Tobi's Recruitment

Uchiha You dragged the Executioner's Blade behind him and turned to look at Tobi.

"Now it's your turn."

Tobi took an exaggerated step back.

"Oh my, how scary."

"I don't want to fight you."

Uchiha You sneered.

"You don't want to fight?"

"Then are you standing here to collect Juzo Biwa's corpse?"

Tobi glanced at the body on the ground and spread his hands.

"Senior Juzo is already dead."

"Akatsuki has never cared much for such ceremonies."

"But killing him has indeed caused a bit of trouble."

Uchiha You narrowed his eyes.

"So?"

Tobi's tone suddenly changed.

It was no longer flippant.

No longer comical.

An ancient, cold, overwhelmingly oppressive aura slowly spread from him.

"Uchiha You."

"Are you interested in joining Akatsuki?"

The corner of Uchiha You's mouth curled up.

This was exactly what he had been waiting for.

Of course, he could not appear too eager.

If the protagonist rushed to join on his own, that would be cheap.

Making the other side extend the invitation was what gave him status.

Uchiha You said blandly:

"Why should I join an organization whose member I just killed?"

Tobi fell silent for a moment.

Then he chuckled.

"Because Akatsuki can give you what you want."

Uchiha You asked:

"You know what I want?"

Tobi spoke slowly:

"Konoha's ANBU are hunting you."

"You killed Root."

"You harbor killing intent toward Konoha's upper ranks."

"And you are an Uchiha."

At this point, his tone became meaningful.

"What you want is revenge against Konoha, isn't it?"

Uchiha You looked at him.

"Revenge against Konoha?"

"That's too small-minded."

Tobi paused slightly.

Uchiha You rested the Executioner's Blade on his shoulder, his gaze cold.

"I don't want revenge against Konoha."

"I want those old bastards hiding behind the Will of Fire to kneel before the Uchiha Clan and admit their mistakes."

"Those who deserve to die will die."

"Those who should step down will step down."

"And not a single one who deserves reckoning will escape."

Tobi's lone eye narrowed.

"Including the Hokage?"

Uchiha You smiled.

"If Hiruzen Sarutobi stands in my way."

"Then he'll be no exception."

The air fell silent again.

Tobi suddenly felt that this Uchiha before him was even crazier than he had imagined.

But this madness was exactly what Akatsuki needed.

And exactly what he could use.

"Not bad ambition."

Tobi spoke slowly.

"But Akatsuki does not take in trash."

Uchiha You glanced at Juzo Biwa's corpse on the ground.

"I just killed one of your official members."

"Is that not enough?"

Tobi smiled.

"Killing Juzo only proves that you are strong."

"But Akatsuki needs more than strong people."

"We also need people who can complete missions."

Uchiha You sneered inwardly.

Here it came.

The so-called test.

Tobi said:

"We came to the Land of Water this time to recruit someone."

"Kisame Hoshigaki."

"A freak from the Hidden Mist Village."

"If you can help me recruit him, Juzo's position will be yours."

Uchiha You feigned calm as he asked:

"Kisame Hoshigaki?"

Tobi nodded.

"He is quite capable."

"More importantly, he has already become disillusioned with the Hidden Mist Village."

"People like him are well suited for Akatsuki."

Uchiha You said blandly:

"Doesn't sound difficult."

Tobi smiled.

"Don't underestimate him."

"Kisame is not someone who easily trusts others."

"And he is still within the Hidden Mist Village. Getting in contact with him will not be easy either."

Uchiha You looked at Tobi and suddenly asked:

"What's your name?"

Tobi's tone returned to its flippant manner.

"Oh my, I'm Tobi, a pitiful, weak little newcomer in Akatsuki."

Uchiha You sneered.

"Weak?"

"Someone who watched Juzo Biwa get killed by me from beginning to end without panicking at all does not look weak."

Tobi scratched his head.

"Haha, you saw through me?"

Uchiha You took a step forward.

The Mangekyo Sharingan pattern in his eyes slowly turned.

"You are not Tobi."

The gaze behind Tobi's mask instantly turned cold.

Uchiha You stared at him and said, word by word:

"The chakra around you feels very much like an Uchiha's."

"And..."

"Your eye makes me a little sick."

Killing intent flashed past.

The temperature by the stream seemed to drop several degrees.

Tobi said nothing.

The two stared at each other from several yards apart.

One was Obito Uchiha, who possessed Kamui.

The other was Uchiha You, who possessed the Protective Umbrella Mangekyo.

At that moment, the air seemed frozen.

A moment later.

Tobi suddenly chuckled.

His voice was low.

No longer comical.

"Since you have seen through some things, there is no need for me to hide everything."

He slowly raised his head.

The lone eye behind his mask flashed scarlet.

The Three-Tomoe Sharingan emerged.

"Uchiha You."

"The one standing before you is Madara Uchiha."

As his words fell, a terrifying aura spread from Tobi.

An ordinary ninja would likely lose their wits upon hearing that name.

Madara Uchiha.

A legend who had once stood alongside the First Hokage.

One of Konoha's founders.

The true pinnacle of the Uchiha Clan.

The name itself represented oppression.

Yet Uchiha You merely looked at him quietly.

A mocking smile appeared on his face.

Tobi's gaze darkened slightly.

"What are you laughing at?"

Uchiha You carried the Executioner's Blade on his shoulder, his tone indifferent:

"Nothing."

"I just think you're putting on quite a serious performance."

Tobi's expression behind the mask instantly darkened.

He knew?

Impossible.

He had hidden his identity extremely well.

Other than Zetsu and a handful of people, no one could know that he was not Madara Uchiha.

Uchiha You could not possibly know.

He had to be testing him.

Killing intent rose in Tobi's heart.

But he did not make a move.

Because he was unsure how much Uchiha You truly knew, and whether the other man's Mangekyo Sharingan technique could affect Kamui.

More importantly, Akatsuki needed people right now.

Nagato needed pawns.

And he also needed a pawn like Uchiha You to throw Konoha into chaos.

It did not matter if a pawn was disobedient.

As long as it could still be used.

It could not be destroyed for now.

Uchiha You did not press the matter further.

There was no point in revealing certain cards yet.

Of course, he knew the man before him was not Madara Uchiha, but Obito Uchiha.

But for now, he still needed Tobi's help to enter Akatsuki.

So everyone played dumb.

They would see who acted more convincingly.

Uchiha You said blandly:

"Madara Uchiha or Tobi, it makes no difference."

"I have no interest in your name."

"I only want to ask one thing."

"Can Akatsuki help me kill Danzo?"

Tobi looked at him.

"As long as the price is high enough, Akatsuki can kill anyone."

"Very good."

"Then we'll start with Kisame Hoshigaki."

Tobi asked:

"You agree?"

Uchiha You dragged the Executioner's Blade past Juzo Biwa's corpse.

"I want Juzo's position."

"And I want Kisame too."

"As for Konoha..."

He raised his head and looked east.

That was both the direction of Konoha and the place where the Uchiha Clan was about to be pushed into the abyss.

The Mangekyo Sharingan in Uchiha You's eyes slowly spun, his voice calm yet carrying a chilling coldness.

"When I return."

"Danzo had better have washed his neck clean."