Chapter 153: Sukuna unleashed in the Ninja World! Also Sasuke is coming to Itachi?!

Under Orochimaru's instructions, Kabuto set out for various locations to deliver the Eternal Chakra Elixir.

According to the Five Kage Summit's agreement, Orochimaru needed to regularly provide batches of this elixir to the Five Great Nations and the Five Great Ninja Villages. If his research made any major breakthroughs, he had to promptly deliver the latest results to all parties.

Naturally, Orochimaru wouldn't drop the ball on something that ensured his ongoing research funding. As far as he was concerned, any intermediate results—short of the final "perfect" version of the Eternal Chakra Elixir—could be released bit by bit, like squeezing out toothpaste.

With Kabuto away on deliveries, Orochimaru threw himself fully into researching the Blacklight Virus.

His biggest problem was that he still hadn't found a way to control it. If he could solve that, then with the virus's near-limitless capacity for evolution and its ability to select superior genetic traits, a single ninja could grow to Kage-level in an extremely short time.

In fact, even an ordinary person infected with the virus could—given enough "ninja biological material"—obtain all chakra natures and master multiple ninjutsu.

The deeper Orochimaru dug, the more potential he saw in the Blacklight Virus. Yet his progress wasn't going smoothly. The virus's peculiarities far surpassed his expectations—even a prodigy like him couldn't say when a real breakthrough might come.

Meanwhile, Kabuto began his "delivery run," first visiting the daimyō of the Five Great Nations, then the Five Great Ninja Villages.

Word of the Five Kage Summit held during the Chūnin Exams had spread among many mid- and small-scale ninja villages; quite a few leaders had heard that Orochimaru was developing an Eternal Chakra Elixir.

Unfortunately, the cost to acquire it was prohibitive: every research cycle demanded a 100-million-ryō investment, a sum outside the reach of most forces beyond the Five Great Nations and the Five Great Ninja Villages. You could say that, aside from the newly booming Amegakure, no other village or faction had such finances.

But that didn't trouble some: if they couldn't afford to buy it normally, they'd simply resort to other means—like killing and stealing. Not only would it cost nothing, they could also sell it at a steep mark-up on the black market. Thus, ever since the end of the Chūnin Exams, many people had been eyeing Orochimaru and Kabuto, biding their time to seize the elixir.

Shortly after Kabuto left the Land of Fire for the Land of Wind, he noticed someone was tailing him. He didn't panic, though—he was a "pay-to-win" patron of Senshi's Marketplace, after all! The 300 million ryō he'd spent on Senshi's product was certainly no waste. As he continued on his way, a tiny, ominous-looking mouth opened beneath his eye, and Sukuna's voice emerged:

"Why not dispose of those small fries who mean you ill?"

Kabuto wasn't surprised by Sukuna's appearance. Ever since he swallowed two of Sukuna's fingers, Sukuna had shown up from time to time to converse with him. No wonder Senshi had said that, by ingesting Sukuna's fingers, Kabuto would become Sukuna's jinchūriki.

In the face of the King of Curses' suggestion, Kabuto answered calmly and clearly: "Lord Sukuna, have you ever seen a surgeon abandon an organ-transplant surgery midway to start grilling meat? Unless these ninjas and mercenaries directly hinder my mission, I don't plan to waste time fighting them."

Sukuna gave a disdainful snort, a thick, fleshy laughter bubbling up.

"Your analogy is on point. I happen to excel at slicing live 'ingredients' into uniform thin slices. Just give me a few seconds, and I'll blow them away in the blink of an eye."

Kabuto shook his head slightly, standing by his view. "Lord Sukuna, it's to our advantage to avoid fighting whenever possible—best for completing my mission. Of course, if these ninjas or mercenaries push their luck, then I'll deal with them in your way."

Hearing that, Sukuna gave another dismissive "hmph" and fell silent, as if waiting for the "fun" to begin. Kabuto carried on, ignoring the lurking ninjas and observers along the way. He noticed these covert pursuers were extremely patient; even after he safely delivered the elixir to the Land of Wind's daimyō and Sunagakure, they never made a move.

With nothing happening so far, Kabuto continued to the Land of Earth to deliver the elixir to its daimyō and to Iwagakure.

Arriving at the Tsuchikage's office, he found Ōnoki standing with his back to the window.

"Young man, are you aware that you're in a very dangerous situation?"

Though Ōnoki's tone sounded casual, his words were anything but trivial.

Kabuto answered politely, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Tsuchikage. I'll be extra cautious."

Ōnoki gave a cold chuckle. "Caution alone won't cut it. Here's a better idea: from the elixirs meant for the Land of Lightning's daimyō, Kumogakure, the Land of Water's daimyō, and Kirigakure, give one vial each to Iwagakure. Then I'll assign our elite ninjas to escort you. They'll be grateful for it—losing a single vial is no big deal compared to having the entire shipment snatched."

Kabuto was momentarily speechless:

(O_O)???

He had assumed Ōnoki's warning came from good intentions—he never expected the old man's true aim. Faced with such an unreasonable demand, Kabuto refused without hesitation:

"Apologies, Lord Tsuchikage. I must abide by the Five Kage Summit's agreement and ensure each vial arrives as scheduled. Here's your share—please examine it."

As he spoke, he opened a sealing scroll, and a small box appeared on Ōnoki's desk.

"Hmph!" Ōnoki grudgingly inspected the elixir. Clearly displeased he hadn't managed to get extra, he gave a snort. Nearby, Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi were captivated by the elixir's quality.

Kurotsuchi remarked, "This is amazing—our older veterans who took it became remarkably invigorated."

Kitsuchi sighed. "It's a pity that we in Iwagakure don't have anyone capable of developing something like this."

While checking the elixir, Ōnoki was a bit surprised. "Is this the fourth iteration? It should be even more potent now, right?"

Kabuto nodded. "Yes. The Tier-4 Elixir is significantly improved in all aspects; it'll keep your back straighter than Iwagakure's walls."

Hearing that, Ōnoki grew even more eager for the remaining elixirs. He tried again, his tone tempting:

"Young man, won't you reconsider my proposal? It'd be safer."

"Between a total loss and losing only one vial, obviously they'd pick the lesser evil."

Kabuto was all but speechless. Behind his glasses, a sharp glint flashed. Whoever claimed the Tsuchikage's Tower was soundproof was clearly mistaken—this old man's greed is echoing across Iwagakure!

Wow, he's old and still so greedy. No wonder his back's always a mess.

Though he rolled his eyes inwardly, Kabuto maintained a polite smile. "Thanks for your concern, Lord Tsuchikage. But if the other Kage learned that our 'joint deliveries' got turned into an Iwagakure-special arrangement, Lord Orochimaru would probably have to triple or quadruple his research funds just to cover their demands."

With that, he turned and left the office. Once he was gone, Kurotsuchi teased, "Grandpa, why do you keep eyeing other people's Eternal Chakra Elixir? Doesn't Iwagakure have some too?"

Ōnoki snorted, responding self-righteously, "Its effects are outstanding. It can help many of our older ninjas keep contributing to the village. Of course the more of it, the better!"

As he spoke, he rose into the air, as if to head out. Kurotsuchi quickly asked, "Grandpa, where are you going?"

"Oh," Ōnoki answered offhandedly, "I'm following him to see if there's a chance to score something cheap. Anbu reports say plenty of ninjas from other villages and black-market mercenaries are after that kid. They'll probably attack as soon as he leaves Iwagakure."

He paused, a crafty look in his eyes. "While we can't rob the elixir ourselves, if other ninjas and mercenaries get it first, we can certainly 'pick up the scraps.'"

Kurotsuchi and Kitsuchi were left wide-eyed:

(O_O)???

Kurotsuchi couldn't help asking, "Grandpa, won't the other four major villages come after us if we do that?"

Ōnoki waved it off. "Let them blame the bandits who did the stealing—what's it got to do with me?"

He spoke as though it were no concern of his, all the while hoping the pursuers would strike soon, because if Kabuto got too far away, it would be harder for him to intervene.

After leaving the Tsuchikage's Tower, Kabuto swiftly left Iwagakure. The small-village ninjas and black-market mercenaries who had been following him all along were now apparently ready to attack. Kabuto sighed inwardly. All I wanted was to deliver the elixirs in peace, then return to work with Lord Orochimaru. That wish is clearly gone now.

He was using the Body Flicker Technique to hurry along when a giant Fūma Shuriken came whistling toward him. Kabuto dodged instantly—but the attackers had anticipated that. The moment he shifted, two iron chains lashed out, binding him tight like a "rice dumpling."

Seeing Kabuto trapped, two ninjas approached with smug grins, ready to haul him off. But just as they drew close, Kabuto—tied up like a package—let out a soft sigh:

"Did you know a random fact about the Chakra Scalpel?"

"When its sharpness exceeds seven thousand rotations per second… it can also plasma-polish metal."

Then came a "thump—"

The Kabuto tangled in chains transformed into a log, landing with a dull thud. The two ninjas barely had time to feel a chill on their necks before realizing they'd been tricked. Kabuto had used the Substitution Jutsu to fool them, and as they closed in, he'd slit their throats from the shadows with his Chakra Scalpel.

Too bad they realized too late. A second later, both collapsed as lifeless corpses. Kabuto emerged, pushing his glasses up with a faint glint in his lenses.

"If you're that keen to die, let's not waste time. Come on out."

Figures began to appear from all directions. They came from different villages and black-market circles, serving different factions, but with a single goal: stealing whatever remained of Kabuto's Eternal Chakra Elixir.

While these ninjas and mercenaries surrounded Kabuto, Ōnoki stood watching from a distant hill alongside Kurotsuchi and Kitsuchi.

"Looks like we'll get a few more doses of that elixir than expected this time," Ōnoki said with a pleased smile, eyes gleaming slyly.

Kurotsuchi stuck out her tongue, looking worried. "Grandpa, if Konoha let him deliver it alone, he's probably not that easy to take down, right?"

Before Ōnoki could reply, Kitsuchi cut in: "The ones coming after him aren't all small fry—some are elite from smaller villages, and there are notorious black-market mercenaries too. Even if Kabuto is strong, against so many, it'll be tough to escape, let alone defeat them."

Ōnoki nodded in agreement. "Exactly. If he's smart, he'll just drop the elixir and run. The elixir belongs to Orochimaru, but his life is his own."

As the three talked, Kabuto had already clashed with the ninjas and mercenaries. Though strong, he started to falter under so many formidable foes.

Bang!

A heavy kick slammed into his abdomen, sending him flying. He landed hard and slid for some distance.

Inside Kabuto's mind, Sukuna's voice rose again:

"All right, hand me control of your body. I'll deal with these small fries."

Kabuto hesitated. He and Sukuna had discussed this scenario as soon as Kabuto sensed he was being tailed, but fully relinquishing his body to Sukuna still gave him pause.

Now, though, letting Sukuna handle it was the best option. Even if Kabuto tried to break free and flee, these greedy ninjas and mercenaries wouldn't give up—they'd dog his steps until they got the elixir.

That decided it for Kabuto. "Lord Sukuna, things have come to this point. Let's do it your way."

Sukuna snickered, dripping with mocking contempt. "I told you before—these small fry would come digging their own graves."

None of the surrounding ninjas and mercenaries realized Kabuto had ceded control. Seeing him battered back, they all lunged in, eager to grab the Eternal Chakra Elixir.

On the distant hill, Ōnoki and the others believed Kabuto's demise was certain. He wouldn't be able to hold onto the elixir—he'd probably lose his life as well.

Yet just when everyone thought Kabuto was finished, the unexpected happened!

Boom!

A colossal burst of power erupted from Kabuto's center, sweeping outward in all directions.

Everyone looked at Kabuto again—and found he had undergone a shocking transformation.

Strange black markings spread across his face, neck, arms—his entire body. A sinister aura poured out of him in waves. Closer inspection revealed he now had a pair of narrow eyes beneath each of his original ones.

Gone was the gentle medical-nin façade. He had become something brutal, sinister—domineering. He eyed the surrounding ninjas and mercenaries with contempt, as if regarding a swarm of insects.

"So this is the elixir you want?" Kabuto—or rather, Sukuna—sneered, holding up a vial. His voice was low and menacing. "Too bad you won't live long enough to take it."

The moment Sukuna finished, the air itself seemed to freeze. The ninjas and mercenaries felt crushing pressure, but greed prevented them from retreating. Even so, one of them tried to provoke him:

"You're just putting on an act. Even if you used some jutsu to temporarily boost your power, you're still going to di—"

He never finished. In a flash, countless slashing blades—keen as a storm of razors—whirled out. The man was sliced into countless fragments in an instant, without time for so much as a scream. Immediately afterward, more blinding silver-white arcs flickered through the air, reminiscent of a reaper's scythe. Before they could even flee, the surrounding ninjas and mercenaries were chopped at the waist or cleaved in half, leaving nothing but scattered limbs and gory remnants on the ground.

Standing in the bloody carnage, Sukuna let out a wild laugh.

"Not bad, not bad. It's just two fingers, and this 'Release' rivals my peak. This guy… was born to be my vessel! Hahahaha!!"

"I'm starting to look forward to this body's Domain Expansion."

…

From the hillside, Ōnoki and his two companions looked on in horror. Though Ōnoki had seen his share of chaos, he still frowned, eyes full of caution. Kurotsuchi and Kitsuchi were too stunned to speak, eyes wide and unmoving.

In a trembling voice, Kurotsuchi asked quietly, "Grandpa, what in the world was that jutsu Kabuto used? Since when does Konoha have something so terrifying?"

Ōnoki shook his head grimly. "I've never seen anything like it. There's no technique in Konoha's arsenal like what Kabuto just did."

In all his years—and all the intel he'd gathered as Tsuchikage—Ōnoki had never heard of anything that could match it. He had come hoping to profit from someone else's trouble, but things had gone way beyond what he'd envisioned.

Kitsuchi gulped. "Father, maybe we should retreat? It's dangerous to stay here."

Though reluctant, Ōnoki nodded. This wasn't the time to show off. He took Kurotsuchi and Kitsuchi with him, watching from afar as Kabuto departed. By then, Kabuto had withdrawn Sukuna's power. The black markings faded, and his gaze returned to its usual warmth and composure.

Straightening his robes, he left without lingering, continuing on toward the Land of Lightning.

…

At the same time, on a different road, "the dynamic duo"—Naruto and Sasuke—were rushing at top speed toward Amegakure.

Naruto complained as they ran, "Sasuke, are you sure Itachi-san's in Amegakure? I don't wanna come up empty again!"

Sasuke cast him a cold glance. "The Akatsuki's headquarters is in Amegakure. Everyone in the ninja world knows that. If Itachi joined them, that's where he'd be."

Naruto pouted. "But Amegakure is huge. Where do we even start looking for him?"

Sasuke didn't respond, only sped up.

By now, Amegakure was nothing like the small, closed-off town it used to be. Under the Akatsuki's influence, it adopted an open policy and rapidly developed into a major hub in the ninja world. Thanks to Senshi and Karin wearing their signature red cloud robes out in public, the organization's presence was known everywhere.

As Naruto and Sasuke neared, Naruto couldn't help frowning. "Sasuke, where do we look for Itachi, exactly? We can't just bumble around."

Sasuke shook his head coolly. "I don't know either. Let's head into Amegakure first."

Naruto shrugged. "Well, it's better than wandering aimlessly outside."

They entered easily—Amegakure didn't have complicated ID checks. The village was filled with Senshi's Wood-Style clones and formidable Akatsuki ninja. Even Kage-level fighters avoided rash actions. Anyone causing mischief risked being stopped by the man with the strange gaze, asking, "How many thunderbolts can you catch with bare hands?"

Though Naruto and Sasuke had been Senshi's students for some time, they knew little about Amegakure. Once inside, Naruto was thunderstruck by the sight of towering buildings and bustling shops—everything looked drastically different.

"This is crazy! When did Amegakure turn into this?" Naruto gaped, hardly able to believe it.

Sasuke, outwardly calm, still betrayed a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He spoke quietly: "Don't act like some country bumpkin. This is all thanks to Sensei's efforts. No need to be so shocked."

Naruto still couldn't calm down. "But this is nuts! Konoha's practically a village in comparison…"

Sasuke sighed. "You already know what Sensei is capable of. It's not that surprising."

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind: "Senshi hasn't only built the ninja world's top academy and biggest refugee shelter. He's also opened its biggest bank!"

Naruto turned, eyes brightening. "Karin-chan! We just arrived and already ran into you—what luck!"

Karin pressed a hand to her forehead. "Naruto, how many times must I tell you—call me 'Karin-neechan'!"

Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "Got it, Karin-chan! I'll remember, Karin-chan!"

Karin didn't bother responding—Naruto never quite seemed to get the point. Sasuke, meanwhile, was glad to see Karin and immediately asked, "Do you know where that guy, Itachi, is?"

Karin's big eyes sparkled thoughtfully. She asked offhandedly, "Why are you looking for him, Sasuke?"

She knew about Sasuke's grudge against Itachi but doubted Sasuke stood a chance right now. If he went after Itachi, he'd just be asking for a beating. So instead of divulging Itachi's whereabouts, she asked why Sasuke wanted him.

He answered without hesitation, his voice steely with determination: "I'm going to kill him!"

Karin's eyes went wide.

(O_O)???

He's a lost cause.

Sure, Sasuke had grown stronger, even learning the "Fusion Dance" technique with Naruto to unleash short bursts of power. But Karin still believed he was nowhere near Itachi's level. Tilting her head in thought, she patted his shoulder in a mimic of Senshi's tone and spoke earnestly: "Sasuke, you're not Itachi's match right now. You need more time to grow."

She held her fist over his head, indicating how much "taller" he had to get before he could hope to beat Itachi. Sasuke blinked, clearly perplexed. He recalled Senshi having said something similar when they first met. With a defeated sigh, he thought, Probably Karin-chan doesn't know Itachi's whereabouts either.

So he asked directly, "Where's Sensei?"

Karin replied casually, "He's probably at the ninja academy. I'll take you two there."

Sasuke nodded. Naruto, meanwhile, was full of curiosity about Amegakure's academy. With Karin guiding them, they soon arrived. Right away, Naruto and Sasuke noticed its atmosphere was completely unlike Konoha's. Konoha's academy mainly trained genin, but Amegakure's academy was open to all levels: genin, chūnin, jōnin—anyone could study here.

They walked through the campus, seeing many Wood-Style clones of Senshi instructing Amegakure's jōnin.

After passing a few buildings, they reached the principal's office. Upon seeing them, Senshi mused inwardly, Kakashi must be tearing his hair out. Konoha's Nine-Tails jinchūriki and the last Uchiha had run off to Amegakure; if Kakashi was in charge of them, he was likely none too happy. Then again, maybe a Sharingan eye wasn't enough to keep track of these "two little troublemakers."

Naruto greeted Senshi excitedly: "Sensei, I think Amegakure is way better than Konoha! After this, can Sasuke and I live here and grind missions?"

Senshi smiled lightly. "Dropping in once in a while is fine, but settling here long-term isn't really appropriate. Besides, the Land of Fire is still one of the Five Great Nations—there are plenty of black-market missions for you there, too."

He paused, looking them over. "So what brings you two to Amegakure this time?"

Sasuke answered outright: "Sensei, I came to find Uchiha Itachi! I want to kill him myself and revive the Uchiha clan!"

Senshi nodded. "Rebuilding the Uchiha is a noble goal, but you're no match for Itachi right now."

Naruto chimed in: "But Sensei, if Sasuke and I fuse into Narusuke with the Fusion, we might be able to beat him, right?"

Senshi blinked.

(O_O)???

His immediate thought: Did Sasuke brainwash Naruto or something? He had personally taught them the fusion technique and had seen them fuse—but to challenge Itachi? That sounded far-fetched.

Sasuke, noticing Senshi's skepticism, quickly explained: "Sensei, once Naruto and I fuse with the Fusion Dance and enter battle mode, something special happens."

"Something special?" Senshi rubbed his chin, puzzled. Indeed, he'd never seen them actually fight seriously in fused form. He grew curious. "How about showing me in the training field?"

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged glances and answered in unison, "Sure, Sensei!"

So Senshi led the "two little bulls" (Naruto and Sasuke) plus Karin to the academy's training field. Both Senshi and Karin watched curiously. As soon as they arrived, Naruto and Sasuke positioned themselves—one on the left, one on the right—and prepared to perform the fusion ritual.

"Pfft!"

But the moment they started dancing that signature "left hand, right hand, slow-motion move," Karin burst into laughter.

Naruto and Sasuke: (O_O)???

Their nearly aligned fingertips almost missed each other. Senshi tapped Karin's head helplessly. "Karin, what are you doing? Don't disrupt them. If they fail to fuse, you're half at fault."

Karin rubbed her head aggrievedly. "But that dance is just so funny!"

Senshi stroked his chin. "Maybe I'll teach you and Fū the Fusion Dance too? After enough practice, you'll get used to it."

Karin immediately crossed her arms. "No way!"

She definitely didn't want to practice that dance with Fū—her top rival for the "Best Little Assistant" title. Trying to stop Senshi from any further ideas, she clung to his leg, rubbing her head against his waist adorably.

Senshi had just been teasing. Seeing Karin's dramatic reaction, he waved his hand dismissively. "All right, all right. Let's not interrupt them again."

Then he told Naruto and Sasuke, "You two also need to train to block out distractions. No matter what happens, you have to complete the fusion."

They nodded seriously. In truth, they usually had good focus; they'd just let their guard down in such a safe environment. This time, prepared, they performed the Fusion Dance again, fingertips aligning perfectly without further mishap.

Boom!

A dazzling white light lit up the training field. Senshi and Karin were already familiar with their fusion, so they weren't surprised. When the flare and swirling air died down, "Narusuke," sporting blond hair and Metamo attire, stood before them.

Senshi said casually, "Narusuke, how about a quick spar with me?"

Narusuke: (O_O)???

Inwardly startled: Is Sensei about to "clean house" with me?

Seeing his flustered look, Senshi chuckled. "Don't worry—just go all out. I'll hold back enough so you won't get hurt."

Encouraged, Narusuke immediately launched an attack, vanishing and reappearing right in front of Senshi with a fierce punch. Senshi noted with mild surprise that Narusuke's strength had grown quite a bit since he last saw them. Even so, the fist never landed; the instant before impact, Senshi vanished, reappearing behind him.

Senshi showed faint interest in his gaze. He sensed a familiar wave of energy in Narusuke—a bit of the Mind's Eye of the Kagura. In a flash, Senshi realized that in fusion form, some of Naruto's latent Uzumaki powers awakened, granting him that advanced sensory ability.

Next, Senshi and Karin noticed Narusuke's eyes had shifted to a bright blue Sharingan. His perception, reflexes, and speed all soared dramatically.

Boom!

Without hesitation, Narusuke turned again, this time attacking with a stronger punch. Even though his speed was multiple times faster than before, it still wasn't enough to catch Senshi, who couldn't be surpassed by sheer quickness. Then came the real surprise: after Senshi dodged, countless chains shot out of Narusuke's body, lashing toward Senshi.

Karin gasped, "He can even use Adamantine Sealing Chains?"

She was well aware Naruto hadn't awakened that ability by himself, but in Narusuke form, it was there. Unfortunately, Narusuke still couldn't bind Senshi.

In the battle that followed, Narusuke fought at full strength. Senshi was pleased with his progress overall. In Senshi's eyes, Narusuke could just barely handle a fight with Itachi now but wouldn't truly threaten him yet. Even so, these two kids were still young; there was ample room to grow.

Just when Senshi thought they'd shown all their power, he noticed Narusuke changing again as the fight went on. Building on the successful merging of Asura and Indra's powers, they repeated that "fusion" far more quickly, and the Sharingan in Narusuke's eyes began another transformation. A short while later, Senshi saw them turn a pale lavender, patterned with concentric circles.

Senshi: (O_O)???

He froze slightly. The Rinnegan, too?

Once Narusuke awakened the Rinnegan, he stopped and spoke excitedly to Senshi: "Sensei, this is the power I meant! It's incredibly strong. I want to use it to crush Itachi!"

A moment earlier, Senshi had been planning a light "knock on the head" technique to keep Narusuke from accidentally blowing up half the academy.

Now that Narusuke had paused on his own, Senshi could examine him more closely. After all, Madara spent ages merging Hashirama's DNA—Asura and Indra's powers—before finally getting the Rinnegan. Naruto and Sasuke just got it via Fusion Dance? It's almost unbelievable.

Confirming that Narusuke really could wield the Rinnegan, Senshi was delighted. Relying on Fusion Dance alone, Naruto and Sasuke still wouldn't be enough to truly threaten Itachi—but if the Rinnegan was on the table, everything changed. In this "visual-powers-are-king" ninja world, the Rinnegan was an absolute trump card. That power could make Itachi suffer plenty.

While Senshi mused, Karin nudged him and pointed to Narusuke's eyes. "Senshi, I want to learn that too."

He waved her off with a smile. "No need. His eye pattern can't compare to how nice yours looks."

Inwardly, though, Senshi thought, This is the Rinnegan. Where on earth would I get another pair for Karin? Unless… I unlocked the advanced draw feature. But that's still a ways off—no telling when that'll happen.

Once he confirmed Narusuke had the Rinnegan, he waited for their fusion time to end, then happily gave Sasuke intelligence on Itachi. "Sasuke, with Naruto's help, you actually can go toe-to-toe with Itachi now." Senshi patted his shoulder. "At present, Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame are stationed at the Akatsuki branch in Kirigakure. You can find him there."

Sasuke had long yearned to kill Itachi. Hearing where to find him, he could hardly wait another second. Eagerly, he asked Senshi, "Sensei, can Naruto and I head out right now to take him on?"

Senshi nodded. "Absolutely. When you see him, don't hold back—teach him a lesson!"

Overjoyed, Sasuke replied, "Got it, Sensei! We're off!"

He immediately grabbed Naruto's arm and dragged him toward Kirigakure.

Naruto, getting pulled along, complained, "Hey, Sasuke, can't we rest first? It's not like Itachi knows we're coming."

Sasuke ignored him, continuing to rush ahead. Naruto could only follow. They did at least rest now and then rather than run all the way nonstop.

Meanwhile, in Kirigakure, Uchiha Itachi had no idea that his "foolish otouto" was coming to settle scores—and this time, Sasuke was armed with a Rinnegan. If Itachi tried telling Sasuke again, "Come find me once you've got the same eyes as I do," it wouldn't fly: once Sasuke fused with Naruto, their Rinnegan easily outclassed his Mangekyō Sharingan.

While Kirigakure's growth couldn't match Amegakure's explosive rise, it had advanced significantly compared to the old "Bloody Mist" days.

Although it still lagged behind Amegakure's level of expansion, it was on par with allied villages like Kusagakure or Takigakure. Ever since Kirigakure opened its own Akatsuki branch, many local ninjas joined up, received training, and helped build the village.

As one of the branch's leads, Kisame would have preferred dedicating all his time to missions—earning enough cash that even Senshi would respectfully call him "Boss Shark." But he had to allocate some energy to management tasks, so he alternated between mission work and training new ninjas at the branch.

Because Kisame devoted most of his time to missions, day-to-day operations at the Kirigakure branch fell largely to Uchiha Itachi. Though Itachi adhered to a "do as little as necessary" philosophy, he still ended up handling plenty of important matters as one of the leaders.

At the moment, Itachi was seated on the second floor of the Akatsuki branch, looking out the window at the training yard.

Most of the ninjas practicing there were young students from Kirigakure, with a handful of particularly gifted older youths mixed in. Their duties involved carrying out missions for either the main Akatsuki or the village itself. When they had no assigned missions, they were free to train or take on posted tasks to improve their skills.

As Itachi quietly observed, a ninja rushed to the office doorway and reported: "Itachi-san, we've detected two Konoha ninjas approaching Kirigakure at very high speed."

Itachi showed little change in expression, but his mind raced. Why are Konoha ninjas headed to Kirigakure? He hadn't received any intel or orders about this. After a brief thought, he asked, "What do they look like?"

The reporting ninja hesitated, then said, "Itachi-san, one wears an orange tracksuit, has blond hair, looks about eleven or twelve. The other is about the same age, and…bears some resemblance to you."

At this, Itachi immediately understood: those two approaching Kirigakure were Sasuke and Naruto.

That was hardly good news. The path from Konoha to Kirigakure wasn't the safest. Even though they weren't at war, you couldn't rule out troublemakers hoping to start conflict. If Naruto and Sasuke ran into harm in Kirigakure, relations with Konoha would become tense indeed.

Itachi promptly told the ninja, "I understand. Show me their location—I'll handle this personally."

The ninja produced a map from his pouch and handed it over with both hands. "Itachi-san, the red line here shows their approximate route. At their speed, they'll be here soon."

Itachi accepted the map and nodded slightly. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it."

He then left the office, following the map's route to intercept Naruto and Sasuke. Why are they coming to Kirigakure? With no immediate answer, Itachi set aside his doubts and sped off to meet them head-on.

~~~

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