Chapter 27: With a Weakness That Obvious, He's No Threat to Me!
"Plans after revenge?"
What did Pain mean by asking him that?
Given how extreme he'd become, it didn't seem like a question Pain would normally consider.
What had caused this change?
Could it be… me?
That's unlikely, right? Uchiha Yi thought. He'd only been in contact with Pain for two or three months. That was hardly enough time to build a bond, let alone change someone who was as cold and closed-off as Pain.
Uchiha Yi never considered himself charismatic enough to influence someone like that. If he did have such an effect, the Uchiha clan might not have been wiped out.
Back then, he had tried to speak with key figures like Fugaku Uchiha and even Itachi to alter the clan's fate, but they hadn't paid him any mind.
Even without formal training in psychology, he could tell from their expressions what they thought of him, as if to say, "Do you really think you have any place here?"
That experience taught him that reality was far more complicated than he'd imagined.
Knowing characters' personalities, backgrounds, and future paths didn't guarantee influence over them.
So he had let go of any idealistic notions of helping people and resigned himself to respecting their choices.
But now, seeing this different side of Pain (Nagato) piqued his curiosity.
After a moment's thought, he replied confidently.
"After revenge, when all my enemies are dead, of course, I'll enjoy my life."
"What else would I do?"
His straightforward answer left both Pain and Konan, who was observing from the shadows, speechless, unsure how to feel.
Unlike them, his answer reflected no bitterness or resentment; instead, it was an optimistic, positive outlook on life after revenge.
By comparison, Pain and Konan had been trapped in hatred, consumed by darkness, becoming the very things they once despised.
They often questioned if what they were doing was right. Was this what Yahiko would have wanted?
But just as quickly as the doubt appeared, it faded away.
A few words from Uchiha Yi weren't enough to make them waver from their path—though they couldn't help feeling a bit reflective.
"Tomorrow, we continue."
Pain left after coldly delivering those words.
"Got it!"
Uchiha Yi nodded, feeling relieved.
Even though Pain still kept his distance, his willingness to discuss this showed that Yi had managed to earn some level of acknowledgment.
That acknowledgment would determine whether he could truly learn from Pain.
If Pain halfheartedly taught him, he wouldn't get the help he needed to improve in taijutsu.
This exchange didn't go unnoticed by the ever-present Zetsu, who quickly relayed the information to the others, including Uchiha Obito, who was wreaking havoc in the Hidden Mist Village.
"That guy is that bad at taijutsu?"
Obito was shocked when he heard the news.
"The information is solid," Zetsu confirmed. "This has been going on for a while. His poor taijutsu skills don't seem like an act."
Obito found it hard to believe. "How could his taijutsu be so weak if he's so strong in ninjutsu?"
"As absurd as it sounds, it's the truth," Zetsu replied confidently.
"If that's the case, he poses no threat to me!"
With Zetsu's reassurance, Obito laughed in contempt.
Facing an unknown Uchiha, possibly with a Mangekyo Sharingan, had been unsettling. Especially since their first encounter had cost him an eye, forcing him to use Izanagi to escape.
This had led Obito to consider Uchiha Yi a potential threat to the Moon's Eye Plan.
But to learn of such an obvious weakness in his opponent put Obito at ease.
Even so, he remained cautious. "He might still have the Mangekyo Sharingan, so I'll keep that in mind. But with a weakness like this, he's less of a concern."
"By the way, can you find out who he really is?"
"No idea!" Zetsu replied. "The Uchiha clan had a lot of members. When you destroyed the bodies, some were left unaccounted for. Besides, Danzo was also collecting Uchiha corpses and Sharingan."
"Then forget it," Obito shrugged. "A guy like that isn't much of a threat to me anymore."
"Just remember not to lose sight of Madara's plan, Obito," Zetsu warned. "Don't go overboard and end up killing the Three-Tails Jinchuriki. It'll be a hassle if we have to wait three more years."
Zetsu was aware of the chaos Obito was causing in the Hidden Mist and why he was doing it, but he had no intention of intervening.
As long as the Three-Tails Jinchuriki survived and the Moon's Eye Plan wasn't affected, Zetsu didn't care if Obito destroyed the Hidden Mist.
But he felt a reminder was necessary so Obito didn't get carried away and accidentally kill the Jinchuriki.
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
Obito sounded irritated, though only he knew how seriously he'd take the warning.
After Zetsu left, an idea struck Obito's mind, a new way to stir up trouble in the Hidden Mist.
Smiling, he manipulated the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, Yagura, to issue a decree under the Fourth Mizukage's authority.
It wasn't long before bloodline clans began pushing back, especially the impulsive Kaguya clan, who were nearly driven to extension.
---
{please give this novel 5 Star review and power stone}
*Thank you*