With Konoha's bounty issued, the entire Shinobi World was shaken. News spread like wildfire that three Konoha Elders had been taken out by Obito Uchiha, who had supposedly stolen the Scroll of Seals from the village. Furthermore, the report claimed Obito had been controlling the Fourth Mizukage, finally explaining the cause behind the Hidden Mist Village's brutal purges.
Obito now carried a staggering bounty of one hundred million. This was an unprecedented price for the bounty hunters' association; anyone who managed to kill him would be set for life.
As the saying goes, "with a heavy reward, brave men will surely emerge." Numerous bounty ninjas were stirred by the one hundred million reward and the lure of the Scroll of Seals. They flocked toward the Hidden Mist Village. Other villages, including Konoha itself, dispatched ninjas to the Hidden Mist as well.
Some ninjas sought the wealth, but the majority were after Konoha's Scroll of Seals. If they could get their hands on it, they could master Konoha's many secret techniques, making it far easier to deal with the Hidden Leaf in the future.
Kirigakure, the village at the heart of the storm, immediately launched an investigation into the Fourth Mizukage upon receiving the news. They discovered that the Mizukage was indeed being controlled. A massive battle broke out within the Hidden Mist as they moved to neutralize him. After sustaining heavy casualties, they finally managed to seal and contain the Fourth Mizukage, but Obito had long since fled.
On a deserted island in the Land of Water, Obito had removed the one-eyed mask from his face. His expression was hideously contorted. "Damn it! How did Konoha find out my identity? My plan has failed before it even properly began."
While Obito was spiraling into a rage, a black and white pitcher plant-like figure emerged from the ground. "I had White Zetsu investigate Konoha," Black Zetsu said. "Someone impersonated you. They killed the three elders, as well as Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha. On top of that, they took the Sharingan you left with Kakashi."
"The imposter possesses an ability very similar to your Mangekyo Ocular Jutsu. Because of that, the people of Konoha are absolutely convinced it was you."
"Damn it, who the hell is this guy!" Obito had always been incredibly proud of his Mangekyo ability. With its power, he could orchestrate endless conspiracies and even pose as Madara Uchiha in front of Nagato. But now that his eye's ability was exposed, the Shinobi World would surely develop counters against it.
Moreover, his other Mangekyo had been stolen. Although he didn't know the specific Ocular Jutsu of that eye, it was bound to be linked to his current one perhaps it even acted as a direct counter. The opponent already possessed uncanny methods; if they obtained his other eye, they would become his absolute nemesis.
"I need to know have you found out the identity of this imposter?"
"We haven't," Black Zetsu shook his head. "To be honest, Obito, if you hadn't been with me recently, I truly would have believed it was you. The abilities are identical, and he knows far too much. Most importantly, he told Konoha that the reason he did all this was for Rin."
"Rin!" Hearing that name, the madness on Obito's face froze. It was such a warm name. If what Black Zetsu said was true, then this person understood him far too well. The reason he had become so crazed was precisely because he had lost Rin. If she were still alive, he wouldn't be the man he was today. It was her loss that had driven him to despair over this wretched world.
But how could that person possibly know about that? Neither Black Zetsu, White Zetsu, nor Madara Uchiha would ever speak of such things. So who was this person? Why did they know? Could it be that he really was another version of himself? A version from another world? But if it were another version of himself, why do this? Didn't he know that by doing this, the plan would be ruined, and there would be no way to give Rin a perfect world?
Did that person think that by killing Shisui, Itachi, and the three elders and stealing the Scroll of Seals, he was invincible? While Kamui was indeed powerful, it wasn't without its flaws. "If you want to go looking for death, that's fine, but don't drag me into it, you bastard!"
At this moment, besides screaming in frustration like a frantic marmot, Obito had no other recourse. After all, even with a massive search by White Zetsu, the person couldn't be found; he certainly couldn't find them himself.
With the entire Shinobi World now his enemy, Obito had no choice but to retreat dejectedly to the Land of Rain for safety.
"I always knew you weren't Madara Uchiha, but no matter how I looked, I could never find your identity. I didn't expect your real self to be a 'dead man.' No wonder I couldn't find anything before," Konan said with a face full of mockery as she watched Obito slink back into the Land of Rain.
"You certainly are brave, running off to Konoha all by yourself to kill two kinsmen and three elders before making off with the Scroll of Seals. Why didn't you just bring back the Nine-Tails while you were at it?"
Hearing Konan's words, Obito's face turned grim. "That wasn't me. I don't know where that guy learned my identity or how he has the same abilities as me."
"If it wasn't you, then how could his abilities be identical to yours?"
"How should I know!"
Konan wanted to say more, but she was interrupted by Pain. "Enough, Konan. Since his identity has been discovered, there's no need for him to hide in the shadows anymore. Let him become a formal member of the organization."
Obito did not object to Pain's words. Previously, he had hidden behind a veil of mystery, allowing him to act as he pleased. But now that mystery had been stripped away by that unknown bastard. To realize his inner plan and activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi, he had to swallow his pride for now.
While most people in the Shinobi World were hunting for Obito, Qiu Xia was busy cultivating. Things were different for him now. Previously, he had cooked his own meals, but now, seeing his Origin grow daily, he was in high spirits. Every time he ate, he went to Ichiraku Ramen.
The ramen at Ichiraku Ramen was exceptionally delicious. Even though Qiu Xia had tasted many fine delicacies in his previous life and had eaten plenty of ramen, nothing could compare to the bowls served at Ichiraku.
Thus, Qiu Xia decided that after finishing his ramen at Ichiraku, he would head elsewhere to continue his meals. He wasn't going to simply sit on the vast amount of Origin he had collected during this time.
Once he had accumulated a sufficient amount, Qiu Xia decided to deduce a new skill. His target was his Visualization Method. With the activation of the deduction function, the Origin he had collected began to drop rapidly. The Visualization Method in his mind started to undergo adjustments and modifications. At first, it was just the Visualization Method being refined, but later, the Qi Refining Technique and Saint's Theft were integrated into it.
As the Visualization Method was being deduced in his mind, the mana within Qiu Xia began to circulate, flowing throughout his entire body. It began to punch through one acupoint after another. The mana that had been concentrated in his dantian began to diffuse into the acupoints of his entire body.
Once it reached all his acupoints, Qiu Xia's ability to devour Astral Power leaped by several levels. A portion of the devoured Astral Power merged into his Sea of Consciousness to polish his Divine Soul, while another portion integrated into his acupoints. The remainder was used to open even more new acupoints.
Qiu Xia remained in this state of seclusion for half a month before finally waking up. It was fortunate that he rarely went out normally; otherwise, such a long absence would have surely drawn someone to check on him. While the Uchiha were xenophobic, they generally maintained a level of goodwill toward their own clansmen.
After completing his cultivation, Qiu Xia felt as if he had been reborn. His already formidable physique had improved by several grades. Furthermore, every single one of his original and newly opened acupoints could now store mana. His mana capacity had grown several times over in an instant. Even a Celestial Master likely didn't possess as much mana as he did now.
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