54.Conversation With Itachi

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In the deep night, Kaito was still awake, looking through the documents pilfered from Konoha by the light of the campfire.

Setting down the scroll in his hands, he expressed his frustration: "I always feel that there's something off about the content on the stone tablet at the Naka Shrine, but I can't quite figure it out."

"Don't overthink it, Kaito," Chiri added more wood to the fire. "You should rest up and conserve your strength for the battles that might break out at any moment."

"Thank you, Chiri-sama." Kaito stretched languidly. "I'll take a nap now."

Unlike Izuna and Chiri, Kaito's body, being non-human, wasn't affected by the temperature, but he knew Chiri was looking after him by keeping the fire going.

Though Kaito seemed somewhat reluctant on the surface, he deeply relied on Chiri in his heart.

Unlike his sister, Mikoto, who was always a peer, Chiri appeared as an adult figure to the young Kaito, fulfilling his yearning for a maternal figure.

Over the years, only Chiri had always been by his side.

As a child, it was Chiri who comforted and encouraged him, helping him to develop strong self-confidence and grow fearlessly, even when he was powerless.

Later, she accompanied him to the great mountains, giving him a tremendous sense of security in a completely unfamiliar environment. Their relationship, as Chiri said, had become like that of mother and son.

Thinking this, Kaito smiled and said to Chiri and Izuna, "Then I'll leave the night watch to you, Chiri-sama, Izuna-senpai."

The young man with black hair and eyes smiled genuinely; his features, lit by the firelight, seemed to easily touch one's heart.

Chiri felt a complex emotion watching the boy she had seen grow up. She smiled warmly and said softly, "Good night, Kaito."

"Hmph, don't spoil him too much, Chiri," Izuna remarked with a hint of annoyance, waving Kaito off, "Get some rest now. We're up against strong enemies, and we can't afford to protect you all the time!"

Kaito lay in his tent with his eyes closed, not falling asleep immediately as he mentally prepared for the upcoming battle.

If their assailants were indeed the likes of Nagato with his Rinnegan, they were in for a fierce fight.

Though all preparations and plans for battle were in place, Kaito, being cautious, ran through the possible scenarios in his mind several times to ensure no details were overlooked.

Outside the tent, Izuna spoke softly to Chiri about old times during the Warring States period, and with a smile on his lips, Kaito eventually drifted off to sleep to the sound of distant tales.

...

Meanwhile, a paper crane previously released by Kaito was now silently gliding through the void, arriving in a cave located somewhere unknown, quietly landing in the hands of Itachi Uchiha, who was meditating.

Startled by the sudden arrival, Itachi looked down at the paper crane in his hands, silently tucked it into his sleeve, and stood up to walk outside the cave.

"Mr. Itachi?" Kisame, sitting across the room, also opened his eyes alertly. "What's the matter?"

"It's nothing, continue your rest," Itachi replied without stopping, heading straight out of the cave.

Alone in the cave, Kisame chuckled softly to himself, "Heh, is Mr. Itachi just stepping out, or is there something he's keeping from me?"

Meanwhile, Itachi sat on a large rock outside, pulled out the paper crane from his sleeve, and began to unfold it under the moonlight.

However, the paper was blank except for a simple sketch of a three-tomoe Sharingan.

After a moment of thought, Itachi activated his own three-tomoe Sharingan and looked at the drawing on the paper.

Instantly, the drawing of the Sharingan seemed to come to life, and the three tomoe began to spin rapidly.

Itachi could feel a cool energy emanating from the drawing, inadvertently soothing the dryness in his eyes and merging with his own visual power, creating a genjutsu space.

"Meeting again, Itachi."

With a greeting, Kaito appeared before him.

"What is it this time?"

Itachi knew his uncle did not share his ideals and wouldn't contact him without a reason.

"Just to inform you," Kaito said with a smile, "I have already gone to Konoha and killed Danzo, reclaiming all of the Uchiha clan's artifacts."

"What are you really trying to do?" Itachi frowned.

"You should know," Kaito spoke with deep meaning, "Danzo had acquired Izanagi and implanted eleven Sharingan in himself, including one of Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyo."

Shisui's eyes...

Itachi's fists tightened involuntarily.

"I suppose you're aware then, Shisui was killed by Danzo in an ambush," Kaito continued, "Someone has to pay for the extinction of the Uchiha clan. Because of sister Mikoto, I spared you, but not everyone else was so fortunate."

"You know about Madara as well," Itachi spoke with some difficulty.

"Ah," Kaito nodded, "I learned a lot from Danzo, and I've always told you, that guy was never Uchiha Madara."

Itachi, somewhat agitated, said, "But have you considered Sasuke in your actions? By killing Danzo under the Uchiha name in Konoha, how is Sasuke supposed to face his future?"

"Sasuke has his own thoughts!" Kaito was straightforward in front of Itachi, "Unlike you, between Konoha and the Uchiha, Sasuke will undoubtedly choose the Uchiha."

"No! Sasuke must return to Konoha to vindicate the Uchiha." Itachi raised his voice.

"Heh, that's just your wishful thinking, useless."

Kaito said with a pleased expression, "I've already declared in front of the Fifth Hokage and many Konoha ninjas... the Uchiha clan will completely withdraw from Konoha."

"You're staining the Uchiha name with infamy!" Itachi's face changed dramatically, "And you have no right to make such a decision."

"I do what I want," Kaito shrugged, "From now on, the Uchiha will have nothing to do with Konoha."

"If you still consider yourself a Konoha ninja," he said coldly, "then you should completely abandon your surname."

Itachi's form shook slightly, his expression bitter as he looked down at his hands in silence.

"A piece of advice," Kaito's figure began to fade, "We're about to confront the people behind Akatsuki directly. It might reveal that we know certain information during the battle, and your identity will surely be questioned, so find a way out in advance. After all, I don't want you to die by anyone's hand other than Sasuke's."

"Lastly, another piece of information, the man claiming to be Uchiha Madara is actually..." Kaito's figure disappeared completely, leaving only his last words to echo, "Uchiha Obito."

After the genjutsu dissipated, Itachi stood up in silence, remaining standing in the night wind for a long time.

Inside the cave, Kisame, awakened by the continuous coughing in the wind, couldn't help but comment, "It seems Itachi's health is getting worse..."