Naruto: Copy System

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Gazing sadly at his father's ashes—Itachi Uchiha eventually suppressed his grief and looked up towards the masked man claiming to be Madara Uchiha.

Suddenly, Itachi's pupils constricted—his eyes fixed tightly on the space behind Obito.

"What's wrong?" Obito asked, noticing Itachi's strange reaction, puzzled.

"Not bad, Madara. You found a good seedling. Ruthless enough to kill his own father—exactly what the Akatsuki needs."

Shin, standing behind Obito, patted his shoulder.

Obito's hair stood on end. Hearing Shin's voice, he finally relaxed.

If it was Shin Uzumaki behind him, worrying about safety was pointless. If Shin wanted him dead, he wouldn't be safe anywhere.

However, Obito still felt annoyed by Shin's unpredictable appearances, though he didn't dare show it.

Maintaining a composed facade, Obito said coolly, "Naturally. Anyone I deem worthy is suitable for the Akatsuki."

Itachi remained silent, his gaze locked onto Shin. He recognized Shin now.

Though fewer and fewer people recognized Shin these days, Itachi was interested in the major events of the Shinobi world's past and knew who Shin was.

"The Reaper of the Shinobi World, Shin Uzumaki… is he also part of the Akatsuki?" Itachi wondered silently.

If so, the Akatsuki's threat level rose significantly in Itachi's mind.

"That reanimated Shisui Uchiha… that was your doing, wasn't it?" Obito asked Shin.

"What do you think?"

Shin didn't answer directly, but Obito knew. The reanimated Shisui was indeed Shin Uzumaki's handiwork.

Obito wasn't interested in Shin's motives. But with Shin still here, Obito didn't want to linger either.

"Itachi Uchiha, let's go," Obito said, glancing sideways at Itachi.

"You go first. I still have unfinished business." Itachi looked towards the ongoing battle between the Uchiha clansmen and the Konoha ninja.

His unfinished business was helping Konoha completely annihilate the Uchiha Clan, while minimizing Konoha's casualties.

If Konoha suffered heavy losses, it could trigger another Shinobi World War.

Itachi had experienced war. Though young during the Third Shinobi World War, he had witnessed its horrors firsthand.

Mature beyond his years, Itachi didn't want to see rivers of blood flow again, didn't want to see countless deaths.

This was why Itachi chose the village over his clan.

His rational mind told him to sacrifice the few for the many. The Uchiha Clan couldn't be saved; it was better to sacrifice them to prevent a larger war.

If a Shinobi World War erupted, the casualties would be a hundred times worse.

Itachi's patricide was treacherous—yet arguably justifiable from the perspective of the "Greater Good."

From a moral standpoint, Itachi's actions might seem noble, but he wasn't the kind of person suitable for friendship. You could never know if he might sacrifice you one day for the "greater good."

Even his beloved younger brother—Sasuke Uchiha, wasn't exempt from his schemes. He had planned to use [Kotoamatsukami] on Sasuke to ensure he would forever protect Konoha.

It seemed that in the face of the village's interests, even his brother took second place.

These were just speculations, of course. Only Itachi himself knew who truly held more importance in his heart—the village or his brother.

Obito frowned. Itachi refusing to leave was troublesome.

"Are you planning to break our agreement?" Obito's eyes flashed with cold light. He wasn't easily fooled.

Itachi Uchiha's strength was indeed valuable; recruiting him would strengthen the Akatsuki. But Obito didn't need him.

There were countless geniuses in the world; Itachi wasn't indispensable.

"No—Our agreement was that you would help me annihilate the Uchiha Clan."

Obito fell silent.

That was their agreement. Though Fugaku was dead, many Uchiha clansmen remained.

However, Obito didn't want to get involved now. Shisui Uchiha had been revived by Shin Uzumaki.

This might be part of Shin's scheme—and Obito didn't want to get entangled.

"When I've finished here, I will naturally go to the Akatsuki," Itachi said. He did intend to join. He had already promised Hiruzen he would infiltrate the Akatsuki as a spy.

But before joining, Itachi had to resolve the Uchiha Clan problem.

After speaking, Itachi used Body Flicker and rushed towards the distant battlefield.

Obito didn't stop Itachi. If Itachi survived, he would recruit him into the Akatsuki. If not, then it didn't matter.

"Aren't you going to stop him? He seems likely to disrupt your plans," Obito said to Shin.

"Plans? When did I ever have plans?" Shin asked Obito with a faint smile.

The so-called plans were just Obito's assumptions. Obito thought Shin had some grand objective, but Shin had none.

If Shin truly had a goal, it was probably just to make this drama more exciting.

"Next, we might see Itachi Uchiha fight Shisui Uchiha. Care to watch?" Shin invited Obito.

"Shisui Uchiha? Actually, I once considered recruiting him into the Akatsuki. But after investigating, I found him unsuitable."

Obito had indeed considered Shisui before. But after having White Zetsu investigate him, Obito realized it was impossible.

Shisui Uchiha would likely choose death over joining the Akatsuki. That was why Obito eventually set his sights on Itachi.

Obito didn't leave. He also wanted to see how Konoha would deal with the Edo Tensei.

He knew about the Edo Tensei technique. Over the years, with White Zetsu gathering intelligence, the Shinobi world held few secrets from Obito.

He understood how troublesome Edo Tensei was. Even Obito himself had no easy counter against it.

———

Shin looked over. After Itachi arrived—he didn't immediately engage Shisui. Instead, he cooperated with Konoha's Anbu ninja, beginning to slaughter the Uchiha clansmen.

"Quite ruthless towards his own clan," Shin commented, watching Itachi kill without mercy.

Then Shin glanced at Obito.

Those dying were all Uchiha. As an Uchiha himself, Obito showed no reaction. But that made sense. Obito only cared about Rin Nohara—the lives of others were irrelevant to him.

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