"I am here, Zetsu, tell him to come out!"
Li Xing arrived at the hideout of the Akatsuki organization. Seeing no one, he shouted into the cave.
As soon as the words fell, the space distorted, and a person wearing a yellow swirl mask appeared before Li Xing.
"Li Xing, at this stage, I won't hide it from you anymore. I'm not some newcomer to the Akatsuki. I am the true leader of this organization. My name is Uchiha Madara." Obito abandoned his usual comedic style and introduced himself to Li Xing in a deep voice.
Li Xing chuckled inwardly, "Still pretending. Do you really think I don't know who you are?"
However, he had to maintain appearances. Life was like this, truth and falsehood intertwined.
"So that's how it is, you're the one pulling the strings behind the Akatsuki. But I heard Uchiha Madara was killed by Hashirama Senju in their battle at the Valley of the End long ago. Are you sure you're not an impostor?"
Obito didn't waste time. He removed half his mask, revealing his Mangekyo Sharingan to Li Xing.
"My death was merely a deception back then. This Mangekyo Sharingan is the best proof. I believe Li Xing, you understand the meaning of the Mangekyo Sharingan very well, don't you?" While speaking, Obito glanced at Karin.
"I do. So what? You didn't call me here today just to reveal your identity, did you?" Li Xing understood that Obito knew about Karin's Mangekyo Sharingan, as it wasn't a secret.
"What do you think of the current ninja world?" Obito didn't get straight to the point but began to subtly guide Li Xing from a philosophical perspective.
"I don't really think much of it. I find the ninja system in this world to be quite flawed and I don't particularly like it. However, the existence of ninjas is necessary, as a force to protect those around us."
Hearing Li Xing's words, Obito felt he had a grasp of the situation and estimated that Li Xing would agree with his Moon Eye Plan.
"Everything in this world has two sides. Because there is love, there will be hate. Because there are winners, there will be losers. Because there is light, there will be darkness..." Obito began to brainwash Li Xing with words that Madara had once spoken to him.
After expounding on all the grand principles, Obito spoke of his plan, which essentially involved collecting all the tailed beasts, forming the Ten-Tails, and finally using its power to cast an illusion projected across the entire world, allowing everyone to experience the scene they most desired.
"So, what do you think of my plan? Do you want to join us?"
Li Xing had long understood the content of this plan and the conspiracy behind it. However, Li Xing's intention was to experience the Infinite Tsukuyomi and perhaps see Kaguya's appearance, so after little hesitation, he agreed.
"I agree with your plan. However, our performance quota has been met. You can go capture the remaining tailed beasts yourselves."
"Of course. However, after capturing the tailed beasts, war is likely to break out. I will need your combat power to eliminate any obstacles."
Li Xing readily agreed. Killing was quite simple for him; as long as it wasn't someone he cared about, he could do it.
With both sides reaching an understanding, Obito used Kamui again, and a little girl flew out of the Kamui dimension. It was Fū, the jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails.
"Since you've agreed, this jinchūriki is yours. Rest assured, I only cast an illusion. I did this to understand your background. I believe you can understand."
Upon seeing Fū in Obito's hands, Li Xing rushed over to pick her up. After checking her body and finding no issues, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's fine, I understand. Fortunately, you didn't kill her, otherwise I might have ended up on your side."
Although Li Xing said this, his thoughts were different. He possessed the remains of Rin Nohara. Once he revived her with Edo Tensei, it would surely provoke this "Uchiha Madara."
"That's good. Next, I need to assign you a mission. Sasuke and Itachi are about to duel. However, there are Leaf ninja searching the Land of Fire. I need you to intercept them. I need to observe Sasuke's dōjutsu, as he might be useful to me."
Li Xing hadn't expected the duel between Sasuke and Itachi to happen so soon. But then he suddenly remembered that he was the one who told Sasuke Itachi's location, meaning Sasuke didn't need to search for him slowly, and thus the decisive battle had been moved up.
"I want to observe the duel as well. I need Uchiha Itachi's corpse. You can have his eyes. I've been researching Edo Tensei recently, and I've been handling Orochimaru's affairs, so it's not strange that I know Edo Tensei, is it?"
Obito was truly surprised by this new tactic from Li Xing, but it didn't matter. As long as someone could intercept the Leaf ninja.
"It seems you also implicitly accept that Itachi will die. Very well. Then let Karin and Yugito go to intercept the Leaf ninja. What do you think, Li Xing?"
Karin and Yugito were about to protest this assignment, when Li Xing immediately agreed, "Okay, Karin, Yugito, you two go and intercept the Leaf ninja. Listen to me, okay?"
Seeing that Li Xing had already decided, the two had nothing more to say and could only agree, "I guarantee no one will disturb this duel!"
...
Southern Land of Fire, the ruins of the Uchiha clan. Sasuke, still bandaged, had come to find Itachi. The three members of the Snake Team were blocked outside by Kisame, with Suigetsu wielding the Kubikiribōchō, one of the Seven Ninja Swords, and engaging Kisame in battle.
When Li Xing and Obito arrived at this location, Black Zetsu was already observing from within the walls. Seeing this, Obito hid himself. Li Xing, carrying the unconscious Fū, also found a place to hide and watch.
...
"How far can your Sharingan see?" Itachi, seated on the grand hall, looked down at Sasuke with contempt.
"All I see is your death, Itachi!"
Sasuke, seeing the brother who had massacred their entire clan, desperately wanted to kill Itachi, his eyes filled with surging killing intent.
Suddenly, Itachi appeared behind Sasuke and whispered, "My death? Then make it a reality!"
Saying this, Itachi grabbed a kunai and stabbed towards Sasuke's head. Sasuke, with one hand gripping Kusanagi, quickly drew it and blocked the kunai with the blade.
Itachi abandoned the kunai, grabbed Sasuke's hand, and kicked Sasuke. Sasuke, caught off guard by the kick, quickly swung his sword horizontally. Itachi grabbed Sasuke's clothes, somersaulted to dodge the slash, and then with a strong swing, he flung Sasuke away. At the same time, Kusanagi detached from Sasuke's hand and lodged itself in the ceiling.
Without his weapon, Sasuke quickly formed hand seals, and a ball of lightning flickered in his left hand.
"Chidori!"
Then, Sasuke expanded the Chidori, slamming it into the ground, sending countless bolts of lightning towards Itachi.
"Chidori Nagashi!"
Itachi, expressionless, jumped to dodge the Chidori Nagashi. However, Sasuke suddenly appeared next to the Kusanagi lodged in the ceiling, grabbed it, and plunged it into Itachi's body.
With Itachi pinned to the ground by Sasuke, he slowly uttered a sentence.
"You've grown stronger, Sasuke."
Sasuke, too lazy to exchange words with Itachi, directly questioned him about the night of the clan massacre. Given Itachi's situation at the time, it was impossible for him to have annihilated the entire clan alone. Moreover, Itachi had once said he was the second person to possess the Mangekyo Sharingan, meaning there was definitely an accomplice.
Itachi let out a soft chuckle, raised two fingers, and pointed to Sasuke's side. Sasuke turned his head, while Itachi remained seated on the stone chair without moving.
(Thank you to Officer Ye Changguan, who loves stir-fried diced pork, for the gift of "Super Don't Fall in Love with Me.")