While running through the forest, Yagami had an encounter with Konoha's ANBUs. Their leader Itachi was contented to meet up with his brother after a year of abscene.
"Brother! What are you doing out here? Aren't you suppose to be training?"
"Yeah, it's come to an end and I'm returning. By the way, why are you and the ANBUs doing here?" Itachi explained that they were pursuing a missing-nin from their village.Yagami offered to assist but his help was turned down. Back at Konoha, a few Jounins were waiting at the front gates to escort him to the Hokage's office. All of a sudden they cuffed Yagami up on the way.
"Hey, what's all this about?" In the office, the Hokage looked upon Yagami with a disheartened face.
"Uchiha Yagami, you have gone beyond the scheduled date of returning back to Konoha, I therefore must detain you for further interrogations and charge you with attempt to flee the village. Do you know how serious your offense is?" Shocked at the Hokage's doubts on him, Yagami shouted back in apathy, "You can't do this! I was stopped by Orochimaru!"
"What? Orochimaru?" The Hokage asked, looking surprised and worried. Yagami, already disgusted by his mentor who was suppose to trust him answered back rebelliously, "Yes! If it weren't for him, I would have come back earlier than the scheduled!" Hearing the existence of one of the Legendary Sannins led the Hokage into asking further in detail. It was revealed that Orochimaru was planning a full-scale attack on all the villages and learn all Jutsus and hopes to be a catalyst of a great war. Letting Yagami go, the Hokage ordered intense training as the attack may occur anytime. Back at the Uchiha house, Mikoto and Fugaku welcomed back their eldest son but Yagami was not in the mood to talk about his life experience. A few hours later Sasuke and Itachi came back and were astonished to see their brother's return. Already annoyed at the decision Itachi made inthe forest, Yagami immediately confronted him.
"What was that allabout in the forest just now? Trying to act as a captain in front of your whole squad?"
"It was for your own safety, I didn't want to see you get hurt." Yagami cut short of the conversation and went back to his room. Sasuke, young and innocent, came in to check on his brother, "Big brother, please don't be angry with Itachi, he was only looking out for your own good."
"I know little one, but for him to make that decision really makes me boil, I'm his elder brother for crying out loud! Sasuke, I'm heading out for a while, tell mom I won't be coming back for dinner."
Walking along the bridge of Nakano river, Yagami pondered on the thought why the Hokage would suddenly lose his trust and why would a former Konoha shinobi, even more surprising one of the Legendary Sannins, be launching an attack? All those thoughts dwelled on his mind until he was confronted by two unknown figures, dawned in black coats with reddish cloud drawings and with a slash across their headbands. Yagami sensed trouble was arising and sprung into action. After fighting with the opponents non-stop, they immediately surrendered.
"Speak!" The two figures than revealed themselves, one of them being Orochimaru who Yagami previously encountered. They were part of a clan by the name of Akatsuki, a group of missing nins who were banished from their villages due to distrust. Their goal was to accquire the spirits of various demons. Yagami felt pleased on what he was hearing and considered to join them. Orochimaru than apologised for the recent attack as he wanted to make sure Yagami would make a good candidate. As he went home to get his kantana, he awoke Sasuke in the midst.
"Big brother, where are you going?"
"Hush...Big brother is going somewhere and won't be back for a few days so I won't be here to wake you up. Listen to your mom and dad and do not follow into Itachi's footsteps you hear me?" Saying his part, he tugged his younger brother into bed as he left in a flash. The next day news of Yagami's mysterious disappearnce was spread all across the village. The Hokage referred him as a missing nin and immediately dispatched Itachi and his group of ANBUs to track him down. They came to a forest where Yagami's trail stopped. Little that they knew they were being ambushed by three Akatsuki members. Disposing the dead ANBUs bodies, they began to approach the captain, who put on a brave front.
"Good, brave enough to face your death. But still too weak." Yagami lifted his hat to reveal himself and see the shocked face of his brother.