The rain continued to fall, raindrops striking the Wood Locking Wall with crisp pitter-patters.
Chenshu Senju lounged lazily against the tatami, idly turning the tea cup in his hand, now slightly cool, while his unfathomable black eyes quietly watched Itachi Uchiha through the curtain of rain.
"Actually, we could get along in a different way. There's no need to start fighting every time we meet and ruin the mood." Chenshu Senju tossed out the remark casually.
Itachi stared at him, his Mangekyō Sharingan narrowing slightly, but he said nothing.
Damn it.
What the hell was this guy plotting?
"Your body is already close to its limit, isn't it?" Chenshu Senju mercilessly tore away Itachi's last shred of pretense. "Even if I don't kill you, that ruined body of yours, ravaged by the Mangekyō Sharingan's backlash, won't hold out much longer."
"I know Akatsuki sees me as its number-one enemy now. Pain would love nothing more than to skin me alive. He even sent that disgusting thing, Zetsu, to monitor you the entire time."
Chenshu Senju casually revealed Akatsuki's highest-level secrets as though he were merely discussing the weather.
Itachi's expression finally changed, and a flash of undisguised shock swept through his eyes.
How could this be? It had to be a lie.
How did he know Zetsu was watching? How did he know Akatsuki's internal operations so well?
Just how many secrets was Chenshu Senju still hiding?!
"Relax. I'm not interested in your lousy organization's monthly KPIs."
Chenshu Senju rose to his feet and strolled beneath the eaves. Watching the torrential rain outside, he said flatly, "The intelligence I want is simple. You'll remain in Akatsuki and serve as my mole."
Itachi clenched his teeth and asked coldly, "What makes you think I would agree to such an absurd condition?"