Konoha Hospital.
After Kimura Takuya drew some of Itachi's blood for testing.
"Itachi, given your physical condition, I'm afraid you won't live another five years."
"What? Mr. Itachi won't live another five years?"
Itachi had already expected this, and his expression remained unchanged.
Kisame Hoshigaki, who had come along with him, was the one who looked utterly stunned.
"Mr. Itachi, no wonder you asked me to protect your younger brother back then. I never thought that even if you were the last one to escape, you still wouldn't have long to live. So you were entrusting him to me?
"Don't worry, Mr. Itachi. I'll take good care of your brother. From today on, your brother is my brother. You can go in peace!"
Tears instantly streamed down Kisame's face.
Was this what it felt like to be trusted?
So moving!
Watching Kisame's reaction, Itachi wondered if he had overdone it a little back then.
Had he used Kotoamatsukami too forcefully?
How had he made Kisame so sentimental?
I've still got five years!
I'm not dead yet!
How can you already be telling me to go in peace?
Kimura Takuya continued.
"Although you have less than five years, I can help."
"..."
Kisame Hoshigaki, who stood a meter and ninety-five centimeters tall and was nearly two meters tall with shoes on, was bawling his eyes out.
After hearing Kimura Takuya's words, he stood there dumbfounded for a long while before saying, "There's a way? Why didn't you say so earlier? You made me cry for ages!"
"You didn't ask, did you? All right, enough talk. I'll install your eye first, then treat your body."
Although Kimura Takuya's choice of words was a little strange, Itachi accepted it.
Among the Sharingan he had retrieved from Lord Hokage, Itachi immediately recognized Shisui's eye.