"Easy, Obito," White Zetsu soothed him. "We need to recruit first and fill out Akatsuki's ranks."
Black Zetsu picked up where he left off, his voice hoarse. "Those are the ultimate weapons of the major ninja villages. We don't have nearly enough people right now. Dragging this out would easily put them on alert. Our best option is to gather ten core members, choose the right moment to strike together, and capture all nine tailed beasts in one go before the various powers can react."
Though Obito's heart had darkened, his mind was considerably sharper than before his fall. After hearing Black and White Zetsu out, he barely suppressed his impatience and narrowed his eyes. "Got any targets?"
"Kakuzu, a rogue ninja from Takigakure, is wandering out there. Sasori, the real culprit behind the Third Kazekage's death, and... one of the former Sannin, Orochimaru."
As White Zetsu announced the last name, Obito's expression abruptly darkened.
The record holder for the fastest graduation from the Ninja Academy-Shisui Uchiha. He had enrolled at five and received his diploma that same year. Though the darkest period of his life awaited him after graduation, he had at least brought honor to the Uchiha Clan. His graduation had been even faster than the single year Xuan Zhe and the Konoha Sannin had taken back then.
Uchiha Itachi had graduated from the Academy in just one year.
Anyone who heard that would have been stunned for a moment.
The last person to achieve something that impressive had been Shisui Uchiha.
Both were acknowledged geniuses within the clan, and the elders' eyes shone whenever they mentioned them. In private, quite a few Uchiha clan members were already making plans, wondering whether they ought to put Shisui or Itachi in the Hokage's seat someday.
Naturally, word of this