"So, what's on your mind?"
Naruto asked as he leaned against the edge of the hot spring.
After a brief pause, Kisame finally spoke, "Naruto-kun, why are you insisting on coming back with us?"
He couldn't wrap his head around why Naruto seemed determined to march into the Akatsuki's base, essentially heading straight to his death.
"Just bored, really. I want to check the place out and run a few experiments." Naruto replied casually.
The so-called experiment, of course, is to sign in.
The Akatsuki is an extremely iconic in Naruto Story, and it must a must-go place to sign in.
It didn't take much imagination to figure that signing in there would yield incredible prizes.
"Experiments, huh..."
Kisame couldn't help but shudder. He was beginning to understand that Naruto had no good intentions.
In his eyes, experiments could range from trivial to catastrophic. The large-scale ones? Those might just bring the entire Akatsuki's base crumbling down.
Kisame mused, "Naruto-kun, your strength is undeniable. But I have to say, the Akatsuki isn't as simple as you might think. Getting in is one thing, but getting out is another story."
Oh, really? And you're the Missing-nin, a big bad guy, giving me this advice? Aren't you worried the organization will kill you if I run off?" Naruto chuckled, clearly amused by Kisame.
Kisame pondered and said, "I may not know you well, but from our brief interactions, I've realized that nothing I say will change your mind. That's why I'm not worried about you running."
"I didn't expect you to be so good at judging people."
Naruto admitted, slightly surprised.
Indeed, no matter what, he had to go to the Akatsuki's base for the sign-in.
Of course, Naruto is not a reckless guy and will never fought battles he wasn't prepared for.
He went there boldly because he was confident that his strength was more than enough to handle the current Akatsuki.
"But Naruto-kun, where does your confidence come from?" Kisame asked, somewhat puzzled, "I'll be honest. Within the organization, I'm just an ordinary member. You can't begin to imagine how terrifying the Akatsuki truly is."
"Alright, cut the act. If you're an ordinary member, then I'll eat my words and start using the bathroom upside down."
Naruto scoffed, "Haven't you and Tobi known each other for a long time?"
Kisame asked in confusion, "Tobi? You mean that rookie? What does he have to do with anything?"
"Ugh…"
Naruto fell silent, realizing he might have slipped up. He didn't remember when Tobi revealed his true identity to Kisame, so it might be much later.
Rephrasing his words carefully, Naruto explained, "That Tobi you know is actually Uchiha Madara."
"What!?" Kisame was stunned.
He bolted upright, unable to maintain his composure.
The fact that Naruto knew about Tobi could be chalked up to something Itachi might've mentioned. But Naruto knowing about Uchiha Madara? That was an entirely different matter.
After all, Kisame had never mentioned Madara's name to anyone. Even Itachi, who was also a spy, would tactfully avoid bringing it up during their interactions.
As he thought it over, Kisame grew even more confused, "You're saying Tobi is Madara-sama. But what do you mean by the Madara I think I know?"
"It's exactly what it sounds like. Of course, if you want the truth, you'll need to become my underling."
Naruto said nonchalantly.
This was part of Naruto's plan all along. Signing in at the Akatsuki's base was inevitable, but just signing in was too boring. Besides, Naruto genuinely admired the Akatsuki.
Naruto wanted to be their leader, so he planned to gradually win them over.
" Naruto-kun, just one question," Kisame said after some thought. "If I follow you, will it give meaning to my existence?"
"Of course." Naruto answered firmly.
"Then I'll agree to follow you. Naruto-kun, please tell me the truth now." Kisame said after a moment of deliberation.
"No problem."
Naruto nodded, but this time, he didn't use the Servant Contract.
In the original work, Kisame embodied the true spirit of a Shinobi. Even in the later stages, when others abandoned hand seals, Kisame stuck to them. When captured, he chose to commit suicide rather than allow Konoha to obtain valuable information. His life was a testament to the true path of a Shinobi.
This is what Naruto admires about Kisame, and it is also the reason why he does not use the Servant Contract.
First, Kisame had once doubted his own value after witnessing his superiors betray him. It was Obito, who pretended to be Madara, that exploited this vulnerability with hollow rhetoric, giving Kisame a false sense of hope. So Naruto planned to reveal the truth and provide Kisame with genuine meaning, ensuring his unwavering loyalty.
Secondly, there are too few slots in the Servant Contract, and Kisame wasn't yet worthy of one. If it hadn't been for the financial considerations, Zabuza would not have deserved one either.
Thirdly, Naruto wanted to win followers through his actions, not relying on the forced subjugation through the Servant Contract. He hoped to gradually inspire genuine loyalty, creating a team that followed him from the heart.
Of course, nothing is absolute in this world.
If Kisame ultimately betrayed him, Naruto would retaliate ruthlessly, eliminating him without hesitation. That, however, was a last resort.
This idealistic approach was only feasible because of Naruto's immense power, which backed his confidence.
"Listen carefully," Naruto said, his tone serious, "What I'm about to tell you might shatter your understanding of everything. Don't interrupt me with wild reactions and just hear me out."
Naruto began, "Back then, the chaos in Kirigakure was caused by someone manipulating the Mizukage, Yagura. You believe that person was Uchiha Madara."
"But the truth is, this 'Madara' was an imposter. His real identity is Uchiha Obito. Obito's story is long and complicated, so I'll skip that for now and focus on the Eye of the Moon Plan."
"The Eye of the Moon Plan requires you to collect the Biju, use the God Tree to activate the Eye of the Moon, and cast Infinite Tsukuyomi. The idea is that everyone would live in eternal happiness. But that's a lie!"
"Infinite Tsukuyomi, like the regular Tsukuyomi, traps people in a mental space. While their minds are in the Genjutsu World, their physical bodies remain defenseless. Even if no one attacks your body, the lack of food and water will eventually cause it to wither. Once the body dies, do you think the mind can still exist?"
"I know this sounds hard to believe, but the truth is this: Obito pretending to be Madara, the Eye of the Moon Plan, and even the founding of Akatsuki were all part of a sinister scheme orchestrated by a much darker figure."
"You might wonder how I know all this. I'll tell you plainly, it's my unique ability. I can see through a person's past, present, and future. That's also why I want you as my subordinate. If you continue on your current path, you'll meet a tragic end. But if you follow me, you'll find your true purpose!"
To emphasize his words, Naruto retrieved a pair of Sharingan contact lenses from his system inventory and put them on. Then he activated the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Mangekyo!"
Kisame stared at Naruto in shock.
Yes, he had many doubts and confusions, but the Mangekyo Sharingan was enough to explain everything.
The Sharingan's unique Dojutsu were known to no one but their wielder.
Based on Naruto's explanation, Kisame finally understood how Naruto knew about his past interactions with Madara.
Kisame was certain that no one had witnessed his meeting with Madara, and Madara would not be so foolish as to reveal his identity to someone and say that he was fake.
Therefore, the only plausible explanation was Naruto's Mangekyo's unique Dojutsu is the power that truly allowed him to see through fate...