Uchiha Itachi was sent back outside Konoha. It was not Obito Uchiha who had returned to take him away; Shin had personally sent him off.
Shin no longer needed to personally bring someone along to use space-time ninjutsu. Ever since his battle with Uchiha Madara, his strength had become increasingly unfathomable.
His conversation with Shin had not lasted long, and Itachi had not gotten the answer he wanted, but at least he had made a certain resolve.
Night fell. Within the Anbu base, the Third Hokage sat in the seat of honor in a secret chamber, smoking his pipe as he gazed gravely at the ninja kneeling on one knee before him.
"Have you truly made up your mind?" the Third Hokage asked in a deep voice.
"Yes." Uchiha Itachi's expression remained blank. "Shisui is already dead, and the only chance to stop the Uchiha rebellion has been lost. The only remaining choice is this. I will do it myself. As for the Uchiha Clan, let us Uchiha handle it ourselves."
"Alas." The Third Hokage sighed. "You need not force yourself like this. And regarding Shisui..."
"I understand." Uchiha Itachi cut off the Third Hokage, something he had never done before. His tone was calm yet resolute, somehow different from before. "You need not concern yourself with Shisui's matter. Since it has already happened, there is no meaning in discussing it further. I only hope that after I become a rogue ninja, you will honor our agreement."
The Third Hokage exhaled a thick cloud of smoke and removed the pipe from his mouth. "Sasuke, then. He is still a child and knows nothing. He may survive as the Uchiha's lone orphan. And I promise you, as long as I remain alive in this world, I will ensure Second Pillar's