Chapter Seven: War Meeting
Obito Uchiha was in a pretty good mood.
Perhaps he should not have been. Certainly, things could not be said to be going well. Their attempt to seize Killer Bee had been foiled. And judging from the reports, Danzo had been declared Head of the Allied Shinobi forces. It was a testament to just how poor the other options were.
Even so, now things were truly moving. Obito needed no longer concern himself with elaborate stealth. War was coming, and he'd have to win or die. His true identity, so far it mattered, had been revealed. So there was no more suspense.
Now came the fun part.
The command staff was sitting around a table. Sasuke was there as well since he was technically in charge of Suigetsu, Jugo, and Karin. Obito made a mental note to undermine his authority in preparation for his backstab.
"Well, we're all here, aren't we?" asked Obito.
"Where is Kisame? Or has he died as well?" scoffed Sasuke.
"Kisame is not a member of the command staff," said Obito as patiently as he could. "He is a soldier and will not be joining us today. Someone has to stand on guard, so we aren't taken by surprise.
"For now, we must discuss how best to wage this war." He pointed to the map. "Now, we are badly outnumbered. We have lost a significant portion of our standing forces. They have been forced out of our usual base of operations.
"The good news is that this base of operations is less central. It will take some time for the Allied Shinobi Forces to consolidate. Assuming they even successfully form up, the organization has not yet been ratified."
"Get to the point, Obito," said Sasuke, saying the name as if it gave him power.
Obito let it pass and reminded himself that Sasuke was a powerful asset. One who controlled other powerful assets. "Kabuto has mastered the Edo Tensei technique, and he assures me he may have improved it. He stands ready to resurrect many fallen warriors. Ones' DNA he had gathered to act as an army against the Shinobi World.
"Our priorities, for the moment, are severalfold. First, I will shortly undertake a diplomatic mission to the Land of the Rain. Konan broke with our organization when Nagato did, and I doubt I'll be able to get her back. Fortunately, she hates Lord Danzo far more than she does me.
"I believe I can convince her to keep the Land of the Rain neutral. This alone would significantly interfere with our enemy's logistics. Her country is the perfect place to move troops through.
"Second, we're going to do some last-minute recruitment. Several plans are already in motion to that effect."
"Why are you wasting time with this?" scoffed Sasuke. "It's going to come down to Naruto and me. None of these other guys matter at all."
At this moment, Kabuto, who was sporting a new set of scales, looked at Sasuke with an insulted look. A forked tongue came from his mouth in a hiss. "Oh, I see.
"So, after you've defeated Naruto you believed the entire world will seem bow before you without question? As if every single person alive is nothing before a single Uchiha? I see Orochimaru gave you little other than power."
"It doesn't matter what they do," said Sasuke. "Once Naruto is out of the way, none of the other clans can stand up against me. Everything your talking about is just filler. A sideshow to the main event."
How had he not been killed so far?!
Deidara had lost to this buffoon? No, no, remain calm and professional. Sasuke was disrupting the meeting like an unruly child. So, logically Obito should send him to his room. He'd have to manipulate him though; most children didn't have Amaterasu. "...Well then, since this is just a sideshow to you, I won't trouble you with it further. Sasuke, you may do as you like, and we shall continue the meeting without you.
"I bring your role in events to you."
Sasuke stood up and walked out with a scornful look. At one time, he'd appeared like a caged tiger, but now the same gait had become ridiculous. Obito sighed and realized his command staff had shrunk down to two people.
"You have a high tolerance for stupidity, Obito," noted Kabuto. "Lord Orochimaru at least found his tantrums endearing."
"The simple fact is that I need Sasuke," said Obito sadly. "Fortunately, I don't need him to be in the know, far from it. His need for instant gratification makes things far more convenient for me.
"For now, why don't we go pay a visit to one of our returning subordinates."
And that lightened the mood. The two of them walked out and into a shielded courtyard within the cave system. It had been lined with lead to stop a Byakugan, and what was inside it was a masterstroke.
There were bodies, dozens and dozens of bodies.
Yet they lived, after a fashion, and held the semblance of life to them. And the bodies were of some of the most powerful Shinobi to ever live. And Itachi Uchiha stood there, an older and adult version of his brother. Peaceful, even in death, in a stark parody of his blood-drenched life.
"Itachi Uchiha," said Obito. "Activate him."
Itachi's eyes opened, and they saw him. His gaze hardened just slightly. "Madara."
"Yes, me, me, me," asked Obito. "I must admit your actions have been an immense help. If you'd snapped Sasuke's neck and killed Orochimaru yourself, your side would have won. Or you could have settled for not mind raping him into submission.
"But enough of this."
Itachi stepped off. "What purpose is served by bringing me back?"
"Well, I've become aware of an opportunity," said Obito. "And I thought I might use that opportunity for a grand experiment. Unfortunately, I can't do it myself.
"No doubt you are in possession of the Izanami?"
"I am," said Itachi, who could not lie. "But the purpose of that jutsu will do you no good. It simply forces one to relive the same moment until they gain the power to move forward."
"Moving forward can mean many things," said Obito. "And I have in mind a new subordinate who has every reason to join me. Once I liberate his true disposition, he will join me willingly."
"You understand very little then," noted Itachi. "No one would support what you are doing if they were right of mind."
"One does not need to support a person's goals to take their side. Merely hate the other side more," said Obito. "I believe your life is a living testament to that concept."
At that point, Kisame entered. "Long time no see, Itachi."
"Kisame, I take it by your presence that my guess about you was correct," noted Itachi.
"Quite," said Kisame. "Pain wanted me to keep an eye on you and ensure you didn't go rogue. It's all very ninja-like. Someone can be a friend today, an enemy tomorrow. I'm interested in knowing myself. But suicide has never been my style.
"So I might as well try Madara's plan. The name you're using right now is Madara, right?"
"It is irrelevant," said Obito. "You may call me whatever you wish."
"Kisame, if this plan works, you will never know yourself," said Itachi. "You cannot understand yourself until you face the end." Then he turned to Obito. "What are your orders, Madara?"
"Do you know of Neji Hyuga?" asked Obito.
"I do," said Itachi. "The most talented Hyuga in a generation but a member of the Branch Clan. He is a major supporter of Naruto Uzumaki. What of him?"
"I want you to find Neji Hyuga and use an Izanami on him," said Obit. "Once you do that, escort him back to me. Willing or otherwise."
"You're wasting my talents," noted Itachi. "But I must obey you, so I shall."
"Go at once," said Obito. "Kisame, you will accompany him."
And they headed off. Obito and Kabuto then walked out to the outside courtyard and looked down at the forests. How peaceful the world looked when there were no people around to see it. Drawing up a stone, Obito looked to a pool or serene water. Skipping stones as he and Kakashi had once done while Rin watched, he saw the stone sink.
No dice.
"...So, what makes you so sure Neji Hyuga will come over to our side? And why is he worth the effort?" asked Kabuto.
"He is worth the effort because I am short-staffed, and he is a competent shinobi. One who has personal connections to Naruto Uzumaki," said Obito. "That will give him a certain advantage. I'm not sure of his true power, but he is clearly formidable. And his Byakugan alone could be of great use.
"If Itachi believes him to be formidable, he must be at least as good as Hidan."
"Far better," said Kabuto. "Hidan was stupid and only effective with Kakazu as a minder. I suppose he did kill Kidomaru, and that was years ago. However, most of his assignments have been somewhat inglorious, bandits and such.
"I wonder if the Main Branch is not trying to keep him out of the spotlight."
"I'm sure they are," said Obito, remembering with disgust the time he'd seen a Branch Clan member killed. What had it been for? Spilling wine, wasn't it?
"You didn't answer my first question," noted Kabuto. "I took Neji Hyuga to be one of Naruto's most loyal subordinates. He has everything to gain and nothing to lose by supporting him."
"On the surface, yes," conceded Obito. "Your assessment of who Neji Hyuga is quite accurate. But you must consider;
"What does he want?"
"You believe who he is and what he wants are in conflict?" asked Kabuto.
"I've read your reports, Kabuto," said Obito. "Would you care to tell me all the times you saw Neji act out of personal desire, in a way that could not be connected to duty?"
"Well, I suppose there was his beating Hinata to a pulp. Giving up against Naruto might have been one. Other than that, very little," said Kabuto. "All of my contacts indicate he is the picture of a consummate professional.
"Apparently, he plays the straight man in his group of lunatics."
"You can add one more," said Obito, remembering when he'd made the plan. "Murdering Killer Bee. Oh yes, it was technically part of the mission, but he knew Naruto would want him alive. And killing could cause problems.
"He might pretend it was vengeance for the Hyuga, but it was really for himself.
"Anything else?"
Kabuto considered things. "...Very little.
"Virtually all of his actions have been based around his missions. And he is the most professional. I took him to be a less socially disturbing incarnation of Kakashi Hatake."
"An accurate assessment," said Obito. "So, we have three critical moments where Neji Hyuga shows what he desires. In one, he beats his cousin to near death. In another, he gives up against Naruto after he promises to change the Hyuga.
And in the last one, he murders Killer Bee.
"What do all these situations have in common?"
"He can't suffer any consequences for them," realized Kabuto. "Hinata was fighting him in a match during the Chunin Exams, and casualties were allowed. He could suffer no legal repercussions, and the Main Branch would not care. During the fight against Naruto, he was better off losing after putting up a very good fight. If he'd won, he'd have become the bad guy. Better to become the loyal disciple and hope Naruto can actually come through for him.
"As for Killer Bee, the Akatsuki are a major threat again. Even if the Raikage wants him dead, Danzo will never cooperate. The Leaf Village will never hand one of their own over to him again. And Naruto wouldn't help either.
"Given the stakes, nothing will happen.
"He only shows his true colors when he's playing a game he can't lose."
"Right," said Obito. "Now, what does each incident tell us about him?"
"Beating Hinata down demonstrates that he has a deep hatred for his own clan," mused Kabuto. "Forfeiting against Naruto shows he has doubts about his ability to do it on his own. And murdering Killer Bee means he still holds a grudge against the Cloud.
"But I was there.
"I think we both know that Naruto Uzumaki has remedied the first two."
"Has he?" asked Obito. "Neji's actions could be the result of genuine repentance. But they could as easily be made by a devotee of enlightened self-interest. A repeat of the Hinata incident could get him killed. Naruto moving up the ranks and becoming Hokage could solve his problem.
"We don't know.
"And neither does he. Even if he were to sacrifice his life for the Main Branch, he'd never know why it was. It might just be because he was indoctrinated into it, no matter what they say about choice."
"I see," said Kabuto. "So you think that he has suppressed who he really is, because showing he is would get him killed? Interesting theory."
"Precisely," said Obito. "The Izanami was specifically designed for use on Uchiha. More specifically, ones who had gone rogue. Since the powers of the Sharingan rely on strong emotional connections. The use of the Izanami would change the person to be less destructive.
"But what if it were used on a dutiful, selfless individual. One who is suppressing years of impotent rage and bitterness?"
"This is a very nice idea, Obito," laughed Kabuto. "But I think we both know this little plan of yours is going to end with a tear-jerking final battle with Naruto. Right before Neji snaps out of it, and they all become friends against."
"You're a cynic," laughed Obito.
"Technically speaking, I'm an opportunist," said Kabuto. "What is your plan for that?"
"Simple enough," said Obito. "I'm just going to have Neji focus entirely on the Cloud Village and keep him as far away from his friends as possible. He's not that important, and even if we lose, the Cloud are a logical rival for the Leaf post-war.
"I'll just give him an opportunity to fulfill his grudge and dodge the whole tearjerker.
"Which reminds me, I have something else to do. The other one you brought, bring him back."
"Now?" asked Kabuto in surprise. "To what end?"
"You'll see," said Obito.
Kabuto and Obito moved over to a particular coffin, and within it stood a man with wild black hair. He wore red samurai armor. And as Kabuto made the hands signs, his eyes opened to reveal Rinnegan. Madara Uchiha. "...I am awake.
"So Obito, you've fulfilled your mission, but now how you should have. But where is Nagato, and why-"
"Bow down to me," said Obito.
And he had to do it, his knees buckling as he hit the ground. Madara's eyes widened. "What...
"You..."
"Prostrate yourself," said Obito.
And the man did so, as his feet. "You..."
"Who is your Master?" asked Obito.
"You... are..." gasped the man.
"Good," said Obito before turning to a door in the corner. "Get up and open that door over there."
Madara got up and moved over to it, fighting the whole act, and opened it to see what was inside. His shock only increased. "What is..."
"Take out the mop and bucket and get to work, Madara," said Obito. "You'll find a sink through the next. I want the floors in this place shining by the time I come back."
Madara whirled in a rage. "I am the God of the Shinobi! I demand-"
"Shut up," said Obito. "You will when spoken to.
"You warrant no exposition from me. Your plan might have been a good idea, but you only pursued it to satisfy your ego. Did you really think Nagato and I would simply allow you to take all the credit? After we did all the legwork, set everything in place, and suffered the losses?
"Get out over yourself.
"Do a good job here, and I may use you as a battering ram before I throw you away.
"God of the Shinobi.
"You're God of the Janitorial Division now."
And he and Kabuto walked out.
"...It's the simple things in life you treasure," noted Kabuto.
But they hadn't gone far before a shrill voice rang out. A redhead came around the bend. "Sasuke! Sasuke!"
"I thought I ordered you to stay in the box, Karin," said Obito.
"But I have to talk to Sasuke; where is he?" said Karin.
"Last I heard, pouting in his room," said Obito. "You can bring the matter to me."
Karin paused and then looked at him. "I've sensed a group of Leaf Ninja watching us. Jugo and Suigetsu want to go after them, but I thought we might want to take them captive.
"Those two aren't good at that kind of thing."
Obito nodded. "Good thinking, Karin.
"Very well. Order Suigetsu and Jugo to prepare to cut them off. I'll deal with them myself. That sensory ability of yours has proven invaluable twice now."
"Well, yes, I was pretty important in the Sound Village, you know," said Karin. "Orochimaru used me for all kinds of things."
"What can you tell me about our observers?" asked Obito.
"Well, there's a Hyuga, an Abarame, and uh... one of them feels like Orochimaru. Sort of," said Karin. "I guess it's Anko Mitarashi. I mean, she was the prototype for the Curse Mark, and she fought it out with Orochimaru in the Forest of Death."
"Ah, so she's here," said Kabuto. "She has been following me a long way. I thought I'd lost her a few times, but she always came after me."
"I see. Well then, we appear to have an opportunity," said Obito. "Kabuto, I want you to feign a pursuit, spook them and capture Anko Mitarashi. Her Curse Mark could be useable in some way. It is, technically, an extension of Orochimaru's will."
"And the others?" asked Kabuto.
"A message must get out to the Leaf. They'll relay that information, and we'll face a strike force," said Obito. "It shouldn't be that large. As far as they are concerned, our organization is on its way out. And so long as we remain here, we can guarantee and attack."
"What if they do hit us with everything they have?" asked Karin. "We can't take everyone in the world. Do you have some sort of huge army of white zetsu or something?"
"If I had something like that, don't you think I'd have used it earlier?" asked Obito. "No, I'm afraid we'll have to do this with tactics and strategy. You know, the sorts of thing you actually see in war.
"I do appreciate that this is a new concept to your team."
"We do plenty of strategies," said Karin.
"Such as?" asked Obito.
"Well, uh..." Karin paused. "Sasuke fights his opponent one on one, and we stay in reserve usually."
"He really hasn't used your full potential, has he?" asked Obito.
"Well, no matter. If the enemy forces are overwhelming, we'll fight as long as we can and then escape using my abilities. We'll sic Madara on them and run."
"Wait, that guy is Madara Uchiha?!" said Karin. "Why are you forcing him to mop floors?"
"My should our generations be the only ones forced to do D ranks," said Obito. "Do get to work, Kabuto. We can't afford to let them become too comfortable. Karin, go with him and observe; get me some combat data on all participants. I want to see how they do."
"Yes, sir," said Karin.
And she and Kabuto turned to head off.
"Oh, Kabuto," said Obito.
"Yes?" asked Kabuto.
"How many Leaf Ninja need to get away for our message to go through?" asked Obito.,
Kabuto smiled, and his serpent tail slithered. "Just one."
Then he sped off.
Zetsu sank down near him. "...So, do you want to talk to Sasuke or should I?"
Obito sighed. "I suppose I'd better take care of it personally.
"One has to keep your subordinates motivated." And he hurried down the passage before knocking on the door and opening it. "Sasuke, the meeting is over, and our plans are proceeding faster than we thought."
Sasuke was testing the weight of his sword and looked up. "Great.
"Now, what do you want?"
"Well, we've got a rather long and boring strategy going on right now," said Obito. And he remembered that he hadn't told Sasuke about Itachi. Then again, Sasuke had walked out of the meeting before he could. "But, I think you will enjoy your part of it. Lord Danzo, I think, has lived long enough."
Sasuke smiled. "Perfect."
Well, this would be tight for a bit, but Obito thought he could make it work.