"Clang!"
Kurikara sheathed, Shihouin Naraku leaped upward, landing on the crown of a massive tree. From this vantage point, he scanned the now-silent forest.
"Looks like he escaped," he muttered.
Despite being struck by his sword, Uchiha Itachi had taken advantage of the collapsing water prison and the subsequent rush of water to flee.
"Well, Uchiha Itachi is resilient. That slash probably didn't do as much damage as I hoped."
Shihouin Naraku raised his eyebrows and the corners of his mouth curved upward into a malicious smile.
The blade he had swung moments ago had directly cut through Susanoo's physical chakra, leaving a terrible wound on Uchiha Itachi's body. If he wasn't mistaken, the wound was located near the kidney.
But Itachi was always more concerned about his brother than himself—he probably didn't care much about a damaged kidney.
Of course, this was just Naraku's dark humor.
All organs within the human body are vital. Shihouin Naraku's attack had been unmistakably cruel. Uchiha Itachi, already suffering from poor health, might not be able to withstand such a grievous wound and could die from it.
"This trip outside the village was quite rewarding," Naraku reflected. "I acquired my customized equipment and eliminated a destined enemy ahead of schedule."
A thought suddenly occurred to him. "Wait, Hoshigaki Kisame is dead... how will this affect Obito and Kabuto's future plans?"
He shrugged mentally. "Forget it. It's none of my business anyway. Let them figure it out themselves."
"Perhaps Uchiha Obito has already died after taking such a heavy blow."
Shihouin Naraku contemplated the battle and suddenly realized the significant impact he might have on future events.
Uchiha Obito, the mastermind behind the Fourth Great Ninja War, was now seriously injured by Shihouin Naraku, his fate uncertain. This would definitely alter the course of the future.
Then there was Yakushi Kabuto, another key figure connected to the Ninja World War, who currently worked under Shihouin Naraku, managing the corpse disposal team in the medical department!
Looking at it this way, Shihouin Naraku's existence had created major ripples in the timeline.
Suddenly, his expression changed as a troubling thought occurred to him: if Uchiha Obito died and the Ninja World War never took place, how would he ever serve as a high-ranking official in the Allied Shinobi Forces?
"Let me think..." he pondered.
Images of Uchiha Madara and Zetsu flashed through his mind, and Shihouin Naraku relaxed. Even if Uchiha Obito perished, those two would certainly continue with their plans.
Therefore, the Ninja World War would break out sooner or later; it was merely a question of timing.
"And even if something unexpected happens, I'm still here. I could start a ninja war myself if needed."
With this thought, Shihouin Naraku felt satisfied.
Nothing would stand in the way of his promotion!
...
"Cough cough... cough cough..."
"Hoo—Hoo—"
Uchiha Itachi leaned against the wall of a well-hidden cave, hastily bandaging his wounds. Immediately afterward, he cleaned up the blood dripping onto the ground to prevent its scent from attracting unwanted attention.
"Seems like Shihouin Naraku didn't pursue me," he observed between labored breaths.
Enduring the pain coursing through his body, Uchiha Itachi lowered his head in contemplation. Then, he channeled chakra into the ring bearing the character "Shu" that he wore on his finger. Instantly, a special signal was transmitted!
In Amegakure, the Village Hidden in the Rain, at a secret hideout...
"Hmm?"
A man with spiky orange hair, black chakra receivers piercing his nose, and wearing the signature Akatsuki cloak of red clouds against black suddenly spoke, as if sensing something.
"What is it, Pain?" inquired the woman beside him.
She was beautiful, with short blue-purple hair and a light blue paper flower adorning the right side of her head.
These two were Nagato and Konan of the Akatsuki!
However, Nagato's true body was hidden elsewhere in Amegakure. He was using his Rinnegan to control the corpses of his fallen comrades as puppets.
The Deva Path of Pain's Six Paths!
"Itachi has just contacted me..."
The facial expression of the Deva Path—once Yahiko—remained unchanged. After all, this body was merely a puppet, and the one speaking was Nagato concealed in the shadows.
"Uchiha Itachi?" Konan's brow furrowed elegantly; she had never fully trusted the Uchiha.
"They completed their last mission not long ago and should be resting now. Didn't Itachi mention they were going to replenish their ninja tools?"
"Has something happened?"
"Let's hear him out and find out."
Nagato, controlling the Deva Path, raised his hand and connected to the signal Uchiha Itachi had sent.
A shimmering, colorful illusion materialized in the dim hideout—it was Uchiha Itachi.
This technique was known as the Astral Projection Jutsu!
Commonly used for communication between Akatsuki members.
"What's wrong with you?" the Deva Path asked.
Even though it was merely a projection, Pain sensed something amiss in Uchiha Itachi's current state.
"Are you injured?"
"Kisame is dead. I am wounded and require medical attention from the organization," Itachi replied.
Despite the suddenness of the situation, Uchiha Itachi's voice remained calm as he briefly outlined the circumstances.
"What?" Konan stared at Itachi's projection, doubt evident in her expression.
"Let's verify," said the Deva Path, his voice neither rising nor falling.
He raised his hand, attempting to contact Hoshigaki Kisame through the Astral Projection Jutsu, but received no response.
Either Hoshigaki Kisame was truly dead, or the special ring used for communication had been destroyed!
"Who was your enemy? Which hidden village attacked you? Was it Konohagakure?"
"There was only one enemy—a high-ranking shinobi from Konohagakure named Shihouin Naraku. Throughout the battle, no fourth person appeared."
"One person? A single shinobi attacked both you and Kisame simultaneously? What condition was he in afterward?"
"He appeared unharmed, perhaps slightly mentally fatigued. He must have expended considerable chakra and energy, though."
"Uchiha Itachi! Are you making some kind of tasteless joke?" Konan demanded.
Through this exchange of questions and answers, they gradually pieced together the outline of the incident.
"You're telling us that the infamous Uchiha Itachi and the rogue ninja from Kirigakure, Hoshigaki Kisame, confronted a single shinobi from Konohagakure, resulting in one death and one injury? Do you understand how absurd that sounds, Itachi?"
"I've made the situation quite clear," Itachi replied evenly.
The Deva Path interrupted their exchange, speaking in a tone that brooked no argument: "Tell us everything that transpired, word for word, beginning from when you completed your last assassination mission."
"Konan, Sasori and Deidara are still at the base. Inform them to provide immediate backup."
With undisguised suspicion marring her beautiful features, Konan cast a penetrating glance at Uchiha Itachi before turning and departing.
"You may begin, Uchiha Itachi."
"After our last assassination mission, Kisame and I traveled to a remote area to replenish our depleted ninja tools... During our journey... we completed the transaction, and as we were leaving... Shihouin Naraku launched a direct attack... Then... I attempted to save Kisame but failed, so I immediately retreated."
Uchiha Itachi concealed nothing, recounting to the Deva Path everything that had occurred since their encounter with Shihouin Naraku.
After listening to Itachi's explanation, Nagato did not immediately respond through the Deva Path.
After a lengthy silence, he finally spoke: "In addition to Sasori and Deidara, Konan and I will also meet you at the border of the Land of Fire."
"If this individual reappears, lure him toward us."
"I will personally intervene and eliminate him."
"Understood," Itachi replied before his projection dissipated.
In the dimly lit hideout, only the echo of their voices remained.
"The Guardian..."
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