In the Ninja World, generally the more a person knows, the more dangerous they are.
However, Uchiha Itachi doesn't think that way. He believes that he must know enough to perfect his next plan. Someone secretly observing him and Sasuke is truly too dangerous.
Especially someone who has insight into his thoughts and uses his feelings for Sasuke to threaten him. How can such a thing not be guarded against!
Ask.
Of course he has to ask.
He must keep asking.
Uchiha Itachi looked at Hoshigaki Kisame. He needed to continue asking, trying to figure out from Kisame's words who was the mastermind behind him.
"I should have met that person, right?"
"The one you've met is never all of him."
After Hoshigaki Kisame finished speaking, he chuckled lightly and added, "Itachi-san, if you know too much, you and your brother will be very dangerous."
"If I don't know these things, isn't Sasuke even more in danger? At least visible threats can be avoided, right?"
After Uchiha Itachi said this, he began to analyze Kisame's words to at least narrow down the target since the person behind Kisame is someone he has met.
No, that's not right.
This is a bit difficult to analyze.
Because there are too many who meet the criteria.
Everyone might have another side to them. Trying to simply analyze it out is extremely difficult. The person hiding behind Kisame must be well-hidden.
A person who has never been exposed before.
Instead of analyzing the ultimate mastermind, it might be better to analyze Kisame's companions. This might offer a chance to find the right person.
Kiichi.
Uchiha Itachi subconsciously thought of Uehara Naraku's teammate in the organization, the guy who speaks very little but rarely makes a move, and was given the name Kiichi by Pain.
Because that guy always wears a hood, never showing his true face, and has never truly acted out!
Without a doubt, this person is the most suspicious.
If asked directly, would Kisame admit it?
Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn't, maybe it would just be a false answer.
The thing that troubled Uchiha Itachi the most was that he knew nothing about the person called Kiichi, only that he was Uehara Naraku's teammate.
After pondering for a while, Uchiha Itachi suddenly glanced at Hoshigaki Kisame and softly uttered a name: "Uehara Naraku…"
"..."
Hoshigaki Kisame's heart instinctively tightened.
Was their interaction that obvious? Uchiha Itachi actually guessed Uehara Naraku's identity directly!
Honestly, even Hoshigaki Kisame didn't expect it.
Unexpectedly, Uchiha Itachi suddenly continued, "Uehara Naraku… he has actually become your pawn, right?"
No matter whom he suspected, Uchiha Itachi didn't believe Uehara Naraku would be the mastermind. That would be too unreliable!
Relying on the favor of Konan and Pain, almost everyone knew that Uehara Naraku could potentially become the next leader of the Akatsuki.
Moreover, Uehara Naraku was quite arrogant…
Look at Uehara Naraku's behavior in meetings; he shows a facade of respect towards the organization's veterans while outright oppressing the newcomers.
Such tyrannical and abusive behavior…
He doesn't seem like a mastermind at all.
Besides, how could a mastermind befriend the Genin of the Five Great Countries' Ninja Villages and participate in the childish Chunin Examination?
Therefore, Uchiha Itachi believes Uehara Naraku is also a pawn.
Perhaps Uehara Naraku doesn't know the truth at all, or maybe he knows part of it, but at most, Uehara Naraku is just a pawn.
After all, when Uchiha Itachi joined the Akatsuki, Uehara Naraku was his contemporary, joining the Akatsuki on the same day as him, at that time…
Uchiha Itachi, thirteen years old.
Uehara Naraku, twelve years old.
The two fought a battle under Uchiha Obito's instigation, and Uchiha Itachi, with the advantage of Sharingan's Genjutsu, exploited a flaw and defeated Uehara directly.
To be honest, Uehara Naraku was quite weak back then.
Facing a member of the Uchiha clan, he didn't even know to avoid eye contact, probably not knowing the effect of Sharingan at that time, only aware of its reputation.
Over the years, Uehara's progress has been rapid. Perhaps he's gained the qualifications to be a pawn; his personality has also changed somewhat with his increasing strength.
Uchiha Itachi thinks it's possible that Uehara Naraku is a pawn.
It's hard to blame Uchiha Itachi for overthinking.
After all, how could someone who had seen through his orchestration of the night of the clan massacre back then possibly have been just a twelve-year-old brat?
Hoshigaki Kisame's heart relaxed immediately, and the corner of his mouth curled up, revealing an amazed expression, "As expected of Itachi-san… that kid Uehara Naraku is too naive and is always easily used by others."
After saying this, Hoshigaki Kisame tried lightly and deliberately to smear Uehara Naraku a little more: "How should I describe Uehara? We never considered him a qualified pawn.
In the Akatsuki, Uehara Naraku is a member who stops at nothing for the organization's tasks; in the Hidden Rain Village, he's someone who colludes with Konoha for the Hidden Rain Village; he doesn't even know how to choose for himself.
As long as someone persuades him, he will violate his previous promises.
This is a genius without his Ninja Path, someone who can easily be used at one moment and betray promises the next, hardly qualifying as our pawn."