Uchiha Itachi's Probe

Juzo Biwa had suffered at Chen Xiaoxi's hands long ago and knew just how powerful he was. He figured that if he teamed up with Chen Xiaoxi, their chances of success would be much better, so he had no objections. In fact, he was looking forward to it.

Uchiha Itachi, however, seemed lost in thought, as if mulling something over.

"Chen Xiaoxi, is it..."

"Looks like we'll be temporary teammates for this mission. I look forward to working with you."

Uchiha Itachi, who hadn't spoken until now, walked straight up to Chen Xiaoxi. Then he suddenly raised his eyes and gazed at him, calmly asking,

His tone was unhurried, and his expression was utterly impassive.

It seemed he only wanted to say hello.

Nothing more.

However,

right then,

"First, don't call me by my name."

"We're not close. Since you joined the Akatsuki after me, you should have the courtesy to call me 'senior.' Understand?"

Chen Xiaoxi's eyes suddenly narrowed slightly. Staring at Uchiha Itachi, he gave a faint laugh and raised one finger.

"..."

At his words, Uchiha Itachi froze, not expecting Chen Xiaoxi to suddenly say that.

But then, something even more unexpected happened.

Chen Xiaoxi suddenly raised a second finger, and the smile vanished from his face.

"Second..."

"Don't try using those Sharingan of yours to test me with genjutsu again."

"If you try it one more time, I'll gouge out your eyes."

"Got it?"

"!"

The instant he finished speaking, Chen Xiaoxi's Reiatsu burst forth!

An invisible, terrifying pressure descended in an instant, surging in every direction!

"!"

Hearing this, Pain, Konan, and Juzo Biwa all immediately changed expression!

Uchiha Itachi's pupils contracted in an instant, and he froze completely!

No, impossible!

My... my Sharingan had been seen through?

Uchiha Itachi was utterly stunned!

At the moment their eyes met... he really had used his Sharingan on Chen Xiaoxi.

His original purpose had only been to try to analyze Chen Xiaoxi's golden eyes, the "Wicked Eye of the Tyrant"...

But he hadn't been able to analyze anything at all.

So he had secretly tried using the Sharingan's genjutsu of mental suggestion, hoping to test whether those golden eyes could resist it.

Not only had Chen Xiaoxi successfully resisted it,

he had even noticed the subtle action Itachi had made in that instant!

"..."

Itachi couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath, his pupils shrinking in disbelief.

From that moment on, he began to realize—

Chen Xiaoxi's golden eyes, called the "Wicked Eye of the Tyrant," were definitely some kind of mysterious Kekkei Genkai dōjutsu!

And the power of his eyes... was already so strong that it couldn't be analyzed at all!

If the power of my Sharingan is only six thousand, then the Wicked Eye of the Tyrant must be at least ten thousand!

He was a complete monster!

While Itachi's thoughts raced, Juzo Biwa beside him covered his face, ready to make a run for it.

...Of all people, why did you have to test him?

Why did you have to test this guy?

After all my repeated warnings not to provoke him...

Yi Da Qi, you really are a hard-headed fool!

Juzo Biwa cursed inwardly.

However,

Pain and Konan made no effort to hide their feelings. In an instant, both of them darkened their expressions!

Pain used the Body Flicker Technique and suddenly appeared right in front of Uchiha Itachi.

He looked down at Itachi from above with his Rinnegan and said coldly, his gaze dark:

"Uchiha Itachi! What are you doing...!"

"You actually used your Sharingan at a time like this! Have you forgotten the contents of the Akatsuki Prohibition?"

"..."

At his words, Uchiha Itachi snapped out of his thoughts.

His heart jolted. He lowered his head and hurriedly apologized:

"I-I'm sorry."

"I... I was just curious about Senior Chen Xiaoxi's eyes, so I overstepped."

"I had absolutely no intention of provoking or ambushing him!"

As he spoke, Uchiha Itachi immediately turned to Chen Xiaoxi and bowed his head with what seemed like utmost sincerity. He said calmly,

"Senior Chen Xiaoxi, please don't hold it against me."

"I've never seen eyes as beautiful as yours. They weren't even mentioned in the records of the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi of the Leaf Village..."

"That's why I became too curious."

"I'm very sorry."

Uchiha Itachi kept his head lowered as he explained in an unhurried manner. He didn't even blush, and continued praising Chen Xiaoxi's abilities.

"..."

Seeing this, Chen Xiaoxi narrowed his eyes and couldn't help reflecting to himself.

As expected of the actor Uchiha Itachi.

Even when apologizing to someone, his tone and expression remained perfectly calm, without the slightest ripple.

His unflappable acting could almost rival that of a certain honest-looking bespectacled man from Bleach.

At that thought, Chen Xiaoxi's expressionless face turned toward him, and he said coolly,

"That excuse of yours really came out of nowhere."

"But even your Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, doesn't know about my eyes?"

"Heh, isn't he supposed to be the know-it-all of the Ninja World? He doesn't even know this?"

"...Uh, he's the Professor of Ninjutsu."

"..."

Chen Xiaoxi rolled his eyes, turned around, and waved a hand.

"Come on, let's go."

"I can't get along with Leaf Village shinobi."

"Meet at the tower in an hour. We're heading to Sunagakure."

With that,

Chen Xiaoxi strolled out of the cave.

"..."

After everyone present had been silent for a moment, Pain turned to Uchiha Itachi again and spoke indifferently:

"Itachi, from now on... you are not to attack any of your Akatsuki comrades."

"Otherwise, you'll be treated as an Akatsuki traitor, just like Orochimaru. Understood?"

"...Understood."

Itachi lowered his eyes slightly and nodded.

Only then did Juzo Biwa speak up. He wiped at some nonexistent sweat and complained with some annoyance:

"Tch... honestly,"

"I told you not to test that guy. See? You were outmatched, weren't you?"

"..."

Uchiha Itachi fell silent for a moment before speaking softly:

"You're right, Mr. Juzo."

"Senior Chen Xiaoxi's Wicked Eye of the Tyrant... is indeed unexpectedly powerful, far beyond me. I'm no match for him."

"On this trip to Sunagakure,"

"Perhaps we'll get to see Senior Chen Xiaoxi fight with those golden eyes up close..."

Uchiha Itachi's gaze flickered slightly.

He seemed to be thinking about something.

He seemed even more eager to see Senior Chen Xiaoxi in battle. Perhaps then he would witness a spectacular sight.

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