Chapter 41 – Uchiha Itachi Returns to the Village
"This kid actually possesses such power?"
A flicker of genuine shock crossed Morino Ibiki's stern face as he watched the scene in the crystal ball. According to all prior intelligence, Izaya was anything but a genius. Yet the display of power before his eyes was far beyond the capabilities of any ordinary shinobi, let alone a failed Academy student. The scale and destructive force of the Fire Release ninjutsu were astounding.
"What kind of Fire Release technique is that?" Ibiki couldn't help but ask, his voice low. In his ten years as a shinobi, he had never seen anything quite like it.
"I do not know," the Third Hokage admitted, shaking his head. He closed down the image in the crystal ball, his gaze still fixed on the spot where Izaya had been on Konoha's main street. "In all my years, I have never seen a Fire Release jutsu of that nature. Perhaps... it is a Kekkei Genkai unique to him."
"But how can a civilian possess a Kekkei Genkai?" Ibiki questioned, a hint of deep curiosity now in his eyes. "Lord Hokage, do you require me to place him under surveillance?"
"That will not be necessary. I have already assigned someone," the Third replied, waving a hand to dismiss the notion. His tone then grew solemn. "My concern is not Izaya himself. My concern is that Danzō may have also discovered his true capabilities. Therefore, your mission is to protect the boy from the shadows."
"I understand," Ibiki said after a moment's pause, accepting the order with a firm nod.
...
"Did the old man really call me in just to talk about me going back to the Ninja Academy?"
Izaya, now back in the safety of his home, was still utterly perplexed. Based on what Mitarashi Anko had implied, the Third Hokage definitely knew about his connection to Uchiha Itachi. And yet, during their entire conversation, the Hokage hadn't even hinted at it. This deliberate avoidance only made Izaya more suspicious and uneasy. At this point, he almost wished the Hokage would just confront him directly. This state of not knowing was far worse.
"Whatever. I'll deal with it as it comes."
After turning it over in his mind, Izaya decided to stop wasting energy on the Hokage's motives. It was time to focus on what was important: training.
With his previous tenfold cultivation speed now boosted by an additional twenty percent, Izaya, already gifted in ninjutsu, felt the exhilarating rush of a true genius's progress. The moment he sat down to meditate, a surging, powerful wave of chakra flooded into his body. The latent flame energy from his Devil Fruit stirred in response, eager to be unleashed.
"Twelve times the normal speed...!" Izaya was momentarily stunned by the sheer efficiency. After a brief moment of awe, he didn't waste another second, sinking fully into his cultivated state.
But the Izaya who was focused on his training was completely unaware that outside his modest home, a silent war of observation was taking place.
Hm?
Uchiha Itachi, who had just returned to the village, paused as he approached Izaya's home, a sharp glint in his eyes.
"Root... ANBU... and the Hyūga clan..."
After quickly identifying the three separate groups of watchers, a deep sense of alarm settled over Itachi's usually calm features.
Has my association with Izaya been discovered?
The thought sent a wave of cold vigilance through him. Skillfully evading the detection of all three forces, Itachi slipped, silent and unseen, into Izaya's home, determined to get answers.
"Who's there?!" In an instant, Izaya's eyes snapped open from his meditative state, his body already coiling into a combat stance.
Boom!
Almost reflexively, Izaya gathered power in his hand and launched a blazing attack toward the source of the sound.
The air shook with the impact. As the smoke and dust settled, Izaya saw the figure standing calmly behind the dissipating energy. It was Uchiha Itachi.
"When did you get back?" Izaya asked, his face a mask of shock. He hadn't expected Itachi to return from his mission so soon.
Hurriedly dispersing the fiery aura around his body, Izaya spoke again. "Itachi, I didn't expect it to be you. Why are you back now?"
"The mission concluded," Itachi replied, a faint, tired smile touching his lips as he smoothly deflected the remnants of Izaya's attack. Finding a clear spot to sit, a spark of surprise ignited in Itachi's dark eyes. "Izaya... I didn't expect your strength to have grown again so soon."
Sensing the dense, potent chakra swirling within Izaya, Itachi couldn't help but offer a word of praise. To grow from chūnin-level strength to bona fide jōnin-level in just over a week... He had seen many prodigies in his life, but only Izaya left him feeling truly astonished.
"Heh, well, I haven't exactly been lazy while you were away," Izaya said with a grin, a hint of pride in his voice as he put away the kunai he'd instinctively drawn. His expression then turned curious. "Is the mission completely finished? I thought you weren't due back for a few more days."
"It is done. I came to see you as soon as I reported in," Itachi stated simply.
"Good to have you back," Izaya replied, his smile warm and genuine.
"By the way, Izaya," Itachi began after a moment of comfortable silence, his tone shifting to become more serious. "Have you noticed anything... unusual lately?"
"Noticed something wrong?" Izaya's cheerful expression immediately sobered into one of caution. He moved closer to Itachi and quickly recounted the recent events: his confrontation with Hyūga Hiashi and the subsequent summons from the Third Hokage.
"So that's why..." Itachi murmured, everything clicking into place. The multiple sets of watchers now made perfect sense.
Seeing the understanding dawn on Itachi's face, Izaya pressed for an explanation. "What is it?"
Itachi decided not to hide the truth. "Before I came in, I observed several groups monitoring your home." His voice was low and cautious. "Izaya, it seems you have attracted some very unwanted attention."
"So I've been spotted..." Izaya muttered, the pressure instantly mounting within him as he thought of the combined scrutiny of the Hyūga clan, the Hokage's ANBU, and Danzō's Root.
But unlike Izaya, who was feeling the weight of the situation, a strange, almost imperceptible smile now graced Uchiha Itachi's lips. In the midst of this new danger, he saw not just a threat, but perhaps an unexpected opportunity.
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