The time returned to five days earlier.
Uchiha Liutong had also been thinking about how to lure out Uchiha Madara and wipe him out in one fell swoop.
In the end, he decided that doing every bad thing imaginable was the simplest and most reliable method.
Along the way, his guiding principle was:
Never refrain from evil simply because it was small.
Things like stealing children's lollipops and popsicles were far too beneath him.
Then there were such absurd acts as knocking on widows' doors in the middle of the night, sneaking into women's bedrooms, and dancing at midnight in someone else's funeral hall.
Most importantly,
he stole from and set fire to wealthy households, often deliberately letting himself get caught and announcing Uchiha Madara's name.
Petty theft was one thing.
But provoking people of status—like burning down a city lord's house—quickly made Liutong infamous.
Thus,
an "Uchiha Madara" with Sharingan, a Tiger Skin Mask, and a Red Cloud Black Robe became famous in a short time.
The Akatsuki Organization naturally learned of this news.
In a dim room, three figures were discussing the matter.
"Uchiha Madara, that wasn't you, was it?" Pain glanced at the subject of their discussion, who sat steadily in a recliner, and asked suspiciously.
"Hmph! Some nobody actually dared to tarnish my reputation." Uchiha Obito, shrouded in shadow so that only his outline could be seen, was clearly in a foul mood from his tone alone.
"I'll go grind him to dust."
"I've already sent Kakuzu and Hidan, who were closest, to deal with it."
"I'll handle it myself." "Uchiha Madara" twisted space and vanished.
"If someone is impersonating Uchiha Madara, then could the Uchiha Madara we've met also be fake?" Konan asked with concern.
Deep down, she had never truly supported the plan to gather the tailed beasts, nor did she trust Uchiha Madara, that man who wore a mask all day and never dared show his real face.
Still, she would unconditionally support Nagato's plan.
Pain replied in a cold voice, "Whether he is Uchiha Madara or not, the tailed beast collection plan must proceed. Only through the cycle of pain can peace be nurtured and born in this world. This is the plan we believe in."
"Yes."
"However, we cannot keep being deceived."
"I'll keep watching him."
Meanwhile, at almost the exact same time.
From far away, Uchiha Liutong sensed two people with unusual Chakra and headed over to investigate.
After arriving, Liutong found it was a fine place—lush waters, green mountains, pleasant scenery, a land of excellent feng shui.
Unfortunately, a toilet stood by the roadside, ruining the view.
After taking a look, Liutong found that it was a luxurious toilet, decorated in dazzling splendor. Yet despite that, a foul smell still drifted from within.
At that moment, two guys walked out of the toilet, grumbling and bickering. They were precisely the two people he had been looking for.
"Hey, I'm telling you, don't be in such a rush to kill people. At least let me spread the doctrine first and win a believer for Lord Jashin, Kakuzu." A handsome young man in a Red Cloud Black Robe walked out while complaining.
The other man, whose eerie eyes were the same color as money, counted his cash and cursed, "Idiot."
After examining them closely, Liutong noticed that both wore Red Cloud Black Robes. They were probably members of that "Akatsuki" Organization.
"Ah."
Liutong could not help sighing.
That night, Big Boss had been too busy teaching Uchiha Madara a lesson to spend much time learning about Akatsuki in the Duel Arena, leaving Liutong to run errands.
He had also been constantly tied up these past few days, with no time to visit the Duel Arena and gather information.
Fortunately, he already knew the Akatsuki Organization existed, and his target, "Uchiha Madara," was a member of it.
Now, he had finally found his targets.
He leaped into the air, then his attention was immediately drawn elsewhere.
"Huh? You have so much money."
Kakuzu, who had been counting money, suddenly heard a voice beside his ear.
Turning his head, he saw a man in a Tiger Skin Mask standing beside him, though he had no idea when he had appeared.
"What speed!" Kakuzu was shocked and immediately jumped away.
Hidan, standing nearby, had no idea what was going on. Seeing the newcomer's Sharingan, Red Cloud Black Robe, and mask, he thought they had run into an acquaintance.
"Isn't this Tobi? Why are you acting alone?"
"Shut up, idiot. Look carefully at the mask. This isn't Tobi!" Kakuzu, wearing a face covering, warned him.
Even now, a trace of cold sweat remained on him. This man's speed, and the quality of the Chakra contained within those Sharingan—despite having lived for ninety years, Kakuzu still felt a profound threat.
Though the newcomer spoke casually, and his Sharingan even carried a clear stupidity, the instincts honed through countless battles told Kakuzu that this person was very, very strong!
This was absolutely not the kind of fear a nobody like Tobi could inspire.
Was this the target their leader had mentioned, the "Uchiha Madara" they were supposed to deal with? Surely he could not be the real Uchiha Madara?
"Not?"
Hidan was initially puzzled, but then a bloodthirsty, crazed smile appeared on his face. "Wouldn't that be even better? You have Sharingan, so you're from the Uchiha clan, right? I've wanted to taste Uchiha blood for a long time and see what makes it different."
As he spoke, he swung his strange scythe and charged at Uchiha Liutong.
Liutong jumped aside to dodge the scythe and nearly laughed out loud in delight. "You attacked me first, so it's only natural for me to strike back!"
"But you know me?" Liutong narrowed his eyes. He had not expected to gain such important information so quickly.
"Tobi? Is that the name?"
"Woohoo! Here it comes, Uchiha blood!" Hidan ignored him and launched another slash, which Liutong easily dodged again.
Kakuzu warned with lingering fear, "Hidan, be careful. This Uchiha is strong."
It was only a warning. Kakuzu knew Hidan's immortal body well. He had killed Hidan countless times without managing to keep him dead, or else they would not still be partners.
This was the perfect chance to let Hidan test this Uchiha. At worst, he could buy Kakuzu time to escape.
"Of course I know!"
Hidan shouted excitedly, "Neither Itachi nor Tobi are easy to deal with. But that's exactly why I want to taste Uchiha blood even more!"
Seeing Liutong jump onto a tree, Hidan slashed with his scythe.
Whoosh—crack.
A huge tree thick enough for two people to wrap their arms around was severed cleanly at its base.
"What a sharp scythe."
Dodging another attack in a flash, Liutong decided to try attacking and obtain more information.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
Enhanced by Wind Release, six shuriken broke the sound barrier and pierced straight through Hidan's chest, leaving behind six enormous wounds.
"That hurts, you bastard!"
Hidan only cried out in pain, showing no further reaction as he swung the Reaper's Scythe even more fiercely.
Liutong grew interested at the sight. His eyes lit up. "Oh? An immortal body? No wonder you didn't dodge my attacks. I never expected something like this to exist in this world. You're simply premium material—Big Boss would drool the moment he saw you."
Liutong straightened up. The Tiger Skin Mask hid his expression from the two men, but the delight in his voice was unmistakable.
"Finding such rare material... Big Boss will probably praise me again."
Ignoring the Reaper's Scythe still swinging toward him, he said easily, "In that case, let's end this here."
Crack—
Countless shards shattered and reassembled.
"Genjutsu?"
Kakuzu was greatly alarmed.
He had five hearts in his body. Not only was his Chakra enormous, but its flow was also difficult to predict. How had he fallen under genjutsu?
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