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Chapter 72: Thank You, Obito
🕑 Added 2025-02-23 10:23:27 +0000 UTCChapter 72: Thank You, Obito
Konoha — Root Headquarters.
Danzo stared at the report in his hands, his usually impassive face betraying a rare flicker of excitement.
"Shigaru Haruta… no, Senju Haruta?"
The news of Uchiha Obito’s appearance in Konoha had quickly reached him.
As the Hokage’s advisor, Danzo had access to — and influence over — most matters concerning the village.
Even when something didn’t require his direct involvement, if he wanted to interfere, he simply would.
When Obito appeared, Danzo didn’t mobilize Root. Why should his men die when the Anbu were already handling it?
Just like during the Nine-Tails attack — instead of rushing to the frontlines, he focused on what he believed was more important: keeping a close watch on the Uchiha clan and preventing them from making any moves.
It might seem foolish in hindsight, but who could say for certain that Obito wasn’t somehow connected to the Uchiha?
Still, Danzo regretted one thing — by not being there, he missed the chance to witness Haruta’s Wood Release firsthand.
But regardless, the battle report was detailed and now lay before him.
"Incredible… I thought only Tenzo possessed Wood Release. Who would have thought Haruta awakened it on his own?"
Danzo’s eyes flickered with thought.
There was a stark difference between power obtained through transplantation and power awakened naturally.
One was borrowed, the other innate — and the control each person wielded over those abilities was fundamentally different.
Haruta’s self-awakened Wood Release clearly held far greater potential.
Danzo wasted no time.
After learning of this revelation, he immediately dug into Haruta’s records.
However, there was little to uncover — Haruta was listed as a war orphan, the child of Konoha shinobi who had died in battle.
The records were vague, only confirming that both parents were Konoha ninjas. Beyond that, there was nothing.
This wasn’t unusual.
Konoha was only about 60 years old — its record-keeping had evolved gradually over time.
And during the war-torn years, gaps and missing information were common.
"As long as it’s confirmed he belongs to Konoha… though it’s a pity there’s no trace of any other living relatives."
Danzo's initial goal was simple — if Haruta awakened Wood Release, perhaps his blood relatives could as well.
But with no records of his extended family, that avenue was closed.
No matter.
What mattered now was securing Haruta’s loyalty — completely.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen locked him away under the pretense of training… keeping him within the Anbu's grasp. Not giving me even the slightest opening. How despicable!"
The moment Danzo thought about Haruta’s current situation, his earlier excitement vanished.
Wood Release was too important to Konoha.
If it weren’t, Hiruzen wouldn’t have personally taken Tenzo from Root.
Now, with Haruta mastering Wood Release, there was no way Hiruzen would let him slip away.
"But Haruta… he’s not like Tenzo."
Danzo's expression darkened.
Tenzo was a true orphan, raised entirely within Root — without any emotional ties to the outside world.
Haruta, however, had grown up in the orphanage — he had bonds.
And then there was the cursed seal Danzo had placed on him.
With these two things anchoring him, Danzo believed Haruta wouldn’t dare betray him so easily.
"Two others need attention — Uchiha Shisui… and Uchiha Obito."
Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan had shaken Danzo deeply — shock and desire clashing in his heart.
The Uchiha could not be allowed to wield such power unchecked.
A Mangekyo Sharingan only fueled their ambitions — it was the very kind of strength that could birth another Madara.
Danzo couldn’t tolerate such instability.
And then there was Obito… a Uchiha who could use Wood Release.
That revelation disturbed Danzo even more.
The power of the First Hokage had somehow passed to an Uchiha — an outrageous and unacceptable possibility.
"Obito must be eliminated immediately. A threat like him cannot be allowed to live."
Danzo’s mind was set.
Not only did Obito need to die — his corpse had to be recovered.
Studying Obito's body was the key to uncovering the secret behind his Wood Release.
And, of course…
"It would make transplanting those abilities into myself far easier. The strength of Konoha must remain within Konoha."
Danzo clenched his fist.
But then, a sudden thought struck him.
"Wait… according to the report, there was a large tree in Roran — created by Wood Release. Could it be…?"
He quickly deduced that it was likely Obito who had gone to Roran — probably to steal its power.
However, his mind shifted again.
Attacking Roran and drawing its strength… in a way, wasn’t Obito helping Konoha?
After all, Haruta’s negotiation with Suna had succeeded, and that might not have been possible without Obito's actions in the shadows.
A cold smile crept onto Danzo’s lips.
"Hmph… seems I should be thanking you, Uchiha Obito."
—
In the Anbu Headquarters, Haruta sat on a bed in a private room, grinning at Yugao, who wasn’t wearing her mask.
"You’re the one doing my check-up today, Yugao?"
"You’re supposed to use my code name during work hours… and don’t you usually call me 'senpai'?"
"But didn’t you tell me to stop calling you that?"
The corner of Yugao’s mouth twitched.
After meeting with the Third Hokage last night, Haruta had been assigned to stay in the Anbu’s quarters — along with Shisui.
Compared to Root, the Anbu’s accommodations were practically luxurious.
In Root, everyone slept in crowded rooms — mats on the floor, no privacy.
Here, Haruta had his own bed… and even his own room.
A massive upgrade.
He had planned to sleep in, only to have Yugao knock on his door, waking him up for a medical examination.
It made sense — Yugao had trained with the Medical Corps and was also part of his squad.
"This is work — use code names. How many times must I tell you?"
Yugao sighed but didn’t push the issue further.
She placed her hand on Haruta’s chest, her chakra glowing green as she began her check-up.
But after a moment, she couldn't help but sneak a glance at him.
"I still can’t believe it… you can use Wood Release. That’s incredible."
"Eh, it’s not that special. Tenzo has it too."
Haruta smirked, then casually placed his hand over Yugao's as she examined him.
"What are you doing?"
Yugao flinched, startled.
Haruta, with a deadpan expression, replied, "Senpai, your hand is cold. It’s uncomfortable."
"...You—"
She thought about pulling her hand away, but the examination wasn’t done.
Glaring at the ceiling, Haruta hummed a tune, clearly enjoying himself.
Yugao could only sigh.
"Just keep still. If the scan’s inaccurate, it’s your loss."
"Of course, of course."
Satisfied, Haruta finally settled down.
But his mind wasn’t on the check-up — it was on his system interface.
—
[Insight into Yin-Yang Release Training]
At first, Haruta was confused by the reward.
Wasn’t this the method Uchiha Madara taught Obito to control Yin Release and Yang Release?
But Haruta already possessed both — he had long since grasped them, able to use them at will.
What good was an "insight" now?
After dealing with the Third Hokage and moving into Anbu, he had put the reward aside.
But now… looking closer… he realized he had misunderstood.
"This… isn’t Obito’s insight — it’s Black Zetsu’s."
Madara and Black Zetsu had always held back information from Obito.
He only ever learned incomplete versions of their techniques.
But Haruta's reward was the full version — including crucial knowledge about combining Yin and Yang Release.
That… was what mattered most.
"Yin-Yang Release…"
Haruta’s eyes gleamed.
Even if he couldn’t merge them yet, having the formula was everything.
When the time came, he’d have the blueprint — just like with Wood Release and Scorch Release.
He could copy the formula and master it effortlessly.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
"Looks like I really should thank you, Uchiha Obito."
…
