Chapter 5: I Also Want a Cloak

Chapter 5: I Also Want a Cloak

Konan interrupted their fight.

The light-blue-haired woman grabbed Uehara Naraka by the collar, placed him beside her, and asked coldly, "What are you doing?"

"Phew..."

Uehara Naraka breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the Akatsuki members emerge, he pointed at the Masked Man and Uchiha Itachi, immediately throwing a heavy accusation, "Lady Konan, these two were trying to kill me..."

"No, no, no, no..."

The Masked Man stepped forward, waving his hands frantically, explaining with extreme exaggeration, "We were just testing the combat strength of the organization's intern! We didn't expect him to actually defeat someone strong enough to be a full member!"

Although Uchiha Itachi hadn't used his Mangekyō Sharingan dōjutsu, even in his normal state, Itachi's strength wasn't something an ordinary ninja could overcome.

Unexpectedly, this kid suppressed Uchiha Itachi using those strange techniques, and even had a chance to nearly kill him before Itachi could use his trump cards!

If the Masked Man believed he hadn't seen wrong, the last technique the kid used was likely space-time related; he saw space distorting.

This kid really is something!

He could certainly be used as a powerful asset for Akatsuki to collect Tailed Beasts. Akatsuki's members were constantly being replaced, teams always had vacancies, manpower was never fully assembled, and occasionally members would even trade their teammates for money.

As for the potential threat Uehara Naraka might pose, the Masked Man considered it for only a second before dismissing the thought.

This kid didn't seem to have any bloodline limit, and his chakra only appeared slightly above average. He couldn't be considered someone with much future potential.

However, his talent was indeed good, managing to develop ninjutsu released with just one hand seal, but that was likely his limit.

He knew clearly, only those with powerful bloodline limits could go further.

As for Uehara Naraka's method of just distorting space, it had a certain time delay. As long as one knew about it, it could be easily avoided.

Uchiha Itachi being hit by Command: Shockwave earlier was because it was too sudden.

If Uchiha Itachi had been willing to expend his dōjutsu power from the start and directly activated his Mangekyō techniques, the fight might have ended long ago!

But luckily, he didn't do that.

Otherwise, Akatsuki might lose a powerful asset in the future, and it could also provoke Konan's disapproval.

"Hm?"

Konan's gaze held a slight doubt. She looked down at Uehara Naraka standing beside her, patted his hair, and asked, "Is that true?"

She found it a bit hard to believe. A twelve or thirteen-year-old boy, a wandering ninja at that, how could he possibly have the strength to fight an official Akatsuki member?

However, in the meeting just now, Zetsu had mentioned intelligence suggesting Uehara was indeed a highly talented child.

"Some truth, some lies."

Uehara Naraka's expression was exceptionally serious. Staring intently at Uchiha Itachi who had stood up, he said softly, "I fought him using secret techniques I researched myself, but this guy wasn't serious at all. His Sharingan... is very strong!"

Uehara Naraka thought for a moment and added, "After he activated the Sharingan, I immediately fell into a genjutsu and couldn't break free at all..."

"I understand."

Ordinary ninjas facing those with bloodline limits indeed easily fall into disadvantage.

Especially the Uchiha clan, who were even rumored to be invincible in one-on-one combat.

Konan nodded, believing his words.

When she first met Uehara Naraka, she had doubted his identity and which faction might have sent him as a spy.

But in the meeting, Zetsu provided them with intelligence about Uehara Naraka. The little guy's father was indeed a ninja named Uehara Nochū, from a small village in the Land of Rain.

Information about Uehara Nochū had also been dug up by Zetsu.

That person was an ordinary member of the first-generation Akatsuki.

Uehara Naraka had always lived in his father's home village, occasionally claiming to be a ninja and taking on small tasks from villagers, until his mother passed away over a month ago, after which he left the small village.

Since his identity wasn't an issue, then nothing else was an issue.

Konan gently patted Uehara Naraka's shoulder and instructed, "Naraka, go rest first. We still have things to discuss with Mr. Uchiha Itachi..."

Regardless, twelve years old was simply too young.

Back when they were twelve, they had no choice but to fight for survival. Now that Akatsuki had the means, they should nurture the organization's next generation properly.

"Wait..."

Zetsu interrupted Konan, speaking with a sinister smile, "Konan, I believe this little fellow can absolutely become a full member of the organization..."

Uehara Naraka's father died while protecting Konan back then. The culprits were Konoha's Root, a team led by the Hokage's Advisor, Shimura Danzō.

Now it seems his talent isn't bad either. With just a little guidance to make him fall into darkness, he will become an excellent asset.

"He's too young, isn't his combat power a bit lacking?"

Konan retorted; she had other plans for Uehara.

A woman's feelings are inherently softer than a man's. Konan still wanted to hide Akatsuki's darker affairs for a while longer.

"But his combat power isn't lacking."

Zetsu disagreed with her opinion, his smile somewhat cold, "And if I recall correctly, this new member we welcomed today should only be thirteen years old, right?"

Yes, Uchiha Itachi was only thirteen this year.

It had to be said, people in the ninja world matured far too early.

What's fighting at twelve? Uchiha Itachi followed his father to observe the Great Ninja War at age four and took the life of an Iwa-nin (Rock Ninja) on the battlefield.

Pain pondered for a moment, then said, "Konan, let him join then! Even with the addition of Uchiha Itachi, there's still a vacancy in the organization's manpower..."

Konan suddenly lowered her head and whispered, "Pain, we're about to attack Amegakure (Village Hidden in the Rain), to avenge... them... I want Naraka to participate too."

"..."

Pain's brow furrowed deeply (forming the 川 character). The Rinnegan in his eyes showed hesitation, but he finally nodded, accepting his friend's opinion.

All these years, he had hidden himself away, developing the Rinnegan's dōjutsu, precisely waiting to take revenge on Amegakure's leader, Hanzō of the Salamander.

Now, the Six Paths of Pain were complete. It was time to go to Amegakure and taste the fruit of vengeance.

Originally, only he and Konan were the avengers. Now there was one more, which was fine too.

"Then, Zetsu will be responsible for continuing to find a suitable partner for Kakuzu!"

Pain scanned everyone present, his gaze stopping on Uchiha Itachi. He already knew the intelligence regarding Itachi beforehand.

In Pain's perception, this was a ruthless young man, someone who had killed his own kin. His pain, his darkness, must be immense.

After exchanging a few simple words with Uchiha Itachi, Pain took out a ring from his sleeve, "Welcome to Akatsuki. Your codename is Vermilion Bird (Shu). From today onwards, you are Akatsuki's Uchiha Itachi. In the future... you will act bearing the name of Akatsuki!"

"..."

Uchiha Itachi slowly nodded, reached out to take the ring, removed his ninja headband, and holding a kunai, etched a neat horizontal scratch across it.

The Konoha headband seemed like a mirror, reflecting Itachi's somewhat grim face. It was unknown what exactly he thought of while gazing at that headband.

Uehara Naraka stood beside Konan watching all this. He suddenly looked up and asked, "When you give him the cloak later, can I have one too?"

(End of Chapter)