Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 257 New Member of the Akatsuki [First Update, 6K Words]

The sky over the Land of Rain seems to be forever shrouded in an impenetrable gloom, with the drizzling rain soaking the mountains and rivers into a gray hue.

In a secluded, deep canyon, the turbid river flows ceaselessly. An inconspicuous little wooden boat sways gently with the current, and a lone lamp on the bow emits a dim yellow glow in the rain and mist.

Uchiha Itachi, dressed in his ANBU uniform, stood silently at the bow of the ship, still wearing his headband with the Konoha pattern.

He stared expressionlessly at the misty river ahead, his Sharingan gleaming faintly with a scarlet light in the dim light.

The cold raindrops lashed his face, but could not cool the turbulent thoughts and vigilance churning within him.

The small boat glided silently into a secluded river bend. Behind the rocks on the bank, space distorted, and a figure wearing an orange-red vortex mask, revealing only a scarlet Sharingan eye, quietly appeared.

It was Obito who called himself "Uchiha Madara".

"You've come." Obito's voice sounded deep and hoarse through the mask.

Itachi's gaze swept over him, his tone calm and even, yet carrying a barely perceptible hint of accusation: "Konoha Police Department, you have failed to clean it up properly. This does not match your previous promise."

He was referring to survivors like Yatsushiro and Inahisa, which left unnecessary flaws and variables in his "perfect extermination."

Obito let out a cryptic snort: "Heh, plans never keep up with changes. That Asura from the Land of Stars, his eyes are always on Konoha. Too much entanglement is not a wise move."

He downplayed the responsibility without providing a detailed explanation, clearly unwilling to discuss the details of his fight with Shura.

Itachi remained silent, but his heart grew even heavier.

Even this guy who calls himself "Uchiha Madara" and possesses bizarre space-time ninjutsu is so wary of Shura?
Guided by Obito, the small boat continued deeper into the canyon, where the surrounding rock walls became increasingly steep and the light even dimmer.

Obito suddenly switched to a slightly frivolous and carefree tone, completely different from his previous serious demeanor: "By the way, in the organization, my identity is a newbie called 'Tobi'! I'm not even a full member yet! Senpai, you'd better watch your attitude towards me, don't give yourself away~"

This abrupt change made Itachi frown slightly: "Hidden identity? Why go to all that trouble?"

"Afei" waved his hand exaggeratedly: "Of course it's because if the news that 'Uchiha Madara' is still alive gets out, it will cause a lot of trouble! It will scare a lot of children! So this is top secret!"

He used a humorous approach to reiterate the mystery and importance of the identity of "Uchiha Madara".

Itachi didn't press further, but simply kept the information in mind.

This organization appears to be far more complex than imagined.

The small boat eventually sailed into a huge cave hidden behind the waterfall.

The cave entrance is carved into the shape of a huge torii gate, exuding an eerie yet sacred aura.

The cave was extremely spacious and dimly lit, with only a few torches flickering on the walls, casting distorted and dancing shadows.

The most awe-inspiring sight is the colossal statue in the center of the cave, which is so large it's unimaginable!
It resembled a giant carved from withered wood, its hands bound by countless thick chains, kneeling on the ground, exuding an ancient, desolate, and terrifying aura.

Just looking at it makes one feel a sense of oppression on a spiritual level.

Itachi didn't know it was the Gedo Mazo, but he had a feeling that it would come to life.

Two figures stood silently on the golem's bound hands.

They were all dressed in the same black robe with red clouds. One of them had a black chakra receiving rod stuck in his face and strange purple ripples around his eyes. It was Pain.

The other person is Xiao Nan with blue-purple hair.

Pain's emotionless Rinnegan gazed down at Itachi and Obito, his voice deep and authoritative: "Is this the new recruit you recommended to join the organization?"

Obito immediately switched back to "Tobi" mode, jumping up and down and raising his hand, introducing in an exaggerated tone: "Yes, yes! Boss Pain! This is the famous 'Itachi of the Clan Extermination'! Super—powerful!"

Uchiha Itachi ignored "Tobi's" antics and his gaze met Pain's Rinnegan in mid-air.

In an instant, he felt an indescribable, immense pressure descend upon him, and those eyes seemed to see through all illusions.

He steadied himself and calmly asked, "I need to know, what is the Akatsuki's purpose?"

Pain and Konan leaped lightly from the golem's palm and landed near a torch not far from Itachi.

The flickering firelight illuminated his indifferent face.

"The Akatsuki's goal is to collect the Tailed Beasts, create the ultimate weapon, and make the whole world feel true pain." Pain's voice was completely calm.

"Only under the weight of painful fear can humanity cease its endless strife, thus achieving true and absolute peace in the ninja world. To this end, we recruit all powerful ninjas, regardless of their origins or past. 'Itachi of the Clan Massacre'... Welcome to the Akatsuki."

Collect the Tailed Beasts?

To create the ultimate weapon?
Peace through suffering?
The sheer scale and extreme nature of this goal filled Itachi with awe.

This is indeed a crazy plan that far exceeds the ambitions of an ordinary ninja village.

"Truly... a grand goal," Itachi remarked slowly, then changed the subject, asking the question that concerned him most: "So, what is your relationship with the Shura of the Land of Stars?"

Upon hearing the name "Shura," Xiao Nan's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and a hint of seriousness flashed in her eyes.

Pain, the Deva Path, remained expressionless, his Rinnegan as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

"Shura... he also possesses the power and will to change this world." Pain's voice remained calm.

"I once recognized his goals and tried to invite him to join Akatsuki to accomplish this great undertaking together. Unfortunately... the negotiations ultimately broke down."

He did not elaborate on the process, but the information revealed in his words was enough for Itachi to analyze.

The Akatsuki organization and Shura not only came into contact, but may even have fought each other. Moreover, the Akatsuki organization did not seem to be able to suppress the other party. Otherwise, it would not have been a "breakdown in negotiations", but rather a "submission" or "elimination".

A being who could contend with this leader before him, who possessed the Rinnegan and whose aura was unfathomable, and who even made that guy who called himself "Madara" wary...

Shura's strength was once again elevated in Itachi's mind.

The fact that the Akatsuki organization could still exist after negotiating and even fighting with them speaks volumes about their strength and resources.

This is indeed a dangerous organization that brings together many S-rank rogue ninjas and possesses terrifying strength.

Infiltrating here is tantamount to seeking help from a tiger.

Itachi no longer hesitated.

He raised his hand and removed the headband that symbolized Konoha from his forehead.

The tip of the kunai scraped across the metal sheet with a piercing "sizzle," leaving a deep scratch that completely ruined the Konoha pattern.

Pain, the Deva Path, reached out and offered a ring to Itachi.

The ring has a deep black background with a bright red "朱" character set on it, exuding a cold aura.

"From today onwards, you are Akatsuki 'Suzaku'."

Itachi took the ring and put it on the ring finger of his right hand.

A cool touch came, as if some invisible contract had been reached.

Just then, several footsteps came from deep within the cave.

Several other Akatsuki members came out one after another, clearly having been summoned to meet the new members.

Pain began to introduce them one by one:

"Sasori of the Red Sand, codename 'Jade Maiden'."

A red-haired "person" dressed in Akatsuki robes and with a handsome face like a young boy glanced coldly at Itachi, while a huge steel tail swayed slightly behind him.

"Absolute, codename 'Black Tortoise'."

A bizarre creature, half black and half white, with a body like a pitcher plant, emerged from the ground, its white side emitting a strange, chuckling laugh.

"Yuri Lin, codenamed 'Beidou'."

A girl with sharp teeth and a wild smile carried two strange ninja swords crackling with electricity, curiously sizing up Itachi: "Oh? The newbie's pretty handsome~"

"Green Sunflower, codename 'Empty Chen'."

A man with an effeminate face and dark green hair had a peculiar sword hilt at his waist, and although he was inside the cave, he was holding a green umbrella.

"Momochi Zabuza, codename 'Nanto'."

A tall, bandaged man carrying a huge cleaver snorted coldly, his murderous gaze sweeping over Itachi, clearly showing his dislike for the Konoha ninja.

“And… Harazuka, codename ‘Santai’.” A taciturn man with a fierce expression stood a short distance away.

These are all members recruited by "Ban" or Pain in recent years, a veritable collection of villains.

Ringo Ameyuri leaned closer, seemingly very interested in Itachi: "I heard you took down most of the Uchiha clan by yourself? Tsk tsk, that's ruthless."

Zabuza Momochi crossed his arms and said coldly, "'The Itachi Who Wiped Out His Clan'? Hmph, I hope you're not just a pretty face."

Faced with the curious or provocative gazes of these vicious thugs, Itachi Uchiha remained expressionless, as if nothing concerned him.

His Sharingan slowly swept over the crowd, memorizing each person's features.

Finally, Pain spoke, "Zabuza, from today onwards, you will be paired with 'Suzaku'."

Zabuza frowned, clearly dissatisfied with the arrangement, but he seemed quite wary of Pain and didn't directly object, only clicking his tongue in annoyance: "Understood. Sharingan brat, come with me and familiarize yourself with the organization's rules and the upcoming mission."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the other side of the cave. Uchiha Itachi remained silent and followed Zabuza's footsteps.

His Akatsuki career officially began in this cold, damp cave filled with eerie colossi and dangerous elements.

The firelight behind him stretched his shadow long, as if it were merging into a deeper darkness.

………………

The sky over the Land of Stars always seemed clearer and bluer than that over the Land of Fire, with sunlight shining down on this newly emerging land without reservation.

In a well-planned area where the architectural styles blend tradition and modernity, the atmosphere is not entirely relaxed.

This is the residential area assigned to the Hyuga clan.

On the spacious training ground, twenty-eight members of the Hyuga branch family who had successfully defected, including Hyuga Hizashi, Hyuga Neji, Hyuga Tokuma, and Hyuga Tetsuya, along with their families, a total of fifty-seven people, knelt neatly on one knee.

Most of them still carried the fear and uncertainty of their escape, as well as the confusion about the future, but more than anything, they had a complex mix of sadness and determination after breaking free from their shackles.

Many people's eyes were fixed on the figure in front of them.

The Asura, dressed in a black robe with red trim, stood silently here.

He didn't speak, but slowly raised his right hand, his fingertips lightly touching his left eye.

The next second, a strange and enormous fluctuation of pupil power spread out from him.

His left pupil instantly transformed into a complex and bizarre kaleidoscope pattern. The pattern was not static, but rather slowly rotated like a living thing, emitting a deep, all-consuming luster.

"Pupil Technique: Wheel of Deception"

Mianma's voice was deep and clear.

He didn't look at any specific person; the kaleidoscope pattern in his left eye suddenly lit up, projecting a hazy yet powerful energy field that enveloped all the Hyuga branch family members present.

The Hyuga clan members kneeling on the ground trembled all at once!
They could clearly feel a warm yet domineering force ignoring all obstacles and directly acting on a certain imprint deep within their souls!

The blue curse mark "Bird in a Cage" on his forehead, which had been passed down for hundreds of years, melted and disintegrated rapidly under the impact of this power, just like ice and snow meeting the sun!
It's not a simple seal, but a complete... elimination!
An indescribable sense of relief instantly spread throughout his body, as if an invisible shackle that had suffocated them for generations had suddenly snapped at this moment!
Many tribesmen subconsciously raised their hands to touch their smooth foreheads, their eyes filled with unbelievable joy and excitement, and some even couldn't help but sob softly.

Centuries of humiliation and bondage have finally come to an end today, by a foreigner using absolute power!
Hyuga Hizashi bowed his head deeply, his voice choked with emotion yet unwavering: "The Hyuga branch family... will forever be grateful for Lord Shura's life-saving grace! We swear to follow you to the death, until the very end!"

"We swear to follow you to the death, Lord!" Behind them, all the Hyuga clan members roared in unison, their voices filled with gratitude for their newfound life and their determination to serve you.

Mianma nodded slightly, withdrew his pupil power, and the kaleidoscope in his left eye disappeared, returning to normal.

It was as if everything he had just done was nothing more than a simple act.

Vanilla Uzumaki, who had been waiting nearby, came forward with several Star Ninjas.

She still had that fiery red hair, and her face was both gentle and capable.

The Star Ninja behind her held brand-new headbands in their hands; they were headbands with the unique five-pointed star pattern of the Star Country.

"From this day forward, you are citizens of the Land of Stars, protected by the laws of the Land of Stars, and enjoying all the rights and obligations of citizens." Vanilla Uzumaki's voice was clear and powerful as she personally handed the first headband to Hizashi Hyuga.

"This headband symbolizes new life and protection. May you all live up to Lord Shura's expectations and live up to your freedom."

With slightly trembling hands, Hizashi accepted the headband and solemnly tied it around his forehead.

From then on, there was no more Hyuga branch family of Konoha, only the Hyuga clan of the Land of Stars!
Seeing this, Menma instructed Hizashi, "Hizashi, take your people and make sure they are settled and recuperating. The Star Kingdom will provide all necessary assistance. The past is past; the future is for you to create."

"Yes, sir!" the sir replied respectfully.

Without another word, Mianma vanished from the spot in a flash.

On the other side, within the Uchiha clan's territory, which is adjacent to the Hyuga clan's territory.

Unlike the atmosphere of excitement mixed with sorrow at the Hyuga clan's territory, the Uchiha clan's territory was permeated with a heavier, more unyielding grief and deathly silence.

The brand-new houses were neatly arranged, and the streets were clean and tidy, but the Uchiha clan members walking among them showed no joy on their faces as they moved into their new homes.

Almost everyone's eyes were bloodshot, filled with deep sorrow, anger, and a hint of bewilderment at surviving a catastrophe.

Many people were dressed in black mourning clothes, and soft weeping and sighs could be heard from some of the houses.

Inside the council hall in the center of the clan's territory, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost suffocating.

Uchiha Hikaru, Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Inahashi, and Uchiha Izumi sat together.

Everyone's face was unusually somber.

Even after Izumi Uchiha woke up and learned of the deaths of her clansmen, especially her mother who was her only family, she awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan amidst extreme pain.

"The remains of the deceased clansmen... have all been cremated." Uchiha Izumi's voice was hoarse, and tears welled in her eyes as she reported the situation, forcing back her grief.

“As you instructed, they were all buried in the newly designated family cemetery at the foot of the mountain behind the village… but… there are too many tombstones… it’s difficult to finish carving them all at once…” Her voice choked up again as she said this.

The bloodshed of that night and her mother's pale corpse still haunted her like a nightmare. It was this extreme pain that caused her Sharingan to evolve into the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Uchiha Inahisa slammed her fist hard on the table in front of her, and the solid wood tabletop instantly cracked with spiderweb-like patterns.

His eyes were bloodshot, his teeth were clenched, and his voice trembled as he desperately suppressed his anger: "Originally... originally our Uchiha clan had nine hundred and fifty-three people! Now... now there are only two hundred and twenty left!"

“Seven hundred and thirty-three clansmen… seven hundred and thirty-three lives! Just like that… just like that, they died tragically that night! Even Tiehuo… even Uncle Badai and the others…” He couldn’t go on, and suddenly turned his head away, his shoulders shaking violently.

His younger brother, Tetsuka, died at the Konoha Police Department, and his mentor and father, Uncle Yashiro, also died at the hands of the Konoha Anbu while protecting him.

The entire council hall fell into a deathly silence, with only the suppressed sobs of Dao Huo and the faint cries of the clansmen coming from outside the window.

After a long silence, Uchiha Hikari slowly spoke, her voice cold and clear: "The dead are gone, the living must move forward. The Uchiha clan needs a new leader to lead the clan to survive on this new land and rebuild their strength."

Her gaze swept over Shisui, Inaka, and Izumi: "I propose that Uchiha Shisui become the new head of the Uchiha clan. Do you have any objections?"

Upon hearing this, both Inahikawa and Izumi were taken aback, looking at Hikari in surprise, and then at Shisui.

In their view, Uchiha Hikaru was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate for clan leader, considering his strength, prestige, and relationship with Shura.

Shisui seemed to have anticipated this. Facing the light and the questioning gazes of the other two, he nodded solemnly: "I understand. Shisui will do his utmost to live up to your trust and lead the people to find a new future."

Seeing that Shizuku had agreed, Guang felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

She stood up: "In that case, the specific arrangements, compensation, and personnel allocation within the clan will be discussed and decided by Clan Chief Shisui and you. As for the Uchiha clan's status, responsibilities, and rights in the Land of Stars, I will personally negotiate with Lord Shura. I believe that Lord Shura will not treat the Uchiha clan unfairly... will not treat our Uchiha clan unfairly."

After saying that, she nodded slightly to Shisui, turned around and left the council hall.

Having been raised as a weapon of war from a young age, she was not good at handling these family affairs, and her mind was never on revitalizing the Uchiha clan, so she simply left everything to Shisui.

After Guang left, the atmosphere in the council chamber eased slightly.

Uchiha Inaha finally couldn't hold back any longer and looked at Shisui, asking, "Brother Shisui, why doesn't Lady Hikaru take on the role of clan leader herself? In terms of strength and prestige, she's the strongest in our clan right now, isn't she? Wouldn't it be more suitable for her to lead us?"

Uchiha Izumi nodded, indicating that she had the same question.

Although she respected Shisui, Hikari's strength and her courage in standing up for her clan on the night of the massacre undoubtedly made her more convincing to her people.

Shisui looked at his two companions, a complex yet somewhat relieved smile on his face.

He shook his head and asked softly, "When have you ever seen a clan chief who married someone from another clan?"

"Get married?"

Inahikawa and Izumi were both stunned, unable to react for a moment.

Izumi was the first to come to her senses. She abruptly covered her mouth, her eyes wide, and a blush instantly rose to her cheeks. She stammered, her voice barely audible, "Could it be... that... Lord Guang and Lord Shura... are... in that kind of relationship?"

Shisui nodded, confirming their guess: "Although it hasn't been made public, this matter is not a secret among the higher-ups in the Star Kingdom."

"Everyone has seen Guang's intentions and Lord Shura's protection of her. If she were to become the clan leader, it would be inconvenient both morally and logically. If I were to become the clan leader, it would not only maintain the independence and inheritance of the Uchiha clan, but also allow for better communication with the higher-ups of the Star Country. This is perhaps the best arrangement."

Dao Huo and Quan were digesting this astonishing news, looking at each other in bewilderment.

So that's how it is... That powerful and aloof Lord Guang actually had that kind of relationship with the mysterious and unpredictable Lord Shura.

Upon careful reflection, it seems that everything can be traced back to its source.

After the initial shock, the two gradually came to understand Hikari's decision and Shisui's explanation.

"I understand." Daohuo took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and looked at Shisui again, her eyes becoming firm: "Then, please guide me from now on, Clan Chief!"

Quan nodded vigorously, his eyes still filled with sadness, but even more so with anticipation for the future: "Clan Chief Shisui, there is still much we need to do."

"Let's all strive together for the revival of the Uchiha clan!" Shisui felt a little relieved as he looked at his two companions who had regained their spirits.

He knew that leading this traumatized community of just over two hundred people to rebuild their homeland in a foreign land would be fraught with difficulties.

But at least, they escaped Konoha's suspicion and persecution, gained a reliable sanctuary, and...

A brand new beginning.

Sunlight streamed through the windowpanes into the still somber council chamber, bringing a faint warmth.

(End of this chapter)