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A cold voice suddenly echoed in the minds of Uchiha Itachi and Kisame. Their steps halted instantly, and their faces changed drastically. The voice belonged to none other than Kirito, the person who had sent them flying hundreds of meters earlier that day.
Recalling Kirito's strength from their earlier encounter, Kisame's face lost all arrogance, replaced by a deep solemnity. Even Itachi's usually stoic expression darkened. The two quickly turned to scan the area for his figure.
High on a nearby tree, Kirito stood on a branch, his sunglasses and windbreaker gleaming in the moonlight as he gazed calmly at them. The two looked up and confirmed that the voice in their minds was no illusion. Kirito's figure, bathed in moonlight, exuded an undeniable arrogance, a stark contrast to their growing tension.
After the day's battle, Kisame had abandoned his earlier bravado. He now fully understood that Kirito's strength far surpassed their own. Whether it was his light-speed ninjutsu capable of bypassing any physical attack, the sword he conjured out of thin air to strike Kisame with such devastating force, or his ability to break Itachi's Tsukuyomi illusion with a single glance, Kirito's power was overwhelming.
Kisame realized that even though they were formidable fighters, their chances of surviving against Kirito were slim. The only option left was for one of them to delay Kirito while the other escaped to inform Akatsuki of the new threat.
Without hesitation, Kisame stepped forward, drawing his massive sword Samehada, and stood in front of Itachi. "Itachi, go now. I'll hold him off. We won't survive unless one of us gets away."
Itachi's face darkened as he looked at Kisame's wound, the blood slowly seeping through his bandages. He understood what Kisame intended but didn't think the situation had reached the point of sacrificing one for the other.
Although Kirito had shown terrifying strength earlier, Itachi was an S-rank rogue ninja, a former captain of the Anbu. His Mangekyō Sharingan was capable of much more than Tsukuyomi. He could use Amaterasu and summon Susanoo, even at the cost of his vision. But he was determined to find another way.
"Kisame, I still have a plan. You don't need to sacrifice yourself."
Itachi's cold voice cut through the tension. He turned his gaze to Kirito, preparing for a confrontation.
Before Itachi could make a move, Kirito smiled and jumped down from the tree, landing lightly in front of them.
Just as Itachi was about to make his move, Kirito's voice interrupted.
"Don't rush. I'm not here to fight you."
Kisame and Itachi stared at him in confusion, unsure of what to make of his words. The tension in their bodies didn't dissipate, but their expressions shifted as Kirito continued.
"I'm not here to battle," he said, his voice steady. "I want to make a deal with you."
Both ninjas were stunned. What was he talking about? A deal? They were ready for battle, not diplomacy.
Kirito shrugged as if puzzled by their confused stares. "I'm not here to kill you. I have a proposition."
He paused, watching their expressions, then elaborated.
"I want you two to join me. I want you to work for me, to be my subordinates."
The suggestion was so unexpected that Itachi's face immediately hardened, and Kisame sneered.
"That's impossible," Itachi replied coldly. "We are members of the Akatsuki. You may be strong, but you can't just take us from our organization."
Kisame nodded in agreement. "What are you, some kind of madman? You think you can just take us from Akatsuki?"
Kirito smirked. "Akatsuki? A mysterious organization, yes, but I know all about you."
He continued, speaking with a calm confidence. "I know about the leaders—Nagato, the true Uchiha Madara... and many others."
Itachi and Kisame exchanged uncertain glances. They had heard many rumors about Akatsuki, but how did Kirito know so much? The leader of Akatsuki, Nagato, was a force to be reckoned with, as was the masked man calling himself Uchiha Madara. Yet, Kirito was speaking of them like he was an insider.
"I know Orochimaru was once part of your organization," Kirito went on, "and that your ranks are made up of powerful rogue ninjas from various villages. From the rebel Scorpion of the Sand Village to Hidan, the assassin from Takigakure, and others like Kakuzu and Deidara."
Kisame frowned. These were names and details only Akatsuki members would know. How could Kirito have this information?
"You've even heard of Scorpion, haven't you?" Kirito added casually, noting the change in their expressions. "You must wonder how I know."
The mention of Scorpion made Itachi's heart skip a beat. This was classified information, and the fact that Kirito had knowledge of it raised all sorts of questions.
Kirito, sensing their growing confusion, smirked again. "You see, I know Akatsuki better than you think."
But the most shocking revelation was yet to come.
"The real Uchiha Madara is dead," Kirito said in a cold, unwavering tone.
Both Kisame and Itachi were stunned. This revelation hit them like a bolt of lightning. The implications were profound. Madara, a figure shrouded in mystery and terror, was the cornerstone of Akatsuki's leadership. If he was truly dead, who was leading them now? What did this mean for the future of their organization?
Kisame stared at Kirito, his mind racing. "Who... are you?" he finally asked.
Kirito simply smiled, his eyes gleaming with calm certainty.
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