The Uchiha clan's ancestral hall.
Itachi's figure slowly walked in.
Facing the damaged stone tablet before him, he hesitated for a moment before proceeding deeper.
This was the end of the ancestral hall.
Darkness surrounded him, and Itachi gazed at a wall with his scarlet eyes.
He extended his right hand, slowly touching the wall: "This must be the place..."
*Bang!*
The wall collapsed, and Itachi walked into the swirling smoke.
Before him appeared a giant tree.
The open-air dome was covered with countless weeds, and the base of the tree was connected to a stone pedestal.
It was filled with various infusion tubes, now covered in dust from the passage of time.
"It seems no one has been here for a long time..."
Itachi slowly turned, seeing the Uchiha clan crest carved on the vast wall.
In the corner were some viscous liquids, seemingly left behind by some creature.
However, judging by the viscosity, it looked like a plant.
Suddenly, countless venomous snakes crawled out from under the stone pedestal.
Itachi's pupils contracted, and he rapidly retreated.
"Too late?"
From the grass outside the dome, Kabuto, clad in a brown robe, excitedly flicked his red snake-like tongue.
On his back, he carried a large coffin.
And the person lying inside was the master of this domed stone cavern.
"Uchiha Itachi..."
"To be able to find this place, I underestimated you..."
Kabuto sneered, carrying the coffin and quickly disappearing into the forest.
Itachi looked up at the vanishing chakra above the dome and shook his head: "A failure..."
Kisame sat on a rock, lost in thought.
Suddenly, Itachi leaped up from below.
"Huh? Did you find anything?" Kisame asked.
Itachi sighed, "Someone must have known I was coming beforehand."
Kisame's interest piqued, "Actually, I don't quite understand. How did you find this place?"
Itachi looked at the Hidden Leaf Village and fell silent.
Closing his eyes, he began to recall what Nagato had told him in the Hidden Rain Village.
"From Mr. Su, I learned that the meaning of peace does not include war."
"I used to fear loss, but after experiencing so much, I've become gradually numb."
"But I must admit, if things continue like this, will the new world truly embrace the mistakes we made?"
"Will there be a new Akatsuki to punish us then, creating another new world..."
Returning from his memories to reality.
Itachi's face was etched with melancholy.
Nagato had doubted Tobi's identity. When he first appeared, he helped establish Akatsuki under the guise of Madara Uchiha.
No one had ever seen Madara Uchiha, so naturally, no one knew what he looked like.
However, through some secret investigations, Nagato had gathered some intelligence on Tobi.
But for now, he had only told Uchiha Itachi all of this.
The plan to capture the Tailed Beasts could not be stopped, precisely because of Tobi (Madara Uchiha).
"It's time to go back, Kisame."
Itachi walked directly towards the way back.
"Wait, Mr. Itachi, perhaps I can tell you the answer from behind the mask."
Kisame followed, carrying Samehada.
(Those who know the story should understand that Kisame was the only one in Akatsuki who had seen Tobi's face.)
(That is, Obito Uchiha.)
Hidden Cloud Village.
The Anbu members lurking inside and outside the stone cave suddenly sensed several powerful chakras approaching.
They sprang out, blocking the entrance to the cave: "Team Two, quickly go inform the Raikage! We'll hold them off here!"
Before the second team could leave, Pain, along with Konan and others, landed heavily on the ground.
*Boom!*
The entire area shook significantly.
Killer Bee and Yugito Nii inside the cave looked out nervously.
"Found them..."
Pain looked indifferently at the Anbu guarding the cave entrance: "To defy a god is to court death..."
"Stop them and await the Raikage's reinforcements!"
The captain at the forefront quickly formed hand seals, and a red barrier slowly enveloped the area behind the cave.
Pain swiftly drew a black rod from his sleeve and charged forward with steady steps.
*Thwack!*
*Thwack!*
Among the encircling crowd, Pain easily dispatched several elite Anbu.
"Raiton! Raiton no Hōshō!"
They all unleashed Raiton ninjutsu simultaneously.
Pain slightly raised his right hand: "Shindō Tensei!"
*Boom!*
Everyone lost control and fell down, their bodies crashing heavily against the thick trees behind them.
At that moment, a bolt of lightning struck the ground from the sky.
Amidst the smoke, the Raikage emerged, carrying Hidan's head.
"Tch, are all of you in Akatsuki this worthless?"
The Raikage said, throwing Hidan's head directly at Pain's feet.
"I refuse to accept this! Put my head back on! I'll fight him again!"
Even with only his head remaining, Hidan glared defiantly at the Raikage.
Konan frowned slightly: "Does that mean Kakuzu also..."
Beneath the Raikage Building.
Kakuzu's heart had been pierced, and ninjas around were clearing the scene.
Suddenly, Kakuzu's eyes opened: "Cough..."
A mouthful of blood coughed out of his mouth as he painfully reset his bones.
"I didn't expect this old guy's strength and speed to be so monstrous."
"Fortunately, I have spare hearts..."
As soon as Kakuzu sat up.
The ninjas clearing the scene cried out excitedly: "This... this guy is alive again!"
Kakuzu sneered and instantly appeared behind a man.
Black threads drilled into the man's chest.
"I'll take your heart..."
....
The Raikage laughed heartily at Pain and the others: "I knew you'd come. Not a single one of you will leave today!"
Deidara contemptuously jumped onto a giant bird.
At this moment, a violent explosion occurred where the Raikage Building had been.
The Raikage turned his head, his face filled with shock: "How is this possible? I clearly killed that guy!"
"The exciting part is just beginning!"
Deidara, riding the giant bird, flew rapidly towards the densely populated area of the Hidden Cloud Village.
"Damn it! Stop right there!"
The Raikage roared angrily at Deidara in the sky.
But before him, Konan and Pain blocked his path, preventing him from reinforcing the villagers.
"So you're forcing my hand and making me unleash my full power...!"
The Raikage slowly took off his white outer coat and tossed it to the ground.
Intense lightning emanated from around his body.
Pain frowned slightly: "Konan, attack from the sky..."
As soon as he spoke, the Raikage suddenly appeared before them.
Seeing this, Pain instantly activated Shinra Tensei.
However, to his surprise, the Raikage forcefully cracked the defensive shield of Shinra Tensei!
"Yabō!"
P.S. The issue with Kushina's fragment has been rectified and changed to Uchiha Chiri.
The servant relationship between Tsunade and Sumiki has been modified and removed.
Secret Code: ⑥.尔.八.七.散.⑥.二二二~