The pitter-patter.The drizzle outside the mountain gradually turned into a heavy downpour.
"Itachi-san, the rain's still coming down hard. It wouldn't be good for your health to go out now."
Standing in the mouth of a cave, Kisame glanced at Uchiha Itachi, who was walking outside alone to stand in the rain, and offered a rare kind reminder.
Kisame felt a strange mix of sympathy, respect, and curiosity for this cold man—the one who had slaughtered his own clan and killed his comrades.
I wonder… did Itachi ever shed tears after killing his own people?No, probably not. Someone that cold-hearted likely wouldn't even have tears to shed.
"Rather than worrying about that, we should focus on finding the Nine-Tailed Fox's whereabouts."
Standing in the rain, gazing up at the misty sky, Uchiha Itachi slightly tightened his grip on a piece of paper in his hand.
Thump, thump, thump…A crow, equally drenched, flapped its wings and landed on his shoulder.
The letter from the Third Hokage had truly surprised him.
But now… was there really any possibility for him—a sinner who had annihilated his entire clan—to return to the village?
He had already decided his fate: when his younger brother Sasuke grew up, he would die peacefully at Sasuke's hands, allowing his brother to become a great hero of Konoha and restore the Uchiha name there.
As for returning now and rejoining the Anbu?Itachi thought Sarutobi Hiruzen must have lost his mind.
Still… Sasuke was in the village, and there was another clansman who had unexpectedly survived.
Those were reasons to consider… and besides—
After so many years away from Konoha, Uchiha Itachi found himself wanting to see it again.
"So eager? Itachi-san still seems a bit attached to his hometown."
Yes, the leader had assigned them to find information about the Nine-Tailed Fox. But it wasn't the sort of mission that required rushing—it could be done anytime.
Could Itachi have another motive?
As a double agent in Akatsuki, Kisame's role was not just completing missions, but also monitoring Uchiha Itachi.
"No, not at all."
Crash!With a flurry of cawing crows, Uchiha Itachi's figure dissolved into a swirling flock and vanished.
"I know, I know… pressure, Masne."
Seeing his partner had already left, Kisame couldn't keep chatting. He simply hefted his Samehada and followed.
"Itachi-san's really motivated today."