Outside the area where the Deep Forest Emergence, a lush green pitcher plant emerged.
" Kakuzu has already been killed by him. If Uchiha Itachi is also killed by him, the Akatsuki will be furious at the loss of two core members at once."
As someone who had witnessed both wars firsthand, White Zetsu chuckled with a hint of schadenfreude.
Black Zetsu, on the other hand, was much more composed, eagerly anticipating Naoki Senju's decision to go all the way and kill Uchiha Itachi as well.
Because of this, the Akatsuki is very likely to send a stronger combination to hunt down Orochimaru and Naoki Senju in order to save face and recover from their losses. It is even possible that Pain's Deva Path, the Akatsuki's apparent leader, will personally take action.
Madara Uchiha, a pawn Obito Uchiha, might also step in to eliminate this unstable factor in order to ensure the smooth completion of the Eye of the Moon Plan.
In this way, the human who is suspected to be the reincarnation of Asura will surely die, and the mother's resurrection will undoubtedly be much more stable.
Black Zetsu, who was meticulously calculating his schemes, would probably be so angry he'd vomit blood if he knew what Deep Forest Emergence.
Although Uchiha Itachi remained cautious and vigilant about his surroundings, his doubts and questions grew stronger.
Although the Deep Forest Emergence had begun, the central area was an empty space, devoid of any Wood Release. This setup didn't resemble preparation for battle at all; rather, it seemed to be an attempt to prevent certain individuals from spying on them.
Uchiha Itachi's right ring finger, adorned with the Akatsuki Vermilion Bird Ring, lifted almost imperceptibly for a moment, and a scarlet light shone in the pure black eyes of Crow perched on a tree branch.
Naoki Senju, who was already on high alert, naturally noticed Uchiha Itachi's subtle detail, but he didn't point it out. Instead, he casually said:
"Let me introduce myself. I am Naoki Senju, grandson of the Second Hokage, and I am currently training in Ninjutsu under Princess Tsunade Sannin."
Beneath his calm eyes, Uchiha Itachi was utterly shocked. The one who had awakened Wood Release was actually the grandson of the Second Hokage! And Sannin, one of the Legendary Tsunade, was also here. It seemed that Kakuzu's death was indeed not unjust; this was a trap set for the Akatsuki.
However, what exactly was Naoki Senju's purpose in revealing all this? To develop an inside agent within Akatsuki? To extract information about Akatsuki? Or had his undercover identity been exposed?
Several thoughts flashed through Uchiha Itachi, but he ultimately decided to hold back and observe the situation first.
" Uchiha Itachi, missing-nin from Konoha, is currently the ' Vermilion Bird ' of the Akatsuki."
" Missing-nin?" Naoki Senju chuckled dismissively. "If even you, Uchiha Itachi, are missing-nin, then isn't Konoha just raising a village full of useless trash who are no better than missing-nin?"
As expected, he was exposed... Uchiha Itachi lowered his eyes, a hint of disappointment hidden deep within them, but he concealed it well.
"Anyone who leaves Konoha without permission is missing-nin."
This argument is hardly convincing; whether or not permission is granted is ultimately decided by the Hokage alone... But Naoki Senju still nodded in agreement, because this was Uchiha Itachi's bottom line, and he respected Itachi.
"So, do you think it's better to be missing-nin or a Konoha Ninja?"
"The two are not comparable," Uchiha Itachi said without hesitation.
"Alright then." Naoki Senju sighed. "How about I rephrase the question? If you could go back to that night, would you still make the same decision?"
Naoki Senju completely lowered his guard and casually sat cross-legged on the sand. Uchiha Itachi was still the same Uchiha Itachi; as long as he posed no threat to Konoha, he wouldn't care.
Uchiha Itachi was stunned for a moment, then sat down cross-legged on the spot, a dozen meters away from Naoki Senju. His tired and tense body relaxed a lot in an instant.
He knew that the night Naoki Senju mentioned was the night of the massacre of the Uchiha clan. This was not a secret; most of Konoha's high-ranking officials knew that the Uchiha had attempted a coup but were ultimately wiped out by Konoha's swift and decisive measures. However, for Uchiha Itachi, it was an exceptionally heavy matter.
Without much thought, Uchiha Itachi replied definitively, "Yes."
"Is there a better solution?"
This time, Uchiha Itachi remained silent for a long time, but Naoki Senju understood his meaning: there was no better solution to this problem; the only option was to choose between Konoha and the Uchiha...
After a brief silence, Naoki Senju said:
"Indeed, Konoha owes the Uchiha a debt in this matter, both to you and to Sasuke Uchiha."
If it weren't for the series of policies implemented by the Third Hokage and Hiruzen Sarutobi, such as reducing the Konoha Military Police Force, relocating the Uchiha Clan's territory out of Konoha, deliberately inciting other clans and commoner ninjas to be hostile towards the Uchiha, and Danzo of Shisui Uchiha, the top combatant of the Uchiha Clan, it would have been a significant setback.
The Uchiha Clan is indeed arrogant and unruly by nature, which makes them unpleasant to look at, but they cannot be considered an evil clan. They have never been cowardly or afraid of fighting on the battlefield. As the son of the clan leader, Uchiha Itachi followed Uchiha Fugaku to the battlefield when he was young.
The Uchiha can be considered a model clan, dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to Konoha.
But these words were almost unheard of for Uchiha Itachi. Outside the clan, other ninjas shunned and feared the Uchiha. Inside the clan, many members were plotting a coup to reclaim the lost glory of the Uchiha Clan.
But no one has ever said that Konoha owes the Uchiha anything...
For some reason, Uchiha Itachi's eyes became a little moist, but he quickly recovered.
"Now that the Uchiha Clan has made its decision, there is no turning back. No one owes anyone anything."
"But I will do my best for the Uchiha." Naoki Senju's words were astonishing, even surprising the usually calm and collected Uchiha Itachi. What good would doing that do?
"Of course, it can't all be because of the Uchiha. The Uchiha Clan Massacre has ultimately planted an indelible thorn in the hearts of all the clans in Konoha. For the sustainable development of Konoha, the mastermind behind it all must be brought to justice."
Naoki Senju spoke with great confidence, prompting Uchiha Itachi to ask, almost as if possessed,:
Who is the mastermind behind this?
" Danzo of Root." Who else but the King of Konoha could shoulder this heavy responsibility? Naoki Senju vowed to squeeze every last drop of value Danzo.
Danzo... This name was very familiar to Uchiha Itachi. The leader of Root, known as the Dark One of the Ninjas, Shisui Uchiha once served Danzo in Root.
"Could it be him..." Uchiha Itachi murmured to himself. The Uchiha Clan Compound was too chaotic that night. Not only was there a man claiming to be ' Madara Uchiha ', but there were also Anbu assisting him. If he really wanted to infiltrate a few Root members, it wouldn't be difficult.
" The Third Hokage is getting old. After Third Hokage passing, there is no one in Konoha who can succeed him Hokage Position. Only the Sannin living outside the village are qualified to succeed Hokage."
"And I intend to support Tsunade to become the Fifth Hokage, so Uchiha Itachi, it's time for you to leave Akatsuki and return to Konoha."