Chapter 7:The bounty and the hunters
"This works out perfectly. It will make finding Orochimaru much more convenient later on."
In the future, awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan was a certainty. And when it came to mitigating the blindness that came with its overuse, Orochimaru undoubtedly had valuable research and insights. Furthermore, joining the Akatsuki would force Uchiha Obito to be more cautious. The man wouldn't dare move openly against a fellow member, buying Naoki the precious time he needed to accumulate strength safely.
The Next Day
Two pieces of shocking news from Konoha spread like wildfire, sending ripples of excitement and speculation throughout the normally placid ninja world.
S-Rank Rogue Ninja Uchiha Itachi defected after massacring the entire Uchiha clan. Only his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke, and one other member, Uchiha Naoki, survived.
S-Rank Rogue Ninja Uchiha Naoki, having hidden his power for years, slaughtered several Konoha elite guards during his defection and remains at large.
"The mighty Uchiha clan… has fallen? Is it really true?"
"It's truly astonishing. A single clan has produced two S-Rank rogues at once!"
"I've heard of Uchiha Itachi's genius, but who is this Uchiha Naoki? To become an S-Rank rogue at only thirteen, alongside Itachi!"
Various powers were abuzz with the news. To Konoha, these two were traitors. But to everyone else, they represented rare, formidable talents. Who didn't know the fearsome power of the Sharingan?
Almost simultaneously, the Hidden Sand, Cloud, and Stone Villages dispatched their own agents to infiltrate the Land of Fire, tasked with tracking down one or both of the fugitives. Recruiting either would be a massive boost to their village's military might.
The Hidden Cloud Village was particularly eager. Having already acquired a Byakugan, their desire for the Sharingan burned more intensely than ever.
At that moment, in the Hidden Rain Village
On the balcony of the tallest steel tower at the village's center, an orange-haired man with piercing, ripple-patterned eyes and numerous black rods piercing his skin stared out at the perpetual rain. He spoke without turning to the purple-haired woman behind him.
"A talent like Uchiha Naoki is precisely the kind of member we require. I intend to recruit him." His voice was as flat and emotionless as his gaze. "What is your opinion, Angel?"
The purple-haired woman, Konan, lifted her eyes slightly. "In that case, why not extend an invitation to Uchiha Itachi as well? They are both rare talents. There is no reason to let either slip away." She paused, then added, "Allow me to handle this matter personally."
The man, Pain, gave a slow nod. "Take Hidan with you. They are both S-Rank rogues. We know little about them. We must exercise caution when dealing with such extraordinary individuals."
Konan did not refuse the suggestion. "Understood."
But just as she made to leave, the space beside them twisted and warped. The masked man, Uchiha Obito, materialized from the distortion. "Lady Angel, your efforts need only focus on Uchiha Naoki. Uchiha Itachi is already on his way to us."
A flicker of interest showed in Pain's normally impassive eyes. "For you to take the initiative to recruit someone, 'Madara'… is it because of Uchiha Itachi's talent?" The masked man who called himself Uchiha Madara was an enigma, his motives always shrouded. For him to personally recruit a member was highly unusual.
Uchiha Obito glanced at Pain. "I did not recruit him. He came to us. His talent is sufficient, so I had no reason to refuse." He then turned his masked gaze back to Konan, his tone becoming slightly stern. "Be careful, Lady Angel. Uchiha Naoki is not a simple individual."
Hearing this, a spark of genuine curiosity ignited in Konan's eyes. "You've made me even more interested in this Uchiha Naoki." As she spoke, a massive flock of paper sheets swarmed around her, coalescing into a pair of gigantic, pristine white wings. With a powerful beat, she lifted into the air and flew off into the rainy horizon.
At the Border of the Land of Fire and Land of Rain, Jiche Street
A rowdy tavern was filled with the scent of cheap alcohol and quieter, more dangerous conversations.
"Have you heard? Konoha has placed a 55 million ryo bounty on that 'S-Rank Rogue Ninja,' Uchiha Naoki!" a middle-aged man with greasy green hair slurred, exhaling a cloud of alcohol fumes.
"That's Konoha for you, always so generous. Heh, it's a tempting sum," a one-eyed man with a severe, short haircut replied, licking his dark lips, his single eye burning with avarice.
"Yeah, 55 million ryo… that's enough for us to live in comfort for a decade!" the green-haired man agreed, his gaze equally feverish as he stared at a bounty poster in his hand, which clearly displayed Uchiha Naoki's face.
"Fifty-five million ryo…" a voice murmured from a shadowed corner. A figure wearing a wide-brimmed hat and wrapped in a long travel cloak glanced at a discarded poster, the corner of his mouth quirking up slightly beneath the shadow. "Konoha certainly thinks highly of me."
It was Uchiha Naoki.
Hmm?
Suddenly, he felt multiple eyes fixed upon him, their malicious intent as clear as day within his Observation Haki.
"To be targeted so quickly?" he mused, the slight smile returning to his lips. "It seems you really can't underestimate anyone in this world."
He calmly set down his cup of fruit tea—a stark contrast to the ale and sake around him—placed a few coins on the table, and stood to leave.
"Follow him!" the green-haired man hissed.
The moment Naoki stepped out, the two bounty hunters exchanged a glance and immediately tailed him. Seeing this, several other patrons in the tavern also quietly slipped out, their intentions clear.
In a Secluded Forest
Uchiha Naoki came to a stop before a large tree, not bothering to turn around. "Everyone, since you've all come this far, why not show yourselves?"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than two figures shushed into existence, one in front and one behind, effectively surrounding him.
"I never expected to be so lucky as to run into a big, fat prize like you here!" the green-haired man said, stepping out from behind a tree, his eyes gleaming with naked greed.
"Heh, you didn't think that by luring us to a remote spot, we'd be too scared to follow, did you?" the one-eyed man spat, his expression fierce. "Don't underestimate a bounty hunter's obsession with their prey, kid!"
Uchiha Naoki's eyes narrowed slightly. "Aren't you afraid of breaking your teeth? Fifty-five million ryo is a fine prize, but you need to be alive to spend it."
Hearing this, the green-haired man grinned. "You don't think we're incapable of killing an S-Rank rogue, do you? To be frank, we've had more than one or two S-Rank heads roll by our hands." The one-eyed man nodded in agreement. "So today, you will be no exception."
"I see," Naoki said, feigning resignation. "But before we begin, I have one question. How did you confirm my identity?" His disguise was flawless, and he was certain he hadn't made any obvious slips. It was puzzling that a single, casual remark in a tavern had given him away.
The green-haired man snorted proudly. "Was it really that hard? I was born with an ability to hear the faintest of whispers. I heard every word you muttered to yourself in that tavern clearly. Besides," he added with a derisive smirk, "alcohol is the bounty hunter's drink. You, ordering fruit tea, stood out like a sore thumb. Put those two things together, and the answer becomes obvious, doesn't it?"
Hearing this explanation, Uchiha Naoki couldn't help but nod slowly. "My first time truly navigating the wider ninja world, and my inexperience shows." It was a valuable lesson. He would not make the same mistake again.