Chapter 81: The Unwelcome Truth
Silence, thick and heavy as the rain-sodden air, descended upon the Akatsuki's hidden base. The only sound was the perpetual drip of water on cold stone. Itachi Uchiha stood motionless, his back to the bizarre informant, Zetsu. The news hung between them, a poison that only Itachi seemed immune to breathing in.
Kisame Hoshigaki broke the quiet with a low, grating chuckle that echoed unnaturally in the confined space. He adjusted the monstrous weight of Samehada on his shoulder, the sentient sword's bandages whispering. "The other brother? Now that's a twist. The quiet one who never spoke? *He's* the one stirring up all this trouble?" His shark-like teeth were bared in a grin, but his small eyes were sharp with newfound interest.
"Oh, it's no joke!" White Zetsu chirped, his voice dripping with malicious glee. He lived for moments . "The one and only Uchiha Ren! But the 'simpleton' act was just that—an act. A brilliant one. The story Konoha tells is that his mind broke after you... well, you know." He gestured flippantly toward Itachi's rigid back. "Turns out, he was just waiting. He must have had a powerful reason to hide that well. Probably from someone right inside Konoha's walls. Makes you think, doesn't it?"
Black Zetsu, ever the pragmatist, cut through the theatrics with a voice like grinding rock. "The facts are these: his capabilities are confirmed and significant. He single-handedly located and destroyed a minor shinobi village in the Land of Bears and took a local artifact. He then traveled to the Land of Wind, where he captured Sunagakure shinobi to lure out the Kazekage. His confrontation with Konoha's Hatake Kakashi left the jōnin severely injured. Uchiha Ren was the clear victor."
"Kakashi?" Kisame's smirk finally faded, replaced by a look of genuine appraisal. He'd crossed blades with the Copy Ninja and knew his skill was real. "To take him down so decisively... this 'forgotten' brother of yours is full of surprises, Itachi." He eyed his partner's unnervingly still form, searching for a crack in the facade. "You never mentioned that."
Inside, Itachi's mind was a storm, though his body was a placid lake. *Ren. What have you done? You were supposed to remain in the shadows. Safe. This path leads only to destruction.* The narrative he had painstakingly built to protect his brother was crumbling.
White Zetsu, savoring the climax, delivered the final blow. "But wait, there's more! The real reason for his sudden rise? Hehehe... he's got the same special eyes as his big brother! That's right! He's awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
The revelation hit the cramped tunnel like a shockwave. Kisame's eyes widened, his grip on Samehada tightening. All traces of amusement vanished, replaced by stark, sober shock. The Mangekyō was a legend. And now there were two in one family. "The Mangekyō? You're certain?"
"Without a doubt!" White Zust crowed. "Used it right there in the desert against Kakashi. Manifested a giant, spectral skeleton—a full torso! He called it 'Susano'o.' Sound familiar?"
That name—the name of a mythic protector—was a key. Itachi turned his head just enough to reveal the sharp line of his jaw. His voice, when it came, was low and carried a chilling finality. "His location."
"He was last seen leaving with one of Orochimaru's operatives," Black Zetsu answered, clinical and efficient. "Our assessment indicates a high probability he has been recruited to or sought refuge in Otogakure. It seems both surviving Uchiha heirs have found their way to the same corrupt sanctuary."
Kisame let out a dark, humorless laugh. "Orochimaru. That snake can't help himself, can he? First, he covets your eyes, Itachi. Then he snatches the younger brother, Sasuke. And now this one falls into his lap. He's collecting a set. Feel like paying the serpent's den a visit? You could settle your old score and see how the family's getting along." Googlᴇ search novel[f]ire.net
Itachi finally turned completely. His face was a mask of composure, but his eyes held a terrifying intensity that silenced Kisame instantly. "Orochimaru is a distraction. His ambition will be his undoing. He will be dealt with when the time is right." His gaze, heavy with unspoken threat, locked onto Zetsu. "You will report to me directly with any further intelligence on Uchiha Ren. Immediately. Is that understood?"
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and continued down the dark tunnel, his cloak flowing behind him like a shadow. Kisame shot a last, intrigued look at Zetsu before following, his mind racing at the implications of a second Mangekyō wielder.
"Yare, yare," White Zetsu whined as they disappeared. "Not a 'thank you,' not a 'please.' You'd think we were his servants."
"You brought it on yourself," Black Zetsu retorted flatly. "Now stop your prattling. We have work to do." Together, they sank into the floor, leaving the damp corridor empty and silent, the weight of their news lingering behind them.
**The Next Morning, Otogakure**
Ren awoke to the absolute blackness of his room. For a long moment, he simply lay there, listening. The base was not silent; he could feel the low thrum of activity, the faint vibrations of footsteps, the whisper of foreign chakra. It was the sound of a predator's lair at rest.
*He didn't try anything last night,* Ren mused, sitting up. The stone floor was cold under his feet. *No midnight visitors, no toxins in the air. He's cautious. The display worked. Good.*
He dressed quickly and stepped into the torch-lit corridor. Pausing at Sasuke's door, he found it slightly ajar. The room was empty, the bed made. A faint smell of ozone and sweat hung in the air—the aftermath of intense training.
*Up already,* Ren thought, a cynical smirk touching his lips. *Of course. Having your pride shattered by the brother you thought was weak is a powerful motivator. Probably groveling at Orochimaru's feet for more power right now.* A flicker of something—pity? contempt?—flared in his chest, and he ruthlessly smothered it. Sentiment was a vulnerability he could not afford.
He continued and nearly walked into Kabuto Yakushi, who seemed to materialize from the shadows.
"Ah, Ren-kun! Good morning. I was just coming for you," Kabuto said, torchlight glinting off his glasses, hiding his eyes. His smile was a perfect, empty gesture.
"Orochimaru?" Ren asked, bypassing any greeting.
"Lord Orochimaru is currently... occupied with Sasuke-kun's training," Kabuto replied, his tone implying much. "He was most... motivated this morning. Lord Orochimaru instructed me to bring you to him. However," he added, his voice shifting to false concern, "I thought you might prefer breakfast first. The refectory is this way."
As if on cue, Ren's stomach growled. He gave a curt nod. "Lead the way."
As he followed the medic-nin through the twisting tunnels, Ren's mind was already ahead. *Today,* he thought, his resolve hardening. *Today, he delivers. Today, I get the First's cells. Then the real work begins.*
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