A Strange Mission

Konan and Pain discussed it.

"There are still many things the organization needs to handle! We can't waste time here. I think we should leave this mission to those two!" Pain said.

"You actually came up with such a strange mission? Fine, I just hope they can hold up." Konan smiled.

To avoid dangerous people whose chakra points he had marked suddenly appearing nearby, Jin would always activate his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan in secluded places whenever he had nothing to do, checking the surroundings and observing any movements. Jin had marked Itachi, Sasuke, Uchiha Fuchiu and Mikoto, Hinata, the Hyuga Clan, Naruto, Kurosuki Raiga, Momochi Zabuza, Danzo, Orochimaru, and Konan. As for several particularly dangerous people, Jin did not dare let them enter his sensing range. Otherwise, he would never have a peaceful day.

That night, Jin activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan for the tenth time. After checking the chakra points around him, he concealed himself and left Konoha Village alone.

Jin quietly entered a private residence and thought, Danzo has finally come out! What is he planning to do?

"Your mission is to help me capture twenty members of the Uchiha Clan, between the ages of fifteen and thirty. Once it is done, you will receive the method for awakening the Sharingan!" the disguised Danzo said.

"Understood, sir! We will definitely complete the mission. We only hope you'll tell us how to awaken the Sharingan afterward." The leader among the three said happily.

Bang! The disguised Danzo turned out to be merely a clone.

Watching everything before him, Jin finally understood why Konan's clone had carried her chakra point during the battle in the forest. However, he still did not understand how Konan had hidden her real chakra point. Jin stayed close behind the three of them.

"Is this really worth it?" A asked.

"What's the big deal? They're only a few useless members of the clan," B replied.

"Are we really going to lay hands on our own clansmen? That would be betraying the clan! The clan head and Konoha won't let us off!" the cowardly C said.

"For power, we have no choice. I don't want to be a chunin for the rest of my life. Once we awaken the Sharingan, we can become jonin, or even special jonin." The leader, B, said.

"Fine! I'll listen to you. When do we make our move?" the indecisive A asked.

"After a while. Konoha's security has been very tight lately," B said.

Jin was practically running alongside them. Hearing their words, he was deeply shocked, privately lamenting how ambition had changed their very nature. After thinking it over, Jin let them leave in order to find the Danzo behind it all, then ran farther out of the village.

"Itachi, we meet again!" Jin suddenly appeared before Itachi.

"How did you know they weren't here? Ah, I forgot. You can turn invisible and check." Itachi spoke calmly, though his heart was anything but calm. He silently watched the old man before him, who had no killing intent yet could form ten hand seals per second. That was right—Jin was disguised.

"The Third Hokage told me about you. I also know part of the plan. Rest assured, we are friends, not enemies. I only want to ask: why haven't you left yet? You keep wandering around Konoha, and both the Third Hokage and I are very uneasy," Jin asked Itachi.

"I understand! But if I want to join Akatsuki, I have to kill members of my clan. I don't want to harm innocent villagers of Konoha Village. There's no other way—Konoha's security is too tight right now. I want to know what happened to the clan members who rebelled. If possible, release a few of them so I can kill them, complete my mission, and protect Konoha!" Itachi said forcefully.

"I really don't know what you're thinking. How could you make up your mind to kill your own clansmen? I know you hate war, but you can't take it out on your family! Did Danzo manipulate you?" Jin looked at Itachi.

Itachi fell silent.

"Damn Danzo, I'll kill him!" Jin said resentfully. Then he changed his tone. "You probably don't know this, but Danzo is using members of the Uchiha Clan for experiments. He forces them to awaken the Sharingan, then transplants them into himself. I think he wants to destroy the Uchiha Clan to erase the evidence, while ensuring no one can surpass the Sharingan he transplanted. His calculations are really loud and clear!" Jin analyzed through gritted teeth.

"I understand now! Danzo is exploiting my hatred of war!" Itachi suddenly realized.

"I think Danzo transplanted Shisui's Sharingan and used it to secretly control the thoughts of the council of elders. This is only my guess, but verify it when you get the chance. Konoha is weak right now and can't withstand a major war. It's dangerous for Akatsuki members to keep lingering around Konoha. Tomorrow, I'll find three clan traitors for you to kill. Don't worry, they've already sided with Danzo. Deal with them however you like. It's getting late, so I'm leaving! We'll meet again if we get the chance!" Jin smiled, waved, and left.

The next day, in the Hokage's office.

"Lord Hokage, this gentleman specifically requested that our three Uchiha Clan chunin, A, B, and C, escort his betrothal gifts to the Land of Water for an engagement. He said this mission must be rated B-rank, because he is a friend of the Uchiha Clan. Now that the Uchiha Clan has fallen on hard times, he wishes to do his modest part," an ANBU member said.

"Very well! In that case, assign the mission to those three chunin!" The Third Hokage said nothing more, because he had already received Jin's message. For Konoha's safety, he had no reason to refuse. He also understood why Itachi had not left for so long. Yet no matter what, he could not guess how Jin knew the entire plan.

Normally, escort missions would never fall to us. Today is really strange, the three Uchiha Clan traitors thought at the same time.

"We can finally go back! I'll never accept another Konoha mission again!" Konan said happily.

"Itachi! Go on! Kill those three, and you'll become a member of Akatsuki. We won't harm your younger brother!" Pain said.

Itachi was furious, because the people he had to kill were three traitors of the Uchiha Clan. In an instant, he appeared before them and rapidly formed hand seals.

Fire Release! Great Fireball Technique! "Pfft!" A massive fireball roared toward the three.

The three were not slow either. As members of the Uchiha Clan, they were very familiar with the Great Fireball Technique and had dodged away a moment earlier.

"Lord Itachi!" the three called out together.

Itachi activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and said coolly, "Let it all end! Tsukuyomi!" The three froze, then collapsed limply.

"Mm, not bad. He no longer wants to put on an act when killing. Looks like he has figured it out," Pain said to Konan.

"Itachi, welcome to Akatsuki! You are now a true rogue ninja! Let's go! Back to the base!" Pain called out to Itachi again.

The three left. Konan gave Konoha one last look and smiled softly. "Strange old man, let those two complete this strange mission."

(I'll be working the day shift tomorrow and won't get off until four, so I'll only have time to write afterward.)