Itachi Uchiha Joins the Akatsuki

The next morning.

Outside Konoha.

Itachi Uchiha stood quietly in the woods, carrying a small ninja tool bag on his back.

He was not wearing Konoha's ninja uniform.

Nor did he wear a Konoha forehead protector.

From this day onward, his public identity would no longer be that of a genius of the Uchiha Clan, much less a Konoha ninja.

He was a rogue ninja who had voluntarily left the village because he was dissatisfied with the Konoha New Order.

Of course, very few people knew the truth about his mission.

Tsunade, Uchiha You, Fugaku, and Shisui.

Aside from them, even most members of the Uchiha Clan only knew that Itachi would be carrying out a long-term classified mission.

Fugaku stood before Itachi, his expression sterner than usual.

"Once you reach the Akatsuki, be careful in everything you do."

"Don't push yourself too hard."

Itachi nodded.

"Father, I understand."

Fugaku fell silent for a moment before finally raising a hand and patting him on the shoulder.

Once, he had hoped that Itachi could become a bridge between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha.

Unfortunately, during the reign of the Third Hokage and Danzo, both ends of that bridge had kept breaking apart.

Konoha's situation had now changed.

Yet Itachi still chose to step into the darkness.

The difference was that this time, he was no longer doing it to slaughter his own clan.

He was doing it to protect them.

Shisui smiled.

"When you return, I'll check whether your Body Flicker Technique has gotten rusty."

Itachi looked at him.

"You should worry about protecting the Fifth Hokage first."

"With You around, there are very few people in Konoha who can threaten her."

Shisui recalled the Perfect Susanoo that had appeared yesterday, and his tone faltered slightly.

"Though the Fifth Hokage herself