Uchiha Obito believed he had guessed Uchiha Itachi's thoughts, and mocked him with sarcasm, "No wonder you're the traitor who would destroy your own clan for Konoha! Betrayal must be a habit for you by now!"
"..."
Uchiha Itachi's fingers clenched suddenly as he coldly gazed at Uchiha Obito and said, "Senior, provoking your enemy when the outcome is undecided isn't a rational act."
Even though Uchiha Itachi wished to kill Obito on the spot, he still maintained his composure and courtesy.
However, this attitude undeniably angered Obito!
As someone who perceived himself as the manipulator from behind the scenes, Uchiha Obito believed he could control everything in his grasp. How could he tolerate Uchiha Itachi's arrogance?
After the night of the clan's massacre ended, it was him who led Uchiha Itachi into the Akatsuki!
It was he who gave Uchiha Itachi a place to belong!
Uchiha Obito clutched his wound, blood seeping through his fingers.
Even though he had high regenerative abilities provided by Hashirama Cells within him, he couldn't withstand the fatal spot where Uchiha Itachi struck!
Uchiha Obito's expression gradually turned vicious, saying coldly, "The only bonds you have left are Konoha and that little brother who's still in school, right?"
"Whatever."
Uchiha Itachi's face remained calm, more composed than Uchiha Obito, "Senior, among the spies you have inside the Akatsuki, there are only Zetsu and Hoshigaki Kisame left. I think you wouldn't want your pawns to be completely eradicated, would you?"
"Bastard..."
Both hit each other's sore spots.
Among the Akatsuki, Nagato was Uchiha Obito's most crucial pawn.
Even though this pawn was no longer obeying, and even wanted to secretly harm him, Obito still didn't want to give up, planning to find another way to continue using Nagato.
After all, the crucial Tailed Beasts plan hadn't begun yet...
"Senior, let's have a proper talk!"
Uchiha Itachi's Sharingan slowly faded, first suggesting reconciliation, "I hope you can tell me why you've become like this, why you're impersonating Uchiha Madara's name, and your true intent...
I once heard from Mr. Kakashi that you were the kindest person, the only Uchiha in the village aiming to be Hokage."
"Hmph, Kakashi, that piece of trash, talks too much!"
Uchiha Obito sneered, cracking his knuckles, hinting at his furious emotions, "Because this world is hell, the current Konoha Ninja are all trash in my eyes. Are you satisfied with that answer?"
"..."
That answer was quite good.
Uchiha Obito didn't want to be controlled by Uchiha Itachi, especially since he also had leverage over Uchiha Itachi; he merely vented his anger, not wanting to divulge any information.
Including his own past.
Uchiha Itachi was a bit worried that Obito might go mad and attack Konoha, killing Sasuke, which would be a tremendous loss.
Uchiha Itachi could only propose maintaining the previous agreement.
Uchiha Obito agreed not to invade Konoha or harm the Konoha Ninja, and Uchiha Itachi would remain in the Akatsuki, assisting Obito in collecting intelligence and helping the Akatsuki gather Tailed Beasts.
However, both of them knew their relationship could never return to what it was; a single trigger might cause them to turn against each other.
At least compared to before, Uchiha Itachi finally had leverage over Obito.
The two stood on equal footing.
Just as Uchiha Itachi once threatened Shimura Danzo that if Sasuke was harmed, he would leak Konoha's intelligence;
If Uchiha Obito harmed the Konoha Ninja, Uchiha Itachi would release all intelligence about Obito's group to Pain and Konan.
"..."
Uehara Naraku listened, dumbfounded.
Uehara couldn't help but touch his own chin.
If he were to transform into Uchiha Obito now and go to Konoha to bully Uchiha Sasuke, would Uchiha Itachi then leak intelligence to Konan?
Wouldn't that directly result in Zetsu and Kisame being kicked out?
This situation seems promising!
But this kind of thing could easily be seen through, and with a bit of dialogue, they might find out someone was impersonating Uchiha Obito...
What if they trace back and discover him as this non-existent person?
Could Uehara pass the blame to Shimura Danzo?
It seems possible.
"Forget it, if the task is carried out too late, it's easy to expose flaws."
Uehara Naraku looked at Uchiha Itachi's back and sighed, "Really, after feeding you so much intelligence, you still can't kill even one Uchiha Obito."
In fact, Uehara himself knew well that even if Uchiha Itachi unleashed his full power, he might not be able to take down a severely injured Uchiha Obito.
But he still wanted Uchiha Itachi to try.
After all, other than losing to the future Uchiha Sasuke by suicide, it seemed that he had a fighting chance against anyone.
He could even force a victory.
It's simply unbelievable.
Perhaps precisely for this reason, the enemies Uchiha Sasuke encountered were all perplexing, wondering how such a dwarf managed to kill Uchiha Itachi...
Uehara Naraku was on his way to execute a task to expel and annihilate hostile Anbu and ordinary Ninja, oblivious that someone had begun to eye him.
It was Uchiha Obito, who had just reached a superficial agreement with Uchiha Itachi.
Uchiha Obito hurried back to the underground base protected by a White Zetsu clone, wasting another Zetsu clone, replacing his damaged organs, and recovering from his injuries.
"What's going on?"
Black Zetsu asked with some surprise, "Obito, didn't you go to meet with Uchiha Itachi? Did you two have a conflict?"
"Hmm..."
Uchiha Obito nodded, continuing, "That Uchiha Itachi is no longer worthy of our trust. He is using his status as a full member of the Akatsuki to threaten me; if any conflict arises, he could inform Konan at any time!"
White Zetsu couldn't help but say, "Then why not kill him?"
"..."
Uchiha Obito remained silent for a moment, concealing the truth of how he almost fell to Uchiha Itachi's scheme, and said softly, "After all, he is a rare asset."
Recently, due to the leakage of identity, Black Zetsu had shown dissatisfaction with him.
If he now admitted to nearly losing to Uchiha Itachi, wouldn't Black Zetsu and the foolish White Zetsus mock him again?
However, Black Zetsu felt that the situation was growing increasingly tricky, thinking now was not the time to go easy, "Someone who could trigger a crisis at any moment is very detrimental to us!"
"It's okay."
Uchiha Obito tapped on the table, presenting his demand, "As long as we regain the trust of Nagato and Konan, reclaim control over the Akatsuki, the threat from Uchiha Itachi is negligible."
"..."
Black Zetsu's eyes held a peculiar expression, "But Nagato and Konan want to ambush you, not genuinely pull you back into the Akatsuki."
This situation really invokes sympathy.
If only he hadn't caused trouble with that kid, Uehara Naraku, back then, he wouldn't be in such a clueless situation now.
"I heard that Konan recently dotes on her little disciple..."
Uchiha Obito's hand tapping the table stopped as he slowly lifted his head, "That little guy is quite arrogant in front of outsiders, seems brainless, didn't she mind what I did to him?
That kid believes I was once outsmarted by him, defeated by his hand, and doesn't dare provoke Nagato, so he's probably never regarded me as a threat?"
Black Zetsu's eyes flickered, "Do you mean..."
"If we can convince Uehara Naraku that naive kid with the Eye of the Moon Plan, we should get Konan and Nagato to re-accept me into their plan."
Uchiha Obito's gaze darkened, a touch of arrogant intelligence gracing his face, "The ignorant people of the Ninja World are always drawn to some useless emotions. Uehara Naraku is the new bond of Konan and Nagato."
"..."
You're really something, huh!
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu felt speechless.
Didn't Obito consider whether he was insulting himself when uttering those words?
Who was the person consistently risking discovery by Konoha by visiting the Memorial Stele? Didn't Obito have any awareness?
Calculating this and that but never considering himself?
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Asking for recommendation votes, the start of a new week!