Young Obito Uchiha's mission was manageable. Though the number 6,000 was large, it wasn't completely outrageous. But for Adult Obito...
"What happened to the whole 'higher difficulty coefficient means greater societal impact' thing?!" Adult Obito roared. "Are you telling me I can complete an S-rank mission just by eating some red bean cakes?!!"
"The sheer magnitude of this number is truly unimaginable," Minato from the Kannabi Bridge Timeline observed, his expression conveying everything that needed to be said.
Naruto teased the boy next to him, trying to lighten the mood. "Your love for red bean cakes is stronger than my love for ramen! Damn it, I concede!"
Sasuke, however, wasn't having it. "Don't lose to this nonsense, you big idiot!"
Sakura, ever serious, asked, "Does this mission really have to be done by just him, Obito?" She was referring to the young Obito Uchiha.
Adult Obito glanced at his younger self, a thought crossing his mind. "What if we split it?"
"You want to split three hundred billion each?"
Young Obito quickly shook his head. "Thanks, but no thanks."
"There must be another way," he said firmly.
At that moment, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, suddenly spoke up.
"Forget about how much power it would take to make six hundred billion red bean cakes," he began, sighing as he looked at the others. "Have any of you considered how much space six hundred billion red bean cakes would take up if stacked together?"
The group fell silent, realizing they hadn't thought of that. For a brief moment, a look of bewilderment flashed across the eyes of Hashirama Senju, Team Kakashi, Team Minato, the Fourth Hokage Minato, and Yamato.
Tobirama, always the practical one, helped them visualize the magnitude. "Forget red bean cakes. Do you know how much space six hundred billion explosive tags would take up if stacked together?" Before anyone could ask, he answered, "Six hundred billion explosive tags stacked together could disguise themselves as an ocean of fire, capable of burying an entire ninja village."
"....."
The thought of burying an entire village under explosive tags sent a collective shiver down everyone's spine. They couldn't help but imagine the devastating scene.
"Tobirama, Tobirama, that analogy is terrifying!" Hashirama threw up his hands. "How do you even know six hundred billion explosive tags could bury an entire ninja village?"
Tobirama glanced at his older brother. "Have you forgotten I developed the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags? When I calculated the equations for more than ten explosions, the number of explosive tags already exceeded six hundred billion."
He continued, a slight pride in his voice. "In the process, to simulate the explosion range, duration, and intensity more accurately, I referenced more data. Six hundred billion explosive tags could keep exploding for at least ten minutes, with a blast radius more than three times that of a single Tailed Beast Ball."
As Tobirama spoke about the ninjutsu he had developed, the Second Hokage couldn't help but sound a little proud, his voice tinged with satisfaction.
"These records might still be in the Hokage's journal downstairs at the Hokage Tower. If you want to see them, you can go look."
No! I don't want to see them!!
The soul of Adult Obito trembled!
Six hundred billion explosive tags! The blast would overwhelm even his Intangibility! Six hundred billion red bean cakes—not just a lifetime's worth, enough for ten lifetimes! Gah!!
"Still, regardless, this is at least an SS-rank mission. We can't just give up without trying."
The Fourth Hokage Minato's words sent a chill down Adult Obito's spine.
"Starting today, all three of your daily meals will be red bean cakes."
"Naturally, you'll need to pay for the red bean cakes yourself."
Oh my god!!!
With the White Zetsu component already eliminating his need for meals, Obito Uchiha genuinely began worrying about whether he might develop constipation.
Additionally...
Should he just rob Kakuzu?
In any case, neither the young Obito nor the Adult Obito could complete their respective missions overnight. In fact, while the mission itself might seem simple, actually achieving that quantity was incredibly difficult.
Could it be they planned to stuff him to death with red bean cakes to complete Young Obito's SSS-rank mission? That's brutal!!!
...
Later, considering Adult Obito Uchiha's true identity, Fourth Hokage Minato handled him similarly to Itachi Uchiha, sealing half his Dōjutsu power. He was placed in the Missing-nin guesthouse next to Kakashi's residence.
To foster future harmony, the overly earnest Captain Yamato even held a welcome ceremony for the newcomer, following tradition.
"This is Obito Uchiha. He was once a comrade of Kakashi-senpai and a fellow student of the Fourth Hokage-sama. It's said he served in a behind-the-scenes role within the Akatsuki organization."
Itachi Uchiha: "..."
Kisame Hoshigaki: "..."
Zabuza Momochi: "..."
Haku: "....."
Kabuto: "....."
Yamato delivered his opening remarks with utmost solemnity.
"Having taken a few detours like all of you, he is temporarily housed in our Missing-nin guesthouse."
"I hope we can all get along amicably from now on."
Well, that was certainly true...
A bead of cold sweat formed on Yamato's temple. His Wood Release was constantly shielding Obito Uchiha from Zabuza's greatsword!!!
After all, aside from Kabuto Yakushi, everyone here had personal grudges against the 'Masked Man'!
"Enough, kid." Kisame Hoshigaki's shark-like eyes glared at Zabuza Momochi. "This guy is our Akatsuki boss, after all. You can't beat him."
Zabuza refused to back down. "He impersonated the Mizukage of Kirigakure, plunged the village into chaos—and you'd let him remain leader?!"
"Forget Kirigakure's politics. Do you think the ninja world's rules can be saved?" Kisame snorted. "I believe that destruction is creation."
Only the 'Masked Man' had been co-opted in the end—something he hadn't anticipated.
"What about Pain?" Kisame glanced at Itachi Uchiha beside him. "Akatsuki has fewer than ten members. Konoha has already absorbed three—including you, the mastermind behind it all..."
Obito Uchiha scratched his face, feeling slightly awkward.
The main issues were Black Zetsu and the cursed seals on his heart and Rin's heart.
"Let's just take it one step at a time for now."
Obito Uchiha had no real solution, but he knew he would eventually have to meet Nagato—after all, Yahiko's name was still in his resurrection notebook.
Silence fell. As experienced rogue ninjas, silence was their second nature.
Captain Yamato broke the awkward pause. "Now, all three of you—Itachi, Kabuto, and Obito-senpai—hold mission scrolls. Perhaps you could share your experiences?"
Itachi refused to reveal his mission.
Kabuto pushed his glasses up. "My S-rank mission is to benefit the Ninja World through the Edo Tensei technique—by hosting a ninja reunion festival!"
"You can use Edo Tensei?" Obito froze. Kabuto Yakushi's mission was remarkably similar to his own resurrection plan.
To revive the dead, two crucial conditions were needed: summoning souls back from the Pure Land using Edo Tensei, and the Rinnegan that Madara Uchiha had left with Nagato.
Kabuto: "Not yet. Only Orochimaru-sama can use Edo Tensei."
"No, the Second Hokage next door can also use it. You should ask him to teach you." Obito Uchiha: "There are a few people I want you to bring back using Edo Tensei."
Kabuto glanced at Yamato standing nearby. "Shouldn't we discuss this privately? Besides, wouldn't it be easier to just ask the Second Hokage?"
Obito: "You've been pretty idle here lately. The Edo Tensei I need requires superior control beyond the normal technique—ensuring that even the most powerful reincarnated can't defy the caster's commands or break free from the jutsu on their own."
"Oh my." Kabuto's glasses glinted under the light, hiding his expression. "Could it be that you want to reanimate Madara Uchiha?"
Obito Uchiha didn't deny it.
Captain Yamato's face went pale in shock. He immediately felt the need to inform Kakashi-senpai.
Itachi Uchiha remained firm in his refusal. "Do you really think you can convince him?"
The Madara Uchiha they had encountered during Konoha's early days was indeed impressive, but from the current intelligence, the Madara Uchiha of this era had become a power-hungry schemer, still plotting the Eye of the Moon Plan even in his old age.
"Whether we can persuade him or not," the Adult Obito said, "some things must be dealt with on his level."
Kabuto Yakushi shrugged. "I'm a Missing-nin from Konoha, currently a ninja in Otogakure. You'd have to convince the Second Hokage to teach me the Edo Tensei first."
"....." That was true.
It was indeed a problem.
"If you want to learn it, I could teach you just as well."
The sudden voice startled Kabuto Yakushi. Obito and Itachi, being stronger, had already sensed the person's arrival.
"Orochimaru-sama?"
The person who had arrived was none other than Orochimaru from the future, inexplicably left behind here.
With a feminine appearance so striking that even Jiraiya, who followed him, had once mistook his gender, Orochimaru had his long hair tied into a ball at the back of his head.
His eyes were narrow and slanted, his skin pale, and he wore light purple eyeshadow.
The Adult Obito Uchiha didn't hesitate. "Are you male or female?"
"Does it matter?"
"..." Obito: "No, it's none of my concern."
Orochimaru: "Enough with the pointless chatter. I can teach you Edo Tensei, but on the condition that I receive White Zetsu and Hashirama's cells."