How to Survive as an Uchiha

Unlike the stoic face beneath Obito's mask, Yagura was genuinely pleased.

Even though his allies fell silent after witnessing Susanoo, he couldn't hide his smile.

"The white giant... it's on our side!" a veteran Kiri ninja shouted.

The Kiri ninjas were also delighted. So, it turned out this behemoth was an ally. Their cheers echoed through the battlefield.

"Hold positions! Maintain the perimeter!" a squad captain barked, organizing the forces.

On the other hand, the Kaguya's expressions were twisted in anger and frustration. The arrival of another monster-class fighter had crushed what little hope they had left.

Masashi paid no attention to the myriad of expressions around him.

He stepped boldly into the battle zone between Yagura and Obito, each step of the Susanoo sending tremors through the ground.

Gesturing at the distant Kiri ninja army, he made a shooing motion, like chasing away chickens.

"Don't get in my way."

The Kiri ninjas showcased an exemplary willingness to comply, retreating even further than they already had. After all, no one wanted to be accidentally squished by the towering chakra construct.

The Kiri ninjas had already pulled back considerably when Yagura unleashed his full tailed beast form. And now, with the arrival of yet another giant figure, they didn't need Masashi's orders to decide to retreat further.

However, as they retreated, they maintained a tight encirclement around the Kaguya clan's territory. They ensured no one from the clan had any chance of escape.

It was necessary. No one had ever looked favorably upon the women of the Kaguya clan.

After all, the clan's famous motto was: "Eat more! Or you'll have no strength!"

The women of this clan were indistinguishable unless they spoke; otherwise, no one would guess their gender.

In the battle zone, Masashi, controlling his Susanoo, approached Obito.

"It's time to come back with me."

"Are you joking?" Obito sneered, cursing inwardly. That bastard Black Zetsu. If he hadn't threatened me, I'd expose all his schemes right now.

What was Black Zetsu's deal with trusting Masashi so much? Did he really believe this guy was a devoted fan of Madara?

Even if he was, so what? He was Obito!

"This world is nothing but lies and deception. The ninja system, the villages, they're all part of an endless cycle of hatred. Don't you understand that only through my plan can true peace be achieved?"

"I never joke," Masashi said seriously. "And don't start spouting philosophy at me. Since when have you been so self-righteous? Neither of us are that kind of person."

"This has nothing to do with self-righteousness," Obito replied. "The ninja system is rotten to the core."

"Then why were you shouting about becoming Hokage back in the day?" Masashi retorted, reminding him. "And didn't you say the White Fang was a hero? Those were your words."

"Yes, I said it." Obito's voice grew colder, chakra swirling dangerously around him. "He was a hero. Which is why Konoha is broken, and so is this entire ninja world."

"Broken? Then why not become the Mizukage?"

"I don't give a damn about being Kage! Who would want that job? If you don't understand me, forget it!"

"Obito, you've changed. You're so crude now..." Masashi sighed. "But if you'd been a bit more reckless back then, you and Rin could've had kids in school by now."

At Rin's name, a bloody glint appeared in Obito's lone eye. The air around him grew thick with killing intent. "You, who still serve Konoha like a pawn, have no right to mention her name."

Masashi's gaze turned equally dangerous. The Susanoo's chakra flared in response to his anger.

"It's been a while since we sparred. How about a match?" The Susanoo's fingers flexed.

"Fine by me." Obito removed his mask, activating Kamui to store it away. The scarred side of his face twisted in a sneer. "Someone as clumsy as you won't even scratch me."

Yagura, observing Obito's face, suddenly had a thought.

He'd heard rumors that the Uchiha clan was full of handsome men.

For someone who was quite confident in his own looks, disfigurement must've been a big blow.

It seemed Konoha's medical ninjutsu wasn't all that advanced.

"Obito," Yagura suddenly spoke.

Both Masashi and Obito turned to look at him.

"Our village excels in cosmetic surgery," Yagura said. "We can restore your face. Consider joining Kiri, and I'll forgive everything you've done."

"..."

What kind of wild imagination did this guy have?

"Mizukage-sama," Masashi interrupted Yagura's train of thought, "Obito is a member of the Uchiha clan. Unless the Uchiha severs ties with Konoha, he can't join another ninja village."

"I'm not joining any village," Obito said, casting a scornful glance at Yagura.

Receiving such a look, Yagura realized he might've overthought things.

Not that he felt awkward. If he feared embarrassment, he wouldn't have become Mizukage.

"Masashi, don't overthink it. I was just trying to mess with his mindset."

"Well, that's just brilliant," Masashi replied sarcastically. Then, changing the subject, he asked, "Mizukage-sama, are you planning to wipe out the Kaguya clan entirely?"

"Yes. Their ideology is irredeemable—it's inherent to their entire clan."

"In that case, how about letting me take their children? The environment in Konoha might help them grow up normal."

Yagura gave him a suspicious look. "Children? I never thought you had... such interests. Should Konoha be worried?"

Masashi stared at him flatly. Is this really the Mizukage?

"Fine, but only if Masashi is willing to leave some Uchiha bloodline in Kiri. I could groom you to be Mizukage."

"Fine, but only if you are willing to leave some Uchiha bloodline in Kiri. I could groom the child to be Mizukage."

Masashi rolled his eyes and summoned Susanoo's massive sword again.

"I'll handle my clansman myself."

"Very well." Yagura's figure shrank, reverting to his normal form, and he headed back toward the Kiri ninja forces.

"Obito, you won't return with me, nor will you flee. Are you so confident you can stand against Susanoo?"

"Let's find out. Susanoo isn't invincible, and I want to see how long your chakra lasts." Obito's Sharingan spun lazily.

"Alright." Masashi nodded, lifting the sword to strike.

For some reason, his Susanoo was white. Even when using Sage Art enhancements, it remained the same color.

Could it be because the first bloodline limit he replicated and mastered was Ice Release? That didn't seem related.

While pondering this, Susanoo's massive blade cut through the air with surprising speed.

Honestly, fighting with Susanoo was pretty dull.

It was like Hashirama using his Wood Golem or True Several Thousand Hands—just brute strength and repetitive attacks.

The first strike caused the Kaguya clan's structures to tremble, revealing how poorly maintained their buildings were. The ground cracked under the force, spider-web patterns spreading outward from the impact point.

Obito walked out of the smoke leisurely, his posture arrogant. The debris passed harmlessly through his form.

"That's it?" he scoffed.

"Patience. There's more," Masashi replied.

Susanoo's other hand materialized another chakra sword, and two more hands sprouted from its back, each wielding a blade.

With four swords in play, the strikes became fiercer. Each blade moved in a different pattern, creating a web of attacks that would force even the most skilled shinobi to exhaust their chakra dodging.

Meanwhile, in Kamui's dimension, Shisui held Obito's mask, watching fragments of Obito's body flicker in and out of existence.

He was intrigued but also a bit troubled.

The flashes were so brief he couldn't decide where to strike.

Maybe a kick would work? If he hit from the side, what would happen?

Just as he had this thought, a piece of Obito's body flickered into view.

Acting on impulse, Shisui delivered a swift and powerful kick.

The moment the fragment vanished, his expression shifted.

That texture... No way.

The more he thought about it, the more sure he felt.

Suddenly, Shisui felt an overwhelming urge to wash his foot...

---

The Kaguya clan's territory lay in ruins.

Although Susanoo didn't directly attack the compound, the shockwaves from its assaults caused widespread destruction, collapsing many buildings.

After a relentless bout of fighting, Masashi suddenly noticed Obito curled up on the ground in a strange position.

He was using his Mangekyō Sharingan's abilities, but the more he used them, the more tightly he curled up. The distortions in space around him were becoming increasingly erratic.

Masashi paused, a little taken aback. What's going on? Some new tactic?

Black Zetsu had only just started laying the groundwork; he couldn't afford to let Obito ruin his momentum.

Details mattered when it came to manipulating people.

Hurting Obito wasn't a big deal.

In Black Zetsu's eyes, Obito's persona was that of someone burdened by his clan's fate yet yearning for world peace—someone who could be used without disrupting the grand plan.

That was why Black Zetsu tolerated Masashi's limited assaults on Obito, chalking them up as self-inflicted.

But if Masashi went too far and something truly "interesting" happened, Black Zetsu would inevitably get suspicious.

Masashi didn't care much about Obito's actions, but he had nothing but respect for Black Zetsu and Madara. Simply stopping Obito wouldn't deter those two. Their plans run deeper than any single pawn.

Even without Obito, there was still Nagato of the Uzumaki.

And if neither of them worked out, there were surely backup plans.

Keeping both Obito and Nagato alive, however, allowed Masashi to maintain some degree of control over the situation.

So, while he walked a fine line, he never pushed it too far—unless he could master Yin-Yang Release. At that point, nothing else would matter.

Susanoo took a single step forward, and with the resulting quake, a few more of the Kaguya clan's buildings crumbled.

The quality of their construction was really abysmal. Positioned at the fringes of the village, their situation mirrored that of the Uchiha clan after the Nine-Tails' attack in the original timeline.

But at least the Uchiha clan's downfall had been orchestrated secretly, in collaboration with spies in the Hokage's office.

The Kaguya, on the other hand, had been openly annihilated by Kiri's regular army, in both the original timeline and this one.

For a ninja clan, this was the most tragic end imaginable.

In the ninja village era, a clan's reputation mattered above all else. As long as their name wasn't tarnished, even a lone survivor had a chance to rebuild.

But once their reputation was lost, no matter how many members remained, the clan would inevitably crumble.

In the original timeline, the Uchiha had nearly been wiped out, but their name was never disgraced. From beginning to end, they hadn't been labeled as traitors.

Thus, the Uchiha retained a place in Konoha's ninja system—until Sasuke's open defection. Only then was the Uchiha name erased from the system.

And since he was the last Uchiha left, his defection effectively branded the entire clan as traitors.

Sasuke's gamble to either succeed or perish made sense in its own way.

But Itachi's actions? Clearly, something was wrong with his head.

And to think he expected Sasuke to return to Konoha as a hero? What did he take the ninja village for, a tea house? Come and go as you please?

If not for Naruto steadfastly vouching for him with his status as Konoha's strongest ally and future Hokage, Sasuke wouldn't have stood a chance of returning.

Fugaku's parenting handbook must've been something he picked up at a street stall.

As Susanoo dissipated like a mirage, Masashi landed on the ground.

At this distance, he could control any move Obito might make using Kamui.

On the ground, Obito finally raised his head.

His face twitched uncontrollably, and tears welled up in his eye.

Masashi's expression grew increasingly peculiar as he took in Obito's posture. Something's really wrong here.

Obito was hunched over, his hands clasped tightly between his legs, his thighs clenched together. Even his Mangekyō Sharingan seemed to spin irregularly.

He glared at Masashi with gritted teeth, his voice forced out through clenched jaws.

"You... are... so... despicable!"

Masashi paused. Wait... what did I do?

All I did was summon Susanoo and take a few swings. Sure, I might've held back a bit, but how's that despicable?

Wait a second...

Shisui! What exactly did you hit on Obito!?

Finally realizing the source of Obito's agony, Masashi took a few steps back, a cold chill running through him.

I only had tea with Shisui once! How did he come up with such a devastating technique?

"Grrrr... Aaaagh!" Obito let out a strange sound, pulling one hand away to pound the ground with all his might.

Masashi stepped back further, wary of anything splattering onto him.

He patted the scroll pouch at his waist. Inside were plans he'd stayed up all night preparing for Obito.

But Shisui's otherworldly kick had completely upended his plans.

If he tried anything now, Obito might actually die here today.

In a flash, several contingency plans crossed his mind, but he dismissed them all.

He turned away.

And there, sneaking back, was Yagura, watching him and Obito with a peculiar look in his eyes.

"It wasn't me," Masashi clarified quickly.

If this got out, his nickname would turn into something along the lines of "Konoha's Groin Smasher."

Never underestimate the speed of intelligence-sharing among the Five Kage.

"I understand," Yagura said, nodding thoughtfully. "After all, battles to the death can get... intense. I've been there myself."

Masashi didn't bother responding and walked toward Obito.

"Just stay still. I'll take you back for treatment."

"Leave! Get lost!" Obito roared.

Moments later, Shisui was flung out headfirst.

He managed an elegant midair flip and landed steadily on his feet.

When he saw Obito's current state, Shisui's face flushed with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," he said sincerely. "But don't worry. Konoha's medical team is full of skilled ninjas. They'll definitely be able to fix this."

Obito, now standing at a distance, looked furious as he glared at Masashi and Shisui. His Mangekyō Sharingan spun wildly.

"Mark my words! I... I'll be back!"

Clearly, he hadn't accepted Shisui's apology.

Not only did he reject it, but he was already planning his revenge. As for how he would carry it out, that was anyone's guess.

Masashi hoped Obito would understand the concept of accountability and direct his revenge at Shisui.

Mangekyō against Mangekyō. That seemed fair.

After delivering his threat, Obito disappeared into the void of Kamui. This time, he didn't return.

"Aen't you going to stop him?" Yagura asked.

Masashi glanced at Yagura's weapon, which bore bloodstains and... something else.

"There's no stopping the space-time ability of the Mangekyō Sharingan," he said, offering a passable excuse. Then he asked, "Did you finish what you came here for, Mizukage-sama?"

"Yes." Yagura smiled faintly. "Luckily, I stayed vigilant. The Kaguya clan had imprisoned a prodigy, you see."

Fair enough. So Yagura had gotten there first.

That didn't matter as long as Orochimaru didn't get his hands on them.

"Then you'd better keep a close eye on them, Mizukage-sama," Masashi advised. "I spotted Orochimaru on my way here."

"Orochimaru?" Yagura's expression turned serious. "Another dangerous individual."

No one ignored a ninja of Orochimaru's caliber—an "old-school Kage-level" threat.

The term Kage-level varied slightly depending on the village's perspective.

For instance, in Konoha, such a ninja might be called "Hokage-level." In other villages, the terminology changed accordingly.

But the deeper meaning was the same: each village believed their Kage was the strongest, and even among Kage, there were hierarchies. Respect had to be shown accordingly.

"Masashi, Shisui, I'll take my leave now. Let's talk after the battle." With that, Yagura hurried off.

This battle had cost Kiri dearly, wiping out most of their clans with bloodline limit. Whatever promising talents remained, he would do everything to protect them.