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Sarutobi Asuma was also speechless.
In the entire ninja world, who doesn't know by now that Uchiha Itachi slaughtered his own clan, leaving only his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke, alive? Provoking Sasuke in front of him about the Uchiha massacre—was that really a wise move?
"You have nothing to do with those eyes. I'll go chase him back," said Might Guy (Metkay) firmly.
"Then I'll leave Kakashi to you," Asuma replied.
However, both Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi failed to stop the situation from escalating.
Even though they were elite Konoha jonin, they were powerless in the face of Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan. They weren't taijutsu specialists like Metkay, who could fight without needing to lock eyes or perceive every subtle detail of his opponent.
Metkay didn't waste words. He jumped out of the window, preparing to pursue Sasuke.
But unexpectedly, as he reached the entrance, he found his troublesome disciple waiting for him.
"Did Uchiha Itachi come back?" Ye Dou asked.
After understanding the situation from Metkay's brief explanation, Ye Dou subconsciously glanced up at Hokage Rock—specifically, at the stone face of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Uchiha Itachi had originally struck a secret deal with Shimura Danzo: in exchange for wiping out the Uchiha clan to prevent their coup, Itachi's condition was to spare his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke.
For this promise, Itachi even risked returning after the massacre to confront Danzo, warning him never to harm Sasuke.
Compared to Danzo, Itachi clearly placed his trust in the "light" of Konoha—represented by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi—who had shown the Uchiha clan multiple chances for peaceful resolution.
But now, Hiruzen had died at the hands of Orochimaru during the Konoha Crush, his soul sealed forever within the belly of the Shinigami. The only one left in Konoha who still knew the full truth of the Uchiha massacre was Shimura Danzo.
"Why did Itachi return? To warn Danzo again? Is Danzo even still alive? Has he... been secretly watching Konoha all along?" Ye Dou wondered to himself.
Itachi's reappearance had come so swiftly that it seemed as though he had rushed back the instant he heard something troubling.
"Well, their target seems to be Naruto. Sasuke overheard the news and went after them alone," Metkay explained with a serious expression. "Ye Dou, this isn't your mission, but I believe that no matter what, they're still your comrades. I'm taking you with me."
"Besides, in all of Konoha, only you and I can fight without being affected by the Sharingan."
As Ye Dou's teacher, Metkay was well aware of his unique combat talent—a heightened sense of auditory perception that allowed him to "listen" to his opponent's movements with uncanny precision.
"Where is Uzumaki Naruto?" Ye Dou asked, withdrawing his gaze from Hokage Rock.
"If Itachi and the Akatsuki are targeting him, then we just need to find Naruto."
"I don't know exactly. Last I heard, he left the village with Jiraiya for a mission," Metkay replied.
"Then let's go."
"Hey! Ye Dou, the village entrance is that way—where are you going?" Metkay called out.
"To Ichiraku Ramen first," Ye Dou said without turning back.
Naruto had a well-known obsession. As long as he had money, he would almost always go to Ichiraku Ramen for breakfast. If anyone knew about his whereabouts, it would be there.
"It's not... ramen time, you idiot!" Metkay growled, chasing after him.
"Oh, Naruto? Yeah, he just left with Lord Jiraiya. I think they were heading toward Juba Town," said the manager of Ichiraku when they arrived.
Metkay suddenly fell silent.
Sometimes, he thought, having a prodigious student might not be a blessing—it could be embarrassing for the teacher.
"Let's go. Juba Town isn't far—it's near Konoha. Sasuke will definitely chase them there," Ye Dou said calmly.
He didn't overthink it—just quietly marveled at how fate worked.
Uchiha Itachi, risking his life as a missing-nin, walked straight into Konoha just to warn Danzo to stay away from Sasuke.
And Sasuke, driven by vengeance, risked his life to chase after his brother back into Konoha's shadow.
"It's tragic, Uchiha Itachi," Ye Dou muttered.
With their course set, Ye Dou and Metkay raced out of Konoha, heading straight for Juba Town.
Juba Town was not a shinobi village, nor even a typical settlement. It was one of the official post stations within the Land of Fire—established, at least in part, due to Konoha's influence.
To understand its importance, one must understand the purpose of post stations.
In the era of cold weapons, a post wasn't a tourist stop—it was a hub for military and official couriers to rest, change mounts, and exchange intelligence on their journey.
As such, Juba Town functioned as a key node connecting the Land of Fire's inner regions with Konoha.
It wasn't far either—with the speed of two elite shinobi, they could reach it in half an hour.
"Although the defenses of Juba Town don't compare to Konoha, do you think Uchiha Itachi would really act there?" Metkay asked along the way, clearly concerned.
He knew the nature of the town—it wasn't fortified like Konoha, but it was still under the watch of Konoha's shinobi.
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