Shisui Uchiha shook his head regretfully at Shin Uchiha's words.
"Although Itachi and I managed to sneak into the Akatsuki's base, we were discovered almost as soon as we got inside. If the Clan Leader hadn't come to save us, we would have died. We didn't find the mysterious man the Clan Leader mentioned, either."
Hearing this, Shin Uchiha reassured him. "It's all right, Shisui. I actually encountered him a while ago, too, though it wasn't a very pleasant encounter.
"But I did confirm one thing: that fellow wearing the Spiral Mask definitely isn't Madara Uchiha.
"However, since he calls himself Madara Uchiha, he may well be Madara Uchiha's successor. And I've found traces of him in recent intelligence reports."
Uchiha Itachi paused at Shin Uchiha's words, then interrupted him somewhat hesitantly.
"Clan Leader, if that man wears the Spiral Mask, then I believe I've encountered him before, too."
At Uchiha Itachi's words, Shin Uchiha and Shisui both turned to look at him.
"Itachi, when and where did you encounter him? What did he say to you?"
Itachi shook his head. "He didn't say anything. I found him in the Uchiha District some time ago. I tried to stop him from leaving, but his technique was too strange, and he escaped."
Shin Uchiha nodded in understanding.
"It seems that mysterious man really is hostile toward our Uchiha Clan. He already had his sights on us back then."
Shin Uchiha glanced at Shisui and Itachi before continuing.
"I suspect Pain's Rinnegan originally belonged to Madara Uchiha. Madara Uchiha's eyes had become the eternal Mangekyō Sharingan long ago. His Sharingan must have evolved again later, becoming the Rinnegan.
"And the man calling himself Madara Uchiha is probably his successor. When he inherited Madara Uchiha's legacy, he also inherited his Rinnegan. Later, this