War Approaches

Projector Technique

Pain used this technique to summon the organization’s members, because aside from Nagato and Konan, the others were basically not in Amegakure.

Kakuzu was the first to speak. "Leader, I’m almost at the Underground Money Exchange. If there’s something, make it quick."

"Kakuzu-san is working again? You really do work hard," Kisame Hoshigaki said with a strange grin. Before he could continue, Kakuzu’s teammate, Raiga Kurosuki, complained.

"I’ve had enough of this guy. Who wants to trade teammates with me? He’s either completing bounties or on his way to collect the reward. If the leader hadn’t required teams of two, I’d rather work alone."

Kakuzu said indifferently, "Only money will never betray you. Looks like you still haven’t grasped that truth."

"Working in pairs is an unchangeable rule of Akatsuki. There’s no need to discuss it further."

Pain spoke, then, after seeing that everyone had arrived, explained the purpose of gathering them.

"Besides gathering intelligence on the Tailed Beasts, there is now a mission that needs to be completed. Who is closest to the Land of Wind?"

"We’re in the Hot Spring Country, searching for the new member the leader mentioned."

"I’m still in the Land of Iron."

Raiga Kurosuki spoke after hearing that. "Kakuzu and I are near an Underground Money Exchange in the River Country. Leader, what is the mission?"

Pain looked at the projections of Raiga Kurosuki and Kakuzu. "Assassinate the Daimyo of the Land of Wind and several nobles of the Land of Wind. White Zetsu will give you the intelligence later. They are only ordinary people. Just follow the attached requirements."

Kakuzu asked, "We have to go all the way to the Land of Wind? That’s another long journey. Leader, how much is the reward for this mission?"

"There is no reward."

"No reward? Then send other members. The round trip alone will delay me long enough to miss at least two bounties."

Pain ignored Kakuzu’s complaints and spoke with slightly more force. "The others are not as close as the two of you. This mission is somewhat important to Akatsuki."

Hearing Pain’s tone, Kakuzu snorted and reluctantly agreed. "Fine. But don’t come to me with this kind of boring mission again."

"Pain, my clone discovered some new intelligence. Everyone, want to guess what it is!?"

White Zetsu suddenly said mischievously, instantly drawing the attention of every Akatsuki member.

"This intelligence is quite rare. If you guess correctly, there will be—"

Before White Zetsu could finish his antics, Pain interrupted him. "Get to the point, Zetsu."

"Fine, you people really are no fun. You should know that without me, the Rain Country might get attacked without anyone even knowing the intelligence. Konoha and the Iwa-nin are currently gathering troops, and their target may be the Rain Country."

After being interrupted, White Zetsu revealed the information with great displeasure.

Even if the two Ninja Villages deployed Ninja to the border as secretly as possible, they could not hide it from White Zetsu’s Clones. Moreover, Obito had recently received news that the Uchiha Clan was making some moves and had personally gone to Konoha. He happened to notice Konoha’s unusual activity.

Obito was also somewhat dissatisfied with Konan’s actions. He believed that Akatsuki should currently be recruiting enough official members and launching their plan as soon as possible, rather than drawing so much attention from other Ninja Villages and provoking two villages into attacking the Rain Country.

However, he then considered that such a war could weaken Konoha and the Iwa-nin, which would also help with the plans to come. At the very least, when Akatsuki captured the Tailed Beasts, Konoha and the Iwa-nin would be too weak to interfere.

So he chose to watch from the sidelines. If possible, Obito also wanted to stir up conflict between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha, thereby wiping out the clan.

War was the best way to stimulate the Uchiha to awaken their Sharingan. If this war began and Konoha lacked fighting strength, the Uchiha Clan might also be sent to the battlefield. Then, under the stimulation of war, many Uchiha might advance their Sharingan.

Obito’s Sharingan had been born from the stimulation of war, so he understood the Uchiha Clan’s potential very well.

As long as they awakened their eyes, under the stimulation of love and hatred, there was a chance they would evolve a Mangekyō Sharingan. Moreover, every Mangekyō Sharingan possessed different abilities. Perhaps one would emerge that could counter Kamui.

Obito had been born into this clan, but he also feared it. No one understood better than he did just how great the Uchiha’s potential was. He also had a younger member of the Uchiha Clan he thought highly of. If the plan went smoothly, Akatsuki’s members would soon be complete.

Every additional pair of Mangekyō Sharingan was a threat to the Moon Eye Plan, so he had to find an opportunity to eliminate the Uchiha Clan. Furthermore, there were already signs of war between the Uchiha and Konoha. Obito only needed to add a little fuel to the fire.

After Konoha’s Ninja Clan meeting, the other Clan Heads left with calm expressions. Although they had to send some clansmen to the battlefield, joining forces with the Iwa-nin against the Rain Country was still a war with victory in sight.

Except for Uchiha Fugaku.

The Uchiha Clan had been excluded. Not only had they failed to participate in the war, but even part of their patrol territory during wartime had been taken away by the Anbu.

Isolation and vigilance were practically written nakedly across Uchiha Fugaku’s face. At the Ninja Clan meeting, Danzo had shown the Uchiha Clan no respect at all.

Although the Clan Heads of the other Ninja Clans were all skilled at concealing their thoughts and showed no expression, Uchiha Fugaku seemed able to feel the people around him mocking the Uchiha Clan.

Rebellion!?

The thought did not linger in Uchiha Fugaku’s mind for long before fading away. He knew that with the Uchiha Clan’s strength, a successful rebellion would be difficult.

The Anbu, Root, and the unassuming Sarutobi Clan alone were already difficult enough for the Uchiha Clan to handle. On top of that, there were the other Ninja Clans. They might not join in at first, but once the Uchiha Clan showed signs of weakness during the rebellion, the Ninja Clans friendly with the Hokage’s faction would certainly take part.

After returning to the Military Police Force, the clansmen gathered around Uchiha Fugaku and asked one after another.

"Clan Head, what did they say at the Ninja Clan meeting?"

Uchiha Fugaku looked at the clansmen and sighed inwardly. He suppressed his dissatisfaction and said to the Military Police Force’s clansmen, "It’s inconvenient to speak here. Go back and notify the clan. We will hold a clan meeting tonight."

Seeing Fugaku’s expression, the other Uchiha clansmen of the Military Police Force guessed that something was probably unusual. They nodded in understanding, then dispersed to notify the others.

Afterward, Uchiha Fugaku returned home.

Aside from Mikoto, who was busy with household chores, Uchiha Itachi was also accompanying Sasuke in training Taijutsu in the backyard.

Only after seeing Sasuke did Uchiha Fugaku remember that the Ninja Academy was on break today.

"Father, you’re back."

Seeing Uchiha Fugaku, both Uchiha Itachi and Second Pillar stopped training and greeted Fugaku.

"Itachi, come with me." Uchiha Fugaku spoke to Itachi. He ignored Sasuke’s hopeful gaze. The Uchiha Clan now had more important matters to deal with, and for him as clan head, spending time with his family was a luxury.

After the father and son entered the house, Uchiha Fugaku did not beat around the bush. He directly asked Itachi, "Itachi, has the Anbu gathered any new intelligence?"

After hearing this, Uchiha Itachi’s dark eyes deepened slightly. Then he answered Fugaku in an even tone, "Father, Anbu intelligence cannot be disclosed to outsiders."

"Itachi, you are a member of the Uchiha Clan. Don’t forget your identity!"

Uchiha Fugaku felt a little anger rise in his heart. Raising his voice slightly, he said to Itachi, "I had you enter the Anbu so you could gather useful intelligence for the Uchiha Clan. I hope you have not forgotten your original intentions."

"…"

A trace of irritation rose in Uchiha Itachi’s heart. He deeply disliked his father speaking to him in that tone, always talking about the clan. Why couldn’t the Uchiha living in Konoha think more about Konoha instead of fixing their eyes on this narrow little clan?

Within the clan, only Shisui possessed a breadth of mind worthy of his recognition. Everyone else was exceedingly narrow-minded.

"I have not forgotten my identity, Father."

He did not say the words, I am a Ninja of Konoha, aloud. He merely repeated them silently in his heart. After a moment of silence, Uchiha Itachi slowly spoke.

"There have been no recent changes in the Anbu."