"Did you hear me?!"
Izuna was afraid Mingye would brush off his warning, so Mingye waved a hand in promise.
"I know!"
Itachi Uchiha was carrying out his daily training at a kunai practice ground in the Forest of Death when he suddenly spun around and hurled the kunai in his hand. It struck a small rabbit. Itachi clicked his tongue, annoyed at himself for overreacting, and walked over to pull out the kunai. At that moment, strange gas began to seep from the rabbit's body. Itachi tried to retreat, but an odd object struck him from behind, sending him stumbling forward into the thick fog. Before long, he lost consciousness.
The thick fog took human form, its hands reaching toward Itachi Uchiha. A long blade shot through it and dispersed the fog. Shisui Uchiha appeared, expressionless, his eyes shifting into the pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan. The fog hesitated for a moment before dissipating and drifting into the sky.
"This is already the fourth time!"
Watching the fog vanish, Shisui Uchiha knew full well who was behind it—and what they wanted. They only had not made a move against Itachi by force because they feared his strongest genjutsu. But how much longer could he protect Itachi?
After glancing at the unconscious Itachi on the ground, Shisui Uchiha turned and left. Unnoticed even by Shisui, a butterfly flew from the grass, transformed into a wisp of smoke, and slipped into Itachi Uchiha's body through his nostril.
"Where am I?!"
In a dim, gray world, Itachi Uchiha rose unsteadily to his feet. Looking at the blood-red setting sun, he wondered why he had appeared in such a place. A massive eye emerged ten meters away and met his gaze as it spoke.
"Young man! Are you willing to take