Enemies Can Also Be Friends

This invitation really caught him off guard. Itachi swallowed. According to the original plot, he had only infiltrated their ranks to gather intelligence after the massacre.

He hadn't expected the plot to advance beyond his expectations.

"So, what's in it for me?"

"The benefit is that you can free yourself from the clan's restraints. Haven't you always hated this Uchiha Clan? Weak, cowardly, faction-ridden, yet full of themselves. They're a clan headed for self-destruction. I've already lost patience with them."

The masked man's voice drifted over slowly, while Black Zetsu beside him emerged from the ground like a plant, observing everything.

As Akatsuki's intelligence network and eyes, these creatures could infiltrate nearly anywhere.

"I didn't expect you to say something like that. That's quite surprising."

Itachi took a deep breath as the system suddenly appeared in his mind.

[Uchiha System Notification]

[Faced with the Masked Tiger Man's invitation, you have the following choices:]

[Choice One: Accept his invitation, but the Uchiha Clan will head toward destruction. You will contract a terminal illness as a result, drastically shortening your lifespan. There is a certain chance of obtaining a rare treasure in later missions to save yourself, but this will unlock a long-term mission—Survive After Being Driven to Desperation.]

[You will receive: Uchiha Clan Eyes x100]

[Choice Reward: Pain +1, Eye Power +20, Body Agility +]

[Choice Two: Enrage him and kill him. Chance of victory: Unknown. However, provoking Akatsuki carries a 30% chance of triggering—"Akatsuki's Full Mobilization"]

[You will receive the honorary title: Hero of Konoha]

[There is a certain chance of triggering a divine blessing effect, allowing three Uchiha clansmen to mature into Kage-level powerhouses]

[However, there is a certain chance of triggering the event—"Whispers of the Uchiha"—and receiving the title "Rebel"]

[Choice Three:]

A string of system notifications kept ringing in his mind.

Faced with such a powerful enemy, he wasn't confident at all. At present, he had only one foot over the threshold of Kage level. Dealing with a provocateur and Jonin like Uchiha Feibo was naturally no problem.

But if they were evenly matched...

There were far too many variables.

"What, are you choosing to refuse? Looks like you still sympathize with that weak trash."

The masked man clicked his tongue and shook his head with a sigh. Then he fastened an unusually long chain cuff around his wrist.

Even Itachi frowned slightly at such a strange weapon and behavior.

"I'll lead them to glory. At the very least, I won't abandon them like a coward like you."

Itachi took a deep breath and stated his resolve, quietly hiding one hand behind his back as he prepared to cast a jutsu.

"Here we go?"

White Zetsu watched the stances of the two men, his expectant eyes suddenly widening. Being able to collect footage of an Uchiha Clan battle would be invaluable study material for any ninja.

In an instant, both figures blurred. The masked man dragged his long chain across the ground, producing sharp clanging sounds and scattering sparks. But what shocked him was that the fledgling he had been hunting didn't retreat. Instead, he charged straight at him.

Perfect. This would save him a lot of trouble.

"Whoosh!"

Itachi threw the short blade in his hand to clear the way, but it passed straight through the masked man's body. Space warped, and the man's entire body became intangible!

"Useless. As long as I catch you, I win."

The masked man spoke disdainfully, utterly confident in his own ability. Yet in the next second, his deathly pale hand grabbed nothing but air.

Countless Crows burst from Itachi's clothes, cawing wildly as they scattered in every direction.

Substitution Technique!

When had this man—

"Do you think that would work on me? I've already seen through your jutsu."

In midair, those Crows gathered into Itachi's upper body, his hollow yet resounding voice descending from above.

He looked down arrogantly at the world below. Against the ants on the ground, he should have been the one holding the upper hand.

As for this masked man, he was nothing more than a worm who didn't dare reveal his identity and could only hide in the shadows.

"But I can make ten thousand mistakes. You only need to make one."

The masked man's voice roared with embarrassed fury. Faced with the other's mockery, he offered no further explanation. His hands rapidly formed seals: Rat, Tiger, Dog, Ox, Rabbit, Tiger.

[C-rank Ninjutsu—Phoenix Flower Jutsu]

Countless small fireballs suddenly shot forth amid a violent gale, blasting in every direction where Itachi might possibly be hiding, leaving almost no blind spots.

White Zetsu yelped and immediately burrowed into the earth. Damn it.

This guy was really angry.

"Boom!"

The explosion sent a scorching wave rolling across the ground, swallowing the surroundings. Every plant it touched was instantly incinerated into carbon dust. The blazing firelight even startled the ninjas around the guard posts.

[Earth Release, Binding Strangulation]

Sensing a faint disturbance underground, the masked man's gaze narrowed slightly. A ninja's instinctive perception of danger made him turn his body intangible in advance.

Suddenly, White Zetsu felt something seize his ankle. His descending body was yanked upward by enormous force, bursting from the earth with a bang.

So he was the real target!

"Didn't I catch one?"

Like he was holding a chick, Itachi gripped White Zetsu by the ankle. A trace of cruelty flashed across his face. He had already devised this diversionary tactic and how to deal with them in that instant.

Even the masked man swallowed at the sight of such a terrifying opponent.

"You don't have time. The commotion here has probably already drawn the attention of the Hidden Leaf ANBU. Dragging this out with me won't do you any good. Tell me, if I hand your subordinate over to Konoha's interrogation division, what shocking information do you think he'll reveal?"

For an instant, his heart seemed to miss half a beat, as though something had gripped it from afar. Itachi had pinpointed the enemy's weakness with terrifying precision!

"So what do you want?"

The Masked Tiger Man's voice had clearly softened. This fledgling had already given him too many surprises—more than enough to earn his attention.

He had originally thought Konoha was nothing special. But after the Night of the Nine-Tails, powerful figures lurking in the shadows had begun to emerge one after another. The strength of every nation was far from as simple as it appeared on the surface.

"There are no eternal friends, and naturally no eternal enemies. But we can have eternal interests."

Itachi spoke calmly, his eyes like a bottomless pool. He tossed over White Zetsu, who had already been knocked unconscious by his jutsu.

"If you're willing to cooperate, we can both win. I can help you return to Konoha and become the next Hokage. It may be difficult, but with the strength of our clan combined with your reputation, it won't be hard."

In that instant, the Masked Tiger Man froze. Disbelief slowly rose behind his mask. He couldn't believe that the man before him would say such a thing.