Clash Between Two

That afternoon, feeling a little hungry, Itachi prepared to head out and buy something to eat.

But just as Itachi opened the door, a shark-faced man appeared before him.

Long dark-blue hair, shark-like skin and sharp teeth, golden pupils.

"And you are?" Itachi looked curiously at Kisame before knowingly asking the question.

What intrigued him were the shark gills beneath Kisame's robe, on either side of his shoulders...

"I'm a new member of the organization, Kisame Hoshigaki. I'll probably be your future partner..."

The rather young-looking Itachi before him made Kisame pause slightly.

"I am..."

Just as Itachi was about to introduce himself, Kisame spoke up and interrupted him.

"You're Itachi Uchiha, formerly of Konoha Village. I heard you slaughtered the Uchiha clan without leaving a single survivor. I know quite a bit about you, which is why I chose you as my partner. The feeling of killing one's comrades is truly indescribable, isn't it, Mr. Itachi?"

Itachi looked at Kisame strangely.

Especially when Kisame mentioned killing comrades, his expression seemed both sorrowful and amused, impossible to describe.

"Perhaps you think you understand me well. But what about yourself? You're nothing more than trash who can't even decide where he's going."

Hearing that familiar opening and Kisame's words, Itachi felt something sting deep in his subconscious and instinctively snapped back.

Upon hearing Itachi's words, Kisame was indeed displeased. He pulled Samehada from his back and rested it on Itachi's shoulder.

Less than a fist's distance from his neck.

As Itachi's eyes turned blood-red and his Mangekyo Sharingan emerged, the atmosphere became taut with hostility.

Kisame raised Samehada and placed it back on his back.

Looking at Kisame before him, Itachi suddenly found things rather dull. If he teamed up with this guy, he wouldn't be able to slack off in the future.

"First time in Hidden Rain Village, right? Want me to show you around? Get something to eat?"

The Mangekyo Sharingan faded from Itachi's eyes as he suddenly thought of someone. That person was Biwa Juzo.

Kisame found it rather interesting that Itachi spoke as if nothing had happened.

So he curled his lips into a grin, nodded, and said,

"Then I'll have to thank you, Mr. Itachi..."

The tense atmosphere from moments ago vanished instantly, as if nothing had happened.

"What do you want to eat..."

Itachi said nothing else and walked ahead to lead the way.

The directionless boy had become a guide.

"Meat. You need to eat more meat to have the strength to fight. I think you should eat more meat too, Mr. Itachi. You're so short right now."

Kisame looked at Itachi walking ahead. Nothing about it felt strange to him, and he merely teased Itachi about his height.

"By the way, we haven't officially become teammates yet, but you came all the way here. Aren't you afraid it'll be awkward later?"

Itachi teased Kisame in response to his teasing.

In truth, he knew perfectly well that Kisame would become his teammate.

After all, he had already seen it all once...

"Ah, the leader seemed to say that you're short a teammate right now. It also sounded like he was planning to put us together."

Kisame concealed Madara's involvement, making it sound as though he had been speaking with Pain.

Hearing Kisame's words, Itachi rolled his eyes.

"Akatsuki's Sasori is short a teammate too. Maybe you'll end up being assigned to him instead."

"Huh? That can't be..."

Hearing Itachi's words, Kisame looked dumbfounded, though he was only acting, teasing Itachi like a child.

Although he did not know what position Madara held within the organization, his words should have carried weight.

After all, he was a legendary existence, and someone capable of controlling the Mizukage with Genjutsu...

Besides, Kisame had overheard Madara and Pain's conversation. Hadn't they already settled on him being Itachi's teammate?

Madara had also instructed him to keep an eye on Itachi's every move.

If they were not together, what would be the point of monitoring him...

"Anything is possible. Unless it's the final order, everything can change."

Hearing Kisame's confused words, Itachi unusually said a few more things, though he did not turn around.

He had already gained considerable insight into changing fate, which was why he spoke in the tone of someone who had been there before.

"Mr. Itachi, you really understand..."

Seeing the philosophical air radiating from Itachi and the confidence in his tone, as though he were some expert.

Kisame spoke blankly...

"Did you bring money?"

Itachi did not answer Kisame's words. He simply changed the subject and asked.

"Ah, that... Is grilled meat expensive?"

Still thinking about Itachi's previous words, Kisame asked instinctively.

"It's not too bad. I didn't bring any money. If you didn't bring any either, then we won't have anything to eat."

Itachi casually replied as he touched the few bills in his pocket.

He had only brought enough for one dinner...

"Oh, oh, I brought some! As payment for showing me around and answering my questions, let me treat you to dinner tonight, Mr. Itachi..."

Hearing Itachi's explanation, Kisame found it extremely convincing.

But immediately afterward, he became confused.

Because he saw Itachi slowly turn around and shake his head.

He could not understand Itachi's thinking and was deeply puzzled.

"Kisame, showing you around and answering your questions are two separate matters. As an excellent ninja, you need to know how to keep accounts. You can't count two things as one."

Looking at the somewhat dazed Kisame, an idea came to Itachi.

He's an honest man...

Itachi's words left Kisame thoroughly convinced, thoroughly confused, and then utterly shocked...

He looked at Itachi as though he were some extraordinary being...

The young Kisame had never met someone so shameless...

Especially with how serious the other man looked, he had almost been fooled too.

If not for the fact that he had read a few books...

"Kisame, you need to understand. You're only a newcomer to the organization, while I'm an old hand... So normally, you should give gifts and such more often, maintain our camaraderie. It'll help you avoid taking some detours in the future..."

Seeing Kisame's strange expression, Itachi spoke with complete seriousness.

Itachi's words left Kisame's mind in a mess.

Originally, he had truly thought he understood Itachi...

It was not just empty talk. Some things simply could not be said outright.

He believed Itachi could tell that he had come to spy on him, and he could also tell that Itachi had joined Akatsuki as a spy.

He thought the two of them could reach an unspoken understanding...

But what was with the Itachi before him... This shameless appearance.

What kind of spy extorted bribes so openly? What the hell kind of spy was this? Itachi was treating Akatsuki like his own home...

So at that moment, he was lost...

Kisame: "So I'm the clown?"

Itachi Uchiha: "So the clown is right beside me?"

"Kisame, did you understand what I said?"

Itachi continued asserting his authority, preparing to take in a lackey and talk Kisame, this easily confused young man, away from Obito's side...

If Obito knew what Itachi was thinking, he definitely would not want to assign Kisame to Itachi.

He would probably hide him as far away as possible...

It was rare for him to talk someone into becoming a lackey. If that person faced someone like Itachi, wouldn't he surrender in just a few exchanges...