"He dodged it?" Itachi's pupils contracted.
His Amaterasu had no projectile trajectory when activated. The moment his eyes saw the target, the black flames were already there. Yet Naruto had actually used a Shadow Clone to block the Amaterasu head-on.
Furthermore, he could see that Naruto had anticipated the Amaterasu the instant before he activated it, then completed the replacement of his Shadow Clone and original body ahead of time.
What kind of reaction speed and battlefield prediction ability was this?
Itachi wanted to use Tsukuyomi, but Naruto's ability to resist genjutsu made him hesitant to use it lightly.
Just then, a piercing pain shot through his left eye.
"Urgh..."
He let out a muffled groan, covering his left eye with his left hand. His body swayed uncontrollably, and he was forced to deactivate his Mangekyo Sharingan.
'Sigh, I guess I really don't have a talent for Talk-no-Jutsu.' Naruto sighed to himself.
He had just spoken the truth about the clan's extermination, but instead of being moved or earning trust, he was met with an Amaterasu.
However, it was understandable. For someone who had carried such a secret for so many years to suddenly have it exposed by a twelve-year-old kid—even if the other party was Sasuke's friend—Itachi's first reaction would definitely be suspicion.
Suspecting whether this person was a test sent by Danzo, and wondering what his purpose was.
Naruto looked at Itachi, his tone calm. "Itachi, that's enough. I know you have done a lot for Sasuke but I am also Sasuke's friend. We are not enemies."
Itachi covered his left eye, which was still aching, and re-examined the Naruto in front of him through his constantly blurring right eye.
Just now, Naruto had stated his deductions without hesitation. If this insight really stemmed from a desire to protect Sasuke, then having such a friend by his side might be the only thing Sasuke could still possess after losing everything.
"Naruto, how much do you actually know?"
Itachi asked.
This time, his voice was no longer filled with the cold murderous intent from before, but carried a sense of calm after exhaustion.
"I am the one who is going to become the Hokage in the future." Naruto looked directly into Itachi's eyes.
"Plus, since Sasuke is my friend, I know a little more about him. Konoha will need Sasuke's power in the future. So I cannot let him destroy himself because of hatred and going astray. Whether as the future Hokage, or as his current friend."
Itachi was silent.
In the distance, Kisame and Jiraiya were still fighting fiercely.
A moment later, Itachi lowered the hand covering his left eye. A trail of blood was still winding down his left cheek.
He examined Naruto seriously once more. The tone and look in Naruto's eyes when he said he wanted to protect Sasuke were not faked. He was happy that Sasuke could have such a friend.
"Then, while they are still fighting and there is no one else around, shall we talk?" Naruto asked.
"What do you want to talk about?" Itachi asked.
"Before that, Itachi, how much further can those eyes of yours see?"
Itachi was stunned.
This was a line he had asked someone else. But now, coming from Naruto's mouth, it carried a completely different meaning.
"Naruto, have you done research on the Mangekyo Sharingan?" A trace of uncertainty appeared in Itachi's voice.
"I have done some research." Naruto nodded, not denying it.
"Above the Three-Tomoe Sharingan is the Mangekyo Sharingan, but the Mangekyo has side effects. Every time you use it, your vision permanently declines until you are completely blind."
"But as long as you transplant the Mangekyo Sharingan of a direct sibling, it can evolve into the Eternal Mangekyo. For example, Madara's eyes."
"So I can roughly guess your final arrangement for Sasuke."
When Naruto mentioned the Eternal Mangekyo, Itachi's fingers tightened.
If Naruto's insight into the truth of the clan's extermination had already made him feel vigilant, then the fact that he had now exposed the final plan he had hidden in the depths of his heart almost knocked him flat.
"Since you already know my final arrangement for Sasuke, what do you want by talking to me alone about this now?" Itachi asked.
Naruto replied, "The mental stimulation required to advance to the Mangekyo will inevitably give rise to an extreme ideology. I am worried he will go astray, so I wanted to talk to you first to confirm your true stance on this matter."
Hearing this, Itachi let out a sigh from the depths of his heart.
So, Naruto had said so much and gone around in such a big circle, only for the final point to still be Sasuke.
He didn't want anything, nor did he use this information to trade for any benefits. He was simply worried that Sasuke would go astray, so he was confirming the final insurance for the whole arrangement with him.
"Your relationship with Sasuke is truly good."
There was a faint sense of relief in Itachi's tone.
"That arrogant Sasuke always used to be ahead of me, now it's my turn to be ahead of him." Naruto smiled.
Itachi nodded.
He could now be completely certain that Naruto's feelings for Sasuke were real, not a pretense or for the purpose of trading benefits.
This was the kind of complex friendship that only exists between two people who couldn't stand each other since they were kids.
Itachi formed a hand seal, and with a puff of white smoke, a black crow flew out and landed on his shoulder.
"Keep this safe." Itachi handed the crow to Naruto.
"If one day Sasuke really goes astray, it will change Sasuke."