AN: Sorry for lack of updates, life gets in the way of everything it seems.
Thanks for sticking around despite that fact!
Chapter Nine: Iwa
. . .
"You want me to go to Iwa." Hiruzen deadpanned from his seat across from Fugaku, who nodded, making the old man huff. "And here I thought you just wanted to share a cup of tea…" He grumbled.
"The Kage Summit is fast approaching, and you are the only shinobi that Onoki has any real respect for." Fugaku began. "As such, I need you to invite Iwa to the Summit, further, I'd like you to broach the topic of an alliance." He continued as Hiruzen snorted.
"I've tried making an alliance with Iwa many times. Onoki will not listen." The old man said bitterly as he recalled the many hostile interactions he had with his fellow Sandaime.
"Then maybe it is time for him to retire…" Fugaku stated calmly, making Hiruzen raise a brow as the Godaime passed him a black folder.
Opening the file, Hiruzen leafed through the documents with a slowly tightening face.
"If any of the other villages discover this, there will be war." Hiruzen stated with a calm edge as he placed the folder on the desk.
"The Mizukage is half Uzumaki, and Rasa has never had favorable relations with Iwa. Finally, the Yondaime Raikage is very agitated by Iwa as of late, and only ever kept the alliance out of respect for his father, who was friends with Onoki– or so says A's secretary, who Obito sees quite frequently." Fugaku revealed, making the old man sigh.
"And the unrest it would cause for Iwa's population? I doubt they will turn over and let this happen, even with Onoki being gone." Hiruzen posed.
"According to reports, Iwa shinobi and civilians alike are dissatisfied with the Tsuchikage. Their way of life has taken a severe downturn after the third war, and they blame Onoki." Fugaku explained. "Of course there are loyalists, but they are by far the minority." He finished as Hiruzen sat contemplatively.
"Will you send Jiraya?" The Sandaime asked after a minute.
"He is in Amegakure." Fugaku said simply, making the man's wrinkled face tighten with worry.
"I see…" He breathed. "Any luck on retrieving Tsunade?" He asked distractedly while playing with his goatee.
"She has killed every summons sent to her, and severely injured the last chunin I sent to speak with her. I have not yet labeled her a missing nin out of respect for you, and the Shodai." Fugaku answered with an edge that made the Sandaime slump.
"Thank you for that mercy, Hokage-sama." Hiruzen said with a bow of his head as he thought about the atrocities that caused Tsunade's current state.
"If you believe Onoki will refuse peace talks, then there is no reason to send you to Iwa." Fugaku began as he grabbed the yellow folder. "I will alert Obito of his mission, dismissed." He finished.
Bowing his head once more, Hiruzen got to his feet and left the office, feeling relieved that he no longer had to make these decisions…
. . .
"Assassinating the Tsuchikage, huh? That's pretty big." Obito commented as he read the file. "Standard natural causes op, easy enough. What's not easy, is ensuring that big and ugly here is made Tsuchikage." He continued while flicking the paper.
"It is my understanding that 'big and ugly' is not a fan of Onoki. Tell him of the coming power vacuum, and he may take the reins freely…" Fugaku trailed off.
"And if not, give him an eye-swirly, and make him do it anyway." Obito sighed, before huffing out a laugh. "Y'know, I thought I was done overthrowing governments…"
"We both know what is coming, Obito. We cannot waste time dealing with Onoki's pettiness right now." Fugaku returned, making the scarred Uchiha frown seriously.
"I know, don't remind me." He grunted, before sighing. "It'll be done by morning." He said, making the Godaime nod.
Giving a lazy salute, he disappeared in a swirling vortex.
. . .
Appearing in his room within the Uchiha Compound, Obito flopped backward onto his bed.
"That bad, huh?" A comforting voice sounded as soft fingers combed through his hair.
"Oh, you know how it is. Just gotta assassinate the Tsuchikage and ensure the title of Yondaime goes to who we want." Obito revealed.
Smiling slightly, he looked over to see Mabui's eyes wide in shock.
"Not my first time." He continued easily as he grabbed her hand and kissed it softly. "Anyway, I gotta prep, it needs to be done tonight." He said while getting to his feet.
"You know I have to tell A-sama, right?" Mabui stressed as she sat up, holding the sheet to her chest.
"I figured." He shrugged as he opened his closet. "But he'll understand. He knows what's coming. Onoki will just get in the way." He explained while grabbing a sealing scroll full of supplies.
"Yes, he will understand, but you can't make a habit of this. Killing every person that gets in your way isn't how you bring peace." She worried while putting on her top, her words making Obito sigh tiredly.
"We aren't uniting the Great Five for peace, Mabui-chan, you know this." He said while turning to face the woman as she put on her skirt.
"I do, but that doesn't mean the peace we bring as a byproduct isn't real." She countered. "We need the Great Five to be unified for what's coming, but that doesn't mean we should kill everyone that opposes us to get there. We may need their help in the future." She continued.
"Believe me, we know. And we have that covered, thanks to the Nidaime Hokage." He smiled knowingly as he approached and pulled her close.
"And you won't tell me?" She asked with an expectant brow.
"Now where's the fun in that? You're the Spy-bassador here, not me, I can't give you all the secrets." He teased while resting his head against hers.
"I suppose I'll have to do some digging then…" She smirked before moving in for a kiss– and falling through her target as he cackled.
"Now~ now~ I'm more than my body you know!" He tutted as she huffed with a smile. "Maybe try dinner first. Tomorrow night, I know just the place. Goodnight Mabui-chan!" He grinned before swirling away, leaving the exasperated woman alone in his room.
. . .
Looking at the striped mask in his hands, he wished he could just throw it away. Unfortunately, the anonymity it brought was something he greatly needed, and the mysterious reputation it held didn't hurt either.
Sighing lightly, he brought it up to his face, and kamuid away.
Appearing on the edge of a calm wood, he saw the large man sitting beside a small fire that illuminated the otherwise dark clearing containing his camp.
Slowly unmasking his presence, Obito watched the man's head snap up as the furnace on his back came roaring to life.
"Peace, my friend." Obito said, mimicking Madara's voice as he entered the clearing with his hands raised. Predictably, his words had no effect.
"Who are you." He demanded, making Obito hum.
"Who am I? I am merely a messenger, a bringer of good news, if you will. Of course, it is completely up to you whether or not you see this for the opportunity it is, or the travesty others will think it to be…" Obito said smoothly, smiling beneath his mask at how tense he was making his new friend.
"If a message is all you bring, then relay it and be on your way." The man glared.
"Straight to the point then… very well." Obito began as he clasped his hands behind his back and looked in the direction of Iwagakure. "The Sandaime Tsuchikage's life will end tonight." He stated, smirking at the conflicting emotion on his new friend's face.
"His backstabbing ways have come full circle… but this leaves a significant void, one that can only be filled by someone of sufficient power. You are the only true option, Han." Obito said while turning to look the Gobi jinchuriki in the eye.
"I cannot become the Tsuchikage." Han glared bitterly.
"Can't you?" Obito returned. "You are the grandson of the Nidaime Tsuchikage, and your power reflects that, even without the five tails. In this harsh world, power is all that is respected. Show your own, and people will follow." He smirked as his words began having the desired effect.
"Why not Roshi?" Han asked. "He is the nephew of the Shodai, and is powerful as well."
"True, but he lacks an open mind. He is set in his ways, unlike you." Obito answered. "A kage must be willing to change, otherwise things stagnate, much like they have under Onoki." He explained as Han eyed him carefully.
"And what's in it for you?" Han questioned, making Obito give a chilling laugh.
"My plans are much bigger than you can imagine. All that matters is the unity of the Great Five… something that is impossible with Onoki as Tsuchikage." Obito said cryptically, making Han squint at him.
"You're the reason for the changes in Konoha." The man deduced, making Obito hum.
"I simply gave the Godaime Hokage pertinent information… information I'd give to you upon your ascension." He responded. "For now, just know that larger things are at play, bigger than the Great Five, and the Elemental Nations.
"Now then, I have a prior… engagement. I hope to see you at the coming Summit, Tsuchikage-sama." Obito smirked before swirling away, leaving a conflicted yet determined man in his wake.
. . .
Keeping his presence suppressed completely using kamui, Obito crept upon the sleeping Tsuchikage, and grabbed a sealing tag from his hip pouch, courtesy of that young Hyuga prodigy.
Placing it on the old man's head, he watched with interest as Onoki's eyes snapped open and locked onto the glow of his spinning sharingan. Slowly, half of the Sandaime's face slackened, and fear danced in his eyes before his body locked up and began to spasm as foam leaked out of his mouth.
Less than a minute later, his body stilled… The Sandaime Tsuchikage was dead.
. . .
AN: Bit of a short one, it ain't much but it's an honest work.
Recap!
Mabui x Obito, I like it. Figured Tobi deserves some happiness. Ah~ the power of therapy.
Yes, Mabui is a spy, but so is Obito. They tell each other pertinent information, and as Kumo and Konoha are allies, it's all chill.
And the Nidaime's jutsu? Which one??? hm...
Onoki be a dead man, and Han is the Tsuchikage!
Next time!
Konoha