"No entry here, you know~"
As Itachi looked up at the incessant rain, a voice sounded near him.
"So, this is the Akatsuki's headquarters."
When Itachi's eyes turned, his Mangekyo with the Shuriken pattern had already activated.
"Damn brat!" Black Zetsu's voice suddenly rang out.
Just as he was about to make a move—
"Itachi."
A deep voice sounded.
In the rain, a figure slowly approached. The spiral-patterned masked man made Itachi's eyes narrow slightly.
"What are you here for?" Obito's single eye stared intently at Itachi, only slightly avoiding Itachi's gaze.
"To join the Akatsuki." Itachi's tone was very calm as he stated his purpose.
"Heh—"
Hearing this, Obito let out a sneer.
"Do you find that funny?"
Itachi's eyes glanced slightly to the side. The figure he had just pulled into Tsukuyomi had already vanished. At this moment, countless figures were slowly surrounding him.
Just as Itachi was about to make a move, another person appeared, breaking the tense atmosphere among those present.
"Pain wants to see him."
Hearing this, Obito looked at the woman behind him.
"Follow me." Konan ignored Obito's gaze and spoke to Itachi.
Tap—
Tap—
On the water's surface, Itachi completely disregarded the masked man in front of him, stepping on the water to follow Konan.
"Madara, are you just going to let him see him?"
A pitcher plant slowly emerged from the water, it was Zetsu, who had just disappeared.
"It's fine, he's just a Mangekyo user, that's all." Obito said casually, as if he didn't care.
"It's different. I was just momentarily careless and he pulled me into a genjutsu. His ocular power is very great."
Obito didn't respond to Zetsu's statement, only looking at the tallest central tower within Amegakure.
Pain was already getting a bit restless.
—
Inside the circular hall, as Itachi stepped in, he was enveloped by an overwhelming aura.
"Itachi."
"Konoha Anbu squad leader, Uchiha clan's young clan head."
Pain spoke, while opening his ripple-patterned Rinnegan, his gaze fixed on Itachi before him.
"That's in the past. I'm here because I want to join the Akatsuki." Itachi ignored what Pain said, instead looking intently into Pain's eyes.
"Are those the Sage of Six Paths' eyes?"
Hearing this, Konan looked at Itachi with caution.
"These are the eyes of a god." Pain, on the other hand, didn't care about Itachi's attitude and responded calmly.
"So, can I join?" Itachi nodded, looking at Pain before him.
"Reason." Pain asked after a long silence.
"War, I'm tired of it." Itachi didn't hesitate, speaking it out directly.
Hearing this, Konan couldn't help but clench her palms.
This guy.
"You can." Pain nodded, raised his right hand, and something flew towards Itachi.
"From today onwards, your codename is Suzaku."
With that, Pain's figure vanished from the spot.
"Let's go, I'll take you to get your uniform." Konan said, then turned and walked out of the hall.
Looking at the trench coat in his hand, Itachi didn't hesitate and put it on. He also took off his forehead protector, and a kunai scratched it, leaving a striking mark on the Konoha forehead protector.
"If there's a mission, you'll be notified." Konan watched Itachi finish all of this, then turned and left.
With Konan's departure, Itachi finally looked up at his surroundings.
"Just as Orochimaru said."
He recalled defeating Orochimaru in the Land of Rice Fields. When he asked about the Akatsuki's situation, Orochimaru grinned and said that if Itachi wanted to know, he'd have to go himself. He just had to say he wanted to join, and as for the reason, any excuse would do. No one would care if it was true or not.
Orochimaru had only said he wanted to pursue the truth of the world, and Pain had let him join. This was the point Itachi understood the least.
Even knowing he might be an undercover agent, Pain seemed completely unconcerned if he would do anything detrimental to the Akatsuki.
Was it that Pain was overly confident in his own strength, or—
Itachi shook his head. He would look into these matters later.
—
"Pain, that guy clearly has other motives."
After leaving, Konan arrived on the high tower's platform and spoke to the figure before her.
Pain didn't turn his head, merely stating his thoughts, "It's fine. Akatsuki currently has too many vacancies. He has his motives, and we just need capable people to join."
"As for later, if there are any unusual movements, I will take action."
"Konan, speed up the recruitment process." Pain instructed Konan, then continued to look down at Amegakure below.
"Okay."
—
"Father, what did you say?" Sasuke asked Fugaku with a look of disbelief.
Fugaku said very calmly, "The village has a mission for Itachi to carry out, so it will be announced publicly that he has defected from Konoha."
"Why?"
Sasuke couldn't believe it. That was a rogue ninja, and now Itachi needed the identity of a rogue ninja for a mission.
Fugaku looked at his younger son before him, speaking only after a long moment, "There's no 'why,' Sasuke. This is a decided matter."
"I'm going to sensei." Sasuke looked at his father, then turned and ran out.
"Fugaku, must it really be this way?" Mikoto walked out from a room, asking with a worried expression.
Fugaku nodded. "Don't worry. Hokage-sama said this is necessary for the mission, and Itachi's return will be announced later."
He and Hiruzen had cooperated for a long time. He understood some things to a certain extent.
Moreover, to prevent him from doubting, Hiruzen wrote a scroll, ensuring that no matter who became Hokage in the future, this scroll would prevent Itachi from bearing the crime of a rogue ninja.
—
On the Training Ground.
Facing Sasuke, Shinji helplessly rubbed his brow.
Last night, Hiruzen had issued this order. This undoubtedly threw a bomb into Konoha's Jonin ranks, and for a time, countless people were searching for the reason.
However, Hiruzen ordered no discussion, and some clever ones had already figured it out. Those who hadn't figured it out also shut their mouths, no longer asking questions.
"Don't worry, Sasuke, Itachi is just on a mission. It's just that this mission will take a very long time, and he can't use his Konoha identity."
Helpless, Shinji looked at Sasuke before him, only able to explain it this way.