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The two heard what Kirito said.
They were completely shocked and couldn't come to their senses for a long time.
The real Madara is dead?
The guy wearing the patterned mask isn't Uchiha Madara?
Is this true?
If this is true, this news is enough to shatter everything they thought they knew.
Even if the members of the Akatsuki organization learn of this, it would cause massive turmoil within their ranks.
Kirito looked at the two of them expressionlessly, waiting for them to calm down.
He knew that what he had said was hard to believe, especially for Kisame and Itachi.
Kisame's shark-like eyes darted around as he analyzed Kirito's words.
Although Kirito had previously provided detailed information about the members of the Akatsuki organization, simply claiming that Uchiha Madara was dead wasn't enough to make them believe it.
After all, the masked man had the true Sharingan of the Uchiha clan. If he wasn't Uchiha Madara, then who could he possibly be?
This was exactly what Kirito wanted them to consider, so he planted this false information.
Itachi, who was more analytical than Kisame, glanced at Kisame, realizing that Kisame was already processing the implications of Kirito's statement.
But before Itachi could speak, Kisame gritted his teeth and refuted.
"This is impossible. Uchiha Madara is still alive."
"His Sharingan can't be fake."
After saying this, Kisame was even more convinced that what Kirito said couldn't be true.
Itachi, who was more reserved, had a similar reaction, but his expression softened slightly.
Kirito looked at them with a faint smile and asked, "Do you think the guy wearing the patterned mask is Uchiha Madara?"
"If he were truly Uchiha Madara, why would he wear a mask?"
"Do you really think you know this Shura of the Ninja World?"
Kirito's series of questions left Itachi and Kisame confused.
The two exchanged puzzled glances.
Kirito, undeterred, continued.
"Do you think the real Uchiha Madara would need to wear a mask when facing you?"
"A ninja god like Madara, as famous as Senju Hashirama, wouldn't hide his face. Why would he?"
"Think about it, does Madara really need a mask? His face alone would make any ninja village tremble in fear."
As Kirito spoke, his tone grew heavier, and Kisame and Itachi began to reconsider his words.
From initial shock and disbelief, their expressions shifted to doubt and tentative belief.
Is what this person, Kirito, saying true?
Would the whole ninja world tremble at the slightest move from Uchiha Madara?
If Madara is really dead, then who is the person wearing the mask in the Akatsuki organization?
And if he's really the Shura of the Ninja World, why the mask?
Why wear a mask if you're as powerful as the world's most feared ninja?
Their minds were filled with doubts and questions.
Seeing this, Kirito smiled faintly, knowing that his words were beginning to have an impact.
All he needed to do now was push a little further, and they would naturally uncover the truth.
Kisame, still filled with uncertainty, was halfway to believing but wasn't fully convinced yet.
With a complicated expression, Kirito spoke again.
"I won't pressure you to join me right now."
"As for whether what I've said is true, you can return to your Akatsuki organization and verify whether the masked man is truly Uchiha Madara."
The two exchanged a brief look before starting to process what Kirito had said.
But just as they were considering their next move, Kirito glanced at the moon above and spoke again, his voice calm.
"The information has been shared with you."
"The Akatsuki organization is not as simple as it seems. There are many dark secrets within it."
"You two can't handle it on your own. Even you, Uchiha Itachi, can't."
Kirito then casually tossed a Den Den Mushi to Itachi.
"This will allow you to contact me."
"If you decide to join my forces, everything I've said today will hold true."
"I am a fair person. If you work for me, I will not turn my back when you're in danger."
After finishing his words, Kirito ignored their gazes and turned into a flash of golden light, vanishing from their sight.
Kisame and Itachi stood there, still reeling from what they had just heard.
The news Kirito shared had completely shaken their understanding of the situation.
For a moment, they tried to make sense of it, but no conclusions came to mind.
Kisame turned to Itachi with his dead fish eyes and asked, "Itachi, what should we do next? Ignore this Kirito, or…"
Kisame left his sentence unfinished, but Itachi's calm expression had returned. He was deep in thought, sorting through the information.
If what Kirito said was true, then they needed to carefully consider their next move.
After Kirito disappeared, Itachi's cold, sharp demeanor returned.
His eyes were deep as he spoke in a low voice.
"We'll return to Akatsuki and report to Nagato about Kirito."
"As for Uchiha Madara… we need to test the truth of that claim."
Kisame nodded in agreement, silent as they prepared to return to Akatsuki as quickly as possible to verify their suspicions.
Meanwhile, in Konoha Village, the sounds of frogs croaked under the moonlit sky.
Inside the Hokage's office, the lights burned late into the night.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, over fifty years old, was still awake.
Sitting in his armchair in Hokage uniform, he puffed on his pipe, his sharp eyes fixed on the two men in the room.
One of them was Kakashi, who had recovered from the battle earlier that day.
Kakashi lazily glanced at the old man and spoke.
"What's so urgent that it needs to be reported so late?"
"I didn't expect you to return to the village, Jiraiya."
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke and turned his gaze to Jiraiya, his former student.
Jiraiya, the famed frog sage, wasn't one to make formal visits unless there was something important. Sarutobi Hiruzen could tell.
Jiraiya, still with no airs about him, gave a slight bow, showing respect to his mentor despite his immense strength.
Kakashi glanced at both of them and said nothing as Jiraiya began recounting the events from the day.
"Today, two ninjas attacked our village."
"One was Hoshigaki Kisame, and the other, Uchiha Itachi, a former Konoha ninja now listed as an S-rank rogue."
Upon hearing Itachi's name, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression grew serious, his eyes narrowing.
Jiraiya continued, describing how the Eight-Man Squad, led by Kurenai, had initially encountered the two attackers.
"Then I received the message and rushed over quickly…"
Once Jiraiya finished detailing the events, Sarutobi Hiruzen, with a grim expression, looked at Kakashi.
"You're saying the purpose of the Akatsuki members' visit was to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto?"
"Jiraiya, you didn't intervene during the battle, and it was Kirito who defeated both Itachi and Kisame?"
Jiraiya nodded, confirming what Kakashi had said.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
"Kirito defeated the two S-rank renegades by himself."
"The Golden Flash's reputation is well deserved."
Jiraiya was visibly impressed by Kirito's strength.
"This young man's abilities far exceed those of a special jonin."
"Even elite jonin would have difficulty matching his power."
Jiraiya's eyes glinted with admiration as he estimated Kirito's abilities.
His strength had reached the level of a Kage—arguably, one of the best Kage.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in silence for a moment, taking in the new information.
Finally, he nodded, acknowledging the report.
After a brief pause, Kakashi and Jiraiya left the office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen remained seated, looking out at the moon, lost in thought.
The following morning, deep within the Land of Rain, two figures wearing black cloaks with red cloud patterns emerged before a cave.
These were Kisame and Itachi, who had traveled overnight to return to the Akatsuki headquarters.
After a brief discussion, they stepped into the dark cave.
Within it, a shadowy figure stood, orange-yellow hair and metal piercings adorning his face. This was Nagato, leader of the Akatsuki.
Upon seeing only Kisame and Itachi, Nagato knew their mission had failed.
He said nothing but watched them coldly as Kisame stepped forward to explain.
"We encountered problems capturing the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki," Kisame began. "The Golden Flash, Kirito, interfered and caused us to fail."
Hearing this, the Akatsuki members fell silent, exchanging glances. Some were skeptical, while others seemed intrigued.
Kisame then revealed his wounds from the battle, showing the group the severity of the damage he'd suffered.
"The new successor, Kirito, is even stronger than the rumors suggest. I, Kisame, was defeated by his sword."
Kisame's eyes were filled with a mix of shock and frustration.
The Akatsuki members didn't speak immediately. Some exchanged glances, processing the gravity of Kisame's words.
Nagato looked at Itachi, silently seeking confirmation. Itachi, who had been silent, spoke up, his voice cold.
"Kisame is telling the truth."
"Kirito is stronger than we imagined. He's at the Kage level, and perhaps even the strongest among them."
Deidara, with his golden hair partially covering one eye, asked curiously, "Your Sharingan didn't work on him?"
Itachi responded grimly, "I used Tsukuyomi, but he broke it with a glance."
At that moment, Obito, under his mask, furrowed his brow.
Nagato remained unfazed but intrigued. His interest in Kirito had only deepened.
"Kisame, tell us everything about your encounter with him," Nagato ordered.
Kisame nodded and recounted every detail of their battle with Kirito, leaving out only the conversation between them.
When he finished, the Akatsuki members were shocked by the depth of Kirito's power.
Nagato's eyes gleamed with a new resolve.
"This Kirito is crucial to Akatsuki."
"We must bring him into our ranks. With his strength, our Tailed Beast Recovery Plan will progress smoothly."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and Kisame and Itachi exchanged uncertain glances, knowing that things were about to change.
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