**Amegakure.**
On a remote, desolate platform.
Konan's expression fluctuated, torn between emotions.
Itsuki's words had shaken her deeply.
His implication...
The Sage of Six Paths' eyes didn't originally belong to Nagato?
If that's true, then they've been manipulated from the very beginning.
Their entire lives!
Including Yahiko's death!
And more!
According to Itsuki, what does everything they've done up until now even mean?
"What exactly do you know?"
Konan stared at Itsuki, her beautiful eyes filled with killing intent.
This bastard had completely dismissed everything they had accomplished so far.
Even Yahiko's death was made to seem meaningless.
Itsuki shrugged, helplessly saying, "I know everything, but as I said, even if I tell you, you won't listen. So why bother?"
"You..."
"Will you listen? Konan, look into my sincere eyes and answer me seriously."
**Listen to you? What a joke!**
Konan couldn't help but curse inwardly.
If someone came up to you, Uchiha Itsuki, and told you that you're wrong, that you should gouge out your eyes, would you agree?
If you didn't hit them with a Water Release jutsu right in the face, you'd have some serious self-control.
"See, you don't believe me. So why should I keep talking?"
Itsuki shrugged again. "Poor Nagato, spent his entire life as someone else's puppet."
Konan's breathing grew slightly heavy.
She wanted to yell at Itsuki, to accuse him of spouting nonsense.
But deep down, there was a voice telling her to trust him.
Uchiha Itsuki was someone worth trusting.
"Then what's the point of telling me all this?"
"How could there be no point?"
Itsuki grinned slyly, "I've successfully shaken your resolve, and now you definitely have a deep impression of me. From now on, you'll think of me often."
"I've already taken a crucial step toward winning you over."
Itsuki clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming.
"Go, Itsuki! You can do this!"
Konan: "..."
This damn scoundrel!
"Here, take this!"
Konan handed a ring to Itsuki.
"Oh!"
Itsuki's eyes lit up with excitement. "Is this...?"
"Yes, this is..."
"A wedding ring!"
Itsuki declared, "This must be a wedding ring. Konan, if you've even prepared this, could it be that you've had your eye on me all along?"
Konan gave him a sidelong glance.
**Thick-skinned indeed!**
---
"Moreover, you dare to say anything."
"So? Isn't it true!?"
Konan almost laughed out of anger: "Where did you get the idea that I would marry you?"
Itsuki suspiciously said, "For Nagato's life! If you marry me, I'll have a reason to help Nagato; otherwise, I can only join forces with his enemies and take him down."
Konan's face suddenly stiffened.
Itsuki looked at Konan with a smile and said, "Konan, am I right? You wouldn't want anything to happen to Nagato, would you?"
Konan, with a dark expression, replied, "Yes, you're right."
Itsuki contentedly placed the 'Vermilion' ring on his finger.
In the original story, after Itachi accomplished the feat of annihilating his clan, he joined Akatsuki and became 'Vermilion.'
Now, he has become the owner of this ring.
Konan slowly said, "From now on, you're a member of Akatsuki. This ring allows us to communicate with each other, and even... later on, please help Nagato as much as you can."
"Of course!"
Itsuki patted his chest with a loud thud and said, "He is your family, Uchiha Konan. I certainly won't stand by and watch him get killed."
Such an Uchiha Konan...
Konan exhaled heavily, not denying it.
She thought for a moment and frowned, "By the way, will you betray Konoha?"
"Not now, but who knows in the future."
Itsuki said frankly; his plan was in motion, so he naturally wouldn't betray Konoha now.
As for the future, who knows what might happen?
What if...?
If the Third Hokage makes the mistake of appointing a Uchiha as Hokage, his plan would immediately fall apart.
Though the chances of that happening are almost zero.
Konan didn't pay much attention to this and said, "All of Akatsuki's members are rogue ninjas. This isn't a strict requirement, but since you're in Konoha, many things might be hard for you to handle."
Although the ring has many functions, there are still things that require the person themselves.
"You don't need to worry about that!"
Itsuki smiled and turned his gaze to the side.
There, a figure was dragging a pile of things and walking towards them.
Konan stared intently, and her expression suddenly became shocked.
That was also a Itsuki, and what he was dragging was Pain.
"You, this..."
Konan was dumbfounded, her small mouth wide open.
All six Pains were defeated.
They were scattered and bound together roughly with a rope by Itsuki, being dragged across the ground.
"This... isn't this your shadow clone? How could it be so strong?"
Konan could hardly believe it.
This is Pain!
The Six Paths of Pain!
The owner of the Rinnegan, a living god.
A single clone of Itsuki managed to defeat all of them?
Konan looked at the approaching Itsuki.
The Uchiha clan is full of handsome men and beautiful women, and Itsuki was no exception.
At this moment, his handsome face showed a gentle smile, but there was an indescribable allure.
His whole body exuded a dangerous aura.
"I'll tell you a secret!"
Itsuki looked at Konan with a smile and said, "Every Mangekyō Sharingan has its unique ability, and this is mine."
"The unique ability of the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
"Yes!"
Since Konan was already under Kotoamatsukami, Itsuki completely trusted her, so he didn't mind telling her a few things.
Of course, he also needed someone to know.
Itsuki's eyes glanced inconspicuously at a dark corner.
The best way to hide an ability is to cover it with a mask.
"Time-space clone, that's my Mangekyō Sharingan ability."
Itsuki's eyes once again revealed that strange Mangekyō Sharingan.
To put it simply, Itsuki could summon a special clone through a summoning technique.
This clone was Itsuki from a certain point in the past.
The Itsuki who had just fought the Six Paths of Pain was Itsuki from a day ago.
Konan's expression was serious as she said, "Doesn't that mean... there are two Itsukis?"
"Yes!"
Itsuki smiled and said, "So, what do you think? Isn't my ability powerful?"
"Why are you telling me this?"
Konan looked puzzled.
"To give you some confidence!"
Itsuki spread his hands and said, "Only when a man is strong can a woman rely on him."
"And, I want to tell you that I have the ability to save Nagato."
Konan slightly nodded, her gaze towards Itsuki softening a bit: "Then I'll leave it to you."
"We're family! No need to be so polite!"
Itsuki looked at Konan with a smile and said, "Aren't you going to treat me to a meal?"
"Let's go!"
Konan didn't mind and took Itsuki away from there.
As they left, Itsuki's gaze once again turned to a certain spot, with a strange smile on his lips.
As soon as they left, the space in the corner twisted.
A mysterious man wearing an orange ripple-patterned mask appeared there.
He stared coldly at Itsuki's back.
"Uchiha... Itsuki!"
(End of Chapter)
---