Return of the Uchiha Prodigy

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"Impossible! I felt it when I was cracking his control over the wood golem—it was him. I'm certain of it!" Itachi's voice was firm, his gaze unwavering. Though he had never directly fought the masked man who claimed to be Madara in the Akatsuki, his sharp instincts discerned the difference in their ocular power.

"So, it was you after all," Minato said softly, his gaze shifting downward in thought. "Your long coma must have been the price of using the Mangekyō Sharingan recklessly."

Minato paused, then added, "Itachi, do you remember what you told me when we first met?"

"The reality isn't what you think it is," Minato quoted, his eyes locking onto Itachi's. "But tell me—did you ever fight him?"

"No," Itachi replied, shaking his head slightly. "But you must have fought and defeated him…"

Itachi's mind raced. If the masked man was truly Madara, then his need to hide his face could be due to injuries sustained during his legendary battle against the First Hokage. Perhaps his strength had diminished greatly since then.

"What I want to talk about isn't just his strength," Minato continued, his tone measured. "A person's appearance, voice, power, even their habits can change. But some things never do."

Minato's eyes narrowed as he analyzed aloud. "No matter how much Madara's strength might have weakened, the man I fought two years ago lacked one critical trait—combat experience. That alone tells me he can't be the real Madara."

Itachi, though physically reincarnated into a weaker body with the strength of a five-year-old, understood the importance of experience. His mind remained sharp, a testament to his skill and insight.

"Perhaps, from the very beginning—even during the attack—the one manipulating the wood golem wasn't Madara," Minato suggested, his voice heavy with conviction.

"Please tell me everything about your fight with the masked man," Itachi requested, his tone resolute. He needed all the details to form his own conclusions.

Minato held nothing back. He recounted the harrowing events of that night—the masked man's ambush, Kushina's rescue, and the intervention of an enigmatic figure.

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As Minato recounted his tale, Itachi listened intently. Though the information was shocking, Itachi's expression soon returned to its usual calm.

Minato regarded the young Uchiha with admiration. Itachi wasn't one to accept information blindly; he meticulously analyzed every detail, piecing together the puzzle himself. A rational shinobi to his core.

Minato wondered what could have transpired in the village after his death to lead Itachi down such a convoluted path. He knew the young man would willingly sacrifice himself for Konoha, but the deeper connection between Itachi and the masked man remained elusive.

When Minato finished, Itachi spoke, his voice measured. "Lord Fourth, you're right. From what you've described, that person isn't Madara."

The discrepancies between the masked man and the legendary Uchiha were too great to ignore. Their behavior, combat style, and even their aura of experience were worlds apart.

"Even if he isn't Madara," Itachi continued, "he must have some close connection to him."

Minato nodded. "Yes… It seems the battle at the Valley of the End wasn't what the world believes. Perhaps the First Hokage's victory wasn't as definitive as history claims."

Minato had spent the past two years gathering fragmented information, piecing together a chilling possibility. "It's even possible that the First Hokage himself didn't fully understand the outcome of their fight."

But for both men, the masked man's identity was secondary to the threat he posed to Konoha—and the entire shinobi world.

"The ability to phase through objects and solidify to attack…" Itachi mused, analyzing the masked man's unique abilities.

After a brief pause, Itachi added, "I think I can answer one of your questions now. The white substance attached to the masked man—it was Zetsu."

"Zetsu?" Minato echoed, surprised. "You're saying that was a living being?"

Itachi nodded. "Zetsu is part of the Akatsuki, the organization the masked man controls. It specializes in intelligence gathering and can merge with others, mimicking their chakra signatures."

"The Akatsuki…" Minato repeated, his brow furrowing. "Wasn't that the group Jiraiya-sensei's students founded during the war in the Land of Rain?"

Minato had heard of Akatsuki's supposed destruction at the hands of Hanzō of the Salamander. Jiraiya's students had disappeared shortly afterward.

"The Akatsuki you're thinking of is the same one," Itachi confirmed.

Minato's expression darkened. "Then what was the Akatsuki, under the masked man's control?"

Itachi explained grimly. "It was no longer a peace-seeking group. The Akatsuki has evolved into a collection of S-rank rogue shinobi from various nations, operating as a terrorist organization with a hidden agenda."

"S-rank rogue shinobi?" Minato echoed in disbelief. Shinobi of that caliber—like Orochimaru—were as powerful as Kage. The idea of so many gathered under one banner was deeply unsettling.

Itachi continued, "While the masked man manipulates the organization from the shadows, the surface leader is a man named Pain, who wields the Rinnegan."

The information hit Minato hard.

The Rinnegan?!

Minato Namikaze, the usually composed Fourth Hokage, felt his calm demeanor falter as Itachi revealed the information.

After the events two years ago, Minato had no reason to doubt Itachi's credibility. Every word carried weight.

Jiraiya-sensei had once confided in him about a disciple he had trained in the Land of Rain—a child prodigy who possessed the Rinnegan, the fabled dōjutsu of the Sage of Six Paths.

But this Pain Itachi spoke of wasn't the name of Jiraiya's disciple.

"Pain... Which village is he a rogue ninja from?" Minato inquired, his voice measured but sharp.

"I know very little about Pain himself," Itachi admitted, shaking his head. "During my time in Akatsuki, the man pulling the strings was always the masked man. Pain was positioned as the leader, but even he kept his true identity shrouded."

The masked man's wariness of Itachi—knowing he was a spy for Konoha—had kept Itachi at arm's length from crucial details.

"The only concrete thing I can confirm," Itachi continued, "is that Pain's partner, Konan, is the only female member of Akatsuki. Their organization operates primarily in pairs."

Minato nodded thoughtfully. "The masked man, Akatsuki... The threats to the village are only escalating."

Itachi hesitated, the weight of his past decisions heavy on his shoulders. He wouldn't reveal everything—not the Uchiha massacre, nor the full extent of his involvement with Akatsuki.

Some truths were too personal, too dark, and could lead to unpredictable consequences. Even now, after reincarnation, Itachi wasn't sure if he would make the same choices.

"The other known members of Akatsuki include Sasori of the Red Sand, a rogue ninja from Sunagakure, Deidara from Iwagakure and Kakuzu, an S-rank rogue ninja from Takigakure," Itachi continued.

"Kakuzu? He's still alive?"

Minato's eyes narrowed. Kakuzu's name was barely a whisper in the history books, but Minato had come across it during his time as Hokage. Decades ago, Takigakure had sent Kakuzu to assassinate the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

Hashirama, hailed as the God of Shinobi, was a legend among legends. To think Kakuzu had survived the attempt and persisted into the present day was both alarming and impressive.

"As for Sasori," Itachi added, "he is said to have killed the Third Kazekage at the age of thirteen. His actions contributed to the chaos that led to the Third Shinobi World War."

Minato absorbed the information, his expression darkening. "Both Kakuzu and Sasori... Their skills are extraordinary, even by shinobi standards."

Itachi's next words carried a chilling weight. "Orochimaru was once a core member of Akatsuki as well."

Minato's gaze sharpened. Orochimaru was a threat he understood all too well.

"The remaining members are still within their villages," Itachi continued, his tone cautious. "If we can prevent them from joining Akatsuki, it might disrupt the masked man's plans."

Minato considered this carefully. "Deidara," he mused, "the young prodigy from Iwagakure... He's admired by Ōnoki. If he hasn't turned rogue, he's still a potential candidate for the Fourth Tsuchikage."

Itachi nodded. "And Hidan of Yugakure hasn't yet acquired his immortality through forbidden techniques. There's also Kisame Hoshigaki, a swordsman of Kirigakure, and my former partner in Akatsuki."

Minato's eyes narrowed. "Kisame... What do you know about him?"

"He's fiercely loyal to the organization, and like me, he knows the masked man's true identity. He monitors me as much as I monitor him."

Minato's mind raced. Preventing these shinobi from joining Akatsuki could turn the tide.

"Kirigakure is another concern," Itachi added. "The masked man may be using it as his base of operations."

Minato's brows furrowed. "Do you know about Yagura?"

"Yes," Itachi replied. "He's a perfect jinchūriki of the Three-Tails and the next Mizukage. However, he'll soon fall under the masked man's control."

"Control?" Minato's tone sharpened further.

"Yagura will become a puppet, ruling Kirigakure with tyranny for over a decade," Itachi explained. "The masked man's ability to control a perfect jinchūriki is... terrifying."

Minato clenched his fists. The idea of such manipulation, especially over a village as influential as Kirigakure, was a chilling revelation.

"The Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha, the control of Yagura, the formation of Akatsuki... The masked man has been orchestrating this for years," Minato muttered. "But why? What is his ultimate goal?"

"The nine tailed beasts," Itachi answered. "He seeks to gather their power."

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