Sasuke's wandering thoughts about the black-robed figure's possible age faded as he recalled her earlier comment… 'We're around the same age'.
"Don't overthink it. I'll support your revenge. All I ask is that you honor your promise to me afterward."
The black-robed figure said plainly.
Sasuke nodded and didn't think any more about it.
Not long after, there was a knock on the door and Konan entered while holding a set of documents.
"Welcome to the Akatsuki. Our current objective is capturing the Jinchuriki. We need you to bring them here. These are their profiles, take a look and decide who you want to pursue."
Konan explained, handing the documents to Sasuke.
After consuming the poison, both Pain and Konan had no reason to suspect Sasuke or the black-robed figure… after all, their lives were now in Akatsuki's hands.
"No need to choose, we'll just scout around first."
This time, without waiting for Sasuke to speak, the black-robed figure took the initiative to take on the task.
Sasuke frowned slightly, unsure of her intentions.
"Very well. Best of luck, and I look forward to hearing good news from you both."
Konan briefly explained how to use the Magic Lantern Body Technique to maintain contact before leaving the room.
Once she was gone, Sasuke shut the door and asked in confusion, "Why?"
"The Jinchuriki are valuable to the Akatsuki. Capturing them would give us leverage. If decoding takes too long and that leader starts to grow suspicious, we could use the Jinchuriki to force out the mastermind controlling him. It will also help with your revenge."
The black-robed figure explained.
Hearing this, Sasuke was momentarily stunned. He had suspected ulterior motives, but realized her plan was entirely in his interest.
Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, he said, "Sorry, I misunderstood your intentions. Then, let's look at the information first."
As they flipped through the profiles, Sasuke narrowed his eyes and said, "Impressive. The level of detail in these reports is remarkable. This could be a useful bargaining chip against the mastermind."
It goes without saying that the Jinchuriki are usually in the village, so it is easy to find them, but Biju do not move around in human's territory, so it is not easy to find them.
However, the records clearly record the living habits and living areas of the Biju, and even their strengths and weaknesses are described in great detail.
"Shall we set out, then?" Sasuke asked.
The black-robed figure nodded.
Bang!
With a puff of smoke, a shadow clone materialized beside her.
"The clone will stay here and continue decoding. We can leave now."
The black-robed figure explained.
Sasuke nodded slightly, and without informing Pain, the two left the Akatsuki's base and began heading south.
With more Jinchuriki and Biju at their disposal, the stronger Sasuke's bargaining position would become. So, starting from the very first Jinchuriki seemed logical.
Now, their target is Ichibi's Jinchuriki, Gaara.
Of course, Sasuke's true aim wasn't to capture Gaara. He knew Gaara was one of Naruto's servants and someone they had played with in the past. Going to look for Gaara first was to prevent the Akatsuki from harming Gaara, and he could also use Gaara as a bargaining chip, killing two birds with one stone.
Sasuke methodically advanced his plan for revenge.
…
Meanwhile, in Otogakure.
"Itachi, you're awake?"
Kisame's voice was filled with relief and surprise.
Itachi slowly opened his eyes, though they remained bloodshot, clearly showing that his anguish hadn't subsided.
After committing such a grave mistake, perhaps death would have been kinder than the weight he now bore.
Whoosh!
With a flash, Orochimaru entered the room and asked, "Itachi, what exactly did you talk about?"
He knew that Itachi had likely used Tsukuyomi to persuade Sasuke and clear up their misunderstandings. Yet, contrary to his expectations, Sasuke remained unmoved, while Itachi appeared utterly despondent.
In his eyes, Itachi had always been a figure of unyielding resolve, and it is impossible for him to be shattered by mere words.
Itachi did not respond directly but instead asked, "Orochimaru, are you absolutely certain that Danzo transplanted Sharingan into his arm?"
"Of course. I managed to acquire some during my experiments. However, since I switched bodies, I no longer have any use for Sharingan. But I do have a collection of them."
Orochimaru flickered away and when he returned, he was holding a container filled with green liquid, in which floated a single Sharingan.
"Pfft!"
At the sight of the Sharingan, Itachi coughed up blood violently and almost fainted again.
Faced with irrefutable evidence, the last shred of hope in Itachi's heart disappeared.
"What's going on?"
Orochimaru stepped forward to support Itachi and slipped a pill into his mouth. The pill dissolved instantly, bringing a hint of color back to Itachi's face.
After a long silence, Itachi recounted Sasuke's revelations to Orochimaru in their entirety.
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru sighed deeply, "Who would've thought that the illustrious Uchiha Clan would meet such a tragic fate? This is beyond my ability to assist with. You'll have to wait for Naruto to return."
Kisame thought for a moment and said, "Naruto once took Sasori to another world where he met his biological parents. I believe Naruto will have a solution. At the very least, he could take you to another world to atone for your sins."
Unlike their usual scheming interactions, they had all opened up to each other as Naruto's subordinates. Under Naruto's overwhelming strength, they had long since learned to consider each other's perspectives.
"I hope Naruto-kun can help. Otherwise, the only thing left for me is to die in atonement." Itachi said with a bitter smile.
He knew that even his death would not be enough to make amends.
'Huh?'
Suddenly, Itachi trembled, recalling something Naruto had once said.
When Itachi first met Naruto, Naruto told him his time was running out but following Naruto could prolong his life for a while. It now seemed that Naruto had foreseen this very future when he spoke those words.
'Naruto-kun, is this part of your plan as well?'
Itachi chuckled bitterly.
'If that was the case, perhaps Naruto-kun had seen even further into the future.'
Now, Itachi wanted Naruto to come back soon more than anyone else.
With Sasuke already grown and capable, Itachi no longer bore any burdens or concerns. Even if the black-robed figure beside Sasuke turned out to be Naruto's nemesis, it wasn't something Itachi could control.
Looking back on his life, Itachi realized he had lived entirely for others.
'Perhaps from now on, I could start living for myself.'
At Itachi's bedside, Kisame and Orochimaru exchanged a glance, puzzled by what Itachi might be thinking. But when they saw a glimmer of hope in Itachi's otherwise sorrowful eyes, they also breathed a sigh of relief.
Itachi wasn't on the verge of giving up. He only needed to hold on until Naruto returned.
However, at this moment, Naruto was still on the Sky Island.
After days of intense fusion, a small part of Naruto's soul had already transformed into divine essence. With just a few more weeks, his divine soul would perfectly merge with the Thunder God's body, granting him the full powers of a real Thunder God.
Yet, perhaps due to the sensitivity of his divine soul, Naruto had an uneasy premonition, as if some great calamity was about to unfold.
He could only hope that it was all just his imagination.