"In this way, you will be my most trusted direct subordinate."

From the shadows, the figure of the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, slowly emerged.

"Hmph…" Hoshigaki Kisame let out a low, humorless chuckle. "Until the day comes when I, too, am wiped out by your hand, Lord Mizukage?"

Yagura responded, his voice as flat and lifeless as a puppet's. "I know your character, Kisame. That is why I trust you. You are a shinobi who is unfailingly loyal to the mission. You have carried out countless dirty assignments for this country and this village. You have betrayed your comrades many times, all in the name of completing the mission. You, more than anyone, should understand that this world is nothing but a grand, hollow lie."

Kisame's eyes were bloodshot, swimming with a weary madness. "I understood that the very first time I was forced to kill my own comrades. As a ninja of the Mist, my duty is to kill other ninja of the Mist. So tell me, who am I? What am I? Am I an enemy or a friend? What is my purpose? Where do I stand? Haha… It is all so utterly ridiculous. I can't feel a thing anymore. The only thing I can feel… is how false I am."

After hearing Kisame's despairing answer, a new figure materialized from the shadows behind Yagura.

"Who's there?" Kisame was startled, his hand instantly gripping the hilt of his massive blade, Samehada, his face a mask of hostility.

"Kisame, allow me to free you from this false world," the strange new voice said. "I will build a place where you truly belong."

Kisame had never heard this voice before. "Who are you?"

The shadow snorted coldly. "Let us start with this country. You have spent your life fighting and killing your comrades. From now on, you will fight as my comrade."

Kisame's eyes narrowed. "You seem to know me very well, yet I do not know you. I don't even know who you are!"

Hearing this, the shadowy figure slowly opened his eyes. In the oppressive darkness, two scarlet points of light flashed to life.

"Hmm? This is…?"

"Those eyes that shine in the darkness… the Sharingan! I see. No wonder Lord Mizukage has changed so drastically. It was you all along, pulling the strings with your genjutsu!"

"Hmph. This world truly is a sham!" Hoshigaki Kisame shook his head and smiled, a bitter, broken sound. He never imagined that the leader he had served with such loyalty was himself a puppet. It was all a lie.

After a moment, Kisame asked cautiously, "But… who are you, to have the power to control the jinchūriki of the Three-Tails?"

"I am… Uchiha Madara!"

"Huh?" Hoshigaki Kisame was shocked. "That legendary figure died long ago! I cannot trust you!"

The shadow smiled and removed his swirling orange mask, revealing the scarred face beneath. "Believe it or not, I am Madara." Afterwards, Obito explained his entire Moon's Eye Plan to Kisame without reservation.

Kisame's expression was one of pure disdain. "Hey, are you sane? How could such a thing ever be possible?"

Obito's voice was full of unshakeable conviction. "If it is me, it is not only possible, it is inevitable. Kisame, do you not yearn for it? A true world, without any falsehood, where you can finally find your true self."

"Hehehe…" Kisame's lips curled into his signature, shark-like grin. "Now that you put it that way, I find I would very much like to see that world. Alright. You have my loyalty."

"Hmm…" Obito nodded with satisfaction.

At that moment, a huge, flytrap-like creature rose from the ground at his feet. The plant opened, and White Zetsu and Black Zetsu poked their heads out from inside.

White Zetsu reported, "Orochimaru is dead. He attempted to take over Itachi's body but was killed by him in the end."

"Hmph…" Obito snorted coldly when he heard the news. "Orochimaru was always a liability. This is for the best. It eliminates an unstable variable." As he spoke, Obito looked at Kisame and introduced the strange creature. "This is Zetsu, a member of my organization. You will be seeing him often."

"Let's go. I will take you to our headquarters."

The next day, Uchiha Itachi sat alone and quiet by a bridge, waiting for Obito to arrive. The Akatsuki was holding a meeting, but Itachi had not attended. Orochimaru had been sealed, the threat eliminated. He no longer had any reason to stay with the organization. His only purpose in joining had been to kill Orochimaru. He was waiting for Obito now only to make his intentions clear.

"Haha, you must be Uchiha Itachi."

The voice of Hoshigaki Kisame suddenly broke the silence from behind him.

"?" Itachi was slightly startled. He had been waiting for Obito but had never expected a stranger. The man was wearing the Akatsuki's signature red-cloud-on-black-robe, and the bizarre, scale-covered sword on his back immediately put Itachi on alert.

Hoshigaki Kisame introduced himself with a leisurely, predatory grin. "My name is Hoshigaki Kisame. You may think of me as one of the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."

"I heard your previous partner was Juzo Biwa. I felt that we would get along famously, so I chose you."

"From this day forward, we are partners."

"I look forward to our time together. Please, be careful with me… hehe."