Hidden Agendas

The cave fell silent for a few seconds.

Only water dripping from the cave ceiling broke the silence: drip, drip.

Uchiha Itachi sat in the darkness, his eyes fixed on Obito.

"The Rinnegan..."

He murmured the word, his breathing growing ragged.

"Of course I've heard of it."

Itachi's voice was hoarse.

"It's the ultimate form... of our Uchiha Clan's eyes."

His fingers trembled slightly.

"Does that mean... it takes the Rinnegan to bring Sasuke back?"

Obito said nothing.

His silence was answer enough.

Itachi's breathing quickened.

"But... the Rinnegan has only ever appeared in legends."

"No one has ever awakened it in reality."

He looked up, pleading in his eyes.

"How do you awaken it? Tell me!"

Obito gave a cold laugh.

"Awaken it?"

His voice dripped with mockery.

"What do you think the Rinnegan is? Something you can pick up at the market whenever you want?"

The words doused Itachi's hopes like cold water.

His hand froze in midair.

The hope in his eyes began to fade.

Of course.

If the Rinnegan were that easy to awaken, it would not exist only in legends.

Even the founder of the Uchiha Clan had failed to awaken it...

How could someone who had not even awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan hope to obtain the Rinnegan?

Itachi lowered his head and clenched his fists.

Just as despair took hold, Obito spoke again.

"But..."

"You don't need to awaken it."

Itachi's head snapped up.

"What do you mean?"

Obito took two steps forward, his eye glinting behind the mask.

"Because someone... already has the Rinnegan."

"What?!"

Itachi jolted.

His eyes widened in shock.

"Someone... already has the Rinnegan?!"

"A pair of Rinnegan has actually appeared in the ninja world?!"

Even his voice shook.

"Who is he? Where is he?"

Seeing Itachi so desperate for an answer, Obito was secretly delighted.

He's finally taking the bait.

Now Obito would have another person devoted to helping him collect the Tailed Beasts.

He spoke slowly, without a hint of urgency.

"Who he is... doesn't matter."

"What matters is that I first tell you how to use Rinne Rebirth."

Itachi forced himself to calm down and nodded.

"Go on."

Obito's tone turned solemn.

"To use Rinne Rebirth, you must gather the Nine Tailed Beasts."

"Seal all nine inside the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."

"Turn the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path into the Ten-Tails."

"Then... the Rinnegan's owner must become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki."

"Project the Rinnegan onto the moon."

"Only then can he use the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique."

Obito paused, his gaze settling on Itachi.

"When that happens, he can bring anyone back to life."

Itachi's eyes grew brighter.

But his sharp mind was already racing.

Gather the Nine Tailed Beasts?

Seal them inside the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?

That sounds...

Why does that sound so familiar?

He looked up at Obito.

"Your organization's goal... is to collect the Nine Tailed Beasts, isn't it?"

Obito paused in surprise.

Then he smiled.

"Clever."

He stepped forward until he stood before Itachi.

"That's right. Our organization is called Akatsuki."

"Our leader is Nagato."

"And his ultimate goal is to collect the Nine Tailed Beasts and become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki."

"Then he'll project the Sharingan onto the moon and cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi."

"He'll place everyone in a beautiful dream."

"Then there will be no more hatred and no more war."

Obito's voice carried an almost devout fervor.

Itachi scoffed inwardly.

The Infinite Tsukuyomi?

Nothing but a pipe dream.

His Mangekyō Sharingan granted him the power of Tsukuyomi.

It dragged people into an illusion and subjected them to endless torment.

But an illusion was still an illusion.

No lie could become real.

Not unless someone chose to live in the dream.

Otherwise, the Infinite Tsukuyomi would ultimately come to nothing.

Itachi's face, however, remained calm.

After a few seconds of silence, he spoke.

"You want me to seize Nagato's Rinnegan the moment he finishes collecting the Tailed Beasts?"

"Is that right?"

Obito narrowed his eye.

He nodded.

"That's right."

"It's the only way you can bring your brother, Sasuke Uchiha, back to life."

Obito sounded sincere.

So sincere that he almost believed himself.

But he was making other plans. First, he had to fool Uchiha Itachi into helping collect the Nine Tailed Beasts.

As for the rest...

Heh.

Of course I'm lying to him.

Once we've collected the Tailed Beasts, who cares whether his brother lives or dies?

As Itachi watched Obito, he was making plans of his own.

He knew Obito was lying.

The Masked Man had barely said a truthful word from the start.

But that did not matter.

Itachi needed Rinne Rebirth to bring Sasuke back.

Obito needed him to collect the Tailed Beasts.

Since their goals aligned...

They could work together for now.

As for who would get the Rinnegan in the end...

That would come down to what each of them could do.

Both men had their own hidden agendas.

But they had agreed on a goal.

Collect the Nine Tailed Beasts.

Obito held out his hand. "Then... here's to a fruitful partnership?"

Itachi looked at him and waited a moment before extending his hand.

"Here's to a fruitful partnership."

Their hands clasped.

One was smiling. So was the other.

But what lay behind those smiles...

Only they knew.

Elsewhere.

Konoha.

Dawn was just breaking.

The morning mist had yet to lift, and only a few early risers could be seen on the streets.

An Anbu member walked briskly toward the gates of the Uchiha Clan Compound.

He stopped at the gate and showed a token identifying him as one of the Hokage's direct subordinates.

After inspecting it, the Uchiha Chunin guarding the gate nodded and went inside to announce his arrival.

Before long, Uchiha Yashiro came to the gate.

The Anbu member saluted him, respectful but formal.

"Elder Yashiro."

"Lord Hokage has ordered the Uchiha Clan Head to attend the Clan Leaders' Meeting at the Hokage Building this morning."

Uchiha Yashiro raised an eyebrow.

The Clan Leaders' Meeting?

Didn't they just have one a few days ago?

Why another one?

But he asked no questions and simply nodded.

"Understood. I'll inform the clan head right away."

The Anbu member nodded and vanished into the morning mist.

Uchiha Yashiro stood there watching him go, lost in thought for a few seconds.

Then he turned and headed for Uchiha En's residence.

Uchiha En was eating breakfast.

Before him sat a bowl of porridge, a small dish of pickles, and two rice balls.

It was a simple meal, and he ate slowly, as though savoring every bite.

Uchiha Yashiro pushed open the door and smiled despite himself at the sight of En's unhurried manner.

"Clan Head, you certainly seem relaxed."

Uchiha En looked up and wiped his mouth.

"What is it, Elder Yashiro? What's so urgent this early?"

Uchiha Yashiro sat down across from him and recounted what had just happened.

"Anbu came by. They said Lord Hokage has asked you to attend a Clan Leaders' Meeting at the Hokage Building this morning."

Uchiha En's chopsticks paused in his hand.

Then he set them down, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"A Clan Leaders' Meeting?"

"Didn't we just have one two days ago?"

Uchiha Yashiro shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe something new has come up."

Uchiha En smiled and took a sip of tea.

"No."

"It's good news."

Uchiha Yashiro blinked. "Good news?"

"What good news?"

Uchiha En set down his cup, amusement entering his eyes.

"Think about it."

"At the last Clan Leaders' Meeting, we forced Danzo out of office and dealt with Root."

"The Konoha High Command is probably still too angry to sleep."

Uchiha Yashiro nodded. "Of course. Hiruzen Sarutobi hasn't slept well these past two nights. I hear he's gotten quite a few more gray hairs."

"Exactly."

Uchiha En rose and walked to the window, looking out at the gradually brightening sky.

"If they're asking for me now, they're not looking for a fight."

"They're... coming to make peace."

Uchiha Yashiro's eyes widened. "Make peace?!"

"Clan Leader, are you sure?"

Uchiha En turned around, his smile deepening.

"Almost certain."

"Those three pieces of news have been spreading through the village like wildfire."

"Even the way the villagers look at the Konoha High Command has changed."

"The Hyuga Clan, Ino-Shika-Cho, and the smaller ninja clans are all watching to see which way the wind blows."

"If the Konoha High Command doesn't make concessions soon..."

"They won't be able to sit still much longer."

Uchiha Yashiro's eyes grew brighter as he listened.

"So... the Konoha High Command called this Clan Leaders' Meeting to extend an olive branch to us?"

Uchiha En nodded.

"That's right."

He took his clan robes from the wall and draped them over his shoulders.

"Let's go, Elder Yashiro."

"Let's see... what those old foxes are up to this time."

Uchiha Yashiro rose as well, excitement written all over his face.