Chapter 18: The Akatsuki Organization in the Initial Stage

"You are finally here."

Orochimaru said in a somewhat impatient tone.

The past half month has been like a year for him, and he looks forward to Natsume's arrival every day.

As a scientist, he has a strong thirst for knowledge.

The Mangekyō Sharingan is a whole new field again. Of course he wants to know.

"I'm glad you're not dead yet."

Natsume sat down casually and drank a cup of tea before saying, "It tastes weird. Buy some good tea next time."

["If you can speak, why not speak about Sharingan."]

Orochimaru twitched the corner of his mouth. He had something to ask for, so he could only pretend not to hear. He asked: "How to obtain the Mangekyo Sharingan?"

"Trading is about equal exchange."

Natsume did not answer directly. He showed a smile and asked: "Where are the Hashirama cells I want?"

"Already got it."

Orochimaru turned his eyes and said, "You can have it now."

Natsume had been utilizing a wooden clone for communication, but it presented a limitation: once the clone dispersed, any items sent with it couldn't be retrieved. This compelled the clone to return to Natsume's main body. Orochimaru, with his intellect, aimed to uncover the true identity of this enigmatic figure through careful operation. Natsume could discern Orochimaru's intentions easily, which had hindered their previous negotiations. However, a solution now existed.

Having assumed control of Gunma Company, Natsume found himself in possession of a substantial cash reserve amounting to nearly 100 million taels. It was a decade's worth of earnings generated by their casino and underground banking operations, and when factoring in expenses and real estate, there remained a substantial pool of liquid assets. Natsume's plan was clear: to employ ninja with this newfound wealth and attempt the rescue of the mother and daughter held in captivity.

In the contemporary ninja world, outside the five major villages, one group reigned supreme - the notorious Akatsuki Organization. Some might argue that the "Akatsuki" organization was more perilous and could potentially upend the status quo, but for now, the Akatsuki was in the nascent stage of accumulating funds. They pursued their wealth through two primary channels: by accepting missions and collecting bounties on high-profile targets.

Let's set aside the latter aspect for now. The former entails that the Akatsuki organization has essentially evolved into an employment agency. One key element in the employment world is trustworthiness. If an employee were to kill their employer and word got out, it would obliterate their credibility, making it highly improbable that they'd receive any more job offers.

  Regardless of how unorthodox the Akatsuki might be, at this juncture, they aren't expected to break these fundamental rules. In other words, if you provide them with funds, you can generally rely on their trustworthiness. If Orochimaru wishes to test this, I can offer two Akatsuki members for you to experiment with.

  "No need to rush; I'm merely a clone. I'll get back to you in a couple of days," Natsume casually waved his hand and continued, "You can establish trade relations with members of our organization."

  "No problem," Orochimaru affirmed. Even in the absence of direct contact with Natsume, they could liaise with members of his organization. With his capabilities, once he obtained a lead, he was confident in his ability to follow it to the source and unveil this clandestine organization in its entirety.

Natsume offered one more piece of advice, delivering it with a meaningful gaze. "If you decide to take action, ensure you have solid life-saving measures in place. They aren't as amiable as I am." The words had a familiar ring to them.

Orochimaru's expression initially registered a moment of bewilderment, which soon transformed into a surge of inexplicable anger. 

This guy's arrogance knows no bounds!

Am I to be deemed powerless against the Mangekyou Sharingan, but not against his operatives?

Does he believe that I earned the title of Sannin for nothing?

"Let's continue discussing the Mangekyō Sharingan," Natsume shifted the topic, and Orochimaru's curiosity grew.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan is an advanced form of the Three Tomoe Sharingan," Natsume explained.

"Does that mean there are many Mangekyō Sharingan within the Uchiha clan?" Orochimaru interjected, doubting that the brilliant Uchiha Shisui was the only one.

Natsume raised three fingers and replied, "It's not that simple. Possessing the Mangekyō Sharingan requires extremely high talent and unique circumstances. So far, only three individuals have attained it: Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Shisui, and the mysterious man who controlled the Kyuubi."

Orochimaru was genuinely surprised. He had long suspected that the regular Three Tomoe Sharingan couldn't possibly control the Nine-Tails.

"Who is this mysterious man? Is he also from the Uchiha clan?" Orochimaru inquired, believing that he had a good grasp of the Uchiha clan's members. He hadn't heard of any extraordinary geniuses beyond Uchiha Shisui and, before him, Uchiha Fugaku, who was known for being indecisive.

Natsume replied with a smile, "That information comes at another cost."

He had no intention of sharing with Orochimaru that the mysterious man was Uchiha Obito, as the knowledge held little value for the Snake Sannin.

Orochimaru's expression soured, and he appeared baffled. "What's the price?" he inquired, thinking he might have something valuable to offer. Nevertheless, he also realized that Natsume wasn't in need of money and would require something precious in exchange.

"A price you can't afford," Natsume replied cryptically.

Natsume maintained his composure despite Orochimaru's disappointment and continued, "Uchiha Shisui—you've had a confrontation with him. You understand it's impossible to obtain his eyes."

Orochimaru, though unhappy, couldn't find a valid argument to counter this point. He gazed at Natsume, his eyes suddenly gleaming as he asked, "Can your organization help me capture Uchiha Shisui's eyes?"

Natsume promptly replied, "As I've said before, you can't afford the price."

He then shook his head and inquired, "Even if I were to acquire those eyes, why should I give you such a valuable prize?"

Orochimaru fell silent. If Natsume refrained from taking action, Orochimaru would be unable to deal with Uchiha Shisui alone. Even if he brought in Sarutobi Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and others to assist him, they'd never let him possess the Mangekyo Sharingan. They'd likely return it to Konoha.

At this juncture, the Akatsuki organization wasn't particularly well-known, and its members were rogue ninja, not affiliated with any of the five major villages. Orochimaru remained oblivious to their existence.

"I'm afraid there's no way," Natsume stated.

Natsume changed his voice and continued, "Our organization has identified another Uchiha prodigy who has a significant chance of awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan. Furthermore, he is within your easy reach. The question is, do you have the patience for it?"

Orochimaru couldn't contain his excitement and immediately inquired, "Who is it?"

He had plenty of patience, especially if his immortality reincarnation proved successful, granting him eternal life.

"Uchiha Itachi," Natsume revealed, mentioning the name of his classmate.

Orochimaru took a moment to recall who Uchiha Itachi was—the eldest son of Uchiha Fugaku. His fame had not yet spread, given that Itachi was only six years old.

"Uchiha Itachi's talent is no less than Uchiha Shisui," Natsume added with a chuckle. "However, he's the son of the Uchiha clan leader and has a close relationship with Uchiha Shisui. You need to act swiftly; otherwise, you might miss your chance."

Orochimaru nodded, well aware of the challenge that lay ahead. The Uchiha clan and Konoha were on high alert, and seeking out Uchiha Fugaku would likely prove fruitless. Orochimaru quickly formulated a plan, but when he looked up, Natsume's clone had already vanished. It seemed he still had unanswered questions, but there was nothing Orochimaru could do but relinquish his hopes for now.

The next day, Orochimaru made his way to the Hokage's office, catching Sarutobi Hiruzen off guard with his visit. It was a rare sight, as Orochimaru had turned into a recluse after the end of the Third Ninja War, spending his days in isolation.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had long known that both Orochimaru and Shimura Danzo harbored sinister intentions and were not suitable candidates for the position of Hokage. However, he had tolerated their behavior due to their strength and their usefulness to Konoha, as long as they remained loyal.

Now, Orochimaru was breaking his silence.

"I wish to take on an apprentice," Orochimaru stated plainly, leaving Sarutobi Hiruzen slightly perplexed. Why this sudden change?

Tsunade had just taken on an apprentice recently. Was Orochimaru seeking to do the same now?

"Why have you decided to take on an apprentice?" Sarutobi Hiruzen inquired.

Orochimaru's most recent apprentice had been Nawaki, but after his death, only Mitarashi Anko remained under his tutelage.

He answered Sarutobi Hiruzen's question nonchalantly, "It's nothing. I need more helpers for my experiments. I'm looking to take on two apprentices."

His casual response was typical of Orochimaru's character. Sarutobi Hiruzen asked further, "Do you have specific candidates in mind?"

Orochimaru replied, "I haven't selected any candidates yet. I plan to choose two promising students from the ninja school."

Sarutobi Hiruzen accepted this explanation without further inquiry, saying, "I will have the ninja school hold an examination, and then you can make your selection."

He held the nominal position of the ninja school's principal, but as he thought about it, another candidate came to mind—Uchiha Itachi. He remembered Uchiha Itachi's exceptional talent and his status as Uchiha Fugaku's son, making him a promising candidate. If Orochimaru were to take Itachi as a disciple, it could bring unexpected advantages.

Unbeknownst to Sarutobi Hiruzen, Uchiha Fugaku had secretly arranged for Itachi to become an ANBU spy in the original storyline. But considering the current tensions and the Uchiha clan's relocation, Orochimaru's offer to accept Itachi as his apprentice seemed reasonable and justified.

  Sarutobi Hiruzen considered that nurturing Uchiha Itachi under the Hokage lineage might lead to the emergence of another talent like Uchiha Shisui.

"I remember Uchiha Itachi, Fugaku's son. He is incredibly talented. I suggest you consider taking him as your disciple," Sarutobi Hiruzen proposed.

"I will give it some thought," Orochimaru responded.

At first, Orochimaru felt that he had inadvertently revealed his intentions, but upon reflection, he understood Sarutobi Hiruzen's strategy. The Uchiha clan was currently a significant challenge for Konoha. Sarutobi Hiruzen aimed to soften their position from within by having Uchiha Shisui and potentially Uchiha Itachi join him, working to resolve the issues. In contrast, Shimura Danzo, who was part of the hardline faction, was focused on eliminating the Uchiha clan altogether.

...

noon.   

Ninja school. Class A, first grade.

Naoto Yamanaka walked into the classroom and said, "Classmates, great news. Orochimaru-sama, one of the Sanin, will come to school this afternoon to select his apprentices. Each of you will have a chance!"  The classroom was filled with excitement.

The Sannin held a prestigious status among the students, particularly due to the fact that Namikaze Minato, the Fourth Hokage, had trained under Jiraiya, another of the three legendary ninjas. If they were to become Orochimaru's apprentices, they would essentially become siblings with the Fourth Hokage.

The anticipation and enthusiasm were high. Orochimaru, despite his usually cold demeanor, was admired for his power, remarkable achievements, and a dedicated following. For civilian ninjas who could join the Hokage lineage, it meant an incredible boost in their status.

Natsume, sitting in the back by the window, found this approach to recruiting disciples quite clever, though somewhat unexpected. He couldn't help but wonder about the progress of his wooden clone in Short Book  Street.

Ninjas typically receive their missions through official channels within their respective Ninja Villages. However, there's also an unofficial channel known as the underground black market, where all sorts of less savory tasks and bounties can be found.

For instance, tasks like Sarutobi Asuma, who is considered the Hokage's unit of measurement, fetch around thirty-five million taels. This might seem like a high price, but most average jounin would be lucky to be worth a few million.

In typical circumstances, the most challenging S-class ninja missions usually start with rewards of one million taels. While Konoha Village doesn't have an official underground black market, there is one located in Tanshu Street.

Natsume discovered the exact location of this underground market through his connections within Gunma Company. One morning, he sent his wooden clone to scout the area.

The establishment resembled a rather ordinary Japanese-style two-story wooden house, featuring various counters. It bore a striking resemblance to the mission hall often seen in games and anime.

"Guest, are you accepting a mission or issuing a mission?" A young man in his twenties or thirties behind the window asked politely.

"Release a mission."

"Please fill out the form."

"This mission of mine is rather difficult. I would like to ask, are there any ninjas worth recommending? They must have good reputations."

Natsume handed him a thousand taels casually.

"You asked the right person!"

The young man suddenly laughed and said: "Let me tell you, about a few months ago, several very powerful ninjas suddenly appeared, specializing in taking on difficult tasks and bounties. So far, Never missed a beat."

"Oh?"

Natsume showed an interested expression and asked, "What's it called?"

"They use code names. I only know that one of them is called Kakuzu." The young man answered.

"Okay, then I will assign them the task."

Natsume grinned and said.

Tasks can be assigned, but the price is higher.

"Guest, please wait."

The young man explained quickly, "They have a rule. If you want to appoint them, the reward must be at least one million taels."

"It's a small matter."

Natsume said without caring, "I'll pay two million taels."

"..."

Overwhelmed by the prospect of such a significant sum, the young man swiftly issued the mission details.

[S-level mission: Go to Kusagakure to rescue two people and bring them to Short Book Street.  ]

[Reward: Two million taels, designated Kakuzu and team  ]

[Note: After accepting the task, meet the employer in front of Dong Casino at 7 a.m. on July 7th.  ]

Natsume decided to arrange the meeting place at Dong Casino, which was a random choice to reduce potential risks, as using Gunma Casino could pose dangers.

Having accomplished this, Natsume released his wooden clone to proceed with the assignment, and he awaited the Akatsuki organization's response to whether they were willing to undertake the task.

Later in the afternoon, Orochimaru arrived at the ninja school. All students, including Natsume, were summoned to the playground for this event.