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Chapter 58
Akiji Kumo's breathing hitched. She froze there for a full ten-plus seconds.
"How could this be? How do you know?"
"You're lying! You don't even know I'm not Uchiha Sakyo. You don't even know who I am, yet you dare claim my parents are already dead?"
"On what basis?!"
Uchiha Itachi said calmly: "That's just how Root operates."
Akiji Kumo: "…"
"I want revenge! I'm going to kill Danzō and wipe out every single Root ninja!"
She screamed hoarsely, trying to look dangerous, but in Uchiha Itachi's eyes, this display was…
Two hours later, Uchiha Itachi spoke to the gradually calming Akiji Kumo: "Have you calmed down?"
"I need you to help me play this role properly."
"In front of me, you remain Uchiha Sakyo. In front of Root, you remain Tenraku Kumo."
Akiji Kumo glared viciously at Uchiha Itachi, her voice filled with hatred: "If it weren't for you Uchiha clan, how would we have been dragged into this?"
"Why… should I help you?"
Uchiha Itachi gave only one reason: "This way, you can inflict damage on Root."
Akiji Kumo: "Fine! I'll help. Tell me what to do."
…
In the dense forest, Uchiha Itachi gently tapped Tenraku Kumo on the forehead, a rare smile appearing on his face.
Tenraku Kumo showed no abnormality and continued complaining at Itachi as normal.
However…
At that moment, in the air nearby, a circle of ripples suddenly appeared.
In less than a second, Uzumaki Naruto jumped out from the ripples.
The moment he saw Uchiha Itachi, Naruto was pulled into the Tsukuyomi space…
"Uzumaki Naruto, I need you and Little Sakyo to put on a show of force against me."
Inside the Tsukuyomi space, Uchiha Itachi said this to Naruto.
Naruto looked Itachi up and down, then burst into loud laughter: "Itachi, I hope you don't screw this up."
"The current Little Sakyo is extremely strong."
"And even without you saying anything, she'll attack you like a madwoman."
Uchiha Itachi looked at Naruto expressionlessly, a trace of irritation rising involuntarily in his heart.
Good grief, Little Sakyo?
Wasn't that a name only he could use?
So why the hell did Uzumaki Naruto think he could? On what basis??
"When the time comes, I will counterattack."
Uchiha Itachi continued: "That way, it will match Root's plan."
Naruto looked completely confused: "Huh? What plan does Root have?"
Uchiha Itachi: "…"
This carefree idiot… it seemed he had won Uchiha Sakyo's heart. Could someone like this really protect Little Sakyo?
Moreover… jinchūriki were apparently even more sensitive than Uchiha.
Then a jinchūriki plus Uchiha… wouldn't that make Danzō so anxious he'd jump out of his skin, personally disguise himself as the Fourth Hokage to "recognize" Naruto as family, and monitor him day and night!
Uchiha spoke to Naruto: "Root wants me to believe another girl is Little Sakyo."
"That way, Root can make me attack Little Sakyo, then use the two of us to force her to awaken the Mangekyō."
"In short… you and Little Sakyo need to attack me, and I… will fight back."
"And I won't hold back. Are you confident?"
Uchiha spoke seriously while looking at Naruto.
He wanted to see Naruto's attitude and strength. Only then could Uchiha Itachi feel at ease entrusting his little sister to him.
If Naruto was a coward, how could Uchiha Itachi possibly feel safe leaving Little Sakyo with him?