45. Partners

With Obito's Kamui, leaving Konoha naturally wasn't difficult.

Soon, Kagami and the others had left Konoha far behind and were on their way to the Akatsuki's base.

"In the organization, everyone calls me Tobi. I'm not an official member, just an apprentice with no real abilities. Watch your attitude toward me."

On the way, Obito suddenly spoke to Kagami.

"Come to think of it, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Madara Uchiha. Don't be surprised. Precisely because of this, I don't want anyone to know I'm still alive. That would make things very troublesome. By the way, the leader of the Akatsuki is the person beside you. You can call him Pain. In the organization, only the people here know my true identity."

"My name is Konan."

Konan briefly introduced herself.

Pain spoke expressionlessly.

"The Akatsuki operates in pairs. Our ultimate goal is to collect the Tailed Beasts and use them to intimidate the world, thereby achieving peace. Although you joined the Akatsuki to take revenge on Danzo, you cannot go against this purpose. Once we reach the base, I'll arrange someone to be your partner."

Before long, the group arrived at a stone cave. The moment Kagami entered, he clearly saw the enormous shell of the Ten-Tails.

In the early days, this was the Akatsuki's base.

"A child?"

Suddenly, someone appeared on the enormous palm of the Ten-Tails' shell. He wore a standard Akatsuki Robe and had a pale complexion, with purple markings on his face. At that moment, he looked into Kagami's eyes and spoke in surprise.

"Three Tomoe Sharingan? Hmm, could he be that Uchiha Kagami from Konoha?"

Kagami looked at the man coldly.

"Orochimaru?"

Orochimaru smiled faintly.

"You've seen me?"

"No. I've heard people describe you."

"I see. Then, Kagami, would you be interested in becoming my partner?"

Orochimaru gave Kagami an eerie smile as he spoke.

Meanwhile, Obito no longer had that imposing boss-like air from before. Instead, he jumped out like an idiot and spoke.

"Huh? Senior Orochimaru, don't you already have Senior Sasori as your partner?"

Orochimaru turned and looked at Pain.

"Leader, it's not as though partners can't be changed, right?"

Pain gave Orochimaru a cold look.

"He's a newcomer. Although he's very strong, he's only seven years old. Let him partner with Tobi for now."

Kagami was startled. Have me partner with Obito? This definitely wasn't Pain's decision alone. Obito must have wanted this as well.

However, it didn't matter. Kagami wasn't worried about Obito attacking him. To be honest, although he had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, possessing the Mangekyo didn't mean he could use it. Kagami had awakened it too quickly, causing his Eye Power to fall far behind the rate at which his eyes had evolved. As a result, even activating the Mangekyo was extremely difficult for him, let alone using its unique abilities.

Thus, in truth, Kagami's strength, relying on his Three Tomoe Sharingan, could reach Jonin level. But if he fought desperately and activated the Mangekyo at any cost, he could temporarily reach Kage Level.

In his normal state, Kagami truly didn't meet the Akatsuki's standards.

Orochimaru spoke regretfully.

"So I'm supposed to be an apprentice like Tobi?"

The Deva Path's voice remained cold.

"No. He's an official member. However, his current strength doesn't yet meet the Akatsuki's standards, so he'll partner with Tobi for now."

"I see."

Several days later.

Kagami's hands had fully recovered after resting. Now wearing an Akatsuki Robe with a black base and red clouds, he met the members of the Akatsuki.

"Oh my, a child? When did the organization become a charity?"

A masked, hunched old man spoke sarcastically.

"He's an official member."

The Deva Path explained once again.

"Oh my, is someone this young qualified to become an official member?"

Another masked man, whose eyes were green, spoke.

"Ah, don't underestimate him, seniors! He's incredibly strong. He's already become Tobi's partner. Hahahaha!"

Tobi placed his hands on his hips, threw back his head, and laughed proudly.

Kagami didn't say anything. He quietly observed the current members of the Akatsuki.

The masked, hunched old man was probably Sasori, while the masked man with green eyes was Kakuzu. Besides them, there were Orochimaru, the Deva Path, and Konan.

There was also someone who hadn't spoken, with conspicuous red stripes across his mouth. After thinking carefully, Kagami figured that this person was probably Jūzō Biwa, Itachi's first partner in the future. He had assumed he might partner with this man, but he hadn't expected Obito to want to partner with him for a while first.

There was also a large man whom Kagami didn't recognize. He could be certain that this person wouldn't become an official member of the Akatsuki in the future, but Kagami didn't know who he was either.

After all, Kagami wasn't a machine. He had forgotten many details long ago. That large man was actually a passerby who was killed by Kakuzu in the original story. From beginning to end, he didn't even have a name.

But the person Kagami cared about most was the guy who looked like a pitcher plant, half white and half black.

Zetsu.

Kagami looked at him a couple more times. This was the future final boss, in a sense.

Then Kagami closed his eyes. He didn't want to have any dealings with these Akatsuki members. At present, his sole purpose in living was to kill Danzo. Everything else was irrelevant to him.

"Hmph. What an arrogant brat."

Sasori snorted unhappily.

"All right. Since you've all met, we'll begin assigning missions. Before we do, Kagami, I need to explain the Akatsuki's current situation. The Akatsuki is currently an underground organization that accepts various commissions from the Five Great Nations. No matter what kind of commission it is, as long as the payment is generous, we'll take it. Since you've joined the Akatsuki, you'll need to complete missions as well."

The Deva Path spoke to Kagami.

Kagami nodded.

"Understood."

Although the Five Great Nations of the shinobi world were currently at peace, they all feared that the others would grow stronger during this peaceful period and surpass them. Thus, they planned to undertake certain military actions. However, because it was peacetime, some military actions couldn't be carried out openly, or even by their own shinobi. That was where the Akatsuki came in. As long as a commission was issued, the Akatsuki would complete the mission.

"Then you and Tobi will be responsible for accepting missions near the Land of Fire. After all, you're more familiar with that area."

The Deva Path issued Kagami his mission.

Hello, friends! By the way, I got stuck while writing yesterday, and the headache was awful. Then I suddenly remembered—wait, didn't I have a system too? Hahahaha!

I even laughed at myself. I nearly forgot about the system. But actually, what I'd rather write is the protagonist relying on his own efforts and advancing step by step, rather than relying entirely on the system. Um... perhaps my thinking is still a little immature, but the feelings between Kagami and Shisui, his parents, and Itachi that you've seen so far are exactly what I want to write!

Of course, since I've already included the system, I don't plan to discard it. However, in this book, I should place very strict limits on the system's direct enhancements for the protagonist. Everything will still depend on the protagonist himself.

Finally, what do you call a transmigrator who doesn't change history? Although Kagami's former powerlessness prevented him from changing anything, from now on, the protagonist will gradually interfere in some major historical events.

(I'll say this quietly: Shisui will definitely have more scenes in the future.)