In the next moment, the crushing gravity became even more intense. The ANBU ninja pressed to the ground could hear their bones creaking under the pressure, their flesh splitting open as crimson blood seeped out.
Writhing in agony, one of the ANBU snarled through gritted teeth, "Damn it! Are you insane?! Do you really think you can defy Lord Danzo? Kill us, and you won't walk away unscathed!"
"No wonder the Uchiha were wiped out—arrogant fools like you were bound to bring disaster upon yourselves!"
"You might be hiding your true strength, but you can't imagine the means Lord Danzo possesses!"
Under the torment of pain and looming death, the ANBU let out ferocious, unwilling roars.
"A pack of rats in the dark dares to compete with the brilliance of the full moon?" Uchiha Aki said coldly, looking down on the disgraced ANBU. "Soon, Danzo, Hiruzen, and every ninja of that village will follow you into hell."
As his words fell, Aki lightly clenched his hand—and the gravity intensified again.
Buzz—
The bodies of the ANBU burst apart. Blood and bone splattered across the ground.
The moment Uchiha Aki gained power, his ambition and thirst for vengeance fully ignited.
He was preparing to set off for the Hidden Leaf in the coming days—to sever the so-called "Will of Fire" and begin his path of retribution.
"So filthy," Aki muttered, frowning at a speck of blood on his sleeve. With a single hand sign, he exhaled a wave of searing flame, engulfing the mutilated corpses. The terrifying heat gradually reduced the bodies to ash.
"Enjoying the show?" Aki said flatly.
He had sensed a gaze on him through his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki)—a gaze from someone likely in another dimension.
But ever since obtaining the power of Fujitora Issho, Aki's observation haki had reached the peak of mastery.
Forget humans—even the malice of a mosquito daring to bite him could not escape his perception.
Suddenly, the space around him warped, and a surge of ocular power spread through the area.
A man in a black cloak adorned with red clouds slowly emerged from the distortion. He wore a spiral mask, revealing only one eye—the scarlet, three-tomoe Sharingan gleaming ominously in the dark. His voice was raspy and low, emanating a quiet but undeniable sense of danger.
This man… was none other than the true leader of the Akatsuki—Uchiha Obito!
"To think you sensed me… even while I was in another dimension."
The masked man stepped into the courtyard. The exposed eye shone with quiet intensity as he stared directly at Uchiha Aki.
"How did you detect me?" he asked, intrigued.
Aki didn't even look back. Instead, he calmly tied up his long, waterfall-like black hair with a black silk ribbon and replied, "Do you need something from me?"
He could sense malice from Obito—but no killing intent. In other words, Obito had no intention of attacking… at least, not yet.
"Let me introduce myself—my name is Uchiha Madara. As someone who bears the Uchiha name, you should understand the weight that name carries."
Obito's voice brimmed with arrogance. The sheer force radiating from his Sharingan made it seem as though he truly was Madara.
He didn't state his purpose right away—first, he invoked that legendary name. After all, "Madara" was his greatest bargaining chip.
He observed Aki closely. In the past, anyone who heard that name would be overwhelmed.
Because the name "Uchiha Madara" was too legendary—enough to shake even the greatest of shinobi to their core.
And for a fellow Uchiha, the idea that Madara was still alive carried unimaginable weight.
"So, 'Uchiha Madara'—what do you want from me?" Aki finally turned to face him, briefly sizing him up, a glint of sharp light in his eyes.
You? Madara? What a joke.
Right, Uchiha Obito?
...But fine. Let him pretend for now. There was no need to expose him just yet.
Revealing Obito's true identity now would only provoke a desperate battle—a risk that could jeopardize Aki's plans to destroy the Leaf Village.
Besides, there was no benefit in doing so. On the contrary, it would only create a powerful enemy too soon.
When the time was right, Obito's identity might become a valuable card to play.
"Arrogant little brat," Obito sneered aloud, but inwardly, he smirked. The moment Aki heard the name "Madara," he was ready to talk.
That name really works wonders.
"You intend to destroy the Hidden Leaf, right? Interested in working together?" Obito got straight to the point.
"Let's hear it. See if this so-called 'cooperation' is worth my time," Aki said indifferently. If there was value in it, he didn't mind playing along.
Obito frowned slightly. This Uchiha Aki… so arrogant. He hadn't even awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, yet his attitude was even loftier than Itachi's.
With his power and status, Obito felt like he was the one asking Aki for a favor. That was absurd.
"Your primary target is the Third Hokage, right? But if you confront him inside the village, you'll be swarmed by other elite ninja. I can help you hold off some of the strong ones. If things get dicey, I'll even help you kill the Third."
"Killing the Third would save the Akatsuki a lot of trouble."
"What do you want in return?" Aki asked flatly. He didn't believe a single word Obito said. Unless the man had been brainwashed, there was no way he'd be this generous. He clearly had other motives.
"You'll join the Akatsuki. Within five years, help me capture two Jinchūriki. Also, I want you to help me kill Shimura Danzo—and I want his right eye."
Obito kept his tone calm, though a cold smile flickered in his heart.
He had no intention of going all-out to protect Aki from the Konoha elite. Honestly, he wasn't even strong enough for that.
Nor did he believe Aki could actually kill the Third. Hiruzen might be old, but he was still a Kage-level powerhouse.
All he needed was for Aki to keep Hiruzen busy.
Then, while Aki fought the Third, Obito would strike—capturing the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, and using the chaos to eliminate both Hiruzen and Danzo.
As for making Aki join the Akatsuki and hunt two Jinchūriki?
That was just bait.
Aki was clearly not someone who'd take orders. Recruiting him could very well backfire.
But if he could exploit him now? The benefits were enormous.
Aki stared deeply at Obito, easily sensing the thick malice hidden beneath his calm words.
He didn't believe a thing. Obito was clearly planning to use him to take down Hiruzen and Danzo, then swoop in and collect the spoils.
Aki's lips curled into a faint, unreadable smirk.
Let's play. Let's see who laughs last.
"I accept," Aki said quietly.
"Then let's cooperate. But first, I need to see if you're even qualified to fight the Third. Don't drag me down when the time comes," Obito said with a cold tone after a brief smile.
Let's cooperate, fool.