Several dozen kilometers outside Konoha, Two figures were making their way along the road to Konoha at an unhurried pace.
They wore black cloaks patterned with red clouds and straw hats.
They were Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki.
"Itachi, what's wrong?" Kisame turned his head, glanced at his silent companion, and asked.
Itachi Uchiha shook his head slightly. "I'm fine."
Kisame grinned, exposing a row of shark-like teeth. His tone carried a hint of teasing. "You don't look fine. You've been frowning from time to time all the way here. You covered it up quickly, but you can't fool my eyes."
As Uchiha Rong's teammate for many years, he could indeed sense some of Itachi's emotional changes to a certain extent.
Itachi Uchiha fell silent for a moment. His gaze swept across the road, which had become broad and level, before he said quietly, "It just feels like this stretch of road has changed too much."
"Oh?" Kisame raised an eyebrow and glanced at the flat road beneath his feet, inwardly dismissive.
"It's become much easier to travel than before," Itachi added in a low voice.
He recalled the countless times he had passed along this necessary road out of the village when he was still in Konoha's Anbu.
Back then, this section of road had been narrow and rugged.
Now, however, it was wide and level, with a far more open view. It had clearly been carefully renovated.
A trace of doubt also flashed through Itachi's heart.
The Third Hokage had never vigorously promoted this sort of infrastructure while he was in office, nor had he paid attention to such trivial matters.
Had the Land of Fire's Daimyo suddenly taken an interest in this place, or was it... the newly appointed Fifth Hokage's doing?
Kisame gave a dismissive snort.