I, Naruto Uzumaki, don't need your approval.

"Just call me Obito..."

Obito removed his mask, revealing a狰狞 (zhengning - ferocious/hideous) half of his face, and said expressionlessly, "This mission is to kill Pain and Konan, who betrayed the organization. Only by killing them can we successfully execute the Eye of the Moon Plan."

"Are Payne and Konan unwilling to carry out the Eye of the Moon Plan?"

“Isn’t that obvious…” Obito glanced at Itachi Uchiha and continued, “Nagato and Konan have been using the pretense of collecting tailed beasts to secretly develop the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass all these years. Haven’t you noticed?”

"We have noticed, but isn't this just a way to accumulate strength and divert the attention of the five great powers?"

Obito glanced at Itachi Uchiha and shook his head: "Don't try to play these tricks on me. You are actually a spy planted by Konoha in Akatsuki. It's just that the Third Hokage who sent you to infiltrate Akatsuki is dead. You are actually more worried about Amegakure's development than I am."

"The organization's attempt to collect the tailed beasts will provoke the ire of the five great nations, and at best, it will be an organization that cannot be brought to the forefront."

"Once Amegakure develops, the Land of Fire will inevitably be seriously threatened."

Hearing this, Itachi Uchiha was somewhat surprised. When did Obito see through his identity as a spy? He had never sent any messages to Konoha in all these years, and he had never even contacted Sasuke.

But as he carefully recalled his past memories, Itachi Uchiha suddenly fell silent.

If Danzo only noticed me after I graduated early and won first place in the Chunin Exams, Obito would have noticed me much earlier, perhaps even during the Nine-Tails' night.

However, he still didn't quite understand why Obito had become like this. Was it because of Madara Uchiha?

The Uchiha patriarch who died decades ago but is now active again in the ninja world?

Obito noticed the change in Itachi's expression, but instead of engaging in much small talk, he began to explain the specifics of the mission, hoping to completely resolve the problems with Nagato and Konan this time.

If these two die, not only will Madara lose the vessel for the Rinnegan, but the Land of Rain will also belong to Akatsuki.

A few hours later, Obito, Itachi, and Kisame found the town where Konan and Nagato were hiding. After randomly grabbing a passerby and using genjutsu to read their memories, they were almost certain that Konan and Nagato were hiding there.

After receiving the confirmed news, Itachi and Kisame had mixed feelings; they were about to face their former superiors, Pain and Konan.

The main target was Konan, who was still in her prime. Pain was almost negligible, since Nagato's strength was terrifying if he was in good condition.

……

The moment Obito and his two companions stepped into the town.

Naruto, who had been resting on the tatami mat, opened his eyes and chuckled as he looked at Nagato and the others around him, who seemed both eager and uneasy.

"The fish we've been waiting for has taken the bait. Besides that beast Obito, two old acquaintances have also come over."

"Sasuke, didn't you want to see Itachi Uchiha? Itachi Uchiha has already come looking for you."

Upon hearing this, Sasuke's eyes lit up, while Nagato and Konan showed expressions of lingering fear. They had previously planned to lure the masked man and then use the explosive tag array to deal with him, but they hadn't expected the masked man to have accomplices.

And the helper was none other than Itachi Uchiha.

Chapter 278 Sasuke and Itachi

Upon entering the town, Obito and his two companions immediately began searching for the location where Nagato and Konan were hiding.

With his search fruitless, Kisame formed hand seals, preparing to use the Great Waterfall Technique to force Nagato and Konan to reveal their location. Just then, Konan, dressed in a fiery cloud robe, appeared before them and launched an attack on Obito.

Obito calmly dodged, preparing to use Kamui to absorb Konan into the Kamui dimension. Suddenly, a light shone from Konan's body, transforming into thousands of activated explosive tags.

Rumble...

Each explosive tag is as powerful as a small-scale ninjutsu, and the effect of thousands of them exploding together is extremely shocking.

Not only did a large semi-circular crater appear on the road, but many nearby buildings also collapsed, and the shockwave destroyed glass within a radius of several hundred meters.

Seeing this, Kisame and Itachi looked at Obito, who emerged from the smoke and dust unharmed, and it would be a lie to say they weren't envious.

With their abilities, it wouldn't be difficult for them to withstand the explosion of thousands of explosive tags. Whether they activate Susanoo or use the Mermaid Technique, they can avoid the explosion of the explosive tags.

But they can't do it as easily as Obito, which is the benefit of mastering space-time abilities.

Obito, having awakened his Mangekyou Sharingan, said calmly, "Chase them. Nagato and Konan must be in the dense forest ahead. We must take care of them this time, lest things get complicated."

Kisame and Itachi exchanged a glance, then followed Obito's pace.

Unlike Obito, who had mastered space-time abilities, they encountered no fewer than ten explosive tag traps on their way here. Although they were unharmed, their physical strength was greatly depleted.

This is also what makes Konan, the second-in-command of the Akatsuki, so terrifying.

In sudden encounters, Konan's combat strength is not outstanding within the Akatsuki organization, but once arrangements are made in advance, Konan alone can fight as well as an entire ninja army. No one is confident of defeating Konan.

Just as Kisame was about to venture deeper into the forest, Itachi stopped and looked at a figure emerging from the bushes.

"Itachi-kun, are you planning to switch sides at the last minute?"

Kisame gripped his greatsword tightly. Unlike the other Akatsuki members, he was loyal to only one person: Obito Uchiha, who had once controlled the Fourth Mizukage.

Because, like Obito, he did not believe that the ninja world was full of falsehoods, he chose the Eye of the Moon Plan.

Itachi, oblivious to Kisame's actions, watched Sasuke, sword in hand, staring at him, a smile slowly creeping onto his lips.

"Sasuke, I never expected to run into you here. I wonder how you've been all these years. Are you still that weak and useless coward?"

“Sasuke…” Kisame noticed that Sasuke and Itachi looked seven or eight parts alike. He put down his sword and said with a smile, “Itachi-kun, is he the younger brother you always talk about?”

"That's right. We kept him alive to wait for his revenge. I hope his eyes won't disappoint me."

After saying that, Itachi walked towards Sasuke, looking down at him. Then he activated his Mangekyou Sharingan, and a tear of blood rolled down his cheek: "Genjutsu: Tsukuyomi!"

Unaware of the danger, Sasuke fell into a genjutsu, his mental world shrouded in blood.

Soon, Sasuke found himself back on the day of Uchiha Night. After pushing open the door, he saw his parents lying in a pool of blood, and Uchiha Itachi holding a blood-stained kunai.

"Uchiha Itachi, is this your greeting gift?"

Sasuke suppressed his anger and put on an indifferent attitude, saying calmly, "I am no longer the Sasuke I used to be. I have been training hard for six years in order to defeat you."

"Then let me see the results of your cultivation..."

Itachi stood in the sky above the Tsukuyomi world, a nonchalant smile on his face.

Sasuke also awakened his Mangekyou Sharingan. Under the influence of his eye power, the blood-red sky gradually returned to normal, replaced by a scene of Sasuke training hard in the training ground. He then took out a kunai and stabbed it at Uchiha Itachi.

As Itachi Uchiha from the Tsukuyomi world died, Sasuke's eyes gradually regained their clarity, and he stared intently at Itachi.

Itachi revealed a maniacal smile and said meaningfully, "Sasuke, it wasn't in vain that I killed your parents and clan with my own hands, allowing you to accumulate enough hatred to evolve the Mangekyou Sharingan."

"Next, all I need to do is take your eyes, and I can obtain the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan."

"That depends on whether you have the ability!"

Thanks to Sasuke's intelligence, Sasuke learned that the fusion of his loved ones' Mangekyou Sharingan could evolve into the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, and understood that Itachi might have killed his parents and clansmen for power.

But what he didn't understand was why Sasuke said Itachi had his reasons.

What kind of hardship could have driven Itachi to do such a thing? Even if it was all for his own sake, he still couldn't understand it.

Fortunately, he doesn't need to understand. As long as he defeats Itachi here, everything will become clear, and Itachi will be at his mercy.

Thinking of this, an unnamed fire rose in Sasuke's heart, and he shouted, "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

……

While Sasuke and Itachi were fighting, Kisame quietly moved away. He didn't want to get involved in the battle between Itachi and Sasuke. Regardless of the outcome, it was Itachi's choice, and he would choose to respect it.

At that moment, a series of detonation tags exploded in the distance.

Kisame drew his greatsword, preparing to go and support Obito Uchiha, but at that moment, Nagato, Konan, and Orochimaru blocked Kisame's path, forcing him to stop abruptly.

"Lord Pain, Lord Konan, and Orochimaru!"

Kisame recognized the three of them and said with considerable apprehension.

After surrounding Kisame, Nagato did not make a move, but said calmly, "Kisame, you are a veteran of the organization. Are you planning to fight to the bitter end with Obito, or wait here for the outcome of the battle?"

Upon hearing this, Kisame immediately understood that this was a trap set for Obito.

Besides Nagato, Konan, and Orochimaru, there were other people who set up the trap. Judging from the difference in combat strength between the two sides, their chances of winning against Obito were not high.

Even though the odds of winning were slim, he did not intend to surrender, but instead gripped his broadsword tightly.

At this moment, Orochimaru glanced at Kisame and said with a half-smile, "Kisame-kun, you'd better be careful. This operation against Obito Uchiha was initiated by Naruto-sama. He has the power of half the ninja world, including your hometown, Kirigakure."

When Kisame mentioned Kirigakure, he remained silent for a few seconds before ultimately deciding against taking action.

However, he still looked towards where Obito was, his eyes filled with worry.

He was caught in the same confusion as he had been years before. He didn't know who he should serve, or whether loyalty was more important, or whether his hometown, Kirigakure, was more important. So he simply gave up on taking action.

Chapter 279 Obito's Gift

The two fireballs collided, and the intense heat caused the surrounding air to distort.

Emerging from the acrid smoke, Itachi Uchiha was quite satisfied with Sasuke's strength. In the years since he left Konoha, Sasuke had not only acquired Jonin-level skills but had even awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Originally, according to his plan, he only needed to deliberately hold back in the battle to leave the Sharingan in Sasuke, allowing Sasuke's Mangekyou Sharingan to evolve into the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.

However, after seeing that Sasuke's strength had increased, Itachi Uchiha abandoned his idea of ​​holding back.

He planned to give it his all, using his last breath to teach Sasuke a final lesson, to make Sasuke understand just how deep the waters of the ninja world really are.

After a moment of reflection, Itachi Uchiha increased his speed and, upon closing in on Sasuke, unleashed the Uchiha Fluid Technique. A dozen kunai flew out at once, pulling on semi-transparent steel wires to form a crisscrossing steel wire trap.

Sasuke, who had activated his Kaleidoscope early on, easily saw the translucent steel wire in the forest.

After conjuring lightning in his palm, he threw the lightning-infused shuriken, which instantly severed the steel wire and flew straight towards Itachi's location, striking Itachi's body.

In an instant, Itachi's body transformed into countless mournful crows, appearing behind Sasuke.

Sasuke launched a counterattack without turning his head, thrusting his short sword directly behind him. He then created distance and threw the fireball he had condensed into the sky above, activating the long-dormant dark clouds.

"Lightning Release: Kirin!"

As thunderous dragons rolled through the dark clouds, lightning transformed into Qilin and fell from the clouds, with bolts of lightning striking directly towards the location of Uchiha Itachi.

Itachi Uchiha quickly dodged, but was ultimately forced to activate Susanoo to withstand the attack from the clouds.

At this point, Itachi Uchiha abandoned his underestimation and looked at Sasuke, who had also activated Susanoo. The two Susanoo immediately engaged in a fierce battle.

The commotion attracted the attention of Nagato and the others who were not far away.

They all saw the towering Susanoo, which resembled a demon god. The destructive power of the two Susanoo left them speechless. Kisame exclaimed, "Itachi-kun has finally unleashed his full power."

Upon hearing this, Nagato glanced at Kisame, his thoughts unreadable.

Orochimaru, however, showed an interested look, pondering how to obtain a pair of Mangekyou Sharingan for research. Over the years, his cloning technology had enabled him to clone bloodline limits such as the Sharingan through embryo culture.