Naruto: Eating Kaido's Azure Dragon Devil Fruit-Chapter 333: The Organization’s Mission

"Yami, hold on... I will definitely protect you..."

Uchiha Kenta ran desperately through the dense forest, holding the unconscious Uchiha Yami in his arms.

There was only one thought in his mind:

Escape!

Escape to Takigakure!

Find that "White Tiger," the only one who might possibly help them!

...

On a small path outside Konoha.

Uchiha Yami’s teammate—the young genin—was still seething with indignation.

"Sir, why didn’t we help Kenta-senpai? He was protecting Yami-senpai!"

The chūnin man sighed, his face filled with helplessness and weariness.

"Help? How? That was the Hokage’s direct order, carried out by the Anbu! If the two of us had intervened, what outcome could there be besides being captured as accomplices?"

"But..."

"There are no buts."

The man shook his head, his tone low and grim. "This matter is not something minor players like us can meddle in. Yami.... what a pity."

He understood clearly in his heart that from the moment Uchiha Kenta attacked the Anbu, there was no turning back.

The status of a rogue ninja was almost a foregone conclusion.

...

One day later, in the dense woods on the outskirts of Takigakure.

Uchiha Kenta was panting violently. A full day and night of non-stop flight had nearly exhausted all his stamina.

The Uchiha Yami in his arms was even paler than before.

"White Tiger... are you here or not..."

Uchiha Kenta raised his head, his Sharingan bloodshot, and growled in a low voice.

As if responding to his call, a dark figure appeared on a tree trunk not far ahead of him.

"Oh? We meet again after only a few days. How did you end up in such a sorry state?"

Sora looked at the disheveled Uchiha Kenta and the unconscious Uchiha Yami in his arms, his tone carrying a hint of perfectly measured "surprise."

"White Tiger!"

Seeing the newcomer, Uchiha Kenta spoke urgently:

"Konoha... Konoha Anbu tried to capture us! They injured Yami! I... I had no choice but to fight back..."

He explained in a rapid, disjointed manner, briefly recounting the previous events.

At that moment, Uchiha Yami was also startled awake by the commotion. Seeing her brother and the White Tiger ahead, she immediately understood the situation.

She struggled to stand on the ground from her brother’s arms. Despite her weak body, she still bowed deeply to Sora and pleaded:

"White Tiger-sama, please, we beg you, help us! Konoha... we can’t go back..."

Sora remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly:

"I understand your situation. According to the organization’s rules, recruiting new members or providing sanctuary requires reporting and obtaining approval."

"Wait here for now. I need to contact the organization."

With that, he turned and left.

Uchiha Kenta and Uchiha Yami exchanged a glance, both seeing tension and hope in the other’s eyes.

Now, all their hopes rested on that mysterious organization, "Akatsuki," and this "White Tiger" gentleman.

One hour later, Sora returned.

"Congratulations, the organization has agreed."

"Really? Thank you so much!"

Uchiha Yami wept for joy.

Uchiha Kenta also let out a sigh of relief, his taut nerves relaxing slightly.

"Don’t celebrate too soon."

Sora’s tone turned cold. "The organization can provide sanctuary, and even help you become stronger. But in return, you must also demonstrate sufficient ’sincerity.’"

"Sincerity? What kind of sincerity?"

Uchiha Kenta frowned slightly, a sliver of wariness rising in his heart.

"It’s simple."

Sora swept his gaze over the two of them:

"The organization has a mission recently. The target is to attack a Konoha outpost on a small island near the Land of Whirlpools. The organization needs something there, but it’s inconvenient to directly dispatch core members to avoid exposing ourselves prematurely."

"You two siblings will cooperate with me to complete this assault mission. On one hand, it will serve as your pledge of allegiance, completely severing any thoughts of returning to Konoha. On the other hand, it will demonstrate your value and capability to the organization."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Kenta fell silent.

Attacking a Konoha outpost, regardless of the target, meant they would be standing completely opposite Konoha, with no way back.

He glanced at his pale-faced sister beside him, remembered the Anbu’s "merciless" attack, and remembered the aggressive pressure from Konoha’s higher-ups. The hesitation in his heart was replaced by hatred.

Since Konoha showed no mercy, he couldn’t be blamed for his disloyalty!

"Fine! We agree!"

"I agree too."

Uchiha Yami also responded softly, knowing this was the only path to survival for her and her brother.

"Very good."

Sora nodded with satisfaction. "In that case, without further delay, we should—"

Before he could finish his words, an orange figure appeared nearby.

It was Chinchilla.

"Meow~, Boss White Tiger, need to talk to you."

Sora paused slightly and said to the Uchiha siblings:

"Wait for me a moment."

Walking to a spot not far away, Chinchilla said:

"A guy wearing a swirly mask has come to Ascension Island again, asking to see you specifically, meow~."

Sora’s mind raced. Naturally, he knew the person Chinchilla mentioned was Uchiha Obito.

But instead of pursuing his Eye of the Moon Plan, why did he come to Ascension Island?

To recruit?

To probe?

He quickly weighed the pros and cons.

Uchiha Obito’s appearance was a variable that required his personal attention.

As for the plan to manipulate the Uchiha siblings, delaying it by a day wouldn’t hurt. It would allow them time to recover and also increase their anxiety and sense of dependence.

Thinking this, Sora gave Chinchilla a silver note to send her away, then returned to where Uchiha Kenta and Yami were and changed his words:

"There’s been a change of plans. The organization has temporarily assigned me another task, which will cause a delay of one day."

"Take this opportunity to recover from your injuries and restore your chakra as quickly as possible. Tomorrow at dawn, we will gather here and depart for the Land of Whirlpools."

After saying this, he offered no further explanation and vanished on the spot.

Leaving only Uchiha Kenta and Uchiha Yami, exchanging bewildered glances, their hearts filled with apprehension.

...

Not long after.

Inside the life support apparatus of the underground laboratory on Ascension Island.

Sora’s main body slowly opened its eyes.

His soul returned to his main body. That vast, ocean-like sense of power once again filled his entire being, completely different from the slightly "insubstantial" feeling of the clone.

He wasn’t too surprised by Obito’s arrival.

The power he displayed during the battle at the Valley of the End was far too astonishing. As long as Zetsu and Obito weren’t blind, they absolutely could not ignore his existence.

Their reason for seeking him out could only be one of two possibilities:

First, they considered him too great a threat and wanted to eliminate him in advance.

Second, they believed he had ’suffered a similar fate’ and wanted to recruit him to jointly create ’a world with Rin (with Reiko).’

Sora pondered as he walked towards the surface.

Given Obito’s obsessive personality and his self-righteous savior mentality, the latter possibility seemed more likely.

’Fine, I’ll see him. Let’s see what trick he’s trying to play.’

Thinking this, Sora stepped out of the entrance to the underground laboratory.

And just outside the barrier of Ascension Island, a figure wearing an orange swirly mask and black robes stood silently.

As if he had been waiting for a long time.