Itachi Uchiha had submitted an application to return to Konoha.
Lin Qing looked at the words in the letter, his expression unsurprised.
Ever since he had personally taken out Danzo, he had considered that this day might come.
Itachi Uchiha wanting to return to Konoha was both understandable and unexpected.
It was understandable because that bastard... that man was different from other rogue ninja. He had left the village because of his deep feelings for it.
Itachi had been misled by Danzo into choosing to slaughter the Uchiha clan, then infiltrating Akatsuki alone as a spy who provided intelligence to Konoha.
His original intention had been to protect the village and Sasuke. That had also served as the psychological anchor supporting Itachi during his activities outside the village.
Now that Danzo was dead and the causes and consequences behind Itachi's massacre of his clan had become known to the world, he had no reason to remain outside any longer.
Although Pain's ideals suited Itachi Uchiha's tastes quite well, if he had a choice...
He wanted to be a good person.
He wanted to return to the village.
Therefore, this application was understandable.
As for why it was unexpected...
Lin Qing truly had not expected Itachi Uchiha to have the nerve to commit such beastly acts, then still want to return to the village and continue living as though nothing had happened.
Tsunade was the Hokage. She could not control who defected, but she could still make the final decision on who was allowed to return.
Given Tsunade's personality, she naturally would not accept Itachi Uchiha's return.
A man who could even bring himself to kill his own parents—who knew whether one day, after listening to someone else's words again, he would kill his colleagues and superiors in the name of