Chapter 76 – The Ferret Walks Into the Trap
Aike decided the original caged-bird seal was too petty.
Destroying a bit of brain tissue when activated?
Child's play for something that touched the soul.
So he completely overhauled it.
Soul destruction on trigger?
Now we're talking.
Meanwhile, outside Konoha's barrier,
two figures in black cloaks with red clouds slowly approached.
The smaller one stared at the village with ancient, weary eyes.
The other carried a massive wrapped blade on his back and had the unmistakable shark-faced grin.
S-rank missing-nin.
Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi.
"Didn't expect Konoha to hand the hat to a woman. I thought it'd be that loudmouth Sannin."
"But Senju Tsunade taking the seat… maybe not a bad choice."
"What do you think, Itachi-san?"
Kisame was chatty as usual.
Itachi remained quiet.
"As you said, a Senju on the throne stabilizes the village fastest."
That wasn't what he actually cared about.
The ultimate brother-complex patient only wanted two answers:
Why did Sasuke defect?
Is he still in the village?
Unfortunately for Itachi,
the moment he crossed the border, he stepped into Aike's perception range.
"Izumi. Uchiha Itachi just showed up."
The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees.
Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan flared to life in Izumi's eyes, murderous pressure flooding the space.
"Easy. He's not getting away."
"We can use him as bait to fish out the masked one too."
Aike soothed her like calming a furious cat.
Nami, Kaya, and Carina all looked at Izumi with worry,
promising silently that none of her remaining targets would escape.
Under their concern, the ice on Izumi's face slowly thawed.
The killing intent stayed—directed solely at Itachi and the man in the mask.
"Let's go. Looks like Itachi and his partner have already been spotted."
"We don't want the ferret slipping away."
A small lake on the outskirts of Konoha.
Kakashi and Asuma stood ready, weapons drawn, staring down the intruders.
"Didn't think you'd come back. Planning to kick us while we're down?"
"S-rank traitor—Uchiha Itachi!"
Asuma growled.
Itachi's expression didn't change.
"You can ignore us, Asuma-san, Kakashi-san.
I have no hostile intent toward the village. I don't want unnecessary fighting."
"Are you joking?"
Asuma tightened his grip on his chakra blades. "The man who massacred his own clan says he means no harm? You expect me to believe that?"
Talks failed.
"Guess we're doing this the hard way, Itachi-san."
Kisame grinned, showing rows of shark teeth.
"You're the missing-nin from Kiri—Kisame Hoshigaki?!"
Kakashi recognized the second intruder.
Same uniform. Same organization.
A cold dread settled in his stomach.
"You're both from the same group?"
Kisame laughed and swung Samehada down.
The ground where Kakashi had stood exploded into a crater.
"Not bad! As expected of Konoha's technician, Kakashi of the Sharingan. Fast."
Kisame shouldered his blade, clearly pleased with his opponent.
Asuma char
ged Itachi from the other side.
Itachi shook his head.
He really hadn't wanted to fight.
But they were pushing it.
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