"Thirty million, huh? It seems like this Blood Moon character is no pushover."
Konan softly remarked as she glanced at the information in her hand.
After all, even Asuma Sarutobi's bounty was only thirty-five million—and he's the Hokage's son.
This clearly showed how valuable a thirty-million bounty was.
Of course, it also meant that whoever placed the bounty on Blood Moon was quite generous.
If someone were to find out that Itachi had placed the bounty on himself, they'd probably be stunned speechless.
However, this also reflected his unwavering confidence in his own abilities.
"Shinkawa Town, huh? I'll head there right now."
Seeing that Pain didn't respond, Konan spoke softly before turning on her heel and leaving his office.
After Konan had left, Pain finally came to his senses.
"I forgot to tell Konan… If that guy refuses to join us, she should just kill him and collect the bounty instead. Then again, with her smarts, she's probably already thought of that…"
Pain mused silently.
Back in her room, Konan picked up a scroll from the desk and prepared to leave. However, just as she was about to close the door, she paused. She turned back, opened a drawer, and retrieved another scroll to take with her.
"Ugh, what an unlucky start. I haven't even set out yet, and I've had to run back and forth twice. Hopefully, this trip goes smoothly…"
She muttered to herself, clearly annoyed.
First, Pain had summoned her. Then, she had forgotten something and had to go back for it. These delays left Konan feeling a bit irritated.
Forgetting something and having to double back is never a good omen, after all.
Shaking off her thoughts, wings made of paper formed behind her, and she took off into the sky.
Like an angel, like a spirit, she soared gracefully through the air.
Her destination: Shinkawa Town.
"I wonder how long I'll have to wait here."
After wandering around the streets of the town, Itachi made sure that people noticed his appearance. Then, he returned to the inn.
Back at the inn, Itachi didn't bother to undress. He simply sat on a chair, idly reflecting.
At that moment, he began to feel a twinge of regret.
Just staying in one place like this was incredibly boring, almost like being in prison.
He decided silently that he'd wait three days.
If no one showed up within that time, he'd leave. It'd make the game a bit more challenging for his pursuers.
Feeling bored, Itachi's mind wandered to a sultry figure—the image of Tsunade.
Then he reminded himself that haste makes waste. Dealing with someone like her wouldn't be simple; he'd have to proceed gradually.
For now, he decided not to seek her out again and dismissed the thought.
He felt pretty good about himself, confident that he'd left a favorable impression on Tsunade.
Especially considering her fondness for gambling—where she almost always lost.
After winning so many times against him, she'd likely think of him whenever she lost in the future.
Or whenever she was writing another IOU…
Through this, he would slowly and subtly work his way into her thoughts, tipping the scales in his favor over time.
"So, this is Shinkawa Town?"
Konan folded up the map in her hand as she gazed at the distant town and descended slowly.
She began walking toward the town.
Upon seeing the large sign with the town's name at the entrance, her mood lifted.
She hadn't taken the wrong route, and this realization brought her some relief.
"This place has a nice vibe, though it's still not as lively as Amegakure."
Looking at the bustling streets, Konan spoke softly, her tone carrying a hint of pride in the prosperity of her own village.
"Since I've arrived successfully, I might as well reward myself with some local delicacies…"
As she passed by several food stalls, her urgency to locate her target began to fade.
She decided to treat herself to the town's unique cuisine.
After all, she was finally allowed out again, and this time she didn't have to deal with that annoying guy…
Konan suddenly recalled the image of Itachi, the man who, during their very first mission, gave her an overwhelming sense of pressure.
...
As the setting sun gradually faded beyond the horizon, the moonlight rose higher, taking over the night sky.
Night had fallen.
Pedestrians along the street grew fewer and fewer. Itachi gently opened the door of his room and stepped outside.
Since the afternoon, he had sensed probing presences brazenly scanning his room. Heading out now, he was naturally prepared to let loose and deal with the pests.
Those who lived lives of blood and sin, constantly flirting with death, were finally about to find liberation—sooner than expected.
Itachi strolled out of the inn at an unhurried pace, his eyes briefly admiring the busy innkeeper and the slightly guilty-looking owner.
Then, without looking back, he left.
He had an appreciation for people with such talent.
...
Not long after Itachi's departure, several shadowy figures leaped out from the inn's windows and onto the rooftops.
Their eyes, sharp like a hawk's, fixed intently on Itachi's retreating figure.
As for the watchful gazes from behind, Itachi seemed completely unaware, leisurely walking ahead like an ordinary man taking a stroll after a hearty meal.
Yet, under the moonlight, his attire carried an eerie quality.
The crimson blood moon reflected on his cloak, adorned with crows bathed in red light. The gleam of his blood-red eyes...
As Itachi moved, the air rippled faintly around him. The crows on his robe appeared almost alive, vivid and lifelike.
...
Once Itachi had left the small town and entered the nearby forest, he leapt onto a tree, standing lightly on a branch.
He gazed calmly in the direction of the town.
"Who are you waiting for, Blood Moon?"
A voice rang out behind him, accompanied by the sound of something cutting through the wind.
"For you."
Itachi's hand, gripping a kunai, slipped out from his wide sleeve and stabbed fiercely toward the source of the voice.
The opponent's position had been exposed by their voice and the sound of their movement.
With his rich experience, Itachi didn't even need to think before striking.
The intruder was taken aback, not expecting such a swift response from Itachi. In that moment, they felt they had acted rashly.
Still, their movements didn't falter. The blade of their sword aimed directly at Itachi's wrist, seeking to leverage the weapon's advantage.
...
"You're slower than I expected…"
Itachi turned to look at the masked man thrusting a longsword at him.
Indeed, if the opponent had been faster, Itachi's earlier strike would have been fatal. As for the incoming sword attack—it seemed unlikely to land.
Unfortunately for the intruder, their speed didn't match the sharpness of their tone.
Hearing Itachi's words, the man felt insulted.
Rage surged within him, but his experience in combat prevented him from losing his composure.
Anyone daring to confront Itachi would naturally have some degree of confidence.
"Your attitude is truly awful…"
The masked man's voice was cold. The speed of his longsword increased as he aimed to incapacitate Itachi's wrist.
...
Itachi, observing his opponent's attack, remained perfectly still. At that moment, he had already seen through every move the masked man could make—even without activating his Sharingan.
As the sword's edge closed in, Itachi moved.
To be precise, only his wrist holding the kunai moved.
A deft flick of his wrist sent the kunai spinning, deflecting the sword's edge.
Sparks flew as the kunai clashed with the man's blade.
The masked man showed no intention of altering his approach. Instead, he accelerated further, aiming for the perceived opening in Itachi's defense.
He wanted to teach Itachi the simple truth: a longer weapon has the advantage.
...
As the distance closed, Itachi caught a glimpse of the killing intent in the man's eyes beneath the mask.
"You seem very confident…"
Itachi's voice was cold, as if observing from above.
As he spoke, the sword tip neared his chest.
Beneath the mask, the man's lips curved upward into a grin.
He seemed certain that blood would soon spray from Itachi's chest.
But just as he awaited the fruits of his efforts, his vision blurred.
In an instant—a flash of movement, yet no movement at all—Itachi seemed to vanish.
The longsword missed, passing under Itachi's arm.
In the next moment, Itachi's free hand seized the man's wrist, and the kunai in his other hand loomed large in the man's eyes.
...
In that brief instant, the man's brain failed to process what had happened. His limbs didn't even have time to react.
Blood splattered, and a lifeless body, its throat pierced by the kunai, hung from the tree trunk.
In a battle between experts, a single move was all it took.
Itachi now stood atop a branch, gazing coolly toward the town. Not a drop of blood marred his figure.
This, perhaps, was the essence of true skill.