Itachi Uchiha's Probe

"Many thanks, Senior." Chiya nodded.

"Don't call me Senior anymore." The Anbu ninja removed his mask, revealing the forehead protector worn like a face guard, his tone softening considerably. "Since we are comrades from now on, just call me Tenzō. This is the codename the Hokage gave me."

As he spoke, he glanced at the Kyōka Suigetsu at Chiya's waist. "That sword of yours is nice, but it's a bit too flashy. As an Anbu, secrecy is the most important thing. I suggest you use the standard-issue ninja sword provided by the Anbu from now on."

"I understand, Senior." Chiya nodded. So this is the future Wood Release ninja, Yamato? he thought.

"I've told you so many times, don't call me Senior." Tenzō gave a helpless, wry smile and sighed, patting Chiya on the shoulder before turning to leave. "Alright, go ahead and change into your uniform here. I'll introduce you to the other members in a bit."

A moment later, Chiya had changed into his gear, selected a smiling mask, and stored Kyōka Suigetsu in his system inventory.

By the time he emerged wearing the mask, a group of Anbu ninjas, including Kakashi, Yamato, and Uchiha Itachi, were already gathered outside waiting for him.

Because Chiya had previously fought Kakashi, he did not face the same hazing from the Anbu upon entering as Uchiha Itachi had in the original story.

"Chiya, how is it? Are you adjusting well?" Kakashi walked up and removed his dog mask.

"Thanks to you, everything is going quite smoothly." Wearing the mask, Chiya seemed like a different person, acting extremely humble in front of Kakashi.

"I see, that's good." Kakashi tilted his head toward a nearby tree trunk, where Uchiha Itachi sat perched, wearing a Fire Fox Mask. "Itachi, come over here."

"Yes, Captain Kakashi." With a Body Flicker Technique, Uchiha Itachi arrived before them and removed his mask.

"This is Uchiha Itachi. As former classmates, I assume you already know each other, so I won't introduce you further," Kakashi said. "Chiya, only the two of you know about the top-secret mission assigned by the Hokage, so I won't interfere. You two should discuss it properly."

"From now on, you only need to report to the Anbu on time. Under normal circumstances, I won't assign you any extra tasks."

"Yes, Captain Kakashi," Chiya replied respectfully.

"Follow me." Uchiha Itachi glanced at Chiya expressionlessly, put his mask back on, and vanished in a flash.

Chiya used the Body Flicker Technique to follow closely behind.

Before long, the two arrived at a high point on a building in Konoha.

From here, one could easily overlook the entire Ninja Academy.

"I really didn't expect you to get involved in this." Uchiha Itachi looked at the Second Pillar, who was listening attentively in the classroom, and said in a low voice, "Is it because of Izumi?"

Chiya leaned against a nearby pillar, arms crossed. "Aren't you the same? As the young master of the Uchiha Clan and the eldest son of the clan head, you've become a mole sent by the Konoha higher-ups into the Uchiha. That's truly ironic. Is it because of the Second Pillar?"

"I didn't expect you to even know about that." Uchiha Itachi turned around, his pitch-black eyes staring coldly at Chiya. "Chiya, you really aren't as simple as you appear on the surface."

"Likewise." Chiya removed his mask, his expression indifferent.

"Before we discuss business, there is one thing I want to confirm." Uchiha Itachi closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they had transformed into three-tomoe Sharingan.

The two locked eyes. Genjutsu. Sharingan activated.

Chiya was startled for a moment, his pupils turning hollow, but the next second, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. His entire body transformed into cherry blossom petals, drifting around Uchiha Itachi and gradually enveloping him.

The three-tomoe in Uchiha Itachi's eyes spun rapidly as he unleashed the Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change, the same technique used to reflect Yuhi Kurenai's genjutsu in the original story.

But strangely, although the genjutsu was broken, it did not reflect back onto Chiya. The latter had been standing in the same spot from start to finish, looking at him with a half-smile.

"That was close. Truly worthy of the Sharingan; I was almost reflected by your genjutsu. It's fortunate you only have three-tomoe right now. If you had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, I would have been in trouble."

Chiya looked genuinely shaken, though his tone remained exceptionally relaxed, as if he didn't hold the Mangekyo in high regard at all.

He then added, "So, have you confirmed what you needed to confirm?"

"I suppose so." Uchiha Itachi took another deep look at Chiya.

He then recalled the mysterious person who had stolen Shisui's right eye, and his wariness toward Chiya deepened.

He turned around, put his mask back on, and said sternly, "I will disclose your promotion to Jonin and your entry into the Anbu to the Uchiha higher-ups. Because of Izumi, they will extend an olive branch to you, using her hand in marriage as a condition."

"As long as you continue to walk Izumi home as you usually do during this time, someone will approach you."

"At that point, you will be able to infiltrate the Uchiha from within."

"It's that simple?" A sense of unreality welled up in Chiya's heart. The Uchiha were far too easy to deceive.

"Yes, it's that simple." Having said this, Uchiha Itachi flashed and vanished from Chiya's sight.

He really is a guy with off-the-charts intelligence. He's probably already suspecting me of stealing Shisui's right eye.

But why is his emotional intelligence so low? A person like this was actually manipulated by the Konoha F4 into exterminating his own clan, not even sparing the civilians who knew nothing of the coup. He really is a pathetic guy.

Chiya whispered to himself, then flashed and vanished from the spot.

Not long after he left, a giant green Pitcher Plant emerged from the building wall and slowly opened, revealing a strange body that was half-black and half-white. It was the fusion of Black Zetsu and White Zetsu.

"Who is that guy? He was actually able to fearlessly withstand a Sharingan genjutsu. He's quite impressive, isn't he?" White Zetsu asked.

"Itachi didn't use the Mangekyo Sharingan. If they were to truly compete, the outcome would be uncertain, but the chakra that kid erupted with the moment he released his genjutsu cannot be underestimated. It seems Konoha has produced another genius."

Black Zetsu replied, his voice raspy and unpleasant, like wind blowing through dead leaves.

"So what's the plan? Should we go notify Obito—oh, wait, notify Madara?" White Zetsu continued to ask.

"No need. We'll tell Madara later. A genjutsu ninja without a Sharingan won't have any impact on our plans. Our most urgent task right now is to find the person who stole Shisui's right eye."

Having said this, Black Zetsu controlled the Pitcher Plant to merge back into the wall and disappear, as if they had never been there.

As the saying goes, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Shortly after the black and white Zetsu left, Chiya emerged from the top of the wall and muttered, "It seems this guy also accidentally saw my Kyōka Suigetsu somewhere. Otherwise, given this guy's ability to conceal its presence, I really wouldn't have been able to detect it."