"Young one, enough. Don't be impulsive. Keep the green hills and you'll have firewood later."
The old man pulled the child back toward the corner of the street, but the boy bristled and refused to leave. He insisted on entering the tavern.
They were poor. Lately even a meal was not guaranteed. They had only stepped inside to ask for a cup of water and were beaten out by three ninja at a table because, the three claimed, the child's presence disturbed their drinking.
Shigeo stepped into the tavern. The door creaked and the rowdy room fell silent for two heartbeats. People glanced up, saw a stranger, and returned to their business.
He took a seat in a corner. The room was full of ninja. On the left, three men wore Otogakure headbands; since Shigeo entered their gaze had fixed on him. Others chattered and laughed, the room a tangle of voices.
"It's been over two years. The black market's top bounty is still Hyūga Shigeo. Who knows where that bastard's hiding. We can't find him for the life of us." In the center sat five men with brutal faces and the loudest voices.
"Hah. Like you'd find him if you knew where he was. The Anbu of the Five Great Villages have been hunting for him for over two years with nothing to show. Do you lot really think you can catch Shigeo?" came a retort from another table.
"Who wouldn't want him? Tell me here: whose ultimate goal isn't him? Capture Shigeo and you're famous across the shinobi world. You could even claim you'll found a nation and people would follow you. If I were that guy at the top I'd have servants and soldiers obeying a word. The image alone fires me up."
Shigeo heard that and remembered life in Nanmo Village. He hadn't reached that level. If he had, what would be the point beyond being served? It would make him no more than a glutton.
"Everyone, have you heard of Anhe?" Shigeo could not help interrupting. He had no intelligence on Anhe from Aokumon or Anbu. Finding that two-and-a-half-million-bounty would not be simple. That was why he'd come to this bounty-hunter town.
"Anhe? The bloodline-copying ninja? Never heard. Ten years ago he vanished—probably captured. Besides, people like him aren't worth our time. Only those starving to death chase such fugitives. We're all after Shigeo…" Laughter followed. Glasses clinked. Men boasted loudly. "We top the personal rankings. Shigeo would beg for mercy when he saw us."
More laughter.
"Like a tiger's gone and the monkeys throw a festival. You lot are disgusting!"
A cold voice cut from the corner. A man in a black robe patterned with red clouds spoke. His black hair was tied back and he radiated chill. Beside him sat a man with short black hair, wearing a rogue Mist headband, eyebrowless, with red-striped tattoos from nose to neck, also in Akatsuki garb.
From Shigeo's angle the first man was Biwa Jūzō. The man beside him—was that Itachi?
At that idea Shigeo stood, eyes narrowing, linking timelines. He frowned deeper. Thirteen years old. Itachi's life turned at thirteen. If Itachi had killed his clan and joined Akatsuki publicly, nothing had changed for him. He had once slain Danzo in public and yet his fate had not altered.
"Itachi?" Shigeo could not help the name.
Time stilled. The crisp sound drew the man's head around. Their gazes met.
"Bang!" A sudden explosion of action.
"He's Hyūga Shigeo!" someone from the Otogakure table shouted.
The tavern erupted. Patrons sprang apart, drew formation, and surrounded Shigeo. The three Otogakure ninja sent word to Orochimaru's base. They'd found their target.
With almost no warning and no wasted words, everyone but the two in the corner launched at Shigeo. Explosions tore the tavern apart.
Shuriken and kunai clashed. Suiton (Water Release) met Katon (Fire Release) with concussive booms.
A wave of attacks passed and when the dust cleared the youth's figure was gone.
"Big brother, please take me as your disciple!" a child's voice sounded in the street.
They poured out of the wrecked tavern. Shigeo stood on the street, wind at his back. Beside him were the old man and boy. Opposite stood the two men in black with red clouds on their robes.
"Shigeo!" Itachi looked up at his former comrade without expression.
Shigeo's brow trembled. His eyes burned wet. "You joined them?"
"Yes. You know why I'm here." Itachi's tone was flat.
"I don't. But don't be fooled. Their ideals are just a conspiracy." Shigeo knew Akatsuki's goals well.
The man beside Itachi snorted and asked simply, "Will you join us?"
His gaze was cold, yet Shigeo could read a spark of desire in the eyes. Though Itachi's face was calm, inside his heart magma churned.
Itachi had left Konoha earlier than Shigeo. He wanted Itachi to stand with him. If Itachi joined Akatsuki like Shigeo imagined, they could be a pair. The thought made Shigeo feel, paradoxically, content.
(End of Chapter)
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