Naruto: The Clanless Prince

After Sora turned off the visual sharing technique, Kakashi asked curiously, "Sora-sensei, what's happening with your eyes?"

Sora responded casually, "Ah, it's a technique of mine that lets me share vision with my snakes. I was just observing our surroundings."

Kakashi nodded in understanding. "I see. Sora-sensei, please rest for a while. I'll handle the security duty."

Sora agreed with Kakashi's suggestion. "Alright then, I'll take a rest. Wake me up in about an hour."

...

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

The situation in Rain Shinobi Village once again presented a three-way confrontation.

Nagato and Konan were operating in the shadows, slowly taking control from Hanzō of the Salamander as the leader of Rain Shinobi Village.

Everyone understood that this war wouldn't last much longer.

But during times like these, no one could afford to let their guard down. The enemy was likely to take advantage of any moment of relaxation to launch a surprise attack.

Whenever Sora had free time, he would use visual sharing to observe Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Madara.

By now, Uchiha Obito had gradually learned to use his new body effectively. Although he couldn't leave the underground chamber, he had never given up his desire to return to Konoha.

During a routine break, when Sora activated visual sharing as usual, he immediately became alert at the scene before him.

Uchiha Obito was lying on the bed in deep sleep when a White Zetsu emerged from the ground.

"Madara, Namikaze Minato has gone on another mission alone," the White Zetsu reported.

Uchiha Madara, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them. "Is that so? Then let's proceed."

Madara attached himself to White Zetsu, left a Shadow Clone behind, and departed from the cave.

Currently, Uchiha Madara was relying on the power of the Gedo Statue to sustain himself. By merging with White Zetsu, he could temporarily leave using White Zetsu's abilities.

When Nagato had summoned the Gedo Statue, Madara had used this method to preserve himself while waiting for the statue's return.

Sora's eyes narrowed.

It seemed that Uchiha Madara was planning to control Kirigakure's Anbu to capture Rin and seal the Three-Tails Isobu into Nohara Rin's body.

Sora declined any further missions, choosing instead to remain at his post to observe how the situation would unfold.

Because Sora's snakes were ordinary creatures without chakra, they couldn't keep pace with Uchiha Madara and quickly lost track of him.

Sora could only focus on monitoring Uchiha Obito.

Four days later.

Uchiha Madara quietly returned to the cave, dismissed his Shadow Clone, and reconnected to the Gedo Statue.

Suddenly, White Zetsu emerged from the wall and said to Uchiha Obito, "I just came from outside. That Rin you keep mentioning is in danger!"

Obito asked anxiously, "What happened?!"

"She and two Konoha Shinobi were surrounded by Kirigakure ninjas!"

Obito rushed off the bed and punched the rock wall with his fist.

His right hand, however, deformed like clay upon impact.

Pain contorted Obito's face.

"Your current body cannot break through rocks," White Zetsu observed.

Obito grimaced, "I have to save Rin!"

White Zetsu opened his body. "Then use my body."

The White Zetsu enveloped Obito completely.

Obito asked doubtfully, "Aren't you Madara's subordinate? Is this okay?"

"What a good boy. Don't you want to save Rin?"

Obito expressed sincere gratitude. "Thank you!"

Standing before the rock wall, Obito shattered it with a single punch.

Madara opened his eyes. "Are you leaving?"

Obito replied with determination, "You saved me, and I'm grateful, but I have to go. I must go!"

Madara stared at Obito's back. "You're too hasty. It may be too early to thank me."

Obito turned to look at Madara. "I don't think I'll be coming back. Anyway, I've said my thanks, and now I'm leaving."

Madara stated firmly, "You... will definitely return! Then I will accept your true gratitude."

Ignoring Madara, Obito addressed White Zetsu, "White! Where is Rin? Take me there immediately!"

"What's attached to you is my clone. We can communicate telepathically within a certain range. There are other clones distributed underground exchanging information. I'll use this network to guide you."

The White Zetsu clone's tendril pointed toward the opening in the shattered rock. "Let's go outside first."

Obito grabbed a cloak, put it on, and left the cave.

Madara watched Obito depart with a contemplative gaze before closing his eyes again.

"How is Rin's situation now?" Obito asked as they moved.

"According to my companions' reports, it seems quite dangerous. They're discussing Kirigakure's experimental subjects, though I don't understand the details."

Obito asked with confusion, "Experimental subjects?"

"Anyway, Rin and two other Konoha Shinobi are surrounded by dozens of enemies—powerful Jōnin and Anbu from the looks of it."

"What is Minato-sensei doing?"

"Who?"

"I asked what the Yellow Flash is doing."

"It seems he's performing other tasks."

Obito gritted his teeth. "At a time like this... Where is Kakashi?"

"Kakashi—the one you call an idiot—is fighting in the Land of Rain!"

Obito's brows furrowed. "That's right!"

...

Not long after Obito's departure, Madara suddenly stood up and walked to the rock wall that Obito had just shattered.

In a swift motion, Madara reached out and grabbed something among the rubble.

When he withdrew his hand, a white snake appeared in his grasp.

"After watching for so long, you must have seen enough, Sora."

Far away in the Land of Rain, Sora's snake-like pupils contracted sharply.

Discovered!

After the initial shock, Sora realized there was no reason to panic.

Uchiha Madara was now nothing more than an old man on the verge of death.

After a moment, a different snake slithered in front of Uchiha Madara.

Unlike the ordinary snakes, this one possessed Chakra.

Sora used the snake to communicate with Madara. "Uchiha Madara, when did you discover me?"

"Not long ago—just four days ago. There are only a few shinobi who work with snakes."

Hearing Madara's answer, Sora was momentarily speechless.

Had Madara sensed him when merging with White Zetsu?

Madara asked solemnly, "You seem to have known for some time that Obito would not die. What else do you know?"

Sora lied, "It was mere coincidence that I discovered Obito was still alive. I originally summoned snakes to search for his body, but instead found the tunnel and you. Since you only discovered my surveillance four days ago, why didn't you expose me then?"

Madara countered, "And what about you? Knowing that I am still alive, why haven't you reported it to Konoha?"

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