Obito wasn't a fool.
With such a huge gap in information between them, he certainly wasn't going to do anything to Chen Xiaoxi.
After all, on the surface, Chen Xiaoxi had already become an indispensable fighting force within the Akatsuki.
He might even play a major role in the future Tailed Beast capture plan.
So,
after hearing Konan's account,
Obito decided to set aside his suspicions and prejudices for the time being and focus on his own grand plan.
After discussing it, Pain and Konan also
decided to follow the Masked Man's orders and continue their recruitment drive, expanding the Akatsuki's ranks.
They wanted to prepare for the official launch of the Tailed Beast plan.
Time flew by.
Before they knew it, several months had passed.
Two new members had joined the Akatsuki one after the other.
The first was named Fujii. He came from a small country and, despite his tall, imposing build, had the forgettable face of a middle-aged man.
The other was Juzo Biwa, from Kirigakure in the Land of Water. He had once been one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, but had defected because he was dissatisfied with the village's tyranny. He later joined the Akatsuki.
"Strange. Why did this guy only join now?"
Chen Xiaoxi muttered to himself.
He remembered that in the original story, this man, who wielded Kubikiribōchō, was Itachi's first partner after joining the Akatsuki.
But now, Juzo Biwa had only just joined the Akatsuki, while Uchiha Itachi was already taking part in missions.
"Ding! Main quest issued."
"Uchiha Clan Downfall Night!"
Chen Xiaoxi was completely stunned by the voice. What was going on? The Uchiha Clan Massacre should have already ended, shouldn't it?
What did this quest mean? Was he supposed to massacre them all over again?
"System, open the status panel."
"Ding."
A crisp notification sounded, and a translucent, water-blue interface appeared before him.
[Heavens Lottery System] [Host: Chen Xiaoxi] [Reiatsu: LV. 4 (Intermediate)] [Zanpakuto: Senbonzakura (100%)] [Swordsmanship: Proficient] [Hakuda: Proficient] [Flash Step: Excellent] [Kido: Excellent] [Items: Shihakusho (Akatsuki Ver.); Portable Gigai; Recovery Potion] [Other Skills: Hollowfication (LV. 1); Garganta (LV. 1); Reiatsu Sensing (LV. 4); Secret Technique: Thousand-Reflecting White Snake (LV. 3)] [Current Main Quest:] [Take part in the major event: Uchiha Clan Downfall Night (0/1), incomplete, reward unknown!] [Main Quest Branches:] [Read the stone tablet at Naka Shrine once (0/1), incomplete, reward unknown.] [Experience the Sharingan's genjutsu once (0/1), incomplete, reward unknown.] [Break the Sharingan's genjutsu once (0/1), incomplete, reward unknown.] [Experience the Mangekyō Sharingan once (0/1), incomplete, reward unknown.] [Collect 1 pair of Uchiha Sharingan (0/1), incomplete, reward unknown.] [Collect 5 pairs of Uchiha Sharingan (0/5), incomplete, reward unknown.] [Collect 10 pairs of Uchiha Sharingan (0/10), incomplete, reward unknown.]
"It really is the Uchiha Clan Massacre. Then what about Kisame and Uchiha Itachi, the ones I saw before?
"Uchiha Itachi has already joined the Akatsuki, so why would there be a massacre?"
"No, I have to ask Konan!"
"The rewards are extremely generous, but things seem to have strayed from the original story."
Chen Xiaoxi went to find Konan, but she said the Akatsuki didn't have either of those two people.
Chen Xiaoxi felt a chill run down his back. He had experienced those events firsthand, yet it seemed Konan had never encountered them.
No matter how he thought about it, Chen Xiaoxi couldn't figure out what had caused this. Could it have something to do with the environment in Sunagakure?
"Forget it. I'll take things as they come. With so many branch quests, I'll have to plan carefully if I want to complete them all in one night."
Chen Xiaoxi couldn't figure out why this had happened, so he stopped dwelling on it. The quests were what mattered. As long as there were rewards, who cared what kind of instance it was?
Besides, Chen Xiaoxi would have to face two opponents this time.
And they weren't some nobodies.
They were both Kage Level, and could even be considered close to the level of an Ultra-Kage.
The first was, naturally, the devoted son, Uchiha Itachi. He awakened his Sharingan at eight and his Mangekyō at eleven.
The second was the man who had secretly helped with the massacre—the Ninja World's biggest troublemaker, the mysterious Masked Man, Uchiha Obito.
Clearly,
if Chen Xiaoxi wanted to complete all the branch quests, he would have to deal with them.
If you come across an ad saying "Are you a real person?", ignore it and close it. Don't scan the code or send a text message!
"But if I do that, won't my identity be exposed?"
"This is troublesome..."
Chen Xiaoxi reached out a finger and rubbed his temple.
Just then,
two children from Amegakure suddenly dashed beneath the eaves beside the street.
They were making a racket, instantly interrupting Chen Xiaoxi's train of thought.
"Hey, Chuan Sang, look! What do you think of this new Demon Mask I bought today? Is it cool?"
"Waaah! What is that?
"Is it a demon? That's so scary!"
"Hahaha, it's fake!"
The two children played and shouted as they ran farther and farther away.
However,
after hearing what they said, Chen Xiaoxi's eyes suddenly lit up.
Wait.
A Demon Mask?
That's right!
How had I not thought of that?
If that bastard Uchiha Obito could wear a mask and pretend to be Uchiha Madara to fool people, why couldn't I?
Besides, when a Shinigami undergoes Hollowfication, doesn't he get a Hollow mask?
At that thought,
the corners of Chen Xiaoxi's mouth lifted.
A brilliant plan suddenly took shape in his mind.
"Heh."
"You two devoted Uchiha sons..."
"When the time comes, I'll just change my identity a little and have some fun with you~"
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
At dusk.
In the eastern part of the Land of Rain.
Far away, inside Konohagakure in the Land of Fire.
On the roof of the Hokage Building.
The sky was darkening, and a flock of crows flew past.
The sun had not yet set, but the full moon seemed to be rising already. Their crossing rays fell upon two figures below.
If Chen Xiaoxi had been there, he would have found it strange. Uchiha Itachi was still in Konoha—so who had he encountered earlier?
"Itachi, have you really... made up your mind?"
Looking out at Konoha, faintly illuminated in the distance, the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stood with his back to the person behind him and asked in a hushed voice.
His cloudy eyes held an inscrutable expression.
He stood with his hands behind his back, like a statue.
Behind him,
Uchiha Itachi knelt on one knee, his head slightly bowed.
After a long while,
he finally answered softly:
"Yes."
It was only one word, yet it sounded more resolute than ever.
Hearing his answer,
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly raised his head,
then narrowed his eyes slightly before letting out a long breath and saying quietly:
"If that's what you've decided, then do it."
"On my honor as the Third, I promise you—your younger brother, Sasuke, will live in safety and grow to adulthood."
Hiruzen Sarutobi kept his eyes narrowed,
his voice drawn out, as though it carried some unusual emotion.
At that,
Uchiha Itachi slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said in a low voice:
"Then... I leave him in your hands."
As the words fell,
his figure flashed and vanished from the spot.
Ever since the Nine-Tails Incident,
the Uchiha Clan and the village had been at each other's throats.
One side was plotting rebellion and a seizure of power,
while the other was considering suppression and annihilation.
Caught between them,
Uchiha Itachi ultimately chose to betray his clan and follow the Will of Fire in his heart.
He would protect the village's peace, as well as his younger brother.
For that, he could only accept the plan to destroy the clan that the Konoha High Command had hinted at.
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