Kisame's Frustration

"Uh, Mr. Itachi, I'm very poor... I just defected. How could I possibly be carrying much money on me?"

Coming back to his senses, Kisame finally understood the principle of not flaunting one's wealth...

So he immediately changed his tune and began pretending to be poor.

After all, they would be seeing each other all the time from now on. If their relationship became too strained, it would be rather uncomfortable.

"Oh, is that so? Look at you. I was only joking with you."

Itachi raised an arm and patted Kisame on the shoulder, speaking with an old-fashioned air.

For thirteen-year-old Itachi, barely over five feet tall, to pat the shoulder of six-foot-five Kisame was no easy feat.

"Mr. Itachi, I want seafood..."

The two reached the street, and Kisame's eyes suddenly lit up. Pointing at a seafood restaurant not far away, he spoke up.

Compared to grilled meat, he preferred delicacies like shrimp and crab.

"Oh, you like seafood? That stuff has a lot of parasites, doesn't it?"

Hearing Kisame's words, Itachi said hesitantly...

"No, Mr. Itachi. I don't eat raw fish or sashimi and things like that. Those can easily have parasites..."

Hearing Itachi's hesitation, Kisame explained softly.

"Oh, then fine. You're treating anyway."

Itachi readily accepted Kisame's suggestion. After all, it was free food and drink...

The two ate until late into the night.

As Itachi walked out of the restaurant, he clutched his round belly...

Kisame followed behind him with an agonized expression...

Itachi had truly been too vicious. Knowing Kisame was paying, he specifically ordered the expensive dishes. Shrimp and crab might be large, but there was not much edible meat on them.

"Kisame, get some good rest. Don't forget, you still owe me a meal... Next time, let's have big shrimp and crab again."

Watching Itachi enter his room, Kisame painfully pulled out his shriveled wallet and opened it with trembling hands for a look...

Then he turned his head away and squeezed his eyes shut. The wallet was completely empty...

After standing there for a while, Kisame headed toward his own room.

He, Kisame, was not short on money...

He simply had a good habit of being thrifty. Spending money hurt his heart, that was all...

He still had a scroll containing a pile of silver and gold bars. He was not worried in the slightest.

He had only put on an act just now to let Itachi see it, so that he might go easier on him next time.

As for whether Itachi had seen it, he had no idea.

After entering his room, Itachi's expression turned indifferent. He sat before the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and slowly drank it.

Everything that had happened today, as well as every word he had exchanged with Kisame, ran through his mind.

His left hand rested on his round belly, gently stroking it...

After finding no oversights, Itachi's lips curled up slightly.

"Kisame... He's quite a good person..."

"Pain, what did you need me for so late at night?"

In Pain's office, Obito walked in and asked somewhat doubtfully.

"Yes, there is something."

Hearing Obito's voice, Pain put down the documents in his hand and looked at the masked man before him.

"What is it?"

Obito asked.

"We have not found any suitable shinobi yet, so I intend to send Konan out on missions as well to fill the gap. She will make up for our missing combat strength."

Pain spoke without the slightest ripple in his tone.

"Hm? Konan... That sounds fine..."

Obito was slightly stunned upon hearing Pain's words, but did not think much of it.

"Yes, but Konan does not like Sasori, who is somewhat gloomy, so she wants to team up with Itachi Uchiha. I have already agreed. Therefore, I have decided to assign Kisame and Sasori together, while Konan will be paired with Itachi."

Without waiting for Obito to ask, Pain first explained his arrangements, lest Obito bring it up first and put him at a disadvantage.

"That would not be appropriate... I placed Kisame beside Itachi Uchiha precisely to monitor him. I always felt that child was not so simple."

Hearing Pain's words, Obito felt a surge of anger, but he did not show it.

He merely spoke with some gravity.

"It's fine. Konan can monitor Itachi Uchiha as well. Rest assured."

In response to Obito's words, Pain spoke calmly, leaving no room for doubt.

"I see..."

Obito had wanted to say more, but noticing Pain's somewhat displeased expression, his heart sank.

"Then all right. Let Konan put in a little more effort..."

Pain was the leader of Akatsuki. He could not say too much. He was still relying on Pain to carry out his plan, so he did not want to make the atmosphere too tense.

"Mm. If you have no objections, then it is settled. Mr. Madara..."

Seeing that Obito did not persist, Pain's expression improved slightly.

After all, Madara and he were merely partners, not superior and subordinate.

Even though both Itachi and Kisame had been recruited by Madara, once they joined Akatsuki, they had to follow Pain's deployments. That was the rule.

"Kisame, are you asleep?"

Feeling somewhat frustrated, Obito left Pain's office and headed toward Kisame's room.

He gently knocked on the door.

"Lord Madara..."

Hearing the voice outside, Kisame, who had been tallying his assets, paused slightly in the middle of counting money, then hurriedly tidied up...

He walked to the door and opened it.

"My lord, why are you still awake so late?"

Kisame was slightly stunned by Madara's appearance.

"Yes, I was taking a walk. I happened to come this way, so I came to see you."

Obito responded lightly to Kisame's question.

"My lord, have some tea..."

Kisame led Obito to sit down, poured him a cup of tea, and spoke softly.

Looking at the busy Kisame before him, warmth rose in Obito's heart. What an adorable subordinate...

"Kisame, the plan has changed, so there has been a slight change to your assignment."

Obito did not drink the tea. Instead, his eyes beneath the mask stared fixedly at Kisame as he spoke gravely.

"My lord, did something happen?"

Obito's grave demeanor shook Kisame, and he immediately asked seriously.

"It is not exactly something. We discovered that Sasori of the Red Sand has been in contact with quite a few spies. There is a strong possibility that he has leaked Akatsuki's intelligence. To ensure our great plan is not affected, I intend for you to team up with Sasori for a time and investigate him. As for Itachi Uchiha, his issue is not that serious, so we will set it aside for now."

Obito toyed with the teacup in his hand as he explained the change in plans to Kisame.

After hearing Obito's words, Kisame recalled Itachi's face and the words he had said: everything could change...

"Kisame? Are you willing? You are my companion. I will not force you to do anything. I merely want to know what you think..."

Seeing Kisame somewhat distracted, Obito asked in confusion.

"My lord, Kisame is willing to go through fire and water for you and the great plan..."

Obito's voice brought Kisame back to his senses.

He immediately cast aside the thoughts in his mind and answered solemnly.

"Mm. Be careful."

Hearing Kisame's words, Obito patted him on the shoulder, his figure turning into a vortex and vanishing.

After Obito left, Kisame sat down at the table. He no longer had any interest in counting money. He poured himself a cup of tea and drained it in one gulp, his brow tightly furrowed.

A moment later, it relaxed.

"Ugh, I lost both the girl and the army... Not only did I waste so much money, I even owe him a lavish meal. And now we're not even teammates. Isn't this complete nonsense? I was so certain of it too... Won't it be unbearably awkward when we meet again..."

Kisame's sorrowful voice echoed through the room, carrying his melancholy as it lingered for a long time...