"I will definitely find a way to uncover the truth behind Uchiha Obito's conspiracy against the Fourth Hokage's couple and gather all the intelligence on the Akatsuki members. I already have some clues..."
Uchiha Itachi frowned as he spoke about Obito: "Uchiha Obito is not the kind-hearted Konoha ninja of the past.
After obtaining the Mangekyo Sharingan, his power is worlds apart from before. Please do not send innocent people to sacrifice anymore, Lord Hokage."
"..."
The Konoha Anbu nodded sullenly.
Although it appeared that the Konoha Anbu was here to request information from Uchiha Itachi and deliver orders, in reality, Uchiha Itachi had more information.
This might be the reason Uchiha Itachi wasn't particularly suspicious.
However, Uchiha Itachi also didn't particularly trust the Anbu before him.
Or rather, Uchiha Itachi didn't trust the higher-ups of Konoha.
After all, his brother still lived in Konoha, and Uchiha Itachi was well aware of the tactic of raising foes to boost one's own strength.
Therefore, Uchiha Itachi did not disclose any information about the Akatsuki, but rather evasively said, "Once I gather all relevant intelligence, I'll find an opportunity to return to Konoha and report to Lord Hokage in person."
"Alright."
The Konoha Anbu looked up at him and said softly, "Since I've encountered Lord Uchiha Itachi, my mission here is complete. I must return to Konoha immediately!"
"Take care, senior."
Uchiha Itachi nodded respectfully.
Just as the Konoha Anbu was about to leave, he suddenly turned back to look at Uchiha Itachi and said, "By the way, Lord Hokage specifically asked me to pass on a message: Uchiha Sasuke is still the top student at the Ninja Academy."
"..."
Uchiha Itachi remained silent for a while, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
That brother of his, still in the Konoha Ninja Academy, was his only softness in this world and the last warmth he left in it.
Even as Uchiha Itachi smiled, an unbearable sorrow and pain shone in his eyes.
Soon, the sorrow on his face transformed into anger.
Uchiha Itachi suddenly clenched the kunai in his hand and forcefully stabbed it into the tree trunk, his anger no longer hidden: "Uchiha Obito!"
Uchiha Itachi, along with his father Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Shisui, had tried so hard to resolve the conflicts between the Uchiha and Konoha, even going so far as to ally with someone as treacherous as Shimura Danzo.
Yet Uchiha Obito ignored all of their sacrifices!
The information from that Konoha Anbu had come from Kakashi, and Uchiha Itachi trusted Hatake Kakashi's judgment.
If Hatake Kakashi could confirm that it was Uchiha Obito, then it must have been Obito!
As Kakashi's teammate in the Anbu, Uchiha Itachi knew Kakashi's emotional bond with Uchiha Obito; that white-haired Jonin would never tarnish his teammate's reputation.
After a long while.
Uchiha Itachi's rationality gradually returned, and he leaned against the tree, lost in thought.
He had spent too much time here communicating with that Konoha Anbu senior, and it was time to meet with Uchiha Obito!
Only Uchiha Itachi's state of mind regarding the meeting had changed.
After Uchiha Itachi pulled out his kunai and left, a figure quietly emerged from the ground. It was Uehara Naraku.
"I'm truly a genius..."
Uehara Naraku rubbed his chin.
By working backward from the known results, concocting a plausible chain of events, Uehara thought he was truly a genius and the best candidate for being the mastermind.
Originally, neither Konoha nor Uchiha Itachi knew the identity of the mysterious masked man. Uehara Naraku used his Innate Illusion Charm Skill to leak Uchiha Obito's identity to Hatake Kakashi, who then passed it on to the Akatsuki members.
Now neither Konoha nor Uchiha Itachi knew about Uchiha Obito's abilities, and Uehara Naraku fabricated and leaked Kamui's information to Uchiha Itachi.
Further, with Uchiha Itachi under constant surveillance by Hoshigaki Kisame in the future, he couldn't leak any secrets.
Even if in the future Uchiha Itachi wanted to verify with Hatake Kakashi whether Uchiha Obito was the one who killed the Fourth Hokage's couple and instigated the strife between Konoha and the Uchiha, he wouldn't be able to point out the Anbu he met today.
If things continued like this, Uchiha Obito would sooner or later find himself at war with the entire world.
Or rather, already everyone wanted to fight Uchiha Obito.
Uehara even felt a bit proud of his quick thinking.
If he hadn't just lied about the curse seal in his head, he would have been fighting Uchiha Itachi to the death by now!
Now, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito were sure to become enemies...
Uehara Naraku looked at the Destiny Skills panel, where the icons of Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito were coming together, displaying a hint of unspeakable mischief on his face.
But apart from this, Uehara also gained some unexpected rewards.
Main quest: Fulfill the bookstore owner's wish to become the world's greatest BOSS, Progress 5%, Task incomplete, Rewards unknown.
Merely leaking part of Obito's information increased the progress by 2 percent; what exactly is the criterion for task evaluation?
"Forget it, I'll go check out the fun first."
Uehara Naraku's body gradually sank into the ground.
If Uchiha Itachi took the information he provided and still wouldn't give him a satisfactory outcome, he would have to think of a way to utilize Konoha.
A few days ago, they killed Yamanaka Fuu and a group of Root Ninjas.
Given Shimura Danzo's disposition, he would surely send another group to investigate. It would be a good opportunity to sneak Uchiha Obito's information to Konoha.
As for identity...
It's perfect to borrow the identity of Uchiha Itachi.
Uehara Naraku felt a bit inflated, aside from Konan and Nagato having unrealistic ideas, he felt everything in the Ninja World was soon to be under his control.
On a desolate mountain.
The Uchiha encounter was unfolding exactly as Uehara Naraku anticipated.
Uchiha Obito removed his mask, as now those who shouldn't know already knew his identity, and there was no point in continuing to hide.
Half of his face was intact, while the other half was covered with hideous scars.
When Uchiha Obito saw Uchiha Itachi's arrival, a slight smile appeared on his face: "Itachi, I thought you wouldn't want to see me again!"
Uchiha Itachi's eyes gradually turned crimson as he stepped towards Uchiha Obito, coldly questioning, "Because I too want to know why the most passionate senior of the clan has become like this..."
"No particular reason, just tired of this dull world."
Uchiha Obito shrugged, lightly laughed, and said, "Creating a new world without killing, without conflict, isn't that better?"
"..."
Uchiha Itachi frowned, unable to comprehend Obito's thoughts.
However, this didn't stop him from his plan, and a red light suddenly flashed in Uchiha Itachi's eyes, as a pitch-black flame appeared on Obito!
Mangekyo Sharingan Dojutsu, Flames of Amaterasu!
An undetectable attack location, the strongest Fire Release that never extinguishes!
Uchiha Obito stood calmly in the flames of Amaterasu, gazing at Uchiha Itachi, "Itachi, do you really think that because I'm not Uchiha Madara, you can kill me? Kid, you're still too naive!"
While Uchiha Obito's words were tough, in his heart he was startled!
Thankfully, he had been wary and activated Kamui's intangibility beforehand, otherwise, he would have been caught off guard by Amaterasu, and even hiding in Kamui Space wouldn't save him!
"No, I'm just testing to see if you still qualify as a partner..."
Uchiha Itachi wasn't affected by his taunts, nor did he retract Amaterasu. He merely watched Uchiha Obito quietly, estimating the burning time of the Amaterasu.
According to the intelligence provided by the Konoha Anbu senior, Uchiha Obito could maintain intangibility for about five to eight minutes.