A crow's message, heading to Yugakure

"..."

Itachi could not figure out what exactly Xia Yu intended to do to Konan.

He dared not let his thoughts wander.

In front of Xia Yu, every thought he had would be seen through.

Itachi did not actually intend to submit to Xia Yu wholeheartedly, either. He had agreed because he wanted to take part on the surface, watch from the sidelines for a while, and then make his choice...

After all, the only person he agonized over and cared about was his beloved younger brother, Sasuke.

Should he follow his original plan and entrust Sasuke to the Third Hokage, whom he had always trusted, or to this "senior" from the Clan Compound before him, who had not even been a genin before?

That was a question, but also a rare hope...

"?"

Uchiha Itachi seemed to suddenly sense something, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"What's wrong?" Xia Yu asked.

"My original body received a summons from the Organization Leader to assemble. I can't spare the attention to chat with you anymore. From now on, let's use this crow to stay in touch..."

As his words fell, Itachi's body slowly became an afterimage, transforming into a jet-black crow...

At the Akatsuki base, before the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

In the darkness, several figures appeared one after another, forming a circle.

Sasori and Deidara appeared last. They had just returned from Orochimaru's lair.

Pain slowly opened his unnerving purple eyes and spoke first. "Sasori, Deidara, did you finish Orochimaru off?"

Sasori answered in a low, old man's voice:

"I fought him briefly. Orochimaru eventually ran into his lair, and Deidara blew the place to pieces with his bombs. The two of us searched through every piece of rubble, but we didn't find his body. I can't guarantee he's dead..."

Deidara raised his chin proudly. "Hmph, if he's still alive, I'll kill him myself, hmm!"

The first mission Deidara had received after joining the Akatsuki was to kill Orochimaru. Unfortunately, he might not have succeeded, which left him very annoyed.

Pain said, "Forget it. Just keep a closer eye on Orochimaru's movements from now on. He's a restless fellow. If he's alive, he'll poke his head out and cause trouble sooner or later. Once we have a lead, you can go kill him again."

Deidara said, "People who don't die after taking a blast of my art really are annoying, hmm..."

Konan said, "Speaking of people who won't die, we just received a mission request..."

Pain said, "Yes, a request from Yugakure. A murderous maniac has appeared in their territory, and they want us in the Akatsuki to deal with him."

Kakuzu said, "I recall they have Yugakure ninja there. What, aren't they doing their jobs?"

Konan said, "No, it's because Yugakure's ninja can't kill that maniac. He seems to be someone who can't die..."

Kakuzu said, "Oh? Interesting..."

Pain said, "Itachi, Konan, Kakuzu, go to Yugakure and see just who this fellow is."

"Understood..."

Konoha, the Uchiha Clan Compound.

At the training ground, Xia Yu was training with Sasuke.

This was a mandatory part of every day. No matter how busy he was, Xia Yu always trained alongside Sasuke for an hour.

It was solely to train his physical reactions and hand seal speed.

Otherwise, obtaining such powerful abilities only to be unable to use them would be a joke.

"Caw~ Caw~"

The familiar cries of a crow came from a branch.

"Hmm? Strange..."

Xia Yu was puzzled. He had only just met Uchiha Itachi that morning, and it was not even noon yet. Why was he contacting him again so soon...?

"Sasuke, keep practicing. I'm going to the bathroom."

"Okay, Big Brother Xia Yu!"

Xia Yu followed the crow alone to a secluded spot.

The crow's form blurred, slowly transforming into an afterimage of Uchiha Itachi.

"Xia Yu, didn't you want to meet Konan? There's an opportunity now. Come to Yugakure. Konan, another member of the organization, and I are on our way there..."

"This crow will guide you to us. Come now, as quickly as possible..."

As his words fell, Itachi's form turned into a crow again and flew into the distance.

"Yuga...kure?"

Xia Yu remembered this village. It lay within the Land of Rivers and was also the hometown of Hidan, a member of the Akatsuki. Geographically, it was sandwiched between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, not too far away.

Itachi and Konan rarely went on missions together. The only time was when they went to Yugakure to recruit Hidan, with Kakuzu accompanying them.

"Oh~ So that's it. Looks like today's the day Hidan joins the Akatsuki..."

Combining this with his memories of the original story, Xia Yu pieced together the general situation. The corners of his lips lifted slightly, and he darted after the crow, which had already flown far away...

That afternoon, on a forest path within Yugakure's territory.

Konan, Itachi, and Kakuzu slowly approached a large tree.

An old man's corpse hung from the trunk. Beneath the bloody body was a strange circular pattern drawn in blood.

Kakuzu remarked, "Not for money, not for revenge. He simply killed because he wanted to. Hmph, this fellow seems like quite an oddball, too."

Itachi surveyed the murder scene, seemingly realizing something, and offered his analysis:

"There are plenty of ways to kill someone. There's no need to use such a troublesome method. Perhaps the murderer has another purpose, something like a sacrificial ritual."

Hearing Uchiha Itachi's clear reasoning, Kakuzu frowned, and killing intent instantly surged within him. "Itachi, you really do get on my nerves."

As he spoke, Kakuzu turned to glance behind him. "Konan, the leader sent you along because he was afraid I wouldn't be able to stop myself from killing Itachi, didn't he...?"

Konan answered expressionlessly, "The leader can't spare that much attention for something so pointless. He sent me because I'm the only sensory type. Besides, only a seemingly frail woman like me is suited to being bait."

Kakuzu froze. "Bait? What do you mean?"

Konan said, "You'll understand in a moment. Conceal your presence and follow me. The murderer isn't far away."

Konan walked on alone for about a hundred meters.

Just then, a clear, unrestrained greeting suddenly came from beside her:

"Hey! Miss, are you alone? Want to join the Jashin Cult?"

A handsome, fashionably dressed man with slicked-back silver hair blocked Konan's path.

"The Jashin Cult?" Konan was a little curious.

"Yep! The Jashin Cult means you won't be held accountable for killing people. Not only that, but our leader, Lord Jashin, is happy when his followers kill!"

"Is that so?"

"Of course! Well? Pretty good doctrine, right? Want to join?"

"I'm not interested... But I suppose you must be that murderous maniac..."

"Huh? A murderous maniac? Nothing of the sort! I'm just offering sacrifices to Lord Jashin!"

The man drew the red Triple-Bladed Scythe from his back, spun it stylishly three times, and gripped it in his hand, throwing his head back with a laugh:

"Ahahahaha! Woman, since you've blasphemed against me, it looks like I'll just have to sacrifice you to Lord Jashin! Prepare to experience the ecstasy of pain that sends you to heaven! It feels amazing!"