Uchiha Itachi, wearing dark goggles, appeared before the two of them. He had originally intended to ask if anyone around Konoha Village had seen someone wearing the same robe as him.
In any case, after asking, a single genjutsu would ensure no one remembered him.
However, he ended up running into an acquaintance.
"Nara Kano."
"Uchiha Itachi?"
Kano was curious. Why was it him again? Did the Akatsuki Organization not have anyone else? And were those goggles to defend against Sasuke?
She had guessed that the Akatsuki Organization might send someone, but she hadn't expected them to send the hardworking Itachi again. If so, his partner, Kisame, must be with him.
However, the knowledgeable Sakura immediately recognized that the person who had arrived was none other than Konoha's S-rank rogue Ninja, Uchiha Itachi!
"Kano, he is an S-rank rogue Ninja..."
"Wait!" Kano interrupted Sakura. "Finish what you were saying first. I hate it when people leave their sentences half-finished. What did you want to ask of me?"
Kano couldn't stand that kind of stupid situation where something important was interrupted by something inexplicable, only for it to never be said again.
Sakura was stunned for a moment.
"Ah? I wanted to ask you to teach me genjutsu and Medical Ninjutsu."
Itachi was very cooperative, standing still and waiting for Kano and Sakura to finish their explanation.
"Oh, so that's it." Kano nodded. Since she had taken over Sakura's role, helping her was only right. "I agree. You can continue with your topic about the S-rank rogue Ninja."
Sakura blinked, nodded, and completely lost her previous embarrassment. She then returned to the tense atmosphere, her expression becoming serious.
"Kano, he is an S-rank rogue Ninja and is extremely dangerous! You take the children and evacuate quickly! I will use genjutsu to hold him back! Genjutsu: Falling Cherry Blossom Illusion!"
Sakura formed hand seals and cast the genjutsu. It was impossible for her and Kano to defeat Uchiha Itachi. The only way to have a glimmer of hope was for one person to sacrifice themselves while the other took the children and escaped. Sakura decisively chose to sacrifice herself, believing that the more capable Kano had a better chance of escaping with the children, whereas she herself would definitely not make it.
Then, the genjutsu rebounded, and Sakura fell straight to the ground.
"Is she always this brave?"
Itachi asked Kano, and Kano replied with some embarrassment.
"She's new; she doesn't know any better."
"Don't be nervous. We aren't here for the Nine-Tailed this time; we are looking for someone else. Have you ever seen anyone other than me and Kisame wearing a red cloud robe? It is a woman."
Kano naturally knew who he was talking about, but she didn't admit it. Their timing was too unfortunate; she hadn't even had time to change into her costume yet. After all, she only intended to use that identity to occasionally visit the Akatsuki Organization for fun, not to stay there for long.
She remembered that last time, too, Orochimaru had insisted on finding her at that exact moment. Whenever she wanted to do something bad in secret, people always showed up at the strangest times.
"If I say I haven't seen her, would you believe me?" Fearing that she might suddenly fall under a genjutsu, Kano also put on sunglasses.
"No."
"Fine then. I'm currently on a mission to watch over the children. Come to this location tomorrow, and I will give you the information, but you must prepare a reward for me."
Kano pointed to a relatively secluded spot on the map.
"Agreed."
Itachi didn't say anything more and tossed a large bag of money to Kano. Without even asking about Sasuke's situation, he transformed into a murder of crows and left.
The reward I wanted wasn't money... Oh well, I'll deal with the Shisui Sharingan later.
Fortunately, Itachi was reasonable and willing to reschedule for a more convenient time. She then took Sakura back to the car. Along the way, she fabricated a seamless excuse to ensure no one would suspect anything!
"Uchiha Itachi, do you trust that little girl that much?" Konan descended from the sky and came to Uchiha Itachi's side. Itachi maintained his usual cold demeanor and told Konan about Kano.
"She seems to have no hostility toward us, she is very clear about our goals, and she seems to understand my past, yet I have no impression of her at all."
"She's a cute child. It would be nice if she could join us."
"She is only a Genin; her strength is insufficient."
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