A White Zetsu clone suddenly erupted from the ground.
The clone placed a scroll on the ground, and from it emerged a strange, white lump of flesh. The mass writhed and shifted, and the sight of it was enough to make one gag, yet the chakra pulsing within it was strangely full of life. This was the power of the infamous Hashirama cells.
A white light suddenly flared within the mass of flesh.
In the glow, the Hashirama cells began to condense, clinging tightly to a corpse and slowly restoring it to life.
An instant later, the corpse twitched.
Itachi Uchiha's gaze was locked on the body, its face not yet revealed. "Is this the Rinne Rebirth Jutsu? The one being revived is…"
As the seconds ticked by, everyone watched as the corpse on the ground slowly came back to life. Its chest began to rise and fall with a faint, but steady, heartbeat. Though quiet, the sound drew every eye.
The next moment, however, their gazes filled with fear. On the man's chest, the Hashirama cells formed a bizarre white face, monstrous in its appearance.
"That white face…" Kisame Hoshigaki's voice was hoarse. The face seemed familiar, as if he'd seen it somewhere before.
A flash of surprise crossed Itachi's eyes. He replied in a low voice, "It looks like the face of the First Hokage."
Just then, Itachi's face, which had been an emotionless mask for what felt like an eternity, finally twisted in shock. The Hashirama cells on the ground had completely merged into the revived person's body.
The man's true face was revealed.
Everyone present recognized him instantly—after all, they had all seen the statue of this man at the Valley of the End.
The Asura of the Shinobi World, Madara Uchiha.
Kisame Hoshigaki suddenly lifted his head and looked at the masked man hovering in the air. "Mr. Madara," he shouted, "if he is Madara Uchiha, then who are you?"
The masked man had been using Madara Uchiha's name, leading Kisame to believe he was working for the legend himself this whole time.
"Who I am is not important," the masked man said in a hoarse voice. "Everything I do is to carry out Madara's will."
"..."
Kisame fell silent. He turned away from the liar to face his only trusted teammate. "Mr. Itachi, what do you think we should do now?"
"Hmm…"
Itachi hesitated for a moment, then clenched his fist as he looked from the masked man to the newly revived Madara on the ground. "They've served their purpose. Let's just kill them."
He had now witnessed Rinne Rebirth in action. It could even bring back Madara, who had died in battle decades ago. The jutsu worked. Now, it was time to make his move.
"Huh?"
Kisame's small eyes widened in confusion. Honestly, he didn't understand what Itachi meant at all.
From what he could see, Nagato was about to die, and Konan couldn't hold out alone. Madara Uchiha had just been revived, and the masked man still seemed to possess his strength. Who exactly was Itachi planning to kill?
Itachi pushed Kisame aside and slowly stood up. The chakra radiating from his body grew stronger and stronger, almost surpassing that of the newly revived Madara. He didn't look like a man on the verge of death from illness at all.
Kisame stared at his revitalized partner in disbelief and stammered, "Mr. Itachi… you've been… deceiving me, too?"
"Sorry, Kisame." Itachi sighed softly. "Everything I am doing is for a greater purpose."
Kisame: "..."
At that moment, Kisame's expression was extremely ugly. Both the masked man and Itachi Uchiha had been lying to him all along.
Was Project Tsuki no Me real or fake?
Why did Itachi deceive him?
What were their goals?
And why was he here, knowing nothing?
The masked man eyed Itachi with suspicion and uncertainty before letting out a cold laugh. "So, Itachi, you finally decided you can't stand it any longer?"
When they carried out the Uchiha massacre together, the masked man knew Itachi's true purpose. He was a spy Konoha had planted in the Akatsuki. But out of a certain appreciation for Itachi's talent, he hadn't exposed him, and had even promised not to attack Konoha before Itachi died.
Now that Konoha's greatest enemy, Madara Uchiha, was back, had Itachi finally snapped?
"Yes."
Itachi nodded, slowly extending his hand toward the dying Nagato. "Every day," he said softly, "I had to listen to your plan full of loopholes. Every day, I had to listen to you proclaim your ambitions. And every day, I had to look at your power, which falls so far short of those ambitions…"
"..."
The masked man clenched his fist. "The power of the Mangekyo Sharingan… you are not the only one who possesses it. Who do you think you are?"
"I am Itachi Uchiha."
He said his name calmly. His eyes suddenly shifted, transforming into a pair of Rinnegan. "Almighty Push!"
A powerful gravitational force struck Nagato.
The masked man's breath caught in his throat. While he was frozen in shock at the sight of a second pair of Rinnegan, Black Zetsu detached from Nagato, taking the original Rinnegan with him as he fled.
The scene descended into chaos.
Ignoring everyone else, Itachi took the dying Nagato, laid him on the ground, and checked his body. "His life force is completely drained from using Rinne Rebirth… Just as I thought. There's no way to avoid the cost."
"I didn't expect…" Nagato's eyes were blind, but he fumbled for Itachi's hand. "Itachi… if you are their enemy," he said weakly, "you can join forces with Konan…"
Even at death's door, he couldn't let go of his friend.
Itachi was silent for a moment before patting his hand. "If she is willing to cooperate… After all, she is Jiraiya-senpai's student…"
"..."
Nagato's face stiffened, then a faint smile appeared. "So you've always been…"
Before he could finish, his voice faded. This descendant of the Uzumaki clan, who had manipulated the Akatsuki from behind the scenes while also being manipulated himself, was finally silent.
"Nagato!"
Konan rushed down, staring blankly at Nagato's body. The Six Paths of Pain that had been following her also fell from the sky, their puppet master gone.
Itachi stood up, giving his place to Konan. "Konan," he said in a deep voice, "if you want to avenge Nagato, then join us."
"You… who are you?" Konan bit her lip, tears streaming from her eyes, but she forced herself to ask, word by word, "What do you want to do… Who are you people… Why did you join the Akatsuki…"
"I'd like to know too, Mr. Itachi."
Kisame's expression was grim as he gripped his blade, Samehada. He was supposed to be a member of this organization, but now he felt like a complete outsider. He couldn't understand the situation at all.
Who was just and who was evil?
Who was the real mastermind?
Who had been playing who all along?
-----
Bonus:
1
Kisame Hoshigaki: Mr. Madara, who are you really?
Obito: Who I am is not important.
Kisame Hoshigaki: But you told me you were Madara Uchiha…
Obito: Oh well, Madara Uchiha is revived now anyway!
Kisame Hoshigaki: You rotten liar!
2
Kisame Hoshigaki: Mr. Itachi, weren't you seriously ill?
Itachi Uchiha: My illness is cured.
Kisame Hoshigaki: When did it get better?
Itachi Uchiha: Would you believe me if I said just now?
Kisame Hoshigaki: What do you think?
Itachi Uchiha: Actually, it's been better for a long time…
Kisame Hoshigaki: You rotten liar