Hoshigaki Kisame completed his mission.
When Kisame returned to his room and reported to Uehara Naraku through the Reanimation Body of Uchiha Obito, he conveyed in detail the conversation he had with Uchiha Itachi to Uehara Naraku.
At the end of the report, Kisame's face showed a hint of regret: "Mr. Itachi is indeed a good teammate! Uehara-sama, are we just going to watch him walk step by step toward his death?"
"Kisame, you did well this time."
Uehara Naraku did not hesitate to praise his subordinates, and he did not blame Hoshigaki Kisame for trying to recruit Uchiha Itachi.
Looking at Kisame's somewhat sad face, Uehara sighed: "But you don't need to worry too much. Under my control, the line between life and death is not significant.
Even if Uchiha Itachi dies, you two will still have a chance to meet again. Otherwise, take Uchiha Obito as an example. Even if he dies, I can pull him back from the Netherworld..."
Uchiha Obito: "..."
Hoshigaki Kisame: "..."
Uehara-sama, can't you just be a normal person?
A living person and a dead one, is that the same?
But since Uehara Naraku intended to comfort him, Kisame had no choice but to nod his head, indicating he felt comforted.
Kisame was still a bit curious. When Uchiha Itachi is brought back by Uehara Naraku's Reanimation in the future and finds out that the mastermind is actually Uehara Naraku... the first answer he ruled out, what will Mr. Itachi feel then?
It's really intriguing...
In his room, Uehara Naraku tilted his head and controlled Uchiha Obito to continue: "But since Uchiha Itachi refused your recruitment, it's essentially a slap in my face. His courage is even greater than his brainpower. Shouldn't we teach him a lesson before he dies?"
"Uh..."
Kisame was stunned for a moment and awkwardly advised, "Uehara-sama, Mr. Itachi's life has been pretty pitiful already..."
Uchiha Itachi has been pushed to the brink by you, Uehara-sama. Isn't there a way for him to walk his path in peace?
Although once Uchiha Itachi dies, he'll probably be quickly resurrected as a tool in Uehara Naraku's hand...
What a sad life!
Kisame felt a bit sentimental inside.
Even though Mr. Itachi possessed the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan, he never truly saw his fate clearly.
"I'm teaching him a lesson for his own good."
Uehara Naraku tilted his head and issued his command regarding Uchiha Itachi: "After you return from the Land of Fire, both Uchiha Obito and Kisame should tell Uchiha Itachi some truth!"
"What truth?"
Kisame immediately asked in surprise: "Is Uehara-sama finally unable to hold back and intends to step into the spotlight?"
"Of course not. It's not the right time yet."
Uehara Naraku chuckled softly, gazing at Kisame: "The truth I want to tell him is one controlled by us, a dark Konoha truth!
I suspect Uchiha Itachi will certainly try to probe Konoha Ninja during his trip to the Land of Fire. He will definitely attempt to send his brother back to Konoha. When Uchiha Itachi returns, let's give him a taste of despair!
Let Uchiha Itachi know that, in fact, Uchiha Sasuke has only one path to take, and that is to join us and become our future pawn!"
"Huh?"
Kisame asked with interest: "Shouldn't Uchiha Sasuke become our comrade?"
"Why would you think that?"
Uehara Naraku's voice grew disdainful and extremely displeased: "Do you think Uchiha Sasuke would want to become someone else's subordinate? Even though he's not that strong, he still acts like he's something special. Would he be willing to become my subordinate?"
"...Seems like it."
Kisame rubbed his forehead in frustration.
That brat Uchiha Sasuke always acts so haughty, even after learning harsh lessons. The Uchiha pride prevents him from learning any humility...
"Alright, that's it."
Uehara Naraku's presence disappeared from Uchiha Obito, leaving the final words: "Kisame, wait a few days to go to the Land of Fire to assist Kakuzu with the mission! Obito, you're responsible for secretly monitoring Uchiha Itachi!"
"Alright."
"Understood."
In the room, only Hoshigaki Kisame and Uchiha Obito were left. These two former subordinates and superiors met again in such an otherworldly way...
Kisame grinned and chuckled lightly: "Lord Obito, it's been a long time! Unexpectedly, now we're comrades again!"
"Hoshigaki Kisame, you...!"
Uchiha Obito stared at Kisame through gritted teeth: "When exactly did you join that little runt Uehara Naraku?"
"A long time ago!"
Kisame's answer mirrored Uehara Naraku's exactly.
But then Kisame added: "About eight years ago, when you, Lord Obito, were still calling yourself Uchiha Madara. You gave me a command to find Lord Uehara and teach him a tough lesson;
But I saw that Lord Uehara was a gifted person, possessing great power at the age of twelve and unlike those who hide in the shadows. So, I decided to pledge my loyalty to Lord Uehara there and then, and I became the spy he planted."
Uchiha Obito: "..."
You speak as if it's really true!
Where's Hoshigaki Kisame's ninja character? Where's your loyalty to me? Met Uehara Naraku and immediately fed your loyalty to your former boss to the dogs?
"Those times have long passed, and I don't want to bring them up anymore."
Hoshigaki Kisame looked at Uchiha Obito with a smile and continued slowly: "Now we're both companions under Lord Uehara, we should get along well..."
Uchiha Obito was practically fuming, he sulkily turned into a spatial vortex and disappeared: "I'm going to spy on that guy Uchiha Itachi."
In fact, he's somewhat better off being angry here.
If Uchiha Obito appeared in Uehara Naraku's room, he would realize Uehara Naraku is really something else, humanly speaking, he's terribly misunderstood.
Because Black Zetsu had also happened to find Uehara Naraku.
Thus Uehara, who had temporarily removed his will from Uchiha Obito's body, could only start to throw dirt on Obito again.
"Elder Zetsu."
Uehara Naraku didn't hesitate, directly starting to sully Obito: "Although Uchiha Obito didn't show up when we were collecting the One-tailed and Two-tailed, we should still be doubly careful of him..."
"That's right."
Black Zetsu's voice was very solemn.
Initially, Black Zetsu was also always worried about the elusive Uchiha Obito, so it directly said: "Therefore, when you go to the Land of Water to capture the Three-tailed this time, you can also check Yakushi Kabuto's whereabouts, see if you can bring him back!"
After saying this, Black Zetsu's voice was a bit hesitant: "Recently, when you went to capture the One-tailed Jinchuriki, the White Zetsu I placed beside Yakushi Kabuto to monitor him disappeared, I suspect it may have been captured by him for experiments, so for now, I also have no way to find his whereabouts..."
Uehara Naraku: "..."
Well, my subordinates are quite promising.
It's likely that Yakushi Kabuto also used the White Zetsu Cloak he controls, tracing an observing White Zetsu, then simply turning that monitoring White Zetsu into experimental materials...
Uehara Naraku casually nodded in agreement, but finding Yakushi Kabuto is not an easy task, after all, Yakushi Kabuto is Orochimaru's successor, slippery and elusive, not easily caught!
After discussing the troubles concerning Uchiha Obito and Yakushi Kabuto, Black Zetsu looked at Uehara Naraku and continued: "Apart from this, there's one more thing, regarding Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi, the Uchiha brothers..."
"Hmm? What's up with them now?"
Uehara Naraku raised his eyebrows a bit, curiously looking at Black Zetsu: "Isn't it that Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke will start their duel after we seal the Three-tailed?"
"I think you shouldn't make your relationship with them too strained."
Black Zetsu looked at Uehara Naraku's curious expression, laughing insidiously: "After all, when they have their life-and-death duel, the winner's power will rapidly leap forward, they can become our pawns..."
"..."
Uehara Naraku was a bit speechless.
So many people are eyeing Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi!
But it's quite normal for Black Zetsu to be interested in them, after all, Black Zetsu is deeply aware of the difference between the Mangekyo Sharingan and the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, so Black Zetsu has always been very concerned about those Uchiha with brothers.
In history, the Pacific Ocean battle between the Uchiha brothers, explained brilliantly by Black Zetsu and White Zetsu as gold medal commentators, was full of twists and turns.
Maybe, this time, the Uchiha brothers' battle will still require commentary from Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, only this time there might be more viewers.
"Elder Zetsu."
Uehara Naraku looked at Black Zetsu, curiously asked the question: "Why does the winner between the Uchiha brothers gain power so rapidly?"
"That's a secret of the Uchiha Clan..."
White Zetsu's face showed a trace of a sinister smile, speaking coldly: "Perhaps in the future, Itachi or Sasuke might be stronger than you!"
"To elaborate would take too long, let's not delve into it."
Black Zetsu interrupted White Zetsu, softly saying: "This matter is known by very few, outsiders apart from the Uchiha Clan, knowing it won't be of any use, so you also don't really need to be aware of this..."
Uehara Naraku: "..."
They're distancing me again!
With Black Zetsu's attitude towards its own people, who would want to work with it?
No wonder the only two remaining in the Eye of the Moon Plan are spies undercover next to it!
As expected, despite living for a thousand years, Black Zetsu still hasn't learned the Art of Commanding; all its life, it's merely a common advisor, forever a henchman.
Uehara Naraku watched Black Zetsu and White Zetsu merge into a Venus Flytrap disappearing before him, involuntarily curling his mouth, just because he's not an Uchiha, they won't tell him the truth?
This guy really thinks it controls everything?
In the following days of rest, the Akatsuki members who enjoyed private networking went ahead, while those who liked staying in rested, waiting until the official mission began.
Capture the Three-tailed Isobu: Uehara Naraku, Deidara, Sasori of the Red Sand, Momochi Zabuza, Uchiha Sasuke.
Earn organization funds: Kakuzu, Hidan, Hoshigaki Kisame, Uchiha Itachi, Hozuki Mangetsu, Ringo Ameyuri.
Intelligence personnel: Zetsu.
Base guard: Nagato, Pain, Kaguya Kimimaro, Haku.