The Land of Sky's ninja village had once attacked Konoha during the Second Shinobi World War.
They were swiftly eradicated by Konoha in a short period.
However, like rats in the cracks, these people had been secretly developing, aiming for revenge against Konoha.
This ninja village essentially had a unique base.
This greatly intrigued Raijin.
In the ninja world, there wasn't much development in technology.
In their view, technology wasn't as useful as ninja, so progress in this area had always been slow.
But there were always exceptions, individuals who could create impressive technology.
For example, the Sky Ninja had used chakra to create wings for flight.
They even had warships, aerial fortresses, and energy cannons that absorbed and released chakra.
These impressive inventions were similar to the Land of Snow's chakra armor.
However, Raijin was more interested in the Sky Ninja's research.
Dominating the sky in the ninja world meant having virtually no opponents.
The same was true in the world of One Piece, even with Moonwalk and Devil Fruits granting flight abilities.
Controlling the airspace would still be advantageous for them.
From their ninja perspective, wouldn't they become mobile artillery platforms?
"Very well, just wait within the Uchiha clan."
"Tell your subordinates not to go out."
Raijin glanced at the middle-aged man.
Konoha was unsettled, and if he went out now, he might be invited for tea (interrogation).
For his own safety, it was best not to venture out.
"Yes!"
The middle-aged man breathed a sigh of relief.
As the leader of Raijin's merchant caravan in the Land of Springs,
He was well aware of the situation in the ninja world, especially with the Uchiha.
And as Uchiha Raijin's subordinate, to be honest, if he went out and was only pelted with stones, that would be considered light punishment.
He was afraid that the next second, a blade might flash from nowhere and behead him, which wouldn't be pleasant.
He still had plenty of youth to enjoy.
Now that he had earned so much money from Raijin.
He hadn't even taken multiple wives and concubines yet.
After staying in Konoha for two days.
Raijin summoned the other two elders.
Elder Umi and Elder Hiishi.
After Elder Setsuna's departure, they had been consolidating the Uchiha's radical faction.
Their abilities weren't bad, but they were getting on in years.
Raijin laid out the subsequent arrangements for the Uchiha, and there was basically nothing else to do.
Even if the village was in turmoil, it had little to do with Raijin.
If the Uchiha clan's sky fell, Fugaku would be the one to hold it up, not him!
As the clan leader, Fugaku couldn't lack that ability.
It was precisely because Raijin understood Fugaku's sense of responsibility towards the Uchiha clan.
That he could confidently let Fugaku take the heat.
Raijin called on Uchiha Tekka and asked him to bring his men and follow him.
Due to time constraints, Tekka's team currently only had six members.
One of them was even introduced by Raijin, and that was Uchiha Izumi.
Raijin placed the Gunbai (war fan) in a scroll and accepted the Land of Springs' mission at Konoha's mission center.
He then left Konoha with the middle-aged man.
"The target has left Konoha!"
"Confirm if there are any escorts in the shadows!"
"No other people have been spotted for now!"
"Keep following! We'll strike after they leave Konoha."
Two kilometers away, a pair of Byakugan eyes were fixed on Raijin's movements, while communicating with a walkie-talkie in hand.
The Hyuga ninja held his breath and tracked Raijin from a distance.
A ninja like Raijin was highly alert, and any slight abnormality could be detected.
Therefore, the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan played a crucial role at this time.
How could an organization lack talents like the Hyuga clan?
They might not excel in combat like the Uchiha, relying mainly on taijutsu and Gentle Fist.
But when it came to reconnaissance, the Hyuga clan was undoubtedly top-notch.
The Hyuga followed Raijin, who was eating hunted game.
He chewed on soldier pills, although they were a bit unpalatable.
But as a ninja, he was used to it.
He just grumbled a bit while eating.
"Whoosh!"
At that moment, a figure instantly appeared beside the Hyuga.
Wearing the same uniform as the Anbu, with a short sword on his back.
There was a deep tear trough on his face, but his short stature revealed his young age.
"Uchiha Itachi? Does the lord have any orders to convey?"
The Hyuga ninja frowned slightly. What did this newcomer to the Root want?
Was Lord Danzo sending him to deliver orders?
But...
He was a veteran of the Root.
He possessed a special Kekkei Genkai.
He was highly valued by Lord Danzo.
But this Uchiha Itachi, a member of the evil Uchiha clan...
"Orders? There are no orders!"
"You've already fallen under genjutsu. It ends here."
Under Itachi's Sharingan, the Hyuga ninja's condition was clearly exposed.
This genjutsu automatically made him ignore specific individuals.
Such advanced genjutsu went undetected even by the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan.
It was probably cast by an elite Jonin of the Uchiha clan with three-tomoe Sharingan.
Thoughts flashed through his mind, and Itachi's peripheral vision caught a glimpse of two flashes of pale white light nearby.
"Whoosh!"
Two figures darted out, wielding long swords that pierced straight into Uchiha Itachi's abdomen.
*Pierce!*
The two swords passed through Itachi's body.
Under the shocked gazes of the two Uchiha.
Uchiha Itachi's figure exploded into a flock of crows that took flight.
"Watch out! It's genjutsu!"
Uchiha Tekka hurriedly shouted.
He hadn't expected Itachi's genjutsu to be so refined.
*Swish, swish, swish!*
Several shuriken were mixed among the crows.
They flashed a sharp glint in the air.
And pierced through the neck of one Uchiha.
Blood gushed out, and he collapsed on the ground, twitching a few times before becoming still.
It seemed that Uchiha Itachi had also poisoned the shuriken.
In his haste, Uchiha Tekka only managed to save one person.
He hadn't expected Uchiha Itachi's abilities to be so outstanding now.
He was indeed a genius ninja who could be compared to Shisui.
But it was a pity that such a person wasn't on their side, Tekka thought.
At his age, possessing such battle intelligence and genjutsu that could deceive Jonin.
It demonstrated Uchiha Itachi's terrifying talent.
But today, they had to eliminate Uchiha Itachi completely.
If this kid was left alive, he would surely become a major threat in the future.
He was indeed worthy of being praised by Lord Raijin as someone with the potential to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.
The Mangekyo Sharingan was considered a legendary eye by the Uchiha.
Countless Uchiha clan members yearned to awaken it.
But very few were able to do so.
The only one they knew of was the legendary Uchiha Madara.
After awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, he possessed immense power that could suppress even the First Hokage.
Ultimately, he founded the Land of Fire's Konohagakure.
Someone with the potential to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan couldn't be easily dealt with.
Tekka felt a surge of regret.
He shouldn't have let his guard down just because the kid was young.
"Itachi really made his move!"
Uchiha Izumi stood within the team, looking at the figure in the air.
That figure had once again dispersed, transforming into crows that flew into the distance.
He had killed a member of the Uchiha clan right before her eyes and then departed.
"I'm going after Itachi!"
Without hesitation, Izumi stood up and chased after Itachi.
"Wait..."
Uchiha Tekka reached out, intending to stop the impulsive girl.
But remembering Raijin's instructions, he withdrew his hand.
Tekka walked over to the injured Uchiha clansman, checked his pulse, and shook his head.
The poison had already entered his heart. Only Tsunade might be able to save him now.
"Retrieve the Sharingan and bring his body back."
Uchiha Tekka sighed. They had been careless in their first encounter.
They had met a formidable opponent and lost a teammate just like that.
"Yes!"
The others quickly took action!
As for the Hyuga ninja, the moment Uchiha Itachi spoke, he ended his own life.
Without any hesitation, this was the decisiveness of Konoha's elite.
It was also the discipline of the Root.
Tekka walked a distance forward and saw Raijin resting.
"Lord Raijin, our actions were detected by Uchiha Itachi."
"We didn't expect Uchiha Itachi to be so strong. We lost a clansman."
Uchiha Tekka reported with remorse.
"Uchiha Itachi! Danzo is being quite cautious this time."
"But it's impossible that he only sent Uchiha Itachi!"
A cold smile appeared on Raijin's lips.
Once Danzo had an opportunity, he would only press his advantage.
He had no interest in sparing others.
"Stay here and wait for me!"
Raijin's figure gradually blurred and slowly disappeared from the spot.
Uchiha Tekka was left guarding the middle-aged man, and they stared at each other awkwardly.
Perhaps I made Itachi a bit too strong. I'm even considering giving him a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan, which wouldn't be too much!
(End of Chapter)