The quiet room was filled with a sudden weight of silence. Konan and Pain exchanged glances, both taken aback by the revelation. Neither had known that Izumi and Itachi were lovers. The secret relationship between two of the most enigmatic Uchiha had remained hidden even from the inner circles of the Akatsuki until now.
Konan broke the silence first, her voice calm but curious. "So, you two are lovers? I heard from Zetsu that you faked your death and left Konoha. Were you killed by Madara?"
Izumi, still nestled inside her puppet costume, raised a sign toward them, the characters written clearly in bold strokes: "No. I was killed in Uchiha Itachi's arms. It was an ambush. Anbu were nearby, afraid I would escape, so they set a barrier to trap me and threw several kunai to ensure my death."
The room fell silent once more. Konan's sharp mind worked quickly, piecing together fragments of information. It seemed Izumi had not only foreseen some of these events but had been intimately involved in them. If she and Itachi were a couple, then surely she must have known about Itachi's future—his joining Akatsuki, his rogue path. Or was it something else entirely?
While Konan pondered, Izumi suddenly raised her sign again, an amused gleam in her eyes: "What's wrong? It's just a couple—aren't you two as well?"
Pain and Konan glanced at each other, caught off guard.
Pain shook his head and replied, "No, we are not a couple."
Izumi, ever playful and sharp-tongued, poked her head out of the puppet costume and teased, "Hey, hey, you two are inseparable every day, and you say you're not a couple? Leader Pain, don't you feel moved by a beautiful and charming woman like Konan?"
Both remained silent, an awkward moment settling over the group.
Izumi stuck out her tongue and grinned mischievously. "My apologies—I didn't mean to stir up painful memories. But life is only a few decades long. If you have someone by your side, cherish them. Having experienced Pain's hardships, you two should know this better than anyone."
She ducked back inside her puppet costume, holding up another sign: "Marriage and achieving ideals are not mutually exclusive!"
Pain gave a half-smile, his stern demeanor softening. "That's our business. You're just a young girl, but you act like you're very experienced."
Izumi's eyes sparkled. She raised her sign once more: "I've been in love. Have you? Have you ever been in love?"
Pain didn't respond immediately. Though he had never truly experienced love, he held deep feelings for Konan—the woman his late brother had loved. Since then, Pain had poured his soul into his cause, letting nothing else distract him.
Konan broke the tension with a soft laugh. "Alright, alright, enough about romance. Pain, discussing love with a young girl—you're just asking for trouble."
Pain chuckled, conceding the point. "True. Itachi will be here soon. Should I introduce you two?"
Izumi wrote on her sign: "No, let me be an intern for now. But I can do missions. If you're short-staffed, I'll join officially."
Pain nodded. "Alright. You've already done much for the Land of Rain. Feel free to make any requests—I'll try to fulfill them."
Izumi smiled and wrote back: "We'll see."
---
Meanwhile, in the heart of Konoha Ninja Village, the Third Hokage stood solemnly among the rubble and countless lifeless bodies scattered across the streets. His face was etched with grief and fury.
"Who could have done this?" he demanded, voice trembling. "Who is capable of such cruelty?"
Far in the distance, the main residences of the Mitokado and Utatane clans were completely leveled, flattened beyond recognition. No one had survived.
Two elderly figures, Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, knelt by the remains of their fallen families, tears streaming freely down their wrinkled faces.
A nearby ninja approached and whispered urgent news into their ears.
"Is this true?" Homura asked, voice cracking.
The ninja nodded solemnly.
"It is," he confirmed.
Without hesitation, Homura and Utatane stood up. "We must find Sarutobi and Danzo immediately. They must explain why only our two clans have been spared."
The ninja bowed and sprinted off to deliver the message.
The Third Hokage looked at the grieving elders with heavy guilt. "I had nothing to do with this."
"You say you didn't," Homura said bitterly. "Then why are your two families the only ones left untouched?"
"I don't know," Sarutobi admitted quietly. "I wish I had an answer."
But Homura's eyes burned with suspicion. "Don't tell me you and Danzo made a secret deal with Itachi—letting him destroy the rest of the village while sparing your clans."
"Sarutobi, calm yourself," Utatane urged.
"How can I calm down?" Homura snapped. "This betrayal cuts deeper than any blade."
Sarutobi lowered his head in defeat. "I'm truly sorry for the loss you have suffered, but this was the enemy's doing—a divisive plot meant to break us from within."
Homura shook his head angrily. "We were too lenient with you and Danzo in the past. We will watch you both closely from now on."
As the two elders turned and left, Sarutobi sank heavily into his chair. The devastation wrought on Konoha was unimaginable. The Uchiha clan was wiped out, and the Mitokado and Utatane clans were nearly destroyed. Most families had suffered terrible losses. Sarutobi knew he bore much of the blame.
He sighed deeply. "Send for Jiraiya. He must appear to deter other ninja villages from exploiting our weakness."
"Understood, Hokage-sama."
---
Days later, shocking news rippled across the entire ninja world: the famed Uchiha clan had been annihilated, not by an external enemy, but by Uchiha Itachi alone. Declared a rogue ninja, Itachi had defected and, in a catastrophic act, had detonated bombs throughout Konoha, destroying much of the village.
Konoha labeled him an S-rank rogue ninja and sent many ninja to the front lines in response. Among them, Jiraiya arrived to bolster morale and deter surrounding ninja villages from attacking.
---
Meanwhile, far from the turmoil, Uchiha Itachi followed Uchiha Obito to Akatsuki's temporary hideout. The group waited in anticipation, curious about which formidable warrior would join their ranks next.
When Itachi entered, the room fell silent. Eyes fixed on the newcomer.
Orochimaru stepped forward, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "Isn't this Itachi? Long time no see."
Itachi's expression flickered in shock. "Orochimaru? I didn't expect to see you here."
Uchiha Obito smiled knowingly. "Ah, you two come from the same village—a nostalgic reunion."
Orochimaru's voice was hoarse but amused. "I heard the rumors. You really are from this side."
"Itachi frowned, confused. "This side?"
Orochimaru explained, "We are the ninjas who see attachments like village, family, and comrades as burdens that chain us."
At that moment, Pain's voice cut through the tension. "Akatsuki's goal is true peace in the ninja world. We will replace the Five Great Nations and rule over the entire world."
Itachi sneered slightly. "What a grand wish."
Pain, understanding Itachi's cynicism, continued calmly, "To achieve this, we gather the most excellent ninja, regardless of background or experience. Itachi of Konoha, welcome to Akatsuki. Reject Konoha even more vehemently."
Itachi lowered his eyes to his forehead protector and drew a horizontal slash across its symbol, the weight of his decision settling upon him.
Pain handed Itachi a ring with the character "Zhu" (Vermilion) engraved upon it.
"From now on, you are Itachi of Akatsuki," Pain declared solemnly.
With that, Itachi officially joined the organization.
"Let the world experience Pain," Pain declared, and the group of nine formed pairs, preparing to disperse and begin their missions.
Pain turned to Biwa Jūzō. "Jūzō, you and Itachi will form a two-person squad."
Biwa Jūzō glanced at Itachi, who gave a slight bow in acknowledgment.
"Follow me, rookie," Jūzō commanded.
"Itachi nodded. "Yes."
Together, they departed. Orochimaru lingered, watching Itachi's retreating figure, his mind plotting to obtain Itachi's body for himself.
---
After Pain left, Izumi and Obito remained standing together, watching the departures.
Obito asked, "What do you think of Itachi?"
Izumi raised a sign and wrote: "Most likely a spy planted by the Hokage."
Obito's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Even after all this, he's still loyal to the Hokage? Are you sure?"
Izumi raised another sign: "Only in name. He probably won't give the Hokage any valuable information."
Obito nodded thoughtfully. "I see."
He then asked, "What do you think of Pain?"
A voice suddenly echoed from within Izumi's puppet costume, mischievous and amused. "Heh heh heh… The Rinnegan surprised me. His method for achieving world peace isn't bad. At least he's making an effort, unlike some who only talk."
Obito sneered. "That's quite a high evaluation."
Izumi smiled. "Without you, he'd only be a figurehead. But don't worry—I prioritize your orders. After all, you are the true boss, and we are all working toward the same goal."
Obito smirked. "Hmph, our goals align—for now."
Izumi nodded and continued, "The real test will come later. We'll see who prevails. But tell me—what's your trump card?"
Obito chuckled darkly. "Do you think I'd tell you?"
Izumi grinned, then vanished in an instant. Obito snorted coldly and disappeared as well.
---
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