"Then let Kisame test your abilities," Obito said, stepping aside. The others also cleared the training grounds for Hoshigaki Kisame and Itachi.
In fact, according to the usual practice of the Akatsuki, such tests of strength were not necessary. Those who were not strong enough would not be considered for recruitment. For those who were strong enough, they would surely be educated before joining. Thus, the spar between Kisame and Itachi was a unique occurrence.
If Itachi had not been so young and lacked a reputation, Kisame might not have dared to provoke him. But unfortunately, his luck was as bad as ever.
In the training ground, Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame stood facing each other. Itachi was still pondering his discoveries along the way. Senior Obito was actually a member of the Akatsuki that Teacher Lin Yu had mentioned, and his position seemed quite high. Furthermore, this organization appeared to disregard the Five Great Nations entirely.
Ninja from the Mist, Sand, and Leaf villages, five out of the five Great Ninja Villages, had already joined. Itachi's gaze swept over the Hozuki brothers and Yuugao, seemingly not taking Hoshigaki Kisame seriously at all.
"Damn brat!" Seeing Itachi's dismissive attitude, Hoshigaki Kisame’s shark-like face contorted into a grin. He would teach this brat a lesson later!
Itachi remained silent. He glanced at Kisame with his three-tomoe Sharingan, then shifted his gaze to Kakuzu. 'Is this man a rogue ninja from the Hidden Waterfall Village? Do ninjas from the Hidden Waterfall Village also have the strength to join the organization?' Itachi mentally searched for information about the Hidden Waterfall Village. Although he would learn their identities after joining the organization, Itachi was accustomed to thinking and analyzing things himself. After all, he was a ninja.
"You're seeking death!" Hoshigaki Kisame couldn't take it anymore. Itachi was actually focusing his attention on Kakuzu, who was watching from the side. Did he have no presence at all?!
*Swish!*
Hoshigaki Kisame instantly appeared before Itachi, his Samehada slashing fiercely towards Itachi's head. Since this brat dared to ignore him, he shouldn't blame Kisame for being ruthless!
*Squelch!*
Itachi's expression was blank. He watched with his own eyes as Samehada sliced through his head, dividing his body in two.
*Whoosh...*
Itachi's body transformed into a flock of black crows, scattering in all directions like ink. They soon coalesced in the air, forming Itachi's figure once more. The Sharingan in his pupils grew even more eerie.
"Interesting, can you fly?" Seeing Itachi, enveloped by crows, soaring in the air, Hoshigaki Kisame sheathed Samehada and formed hand seals.
"Water Style: Great Shark Bullet Technique!"
Unsurprisingly, the shark formed from condensed water roared and tore apart Itachi's body. However, he quickly reformed on the other side. Itachi's expression remained calm and indifferent, as if he hadn't sustained any injuries, his gaze still placid.
But it was precisely Itachi's expression that enraged Hoshigaki Kisame. He hated that look that completely disregarded him!
"Water Style: Giant Water Vortex!"
Endless water gushed from Hoshigaki Kisame's mouth. This time, he no longer cared about damaging the training grounds. He was determined to teach this Uchiha brat a lesson!
"Five Hungry Sharks!"
Due to the limited space, a large amount of water flooded the training grounds, and the air was also filled with water. Itachi fell into Kisame's massive water sphere. The body composed of black crows was continuously torn apart by five sharks, gradually disintegrating. Yet, Itachi's expression remained indifferent, as if he felt no pain.
Soon, on the other side of the water sphere, Itachi's figure rapidly coalesced, still unharmed!
"I'll see how long you can last. My sharks are inexhaustible!" In his rage, Hoshigaki Kisame failed to notice that only he and Itachi remained in the training ground. Obito and the others who had been spectating had already vanished.
Meanwhile, in the real world…
"Did I pass then?" Itachi stood beside Obito, watching Hoshigaki Kisame "dancing" alone in the training ground. His expression was calm, as if he had accomplished a simple, everyday task.
"Ahem, you passed!" Obito's expression beneath his mask was not pleasant. Hoshigaki Kisame was someone he had tricked. Seeing him make a fool of himself in public had damaged his reputation. It seemed he needed to increase Kisame's training in the future!
Just as Itachi was about to dispel the genjutsu, he saw another Akatsuki member's arm suddenly extend, spewing out numerous black threads. This member pulled Hoshigaki Kisame out of the water sphere and threw him onto the ground.
"Idiot! To be defeated by a brat's genjutsu, how embarrassing!" As Kakuzu's chakra flowed in, Kisame's eyes cleared. He remembered the scene in the genjutsu where he was "slaughtering all enemies." Even with his thick skin, he couldn't bear it! 'Damn it!' To make such a fool of himself in front of everyone, his reputation was ruined! Hoshigaki Kisame felt like crying. Would they dock his pay for this?
"Uchiha Itachi, from now on, you are a member of the Akatsuki."
"Leader!" Hoshigaki Kisame was about to cry. The leader had been watching all along. He was definitely finished this time! Kakuzu glanced at Nagato with some awe. After all, this was the man who had beaten him, and now he was his benefactor, making him even more unapproachable!
Nagato walked up to Itachi and said indifferently, "I am Nagato, the leader of the Akatsuki. This is your cloak and the symbol of your codename."
"Shu?" Itachi took the red cloud cloak and the ring, softly reciting the inscribed word.
"From now on, your codename will be Vermilion Bird." With that, Nagato turned and left with a stern face, seemingly not very interested in Itachi's joining.
"Oh, right. From now on, Vermilion Bird will be teamed up with Kisame. Kakuzu will temporarily undertake missions alone." Hoshigaki Kisame, who was about to comment that the leader hadn't spoken any chuunibyo lines today, exploded. To be teamed up with Itachi, wouldn't that be humiliating for him! His reputation would be completely lost!
Obito remained silent on the side. However, when he saw Itachi's ring, he felt a pang of discontent. Why didn't he have a codename and a ring? He was a veteran of the organization, one of its founders! To be bought off with just a cloak, without even a codename! Obito suddenly felt miserable. As one of the leaders of the Akatsuki, he couldn't even get a codename. As for Lin Yu's organization for eternal life, he hadn't even joined it.
Meanwhile, Itachi, who possessed a double codename, walked expressionlessly to Hoshigaki Kisame's side and said coldly, "I need a quiet place."
"Why me?!" However, upon seeing Itachi's eerie Sharingan, Hoshigaki Kisame backed down. "Okay, okay, follow me."
…
Just as Itachi transitioned from intern to official employee, Lin Yu, guided by his memories, successfully navigated to Konan's room, planning to give her a big surprise upon her return!
"My little white tiger, you better come back soon!" As he spoke, Lin Yu pushed open the door…