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"Konan, take him there." Pain addressed Uchiha Itachi, "As for Itachi, I will make other arrangements for your stay."
"Come with me, newcomer." Konan gave Kirito an expressionless look before turning and walking out of the tower.
Kirito followed closely behind.
Soon, Kirito was shown to a lavish suite. It included three bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom, and a kitchen—fully furnished and equipped with every convenience.
It was hard to believe such luxury could exist inside the dark confines of the clock tower.
"This is much better than the Uchiha clan's traditional Japanese wooden houses, which don't even have proper beds," Kirito commented as he lay down comfortably on the couch.
"No, this is an exception. It's special treatment from both the leader and me," Konan said in a flat tone.
"Is this because of Danzo?" Kirito asked, glancing at Konan with casual curiosity, hands folded behind his head.
"It seems you know quite a bit." Konan's eyes narrowed dangerously, a hint of suspicion flickering in them.
"Don't look at me like that. I was a member of Konoha's ANBU for a year. I've seen the darkest parts of Konoha. That's why I decided to defect without hesitation," Kirito explained as he stood up abruptly. After ensuring that no one was eavesdropping, he continued, "Senior Konan, I'm sure you also harbor doubts about the true identity of that masked man."
"What are you implying?" Konan asked, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Nothing much. I'm just suggesting a deal," Kirito said, his smile returning.
"What kind of deal?" Konan's interest was piqued.
"I'll help you secretly investigate the identity of the masked man. All I ask is that you and the leader keep something hidden for me," Kirito explained as he formed hand seals, releasing Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Mikoto from the storage space.
Both women remained unconscious, as Kirito had sealed their pressure points earlier.
Placing them gently on the bed, Kirito pointed at each in turn, explaining, "This is my childhood friend, Uchiha Izumi. I'm sure you've already investigated her. The other is Uchiha Mikoto, another Uchiha I saved for my reasons. Neither the masked man nor Zetsu, nor even that notorious son who killed his parents, knows about her existence."
Kirito continued, "I can help you uncover the masked man's identity, but in return, you must keep the existence of these two hidden and ensure their absolute safety. How about it?"
Konan observed Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Mikoto in silence for a moment before finally responding, "I'll have to consult the leader first."
"I'll wait for your good news then." Kirito smiled.
With his proficiency in illusion techniques, it would have been easy for him to deceive both Obito and Zetsu, but Nagato was a different story.
The condition for activating the Kyoka Suigetsu required both eyes to witness the act of release, but Nagato, who never revealed his true form due to his crippled legs, was too perceptive to be tricked easily.
While he might have been able to manipulate Pain's Six Paths, Nagato's Uzumaki clan heritage gave him an extraordinary sensitivity to chakra, meaning he could easily detect Uchiha Mikoto's presence in the tower. Instead of relying on deception, Kirito chose to be open about his intentions. After all, Nagato and Konan weren't fully aligned with Obito either.
Konan quickly returned, this time carrying Akatsuki uniforms—the signature black cloaks with red clouds, hats, and even nail polish.
"The leader has agreed, but if your identity is exposed, we won't be responsible for the consequences," Konan said with her usual impassive demeanor.
"Of course," Kirito replied, donning the Akatsuki cloak with a dramatic flourish. "How do I look?" he asked with a playful grin.
For the first time, Konan's stoic expression softened slightly. A suppressed smile flickered across her face as she remarked, "It looks fine, but your movements are a bit exaggerated."
"Okay, make sure you're at the clock tower tomorrow morning. Pain will introduce you to the rest of the Akatsuki and assign your tasks. If you need anything, you can come to me. I live right across from you," Konan explained before turning to leave.
"Across from me? Now, this is a real test of willpower. Which Akatsuki member could resist such a challenge?" Kirito muttered to himself as he sighed and walked into the room. He released the pressure points on Uchiha Mikoto, allowing her to wake up.
After a few moments, Uchiha Mikoto stirred and slowly opened her eyes, finding herself in an unfamiliar room. The first thing she saw was Kirito standing before her in the Akatsuki cloak, a knife scar visible on his forehead.
"Madam, you're awake. First of all, I can't tell you where we are, and knowing wouldn't help you anyway. Just be assured, this isn't Konoha, and we're out of immediate danger."
"As for your sons, both are alive and well. However, I doubt you'll ever see your eldest son again. Given his loyalty to the village, he might try to kill you once more in the name of the Uchiha clan's so-called honor."
"But there's still hope for your younger son. In the eyes of the world, though, both you and Izumi are considered dead. It'll be some time before you can reunite with him."
"You'll be living here for the foreseeable future. If you need anything, feel free to ask the girl across the hall. She'll provide whatever you need."
Mikoto listened intently to Kirito's summary of the situation. She glanced at Uchiha Izumi, who remained asleep beside her, quickly understanding the gravity of her circumstances. Rising from her bed, she gave Kirito a respectful bow. "Thank you."
"Madam, there's no need to be so formal. I promised Uncle Fugaku I'd look after you, and that's exactly what I'll do," Kirito responded, stepping forward to help her up by the arm.
Mikoto's heart raced briefly at the touch, a brief flicker of panic crossing her mind. However, when she remembered that Kirito was only thirteen and deeply devoted to Izumi, she dismissed her concerns. Feeling slightly embarrassed by her own thoughts, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.
At that moment, Kirito's long-dormant system chimed in with a notification.
[Ding, congratulations to the host for triggering the system options.]
[1. Do not awaken Uchiha Izumi. Before performing any further actions, you will be rewarded with perfect wind chakra and a property change.]
[2. Awaken Uchiha Izumi and punish her right in front of her, receiving Rasengan-series ninjutsu as a reward.]
[3. Do not awaken Uchiha Izumi, but punish her together with Mikoto, earning you the Haki of Observation from the Pirate World.]
[4. Awaken Uchiha Izumi, and together punish both her and Mikoto. You will earn the Armament Haki from the Pirate World.]
[5. Do nothing and remain passive, receiving the reward: One piece of firewood *999999.]
(End of the Chapter).
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