Chapter 123 – The Reunion of the Wildly Dutiful Duo
After briefly speaking with Tenzo—and making sure he really wouldn't tell anyone what happened tonight—Haruta returned home.
Tonight, there were quite a few things he needed to mull over.
"Who would've thought… Uchiha Obito would do me this big a favor?"
Haruta's mind buzzed.
For a moment, he even wondered—was Obito secretly his "bond character" or something?
Helping him this much—it was almost touching. Even he was stunned.
And Haruta had farmed so many freedom points off the guy… Truly a real bro.
"In that case… I'll need to start planning the Uchiha operation in greater detail."
He began mapping it out in his head.
After all, with the Akatsuki involved, a big battle was all but guaranteed.
He needed to handle everything properly—trigger the conflict, ensure all targeted Uchiha were eliminated, prepare the scapegoats, and reframe the entire incident as a justified purge of traitors.
Everything had to be airtight.
But just then, a voice snapped him back to reality.
"Haruta, you're back?"
"Yuugao—oh, you're still here."
He looked up to see Yuugao's face and immediately smiled.
He was just about to approach her when he noticed someone standing behind her—Uchiha Hikari.
He froze mid-step.
"It's late… and you're still up?"
"She was telling me about your 'friend.'"
Hikari raised an eyebrow. She had been planning to leave—but now, she'd changed her mind.
"Didn't expect you to actually have a friend like that."
"Now that's just rude. Isn't it perfectly normal for me to have an Uchiha friend?"
Haruta smirked, then chuckled.
"Now you know I wasn't lying. I pride myself on being sincere, you know."
Sincerity—his greatest weapon. Though, whether that sincerity was 100% pure… even he couldn't say for sure.
"But I find it odd."
Hikari's sharp gaze scanned him head to toe. She didn't hold back.
"You say he's your friend, and you've had a bond for three years. But from the way things are now, it looks like something's happened to him.
Yet you show no sorrow. It's like you don't care at all.
Was he really your friend?"
"…"
Haruta went quiet.
Come to think of it, he had dug up this "evil old Uchiha" just to deal with the "evil little Uchiha" known as Obito.
And now Obito hadn't even shown up yet, and she was already picking a fight?
Still… she had a point.
After Shisui's "death," his reaction had been unnaturally calm—nothing like someone who'd shared a three-year bond.
But on second thought… wasn't that perfectly in character?
After all, he was trained by Lord Danzō, a model operative of Root.
"The man who trained me once said—no matter what happens, never show excessive emotion."
Haruta raised his head, speaking with quiet certainty.
"The more emotion you show, the more you expose yourself. Your weaknesses become visible.
Erase your feelings. Become the perfect tool. That is our purpose."
"Of course, I'm not qualified. I never wanted to be qualified. But… I still kept a few habits from back when I trained."
"Haruta..."
Yuugao seemed to understand what Haruta meant, and a trace of sorrow crept into her heart.
To erase all personal feelings and live only as a tool.
Hikari pursed her lips. That was exactly how she had been back then too. The realization left her deeply unsettled—had she said something she shouldn't have?
"It's fine now. Really. It's all in the past. I'm not as fragile as I look."
Haruta smiled faintly at the two of them. He clearly didn't want to dwell on the topic.
"But this last mission… actually yielded something useful. I think I've figured out why the people from the Land of Rain showed up."
"You have intel?"
Yuugao was glad to change the subject. The moment she heard that, she immediately responded.
"Did you report to Lord Hokage yet?"
"Not yet. I came straight back."
Haruta shook his head. Upon hearing that, Yuugao spun around.
"Wait here, I'll change into my ANBU gear. We're going to report this right now."
Before Haruta could say anything, she was already headed quickly to her room.
"...Sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
After Yuugao left, Hikari hesitated for a long moment before finally whispering the words.
Only those who've been through it know how painful such memories can be. The Uchiha are known for their intensity of feeling, and Hikari couldn't help but feel a deep unease in her heart.
"I told you, it's fine. And didn't I already say it? We can be friends."
Haruta chuckled, a bit surprised himself at the unexpected benefit of just chatting nonsense.
"Not just because we've had similar experiences… but also because I told you—I'll help you. You'll get the ending you want to see."
"...Help me?"
Hikari murmured softly, then fell silent. Soon after, Yuugao reappeared in full ANBU uniform.
Without another word, she grabbed Haruta's wrist and pulled him along.
"Don't overthink it. Let's get this mission done first."
"Yeah, yeah..."
Haruta sighed. In this world of shinobi, it seemed like everyone had a habit of using missions and stress to cover up their emotional wounds.
The Fourth Hokage had pushed Kakashi into ANBU hoping the high-pressure work would make him forget about Rin.
Yuugao was likely doing the same—trying to drown Haruta's pain with the grind of ANBU work, to keep his mind off those "painful memories."
…But the thing is—Shisui's not even dead.
"By the way, senpai."
As they stepped outside, Haruta felt her soft hand in his and suddenly grinned.
"There are other ways to calm a troubled heart, you know."
"...Hmm?"
Yuugao turned her head in confusion, only to see the glint of mischief in Haruta's eyes—and then feel his finger gently tickling her palm.
"You jerk!"
She immediately turned away, refusing to look at him, but her ears were starting to turn red.
---
Hokage's Office
"The people from the Land of Rain... came here with good intentions?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Haruta and Yamanaka Inoichi with a slightly odd expression.
Inoichi had been the first to make contact with Konan, and naturally passed her message on to the Third Hokage. Haruta had been on the team tasked with gathering more intel. Between the two of them, the story had been stitched together reasonably well.
In truth, Haruta was making half of this up on the spot.
But he wasn't worried. Konan had already told him they were in a "cooperative relationship" for the time being.
"That seems to be the case, Lord Hokage."
Haruta nodded. If nothing else, he knew how to spin a convincing tale.
"Think about it—some members of Akatsuki were originally from the Land of Rain. Back in the day, Hanzo the Salamander and his faction pushed them to the brink of extinction. Some even died."
"That kind of blood feud… they're not about to just let it go. Hanzo's starting to feel the pressure, and now he's hoping someone else can help him carry the load."
"I believe the logic checks out."
Inoichi also nodded. Even though he was only just learning about Akatsuki's inner dynamics, he maintained his composure with a professional calm.
"Akatsuki isn't Konoha. For a small country like the Land of Rain, if they take the brunt of Akatsuki's wrath, they'll be wiped off the map. So they have no choice—they need to take action."
"Is that so..."
Sarutobi took a long draw from his pipe, and the office filled with a thick cloud of smoke.
"From a certain perspective, it does make sense. After all, right now, we're the only village openly opposing Akatsuki."
"But… that doesn't sound like the Hanzo I remember. That guy used to fear nothing and no one."
"Time really does change people, huh..."
Haruta's "intel," combined with Inoichi's story, seemed airtight on the surface.
Still, Sarutobi couldn't help but feel nostalgic. The powerful and cunning Hanzo he remembered had long since vanished.
Back then, it was Hanzo who triggered the Second Great Ninja War, plunging Konoha into chaos and conflict. He was also the one who named Jiraiya and the others the "Legendary Sannin."
And now?
He'd become a hermit, no one had seen him for years, and no one knew what he was plotting.
A once-formidable rival, now reduced to a cautious shut-in—Sarutobi couldn't help but sigh.
...But after that sigh came a different emotion—
Serves him right!
Good! Be a coward!
Sure, they'd once respected each other as warriors, but the Land of Rain had never been a friend to Konoha.
Now their old enemy was crawling back on his knees?
From Konoha's point of view, this was amazing news!
Honestly, Sarutobi was already laughing inside. This was the best thing he'd heard in weeks.
He'd nearly died from rage twice recently—if Tsunade hadn't been in Konoha, he might've already been six feet under.
Then there were the ongoing negotiations with Kirigakure, stuck in a stalemate. And the matter of the Fourth Mizukage was a looming disaster—after all, that guy was the Three-Tails' Jinchūriki. Mishandle that situation, and it could lead to catastrophe.
So yeah—Sarutobi's mood had been trash lately.
Now? His old enemy had faceplanted into diplomacy, and he couldn't be more thrilled.
But then, his expression turned serious again.
"But Haruta… Akatsuki's involved in all this. What do they want?"
According to Haruta's fabricated narrative, Akatsuki might make a move near the Land of Fire, and the Land of Rain was here to warn them.
Sarutobi didn't take that lightly.
Akatsuki was made up of S-rank rogue ninja, each one a monster. Whatever they were up to, Sarutobi had to stay vigilant.
Haruta might be doing well, but he was still just one man. He wasn't Hashirama.
And Akatsuki was slippery. Any rare intel on them was precious. Especially if they were moving toward the Land of Fire, Konoha had to be on guard.
It made sense geographically—but if they went berserk and attacked, it could spell disaster.
"I'm not entirely sure," Haruta said after a pause, already plotting his next steps. "But perhaps we could open more direct channels with the Land of Rain."
"This time, I moved quietly—no one else got involved. We could use a formal meeting to get better intelligence."
"Also, Lord Hokage, we might be able to turn someone from the inside."
"...You mean—Jiraiya's former students?"
"Exactly, Lord Hokage."
Haruta nodded. There was no way he'd miss a chance to throw some shade at Danzō.
"We don't know everything they've been through. But it's definitely something we can use."
"Get to the bottom of it, and we might be able to offer them help. With Jiraiya's connection, we can use this as leverage—possibly even gain intel on Akatsuki from within."
"That intel could help us—and give us a firm grip over the Land of Rain, too."
"Hmm..."
Sarutobi hesitated. He already suspected Danzō had something to do with what happened back then.
But he hadn't had time to investigate, and even if he did, it was likely the trail had long gone cold.
Now, though, the story seemed to be turning.
He mulled it over in silence, then finally made up his mind.
"Not bad. We'll look into what really happened back then. See just how sincere Hanzo really is."
"And… let's treat this as a way to repay Jiraiya as well. If the intel checks out, they'll get what they deserve in return."
Hearing this, Haruta's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
His goal had been achieved.
This was his little show of good faith toward his "partners."
He'd already written the script. Now it was up to them to play their parts.
Give them a little taste first—test their sincerity. It wasn't asking too much.
And who knew—this setup could come in handy again soon.
"Time to drop the hammer. Let's make this satisfying, for once."
---
Later That Night — Konoha Inn
"Of all the people to imitate… why Jiraiya-sensei?"
Konan sat alone in her room, unable to sleep. Her expression was not exactly pleasant.
She thought back to the way Haruta had acted when he left.
Was this… some kind of Konoha quirk? Were they all perverts!?
How old was that little brat anyway!?
She was irritated—but she couldn't deny it.
They'd gotten a lot out of this mission.
Thinking over everything Haruta had said… it looked like she'd have her hands full once she got back.
A guy like that… if only they could keep him around forever.
Konan sat quietly, staring into the mirror on the desk in front of her.
The reflection staring back at her was still, calm—but her heart was anything but.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, something stirred. Her gaze shifted—and there, lying on the floor, was a scroll.
It hadn't been there a second ago.
"What's going on?"
Frowning, Konan walked over and picked it up. Her eyes immediately locked onto the symbol etched into the surface.
"Flying Thunder God Seal? Haruta…?"
They'd just parted ways a few hours ago, and already Haruta was sending her a message through this?
Her curiosity piqued, she unrolled the scroll and began reading.
Within moments, her expression shifted—turning faintly… complicated.
This was a message from Haruta. It detailed Konoha's expectations for any future meetings, and more importantly, what they were willing to offer in return.
Aid. Supplies. Resources.
The very things the Land of Rain lacked most.
To powerful ninja like her and Nagato, such material concerns meant little—but they weren't just rogue ninja anymore. They were leaders of a nation.
Their homeland had suffered enough. It was poor, ravaged by war, and starved of resources. They couldn't afford to ignore the plight of their people.
And now, with one scroll, Haruta had given them a chance to secure what they needed most.
Konan bit her lip. How could she not be tempted?
"…But we have to pose as Hanzo's men?"
Her brow furrowed.
Hanzo—the man who had orchestrated Yahiko's death.
She hated him. She loathed every memory of his existence. Just the thought of cooperating under his name made her sick.
And more than that—she despised the one who had helped Hanzo make that happen: Shimura Danzo, of Konoha.
"Is this a plan to strike at Danzo? Or is Haruta just setting the stage for something bigger?"
Konan's thoughts spiraled.
Now she understood what Haruta meant when he said they had been too naive.
He wasn't ignoring Danzo.
He was just choosing a quieter, deadlier path.
Feign loyalty. Use misinformation. Make them lower their guard.
Then strike. Quietly. Efficiently.
"…So this is how he plans to take down Shimura Danzo."
Konan let out a slow breath.
Even understanding it made no difference—she had no leverage against Haruta, nor any desire to wield it. In fact, she was more than willing to go along with this.
Be it for the promised aid… or to finally take vengeance on the man who had ruined them.
"I need to report this to Nagato. The gains this time… are far more than we expected."
She rolled the scroll up, then paused. A moment later, she set it on the candle beside her.
The flames licked up the paper, curling it into ash as wisps of blue smoke drifted into the room.
Konan's gaze flickered, reflecting the firelight.
"So you're following in Jiraiya-sensei's footsteps, huh…"
---
Time slipped by like water through fingers.
A full month had passed since Konan's diplomatic trip to Konoha. She had already returned to the Land of Rain.
Despite the significance of her visit, it caused barely a ripple in Konoha.
To the younger generation, the Land of Rain was just another small, war-torn country.
To those who had fought in the Second Great Ninja War, this visit was nothing short of submission.
No matter how you looked at it—Konoha had won.
So naturally, no one paid it much attention. The village had other matters to focus on.
Only the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, seemed a little… off.
He'd been uncharacteristically silent lately, having once again resumed negotiations with Kirigakure.
The visit might have been a blip in Konoha—but in the rest of the ninja world, it sparked a storm.
---
Iwagakure – Tsuchikage's Office
"What the hell is going on with the Land of Rain? What happened to that bastard Hanzo?!"
Onoki stared at the documents before him in disbelief.
The Land of Rain may have been a small country, but it sat at a crucial crossroads—sandwiched between the Lands of Earth, Wind, and Fire.
Even with minor buffers like the Lands of Grass and Rivers, it remained a fragile, exposed territory.
It was precisely that vulnerable geography that had driven Hanzo to light the match for the Second Great Ninja War.
And now? Now they were bending the knee?
The implications were massive.
"I don't know either, Father—er, Lord Tsuchikage."
Kitsuchi, standing beside him, was just as baffled.
He wasn't good with politics, but he knew how to read a map—and what he saw spelled trouble.
"No word from Konoha. Nothing from the Land of Rain. No one knows what happened."
"Tch. Those Konoha bastards… what the hell are they scheming now? Did this new Senju kid inflate their egos that fast?"
Onoki rubbed his temples in frustration. Every move Konoha made put him on edge.
Sure, Konoha had internal issues recently—some kind of massive explosion or conflict, from what they could tell.
Externally, the pressure was mounting too. Negotiations with the Land of Water were a nightmare, and all eyes were glued to the fate of the Fourth Mizukage.
But with a new Uchiha Madara and a new Senju Hashirama rising from the ashes… how could he not worry?
"Keep digging. We need more intel. We can't afford to miss a single detail."
He groaned. This kind of chaos was draining him dry.
If the entire village were still under Hiruzen's peaceful influence, fine. But that new Senju kid was clearly one of Danzo's men—and Danzo was a damn monster.
"Konoha's geniuses are like a weeds. Kill one, and ten more pop up…"
Just thinking about it made Onoki snap.
"Deidara, Kurotsuchi… you'd better hurry up and grow stronger!"
---
Kumogakure – Raikage's Office
"Tch. I expected more backbone from the so-called 'Demi-God.' What a joke."
The Fourth Raikage scoffed as he tossed the report aside.
He had no patience for weakness—especially not from someone who once dared to challenge the world.
"He's only half a god. The other half's still human," Dodai said calmly beside him, but his face soon turned serious.
"Still, if Konoha's negotiations with Kirigakure succeed, and now with the Land of Rain yielding… Konoha may have just secured a stable rear line. Strategically, that's a huge win. I'd say Onoki's probably the one suffering the most right now."
"Good. That fossil deserves it!"
The Raikage's tone turned bitter.
He hadn't forgotten how his father died—torn apart by a horde of Iwa shinobi. That grudge was eternal.
Still, as a Kage, he knew better than to be ruled by hatred.
"…But we can't let Onoki suffer too much. Otherwise, Konoha will just get bolder."
He narrowed his eyes.
"They're overflowing with talent. If this keeps up, who knows how far they'll rise. We need to act."
"I agree. Sometimes, for the sake of the village, we must set emotions aside."
Dodai nodded in approval, relieved to see the Raikage taking a rational stance.
Everyone in the shinobi world had lost people. Everyone had enemies. But leaders couldn't act like soldiers—they had to plan, to play the game.
"Raikage-sama, I recommend we offer verbal support to Iwagakure for now, but at the same time step up our harassment of Konoha's shinobi in the field.
We should also open back-channel contact with Onoki. And perhaps test Sunagakure's stance as well.
No one wants full-scale war right now—unless Konoha makes a move on the Fourth Mizukage.
But covert pressure, intel gathering, and laying traps… now that we can do."
"Do it. If we can get our hands on intel about Konoha's higher-ups… now that could be real fun."
---
Sunagakure – Council Chamber
"So the 'Demi-God' has returned to being just a man…"
Chiyo and Ebizō read the report in silence.
Back in the day, Hanzo had been untouchable—arrogant, powerful, and feared.
And now he was crawling to Konoha for help? What a twist.
"…Let him crawl, I say."
Pakura stood off to the side, arms crossed, completely indifferent.
Though at the mention of Konoha, she couldn't help but think of Haruta—that damn Shinobi who had left quite the impression during the mission to the Land of Water.
"We're already tied to Konoha. It doesn't really matter anymore."
"Maybe so," Ebizō said, frowning, "but we still need to fight for initiative where we can."
He shot a look at Pakura, clearly unhappy with her attitude.
"Don't be so defeatist. Konoha may be strong, but we can't just let them pull all the strings."
"We need to ask about this Rain situation. We're allies, aren't we?"
"…Now we're allies?"
Pakura scoffed, standing up.
"Then go ask. Send someone if you want. At least Konoha's safer than the Land of Water."
With that, she turned and walked out, leaving the two elders staring after her.
"She's out of line," Chiyo muttered after a long pause.
Ebizō just sighed.
"Let it go. She's been through too much. She nearly died in the Land of Water, and don't forget—our village nearly sent her to die on purpose."
"A little attitude is understandable. But she's still got a lot to learn."
"…Yeah. This village is just too weak."
Chiyo nodded. Her gaze turned distant.
"Let's move on. Any word on Rasa? Or Danzo?"
"Rasa's still the same. His reputation is in tatters—barely holding on thanks to us."
"As for Danzo…" Ebizō's face darkened.
"He hasn't approached us directly, but I'm sure he's plotting something. That man is never idle."
"We'll need to be cautious."
Chiyo stood and walked over to the koi pond, watching the fish swim silently.
"Let's send Pakura to Konoha. Have her feel things out—and see what Danzo's up to while she's at it."
"…If only Danzo were dead."
---
Land of Rain – The Tower
Within a heavily sealed tower at the heart of the Rain Village, Nagato sat listening to Konan's report, frowning deeply.
He had been against this mission from the start. Letting her go had gnawed at him for an entire month.
But now that she had returned—and with so much information—he was stunned.
"This… is Haruta's idea?"
Nagato's voice was low, uncertain.
"Yes. There are many pieces to consider. But if we're to proceed with this 'cooperation'… we need to show some sincerity."
Konan nodded.
But the moment she said "sincerity," her face twitched ever so slightly.
Sincerity...?
Nagato hadn't picked up on it.
His mind was entirely focused on Haruta's message—and the implications behind his recent moves.
"Akatsuki will cooperate with him… and officially, the Land of Rain will as well. I think I get what he's trying to do. He wants us to sever ties between the Land of Rain and Akatsuki, right?"
"Mm. That's right."
Konan nodded, her tone calm and her expression focused.
"In his eyes, Akatsuki is nothing more than a shadowy tool. For formal diplomacy, the Land of Rain can speak directly with Konoha."
"I've already given him a brief rundown of what happened with Hanzo and Danzo back then, but I think we should draft something more formal—something that better aligns with his agenda."
"'Aligns with his agenda'?"
Nagato furrowed his brows. After a long pause, his eyes lit up with realization, and his face twisted with a strange expression.
"Wait… he's not trying to push all the blame onto Danzo, is he?"
"That's probably his idea of revenge."
Konan gave a slight nod.
Haruta hadn't said it outright, but it was clear—they needed to show some "sincerity" in return.
"Hanzo is already dead. The truth—whatever it is—is ours to define now. As long as we mimic Hanzo's tone and pin everything on Danzo, we can strengthen our cooperation. That serves both sides' interests."
"Sure, Sarutobi Hiruzen might still be influenced by Danzo. But Haruta has his own influence in Konoha, especially with Tsunade as his teacher."
"Couple that with our strategic location, and Hanzo's old reputation… I believe Sarutobi will make the 'right' choice."
Konan's logic was cold, clear, and calculated.
This was politics—sell high when you have the leverage.
Even if Hiruzen and Danzo were close, in order to win over the Land of Rain, Sarutobi would likely publicly side with Haruta.
And if doing so helped Haruta climb higher? So be it.
"Let's do it. Haruta's already shown us his sincerity."
Nagato gave a solemn nod. The moment Konoha's aid had been promised, he'd already been moved.
"But going forward, we'll have to give more to keep up this exchange. I just hope this guy's appetite isn't too huge..."
"More 'sincerity'?"
Konan twitched.
She'd never expected such a good word to be ruined by one man in mere seconds. Now, just hearing it made her scalp tingle.
"...What's wrong? You look weird."
Nagato finally noticed the odd look on her face.
"It's nothing. Let's not talk about that. Has that lunatic fake of yours come looking for you lately?"
Konan quickly deflected, waving off the topic.
"That lunatic, huh..."
Nagato gave a grimace. He was still uneasy, but since Konan didn't want to elaborate, he let it drop.
"He came by once. I sent him away. But maybe now… I should let him know. Akatsuki is prepared to cooperate."
---
Land of Grass – Former Uchiha Hideout
"So they're 'gathering intel on Konoha'? Pfft. What a lame excuse."
Inside the underground chamber once used by Uchiha Madara, Obito sneered as he received White Zetsu's report.
"They don't trust us. They're going to take a look for themselves. Let them."
Black Zetsu emerged from the shadows, voice dripping with disdain.
"Still, a little caution isn't a bad thing. Konoha's no joke. Even without Shisui, Haruta's still there, and he's no pushover."
"If they move carelessly, they're bound to clash with Haruta—and in that case, scoping out the terrain in advance could save their lives."
"Tch. I could've handled it myself."
Obito grumbled but didn't argue further.
"Whatever. They've agreed to the plan. Now we just need to prepare for it."
The plan: the eradication of the Uchiha clan.
Uchiha Obito was confident—Itachi would make the "right" choice.
And once this was in motion, he'd force Itachi to link himself to Akatsuki, cutting off all hope of return.
"More than anything… I want to see your face, Haruta."
"The so-called modern-day Hashirama…"
"I wonder how you'll react when the Uchiha are wiped out… right under your nose."
---
Though turmoil brewed across the continent, life in Konoha carried on.
But within the village, the Uchiha clan's tension had reached a boiling point.
Clan meetings grew more frequent. Shisui's death hadn't pacified anyone—it had merely forced them to lower their heads while continuing their preparations behind closed doors.
Warnings, surveillance… nothing could stop the inevitable.
"Looks like… this was always going to happen."
Uchiha Itachi walked the streets in silence, holding his little brother's hand.
The pain gnawed at him—but so did resolve.
To purge Konoha of disaster, even if that disaster was his own blood—that was his duty.
And if he got close enough to Tobi… maybe he could find the truth. Maybe he could get the upper hand.
"Shisui… I'll make the right choice. I swear it."
The winter sun was setting, casting long shadows across the snow-covered village.
Itachi had taken some time off after the Rain envoy's departure—officially, for "recovery." But he used the time to be with Sasuke.
He held his brother's hand, but his mind was elsewhere.
"Big brother, what are you thinking about?"
Sasuke pouted, looking up at him with a mix of frustration and a hint of spoiled affection.
"Nothing. Just… thinking about something important."
Itachi ruffled Sasuke's hair gently, his expression soft.
"Go home by yourself later, alright? I've got something I need to handle."
"Huh? You're ditching me again?"
Sasuke's face fell immediately.
"And what about dinner with Izumi-nee? You promised you wouldn't bail again!"
"I'm sorry. I just remembered something urgent."
Uchiha Izumi had grown up with him, but to Itachi, that wasn't enough to sway his path.
He offered a small apologetic smile.
"Don't forget—I'm an ANBU ninja. Work always comes first."
He stopped walking and crouched down.
With one finger, he tapped Sasuke gently on the forehead.
"Next time, Sasuke. I promise I'll make it up to you."
"Tch. You always say that."
Sasuke rubbed his forehead, already used to this routine.
Still, he understood. There wasn't much he could do but nod.
"You'd better remember! You owe me!"
"Yes, yes. I promise."
With a fading smile, Itachi watched his little brother walk away—then turned and headed toward the cliff where he used to meet Shisui.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, a silver moon took its place in the sky.
And there, beneath its cold glow, Uchiha Itachi opened his eyes.
A strange chakra had begun to gather around him.
He didn't need to look. He already knew who had come.
"I knew you'd make the right choice… Uchiha Itachi."
Space shimmered and tore open, and from within stepped a man in a swirling orange mask—Uchiha Obito.
"You said I could come to you for help. Now it's time to test that promise."
"No need to test it. I've made up my mind."
Itachi's voice was calm. He had no more doubts.
"This isn't about what's right. It's about what must be done."
"I understand. I'll help you."
Obito nodded, unmoved by sentiment.
"I'll ensure the mission succeeds. But tell me—what's in it for me? How far are you really willing to go?"
"I'll go with you. I'll do what needs to be done. You don't need to doubt my resolve."
Itachi slowly opened his eyes again—this time revealing his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Obito's eyes widened in surprise—then curled into a grin.
"Well, well. How interesting."
"To think the boy I once helped awaken his Sharingan has come this far."
Surprise faded to satisfaction.
Obito hadn't chosen wrong. This boy had potential.
"Very well. Just as you wish. You'll see it through… to the very end."
...
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