231-235

Chapter 231: Borrowed Eyes 

"Big Brother Itachi, who was that strange person?" Naruto, carrying Sasuke on his back atop a statue, finally asked after the mysterious figure departed. 

"An ancient one," Itachi replied, looking out at the unobstructed view, answering Naruto's question. "Let's go. We still have a long way to travel." Itachi didn't wait for Naruto to speak again. He sensed Sasuke's chakra gradually calming and his powerful ocular jutsu, then spoke. 

"This place looks a lot more desolate than the Leaf Village, doesn't it?" Naruto, like a curious child, spoke again. After all, this was his first time seeing different environments and arriving at new places. There might have been some information in books, but Naruto wasn't the type to learn that way. Since he couldn't absorb knowledge from books, he could only experience the world's mountains and rivers for himself. 

Itachi didn't say anything; he simply didn't know what to say. Naruto had just broken free from what he considered a cage, so naturally, everything outside seemed captivating. But as time went on, he wouldn't think that way anymore. It was the same for him when he left the village... 

"We're back." Itachi led the curious Naruto into the secret passage, finally reaching their destination. 

"Hmm, you're back quite early," Itachi said, finding a seat. Sasuke, meanwhile, was carried away. A freed Naruto stretched his arms and sat down next to Itachi, not feeling awkward at all. 

"How did it go?" Kakashi, sitting not far from Itachi, asked with a hint of complexity. 

"It went well. There was an unexpected turn at the end. I personally dealt with Hiruzen Sarutobi," Itachi said calmly, looking at Orochimaru. Sure enough, Orochimaru's expression became a bit unnatural. 

"Danzo Shimura has always been that kind of person," Kakashi remarked, feeling no surprise. In his memory, that sinister Danzo Shimura wasn't easily controlled. 

"What should we do next?" Orochimaru didn't want to dwell on the previous topic, so he changed the subject. Just then, a maid walked in and poured hot tea for Itachi and Naruto. The hall fell silent. 

It wasn't until the door closed that Itachi's lips parted slightly: "Find the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools and locate those masks." He thought of Madara, who had already left days ago. The next phase should be to quickly gather the Tailed Beasts. Itachi planned to prepare Minato's half of the Nine-Tails first. The Nine-Tails' chakra within the Sage of Six Paths' tools wasn't enough. And the scattered Nine-Tails' chakra elsewhere was just a drop in the bucket; he'd have to sacrifice half of the Nine-Tails. To retrieve that half, he would need Zetsu's body, masks, and a perfected Edo Tensei. 

"Alright..." Orochimaru spoke faintly. 

"You should also quickly improve your strength; a chaotic era is approaching." Itachi advised the somewhat listless Orochimaru. He didn't want this incident to cause Orochimaru to fall into despair. Orochimaru nodded lightly, indicating he understood Itachi's words. 

"The atmosphere seems to have gotten a bit strange," Naruto said without preamble as Orochimaru and Kakashi left. Itachi naturally knew why it had become this way, but there was nothing he could do. Time was running out. His current level was still a long way from Hashirama's. Not to mention, he also had to consider the growth and arrangements for Naruto, Sasuke, and the others, in case of unexpected events in the future, to have more options. 

"Your human world is nothing special after all." Two figures walked along a path. In front was a handsome middle-aged man radiating an unapproachable aura. Behind him was a refined young man, but the young man's eye sockets were empty, born without eyes. The young man wore a simple white robe and held a crystal orb in his hand, which glowed with a faint, wondrous light. 

Madara had no intention of answering Toneri's words. He was already eager to have a good talk with Black Zetsu. After all, his strength had been stagnant for many years, and now there was hope of breaking through to a higher level, so naturally, he was burning with impatience, even if he appeared outwardly calm. 

Konoha. Hashirama, back in Konoha, saw the sorrowful faces of the people everywhere. He sighed inwardly, thinking that little monkey, Hiruzen, had some good methods. In some ways, even as Hokage, he wasn't as skilled as Hiruzen Sarutobi. However, compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who died like a hero, Danzo was now despised by everyone. As some dark incidents came to light, even though many had forgotten, the plights of many heroes resonated with them. After all, the very foundation of Hiruzen Sarutobi's Will of Fire was these heroes, whom he had packaged and promoted... 

"Who are you?" Hashirama sat in the main seat of the high hall, calmly sipping tea. Hiashi Hyuga looked at the man with a grim expression. This person had silently infiltrated the heavily guarded clan compound and appeared in his family's main hall. 

"I need a pair of Byakugan," Hashirama said, staring at the stranger's face. The Hyuga clan wasn't full of good people either; he'd had many dealings with them back in the day. If it weren't for him quelling the wars, the Hyuga clan would have probably been decimated by Madara long ago. 

"Hmph! The Byakugan is not something you can covet! Don't think that just because our Hokage is dead, you people hiding in the shadows can come into the light again!" Hiashi looked at Hashirama, his face stern, believing Hashirama to be a terrorist coveting their Byakugan. But he didn't even consider where he was—this was the Hyuga clan's compound. 

Hearing Hiashi's words, Hashirama raised an eyebrow slightly. He suddenly remembered that in the Hyuga clan, while the Main Family might have preserved Byakugan, the Byakugan of the Branch Family members were mostly destroyed internally by the Caged Bird Seal after their deaths. Thinking about this, his expression became a bit strange. He felt that Hiashi's eyes had a good level of purity. After all, he was the head of the Main Family. 

Hashirama thought it was best not to delay any further. This junior was so oblivious, he might as well just take them for now. Anyway, they should have spares. 

"It's no use. Are you trying to notify someone outside that an intruder has entered? Even if you scream until your throat is hoarse... no one will know." Hashirama spoke as he stood up. Halfway through his sentence, his figure had already appeared beside Hiashi. Watching the other party instantly appear beside him, a thick finger rapidly enlarged in his vision. 

Hiashi fell silent... Especially his body, which was completely unable to move, as if he had been struck by a pressure point technique. The head of the Hyuga clan, paralyzed by a pressure point strike... This... 

Moments later, Hiashi, with blood streaming from his eye sockets, regained his mobility. He didn't pursue, nor did he raise an alarm. He understood the vast difference in their power. Even calling for his clan members would only lead them to their demise. It was better to pretend nothing had happened. The other party not killing him to silence him was already an act of mercy... After all, if he had been at that level, he wouldn't have been so gentle... 

Chapter 232: Brothers' Chat 

"Mmm!" Sasuke slowly opened his eyes... The tomoe flickered in his eyes and then vanished. Staring blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling, Sasuke was dazed. But... a moment later... 

"Uchiha Itachi! Get out here!" Sasuke didn't get up, just yelled furiously. This startled the maid who was about to enter with a basin of water, making her drop it. 

--- 

But just as she bent down to clean up, a pair of shoes appeared in her vision. She curiously looked up, only seeing a back, followed by the sound of a door closing. 

"You're awake, Sasuke..." Itachi said to Sasuke, his voice incredibly gentle, not at all like a madman. Instead, he sounded like a refined young nobleman. 

He watched Sasuke first freeze, then his eyes turned red, his Three-Tomo Sharingan breaking free with his anger, quickly transforming into the Mangekyo pattern. Itachi inwardly sighed in relief. Success... 

He dodged Sasuke's punch and kicked Sasuke in the stomach. Watching Sasuke clutching his stomach in the corner, Itachi spoke softly... "Now, I can tell you many things... including what you've always wanted to know..." 

Sasuke, who was about to get up and continue attacking Itachi, froze. He gave up on getting up, looking up at Itachi. He remained silent, his eyes cold. He was now certain that his parents were also killed by Itachi, and all of this was somehow related to himself. Perhaps, he was just a tool for Itachi? Sasuke thought, his mind a mess. Otherwise, why would his older brother destroy everything he held dear? His heart was filled with endless sorrow, and even more, hatred for his own powerlessness. Even though he had grown stronger, he was still easily defeated by Itachi. 

--- 

"When I was four, I participated in the Ninja World War with Father. What I saw then was a battlefield littered with corpses, devastation everywhere. Their eyes held a sense of confusion and numbness. They had only one goal: to kill every enemy they saw..." Itachi's eyes seemed distant, as if recalling the scenes from back then... 

After a moment of silence, Itachi slowly walked over to Sasuke, pulled him up from the floor, and sat him on the bed where Sasuke had just been lying. "At that time, I wondered, what was the meaning of life?" Orochimaru's figure, and his own figure jumping off a cliff, appeared in Itachi's mind... 

--- 

"Later, the war ended, and the village finally found peace. Watching the people with light in their eyes, full of hope, hiding their sorrow and regaining hope for life, I wanted to protect all of it... That's when you were born, and I was almost six... You were like a little angel then, filling the void in my heart and giving me the motivation to protect everything. And I... also met the person who changed my life, Uchiha Shisui." 

--- 

Itachi calmly recounted his story, and Sasuke listened silently, without a word. Especially when he heard about the brief peace followed by Naruto's birth, the Nine-Tails' rampage, which was suspected to be manipulated, and the Uchiha clan being further ostracized. He seemed to understand Itachi's helplessness at that time... Even with desperate training, he couldn't change the minds of his clansmen, nor the village's perception of the Uchiha clan. As for Itachi's love for the village, Sasuke couldn't agree with it. He believed the Uchiha clan was his true home, and the village was merely a society formed by strangers. His "Grandpa Hiruzen" never appeared in Itachi's narrative. Sasuke recalled the politics he had observed... and fell silent. Hiruzen Sarutobi's image in his mind shifted slightly, but he still... didn't understand. He even felt indignant. How could Itachi turn his blade on his own roots, the Uchiha clan, just for those foolish villagers? 

--- 

Finally, when Itachi spoke of his clansmen being oppressed to the point of rebellion, Sasuke fell silent. Itachi was too young then... He couldn't do anything. If it were him, he wouldn't be able to do anything either. But... he would have stood with his clan. When Itachi spoke of Shisui's death, Sasuke looked at the sorrowful Itachi and remembered what had happened back then. That was also when Sasuke noticed the difference in Itachi's eyes. It was the first time he had seen his gentle older brother truly angry. It was an uncontrollable rage. Sasuke didn't understand why Shisui, being so strong, would still... 

--- 

Until Itachi posed that choice, Hiruzen Sarutobi's image instantly crumbled. This was the first time Hiruzen Sarutobi's name was mentioned by Itachi. But in his mind, it was as if he saw the scene... Itachi being forced to choose... Save himself, or quell the rebellion and protect the village. His own weight was equal to those two heavy choices... And that was Itachi's only condition... He was confused. He thought he was in that situation, as if he couldn't do anything. At that time, he was still young, would he lead his proud clansmen to attack the village, carrying his younger self in his arms? Moreover, Itachi loved the village so much... And there was Shisui's will, which was already gone. 

--- 

After recounting the beginning of the Uchiha Clan Downfall and his choice, Itachi's heart remained unsettled for a long time. Finally, just as Sasuke was about to ask another question, Itachi spoke again. This time, he spoke of the Uchiha clan's secret. 

"The pitiful Uchiha clan. The Sharingan seems powerful, but it requires witnessing the death of loved ones to awaken. And even reaching the Three-Tomo Sharingan is not the end of the Uchiha clan's bloodline..." 

"And when the Three-Tomo advances to the Mangekyo, it not only requires talent but also facing the same sorrow, or even stronger negative emotions, to break through that thin membrane." 

"And while the Mangekyo is powerful, obtaining such power comes at a great cost. Each time you use the Mangekyo's power, you will suffer a backlash, or a curse. Your eyesight will rapidly decline until you become blind. The only way to resolve this side effect is to fuse the Mangekyo Sharingan of a blood relative, advancing to the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, which will never lose sight..." 

Itachi spoke calmly. Sasuke's expression, however, grew sorrowful. "Yes, a pathetic clan. You did all of this just to get my eyes, to restore sight to your overused eyes?" After hearing Itachi's words, Sasuke suddenly felt that Itachi didn't take him away but chose to treat him cruelly precisely to make him awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan and then steal his eyes. And being manipulated and used by his own older brother, Sasuke's already sorrowful heart plunged even deeper into despair. 

--- 

"You're overthinking it." Seeing Sasuke's disturbed expression, Itachi stroked Sasuke's hair. His other hand pulled a scroll from his robe. Before Sasuke could ask, Itachi unsealed it. A container appeared before them, and inside were a pair of eyes... 

"These are our father's last remains for you," Itachi said, handing the container to Sasuke. 

"These are... Mangekyo?" Sasuke stared at the container, swallowed, and asked with surprise and uncertainty. After the sadness, waves of confusion washed over him; he felt like an idiot who couldn't understand or guess what was truly happening. 

Chapter 233: The Easy Mark Appears Again 

"You don't need it. Once you've mastered the Mangekyo Sharingan, you can begin the fusion. A great war is about to begin, and you don't have much time for sorrow." After sharing these secrets with Sasuke, Itachi felt a weight lift from his heart. Keeping these things bottled up had been incredibly difficult. 

Sasuke's mind was buzzing, and he was about to ask more questions when he realized Itachi had disappeared. He sat on the bed, feeling helpless, lost in thought. This was the answer he had always sought. But it wasn't the answer he wanted to hear. More than anything, it was bitter. Remembering Hiruzen Sarutobi's kind face, Sasuke felt utterly confused. Only his father's Mangekyo, clutched in his arms, could offer him a little warmth, dispelling his confusion and helplessness. Things had happened too fast, too suddenly; he hadn't prepared even a little bit, and now it was all set in stone. He wanted to hate, but there was nowhere to direct it, only a profound weariness and helplessness. His heart was left with only confusion and emptiness. 

"Go back. Tend to your own matters." In the living room, a group of people waited anxiously. Sasuke's outburst earlier had been quite significant. They could only wait here for the outcome, waiting for Itachi to return. It wasn't until Itachi suddenly appeared in the living room that they understood things were mostly over. 

"You certainly are decisive," Orochimaru said, looking at Itachi with a complex expression, his earlier concern now replaced with indifference. Itachi heard Orochimaru's words and saw his retreating back, a flicker of distant emotion in his eyes, before he gently shook his head, dispelling his thoughts. 

"What do we do next?" Kakashi was about to leave but stopped halfway. Compared to returning to the Leaf, he thought it was more fun to stay with Itachi. And they had all been waiting for Sasuke to wake up. This felt like a signal, a time for reflection after completing a task that had created some distance between them. Was it time to disband, or put aside past grudges and stick together for warmth? 

Hearing Kakashi's words, Itachi's lips curved into a slight smile. Heh, typical youth. They figure things out and move on so quickly. 

"You two can go search for the masks first. I'm going to take Naruto and Sasuke to begin the next phase of their training." Itachi looked at Kakashi earnestly, his expression showing a deeper sincerity and genuine care. While he had always considered Kakashi a friend, he never expected the feeling to be completely mutual. So, there had always been a slight barrier. But receiving his response now, he felt he could truly deepen their bond. After all, good friends last a lifetime, and spending a little more time is worth it. 

"Big Brother Itachi, where are we going?" Naruto asked, looking at Itachi ahead of him with curiosity. As for Sasuke beside him, he occasionally patted his chest, looking a bit reluctant, and sometimes cast a complex glance at Itachi's back, but overall, he seemed relatively normal... 

"I'm taking you to learn something amazing," Itachi said without turning back, his voice calm. On this trip, he planned to have Sasuke and Naruto train in Senjutsu. As for why he wasn't using the Reverse Summoning Jutsu to go straight to Ryūchi Cave, it was because he had some free time now, and he wanted to spend it with Sasuke, to help him clear his head. Otherwise, just throwing him into a boring place like Ryūchi Cave might make him even more depressed. As for Naruto, he didn't plan for him to train in Ryūchi Cave's Senjutsu. Myōboku Mountain's Senjutsu was a better fit for Naruto. After all, Naruto had the perfect Sage Mode, and it was better not to mess with that. Just in case something went wrong. After all, both Naruto and Sasuke currently only had six chakra natures. One lacked Yin, and the other lacked Yang. What if Senjutsu was connected to that? 

"Ah... more studying...? I haven't even finished learning the Flying Raijin, and I still can't sense space yet!" Naruto wailed when he heard he had to train again. This was just too much for him. As for Sasuke, a flicker of light appeared in his eyes when he heard "Flying Raijin," but it quickly faded. He touched the scroll inside his chest. The container within the scroll, holding his father's Mangekyo Sharingan, offered him some solace. 

"It's really cool, you know! When combined with the Flying Raijin, it's like becoming a true Sage!" Itachi, deeply understanding Naruto's psychology, tempted him when he was feeling down. 

For the next few days, the group traveled continuously. Occasionally, when they passed through towns, Itachi would choose to stay for half a day, letting the two children, who were seeing the world outside the Leaf for the second time, relax and help heal Sasuke's mind. Wouldn't want him to develop some yandere tendencies later, that would be bad. Naruto was just a bonus. Although Naruto appeared lively and outgoing on the surface, his eyes often revealed a deeper coldness. It was impossible to hide from a veteran like Itachi. However, Naruto seemed to have an inexplicable trust in him, which made his eyes clearer when he looked at Itachi. 

If Kakashi knew what Itachi was thinking, he'd probably be crying in the bathroom. Before Itachi appeared, all of Naruto's gentleness belonged to him. After Itachi showed up, he was always stuck doing grunt work and never even had a chance to say a few words to Naruto. 

"Two troubled kids..." Itachi muttered to himself. But he still hoped Sasuke would move on soon. Twelve-year-old Sasuke had already been dealt two major blows by him. And both times were... Thinking about this, Itachi felt quite helpless. 

Next, Itachi took the two kids to experience hot springs, eat street food, and try some fun activities. Like... peeking into bathhouses... That was a bit extreme. He filled the young minds of the two with a lot of crazy memories, so their past wasn't just black. Other colors started to appear. Like... yellow... candied apples... red... the grass by the river in the wilderness... green. Something different started to fill their hearts. 

"Did you hear? The easy mark showed up again! This time, she's in the small town next to us! We're rich!" Just as Itachi was wondering what kind of entertainment to arrange for the evening, the conversation of some passersby caught his attention. 

Easy mark equals Tsunade... And now that Hiruzen Sarutobi was dead and Jiraiya had returned, there was a high chance he would come looking for Tsunade... Tsunade equals Jiraiya. And Jiraiya equals the ticket to Mount Myōboku. Mount Myōboku equals Senjutsu... After all, Naruto was the Child of Prophecy. And once Naruto's matter was settled, Sasuke would have probably had enough time to clear his head. He could then be sent to Ryūchi Cave to train on his own. After that, he could go back to living a carefree and free life... Itachi fantasized happily, his lips slightly upturned, almost like the smirk of a villain in a story... 

"That guy must be sick. He's smiling so creepily. Let's go quickly, before he infects us..." Suddenly, a rather harsh voice reached Itachi's ears. He froze for a moment, sensing two people pointing at him, then walking away. His expression instantly froze. The two kids beside him looked at him strangely. Even Sasuke's gloomy expression showed a hint of unreadable emotion. And Naruto, being untrained, immediately covered his mouth and started giggling. 

Chapter 234: Black Zetsu's Thoughts 

"Finally, some peace and quiet," Itachi murmured a few days later, sitting by the window in a tavern. He watched the bustling street, a cup in hand, taking occasional sips. A faint blush crept across his cheeks, and his expression was a little hazy. 

"Itachi Uchiha, shall we talk?" Just as Itachi was enjoying the scenery, the gentle breeze, and his slightly tipsy state, a figure appeared opposite him. The person was clad in a black cloak with red clouds, a pitcher plant atop his head, and his face was half black, half white. 

Seeing Black Zetsu appear, a sharp glint flashed in Itachi's eyes, then vanished, replaced by the same hazy look. "Is there something you need from me?" Itachi picked up a fresh cup, poured Black Zetsu some sake, then put a few pieces of food into his mouth, chewing slowly. 

"I think you know more than I imagined. I've come to you to discuss a partnership," Black Zetsu said, downing his cup in one go, tilting it slightly, then setting it down. 

"Interesting... What kind of partnership?" Hearing Black Zetsu's words, Itachi's gaze returned from the scenery, looking at Black Zetsu with keen interest. The haziness in his eyes was gone, replaced by a clear sharpness. 

"You've been to the Warring States period. Madara isn't dead, and he's even reached Six Paths level. He's your pawn, isn't he?" Looking into Itachi's eyes, Black Zetsu spoke volubly, revealing what he knew. Itachi said nothing, merely observing Black Zetsu calmly. 

"Do you know Kaguya Otsutsuki?" Seeing that Itachi had no intention of speaking, Black Zetsu continued. This was his test, to gauge the extent of Itachi's knowledge. 

"You unfilial child, how dare you speak your mother's name directly." What Black Zetsu didn't expect was Itachi's reply. And with that single sentence, he was stunned. Such a deep secret—besides his mother and himself, only heaven and earth knew. How could Itachi know? 

"How... how did you know?" Black Zetsu's eyes widened, his voice faltering slightly. He truly couldn't understand why Itachi knew even this. What else didn't Itachi know? Did Itachi possess an ability similar to prophecy or time reversal? If so, Itachi was truly terrifying. 

"Show me your sincerity. What you know, I know. And some things you don't know, I know too. I know more than you imagine." Itachi said, looking at the somewhat stunned Black Zetsu. Black Zetsu was startled by Itachi's words, his eyes fixed deeply on Itachi, his expression incredibly complex. His eyes were profound, like an abyss. 

"It seems you haven't decided on a partnership yet," Itachi said, seeing Black Zetsu remain silent. He slowly stood up, drained the cup in front of him, and closed his eyes, savoring the gentle breeze caressing his face. Black Zetsu watched Itachi, now even more sober, prepare to leave. He fell silent. He was at a loss when facing someone like Itachi. What he knew, the other person also knew. And what he didn't know, the other person might also know. How could they even talk? It was like the other person could see right through him, as if he stood naked before them. 

"Zetsu? Zetsu?" After an unknown amount of time, a voice called out beside him. This gradually brought the bewildered Black Zetsu back to awareness. He looked up to find Obito had appeared beside him at some point. 

"What's wrong?" Black Zetsu's voice was a bit hoarse, with an inexplicable weariness. The light in his eyes was no longer as bright as before. 

"Madara's back. He's at the Akatsuki hideout and brought someone with him. He said he wants to see you." Obito's words confused Black Zetsu. Itachi clearly knew so much, and Madara was someone Itachi had secretly supported. Why would Madara need to see him now? To make fun of him? He couldn't figure it out. Zetsu's figure slowly sank into the ground... 

"Sir, you haven't paid for your table yet..." Just as Obito's figure was about to disappear, the panicked voice of the waiter reached him. Obito paused, looking at the leftover food on the table, bewildered. He hadn't even had a bite, and they wanted him to pay? Obito felt his pockets. Oh, right, I have no money. No need to worry about buying it or not... Obito's figure vanished in a swirl. On the table, a sizable gold coin shimmered. 

"You're back?" Madara sat in the main seat of the great hall, a blind, white-robed young man standing beside him. Below them were several bruised and battered individuals, all dressed in Akatsuki uniforms. As for Konan and Nagato, they were nowhere to be seen. 

"Yes..." Black Zetsu said softly, looking at the cunning Madara. However, when he saw the young man, his spirits lifted. 

"You may all leave now. Toneri, you too. Go rest for a while; you must be tired from the journey." Madara began dismissing everyone in the hall. Obito frowned slightly as Madara excluded him, feeling a touch of displeasure. He was a core member, after all. Why treat him like a thief? This was ridiculous. 

Only the two of them remained in the hall, and neither showed any inclination to speak. Black Zetsu finally realized it: no wonder Madara never fell for my schemes all these years. Itachi knows so much; it would be a miracle if Madara were truly fooled by me. He was probably just playing along with my act. Now that Madara was meeting him alone, was he planning to make a move against him? Black Zetsu felt a surge of panic, but he didn't show it. This is an opportunity not to be missed. I can't give up until the very last moment. Besides, Itachi knew so much about him yet hadn't dealt with him, which clearly meant Itachi had his own plans. The situation might not be as bad as he imagined. Itachi and Madara's relationship might not be as close as he thought. Black Zetsu analyzed calmly. 

"Did you see Toneri? Itachi said you'd understand once you saw him. We'll help you revive Kaguya, and we need your cooperation." Seeing Black Zetsu remain silent, watching him cautiously, Madara, unwilling to waste time, spoke directly. 

And after Madara spoke, Black Zetsu was stunned. That Toneri... is the vessel? Toneri, with his Otsutsuki bloodline, was indeed perfectly suited. However, he still lacked the Rinnegan and Byakugan, Black Zetsu thought to himself, but he didn't voice it. At this moment, he felt his head was about to explode. What was Itachi's game plan? He truly couldn't understand. But Toneri held an irresistible allure for him. He saw a glimmer of hope. Trying to fool Madara into becoming the vessel... Madara was already Six Paths level, and he didn't trust Black Zetsu that much. How could he possibly succeed in manipulating Madara's core? If he had that kind of ability, how could he have waited so long, planned for so long, endured for so long? 

"What do you need me to do?" Just as Madara was growing impatient, Black Zetsu sensed the increasingly cold aura from Madara. Black Zetsu spoke, his voice tinged with excitement. He decided to stop overthinking it. First things first, revive his mother. After that... Madara, Itachi—everyone would be under his and his mother's control. Black Zetsu suddenly felt that Itachi might have been bluffing, that he might not know as much as he let on. After all, his two brothers were both Six Paths level, and they were barely able to seal his mother. After reviving his mother, could Itachi and Madara still hold the upper hand? That would simply be an insult to his mother. 

Chapter 235: Twilight 

"Now, what you need to do is lead these small fries to complete the collection of the Tailed Beasts. Oh, and leave the Nine-Tails alone for now." Madara looked at Black Zetsu's eager expression, his heart cold. Just a pawn, what's he showing off for? However, he then thought about how even Itachi, who knew so much, still needed to cooperate with Black Zetsu. This indicated that Black Zetsu seemed to know a lot. 

"That person just now seemed to have some bad intentions towards me, and a hint of greed." Toneri sat on the bed, recalling Black Zetsu's appearance in his mind, feeling a bit uneasy. He was originally quite curious about how this land could produce a powerhouse like Madara, so he followed Madara down to explore. But now, he felt Madara might have ulterior motives... At least Madara's friend did, and his feelings became subtle. Although he was born without eyes, he possessed the ability to perceive the world without them, and could roughly sense others' emotions. 

That very night, Toneri quietly snuck out. He planned to search for any surviving blood relatives left by his ancestors. Madara acted as if he didn't notice Toneri's departure. There was no rush right now. Of course, more importantly, the crystal ball Toneri carried with him made even Madara feel a sense of threat; it wasn't a simple item. 

"Itachi, I found the masks. What do we do next?" A few days later, Itachi returned to Orochimaru's hideout. Before he could even sit down to rest, Orochimaru walked in. In his hand was a burlap sack, and vaguely, the shape of masks could be seen inside. Itachi immediately panicked. He actually got them back... Did nothing go wrong during the process? These things are so dangerous... 

"Next, I need you to research the Reaper Death Seal, specifically how to activate this jutsu using other people's lives. Also, the Impure World Reincarnation needs to be perfected as soon as possible," Itachi said without hesitation. As for his own mission... it was to get some White Zetsu. Kakashi, whose combat power was neither high nor low, had also been sent to train in Sage Mode. His good relationship with the White Snake Sage made everything convenient. Of course, there was also the idea that Sasuke's mental state was unstable, and Itachi wanted to find him a life mentor. After all, even a piece of paper or a stick of wood has its uses, let alone a person. 

A few days later, Konoha made a big splash. The Fifth Hokage took office. And the Hokage was a very young, shapely woman. This caused an uproar in the ninja world. Many people also knew Tsunade's reputation: the "Legendary Sucker." This now truly became the talk of the town. 

Meanwhile, a group of people began to move in the shadows... The organization, which had seemed high-profile but was actually low-key, finally revealed its fangs. Within days, they forcefully broke into several major villages and forcibly took Jinchuriki. 

Madara sat indifferently on the Gedo Statue. Normally, extracting and sealing Tailed Beasts required several people to work together, but Madara did it effortlessly by himself. Numerous Jinchuriki corpses were piled up in the cave. Perhaps finding them an eyesore, or fearing they would fester and stink, Madara ordered the corpses to be thrown not far away, at the gate of a city in the Land of Fire. This would also serve to deflect blame and briefly attract attention, making them focus on Konoha's internal squabbles, thus making their Jinchuriki capture plan smoother. 

Indeed, with the corpses appearing within the Land of Fire, the major villages couldn't sit still. Although Tsunade was a woman, her grandfather was Hashirama Senju, and Tailed Beasts were mere toys in Hashirama's hands. Coupled with her recent ascent to power, it was hard for them not to think this way. After all, the Akatsuki organization was, in their impression, more like a mercenary group. They would do anything for money. If the price was right and they took the job, there were usually no surprises. In an instant, various leaders were enraged and sent envoys, demanding an explanation from Konoha. 

Konoha, naturally, was the first to know about the incidents within its borders. Jiraiya looked at the intelligence Tsunade threw at him, his expression complex, recalling what Itachi had told him. Now, it seemed he had no choice but to go. The Akatsuki were causing such a huge commotion. If he didn't go gather information, he would be led by the nose. 

"Looks like I'm going to be half-dead again..." Orochimaru looked at the scrolls in his hand, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. Itachi was not holding back at all. To have him start so many projects at once, wasn't Itachi afraid he'd work himself to death? Of course, this was just a complaint; he could already smell the impending storm. Otherwise, the usually calm Itachi would never be so urgent. 

After a moment's thought, Orochimaru formed hand signs, and six shadow clones appeared in the room. Three clones would research the Impure World Reincarnation, and the other three, along with him, would research the Reaper Death Seal. Since the Reaper Death Seal was more potent, he focused his efforts there. Moreover, this was something Itachi had mentioned before, and it seemed a bit more urgent. 

"Konan, don't worry about me..." On the border of the Land of Rain, in a small house. A blue-haired woman, with skin like condensed cream, her hemp clothing outlining her perfect figure with graceful curves. Her sorrowful expression further enhanced her charm by several levels, making anyone who saw her feel an urge to protect her. 

"You know I won't abandon you." Konan looked at Nagato's face; the skin exposed on his arm was deeply wrinkled, and his silver hair made him look like an old man on the verge of death. 

"Listen to me, don't mind me. My lamp is running out of oil..." Nagato looked at Konan's determined expression, a bit helpless. He didn't want Konan to see him like this. He even less wanted to burden Konan. 

"Oh, isn't that Nagato? You look so pathetic after a few days." Itachi had originally planned to come to the Akatsuki hideout to find Black Zetsu and get a few White Zetsu for experiments and use. After all, whether it was to break the Reaper Death Seal or for the Impure World Reincarnation, White Zetsu were the best vessels. As he entered the Land of Rain, he unleashed his senses, intending for them to find him and tell them he had arrived, to come and greet him. But he didn't expect to find a familiar chakra signature. He came to see, and unexpectedly witnessed this scene. 

Watching Konan tending to Nagato, Itachi felt a bit annoyed. The curves beneath the hemp clothing... even her rounded, perky backside didn't seem so beautiful anymore. Wearing hemp clothing was one thing, but she had to wear one a size too small, wasn't that just provoking? No wonder Nagato was so weak. Itachi thought indignantly. 

"You've arrived..." Hearing Itachi's voice, Konan paused slightly, then slowly turned around. She looked at Itachi's still clear, handsome face, and the slight frown on his brow. These accentuated Itachi's unique, refined, and extraordinary aura. 

Nagato turned his head, slightly extended his hand, and an aged head emerged from behind Konan, looking past Konan's full figure that had obstructed his view, gazing at Itachi with a complex expression. His eyes were filled with murkiness.