"Quick, fire a signal flare!"
"The enemy is definitely no ordinary foe!"
An angry shout rang out from all around them.
Nagato's gaze sharpened, his Rinnegan holding nothing but coldness.
He slowly raised his right hand, spreading his fingers and aiming at the ninja firing the signal flare. But suddenly, a trace of hesitation crossed his face.
In the end, he gently lowered it again.
Their teacher had once told him there was something wrong with his Rinnegan, so he must not use them lightly.
At the same time, Nagato had discovered that as his strength grew, these eyes seemed to have become a burden.
A vast amount of the chakra in his body had to be spent maintaining his Rinnegan.
Whoosh!
A shrill whistle rang out, followed by a bang that exploded in the sky.
The expressions of Yahiko, Shisui, Konan, and the others changed.
"This is bad! We have to leave right now!"
Konan shouted.
Itachi opened his eyes then, his face covered in sweat. Shame filled his eyes as he whispered, "I-I'm sorry."
"I've dragged you all down!"
Yahiko abruptly turned his head. "Don't think that way, Itachi!"
"We're the ones who failed to take care of you!"
Hearing those words, Shisui froze, unfamiliar feelings stirring in his heart.
For the first time on a mission, he truly felt what the word "comrade" meant.
Yahiko's gentleness and kindness, Konan's sharp senses and insight, and Nagato's strength—cold on the outside, yet burning within with the desire to shoulder every responsibility himself.
Their three different personalities fit together into a perfect puzzle, filling him with warmth.
"Th-thank you!"
Itachi struggled to thank them, then closed his eyes again.
"Get some rest, Itachi!"
"Just leave the rest to us!"
Konan spoke softly.
Then she raised her head. "Yahiko!"
"Get ready