While Hiruzen Sarutobi was grappling with the headache of someone infiltrating the village, Itachi was already leisurely on his way to the Land of Water.
At that moment, Itachi was in a good mood. He planned to find a quiet spot and finally master the Flying Thunder God technique.
Once he had the Flying Thunder God, he'd never have to rely on his legs for travel again. It was like upgrading from a bicycle to a jet plane—absolutely exhilarating.
Of course, the primary motivation was the connection between his left eye's abilities and space-time.
Because of that, he had no doubt about his aptitude in this area.
If even he couldn't master it, then few in this world would stand a chance.
"Who's there?"
As Itachi walked along the path, he suddenly sensed someone watching him from behind.
Having just committed a rather significant act, Itachi's senses were on high alert for any external disturbances.
"Itachi, back in Konoha already?"
A masked man with white hair slowly emerged, speaking in a casual and somewhat lazy tone, as though they were old acquaintances.
"Oh, it's you, Kakashi. You should ditch that mask. Honestly, no one else in the world would wear their hair like that."
Hearing Kakashi's voice, Itachi replied with the tone of a familiar friend.
This person always amused him.
"Have you seen Sasuke? He's doing well these days, you know."
Kakashi tried to glean something from Itachi's expression but found nothing. Frustrated, he brought up an old topic.
He knew that only by stirring Itachi's emotions could he gather any useful information.
Kakashi had never underestimated Itachi's abilities. After witnessing his prowess in battle, Kakashi's vigilance had only deepened.
"Sasuke? I haven't seen him. I haven't been back to Konoha. But I did meet someone interesting—I think you'd find them quite intriguing."
Hearing Kakashi's usual teasing tone, Itachi felt a flicker of annoyance.
Still, his face remained expressionless as he responded playfully.
"Oh? Who could possibly interest me?"
Kakashi's eye narrowed slightly beneath his mask.
That familiar tone and posture—it felt like he'd seen them somewhere before, but the memory eluded him.
"Kakashi, have you ever considered that Obito might not be dead? That he could be watching you from somewhere right now?"
Itachi suddenly threw out a shocking statement, aiming to rattle Kakashi.
"Itachi! How could you, once a comrade, stoop to such depths? Obito was a hero of Konoha—his memory is sacred!"
Hearing Itachi mock Obito, Kakashi's expression darkened with anger.
To Kakashi, Obito was not only a hero but also a cherished companion.
"Kakashi, you're so naive. Do you think I'd make baseless claims? As for heroes... hahaha, let me laugh a bit first."
Seeing Kakashi lose his composure, Itachi felt a surge of satisfaction.
He wasn't planning to attack Kakashi right away. Letting Kakashi confront Obito was part of his larger plan.
After all, Itachi hadn't forgotten the pain of having his own eye stolen—or the agony of being forced to destroy it himself.
Seeing Itachi's strange expression, Kakashi tried to maintain a calm façade, but his heart sank.
"What do you mean by that?"
Hearing news about Obito, Kakashi could no longer keep his composure. He began to follow Itachi's train of thought.
"I can tell you this: Obito is alive, but he's changed. Do you want to meet him?"
Itachi's tone turned serious as he looked at the clearly shaken Kakashi.
"That's impossible..."
Kakashi's mind wavered as he observed Itachi's grave expression and tone.
Memories flooded back to Kakashi—being surrounded by the Mist's assassination squad, Rin rushing into his Chidori...
When he awoke, everyone around him was dead, the scene resembling a living hell.
Even Obito's Sharingan, which he had inherited, had started to behave strangely after that day.
It had grown harder to control, sometimes trembling as if responding to something—or someone.
During the Blood Moon Battle, that strange feeling surfaced in his eyes again...
It was an indescribable sensation, one he dared not ponder further.
...
"Kakashi, do you want to know where Obito is?"
Itachi took a few steps toward Kakashi, who seemed dazed, and asked softly.
"Impossible! He's long dead. You're lying!"
Sensing Itachi's approach, Kakashi grew agitated. He felt that his current state was off—almost as though he were being bewitched.
"It seems Obito saved the wrong person back then, even giving you his eye. Now he's trapped in darkness, while the person he entrusted with his hopes has turned into a cowardly turtle."
Seeing Kakashi's reaction, Itachi's eyes lit up. He continued his psychological manipulation, firmly grasping Kakashi's emotional state.
...
(Read the error-free version at Book Bar 169!)
"I didn't!"
As Itachi drew even closer, Kakashi shouted.
"Obito is watching you. And yet, you're still so weak… He needs your help. You're truly unreliable."
Watching Kakashi's composure crumble, Itachi continued, his voice like a chant, breaking down the defenses in Kakashi's heart.
"I didn't! Stop saying that! I won't believe your lies!"
Kakashi yelled, memories flooding his mind uncontrollably.
Ever since seeing Jiraiya yesterday, his memories had been unraveling, completely beyond his control. Now, under Itachi's provocation, they surged violently.
"Poor Obito, poor Rin... To think they would place their trust in a coward like you..."
Itachi's words were icy, striking at the heart.
He awakened the memories Kakashi had been burying deep inside.
The moment Obito saved him, the scene when Obito gave him his eye as a gift, the plea to protect Rin.
And then, the moment Rin was impaled through the chest by his Chidori...
Kakashi, who usually clung to reason, had completely lost it.
He had intended to attack Itachi's psychological defenses, but Itachi had turned the tables, shredding him emotionally.
...
Moments ago, Kakashi had been full of confidence, but in the blink of an eye, he was reduced to this pitiful state.
"It seems you no longer have them in your heart."
Itachi looked at the defeated Kakashi, slumped on the ground, and spoke softly.
He turned away, ready to continue on his way.
"Don't... don't leave. Where is Obito?"
Just as Itachi walked a few steps away, Kakashi seemed to awaken from a dream.
"Take off your ninja forehead protector and place it on the ground."
Itachi didn't turn back; he simply gave the instruction in a calm voice.
Kakashi hesitated for a moment upon hearing Itachi's words, but a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes.
It was as if by following Itachi's instructions, he would be able to see Obito.
No one could understand what Obito meant to him.
If Obito were still alive, how would he even face him...
...
Kakashi removed his mask, took off his forehead protector, and placed it on the ground.
"Take out your kunai."
Still with his back to Kakashi, Itachi seemed to sense his actions and spoke coldly.
"Obito, are you ready to catch this?"
Sensing Kakashi had drawn his kunai, Itachi thought silently to himself.
"Go ahead. As someone from the Konoha side, there's no way you could meet Obito..."
Itachi's words were like the devil's whisper.
Kakashi's expression shifted instantly...
And he finally realized...
...
...
Kakashi completely lost it after Itachi's mind games...