"I have important intelligence to report to Hokage-sama. It concerns Hokage-sama's safety, and even the very survival of Konoha!"
Itachi's face was dark as he forcibly held back his anger.
Itachi's identity as a spy was classified. Only a handful of high-ranking officials knew about it. Later, after a series of incidents in which Uchiha An framed him, Konoha wasn't sure where Itachi's loyalties lay, so it didn't dare treat him as one of their own.
Kakashi and the others had tried leaving contact signals for Itachi, but Nagato had sent him to recruit Kakuzu, and he hadn't responded.
In these circumstances, it was only natural that Konoha found it even harder to trust Itachi.
Besides, Izumo Kamizuki knew nothing about these secrets. All he knew was that the village had once issued a Bounty Notice declaring Uchiha Itachi a rogue ninja.
Izumo Kamizuki kept his eyes fixed on Itachi's every move, speaking with complete confidence.
"Itachi, this is Konoha. Nobody can threaten Hokage-sama's safety inside the village."
"As for the survival of the village, you and I don't need to worry about that."
"Where the Leaves Dance, the Fire Will Never Die!"
"Even if the other four great nations attacked us together, they couldn't destroy the village!"
"If you really are a spy sent out by the village, then stay here and help us deal with that Sunagakure rogue over there instead of constantly trying to get near Hokage-sama."
"You..." Itachi felt the flames of anger surging endlessly in his heart. The Mangekyō in his eyes churned violently. He wanted nothing more than to kill every last one of these fools.
"Heh..." Scorpion didn't take the opportunity to attack. Instead, he recalled his Human Puppet and watched the show from the sidelines.
"Itachi, is this the village you chose?"