The Divergence Between Itachi and Izumi, Shimizu's Timing

As soon as Itachi appeared, Izumi looked toward him and furrowed her brows slightly, her eyes seemingly hiding a bottomless sense of loss.

She watched him quietly, her heart full of conflict before a single word could escape her lips.

Was Itachi's way of thinking different from hers from the very beginning?

She couldn't help but feel that she knew far too little about him.

Aside from the time he spent with Sasuke at home, Itachi was either alone or with a guy from the clan named Shisui.

Furthermore, ever since he joined the Anbu, Izumi noticed that Itachi was frequently away on mysterious missions.

Thinking back on it, Itachi had never revealed much intelligence regarding the Anbu during the Uchiha Clan's routine meetings.

Even after having been in the organization for so long, the information he shared was nothing more than what Lord Shimizu had already disclosed previously.

There was no new intelligence to speak of.

It was said that Lord Shimizu had once been an elite of the Anbu as well, only to be marginalized and sidelined because the higher-ups of Konoha were wary of him.

"Izumi, that is a princess. You should know that we cannot afford to offend her; it would bring unnecessary trouble to the village."

Itachi spoke up.

Although he sounded earnest, the remark carried a hint of bureaucratic tone that made Izumi frown slightly.

Of course she knew that.

She only wanted Itachi to show where he stood.

Did he not even want to offer her a perfunctory response?

"...I understand."

As Izumi's bright red lips parted, she exhaled a puff of white vapor.

Having been on the street for only ten minutes, she already felt the chill and began to refine her chakra to warm her body.

Seeing this, Itachi opened his