Chapter 67: The Man Who Calls Himself Uchiha Madara
A figure flew through the rooftops. Uchiha Itachi, who had just left the Hokage's Office, felt the weight of 'destiny' that was enough to crush anyone. He leapt onto a tall tower at the edge of the Uchiha Clan Territory, looking down. Many familiar figures walked on the streets, smiles on their faces—a gift from the new Clan Head to the Uchiha Clan.
Itachi's heart was incredibly conflicted; perhaps soon, this place would become desolate. Just then, the space beside Itachi twisted strangely, without warning. A man wearing an orange spiral mask appeared silently beside him.
"What a touching scene." The masked man spoke with a teasing tone, as if enjoying a tragedy whose ending he already knew. "For the Village's peace, to protect his foolish younger brother, he doesn't hesitate to become a demon who slaughters his entire clan."
"Uchiha Itachi, you truly are a good dog, one who inherited the Will of Fire."
Itachi's body instantly tensed. His Mangekyō Sharingan activated instantly, turning sharply to the man beside him, the tomoe spinning wildly, carrying bone-chilling killing intent.
"Who are you?"
The masked man didn't answer, merely spoke to himself. "Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura gave you an offer you couldn't refuse. And I can give you a way to complete the mission."
Itachi's heart sank sharply. This man knew every detail of the top-secret conversation in the Hokage's Office.
"Why should I believe you?" Itachi's voice was cold, a short blade already in his hand, its edge gleaming with a chilling light under the moonlight.
"Because of this." The masked man chuckled softly. His body began to twist and spin eerily around his single eye, as if being sucked into an invisible vortex.
This was a Space-Time Ninjutsu, and an incredibly advanced one that Itachi had never seen before.
"Let me introduce myself." The man said. "You can call me... Uchiha Madara."
The name was legendary. Uchiha Madara. The legendary founder of the Uchiha, known as the Shinobi World's Asura, a figure on par with the First Hokage. Hadn't he already died at the Valley of the End?
"Surprised?" The man calling himself Madara's tone was filled with mockery for the changing world. "I am merely a wandering soul, tired of this hypocritical world. I've long seen through it: so-called peace is merely the prelude to the next war. The so-called Will of Fire is just a joke that turns people into tools. Itachi, do you see everything clearly now?"
Itachi said nothing, merely tightened his grip on the blade in his hand.
"I can help you." The masked man continued. "Help you complete this slaughter, which you alone cannot possibly accomplish."
Madara's single eye showed a light that seemed to see through everything. "I know what you're afraid of. That brat named Uchiha Akira is indeed a monster. His power has exceeded the realm of common sense; even your father, Uchiha Fugaku, has awakened his Mangekyō. Relying only on you and Danzō's shadowy rats to fight two Mangekyō is simply overestimating yourselves."
Madara let out a scoff. "You're not executing a mission; you're going to your deaths."
Itachi had to admit it. The other party was right. He himself had personally experienced the strength of this new Clan Head, Uchiha Akira. By himself, or even with the help Danzō brought, he might not be able to defeat Akira.
"What is your objective?" Itachi finally spoke; he had to know the other party's intentions.
"Objective?" Madara's body leaned slightly forward, his single eye drawing close to Itachi, his voice filled with temptation.
"My objective is true peace. A perfect world without war, without sacrifice, without suffering." He said. "I call it the Eye of the Moon Plan."
The masked man painted a grand, almost insane, blueprint for Itachi: using the power of all Tailed Beasts to cast the strongest Genjutsu, to plunge everyone in the entire world into an eternal beautiful dream. In that dream, the dead could be resurrected, and regrets could be mended. Everything lost would be regained.
"Your sacrifice, your suffering, will be the cornerstone of this great plan. The sins you bear will also find their ultimate redemption in that world."
Itachi looked at the mysterious man before him, his heart engaged in a fierce struggle. Reason told him that the other party was a complete madman. Perhaps...
"Amaterasu!" Blood tears streamed from Itachi's eyes, and black flames appeared out of nowhere on Madara's body, instantly engulfing him.
However, the next second, the black flames seemed to burn into empty space, passing directly through Madara's body and leaving an unextinguishable scorch mark on the wall behind him. And Madara himself was unharmed.
"It's useless." The masked man said. "Before my Kamui, all your attacks are meaningless."
Itachi's pupils contracted to their extreme. Is this… Uchiha Madara's power? This ability to ignore attacks was simply invincible.
"Now, do you believe I have the ability to help you?" Madara's voice was filled with absolute confidence.
Itachi fell silent. He had to admit that this man's strength was unfathomable. With him, plus the help Danzō brought, perhaps he really could defeat Uchiha Akira and complete this nearly impossible mission.
For Sasuke. A flicker of resolve flashed in Itachi's eyes.
"Your conditions."
Madara seemed very pleased with his understanding. "Very simple. After the clan extermination, join my organization, Akatsuki. Gather Tailed Beast intelligence for me."
"In return, I will help you keep your secret, and I will help you… watch over your younger brother." That last sentence was the true killing blow. It precisely grasped Itachi's weakness.
Itachi slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, all the struggle and pain within them had been buried deep down.
"I accept."
"Very good." Madara smiled. "Then, let's discuss the details. Three nights from now, when the moon is fullest, that day will be the Uchiha's doomsday. I will be responsible for dealing with the cannon fodder and creating opportunities for you."
"Uchiha Akira, I will also help you hold him off. And you..." Madara's gaze turned towards the brightly lit Uchiha Clan Territory in the distance. "Go and personally sever your bonds."
The agreement was reached. Itachi's figure vanished into the night.
Obito, wearing a spiral mask, stood alone on the high tower, watching Itachi's retreating back, his single eye gleaming with the light of a successful scheme. Uchiha Itachi, this most useful chess piece, had finally fallen into his chessboard. Everything was under his control.