Oh, Long Time No See, Clan Traitor. Have You Been Well These Years?

[Boom!]

Along with a dull roar, surging chakra energy erupted from the high platform of the Hokage Building.

For a moment, amid the billowing dust and shattered brick walls, dazzling blue arcs of lightning spread violently in every direction.

The sharp screeching that accompanied them nearly ruptured everyone's eardrums!!

However, an even more terrifying sound erupted immediately afterward, drowning out the thunder.

"Itachi Uchiha!"

Like a wild beast, the newcomer howled the name of his prey with all his strength. Bloody tears flowed from his scarlet eyes as the volcano awakened within his chest erupted violently!

"Die for me!!"

Yet his strike, which had seemed certain to hit, gradually shattered amid a fading afterimage.

It turned out that what he had struck was merely an illusion created by his prey!!

His right arm, embedded in the wall, was yanked free in fury. The newcomer did not care in the slightest about barging into such a terrible, troublesome situation. His mind had already been thrown into complete chaos by that person's reappearance!

Kill!

Only by killing that man could he free himself from the endless nightmare!!

"Ah, what a truly troublesome boss."

"Why did I ever follow a guy like this and keep fooling around?"

A dissatisfied mutter drifted through the air.

"Since we're already here, stop complaining."

A different, low voice answered.

Compared to the former, he seemed far more composed.

"Yeah, yeah."

An impatient response followed, but that impatience abruptly shifted:

"But I'm not like you."

"I never decided to follow this guy wholeheartedly. I'm merely returning the favor for saving me."

"After helping him kill Itachi, I'll leave."

"So, my deepest apologies to everyone from Konoha, and to that Akatsuki Organization senior in the sky."

"Could you give our boss a little time to handle his personal affairs?"