Itachi, Go Ahead and Hate Me

"Anko-senpai was still too impulsive," Kabuto evaluated the battle.

In his view, Anko-senpai's raw strength was definitely greater than Itachi's. If she could have fought more calmly, Itachi would have found it difficult to win even at the cost of taking quite a few injuries.

"And her mindset," Yamato said.

After thinking it over, Kabuto nodded.

Anko's mindset had not been right. Or rather, confident in her own strength, she had always underestimated Itachi, unlike him, who had treated the battle seriously from beginning to end.

Itachi Uchiha had always kept his mindset firmly under control.

Though he was an arrogant fellow, it had to be said that he truly had the right to be arrogant.

He could bring out his own strength to the fullest extent, and even do so consistently.

As for Anko Mitarashi, as long as her mindset wavered, the strength she could display would fluctuate.

And Itachi had been searching for the lows in those fluctuations.

While skillfully avoiding their peaks.

It truly was...

Just right.

He had grasped the rhythm of the entire battle.

What terrifying talent!

It made one feel that he was destined to become a powerhouse like Orochimaru!

Kabuto, meanwhile, knew that if he wanted to become a powerhouse like Orochimaru, he would have to work incomparably hard for even a chance of reaching that height.

Perhaps.

Kabuto hid his clenched fist behind his back.

He raised his other hand to push up his glasses and took a deep breath.

He began to examine his own mindset and realized that lately, he seemed to have become somewhat... less grounded?

His greatest dream had always been to live a peaceful life with the director.

But now, ever since becoming the disciple of Fifth Hokage Orochimaru, he seemed to have grown overly self-satisfied.

And now, after sensing the gap between himself and Itachi...

A sense of unwillingness rose in his heart?

And...

Longing.

Longing to stand at the same height as Orochimaru.

And not wanting to be left behind by that hateful, arrogant Itachi!

Besides, he was a disciple personally valued by Orochimaru.

Itachi was a disciple Orochimaru had accepted as part of a political exchange.

If he performed too poorly, Orochimaru would be disappointed too, wouldn't he?

Whenever Kabuto thought of Orochimaru's eyes, which always seemed full of profound meaning, he felt as though he could see through him completely. Yet it had to be said that the powerful pressure this feeling brought...

Faintly made one yearn for it.

Without realizing it, Kabuto's lips curled upward.

On the field, Itachi had already gotten off Anko. Anko also climbed to her feet and, somewhat awkwardly, formed the Seal of Reconciliation with Itachi.

Then, Itachi turned around.

Kabuto had already started walking toward Itachi with a smile on his face.

Seeing Kabuto's smile, Itachi keenly detected its falseness. There was not much friendliness beneath it, though neither was there hostility.

It was more like someone seeing a certain goal while concealing his longing for it.

"I'm a Medical Ninja, Itachi. Let me treat you."

"Hey!" Anko raised a fist on the other side and shouted. "I got hurt too!"

"Itachi is only six."

"Uh..."

Anko choked, looking as though she had swallowed a fly.

He was only six, damn it!

Fine, there had been Kakashi before him.

Aaaaaah! No, she could not just let this go! She had to pester Orochimaru-sensei to teach her even stronger ninjutsu!!!

Next time, she would definitely defeat Itachi next time!

Anko raised her clenched fist, gritting her teeth, her entire body brimming with blazing fighting spirit.

Not long after.

Chomp.

Anko ate the three-color Dango one bite at a time.

It was a skewer of Dango in three different colors, and it happened to be one of Anko's favorite foods!

Having already been treated, Itachi had originally been as calm as an ancient well. He still looked calm on the surface, but his body had taken on a rare stiffness.

Chomp, chomp, chomp! Anko feasted heartily. Mikoto, watching from the side, covered her mouth and laughed.

Itachi silently reached out, about to take a skewer of Dango.

Whoosh.

That skewer landed in Anko's hand.

Chomp!

His hand froze in midair.

Kabuto seemed to see veins suddenly bulging on it.

However, as the young master of the Uchiha clan, he had to maintain his image. He could not fight over food. He could not fight over food.

Kabuto picked up a skewer of Dango with a smile and asked Yamato beside him, "Yamato, do you like Dango?"

"I don't dislike it. I dislike greasy food."

Yamato picked up a skewer of Dango as well.

"I don't dislike it either," Kabuto said. "I don't mind giving Dango a taste."

"Dango is the best! Though it's even better with red bean soup!"

Anko raised her Dango and cheered.

Seeing this, Itachi immediately reached toward the three-color Dango on the table, trying his best not to look too hurried.

Whoosh!

Anko snatched it away again.

His hand froze again.

Itachi calmly looked up at Anko, who was eating with great relish, and knew that she was holding a grudge and deliberately getting back at him.

On the other side, Mikoto gently patted Itachi on the head and said softly, "Itachi, if you like it, you don't need to hold yourself back. It was specially prepared for you in the first place. Go ahead and take some."

After saying that, Mikoto turned her face aside and covered her mouth as she laughed.

Itachi shook his head.

He withdrew his hand, closed his eyes, and sat properly.

But before long, his nose twitched instinctively. He opened his eyes and looked at the Dango before him, then at Anko holding it out to him.

"Take it."

"..."

"People who like Dango can't be bad people!" Anko said with a smiling, pursed mouth.

"..."

Itachi raised his hand.

His gaze also softened subtly.

Just as he was about to take that skewer of Dango—

"Heh!"

Smiling like a demon, Anko pulled the Dango back.

With a sinister grin, she looked down at him and said maliciously, "But I never said I was a good person, Itachi. Go ahead and hate me."

His fists clenched.

His composure shattered.

For the first time, the ever-steady Itachi felt thoroughly provoked.

For the first time, he felt that someone's presence could be so overwhelmingly strong.

Anko Mitarashi.

Pfft!

Mikoto desperately covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking so hard that she could not stop.

Kabuto's lips curled up, then settled again. He continued eating Dango, finding it especially sweet and delicious.

Yamato, meanwhile, ate his Dango while blankly gazing at the scenery in the courtyard outside.

"Here."

Dango was forcibly stuffed into Itachi's hand.

Anko plopped down beside Itachi, hooked an arm around his shoulders, grabbed another skewer of Dango with her other hand, and waved it around as she spoke.

"Don't say I don't look after you. Boss is Boss. If you like it, eat it. What I give you is yours. Heh heh, eat up. Don't be polite!"

"...Thank you."

Itachi slowly brought the Dango to his mouth and took a bite.

Watching him eat it, Anko smiled and began eating her own Dango too.

"Do you like red bean soup? Then next time you come, I'll prepare some red bean soup for you." Having regained control of her emotions, Mikoto turned slightly and covered her mouth as she spoke with gentle warmth.

Anko's eyes lit up.

"Really?!"

"So you have to come and play often! And I'll be counting on you to look after my Itachi too."

"Leave it to me! We're both Orochimaru-sensei's disciples. Itachi's business is my business! Right, Itachi?"

With a brilliant smile, Anko turned her head and asked Itachi, whom she had hooked in her arm.

Her grip tightened even more.

Itachi nodded with some difficulty.

"Ahahaha!" Anko threw back her head and laughed.

She was immensely pleased with herself.