Chapter 125

Although he had used intangibility to evade the kunai, his attempt to build up momentum was once again interrupted. This caused Obito’s expression to darken; he was determined to teach Uchiha Li a lesson. Otherwise, someone as unruly and rebellious as Uchiha Li would likely never be obedient. With this in mind, Obito surged forward, closing the distance between them rapidly.

For his part, Uchiha Li watched Obito’s assault and hesitated over whether to activate his Mangekyō Sharingan. He was reluctant to expose it to Obito, as that would inevitably lead to a series of subsequent troubles. However, without it, dealing with the attacks powered by "Kamui" would be difficult.

"Wait a little longer. After all, this is the village; Obito shouldn't dare to be too conspicuous."

In the end, Uchiha Li suppressed the urge to activate his Mangekyō and continued the battle using only his three-tomoe Sharingan. This decision was largely based on his current location. Within Konoha, if Obito did not want to reveal his identity, he could not use his ocular powers on a massive scale. Furthermore, Minato had marked Obito with a Flying Thunder God seal during the Nine-Tails Incident—a fact even Obito had not noticed. If not for his knowledge of the original story, Uchiha Li would not have known how terrifying that mark was. Once planted, the user of the Flying Thunder God technique could lock onto the marked individual from any distance, provided it was within range. In the original timeline, it was precisely this that allowed Minato to ambush Obito and expose his identity.

Now that Obito was inside the village, Minato would be able to provide support at any moment if he detected the disturbance. Therefore, Uchiha Li did not need to fight him head-on; he only needed to stall for time. With this realization, Uchiha Li used the Body Flicker technique as Obito closed in. Without his left eye, Obito could not use Kamui for long-range attacks. As long as Uchiha Li maintained his distance and avoided direct confrontation, he would be safe.

"This guy!"

As Uchiha Li began to dodge with erratic movements, frequently releasing Fire Style jutsu specifically to create loud, booming sounds, Obito grew increasingly frustrated. He had not come to Konoha to cause destruction, and he certainly did not want to attract Minato’s attention by making too much noise. Yet, Uchiha Li seemed keenly aware of this and was creating a commotion everywhere he went.

"Uchiha Li, we are not enemies."

Out of options, Obito tried to shout while giving chase. He was already regretting his approach; had he known Uchiha Li’s temperament was like this, he would have been better off appearing openly.

Uchiha Li, hearing this, did not slow his pace and retorted, "I don't have friends like you. State your purpose!"

Obito took a deep breath. "I am from the Akatsuki, and I have come to invite you to join us." At this point, he saw no reason to keep up the charade. He simply wanted to confirm where Uchiha Li’s loyalties lay. If it were possible to recruit him, that would be ideal; if not, he was prepared to stop holding back and use force.

After putting some distance between them again, Uchiha Li stopped running and feigned curiosity. "Are you the leader of the Akatsuki that Orochimaru spoke of?"

Obito did not follow up but stood at a distance. "The leader of the Akatsuki is someone else, but my presence here is the same as his."

"I don't think it's the same," Uchiha Li said deliberately. "I have already made it clear: if the Akatsuki cannot demonstrate sufficient power, I will not join." He paused, adopting an arrogant posture. "Given the weight of Konoha and the Uchiha clan, why would you think I would want to betray them?"

Hearing this, Obito felt a sense of relief. Uchiha Li’s attitude was not as firm as he had imagined; recruitment was indeed possible. However, the current Uchiha Li lacked external motivation, making him difficult to persuade—unless, of course, Obito could provide him with a reason.

Obito didn't press too hard. He shrugged and said, "You will soon know the power of the Akatsuki. Your strength is impressive, but that is all it is. Only by joining the Akatsuki can you take the next step!"

Just as Obito spoke with an alluring tone, a flash of golden light appeared in the distance. Sensing it, Obito said, "Uchiha Li, I will come again. I hope you will have considered it carefully by then!" With that, he activated Kamui and vanished into a swirling vortex.

"Li, are you alright?"

After Obito disappeared, Minato arrived. He had been working in his office when he suddenly sensed the Flying Thunder God mark he had set years ago, realizing that the Uchiha who had caused the chaos back then had reappeared. He had rushed over, locking onto the location, but he had arrived one step too late; the Uchiha had once again escaped using his bizarre ability.

Uchiha Li shook his head. "Minato-senpai, it is fortunate you arrived so quickly. Otherwise, I would have been in danger." He paused, pretending to be uncertain. "That fellow... was he the Uchiha who caused the Nine-Tails incident?"

Minato nodded. "That’s right. It was him. I marked him, so I cannot be mistaken." He then asked, "Do you have any idea why he targeted you?"

Uchiha Li considered the question but decided against mentioning the Akatsuki. He had no way to explain how he knew about them, so he opted for silence. "I'm sorry, Minato-senpai, I’m not sure."

Minato did not doubt him. "It likely has to do with the fact that you thwarted his plans previously. You should be careful." Minato knew that if Uchiha Li hadn't insisted on providing support during that incident, he would have likely sacrificed himself, allowing the masked man to succeed. Because of Uchiha Li, Minato had remained unharmed despite the losses caused by the Nine-Tails. Minato sensed that the masked man wanted him dead, and he believed Uchiha Li was being dragged into the conflict because of him.

Feeling a sense of regret, Minato pulled a special kunai from his waist. "Li, take this. If something happens, activate it, and I will appear immediately." With the special kunai, he could arrive by Uchiha Li’s side almost instantly, provided the distance wasn't too great.

"Understood." Uchiha Li did not refuse and accepted the kunai. Although he did not fear Obito, the tool might prove useful later. After exchanging a few more words with Minato, Uchiha Li bid him farewell and left the forest, turning his thoughts toward the matter of Obito.