Starting as the mastermind behind Naruto

Chapter 222 Itachi Uchiha: Please take good care of Sasuke for me

In the ninja world, the more someone knows, the more dangerous they are.

Uchiha Itachi, however, did not think so. He believed that he needed to know enough to perfect his next plan. Someone who was secretly spying on him and Sasuke was far too dangerous.

Especially since this person actually saw through his thoughts and used his feelings for Sasuke to threaten him, how could he not be wary of such a thing!

ask.

Of course you should ask.

We have to keep asking.

Itachi Uchiha looked at Kisame Hoshigaki, determined to continue questioning him and find out who was the mastermind behind him.

"I think I've seen that person before, right?"

"What you've seen is never the whole story of him."

After Kisame finished speaking, he added with a light laugh, "Itachi-san, if you know enough, you and your brother will be in great danger."

"If I didn't know these things, wouldn't Sasuke be in even more danger? At least you can only avoid threats that are visible, right?"

After Itachi finished speaking, he began to ponder and analyze Kisame Hoshigaki's words. At least he could confirm the target, because the person standing behind Kisame was someone he had seen before.

No, that's not right.

This is a bit difficult to analyze.

Because there are just too many that meet the criteria.

Everyone may have another side, which is very difficult to analyze simply. The person hidden behind Kisame must be very well hidden.

A person who has never been exposed.

Instead of analyzing the ultimate mastermind, it might be better to analyze Kisame's companions, as that might offer a chance of finding a suitable match.

Return to One.

Uchiha Itachi subconsciously thought of Uehara Naraku's teammate in the organization, the guy who rarely spoke but never really took action. Pain had given him the title of Guiyi.

Because that guy always wore a hood, never showing his true face, and never actually making a move!

Undoubtedly, this person is the prime suspect.

If I ask him that, will Kisame admit it?

Maybe yes, maybe no, maybe there's only one false answer.

What Itachi Uchiha found most troublesome was that he knew absolutely nothing about the person named Guiyi, only that he was Uehara Naraku's teammate.

Uchiha Itachi pondered for a moment, then suddenly glanced at Kisame Hoshigaki and softly uttered a name: "Uehara Naraku..."

"..."

Kisame Hoshigaki's heart tightened instinctively.

Was their interaction obvious? Itachi Uchiha actually guessed Uehara Naraku's identity directly!

To be honest, Kisame Hoshigaki didn't expect this either.

Unexpectedly, Itachi Uchiha suddenly spoke up, saying, "Uehara Naraku... he was also a pawn in your game, wasn't he?"

Regardless of who it suspects, Itachi Uchiha would never believe that Naraku Uehara was the mastermind, as that would be too far-fetched!

With the favor of Konan and Pain, almost everyone knew that Uehara Naraku was likely to become the next leader of Akatsuki.

And Uehara Naraku is quite arrogant...

Look at Uehara Naraku's behavior at the meeting. He showed superficial respect to the organization's veterans, but directly suppressed the newcomers.

This kind of bullying and harassment is so prevalent...

No matter how you look at it, he doesn't seem like a mastermind.

Besides, how could a mastermind possibly be on good terms with the genin of the five great ninja villages and even participate in the childish Chunin Exams?

Therefore, Itachi Uchiha believed that Naraku Uehara was also a pawn.

Perhaps Uehara Naraku didn't know the truth at all, or perhaps he knew part of the truth, but at most, he was just a pawn.

After all, when Itachi Uchiha joined Akatsuki, Naraku Uehara was his contemporary, joining on the same day...

Itachi Uchiha, thirteen years old.

Uehara Naraku, twelve years old.

The two fought under Obito Uchiha's instigation. Itachi Uchiha used the advantage of his Sharingan's genjutsu to create an opening and defeat Uehara.

To be honest, Uehara Naraku was pretty bad back then.

Facing an Uchiha member, he didn't even bother to avoid eye contact. It's likely that Uehara didn't know the function of the Sharingan at that time, only that the Sharingan had a great reputation.

Over the years, Uehara has made rapid progress and may have already qualified to become a chess piece. His personality has also changed somewhat as his strength has increased.

It's highly likely that Itachi Uchiha thought Uehara Naraku was a pawn.

It's no wonder that Itachi Uchiha was thinking such things.

After all, someone who saw through the reason for the massacre back then couldn't possibly be a little kid who was only twelve years old at the time, right?

Kisame Hoshigaki's heart immediately relaxed, and he grinned, revealing a look of amazement: "As expected of Itachi-san... That brat Uehara Naraku is too naive, he's always so easily manipulated."

After Kisame Hoshigaki finished speaking, he casually tried to throw something dirty at Naraku Uehara: "How should I describe Uehara? We didn't treat him as a qualified pawn."

When he was in Akatsuki, Uehara Naraku was a member who would do anything for the organization's mission; when he was in Amegakure, he was someone who colluded with Konoha for Amegakure's sake; even he himself didn't know how to choose.

He will break his previous promises if someone persuades him otherwise.

This is a genius without his own code of ninja; he can be manipulated one moment and betray his promise the next. He cannot be considered our pawn at all.

"I see."

Uchiha Itachi slowly nodded.

Uehara Naraku is a guy who can be used.

If possible, perhaps we could consider using Uehara Naraku to pass on information about the Akatsuki to Konoha. The deeper Uehara Naraku's connection with those Konoha ninjas becomes, the more likely he is to reveal a weakness.

"Ringo Ameyuri and Hozuki Mangetsu are your companions."

Itachi Uchiha immediately suggested two names. After all, there were four members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist who had joined the Akatsuki organization, and three of them had a good relationship. Only Zabuza Momochi was subconsciously excluded by them.

and many more…

Does that mean that Zabuza Momochi might also be the mastermind behind it all?

Because Zabuza Momochi was their superior, they were unwilling to speak to him to avoid revealing their true identities. Moreover, Zabuza Momochi was wrapped in bandages, making it impossible to see his true face.

Uchiha Itachi subconsciously began to experience a headache.

Finding the mastermind behind him who truly understands and sees through him is not something that can be done in a few words; we must find a way to investigate as soon as possible.

Itachi Uchiha tapped his desk and said in a low voice, "I will be careful to protect the secrets of the Akatsuki members. Do you think you'll help me protect Sasuke?"

This is both a test and an inquiry.

Itachi Uchiha wanted to use this opportunity to test whether Kisame Hoshigaki's accomplices and superiors were among those who captured the Three-Tails Jinchuriki.

If Kisame Hoshigaki agrees to protect Sasuke, then the people who captured the Three-Tails Jinchuriki must have Kisame's accomplices or even superiors among them...

For example, Momochi Zabuza, whom Itachi Uchiha suspected.

Don't worry.

Kisame Hoshigaki grinned at Itachi Uchiha and chuckled, "It seems we can only make this one deal. Is Mr. Itachi really unwilling to side with us?"

"To be honest, I'm very tempted."

Itachi Uchiha looked at Kisame Hoshigaki and said softly, "But before joining an unknown group, shouldn't I at least know your purpose, your leader, and your current members?"

"...Then there's nothing we can do."

Kisame Hoshigaki looked at Itachi Uchiha with a face full of regret, and sighed softly, "Actually, recruiting Mr. Itachi was my own selfish reason. I couldn't bear to see a ninja like Mr. Itachi disappear. Only after Mr. Itachi agreed could I report to my superiors."

After all, in my boss's eyes, Mr. Itachi is a very troublesome person! He might not like Mr. Itachi joining us, and I'll have to put in a lot of effort to persuade him to accept Mr. Itachi and your brother.

Kisame Hoshigaki's words made it sound like his little group was something special, and that there was some kind of VIP system involved.

However, it is indeed remarkable.

Itachi Uchiha looked at Kisame Hoshigaki with some surprise, seemingly unable to react for a moment. So it turned out that Kisame had been trying to recruit and win him over all along, and it was Kisame's own idea.

His boss didn't actually agree to it or even know about it.

What does this mean?

Itachi Uchiha's mind raced, and he immediately realized a terrifying fact: the person behind Kisame might very well believe that Itachi Uchiha had no value, or even foresaw his impending death.

yes…

If that person could see through the fact that he had destroyed his clan to protect his younger brother and all the things he had done for his younger brother, how could he not see through the possibility that Uchiha Itachi would die?

The person behind it all didn't leave him a place at all!

It wasn't that Itachi Uchiha was boasting, but rather that he knew his own strength and was definitely among the top in the entire Akatsuki organization.

Itachi Uchiha himself was not a worthless person.

It was only because the mastermind knew that Itachi Uchiha was determined to die that the mastermind simply abandoned him.

but…

Uchiha Itachi slowly raised his head and looked at Kisame Hoshigaki sitting in front of him, at his teammate with whom he had spent many years.

but…

However, Kisame Hoshigaki did not want to see Itachi Uchiha die, so he took it upon himself to come and recruit Itachi Uchiha to join them!

This is an extremely dangerous move.

Or perhaps Kisame knew these things and it didn't matter, as it wouldn't affect the people behind him, or perhaps Kisame risked being executed by his superior.

Itachi Uchiha couldn't tell the difference.

Itachi Uchiha knew one thing: his teammates wanted to save him!

According to what Uehara Naraku said at the meeting, once Sasuke and the others return from capturing the Three-Tails, the Uchiha brothers will have a life-or-death duel.

Itachi Uchiha was already prepared to die.

However, before he was about to die, Kisame Hoshigaki saw through all of this and wanted to help him.

"Thank you, Kisame."

Uchiha Itachi stared at Kisame Hoshigaki, remained silent for a while, and then continued, "I have seen my destiny, I have seen through what kind of person I am, and I have found the path I must take."

Itachi Uchiha decisively rejected Kisame.

On the night of the massacre, Itachi Uchiha had already prepared an ending for himself, and he would never change it for anything.

Even though he greatly admired Kisame as his teammate.

"Mr. Itachi..."

Kisame's face immediately darkened, and he grinned, revealing an ugly smile: "I took a huge risk, can't you reconsider? After all, I don't want to lose my partner."

"I'm sorry, Kisame."

Itachi Uchiha placed his hand on Kisame Hoshigaki's shoulder and whispered, "You should know, right? The person standing behind you didn't leave any room for me."

"..."

Kisame Hoshigaki froze for a moment.

Itachi Uchiha looked at Kisame Hoshigaki and continued, "You need to forget all those unnecessary things you said to me tonight, and I'll forget them too, understand? Don't put yourself in danger..."

"I see."

Kisame Hoshigaki stood up, revealing a mouthful of shark teeth: "Then that's settled! Remember, Itachi-san, you are absolutely not allowed to leak the organization's information to anyone. This is the price we pay for protecting Sasuke. If you leak it, even the slightest clue, we will find out the source of the information. We are not without spies among the Five Great Nations."

"I've got it."

Uchiha Itachi nodded, and as Kisame Hoshigaki's tall figure was about to leave, he suddenly spoke again: "Wait, Kisame, if the person behind you wants to win over Sasuke, I hope you can take good care of Sasuke."

"..."

After a moment of silence, Kisame Hoshigaki nodded and said, "Even if Sasuke isn't Itachi's favorite younger brother, he's been my teammate for several years. I won't stand idly by."

"Then I'm relieved."

Itachi Uchiha nodded.

After Kisame Hoshigaki left, Itachi Uchiha suddenly covered his mouth, and drops of blood seeped out from between his fingers.

His body was about to give out.

Therefore, when we return to the Land of Fire this time, we must find a way to plan Sasuke's future.

With Hiruzen Sarutobi dead and Danzo Shimura missing, no one knows about Itachi Uchiha's past.

If Sasuke's location cannot be found in Konoha, entrusting him to Kisame, a friend, might not be a bad idea.

Delivered at midnight! So satisfying!

Anyone like Akatsuki's Bonds?

I hope I haven't ruined my public image!

(End of this chapter)