After leaving Konoha, Uchiha Itachi found himself somewhat lost when facing the Masked Man, about whom he knew nothing, and at first, he had no idea where to begin.
But he soon recalled that when the Masked Man had plotted the clan massacre with him, he had invited him to join an organization called "Akatsuki" after the plan succeeded, when he would have nowhere else to go.
This gave Uchiha Itachi a clue for finding him. Over the following period, Uchiha Itachi frequently visited places like underground exchanges, searching for information about the Akatsuki Organization and the Masked Man.
It was also during this time that word spread from Konoha that Uchiha Itachi had massacred his clan members and defected from Konoha. A bounty was even posted for him in the underground black market.
Uchiha Itachi also knew that this was both cover and a warning from his father, Uchiha Fugaku. It served as an explanation for the clan members, while also reminding him that he might be pursued by Anbu sent by the Third Hokage.
However, with the status of a rogue ninja, he no longer needed to exercise so many restraints and could move through all sorts of places more conveniently.
This news also gave Uchiha Itachi the idea of joining the Akatsuki Organization.
After all, the Masked Man's whereabouts were uncertain, and all the information he had gathered about the Akatsuki Organization over the past few days showed that it was a powerful organization made up of numerous S-rank rogue ninjas. If he barged in alone, he would only be courting certain death.
Yet this organization was currently searching for powerful rogue ninjas in the black market. From this, Uchiha Itachi deduced that they were recruiting new members and that their ambitions were far from small.
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