I, Uchiha, will not be whitewashed!

Chapter 78 The Ruler Under the Moon!

"This time, we won't be so lucky!"

Kakuzu made the first move.

Black tentacles flew out from the sleeves, not one, but six, stabbing at Shuoge from different angles.

They were fast and powerful, each one like a venomous snake.

Sakugo's Sharingan captured the trajectory of each tentacle not by looking at the tentacle itself, but by observing its shadow. The shadow on the ground was faster and more realistic than the tentacle itself.

He slashed out with his sword. The blade sliced ​​across the ground without touching a single tentacle.

But Kakuzu's six tentacles froze simultaneously, as if their connection had been severed by something. Kakuzu looked down at his chest—there was a new tear in his clothes, not deep, but blood was seeping out.

His pupils contracted. "What's going on? He had no idea."

Shuoge remained silent; villains die from talking too much.

Kakuzu stopped probing. He retracted his tentacles and formed hand seals. Earth Release: Earth Spear.

His skin turned grayish-black, hardening like rock. His fist slammed into Shuoge's face, so fast that the air seemed to tear apart.

Sakugo did not dodge; he slashed upwards with his sword, aiming at Kakuzu's shadow on the ground.

The blade sliced ​​through the shadow, and Kakuzu's fist stopped in mid-air.

He had a cut on his arm, running from his wrist down to his elbow.

Lightning Release Body Protection?

Hardening of the soil?

I've seen it before!

Shuoge won't make the same mistake twice!

The shadow was severed, but the main body was injured. Ignore defense.

Kakuzu retreated. He looked down at the wound on his arm, blood trickling down his wrist. He had lived for over a hundred years and seen countless opponents, but no one had ever injured him in this way.

"Your eyes—" Kakuzu's voice changed. "The Mangekyou Sharingan of the Uchiha clan?"

Jiaodu is a senior figure who has lived from the Warring States period to the present day.

He was naturally familiar with the Mangekyou Sharingan of the Uchiha clan.

That guy back then slaughtered his way through the entire ninja world!

Shuoge didn't waste any words. His knife came up again.

Kakuzu held nothing back. He clasped his hands together, unleashing the full power of the Earthly Grudge.

Black tentacles surged from his body, not six, but dozens. Each tentacle was topped with a mask representing Fire Release, Water Release, Lightning Release, Earth Release, and Wind Release.

Five attributes, five hearts. This is his true battle form.

"I've seen this power before, but—" Kakuzu's voice came from within the tentacles, deep and muffled. "You're far inferior to that man."

Sakugo naturally knew who the "that man" Kakuzu was referring to was.

Madara Uchiha.

A ninja world demon on par with Hashirama Senju, the god of ninjas.

"Fire Release: Head Carving".

With a low shout, Kakuzu unleashed a burst of flames from a mask, and a sea of ​​fire swept towards Shogo.

Shuoge retreated, forming a hand seal with his left hand, unleashing Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.

A gust of wind blew out, scattering the flames.

But Kakuzu's next move was already Lightning Release: False Darkness.

A bolt of lightning shot out from the other mask at incredible speed. Shuoge had no time to dodge and blocked it with the blade of his sword. The electric current traveled along the blade, paralyzing his arm. He nearly dropped his sword.

He wasn't given a chance to catch his breath.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet.

A water dragon burst forth from the third mask and struck Shogo in the chest.

Shuoge was knocked away, crashing to the ground and rolling twice. He stood up, leaning on his knife, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth.

Kakashi charged in from the side, his Lightning Blade gathering in his palm.

Blue lightning illuminated half the forest. He rushed towards Kakuzu, his target the location of a heart he had been observing.

Kakuzu's tentacles reached out to meet them.

Kakashi dodged to the side, and the Lightning Blade pierced through a mask. The mask shattered, revealing a heart.

Kakuzu's body swayed, and three of his tentacles retracted. But he still had four hearts.

"Kid!" Kakuzu's tentacles wrapped around Kakashi's arm, flinging him away. Kakashi crashed into a tree, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Sakugo stood up. He didn't go to rescue Kakashi, nor did he pay attention to the battle between the eagle and the fox.

His eyes were fixed on Kakuzu, on his shadow.

The tentacles cast countless shadows in the moonlight, each shadow connected to Kakuzu's body.

He needs to sever as many tentacles as possible at once—no, severing the shadows of the tentacles is useless, as the tentacles are part of Kakuzu's body, and severing the shadows of the tentacles will also injure Kakuzu's main body.

But there are too many tentacles; cutting them one by one is too slow.

He needs to cut everything off at once.

Sakugo channeled Wind Release chakra into the blade, not in a thin layer, but in a single line compressed to its limit.

The white light on the blade was almost invisible; only the air seemed to distort. He charged forward, the blade drawing an arc in front of him—not slicing through Kakuzu's body, but cutting through the entire shadow of the ground beneath his feet.

The blade sliced ​​through the ground. All of Kakuzu's tentacles severed simultaneously.

It wasn't that the tentacles were severed; rather, there was a wound where the tentacles connected to the heart.

Black blood gushed from the wound, and the tentacles drooped down, twitching on the ground.

Kakuzu looked down at his chest—there were five wounds there, each corresponding to the location of a heart. Four of the heart wounds were not deep, but one was right in the middle, cut in half.

His body swayed. Both hearts were ruined—one destroyed by Kakashi, and the other severed by Sakugo.

Three more are damaged. He can still fight, but it's not worth it.

Shuoge stood before him, the blade pointing downwards, blood trickling down its edge. His left eye burned, the kaleidoscope pattern slowly swirling in his pupil, but he did not close it.

Kakuzu looked at him, silent for a moment. Then he took out a signal flare from his pocket and detonated it. A red orb shot into the night sky and exploded against the gray backdrop.

In the distance, space itself seemed distorted.

A man wearing an orange mask emerged from the void. It was Obito. He stood behind Kakuzu, his Mangekyou Sharingan glowing red through the holes in his mask.

"Let's go." Obito's voice was very soft.

Kakuzu glanced at Sakugo. "Next time, you'll die."

Obito placed his hand on Kakuzu's shoulder, and the two figures twisted and disappeared.

Sakugo stood still, not giving chase. He sheathed his sword, and the burning sensation in his left eye slowly subsided. Kakashi climbed up from under the tree, clutching his shoulder, and walked to his side.

"Who is that person?"

Sakugo did not answer. He stared in the direction Obito had disappeared, remaining silent for a long time.

"have no idea."

The hawk and the fox approached, covered in blood. Kakuzu's teammate lay by the roadside, a kunai piercing his chest from the hawk's blade, his mask shattered, revealing a young face with his eyes still open.

"Clean up the scene." Shuoge turned and walked towards the carriage. "Keep going."

The carriage resumed its journey. Sakugo rode at the head of the procession. His left eye still felt slightly hot, but his vision hadn't deteriorated. Tsunade's reconstructive surgery had held up.

Kakashi spurred his horse and caught up. "Your eye technique—"

Shuoge did not answer.

Kakashi's eyes flickered slightly. He saw through it but didn't say anything. He had already roughly guessed the ability of Sakugo's left eye's Mangekyou Sharingan.

When attacking the shadow, the damage is reflected back to the main body at a 1:1 ratio.

The ability to ignore defenses.

Very powerful.

The safe house is located on a small hill on the border, surrounded by bare rocks, offering a wide view.

Hasegawa was led inside, while the hawk and fox stood guard at the door. Sakugo stood on the roof, gazing at the distant moon.

Kakashi climbed up and sat down next to him.

Neither of them spoke; they both gazed silently at the moon overhead.

Enjoying this moment of tranquility.

A few days later, Konoha Village.

Minato finished reading the mission report and placed it on the table. "Kakuzu escaped. His teammates are dead. Akatsuki won't let this go."

Shuoge stood in front of the table. "Hmm."

"That person—the masked one—rescued Kakuzu. Do you have any leads?"

"no."

Minato glanced at him but didn't press the matter. "Take a break for a while."

17

Shuoge turned and left. He walked out of the Hokage Building, the sunlight blinding him. He squinted his left eye, showing no discomfort.

But today on the battlefield, he has completely revealed the power of his left eye. Kakashi saw it, Kakuzu saw it, and Obito saw it too.

Attack the shadow, dealing damage. Ignores defense.

These eyes will become his trademark, and also a target for his enemies.

He walked towards the ANBU stronghold, his sword behind him, his hands hanging at his sides. Behind him, the portrait on the Hokage Rock gleamed in the sunlight.

Something needs to be done.

The Hokage's office, late at night.

Minato sat behind the table, with a summary of Akatsuki intelligence spread out in front of him.

The records of Kakuzu's two attacks, the report of Sasori's massacre of the city, and the reconnaissance results of the Rain Country's stronghold are scattered and cannot be pieced together to form a complete picture, but they are enough to make one thing clear: Akatsuki is growing stronger.

Shuoge stood before the table, his knife resting against the chair, his mask tucked into his waistband. "I need to plant a hidden move."

Minato raised his head. "Speak."

"Send Itachi to Akatsuki."

Minato didn't answer immediately. He leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers twice on the table. "The reason."

"Akatsuki is recruiting rogue ninja. Itachi's age, talent, and bloodline limit meet their recruitment standards. And—" Sakugo paused. "We can give a very reasonable reason."

"What reason?"

"Internal discord. Ke coveted the Sharingan. Defeated and defected." Sakugo's voice was calm. "Let Akatsuki find out these things themselves; it's more believable than us handing them over willingly."

Minato was silent for a moment. He picked up the intelligence scroll on the table, then put it down again. "Does Itachi know?"

"Not yet. We need your approval."

Minato stood up and walked to the window. Outside was the night view of Konoha Village, sparsely lit, most houses already asleep. He looked at it for a long time, then turned away.

"Go talk to Fugaku. If he agrees—"

Shuoge nodded, turned and left.

Uchiha clan headquarters, clan head's hall.

The candlelight flickered, casting shimmering shadows of the family crest on the wall. Fugaku sat in the main seat, a cup of tea before him, untouched. Sakugo sat opposite him, his sword resting against the edge of his chair.

"Send Itachi to Akatsuki." Sakugo got straight to the point.

Fugaku's finger paused for a moment. "The reason."

"Akatsuki is growing stronger. We need an inside player. Itachi's talent, age, and Sharingan meet Akatsuki's recruitment criteria."

"He will be discovered."

Shuoge's voice was flat. "You underestimate your son."

If it weren't for Itachi Uchiha, Sakugo would have chosen Shisui Uchiha.

Unfortunately, Uchiha Shisui had personality flaws.

Uchiha Itachi, on the other hand, was a wolf-like figure who could kill his father, mother, and exterminate his entire clan.

Instead of worrying about Itachi Uchiha, we should worry about the people he has his eye on.

Three days later, at the Uchiha headquarters.

The news spread throughout the clan—Itachi challenged Sakugo, was defeated, and fled wounded.

No one witnessed the battle, but the knife marks and bloodstains left on the training ground, the unhealed wound on Itachi's face, and the new scratches on the scabbard of the Sakugo sword all silently testify to something.

The clansmen discussed it in hushed tones after meals.

Some say Itachi was jealous that Sakugo was valued by the clan leader; some say Sakugo was too ruthless and showed no mercy; some say Fugaku was caught in the middle and had a difficult position.

Fugaku did not explain, but only said at the clan meeting, "Don't mention Itachi's matter again."

The tone wasn't harsh, but everyone could hear the coldness in it.

Shisui stood at the back of the crowd, looking at Fugaku's face. He knew the truth, but he couldn't tell.

Everything was for the sake of the people, everything was for the sake of the village, everything was for the sake of peace.

Training ground, evening.

Itachi stood alone in front of the target, holding a kunai in his hand.

There was a shallow wound on his left cheek, a cut from Shuoge's blade—not deep, but enough for everyone to see.

He threw his shuriken—one, two, three. All hit the bullseye, but a little slower than usual.

Shuoge walked over from a distance and stood beside him. Neither of them spoke; the only sound was the kunai hitting the bullseye.

"Tomorrow," Shuoge said softly.

Itachi paused for a moment. Then he continued throwing. Fourth, a bullseye. Fifth, a bullseye.

"The people of Akatsuki will be waiting for you at the border of the Land of Fire. The secret code is in the scroll."

"Um.

""

Sakugo turned and left. Itachi didn't look back and continued throwing the shuriken.

The sixth one, the bullseye. The seventh one, the bullseye. The bullseye was already full of kunai, but he didn't stop, throwing one after another until his wrists ached and the skin on his hands was raw.

Late at night, at the back gate of the Uchiha compound.

Itachi, carrying a small bag, stood in the shadows. Shisui walked over from the other end of the alley and stood in front of him. The two looked at each other for a moment.

"Take care," Shisui said softly.

Itachi nodded, without saying "Take care too" or "I'll come back."

He turned and walked into the night. Zhi Shui stood there, watching his figure disappear at the end of the alley.

The moonlight shone on his face, which remained expressionless.

A dilapidated shrine on the border of the Land of Fire.

Itachi stood amidst the ruins, waiting for the Akatsuki members to meet him. A cold wind blew in through the cracks in the broken walls. He wasn't wearing the Konoha ninja vest, only a long black robe, and the wound on his face had already scabbed over.

A person emerged from the darkness.

He wore a long robe with a black background and red clouds, and an orange swirling mask, revealing only the blood-red Sharingan in the hole of his right eye.

Obito, no, at this moment he calls himself "Uchiha Madara".

"Uchiha Itachi." The voice was hoarse and came from behind the mask.

Itachi didn't speak, he just looked at him.

Payne wants to see you.

Itachi followed. The two of them disappeared into the night, one after the other.

The person in front of me also has Sharingan.

But he didn't believe the person in front of him was Uchiha Madara.

Itachi Uchiha secretly memorized everything he heard and saw; this was his mission.