Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 102: Obito Uchiha Feels Absolutely Miserable

"As long as you can defeat him..."

"You'll know whether I'm telling the truth or not."

Itachi Uchiha's expression gradually returned to calm. He was no longer surprised by Kakashi Hatake's newly revealed Mangekyō Sharingan.

"But..."

"Captain Kakashi."

"I can only give you the conclusion."

"The process of discovering the truth must be done by you alone. However, I can tell you some details about Obito Uchiha's abilities..."

"Apart from the Sharingan..."

"Obito Uchiha possesses the Wood Release bloodline limit."

"However, his Wood Release isn't particularly strong—about the same level as Captain Yamato's."

"But most importantly, Obito's Sharingan has evolved into the Mangekyō, just like ours, and it grants him a unique ability..."

Backed by Shigen's support and the intelligence he had provided, Itachi sold out Obito's secrets without hesitation.

"Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan ability is called Kamui. It allows him to shift his body into another dimension for up to five minutes, making him completely untouchable during combat. The only way to counter this ability is to attack him continuously for five minutes straight..."

"Aside from that..."

"Kamui also allows him to suck objects and enemies into that unique space."

"Kamui...?"

Kakashi fell silent, pressing a hand to his own eye.

He could sense something peculiar about his own Mangekyō Sharingan.

He too had an ability that could send objects into another dimension...

But...

This eye...

Had been given to him by Obito.

He didn't even need to defeat the masked man.

If he could confirm that the masked man's Kamui was connected to his own Mangekyō ability...

Then Itachi was telling the truth.

The truth was too shocking.

So much so that Kakashi didn't want to believe it.

"Remember."

"I can only provide the result."

"But you must uncover the reasoning behind it yourself, Captain Kakashi."

"That's all I have to say."

Itachi concluded, preparing to release his Tsukuyomi.

"Captain Kakashi has the Sharingan, so it's plausible that he could break free from my illusion. That should be enough of an excuse in front of Obito..."

"Wait."

Kakashi stopped him.

His mind was gradually recovering from the shock of learning that his former friend, Obito Uchiha, was alive.

Kakashi's gaze locked onto Itachi.

There was another answer he needed.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"..."

Itachi remained silent for a moment before answering,

"Consider it repayment for how you looked after me in the Anbu, Captain Kakashi."

"You're... thanking me?"

Kakashi's pupils shrank slightly.

If this were the Itachi from back when he was in Konoha, he would've believed him without hesitation.

But after the massacre of the Uchiha clan...

Kakashi found it hard to believe that Itachi would still harbor gratitude toward him.

Unless...

"Itachi..."

"The Uchiha clan's destruction..."

A chilling realization struck Kakashi.

His gaze bore into Itachi's eyes.

"What's the truth behind it?"

"..."

Itachi didn't answer.

Perhaps...

One day...

No.

Regardless of the future...

The truth of the Uchiha clan's demise had to remain buried.

For the sake of his younger brother, the truth had to stay hidden.

It was not something for the world to know.

"Then what about Anko?"

Kakashi pressed for another answer.

"Who was behind her abduction? If the masked man really is Obito, why are you two helping the one who took her?"

"It's not time yet."

Itachi sighed and shook his head.

"I will keep an eye on Anko Mitarashi's safety, but with just the four of you, you won't be able to save her."

"Wait—"

Kakashi had more to ask.

But the next moment—

The Tsukuyomi world shattered!

Itachi had no intention of revealing anything more to Kakashi.

He had once been under Kakashi's command. He knew his former superior was someone who cared for his comrades and could keep secrets.

He wouldn't press the issue in the real world.

Reality.

The masked man and Might Guy were still fighting.

In fact, their battle had just resumed!

Yet, somehow, the illusionary exchange between Itachi and Kakashi had already reached its conclusion.

Both men were kneeling on the ground, clutching their eyes in exhaustion.

"Kakashi!"

Guy immediately rushed to support him.

"..."

The masked man glanced at Kakashi, seeing that he seemed unharmed.

Only then did he look at Itachi and scoff.

"Looks like you lost to that weakling Kakashi after all..."

"I'm a little surprised."

Itachi, still covering one eye, spoke hoarsely.

"Captain Kakashi possesses a Mangekyō Sharingan as well."

"Kakashi!"

Guy crouched beside him, visibly concerned.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Kakashi shook his head, then looked at Itachi before slowly raising his gaze toward the masked man.

He removed the hand covering his left eye.

"!!!"

The masked man's expression changed drastically.

Kakashi's Sharingan...

Had transformed into a Mangekyō Sharingan!

And its pattern—

Was identical to his own.

Now...

There was no need for any further explanation.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is freewebnøvel.coɱ.

Two identical Mangekyō Sharingan spoke louder than words.

Especially when Kakashi already had Itachi's intel.

Kakashi locked eyes with the masked man, his expression eerily calm—like the stillness before a storm.

The masked man's gaze remained sharp.

He showed no sign of being shaken by the possibility of his identity being exposed.

After all, he had always known...

His past identity wouldn't remain hidden forever.

Or rather...

He never really cared about his past identity.

"How fortunate..."

Deep underground, Zetsu observed the unfolding drama.

"Humans must eventually face their past, Obito..."

Black Zetsu smirked, its voice laced with amusement.

It hadn't expected Itachi's Tsukuyomi to awaken Kakashi's Mangekyō Sharingan.

"But perhaps this isn't so bad."

"Facing your past might finally help you accept your true identity..."

If possible...

Black Zetsu wished Shigen were still here to witness this.

There weren't many things more entertaining than watching former comrades turned enemies—destined to confront each other.

Unfortunately...

Shigen had already left with Anko and returned to Amegakure.

He had no interest in watching a scene he had already foreseen.

In fact...

Everything had unfolded exactly as he had predicted.

He had anticipated that, due to the urgency of the situation, Itachi would have no choice but to recklessly reveal Obito's identity to Kakashi.

And once that happened...

The emotional turmoil would trigger the awakening of Kakashi's Mangekyō Sharingan.

Likewise...

Itachi had never considered...

That his actions had already been factored into Shigen's plans.

By revealing Obito's identity, Itachi had unwittingly drawn Kakashi into the web of greater truths.

Kakashi's desire to uncover the truth...

Wouldn't end with Obito.

He would begin to question everything—

The truth behind the Uchiha massacre.

Why his former comrade was still alive.

As the son of Sakumo Hatake, Kakashi had endured greater pain than his father ever had.

And that pain had shaped his unbreakable will.

More than anyone else...

Kakashi valued his comrades.

Especially now...

At a time when he had no bonds to rely on...

And a friend, long thought dead, had reappeared before him.

"Guy."

Though a storm raged within Kakashi's heart, his voice only grew calmer.

He stared at the masked man, then turned to his friend.

"Check on Kurenai and Yamato. Leave this to me."

"The enemy's body is difficult to hit..."

Guy hesitated.

But he knew—

When Kakashi spoke like this, his mind was made up.

He leapt away to check on the others.

"Hmph..."

The masked man scoffed.

He turned to Itachi.

"You step back too. I'll handle this."

"..."

Itachi silently retreated.

He had wanted to stay and use Amaterasu to secretly aid Kakashi.

But since Obito was so confident...

He would leave it in Kakashi's hands.

And now...

Everyone present, on both sides, was waiting for one thing.

To see if Kakashi could break the masked man's disguise—

And expose the truth.

"You're going to make your move..."

Zetsu's figure silently emerged from the shadows of a tree.

"That eye of yours..."

Kakashi's left eye stabilized into the pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan. He raised his fingers in front of him, mimicking the stance of a classic shinobi duel.

His voice was steady, but his expression turned solemn.

"I'm going to shatter the mask on your face."

"I want to see if the person behind it..."

"Is really the one I remember."

"Then prepare for disappointment."

The masked man's right eye glowed ominously, its Mangekyō Sharingan pattern spinning.

He raised his hand, mirroring Kakashi's stance.

His voice remained cold and arrogant.

"The person you long for has long been buried in the past."

"The memories you should have forgotten should never have stayed with you."

The next moment!

Both figures charged at each other at the same time!

The final clash of this pursuit mission had begun, orchestrated by the one who had woven the threads of fate.

But this time—

There was no turning back!

Like humans inevitably confronting their destinies, they clashed!

The masked man swung his fist, meeting Kakashi's punch head-on.

It was as if he had abandoned his eerie Kamui technique, opting instead for a brutal exchange of fists and blood!

Fists and legs collided in rapid succession.

Kakashi took a heavy kick to the stomach and was sent flying, yet he endured the pain and retaliated with a thrown kunai midair!

"Storm Release: Lightning Kunai!"

The kunai, infused with Storm Release chakra, moved in an unpredictable trajectory.

At the last moment, as it neared the masked man's face, it suddenly curved upward—

And slashed vertically down his mask!

"This guy..."

Instinctively, the masked man activated his Kamui, phasing his body to avoid the attack.

But at that exact moment!

Kakashi's Mangekyō Sharingan spun violently—

And the very kunai he had thrown vanished into his own Kamui space!

CRACK!

The sound of breaking echoed through the battlefield.

The kunai, absorbed into the alternate dimension, inexplicably materialized in the masked man's space—

And struck the surface of his mask!

The lightning chakra cut through the mask like a hot blade through butter, revealing the true face beneath it.

Under the broken mask...

Was a half-damaged, scarred face.

As Kakashi stood there, staring at the answer he had sought...

He finally had confirmation.

Even though he had already known the truth—

Even though he had braced himself—

His heart still trembled at the sight before him.

"Obito... it's you, isn't it?"

"..."

Obito Uchiha's expression remained indifferent.

He didn't seem the least bit concerned that his identity had been exposed.

Instead, he simply resumed forming hand seals.

"Wait... Obito?"

Might Guy was stunned by what he had just heard.

He turned to Kurenai, seeking confirmation.

"Is it really our old classmate, Obito Uchiha? I remember he died back then!"

After all...

They had once been classmates.

At the very least, Guy could ask for verification.

Kurenai, on the other hand, was a woman with keen intuition.

"He does resemble him... No, he looks exactly like him."

She focused on the partially revealed face beneath the mask.

Though still fatigued from her earlier genjutsu battle, she forced herself to recall memories from their academy days.

"A girl in our class once mentioned that Obito had a crush on Rin Nohara... but most of the girls thought he wasn't as handsome as Kakashi."

"There was something like that?"

Guy scratched his head.

Back in school, he never paid attention to such things.

He had only ever cared about one thing—

Competing with Kakashi.

"All I remember is that Obito was Kakashi's teammate. Then they were assigned to the same team. During the Chunin Exams, we always lost to their squad because we had to beat Kakashi first..."

"..."

Obito's face darkened.

Hearing his former classmates gossiping about his past—

He suddenly found it difficult to concentrate on forming his jutsu seals.

These idiots...

What the hell are they even talking about?

"Has our diversion mission been completed?"

Obito asked, his face cold.

"It should be done by now."

Itachi furrowed his brows slightly.

He wasn't entirely sure if their objective had been fulfilled, but with Obito's identity now revealed, his own task was definitely complete.

At the moment...

Obito looked extremely frustrated.

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance Chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates