The icy killing intent was almost tangible.
Mixed with the pungent smell of blood, it gnawed at the nerves of the young team.
Itachi and his teammates stood frozen, their faces drained of color—paralyzed by fear.
Obito observed the scene with satisfaction.
He wasn't in a hurry.
He wanted the terror to seep deep into their souls, especially Itachi's.
"What's wrong?"
"Your mission target is dead. Don't you know what to do next?"
"When faced with absolute danger, is freezing all you're capable of?"
"Let me make this clear... only one of you will leave here alive today."
His tone was casual, but the words were poison.
Fear had taken root.
Now, it was time for betrayal.
Watching a comrade turn against you—the helplessness, the hatred—was the finest nourishment for the Sharingan.
Losing someone hurt.
But a blade from a trusted ally? That was far deadlier.
He knew the feeling well.
His closest friend, his rival, the one he'd sworn to protect...
Had betrayed him.
Right before his eyes, just out of reach.
The death of a loved one, the betrayal of a friend—these were the nutrients that fed his Mangekyō Sharingan.
The fuel for his plan to reshape the world.
Now, he'd let Itachi taste it too.
The powerlessness. The fear. The agony of wanting to tear out your own heart.
"Ah! Itachi!"
One of Itachi's teammates suddenly drew his blade, stepping in front of him.
"I never got the chance to thank you for always looking out for us."
"A clan heir like you, stuck doing basic missions with commoners like us..."
"Today, let me return the favor!"
Courage.
It let the boy meet Obito's gaze head-on.
But all he found there was disdain.
"A fool driven by热血? Fine."
"This should be enough to awaken it..."
Obito's lips curled behind the mask as he slowly raised his sword.
In that moment—
A crushing wave of killing intent crashed over the team.
But then—
Obito's brow furrowed. His smug certainty flickered, replaced by irritation.
"Tch."
"Reinforcements?"
He turned toward the direction of Konoha.
Fast. But not many—just one person?
"I see..."
Recognition dawned.
Not reinforcements.
A little girl, rushing to her death.
He'd been frustrated before, unable to touch her under Orochimaru's watch.
What a coincidence!
Prey comes knocking.
How much power would your eyes gain, watching your beloved die before you?
Amused, Obito adjusted his grip on the sword.
Itachi saw her too.
A chill shot down his spine. His pupils dilated—terror spiking to its peak.
"Haruko!"
"Don't come any closer!"
His desperate cry tore through the air.
In a flash, he lunged with a kunai, ready to fight Obito head-on.
His mind went blank.
Fear, helplessness, worry, guilt—all forgotten.
Only one thought remained:
Stop him.
Make Haruko run.
He was closer.
The enemy would target him first.
Buy her time.
Obito noted Itachi's move but kept his blade aimed at Haruko.
Then—
After Itachi's outburst—
He changed his mind.
His goal was to awaken Itachi's eyes.
To plant the seeds of the Infinite Tsukuyomi in his heart.
The nourishment... was sufficient.
The girl could wait.
A sacrifice for another day.
"Before those eyes awaken fully..."
"Why not let you two grow together a little longer?"
A silent blessing.
And Haruko?
She was blessing Obito's ancestors too.
What the hell is this timing?!
They hadn't even left Konoha's territory!
Was he that impatient?
She'd planned to tail them discreetly, but the moment she sensed Itachi's location—
Obito's chilling presence had erupted out of nowhere.
She'd rushed here as fast as she could.
The good news? Itachi's Sharingan hadn't awakened yet.
The bad news? It was close.
That desperate cry—how frantic must he have been?
This trip felt like a net loss.
"Consider it prep for the future."
"Damn it!"
Haruko activated Shunpo in rapid succession, crouching low as she adjusted her breathing and tightened her grip on Senbonzakura.
Well, I'm here now.
Might as well test Obito's limits.
———— 🌟🌟 ————
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