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Hatake Kuroshi swung the fork that came with the daifuku, speaking thoughtfully.
Of course, fundamentally, it wasn't that simple.
He was realizing his wishes step by step. Kirigakure was considered his planned money-making ground.
Whether in war or daily life, regardless of the era, the most needed thing was always money.
Obito controlled the Fourth Mizukage, messed around here for ages, yet fundamentally achieved nothing useful.
Not only did the economy fail to develop, but many strange Kekkei Genkai were either forced to death or lost.
Excellent ninjas like the Seven Ninja Swordsmen also couldn't stand the tyranny and were forced to leave.
Since it was useless in his hands, it was better to take control himself. Salvage one if possible.
"But Shisui will probably stay here."
Hatake Kuroshi blinked, looking at Shisui beside him.
"Hm?"
Shisui looked aside blankly; he didn't know about this plan.
"Well, after all, the Three-Tails currently has no Jinchuriki. If there's any issue with the Three-Tails, you can control it promptly."
"The Tailed Beast is basically the weight controlling the entire Kirigakure. You still need to assist Mangetsu Hozuki."
"This way, Itachi can also visit you often—!"
Hatake Kuroshi said with a grin.
What does this guy think missing-nin are? People who can just drop by whenever they feel like it!?
Shisui and Itachi frowned simultaneously, complaining silently in their hearts.
"Traveling, huh? Next would be heading towards Kumogakure (Village Hidden by Clouds)—"
"Anyway, these places are only so big. After playing around, I'll go back to Konoha!"
"I can check on your idiot younger brother then too~"
Hatake Kuroshi stretched both arms, leaning back against the chair behind him, rocking back and forth.
Kaguya... even if he could create a new world and overthrow the useless upper echelon... their biggest enemies would still be Zetsu and Kaguya.
Cultivating students while simultaneously stopping Zetsu and the others from reviving Kaguya... he simply couldn't split himself.
Even learning the Shadow Clone Technique wouldn't enable Hatake Kuroshi to do such a thing.
So for now, he was just going around to various villages to understand the current situation.
Of course, not just understanding; some connections were also necessary.
Itachi paused, then nodded knowingly.
As long as people were alive, there would always be a time to meet again, no matter where.
"Yosh—finished eating!"
"The missing-nin should probably go back and report the news now~"
Hatake Kuroshi pushed the empty plate forward and stood up from the chair.
Itachi straightened his clothes, put on the straw hat placed aside, his expression returning to its usual indifference.
"Ooh! That missing-nin aura just kicked in~"
"Not bad, Itachi-chan! Very much got that corporate slave vibe!"
Hatake Kuroshi cheerfully slung an arm around Itachi's shoulder, walking together towards the shop entrance.
What's 'corporate slave' again?
Itachi lowered his head somewhat helplessly, using the white ribbons hanging from the straw hat to cover his face.
...
Juzo Biwa, after completing the assassination mission, was killed by Kirigakure's new Mizukage, Mangetsu Hozuki, and the Hunter-nin unit.
Itachi Uchiha left to return to the group; the Three-Tails investigation mission failed.
The phantom images within the Demonic Statue Chains technique flickered faintly. Zetsu stood aside, reporting.
In reality, Zetsu only inquired about the situation after Itachi left Kirigakure.
"Not the Jinchuriki, but the Mizukage?"
"Based on your combined strength, you shouldn't have lost."
White Zetsu's meaning was unclear, sounding somewhat sarcastic as he flickered beside Itachi.
"The new Mizukage possesses secret techniques and improved ninjutsu. Juzo Biwa and I lacked sufficient information."
Itachi didn't fall for his provocation at all, stating the pre-planned excuse expressionlessly.
Zetsu looked back thoughtfully towards Kirigakure.
However, the current Kirigakure, capable of blocking him directly outside, unable even to enter, indicated it possessed some strength.
Plus, Juzo Biwa was originally from Kirigakure; insiders understood insiders. His demise there wasn't particularly strange.
"Truly quite regrettable."
Zetsu pursued the matter no further. White Zetsu made a flippant comment and sank into the ground.
After Zetsu finished, Orochimaru's hoarse voice was the first to sound.
"Meaning, Itachi managed to retreat completely despite not knowing the Mizukage's strength."
"Truly worthy of you, Itachi."
Orochimaru's voice was clingy. Itachi stared expressionlessly at the bonfire before him, listening silently to Pain's subsequent arrangements.
Hatake Kuroshi had already warned him that Orochimaru was problematic; he couldn't let his guard down around this guy.
Pain had long grown accustomed to this situation. Now that both Kakuzu and Itachi lacked partners, they would naturally be temporarily grouped together.
However, with this loss, missions prioritizing investigation would have to be delayed for some time.
"Akatsuki needs new members now."
"We'll discuss further once people arrive."
Actually, Itachi had spent some time at the Akatsuki base, but besides Pain, Konan, and Juzo Biwa, everyone else was out on missions at the time.
Thus, this meeting scheduled outside the shrine was actually the first time everyone had gathered offline, away from the Demonic Statue Chains technique.
"There was a missing-nin who defected from Kirigakure before. Someone will bring him over later."
"After he arrives, Itachi, you will be paired with the newcomer."
Most of Pain's face was hidden behind his clothes.
With limited numbers now, arranging it so one veteran guided one newcomer was preferable.
Additionally, Kakuzu's last partner was essentially killed by him; pairing someone with him required careful consideration.
Itachi and Kakuzu had only been nominal teammates for a few days, having never even met before, so naturally, there were no objections.
"Besides Itachi getting a new teammate, aren't there any replacements for us?"
"I believe my teammate should also be updated."
A "hissing" sound continuously emanated from Orochimaru's throat, sounding rather sarcastic.
"Once the newcomer arrives, you two will naturally separate."
Pain glanced expressionlessly at Orochimaru.
"There's a troublesome brat in Iwagakure, Deidara."
"He's Onoki's student, a dangerous individual who uses Explosion Release. He was moved out of the village to live since childhood, should be easy to recruit."
"When the time comes, Itachi and Sasori, your two teams will bring that brat back together."
Pain mentioned various precautions and future goals.
It sounded much like a pyramid scheme demanding subordinates recruit downlines, with the grand promise being collecting Tailed Beasts for world peace.
Itachi wasn't particularly interested in these miscellaneous matters; world peace or not, it didn't matter.
He had reached the point of being a missing-nin; whatever the boss said, went. As long as his younger brother wasn't targeted, anything was permissible.
After the meeting dispersed, basically everyone left immediately using Body Flicker.
This kind of offline gathering, calling them all to one place, felt like being forced to work overtime on a day off for these freedom-accustomed missing-nin.
Itachi walked down alone from the red torii gate, the shrine steps winding downwards layer by layer.
Orochimaru was walking up the steps, meeting Itachi face-to-face.
Itachi instantly tensed up, though his face remained calm as usual.
His crimson Sharingan rotated almost imperceptibly.
Their relationship was more like a fan single-mindedly pursuing an idol, and an idol unwilling to pay much attention.
The moment the two passed each other, Orochimaru's lips curled up slightly.
Immediately, a large brown python shot out from Orochimaru's sleeve, tightly coiling around Itachi.
He didn't want to wait any longer. Pain seemed to be deliberately preventing him from having too much contact with Itachi.
Continuing to wait like this was meaningless; he had to take the initiative.
"Do you know what eternal life is, Itachi~?"
"I don't know yet, so I need a new body."
"An excellent body to achieve my eternal life."
Accompanied by Orochimaru's voice, Itachi, tightly bound by the python and unable to move, was continuously lifted up.
Orochimaru could almost imagine Itachi's struggling expression, even though Itachi still had his back to him.
"Ultimately, this is a problem of your desire."
Itachi's calm voice suddenly sounded from above. Orochimaru blinked in near disbelief.
Yet, almost in that instant, their positions instantly reversed.
Orochimaru was frozen mid-step on the stairs. Itachi still stood on the upper steps, looking down at him condescendingly with those crimson Sharingan eyes.
"Body Paralysis Technique...?!"
"Such powerful ocular power! How wonderful!"
Orochimaru felt as if giant iron nails pinned his entire body, rendering him completely immobile; even moving a finger was extremely difficult.
Orochimaru's pupils slightly constricted in hesitation. This instant reversal was truly beyond his expectations.
He prided himself on his Genjutsu skills, but in that moment just now, he genuinely hadn't realized he was already caught in an illusion!
Immediately, a fervent passion ignited within Orochimaru's golden eyes.
This is the Sharingan's Genjutsu!?
These are the eyes he sought! Especially after experiencing it firsthand, he could better understand the power of this dōjutsu.
This situation was simply inexplicable pressure for Itachi.
First Danzo, now Orochimaru. If they want the Sharingan so badly, just hurry up and commit suicide.
Get reincarnated and try again; maybe they'll actually be reborn into the Uchiha clan.
Seeing Orochimaru's hands struggling to lift, Itachi unhesitatingly drew a kunai and directly cut off Orochimaru's left hand.
Must be wary of this guy. Once given a chance to counterattack, the one in trouble would likely be himself.
Itachi clearly remembered Hatake Kuroshi's warning in his mind.
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