Part Time Employee in Konoha

Chapter 281: Madara's "Story" according to Itachi

Black Zetsu's mental fortitude is truly impressive.

The enormous trouble caused by Akihara Kagura quickly overshadowed the joy of Uchiha Madara's revival through the Edo Tensei, forcing Black Zetsu to suppress his excitement once more.

This also served as a wake-up call for Black Zetsu.

While the ninjas were undoubtedly his pawns, not all of them were committed to the Eye of the Moon Plan. Among them were always those with greed, willing to disrupt things...

Such as Akihara Kagura.

This man's power is exceedingly strong.

Fortunately, within this ruined warehouse, there were still two dueling Uchiha brothers. Perhaps, an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan could emerge...

Black Zetsu wanted to abandon Akihara Kagura but feared he might continue to cause trouble since Akihara Kagura was strong enough to stop Uchiha Madara.

At the same time.

This prominent figure from the Warring States Period slowly grasped the situation.

From the brief exchange between Akihara Kagura and Black Zetsu, Uchiha Madara understood a crucial point—there seemed to be a minor flaw in the Eye of the Moon Plan.

Akihara Kagura, the Hokage's assistant, attacked Nagato out of greed for the Rinnegan, resulting in Nagato fleeing with the Rinnegan and the Eye of the Moon Plan to Konoha, possibly even destroying the Rinnegan...

The Eye of the Moon Plan remains...

But the eyes to execute the plan are lost.

This generation's Hokage assistant is more of a hindrance than a help...

No...

Something seems off.

How could such a greedy person defeat Nagato?

Though Nagato's body must be weakening from the frequent use of the Rinnegan, the Rinnegan's power isn't something an ordinary person can handle...

Even the Gedo Statue of the Outer Path was destroyed by this guy!

Uchiha Madara lightly tapped his arm with his fingers, contemplating the true extent of Akihara Kagura's strength while listening to Black Zetsu's report on the feud between Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke...

"Eight years ago..."

"Uchiha Itachi nearly annihilated the Uchiha clan..."

As Black Zetsu reached this part, he couldn't help but glance at Akihara Kagura: "Kagura should know the full story, right?"

"I do know a bit."

Akihara Kagura took over the conversation, actively explaining: "Due to the policies left behind by the Second Hokage, Tobirama, the Uchiha clan and the Konoha leadership were always in conflict. Danzo, the Hokage's assistant at the time, constantly sought to exterminate the Uchiha clan..."

"Hmph..."

Uchiha Madara's lips curled into a sneer: "That inherently insidious Tobirama saw everyone as evil and always harbored malice towards the Uchiha..."

Back then, when Uchiha Madara intended to leave Konoha, he planned to take the Uchiha clan with him. However, the clan, longing for so-called peace, refused to follow their former leader.

As a result...

The remaining Uchiha were indeed suppressed by the Konoha leadership.

Akihara Kagura was well aware of Uchiha Madara's personal inclinations and didn't mind his continuous criticism of the Second Hokage. He continued discussing matters concerning the Uchiha.

"The Uchiha clan intended to revolt, and the Konoha leadership sought to prevent it. The previous Hokage assistant Danzo colluded with Uchiha Itachi, and together with Obito, they massacred the Uchiha clan, including his parents, sparing only Uchiha Sasuke, Itachi's younger brother..."

"According to information I received from Danzo, Uchiha Itachi killed his clan to ensure his brother Uchiha Sasuke's survival and to pledge loyalty to the Konoha leadership..."

"Of course."

"Perhaps it was also for power."

Akihara Kagura casually glanced at Black Zetsu and continued: "Because Uchiha Itachi awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, he might have aimed to obtain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, intending to provoke his brother Uchiha Sasuke to awaken his Sharingan..."

"..."

Uchiha Madara fell silent.

He could accept the Uchiha clan's destruction.

After obtaining the Eye of the Moon Plan and being abandoned by his clan, Uchiha Madara had long broken free from familial bonds. The clan's demise didn't stir him.

The problem is...

Uchiha Itachi's actions were somewhat suffocating.

If it was for the power of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, Uchiha Madara could understand the ruthless pursuit of power, killing other clan members, even parents, to provoke his brother's Sharingan...

But...

If it was merely to ensure Uchiha Sasuke's survival by killing all clan members to pledge loyalty to the Konoha leadership, then something must be wrong with his head.

"To betray all his clan members..."

After a long silence, Uchiha Madara suddenly asked: "Did that Uchiha Itachi ever ask his brother what he thought?"

"Probably... not?"

Akihara Kagura chuckled lightly and continued nonchalantly, "The Third Hokage was still contemplating how to prevent a coup at that time. The situation had not yet escalated to that point. My power was sufficient to suppress the Uchiha who sought to incite rebellion. However, Lord Danzo acted privately, aiming to annihilate the Uchiha clan. He used Uchiha Sasuke to lure Uchiha Itachi into slaughtering the Uchiha..."

"The most interesting part is..."

"Uchiha Itachi was well aware that Lord Danzo wanted to kill all the Uchiha, yet he still chose to cooperate with Danzo, because he always believed that his path was the right one. He thought that this was the only way for his brother Uchiha Sasuke to survive..."

"This reason is a bit far-fetched."

Uchiha Madara shook his head, unable to comprehend Uchiha Itachi's thinking, and said, "If it was for this reason, how could his brother Uchiha Sasuke live on knowing his brother slaughtered their clan for his survival? Upon learning the truth, what would his path forward be?"

"Staying in Konoha would be impossible."

"Even if he becomes a rogue ninja, he would certainly be scorned."

"This kind of existence..."

"Is actually more painful than death."

"Anyone should understand this truth. Uchiha Itachi definitely wouldn't think this way. He definitely wasn't doing it just so his brother could live."

Uchiha Madara pondered for a while and finally found a key reason: "I guess it was still for the power of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan!"

This prominent figure from the Warring States period suddenly laughed, eager to see what exactly was Uchiha Itachi's situation: "This kid named Uchiha Itachi is really interesting. To go to the extent of killing his own clan for the power of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, his determination is indeed commendable..."

However...

Uchiha Madara's praise was quickly cut off.

Uchiha Madara and Akihara Kagura arrived at a corner of the base's warehouse.

An Uchiha wearing a mask was guarding there. Upon seeing Akihara Kagura and Uchiha Madara, he looked at them with astonishment.

"Lord Kagura, this is..."

"Step aside."

Akihara Kagura waved his hand.

"Wait..."

Uchiha Madara frowned and looked into the other's eyes: "Didn't you just say that the Uchiha clan... was all killed by Uchiha Itachi?"

"There are still some survivors."

Akihara Kagura took over the conversation and continued, "At that time, Lord Danzo didn't want to relinquish his position as head of the Root and assistant to the Hokage, causing tension between us... whatever Lord Danzo wanted to do, I would certainly oppose."

"..."

Uchiha Madara glanced at Akihara Kagura in confusion.

This guy...

How relaxed must he be to talk so casually about his own power struggles!

"Of course."

"This was also for revenge."

Akihara Kagura seemed to have no psychological obstacles, and continued proactively, "Uchiha Itachi almost killed two people important to me in order to join Lord Danzo. These survivors hate Uchiha Itachi to the core, and they are also my means to deal with Uchiha Itachi..."

"Let me introduce."

"This is Uchiha Madara."

Akihara Kagura introduced Uchiha Madara to his subordinate and instructed, "You may go now. Don't disclose this matter..."

"Madara... Uchiha Madara..."

This Uchiha widened his eyes in shock. The Uchiha clan might forget many people, but they would never forget the renowned Uchiha Madara!

"Step aside."

Akihara Kagura waved his hand.

Uchiha Madara glanced strangely at Akihara Kagura.

This guy could make the inherently proud Uchiha clan so obedient?

Uchiha Madara leaped onto a beam, looking down at the interior of the warehouse, wanting to see the situation of the fratricidal brothers Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke...

The younger generation of this era...

Even brothers have to kill each other…

Uchiha Madara thought of his younger brother, Uchiha Izuna. The Warring States period was ten thousand times harsher than the current environment, yet the two brothers supported each other. Even before his death, Izuna entrusted his eyes to Madara.

Just then, Uchiha Itachi's voice echoed in the warehouse.

Itachi was narrating the story of Uchiha Madara to all the Uchihas present.

"During the Warring States period, there were two brothers from the Uchiha clan. The elder brother's name was Uchiha Madara, and the younger brother's name was Uchiha Izuna..."

"They both awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan. Uchiha Madara became the leader of the Uchiha, and the brothers led the clan..."

"....."

Uchiha Madara nodded silently.

In the past, he and his brother Izuna had led the Uchiha clan to great fame during the Warring States period. Although that era was extremely cruel, it was still worth mentioning.

Speaking of which...

That era was quite interesting...

At least Hashirama was still around...

"However..."

Itachi changed his tone and spoke of Uchiha Madara's misfortune: "All along, the successful Uchiha Madara underwent a certain mutation..."

"I just mentioned that the Mangekyo Sharingan is a special kind of eye. Using its power causes a severe decline in vision. The more it's used, the worse it gets, ultimately leading to endless darkness..."

"That is the fate of the Mangekyo Sharingan."

"The powerful eye technique comes at a great cost."

"This power will lead the Uchiha into the abyss. The power gained through the eyes will ultimately be lost through them, resulting in complete blindness."

"....."

All the Uchihas listened quietly.

Even Uchiha Madara above was listening silently. Reflecting on his past, he indeed suffered from the deteriorating vision of the Mangekyo Sharingan.

However...

It didn't seem to matter?

Most of the time, the Mangekyo Sharingan was only needed to deal with Hashirama's Wood Release. In other battles, his Taijutsu and Ninjutsu were enough to easily defeat opponents.

"Uchiha Madara went blind."

Uchiha Itachi continued the legend with an unchanged expression. He was a master storyteller and didn't think the subject of his story would be present.

"To regain his sight..."

"Uchiha Madara used various methods..."

"But none of these methods were effective..."

"....."

Everyone present felt a tug at their hearts.

Although they might have known the ending, they still felt uneasy, and many of the Uchihas present had troubled expressions.

"Did I go blind back then?"

Uchiha Madara doubted his own memory.

If his memory served him right, his eyes shouldn't have gone blind. It was only after his brother Izuna was severely injured by Tobirama Senju and entrusted his eyes to Madara before his death that Madara learned the secret of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan...

"Madara despaired."

Uchiha Itachi calmly slandered the family ancestor.

"....."

Uchiha Madara frowned.

As a naturally strong ninja, how could he despair over something like this? Just a pair of eyes, he could still unleash immense power without them!

However...

This young Uchiha, Itachi, indeed had a talent for storytelling.

Even though he knew the story's protagonist was himself and was well aware of the story's ending, Madara unconsciously wanted to continue listening...

"Uchiha Madara, misled by the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan in his quest for sight..."

Itachi's voice turned gloomy: "Decided to take his brother's eyes. Uchiha Izuna, completely unsuspecting, never imagined his brother would want to take his eyes. He was caught off guard and had his eyes taken by Madara..."

"....."

Uchiha Madara's eyes twitched.

~~~

Who Let Itachi Cook! /Bleam

— Ending + Extra Chapters!

Read upto Chapter 348: End! + Extra Chapters of Sasuke's Rebirth where the world Akihara Kagura is not around.

Thank you!