Konoha's efficiency was frightening.
In barely a month, Uchiha Obito's wanted notice had spread throughout the neighboring countries.
Naturally, it didn't spell out his "glorious achievements."
Konoha couldn't afford that kind of humiliation.
His abilities weren't clearly listed either—only a single remark stood out:
"Extremely Dangerous."
And alongside that label… was a bounty so generous it made people dizzy.
With that kind of money on the table, countless bounty hunters came crawling out of the shadows.
Whether Konoha warned them or not made little difference.
To people who lived with death every day, every target was "extremely dangerous."
One more didn't change anything.
The major villages were also paying attention.
Even without knowing what Obito had done, his surname alone was enough to spark interest.
Uchiha.
That meant the Sharingan.
And a Sharingan wielder branded "extremely dangerous" by Konoha?
His eyes were guaranteed to be no ordinary ones.
Driven by greed and bloodline temptation, the ninja world began to stir—
all circling around the name Uchiha Obito.
"Bastards!"
Obito himself was anything but pleased.
He couldn't understand it at all.
Just based on Shihara Ren's deductions, they completely locked onto my identity?
"Or… did I really leave some kind of fatal flaw?"
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't find the answer.
But he didn't have time to dwell on it now.
Akatsuki had convened a meeting.
Though he operated from the shadows, there were times he had to show himself—and this was one of them.
This was a full assembly, personally called by Nagato.
Skipping it wasn't an option.
"Let White Zetsu investigate later…"
With that thought, Obito set off with Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu looked puzzled.
"Nagato's in a hurry this time. What's he planning now?"
"No idea. Who knows what that idiot's thinking."
Obito shook his head dismissively.
Nagato was nothing more than a tool.
What he thought didn't matter.
All Obito needed to do was keep that tool firmly in hand.
Space twisted.
In the blink of an eye, the two of them appeared inside Akatsuki's base.
By the time they arrived, Sasori, Kakuzu, one of Nagato's bodies, and Konan were already present.
"Since everyone's here," Nagato said flatly,
"we'll begin."
"This meeting is important. We may be welcoming a new member."
A new member?
Obito raised an eyebrow.
Akatsuki was short-handed—critically so.
After the organization's previous collapse, Nagato had become extremely selective.
Only powerful shinobi—preferably rogue ninja—were even considered.
That elite-only policy was the reason they currently had just two real combatants: Sasori and Kakuzu.
"Wait," Black Zetsu suddenly froze.
"Don't tell me the new member is—"
Kakuzu let out a cold chuckle.
"Or a bounty."
"After all, that Uchiha Obito fellow… who knows what he's thinking?"
"And Konoha's offering a price no one can ignore."
"..."
Obito stiffened completely.
At that moment, everything clicked.
They're targeting me?!
Black Zetsu let out a silent sigh.
Of course.
An Uchiha declared "extremely dangerous" by Konoha, roaming freely outside the village?
That was textbook Akatsuki recruitment material.
"Uchiha… Obito?"
Obito spoke through clenched teeth.
Disbelief, anger, and humiliation churned together in his voice.
He never imagined that being wanted would lead to this kind of aftermath.
At that instant, he wanted nothing more than to storm Konoha and strangle Shihara Ren with his own hands—
—and add Shimura Danzō to the list while he was at it.
That deranged old man had raised a lunatic brat, and now that brat had completely wrecked him.
"Yes. Uchiha Obito."
Nagato nodded calmly.
"He fits our criteria perfectly. Marked so heavily by Konoha, his strength is beyond doubt."
"Facing joint suppression by the major villages, he'll need protection."
"I believe Akatsuki is the best place for him."
Nagato's gaze settled on Obito.
"I called you here because you should know him best. Isn't that right?"
Nagato meant Uchiha Madara knowing another Uchiha.
Obito, meanwhile, nearly lost it.
Know him? I am him!
Recruit him? Absorb him?
Absorb my ass—I'm already in Akatsuki!
Obito shot a glance at Black Zetsu, only to see him lowering his head in silence.
Useless.
No one had ever faced something this absurd before.
"Maybe…," Obito replied vaguely after a long pause.
"But are you sure you can recruit him?"
"Uchiha are arrogant. Not the type to submit easily."
"That's why we want your assessment," Nagato said indifferently.
"Whether we trust you or not, you're the most convenient option."
"And perhaps… you'll resonate with him."
Resonate.
How could he not?
Obito clenched his fists.
But he had no way to explain that.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, voice heavy.
"I can't guarantee I'll persuade him."
"And I'll need time to understand him better."
"That's fine."
Nagato nodded.
"If recruitment fails, eliminate him if you can."
"If not, bring back intelligence."
"He's extremely valuable."
"I'd prefer the intel," Kakuzu added eagerly.
"We're seriously short on funds."
As Akatsuki's de facto treasurer, Kakuzu valued money above all else.
A massive bounty was far more appealing to him than an unknown teammate.
"…I understand."
Obito forced himself to calm down.
But the more he tried, the worse it got.
The suffocating frustration only fueled his rage.
I went to Konoha once.
Once.
And now I'm stuck with:
'Investigating myself.'
'Hunting myself.'
And it's all happening for real?
At that moment, only one thought echoed in Obito's mind—
"All of you… deserve to die."
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