Chapter 207: Rebel Spy or Redeemed Hero? Itachi's Return to Konoha

After hearing Natsuo's words, Nagato was about to get angry again.

Konan, beside him, sighed in resignation. "You're exaggerating. We don't have that kind of relationship..."

Even counting Yahiko, one couldn't say that their relationship was bad, after all, they had been companions and friends since childhood. When they wanted to be more than just friends, Yahiko was killed in Hanzo's plot.

Natsuo was interested now. "So you've been together for so long and you're still just friends?"

"Has nothing happened between you?"

"Yeah, if you're not even interested in him, it's unlikely you're interested in anyone else. So you've been single this whole time?"

"That's good. After all, although NTR has become popular recently, but to tell the truth, I'm not a fan of it."

"However, Konan, you are so old, it's still... It's really not easy!"

Natsuo glanced at a certain part, showing a strange smile. 'So you're still a virgin, that's even better!'

The focus of his gaze made Konan feel like hitting someone.

Nagato, for his part, held back his anger as he watched Natsuo harass his lifelong friend. The veins in his neck pulsed with anger, but he reminded himself that he couldn't beat him. He couldn't beat him...

If it weren't for him not being able to beat him, he really wanted to beat him to death!

Nagato took three deep breaths in a row before his expression returned to calm.

"I'll go back to Konoha with you, too." Nagato was silent for a moment, and finally spoke.

"Oh, aren't you going to revive the Ten-Tails?" Natsuo frowned.

"There are too many complications and conspiracies behind the resurrection of the Ten-Tails. I want to take a look at the Uchiha clan's Stone Tablet and consider my options..." Nagato paused and smiled wryly. "Also, now I'm not sure if the Ten-Tails will be a sufficient deterrent."

In the past, he didn't need to worry about this problem.

The Demonic Statue, a weapon that consumes so much chakra that not even Nagato could afford to use it, defeated Hanzo and his minions along with Konoha's root shinobi. And that was when the Demonic Statue was just an empty shell. Added to the power of the tailed beasts, it is really easy to destroy a country in one fell swoop.

But...

Nagato couldn't help but glanced at Natsuo. No matter how confident he is, he no longer knows if the Ten-Tails will be able to beat Natsuo. After all, even though he has been fighting with him till now, Natsuo has not shown all his abilities...

Looking at his indifferent attitude towards Demonic Statue, Nagato really doubts that the complete Ten Tails can beat Natsuo.

His purpose is to frighten the shinobi world with extremely destructive Ten Tails, to quell the war and gain peace. But if Ten Tails can't beat Natsuo, what's the point?

Natsuo shot him a look. "Aren't you going back to Amegakure...? It's okay, at least you'll be spared the disappointment again."

"Disappointment? What happened in Amegakure?" Nagato and Konan suddenly became nervous and looked at Natsuo.

Natsuo laughed lightly. "It's nothing, it's just that a rebellious boy who destroyed his family plans to come back at this moment..."

"He's sure to bring some local produce, right? Otherwise, wouldn't he think that the sins he committed would be so easy to forgive?"

Hearing this, both Nagato and Konan instantly tensed.

Uchiha Itachi!

...

After about twenty minutes.

The figure of Itachi slowly appeared in front of Natsuo. He was about to say something, but he saw Nagato, and Konan looking at him with complicated eyes.

"Natsuo, why are they here?" Itachi frowned.

How is it possible that Akatsuki members are together with Natsuo?

"Come here, Itachi, let me introduce you." Natsuo laughed and pulled Konan beside him. "This is Konan, you can affectionately call 'sister-in-law' in the future."

"About him..." Natsuo continued. "I originally thought about letting him go, but he wants to take a look at the Stone Tablet under the Naka Shrine."

Hearing this, Itachi glanced at the Rinnegan in Nagato's eyes, and an expression of understanding crossed his eyes. "I see...it seems that you already know about Rinnegan's information."

"Itachi, what did you do to Amegakure?" Nagato asked seriously.

Without Konan and Nagato, it is impossible for Amegakure to contain Itachi's power. It means this...?

"Don't worry, I didn't cause any disturbance in Amegakure." Uchiha Itachi said calmly. "I just grabbed a few things and left. At worst, I was a little abrupt in taking things."

As he spoke, he took out a storage scroll and threw it to Natsuo.

"This is what you wanted."

"Good." Natsuo said as he took the storage scroll and put it in his pocket.

"Natsuo, what are you looking for?" Nagato frowned slightly. "I don't think there's anything in Amegakure or Akatsuki worth coveting, right?"

"Oh, it's no big deal. It's just the body of the Jinchuriki you captured earlier." Natsuo said after putting away the storage scroll. "I realized after your operation, it seems that one of the captives is my brother-in-law."

Natsuo said helplessly. "Temari begs me every day to go to Akatsuki and rescue him. I just want to see if I can do something about it."

This is something he really forgot!

There is no way, although Gaara, the brother-in-law, can be regarded as the only one with a name among Natsuo's brothers-in-law. But the problem is that Natsuo has too many brothers-in-law.

So it's only natural that Natsuo forgets Gaara, especially considering that he was kidnapped by Akatsuki and lost his tailed beast...

But it does not matter!

He has almost perfected the resurrection technique. Even if the resurrection technique doesn't work immediately, it's not a big deal either. If everything comes to the worst case scenario, Sunagakure's side could take it upon themselves to resurrect him on their own...

After all, Chiyo is engaged to Sunagakure because of the situation with Sasori. If Sunagakure requests it, he is sure that she would be willing to sacrifice the little time she has left to live to redeem herself before her grandson.

However, Nagato and Konan, although they know about the Rinnegan resurrection technique, are also aware of the price it entails.

They don't believe Natsuo would be willing to sacrifice his life for someone he doesn't even remember exists. They just don't consider it an option.

They can only assume that Natsuo has probably decided to retrieve his brother-in-law's body and return it to Sunagakure...

With these thoughts in mind, they can't help but feel a little guilty.

Even though Nagato and Konan have become a ruthless terrorist organization and have participated in numerous wars that have caused great harm to civilians, they are actually soft-hearted people.

Even though their hands are stained with blood, deep in their hearts, they feel sorry for those who have fallen at their hands...

"I'm sorry." Konan said in a low voice, and Nagato lowered his head slightly.

"It is not a big thing." Natsuo waved his hand nonchalantly. "Don't worry about these little things."

Konan and Nagato are speechless, is this a trivial matter?

'Your brother-in-law is dead!'

However, Natsuo didn't care about the two, instead he looked at Itachi. "Itachi, are you ready?"

"Yes I am." Itachi nodded, maintaining his typical unfazed expression.

However, his fists were clenched tightly, as if he was holding back some emotion. His nails dug deep into her palms, leaving deep marks...

Konan and Nagato frowned slightly. Itachi was a standard cold-faced person, never in a hurry, calm and calm, and his poker face never changed. They had never seen him so excited before...

What was he up to?

...

Meanwhile...

Finally, Obito met up with Deidara and the others.

They waited for a while and found that neither Kakuzu nor the leader had any intention of communicating, nor did they seem to start the Tailed Beast Sealing Ceremony.

They then looked at each other and finally decided to head to Amegakure.

That was Akatsuki's main stronghold.

However, when they arrived, they discovered that the base appeared to have been the scene of a terrible battle. The bodies of fallen shinobi and debris were scattered everywhere, while black flames still burned unextinguished...

Although Itachi had claimed that he hadn't caused any major disturbance in Amegakure, but evidently, that wasn't true.

The aftermath of the 'little disturbance' still persists.

And even those black flames left no room for doubt...

"Itachi also defected?" Obito and the others were stunned.

First it was Kakuzu, then they captured Konan, and until now they had not received any news from the leader. And now, Itachi had also defected. But thinking about it, it made sense.

After all, Itachi was initially a spy; It was logical that his betrayal would occur at any moment.

So now Akatsuki's only remaining members...

The four of them looked at each other, confused and perplexed. If the leader was not there, what should they do? What would happen to the Jinchuriki they had captured? Should they extract the Eight Tails or not?

"What do we do now?"

"Calculating the time, Killer Bee should wake up soon."

"And the leader? Dealing with an angry Jinchuriki won't be easy. I don't want to fight a Tailed Beast again..."

Those present exchanged words and thoughts, some feeling confused. In the end it was Obito who stood up.

"Kisame, first use the Samehada to drain the Eight-Tails' chakra, control it well and let's wait for the leader to return."

"We will wait for the leader to return, then we will begin to extract the Eight-Tails."

After a brief reflection, the others nodded.

Everyone knew very well the power of the leader, without a doubt he was one of the most powerful shinobi in the world, even more than the feared Kazekage Gaara and the formidable Mizukage Terumi Mei...

There should be no problems...

....

Hokage Residence, Jonin Meeting Room.

Natsuo entered slowly with Nagato, Konan, Itachi and the other two shinobi behind him, they had not made the slightest effort to hide their identities.

This stunned those present, leaving the room in an uncomfortable silence.

"Natsuo-sama, it seems I don't know the people behind you... Could you please introduce them to me?" A Jonin asked, with a tense expression. 'I don't know them? How could I not know!'

Aside from the fact that Nii Yugito is the Raikage, her photo has already spread throughout the shinobi world, and everyone knows her.

Just talking about the uniforms of Akatsuki on Nagato, Konan, Itachi, and Kakuzu, with the recent notoriety of Akatsuki, they are remembered by countless shinobi!

While there was a small chance that the new Raikage and the Akatsuki uniforms would be misinterpreted...

Itachi's face was unmistakable!

After all, Natsuo, who is the most famous legend in the shinobi world, was from the Uchiha clan, and Itachi annihilated said clan.

Some people even had the theory: "If Itachi hadn't wiped out the Uchiha clan, perhaps Natsuo, who had been mediocre before the incident, might not have the current strength."

And here he was alive and well after destroying the clan of the strongest shinobi in the world.

Everyone present, like the Jonin of Konoha, had access to more information than ordinary people, so they knew information about key figures in the shinobi world. Whether it be Uchiha Itachi, the new Raikage, or the members of Akatsuki...

They recognized them all!

"Are these your prisoners?" Another Jonin joked. "You really are impressive, Natsuo-sama, to capture so many experts..."

"But, Natsuo-sama, how can you allow your prisoners not to be tied up properly?" The Jonin added. "Your attitude will scare the people in the Hokage Residence."

It wasn't just the people who worked at the Hokage Residence who would be scared.

They were too!

Because no matter how they looked at them, the way they walked behind Natsuo without any care, it didn't seem like they were captives!

In an instant, the minds of everyone present were filled with thoughts.

From Itachi's alleged collaboration with Natsuo to annihilate the clan, to the theory that Natsuo was the true leader of Akatsuki.

Even the idea that Akatsuki had already controlled Kumogakure by placing a Kage under their control and were now looking to take control of Konoha...

But whatever the truth, the current situation didn't seem very good for Konoha.

Everyone present was nervous, confused by the situation. They looked to Tsunade to handle the situation. But she remained calm as if this situation were normal.

Natsuo chuckled and looked at Itachi next to him. "It's your turn."

"Yes, Natsuo-sama." Itachi responded, bowing his head slightly before moving forward.

Itachi inhaled deeply before beginning to speak. "Konoha Shinobi, belonging to ANBU, Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Itachi, shinobi registration number 012110."

"I have completed the task of infiltrating the Akatsuki organization as entrusted by the late Third Hokage, and have spent several years instigating Kakuzu, a senior member of the Akatsuki organization, to rebel."

"Now that Akatsuki has been successfully defeated and another core member, Konan, has been captured, my mission is complete. I request to be reinstated in Konoha and end my mission as a spy."

For a moment, a single statement echoed through the minds of those present. "Uchiha Itachi, Konoha shinobi, requests his reinstatement."

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