The next day, in Snow Hidden Village, inside the fortress.
In the hall where Doto had once been captured alive, Obito sat casually on a chair, listening to reports from his subordinates.
"The above… are all the research projects that Doto commanded before his death," said a middle-aged man with glasses, bowing respectfully.
His name was Kazuya Mitsui, the lead researcher among the surviving scientists.
Obito tapped his fingers on the armrest, thinking for a moment, then spoke slowly:
"From now on, your primary focus will be the geothermal generator. Continue improving it and develop better technology as soon as possible.
"Also… don't neglect the chakra armor or transportation technology."
"Y-Yes, my lord!" Kazuya Mitsui stammered, nodding quickly.
"You will focus on these three technologies. That's all. Go and get to work."
"Yes, I shall take my leave, Lord!"
After Kazuya Mitsui retreated, Obito shifted his gaze to Terumi Mei, who was waiting nearby.
"How's the situation?" he asked casually.
"My lord, we have completely taken control of Snow Hidden Village. All information and records have been sorted out," Terumi Mei reported respectfully.
"Good," Obito said with a nod.
"From now on, your top priority is the safety of Koyuki. She must not have a single accident."
"Yes, sir! The guards in the Daimyo's residence are all our people, and the maids are all maidens from our clan handpicked and vetted. There will be absolutely no problem."
"Perfect."
Obito waved her off. "Go handle your duties."
"Yes, my lord!"
Once alone, Obito returned to flipping through the materials in his hand.
"Hmph… so in the end, these so-called Ice Release users in Snow Village are just water and wind users. Relying on this country's freezing climate, they can easily form snow and ice techniques, so they call themselves Ice Release experts.
"But outside the Land of Snow… they're just regular water and wind jutsu again."
He tossed the scroll aside, unimpressed.
And so, Obito officially moved his base to the Land of Snow, a country now fully under his control.
Unlike the Hidden Mist, where his influence remained in the shadows, this land was his openly.
Even with the Mizukage and the Three-Tails under genjutsu, if his existence were ever exposed, the Mist ninjas would immediately rebel.
It was also different from the Rain Village, where he was only in a fragile cooperation with Nagato and avoided interfering directly.
But the Land of Snow?
The daimyo was his puppet.
The ninja village was completely under his thumb.
Everything here belonged to him.
A month passed.
In the Land of Water, inside the Mizukage's office, Obito casually sat at Yagura's desk, flipping through a scroll he had found.
He'd originally come to renew the genjutsu on the Fourth Mizukage, but the contents of the scroll caught his attention.
"Interesting…"
It was a formal request for an armistice from Sunagakure.
Yes, an armistice.
Even now, Sand and Rock were locked in a prolonged war. Mist had only joined last year, turning the battlefield into chaos.
The Mist's location was too convenient, not only could they strike any of the other four nations directly from the sea, but it also forced their enemies to divide attention.
Obito preferred to keep the Mist Village busy. Letting them rest too long might allow them to recover, and that was the last thing he wanted.
Besides, there was an old blood feud between Mist and Rock, the Second Mizukage had died together with the Second Tsuchikage. And Mist never got along with Sand either.
So joining the war was perfectly natural, even without his meddling.
Obito's gaze drifted to a name in the scroll, and he smirked.
"Pakura…"
He remembered her from the anime.
In that timeline, she died in the Land of Water. Mist Village told Sand that if they wanted a truce, they had to send Pakura over to be executed as tribute.
And shockingly, Sand Village really agreed.
Betrayed by the very village she was loyal to… given away like a sacrificial lamb…
Obito shook his head with a quiet chuckle.
Damn, that's cold.
He tossed the scroll toward Yagura.
"Tell Rasa this: Pakura has caused massive damage to the Mist.
"If they want a truce, they can have it but in addition to the benefits they've already promised, there's one more condition."
His visible eye glinted playfully.
"Sand must send Pakura here, and you will execute her with your own hands… to satisfy the Mist's grudge."
Yagura remained expressionless as he caught the scroll.
Obito leaned back in the chair.
"Pakura was Rasa's rival for the Fourth Kazekage seat. I'm sure he'll happily send her to her death."
After all, in the anime… he's the one who handed her the mission that got her killed.
"Understood," Yagura said calmly.
Days later, inside the Sand Village council chamber, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa and the elders discussed the situation.
"Next… the armistice negotiations with the Mist…"
"The other side still harbors deep resentment toward our village. They have made an unreasonable demand… and they refuse to compromise."
"However, this is the decisive period in our war with the Rock. We must remove all distractions!"
The elders argued heatedly, but eventually, Rasa made the final call:
"There is no other way.
For the sake of the village… Pakura will have to sacrifice herself."
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