The Scam Potion, Itachi's Confusion

Returning to the campfire, Itachi found Konan still fast asleep, even letting out faint little snores.

Itachi seemed to understand Juzo's way of thinking a little better now.

Coming back to his senses, Itachi set the scroll beside the fire, intending to dry the slime coating it first.

He wondered what exactly was inside. If it was a potion that could alter DNA, then Orochimaru was truly incredible.

How long had it even been? And he had already made it.

Once the slime on the scroll had dried, Itachi picked it up and opened it with some anticipation.

He then undid the sealing technique on it.

A faint sound rang out.

A letter and a syringe appeared before him.

The syringe contained half a tube of green potion.

Itachi carefully placed the syringe atop the opened scroll and opened the envelope.

"Itachi-kun, how have you been lately? I have finished what you wanted and had the little fellow deliver it to you."

"I suspect you wish to alter your genes and DNA into Shisui's, so that you can become blood brothers with him. Is it because your Mangekyo Sharingan is about to go blind? If you become Shisui's blood brother, the Mangekyo Sharingan will no longer reject you. Shisui's other Mangekyo Sharingan is with you, isn't it?"

"Don't be surprised. I have studied the Mangekyo Sharingan, but that pair of eyes had abilities far too pathetic. If everything I said above is correct, then I will give you one more piece of information: beneath the bandage over Danzo's right eye is Shisui's other Mangekyo Sharingan. I wish you all the best, Itachi-kun~"

"As for the potion in the syringe, simply inject it anywhere into your body. Below is a simple healing technique, enough for you to use while changing eyes~ Try to conserve your Mangekyo Sharingan... Hehehehehe..."

"*************"

After reading the letter, Itachi's expression darkened and shifted uncertainly.

Orochimaru's intelligence made him wary. If some matters had not run too deep, Orochimaru might truly have seen through their secrets.

But Orochimaru, who did not know those things now, might fully understand them the next time he saw Itachi.

Itachi suddenly understood a little. Someone like Orochimaru had to either become an ally or be completely eliminated.

A genius who seemed impossible to stump was far too terrifying.

After memorizing the healing technique, Itachi tossed the envelope into the fire.

It was better to destroy something like that after reading it.

"Orochimaru, too... He's such a clever man. Why did he send something this important over with a little snake?"

Itachi complained inwardly.

It might not have meant much to others, but to him, it was far too important.

Glancing at Konan, who was still deeply asleep, Itachi undid his robe.

He freed his left arm from within the robe and extended it out through the middle.

Then he pulled aside the mesh-lined inner garment beneath it.

His fair collarbone and arm were exposed.

Itachi turned his head away, grabbed the syringe, and jabbed it in hard, like getting a vaccine...

As the potion in the syringe was injected, Itachi felt a sore, itchy sensation spread through his arm before it quickly went numb...

Very soon, Itachi felt that he could no longer move at all. His entire body had gone numb.

It was as though he had been given anesthesia, utterly insensible and completely unable to move...

Inside his body, his genes and DNA were rapidly dissolving and restructuring.

Itachi did not know this. At that moment, he could not even move his eyelids.

He inwardly cursed Orochimaru for failing to mention such important information...

All he could do was pray that nothing happened tonight, or that if something did happen, Konan would wake up quickly.

After all, he could not even close his eyes now, much less warn her...

In the night, a small figure sat propped against a tree. Without Itachi adding firewood, the campfire before him finally burned out and went dark.

The predawn wind was especially chilly.

Itachi, with one arm exposed, felt particularly cold.

The syringe still stuck in his arm was especially conspicuous as well...

"Itachi?"

Konan's curled-up body straightened as she slowly opened her eyes. She had been awakened by the cold...

She found herself surrounded by darkness, with a small, blurry shadow some distance away.

Konan produced a stack of paper in her hand, preparing to light up the night.

Then she remembered that she did not know Fire Release and had not brought any flint.

Feeling somewhat annoyed, she pulled out a stack of Explosive Tags, intending to use an explosion to make fire...

Naturally, Konan's movements fell within Itachi's sight. His night vision was fairly good to begin with, and he had already spent several hours looking at the night scenery. So even with his blurred vision, he could still see more clearly than Konan.

Seeing this reckless woman first produce a bunch of paper, then pull out a handful of Explosive Tags, Itachi nearly fell apart.

He was extremely fragile right now. If the shockwave from an explosion accidentally killed him, that would be absurd.

Fortunately, before Konan could act, a faint breeze swept by and blew away the ash covering the firewood.

A tiny red glow was revealed.

Konan froze at the sight, then tossed the paper onto the small red ember.

Firelight once again illuminated the night sky.

Konan picked up the branches lying nearby and placed them onto the burning paper.

Then she looked toward Itachi.

Their eyes met...

A trace of awkwardness filled the air.

Konan blankly put away the Explosive Tags in her hand.

"Sorry, it's my turn to keep watch now, isn't it? I accidentally overslept..."

Konan spoke somewhat sheepishly under Itachi's strange gaze, then her expression abruptly sharpened.

"Who's there?"

Konan's chakra surged as her senses spread outward in every direction...

The little campfire that had just been lit was extinguished again by her chakra...

Konan saw Itachi with half his shoulder exposed, a syringe still stuck in it, and his handsome face tinged blue.

He had obviously been ambushed.

Her expression immediately turned furious...

Then she froze again.

She suddenly remembered that the fire had probably been out for quite a while. Besides, if someone wanted to harm Itachi, they would not have needed to pull open all his clothes...

Unseen imagination was the deadliest kind...

Fortunately, the fire had already been put out by her rampaging chakra. Otherwise, the embarrassment would have been enough to dig a two-bedroom apartment with her toes...

She had only just woken up, and her mind was still sluggish...

When the fire was lit again, Konan's face was a little flushed.

She looked like a ripe apple.

"Why are you scaring people for no reason?"

Konan walked toward Itachi and spoke irritably.

But Itachi's strange state also caught her attention.

His face was bluish, his eyes fixed dryly on her, and his eyes were bloodshot. He looked as though he had stayed awake for several nights in a row.

"What's wrong with you?"

Konan asked with concern.

She did not understand what had happened to Itachi, but she clearly knew it was beyond anything she understood.

Itachi felt a wave of comfort from the warmth of the fire.

But helplessly, he still could not move or speak.

After waiting several minutes, Itachi still said nothing and only stared at her blankly, leaving her completely baffled.

Even when her senses passed through Itachi's body, she could detect nothing at all.

With no other choice, she could only walk back and lean against the base of the tree again...

As for the syringe in Itachi's shoulder, she had no intention of pulling it out.

What if Itachi was cultivating? Wouldn't touching it recklessly ruin his efforts...

Besides, Itachi's miserable state put Konan in a wonderful mood.

It was rare to see this brat looking so pathetic. It was far too amusing...

Of course, if dawn came and Itachi still had not recovered, then she would start to worry...

A woman's mind was like a mystery no one could understand...