The sky over Amegakure is always gloomy.
The leaden-gray clouds hung low, as if they might fall at any moment.
Cold raindrops pelted Sasuke's face, mingling with his tears, making it impossible to distinguish between rain and tears.
This is your new home.
Obito Uchiha stood on the edge of the tower, looking down at the village shrouded in rain.
" The Akatsuki will train you until you are capable of revenge."
Sasuke Uchiha stood to the side, his mind still replaying the masked man's so-called truth.
The distrust and coercion of the Konoha High Command, the joint actions of Kirigakure and Kumogakure, and Sunagakure's opportunistic exploitation ultimately led to the annihilation of the Uchiha Clan.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, Hoshino...
One after another, they couldn't stand to see the Uchiha Clan doing well.
Konoha killed his parents.
Those Uchiha traitors who defected to Sunagakure killed his brother with their own hands.
The Shinobi World today.
Aside from Iwagakure, the other Four Great Shinobi Villages were all his enemies.
Sasuke Uchiha clenched his fists until they turned white, and the One-Tomoe in his eye slowly rotated.
"Why... why is everyone targeting the Uchiha?" His voice was hoarse, filled with overwhelming hatred.
Obito Uchiha's lips curled slightly beneath his mask as he sneered, "Because of fear! The power of the Uchiha makes the entire Shinobi World tremble, so they want to join forces to crush you, just like the Uzumaki Clan did back then."
Upon hearing this, Sasuke Uchiha's breathing became rapid, and the Tomoe in his eyes seemed to become even more crimson.
On the way, the masked man popularized much of the previously unknown knowledge about the Shinobi World with him.
This includes the true identity of the underdog: the Fourth Hokage's biological son, who suffered inhumane treatment in Konoha.
How ridiculous this is!
He suddenly looked up, staring intently at Obito, and said, "I want to become stronger! Strong enough to kill them all!"
Raindrops pounded against the steel tower, creating a dense drumbeat.
In those Sharingan, hatred burned as if it were a tangible substance.
"Nice eyes."
Obito Uchiha and pressed it on Sasuke's shoulder, "But hatred alone cannot kill those strong individuals."
"From now on, I will teach you how to use the Sharingan, while the others will teach you how to fight."
Through the rain, the tower's doors slowly opened.
Sasuke Uchiha followed Obito Uchiha into the dimly lit corridor.
Rain dripped down the hem of his clothes, leaving winding watermarks on the stone bricks.
"This is the newcomer you were talking about?"
A cold voice came from above.
Sasuke Uchiha looked up and saw a pair of emotionless, round eyes staring down at him.
" The Akatsuki doesn't raise children."
Pain's gaze lingered on Sasuke for a moment before shifting away.
"Oh!"
Obito Uchiha lightly, "What if I told you he's Uchiha Itachi's younger brother?"
The entire hall fell silent instantly.
With the White Zetsu's intelligence network, they were well aware of Uchiha Itachi's potential.
He stepped onto the battlefield at the age of four, awakened the One-Tomoe Sharingan at the age of seven, joined the Anbu at the age of eleven, and awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan at the age of thirteen.
He is truly a genius among geniuses.
As Uchiha Itachi's younger brother, his talent must be quite remarkable.
Come see me at the top of the tower!
After Pain finished speaking, he stood still and did not move.
Sasuke Uchiha felt a wave of dizziness, and the next moment he found himself standing in the center of the circular hall at the top of the tower.
There were only two people standing in the room.
One of them had red hair, was emaciated, and was in a wheelchair.
The other had purple hair, and his paper-thin robes moved without wind.
"I am Nagato."
The red-haired man in the wheelchair spoke, "You can also call me Pain, the leader of Akatsuki, codename Zero."
The purple-haired woman stepped forward. "I am Konan, codename Bai."
Nagato's skinny fingers flicked lightly, and a ring engraved with the word "Zhu" flew through the air. Uchiha Sasuke raised his hand to catch it.
"Put it on," Konan said. "From now on, you are Akatsuki's substitute."
After Sasuke Uchiha put on the ring, Nagato quickly Hand Seals.
" Magic Lantern Body Technique!"
In the dark space, ten illusory figures appeared on the stone chair, but only Six Paths of them were solid.
Sasuke Uchiha's vision suddenly distorted.
When he refocused, he found himself standing on a huge stone platform, surrounded by shadowy figures of various shapes.
Sasori's puppet body gleamed with a cold light, Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils flashed with a dangerous light, and Kakuzu's green eyes shone like a wild beast in the shadows.
"This is what a newcomer is like?"
Orochimaru's phantom leaned forward slightly, his snake-like tongue licking his lips.
" Sasuke Uchiha."
Pain's voice echoed through the space, "Itachi's younger brother."
In the dark space, three solid figures simultaneously cast scrutinizing glances.
Pain continued, "Each person will be responsible for teaching for one month. The order is already set. Sasori, Orochimaru, and Kakuzu will be in the eleventh month, and Konan and I will fill the gaps in between."
"And what about the twelfth month?"
Orochimaru suddenly chuckled, "How about I teach you for a few more months? I know quite a bit about the Sharingan!"
"No need, someone will teach you Sharingan!"
Pain said coldly, "In December, Sasuke adjust his condition and then participate in the Akatsuki's assessment. If he passes, he will become a formal member of the Akatsuki."
"Alright!"
Orochimaru clicked his tongue and said nothing more.
Sasori looked at Sasuke and said, "Come find me in the Land of Birds when you're ready."
After saying that, Scorpion ended the projection and disappeared from everyone's sight.
Seeing that there was no more drama to watch, Kakuzu and Orochimaru disappeared one after another, leaving only Pain, Konan, Sasuke, and Zetsu.
Black Zetsu remained silent throughout; in truth, it was still completely bewildered.
They told Obito not to go to Konoha to cause trouble, Obito insisted on going anyway, and not only that, he also brought Sasuke Uchiha back with him.
That's the reincarnation of Indra! This is no joke.
It was so afraid that it dared not speak, lest it inadvertently awaken Indra's consciousness and expose its true identity.
And who knows if that Hagoromo Otsutsuki is actually dead or not.
But then I thought about it again. The Rinnegan is already in existence, and Asura and Indra are destined to be lovers who fight each other.
Training Sasuke wouldn't be bad; it would help the organization complete its plan.
Just to be on the safe side, it's best to appear in front of Sasuke less often in the future, to avoid causing unnecessary trouble.
The moment the Magic Lantern Body Technique was dispelled, Sasuke returned to the top floor of the tower.
The rain continued, and the damp air, carrying the smell of rust, filled my nostrils.
Nagato's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of his wheelchair. "Sasori is waiting for you at the abandoned temple in the northern part of the Land of Birds. Don't go there again until at least three days."
Konan's pieces of paper formed a map in the air. "This is the route."
Obito Uchiha laughed, "Don't expect me to help you. At most, I can guarantee you won't die!"
"I understand, and I don't need your help!"
Sasuke put the map into his pocket, turned and walked towards the door, gradually disappearing from the three people's sight.