Torune Aburame stood where he was, clutching the wound on his severed arm and staring in the direction Itachi had disappeared.
It wasn't him.
His target was Sasuke Uchiha, but he hadn't had a chance to strike. His men were keeping the clan leader's guards occupied from the front. None of them could have slipped in from behind.
Then who was it?
A second scream came from Sasuke's room.
It was shorter and sharper than the first, then cut off abruptly.
Delight flashed in Torune Aburame's eyes. He immediately sent out the order for everyone to withdraw.
Uchiha Itachi charged into the room. The paper door flew off its hinges, the frame splintered, and wood fragments spun through the air.
Sasuke lay on the floor.
He was curled up, his limbs twitching, his lips purple and his small face darkening. His eyes were half-open, their pupils unfocused. Blood vessels webbed the whites, and his eyes rolled without awareness.
Beside him, two white snakes had been cut into pieces. Their bodies were still writhing, dark Kurenai blood seeping from the severed ends. Their mouths hung open, fangs exposed, with traces of blood still on their tips.
Damn it. I was careless!
Root could even control snakes!
This was the real killing blow!
Even Torune Aburame had only been a feint to draw their attention!
Uchiha Itachi crouched and reached for Sasuke's neck. His fingertips touched skin as hot as glowing iron.
He pulled back Sasuke's clothes to examine him.
Two bites.
One was on the outside of his ankle: two tiny punctures surrounded by a ring of dark purple bruising. The discoloration spread up his calf to his knee.
The other was on the left side of his neck. It had the same two tiny punctures, but the surrounding skin