------------------
Bonus Chapter
-------------
📢 Support the Novel & Read Ahead!
Love the story and can't wait to see what happens next?
Join my Patreon and get access to 50+ early chapters before anyone else! 🔥
https://www.patreon.com/UK21
Thank you for reading, and I truly appreciate your support! 💖
---------
"He was the one who saved the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan—a hero to the village—and yet, this is how they repay him."
"No reward. No gratitude. Instead, they make him a scapegoat for their so-called peace."
"Are you really willing to accept that fate?"
The masked man's voice was calm, deliberate, almost hypnotic. Each word slid into the silence like a blade, cutting past the surface and digging into the soul.
It wasn't just persuasion—it was manipulation, backed by a twisted sort of charisma that could sway even the most guarded mind.
Uchiha Haru listened in silence.
So this was the masked man's goal—recruitment.
It wasn't hard to figure out. From what Haru understood, the organization behind this man—Akatsuki—had undergone three major stages in its evolution.
The first was the Expansion Phase. At that point, Akatsuki was a mercenary group, independent of any village.
They focused on recruitment, expanding their numbers, taking on any mission that paid well, all in order to accumulate power and resources.
The second phase was the Tailed Beast Capture Phase.
That era saw the organization shift toward global conquest, systematically hunting and sealing bijuu—tailed beasts—to create devastating weapons of war. Their goal: total domination through overwhelming power.
The third and final phase coincided with the Fourth Great Ninja War. Backed by Kabuto Yakushi and bolstered by Impure World Reincarnation and an army of 100,000 White Zetsu, Akatsuki declared war on the world. Their power had grown so immense that every shinobi village was forced to unite against them.
Judging by the current timeline, Akatsuki was still in its initial phase—quietly recruiting, gathering strength, operating in the shadows.
They weren't yet the terrifying entity that would one day shake the foundations of the shinobi world. Their roster was incomplete, and their power, while growing, hadn't peaked.
Which made Uchiha Haru a valuable target.
He was powerful, disillusioned, and above all, expendable in the eyes of Konoha.
After the night the Uchiha clan would be massacred, even if he survived, he would never again be welcome within the village. Konoha had already marked him as a threat.
So what choices did he have left?
In a twisted way… joining Akatsuki made sense.
The masked man folded his arms behind his back, standing tall, radiating a quiet confidence.
Uchiha Haru said nothing.
No visible reaction. No questions. Just a calm, composed silence.
The masked man noticed.
That was good.
If Haru had reacted with shock or rage, it would have cast doubt on everything the masked man had learned about him.
He knew Haru was not a social creature. The boy had no friends, no loyalty to the clan, no real connection to the village. He was brilliant, analytical, but detached—dangerously so.
People like that didn't scream when betrayed.
They waited.
They planned.
They burned slowly.
"What do you want?" Haru finally asked.
The masked man's voice was like silk. "I can save you."
"Save me?" Haru echoed, his tone neutral.
"Yes. Save you. And only I can."
The man stared him down, gaze unflinching, as though he could peer through Haru's skin and read the truth beneath. "You're powerful. With your abilities, you could flee Konoha at any time. But I'm not talking about that."
"There's a bigger threat. A deeper crisis than simple escape."
Haru's face remained passive. But inside, he already knew.
He knew exactly what crisis the masked man referred to.
"What do you think of the Uchiha clan?" the man asked suddenly.
"Ignorant. Arrogant. Corrupt. Weak. Beyond saving," Haru answered without hesitation.
The masked man's eye narrowed, impressed.
Perfect.
This boy wasn't clinging to illusions. He wasn't trying to save a rotten legacy.
He had cut through the facade and seen the clan for what it really was.
Uchiha Haru wasn't broken—he was reborn in fire. And that was exactly the kind of ally the masked man wanted.
"Yes. You're absolutely right," the man said with approval. "The Uchiha clan is rotten to the core."
"They are beyond redemption. And so—I've decided to destroy them."
He said it without emotion.
Destroy the Uchiha clan. The most powerful clan in Konoha.
Arrogant? Maybe.
But Haru knew it wasn't a bluff.
He had no doubt this man had the strength—and the allies—to do it.
Still, he couldn't let too much show. He had to play the role.
Feigning surprise, he asked, "Is that the dangerous crisis you mentioned?"
"Yes," the masked man replied.
"The Uchiha Clan Massacre—it's already been set in motion."
His voice didn't change, but the weight of those words could have crushed mountains.
It was the kind of statement that could split a person's soul in half.
"Besides myself, Uchiha Itachi is also part of the mission."
"Konoha's Root Division—Danzo—has already given approval."
"Even the Hokage is prepared to look the other way."
"There are Kage-level shinobi hidden in the shadows to ensure nothing goes wrong."
"The night of the Uchiha massacre is inevitable."
"No one can stop it."
"Not even you."
Haru's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening.
It was a performance, of course. But it had to look real.
And to the masked man—it did.
The bastard actually believed he had Haru cornered.
"What do you want from me?" Haru asked flatly.
The masked man spread his hands.
"Come with me. Join my organization. In return, I will remove you from the playing field during the massacre."
"You will live."
"You will be free of Konoha. Free of the Uchiha. Free of the blood."
Join Akatsuki… and avoid the Uchiha Clan Massacre?
Haru's mind processed the implications instantly.
It wasn't an empty offer.
If he disappeared before the night of slaughter, he could escape Danzo's blade and avoid being branded a traitor.
He could walk away with his life—and his power.
And when the dust settled…
He would still be standing.
Still watching.
Still planning.
It wasn't the worst option.
In fact, it might be the perfect one.
Haru blinked slowly, eyes glowing faintly red in the dim light of the prison cell.
He didn't speak.
But he didn't say no either.
He had trained relentlessly, running countless simulations, yet in the end, he was to endure the Uchiha Clan's massacre in this manner? It was truly unexpected.
But, upon reflection, it made sense.
Given his current strength, it wasn't surprising that the masked man had taken an interest in him.
Was he truly considering joining?
To survive through a more secure path...
Uchiha Haru pondered this question, still hesitating.
The masked man continued, "Where there is light in this world, there must be darkness. If you wish to protect peace, war is inevitable. But I have a way to create a world with only victors and everlasting peace."
"Thus, I founded an organization—Akatsuki—to help me forge such a world."
"Haru, join my organization. You won't be disappointed."
Haru remained silent, deep in thought.
The masked man didn't press further but added, "I can give you time to consider, but not too long."
"I hope that the next time I approach you, you've made the right decision."
With that, a swirling vortex appeared in the air, and the masked man's body slowly twisted and vanished.
Once again, Haru was left alone in the prison.
All this time, he had subconsciously regarded the masked man as an enemy. He hadn't anticipated such a significant reversal as the night of the massacre approached. It truly underscored the unpredictability of the world.
If he made this choice, barring any unforeseen events, he wouldn't even need to exert effort to survive the Uchiha massacre night.
As for potential accidents, he wasn't concerned.
After all, before the massacre began, he still had the fifth simulation. Regardless of what transpired, he would detect it in advance.
Now, the pressing question was: did he truly want to proceed this way?
...
Elsewhere, atop the Hokage Rock overlooking Konoha Village, the masked man stood alone, hands clasped behind his back.
Behind him, Uchiha Itachi approached step by step.
"What do you wish to discuss?" Itachi inquired.
The masked man didn't turn around but spoke lightly, "An old friend of yours might be joining us. When that plan unfolds, we'll have one less hidden threat."
Old friend?
Uchiha Itachi narrowed his eyes, contemplated for a moment, then asked, "Uchiha Haru?"
"Hmm," the masked man affirmed.
It was indeed him.
Itachi's brow furrowed slightly, his expression neutral. After a brief pause, he questioned, "Why do you want Uchiha Haru to join?"
"Because he's strong enough to be part of our organization, and we happen to need capable individuals."
The masked man turned to face Itachi, jesting, "Why, he's a member of the Uchiha clan and an old friend of yours. I thought you'd welcome him."
"But it seems that's not the case."
Itachi responded calmly, "This isn't my decision to make."
"You're aware of the agreement between me, the Third Hokage, and Danzo. It's not that I can't tolerate Uchiha Haru, but they can't."
"I have no choice but to act."
With that, he turned and departed. However, before he had gone far, the masked man's voice echoed behind him.
"Itachi, don't underestimate Uchiha Haru. He's formidable."
Itachi didn't look back.
He never underestimated anyone.
Regardless of the opponent, he always gave his all and remained vigilant.
Moreover, this was the second time the masked man, who claimed to be Uchiha Madara, emphasized Haru's power.
He had already placed Haru on the same level.
Uchiha Haru couldn't be allowed to remain.
This was for the promise made with Danzo, for Sasuke, and for Konoha!
Such a significant threat couldn't be left unchecked!
However, before taking action, he needed to inform the Third Hokage and Danzo of this development.
Not long after, Itachi appeared silently in the office of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
By then, night had fallen, and darkness enveloped the village. Yet, the Third Hokage, known for his diligence, was still immersed in the seemingly endless pile of documents.
The moment Itachi appeared, the pen in the Third Hokage's hand paused briefly before resuming its movement.
Though Sarutobi Hiruzen's strength didn't rival that of the First or Second Hokage, he was by no means weak.
It wasn't that he was unaware of Itachi's entrance into his office.
"Itachi, you're here," the Third Hokage acknowledged, without raising his head, continuing to review the documents.
Uchiha Itachi stepped out of the shadows and bowed respectfully to the Third Hokage.
"You're here so late; what brings you?" the Third Hokage's voice was aged but gentle and kind, instilling a sense of stability and trust.
This was one of the reasons Itachi believed Konoha would uphold its promise to him.
He didn't trust Danzo, but he had faith in the Third Hokage.
"Uchiha Haru might join the masked man's organization," Itachi stated directly.
The Third Hokage frowned, his pen halting mid-stroke.
Having decided to eliminate the Uchiha clan, he knew it had to be thorough.
The fewer people aware, the better.
Uchiha Itachi was indispensable for the night of the massacre.
He trusted Uchiha Itachi.
As for the masked man, though he didn't trust him, with Uchiha Itachi constantly monitoring, nothing should go awry. He could barely accept that.
But Uchiha Haru... one more person meant one more hidden threat.
------------------
This Week Bonus Chapter - 200 Power stones
2nd Bonus Chapter - 400 Power Stones
3rd Bonus Chapter - 600 Power Stones
-------------
📢 Support the Novel & Read Ahead!
Love the story and can't wait to see what happens next?
Join my Patreon and get access to 50+ early chapters before anyone else! 🔥
https://www.patreon.com/UK21
Thank you for reading, and I truly appreciate your support! 💖
---------