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Mastermind of the Akatsuki 271
🕑 Added 2024-12-22 05:00:03 +0000 UTCChapter 271: Itachi and Obito
After conversing under the moonlight for a while, Shisui and Itachi both felt considerably better.
Although there were ideological conflicts between the two, at their core, both sought to save their clan and prevent a clash between the Uchiha and the village.
After encouraging each other, Shisui and Itachi left the cliff and headed in the direction of their respective homes.
…
On his way home, besides contemplating how the clan and the village could coexist, images of Sasuke gradually surfaced in Itachi's mind before a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Walking the fine line between the Root organization and his clan, he carried an immensely heavy burden every day.
Only when he saw his younger brother’s smiling face could he truly relax. Sasuke was his dearest little brother, the one he most wanted to protect in this lifetime.
Even if it was just to protect his brother, he would stop the clan's reckless coup attempt.
As for Shisui's earlier suggestion of having the entire clan flee, Itachi still couldn’t decide whether he agreed or disagreed with it.
But when exactly did Shisui start considering fleeing? Shisui used to care so deeply about Konohagakure and surely understood what the Uchiha defecting would mean for the village.
If the Uchiha really left Konoha, it might shake the resolve of the other ninja clans.
In this post-Senju-dissolution era, the Uchiha were already the most senior family in the village. If they truly abandoned Konoha, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Should he report Shisui’s thoughts to the Hokage?
Itachi fell into deep thought but immediately dismissed the idea. How could he doubt Shisui? Without Shisui’s help, he would have already lost interest in the shinobi world and died in the Naka River.
At that moment, accompanied by a surge of chakra, ripples appeared in the void.
A distorted vortex appeared out of thin air, and from it emerged a figure clad in black robes and a tiger-patterned mask, eyeing Itachi like a predator examining its prey.
The instant he saw the masked man, Itachi drew a kunai and stared warily at him.
He recognized this mysterious masked man and knew that, like himself, the man possessed Sharingan eyes—three-tomoe Sharingan, to be precise.
It was this man who, during Itachi’s mission to protect a noble, had killed his comrades, triggering his awakening of the single-tomoe Sharingan.
He could never forget the way the masked man had looked at him that day, identical to the way he was looking at him now.
The difference was that compared to a few years ago, his strength had undergone a qualitative change; he was no longer the freshly graduated Genin from the Ninja Academy.
Channeling chakra to his feet, Itachi shot forward like an arrow toward the masked man.
But just as his kunai was about to strike, the masked man’s body turned into an incorporeal shadow, as if the kunai had merely cut through air.
After evading Itachi’s attack, Tobi reappeared on the other side and said indifferently, “Compared to two years ago, your strength has improved quite a bit. But if you want to kill me, you’re still far from it. Only when you awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan will you be qualified to converse with me on equal terms.”
From Tobi’s words, Itachi gleaned a great deal of useful information.
The other party, like himself, was also an Uchiha who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and possessed a unique space-time ability.
Moreover, the man seemed particularly interested in him.
Thinking of this, Itachi feigned calm and said, “So, you hope that I awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, but I’m curious about one thing. If you’re truly an Uchiha, why have I never heard any rumors about you within the clan?”
Tobi glanced at Itachi and replied indifferently,
“You’ve definitely heard my name, but you’ve simply forgotten for now. I am one of Konoha’s founders—Madara Uchiha, the Shura of the Shinobi World.”
“Madara Uchiha?” Itachi snorted lightly. “Madara died long ago at the hands of the First Hokage. Could it be that you’re merely a ghost now, without a physical body?”
“A ghost… that’s not entirely wrong…”
After pausing for a moment, Tobi continued, “I am indeed the ghost wandering above Konoha, silently observing everything that happens in Konohagakure. From the First Great Ninja War to the end of the conflict between Konoha and Kumogakure.”
Itachi furrowed his brow. He couldn’t be certain if this man was truly Madara uchiha. Madara had supposedly died decades ago, but aside from him, there were very few Uchiha known to have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
With that thought, Itachi decided to cut to the chase.
“Enough nonsense. Why have you sought me out? I’m just a Konoha jōnin. I doubt there’s anything about me worth your attention, let alone the possibility of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.”
Tobi smiled and said, “Don’t underestimate yourself. If you lacked the potential to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, I wouldn’t have been keeping such a close eye on you. A genius like you will never fulfill your true potential while stuck in the mud that is Konoha and the Uchiha. I’ve come to observe you. One day, when you’re disappointed in Konoha and the Uchiha, you’ll become someone like me.”
“Someone like you?” Itachi retorted.
Tobi nodded and said, “Yes, someone like me. I was once like you—believing in the Will of Fire, in friendship, burning myself to illuminate the budding youth of Konohagakure. But the higher I rose, the more I could see Konoha’s hypocrisy. Only after leaving Konoha did I find the true meaning of life: achieving world peace. The Will of Fire is merely a torch that lights up the darkness, but it can only illuminate Konoha, a small corner of the world. My goal is to raise a greater torch, one that can illuminate the entire shinobi world.”
Hearing that Tobi’s wish was to bring world peace, Itachi gave him a skeptical look.
While he had similar ideals, the man’s words sounded overly grandiose and hollow. How could he dismiss the Will of Fire? Was there really a better ideology out there?
After frowning in thought for a while, Itachi spoke: “In the end, you’re just trying to lure me away from Konoha and make me your subordinate.”
“I have no interest in becoming your subordinate, so you might as well leave. If someone else were to see you here, they wouldn’t be as tolerant as I am. No matter how powerful you are, you’re no match for my village.”
Tobi sneered and, as he disappeared into the swirling vortex, said:
“I’ve already launched an attack against Konoha before, so don’t be so sure. I won’t force you to join me immediately. One day, when you’re disappointed in your clan and your village, you’ll come begging me for help. But this dear me has the time and the patience to wait for that day to come.”
