NCCnovel Chapter 341 A Pair of Cold-Faced Tigers, Two Black Sharks
Chapter 341 A Pair of Cold-Faced Tigers, Two Black Sharks
Chapter 341 A Pair of Cold-Faced Tigers, Two Black Sharks
In the Land of Grass, wisps of smoke curled from a scorched, blackened wasteland ravaged by fire-style techniques.
The Susanoo skeleton firmly protected Itachi Uchiha in the center.
Uchiha Itachi stared intently at the figure in front of him, his nerves taut to the limit, and a growing sense of alarm in his heart.
That's amazing!
He was panting, not from excessive mana depletion, but from the shock and pressure of facing absolute power.
The brief but thrilling exchange just now, whether it was the opponent's unparalleled physical skills or the terrifying fire jutsu that could change the world, clearly demonstrated one fact.
The legendary ancestor of the Uchiha clan before him possessed unfathomable strength, far surpassing any opponent Itachi had ever encountered.
Undoubtedly, this man was the most dangerous person Itachi had ever encountered in his life.
However, just as Itachi was fully on guard, preparing to face an even fiercer attack, the expected pursuit did not come.
Without warning, Madara Uchiha stopped all his attacks.
The overwhelming killing intent and pressure receded like a tide in an instant, and even the surging chakra around him calmed down.
Madara Uchiha's tall figure stood firmly on the scorched earth, and the indifference in his eyes quietly transformed into a hint of undisguised appreciation.
Itachi keenly caught the change in the other's emotions in his eyes, and his mind raced.
That seemingly ferocious series of attacks was actually a test of his strength.
Is this person assessing my worth?
Thinking of this, Itachi's tense nerves did not completely relax, but the tension he felt, as if facing a formidable enemy, eased slightly.
With a thought, the orange-red Susanoo skeleton surrounding him emitted a buzzing sound, then transformed into specks of light and dissipated into the air. The complex patterns of the Mangekyou Sharingan in his eyes gradually faded, returning to ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan.
Despite the removal of Susanoo's defenses, Itachi still stood upright, trying to calm his breathing, and steadily met Madara Uchiha's gaze.
At this moment, he neither showed fear nor arrogance, maintaining a composed and unassuming demeanor.
He stared silently at Madara Uchiha, waiting for him to continue. Since Madara was willing to stop and speak, he would listen to his intentions first.
Madara took in Itachi's reaction, and his admiration deepened.
"I never imagined that the Uchiha clan, which has declined to such an extent, could still produce a descendant like you."
He snorted and spoke slowly, his tone ambiguous, whether it was a sigh or a sneer, or perhaps both.
"To have such magnanimity at such a young age—indeed, you are qualified to stand before me and say a few words."
These words sound like a condescending act of charity, but coming from Madara, they are a very high compliment.
He had lived for too long and had seen countless geniuses who were like shooting stars, only a handful could truly catch his eye.
"Then speak," Madara Uchiha said abruptly, his smile vanishing, his voice turning deep. "Tell me, Itachi Uchiha, why did you so carefully infiltrate the Land of Grass to find me?"
This straightforward question suddenly put the pressure back on Itachi.
The pair of Rinnegan eyes opposite him stared silently, and even the surrounding air seemed to become heavy because of this piercing gaze, waiting for his answer.
In an instant, Itachi felt his brain working at lightning speed, thoughts flashing through his mind like lightning.
His real purpose for this trip was, of course, Sasuke, but he could not say it outright.
Exposing his greatest weakness to this old fox would be tantamount to putting Sasuke in unpredictable danger.
Miscalculation —
Itachi secretly regretted his actions, thinking he had been careful enough in his infiltration, but he hadn't expected Madara to discover him so quickly.
The other party's control over this area far exceeded expectations; ultimately, it was too reckless.
Concern can cloud judgment, and he couldn't help but regret his rash and impulsive actions.
However, in reality, Sasuke's increasingly extreme behavior is like an invisible force pushing him, making it difficult for him to maintain his former absolute calmness and shrewdness.
Sasuke—will always be the biggest variable in his plans, and also his Achilles' heel that he cannot let go of.
In the brief silence, Itachi quickly weighed his options, considering how to give an answer that would neither reveal his true intentions nor fail to pique Madara Uchiha's interest.
However, before he could speak, Madara Uchiha on the other side suddenly chuckled, breaking the silence.
"You went to great lengths to infiltrate this place, all for Sasuke, weren't you?"
This is not a question, but a statement of certainty.
Itachi's heart sank. Oh no, he'd been seen through!
His pride in his composure cracked at that moment.
Although this subtle change in expression lasted only a moment before he forcibly suppressed it, the sharp Rinnegan opposite him had already taken it all in.
Madara caught Itachi's momentary hesitation and couldn't help but chuckle, thinking to himself: "A young man is still a young man."
His tone softened, and it seemed to carry a hint of comfort.
"Don't be nervous, you're very good, you're a talented person."
After praising him, Madara Uchiha abruptly changed the subject and directly extended an olive branch to recruit him.
"Work for me."
"What you can't do, what you long for but can't have—perhaps I can give you something better."
His voice was like the whisper of a devil, full of temptation.
His words suggest that he has seen through Itachi's deepest desires.
At that moment, a strong sense of appreciation for talent ignited in Ban's heart.
The Uchiha Itachi before me is outstanding in terms of perseverance, temperament, and combat intelligence. He awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan at a young age and even mastered a high-level ability like Susanoo.
In contrast, Obito, while possessing considerable strength, is wavering in his resolve and has become increasingly unreliable lately.
As for Sasuke, he has considerable potential, but he is still too young, his temperament needs to be tempered, and he needs time to grow.
Ironically, Madara Uchiha is currently at a somewhat awkward juncture, with no one around him who can be of use.
He desperately needs a capable, clear-headed assistant who can stand on his own and will not betray him, at least not in the short term.
The appearance of Itachi was like a pillow being delivered when you're sleepy.
This kid is far superior to Obito.
The information provided by Black Zetsu also indicates that Itachi seems to be acting under Obito's orders.
This made Madara chuckle to himself. How could Obito, that good-for-nothing, possibly control such a person?
The more outstanding someone is, the harder they are to tame. How could someone like Itachi truly submit to someone else?
He must have his own plans; his presence by Obito's side is merely for ulterior motives.
However, Madara didn't care about this at all.
He believed that his cunning and magnanimity far surpassed those of Obito.
Moreover, he holds an absolute trump card—Sasuke.
For the sake of his younger brother Sasuke, Itachi risked great danger to infiltrate this place, and his purpose was obvious.
Moreover, Madara also detected the scent of White Zetsu on Itachi.
Connecting this to the information Black Zetsu had previously revealed, Madara nodded to himself, thinking, "Hmph, Obito did do one good thing after all."
What Madara didn't expect was that his sudden recruitment would cause Itachi to feel a sense of surprise.
He had anticipated many possible reactions from Madara—threats, expulsion, or even direct capture and killing—but he never expected that Madara would choose to extend an olive branch.
Itachi also keenly sensed that Madara seemed to have misunderstood his motives.
However, this misunderstanding might be exactly what he can use.
With this in mind, Itachi still did not immediately respond to Madara's suggestion, nor did he admit or deny the speculation about Sasuke.
He simply stood there quietly, choosing silence.
Sometimes, silence itself is a strategy, a more sophisticated way of communicating.
At this moment, rushing to defend or deny the situation may reveal more information, while immediately accepting or rejecting the situation will also put you in a passive position.
Remaining silent can both entice the other party to reveal more details and buy you extra time to observe and think.
Madara looked at the silent Itachi, his smile growing even wider.
He wasn't in a hurry; he seemed to have seen through Itachi's thoughts behind his silence.
He said with a half-smile, "Caution is a good virtue, especially when facing an old man like me."
"Your plan is alright, but it's still too immature and lacks sufficient guidance and control."
"Pure hatred is like a wildfire; no matter how fiercely it burns, it can easily get out of control and even backfire."
"You merely lit the fire, but failed to plan its path of combustion, nor did you give him a target of revenge that you could absolutely control. This kind of approach will never forge him into a truly useful tool."
"His hatred, though intense, is too vague and cannot withstand any interference, just like now. A little bit of tenderness is enough to shake his will."
"Ultimately, having Sasuke in your hands is simply a waste of his talent!"
These words struck Itachi like a knife to the heart.
Madara's act of slaughtering Itachi's clan and inciting Sasuke's hatred was exactly the same as his orchestration of Rin's death, which was used to distort and manipulate Obito.
On the surface, the two are indeed identical, both creating extreme pain and hatred by causing the death of a loved one, thereby controlling a person's will.
Madara prided himself on being an expert in this area. In his view, while Itachi's approach had its merits, it was too crude in its details and lacked sufficient follow-up guidance, making it a poor strategy and far inferior to his extraordinary wisdom.
Upon hearing this, even the usually calm and rational Itachi was momentarily stunned.
A surge of intense anger and killing intent welled up within him, threatening to burst forth, and Itachi's fingers trembled slightly.
Sasuke—the younger brother he was willing to bear all the sins of and pay any price to protect—was described by Madara as nothing more than a "tool" that needed to be forged?!
However, anger did not cloud the weasel's judgment.
On the contrary, amidst extreme anger and murderous intent, he gleaned a crucial piece of information and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
In a flash, a crazy and audacious plan rapidly took shape in his mind.
It's important to understand that Konoha, Akatsuki, Obito, and even Itachi himself have all been working tirelessly to investigate Madara's information and intentions over the years, but with little success.
This old monster is too well hidden and acts too mysteriously.
And now, an opportunity to get close to him has suddenly appeared before us.
The opportunity is tempting, but the risks are equally enormous.
Madara's insight, strength, and cunning are unfathomable. One wrong move could lead to utter ruin, and even endanger Sasuke's safety.
But if successful, the rewards will be incredibly rich.
If we can figure out Madara's true plan, it will have a decisive impact on protecting Konoha and even on paving a safer future for Sasuke.
This opportunity is right in front of you—don't miss it!
Itachi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the murderous intent and anger surging in his heart, and letting reason prevail once again.
He slowly loosened his fist, which had been clenched tightly without him noticing, and his face returned to its previous calm and expressionless state, even more ruthless than before, resembling an older brother who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
He still didn't directly answer Ban's offer of recruitment, but instead pretended to be thoughtful and asked, "What exactly do you mean by 'guidance and control' that you mentioned earlier?"
This question sounds like he's genuinely seeking Madara's advice on how to mold Sasuke into a capable individual.
It neither revealed Itachi's true motives nor rejected Madara's proposal; instead, it showed interest in Madara's topic.
This attitude was exactly what Ban wanted.
Madara believed that Itachi was a ruthless character who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, but his skills were still lacking and he hadn't reached the required level yet.
Upon hearing this, Ban's eyes flashed with understanding and satisfaction.
"Good question. The knowledge involved is far more profound than you imagine. However, since you are interested—follow me, and you will understand what true shaping is."
"As for Sasuke—he will become a perfect creation, achieving far more than you initially envisioned. Of course, the prerequisite is that you must prove yourself worthy of the resources and guidance I invest in you."
The bait has been thrown out, but the threshold is still there.
The implication is that cooperation is possible, but Rong must prove his worth and obey his arrangements.
Itachi pondered for a moment, seemingly seriously considering the benefits of this deal.
He nodded and said in a deep voice, "I need to see for myself that your method is indeed effective. Before that, Sasuke must be unharmed; he is an indispensable part of my plan."
"That's certainly possible."
Madara readily agreed. He wasn't afraid of Itachi setting conditions; he was only afraid that Itachi wouldn't be interested.
The young man in front of him truly captivated him.
Such courage was something even he himself admired; daring to risk the lives of an entire clan to cultivate a weapon was something he himself had never done back then.
To say that Madara didn't care about the Uchiha clan at all would be a lie.
After all, the Uchiha surname is the root of his bloodline, the pride of his power, and the clan he fought for and tried to lead to glory in the first half of his life.
Even after the falling out, even though he regarded his clansmen as ordinary people whose vision was limited by narrow clan mentality, when he heard that the entire clan had been slaughtered, he still felt a thorn in his side and a dull pain.
However, this stinging sensation was only momentary.
Compared to the grand vision of Infinite Tsukuyomi, their deaths were nothing more than insignificant dust.
However, as he thought of this, the image of a completely different Uchiha clan involuntarily surfaced in Madara's mind.
He thought of the Uchiha clan who worshipped him in his dream, and a slight smile crept onto his lips.
When the Infinite Tsukuyomi is activated and that eternally perfect dream world descends, he will naturally have such people.
No—I should say, there would be an even more ideal and perfect Uchiha.
Thinking of this, Madara turned his gaze back to Itachi Uchiha in front of him.
This young man before them, like his brother driven by hatred, will become the cornerstone of that perfect world.
Night fell again in the blink of an eye.
In the midst of chaos and darkness, consciousness gradually awakens, as if slowly rising from the endless depths of the sea.
Obito opened his eyes and was greeted by a familiar room, with the crooked Uchiha fan pattern he had carved himself when he was young and mischievous.
Obito was dumbfounded. The next second, he jolted awake and sat up abruptly from the tatami mat.
He looked down in astonishment at his hands, which were those of a young boy.
His palms were covered with thin calluses from long-term practice of ninja tool throwing and taijutsu training, but his skin was smooth and did not have the strange lines that appeared later due to the transplantation of White Zetsu cells.
He suddenly threw off the covers and rushed to the mirror in the corner of the room.
The reflection in the mirror showed a boy with short, spiky black hair.
Could it be that he's entered that dream again?!
Before he could think further, a clear, girlish voice came from outside the door: "Obito! Get up! If you don't get up, you'll be late for assembly again, and Kakashi will scold you!"
The sound sent a jolt through Obito's body.
He suddenly turned around, staring intently at the door, his heart pounding wildly in his chest.
It's Lin!
"Honestly, you stayed up late again last night, didn't you? How many times have I told you to get some rest—" the girl complained. "I brought your favorite meatballs! If you hadn't come out soon, I would have eaten them all!"
That familiar tone, that familiar concern, even that slightly threatening yet charmingly innocent tone—it was exactly the same as I remembered.
Obito felt a tightness in his throat and a stinging sensation in the tip of his nose.
The words Kakashi had said to him not long ago still seemed to echo in his ears.
Before he knew it, Obito was already in tears.
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Uchiha Obito have been detected! Emotional value +1000!]