiment?" Danzo asked. His right eye remained covered, but the bandages on his right arm and shoulder were gone, revealing an arm that looked no different from a normal person's. The cane he usually carried was also absent.
"Lord Danzo, without activation through Wood Style, the cellular activity in your arm has increased six-fold. It is far superior to your left arm."
Danzo clenched his fist. Hah!
His right arm suddenly turned a deathly pale, then extended and transformed into a massive tree branch that split into multiple smaller ones. With a thunderous boom, it smashed a large boulder ahead into pieces. Danzo retracted his hand, and the arm returned to normal. He clutched his shoulder; the technique had consumed a considerable amount of chakra.
Suddenly, a bifurcated, aloe-like figure emerged from the wall beside him. It was Zetsu.
"Why is the chakra consumption so high?" Danzo asked, seemingly accustomed to Zetsu's sudden appearances.
"The Hashirama cells are still transitioning from grafting to full integration. It will take time for you to master Wood Style," Zetsu replied in a light, flippant tone.
"You'd better not be lying to me," Danzo grunted.
"Rest assured. Since we sought you out for a partnership, it is for our mutual benefit. We provide the funds, you provide the intelligence."
Danzo's single eye narrowed. "I gave you the information about Kawasaki Uchiha leaving the village long ago. Why haven't you captured him yet?"
"There was a slight complication. Someone interfered," Zetsu answered.
"That's your problem. The intelligence was provided. Capturing Kawasaki sooner rather than later is beneficial for both of us."
"Kawasaki Uchiha is not an easy target. I will return when I have more news. The Uchiha clan is not what it once was. Perhaps you could discuss with the Third Hokage how to suppress their development."
Zetsu slowly sank back into the wall, vanishing as if he had never been there.
Danzo gave a subtle signal to a Root member below.
"He's gone, my lord," the operative reported, flicking two fingers to send out an invisible sensory wave.
Danzo's face was grim. Zetsu's ability to come and go undetected left him feeling exposed, as if stripped bare for all to see. The dissolution of Root had cost Danzo more than just his base and experimental equipment. The greatest blow was the loss of funding. Konoha had previously allocated a dedicated budget for Root, and the organization also took on black-ops missions from clans in exchange for financial support. But after the Third Hokage disbanded it, many clans, fearing his wrath, ceased their cooperation.
Though the members of Root remained, the organization was broke. Just as Danzo was grappling with this problem, Zetsu had appeared, injecting a massive amount of capital into his operations and even assisting with the development of the Hashirama cells. Though Danzo's arm no longer had any Sharingan, the deeper integration of the Hashirama cells had elevated his power to a new level. He no longer needed to transplant Sharingan to control the cells.
To think he would one day cooperate with the Akatsuki, an organization that was now apparently divided by internal factions. Danzo let out a slow breath, looking at his normal-looking hand before walking toward the exit.
....
"Ugh..."
Rasa woke up, rubbing his groggy eyes. He jumped out of bed. At six years old, he was just over a meter tall but was already his master's most capable assistant. His master was a renowned potter in the village, known for crafting pottery that was both exquisite and durable.
Today was the day of his graduation. If Rasa could create a piece that satisfied his master, he would be allowed to strike out on his own.
Rasa quickly got dressed, gathered his materials and tools, and went to the pottery studio. His master was inspecting the ceramics in the room. Seeing Rasa arrive, he said flatly, "Begin."
Filled with confidence, Rasa started his work: mixing the clay, kneading it, shaping the piece, glazing it, and firing it. His movements were fluid and practiced. The entire process seemed to fly by in fast-forward, and in what felt like a few days, it was done.
Rasa presented the finished piece to his master. The master's face was hidden in shadow. He took the pot, examined it, and then pushed it off the table. It landed with a dull thud.
Rasa clenched his fist. Yes! He had passed the test!
But then the master picked up the pot, placed it on the second shelf, and pushed it off again. Another thud. This time, the pot was only slightly chipped at the edge; it hadn't broken. Before Rasa could react, the master placed the pot on the third shelf and pushed it off.
This time, there was a loud crash. The pot shattered into pieces on the floor.
"Unacceptable. Do it again," the master said calmly.
Rasa was filled with indignation. What kind of pottery could survive a fall from that height? But his master's word was law. Wiping away his tears, Rasa started over.
He began again from scratch. Days later, he completed a new piece. This time, his master simply tossed it into the air. It crashed to the ground, shattering.
"Unacceptable. Do it again," the cold voice repeated.
Rasa could only repeat the process, over and over. The scene flashed forward rapidly. No matter how well-made or sturdy his creations were, his master always found a way to break them. At first, he just dropped them. This continued day after day, a never-ending cycle.
Finally, in desperation, Rasa made a solid piece of pottery and gave it to his master. Without a word, the master threw it directly into the kiln. His only response was the same line: "Unacceptable..."
Rasa broke down, sobbing. "Why? Why is it never good enough, no matter how hard I try?!"
His master looked up, his face slowly transforming into Rasa's own. And young Rasa transformed into a small child with the kanji for "love" carved into his forehead.
"Because I never had any faith in you to begin with," the master's voice, now Rasa's, said. "Nothing you do will ever matter."
"Waaah..."
Young Gaara crumpled to the ground, crying in anguish.
....
Rasa's eyes snapped open. He was still in the desert, facing the Uchiha clan member. "Genjutsu?" A chill ran down his spine. He had fallen for it so easily. Breaking free had drained his chakra, and his legs felt weak.
"Damn you!" Rasa shouted, not daring to look his opponent in the eyes. He saw the corner of the man's mouth turn down, as if in dissatisfaction.
Rasa slammed his hands on the ground. "Magnet Release: Gold Dust Imperial Funeral!"
As he poured his Magnet Release chakra into the ground, the yellow sand turned a brilliant gold and began to flow like water. The earth beneath his opponent collapsed, and the man instantly sank into the swirling gold dust. Rasa frantically channeled more chakra into the ground. The sand compressed violently, crushing everything below. But he could feel that his opponent was unharmed.
Boom!
The compressed sand exploded outward, and a massive golden skeleton rose from beneath the ground. Flesh and muscle formed over the bones, followed by a layer of chakra armor. A long sword materialized at its waist. With a surge of overwhelming chakra, the golden Susanoo stepped out of the sand like a descending deity.
Rasa leaped onto a platform of sand and rose into the air. He slapped a sealing scroll, and with a rustling sound, a torrent of dazzling gold dust poured from the sky like a waterfall.
Hah!
Rasa brought his hands together. The gold dust in the air hummed and rapidly converged, forming a gigantic, shimmering cube that glittered under the bright sun. With a wave of his hand, Rasa sent the massive cube hurtling toward Kawasaki's Susanoo.
Hmph! I don't care who you are, you won't escape death today! This gold dust cube is indestructible. Not even Shukaku can break it. I will see you buried beneath it!
Standing inside his Susanoo, Kawasaki felt a pang of annoyance. The "Tsukuyomi" option in his system had disappeared. The world he had just constructed was imperfect and hadn't lasted long enough. If the soft approach didn't work, he'd have to use force.
Kawasaki drew the Susanoo's blade and poured chakra and ocular power into it. The sword began to vibrate intensely. The Susanoo swung its weapon, a shimmering phantom layer clinging to the blade.
The chakra-forged sword, glinting with a cold light, sliced toward the gold dust cube.
Like a block of tofu, the cube was cleaved in two, the halves flying off in opposite directions and crashing into the desert, kicking up clouds of sand.
Rasa's eyes widened in shock. "It was cut in half! How can it be so sharp?!"
His chakra-infused gold dust was supposed to be unbreakable. He had always relied on the gold dust cube in battle, forcing his enemies to do nothing but dodge. But today, it had been split in two.
"That's a golden Susanoo! You're Kawasaki Uchiha!" Rasa exclaimed in disbelief. "Are you trying to start a war?!" He knew of the Mangekyo Sharingan's fearsome reputation. He'd heard that even Killer Bee of the Cloud Village couldn't withstand a single blow from it.
Kawasaki didn't answer. The Susanoo raised its sword high, stomped on the ground, and charged forward, kicking up a storm of sand. Rasa's sand platform was slow, and the distance between them closed rapidly.
Rasa waved his hands, and the fragments of the gold dust cube in the distance broke apart and flew back into the air. "Magnet Release: Gold Dust Drizzle!"
With a final shout, Rasa clapped his hands together, and the gold dust rained down on the Susanoo like a torrential storm. A series of dull thuds echoed as the gold dust relentlessly chipped away at the Susanoo's armor, but Kawasaki remained completely unharmed inside.
Kawasaki exhaled slowly and channeled his ocular power again. Boosted by the chakra of the Uzumaki clan, his Susanoo regenerated instantly.
Rasa was panting heavily. His chakra had already been low, and the surprise genjutsu attack had taken a heavy toll. His once-unbeatable gold dust cube had been shattered, and his massive Gold Dust Drizzle had barely scratched the surface. His chakra reserves were nearly empty.
As the Susanoo bore down on him, a look of despair crossed Rasa's face. How could he possibly fight this?
The Susanoo's hand reached out and seized him. With a gentle squeeze, Rasa's body dissolved into a pile of sand. A sand clone!
Kawasaki deactivated his Susanoo, his eyes darting around. He instantly detected a chakra signature hidden beneath the sand in the distance. With a series of quick steps, he threw three kunai, which plunged into the sand ahead.
Sssss... the sealing tags attached to them began to burn.