Uchiha Itachi kept feeling that something was off about Obito Uchiha's expression, but he couldn't say what. The uncertainty irritated him, and his face stayed grim the whole way. If anything, that eased some of Obito's doubts.
Obito had been worried that Itachi would follow him too readily. That would have made things almost too easy to believe. Itachi's resistance, instead, convinced him that his plan to win Itachi over was about to succeed.
If Obito wanted Deidara for his unusual abilities, he wanted Itachi for his exceptional strength, his mind, and his Sharingan. Those eyes had already given rise to so many legends. If Itachi joined them, their chances of success would rise dramatically.
Itachi wanted to ask Obito what he was taking him to see, but he held back. A question like that could give him away. Before he had fully gathered his thoughts, they had reached their destination.
Stepping out of Kamui's space, Itachi looked around in confusion. They were in a remote village, less than a tenth the size of Konoha and visibly poorer. Yet the moment he arrived, he sensed an extraordinary tension in the air. It was a feeling he knew all too well.
His expression changed at once, turning grim and severe. Just then, Orochimaru emerged from hiding with Deidara. Both looked briefly stunned. Neither had expected to see Itachi here.
Their surprise lasted only a second. Orochimaru's snake-like eyes fixed fiercely on Itachi, though he addressed Obito beside him. "This is the person you wanted to bring?"
"Yes," Obito said, amusement thick in his voice. "Itachi hasn't seen how rotten this world is yet, so I'm going to show him. This place happens to be our first stop!" He paused. "And I'm glad I get to watch Deidara's first mission, too!"
He