"Die?"
In the forest.
Uchiha Itachi stood in the darkness. "I've considered that. But... which of us dies first is still anyone's guess."
Kisame Hoshigaki: "?"
Mr. Itachi...
When did he start talking like that?
"Heh... hahahahaha!"
Uchiha Yehuo's eyes widened. Then he threw back his head and laughed wildly before his face abruptly darkened.
"Uchiha... Itachi!"
He gritted his teeth and glared at the familiar figure before him, as though he wanted to tear into his flesh.
The ugly black robe with red clouds that Uchiha Itachi wore
only made Yehuo's fury burn hotter.
"The Akatsuki... is spouting grand, meaningless nonsense all you know how to do?" Yehuo let out a long breath, then walked toward Uchiha Itachi step by step with a cold smile.
The tip of Steel Cutter dragged across the ground, striking pebbles and throwing off bright sparks.
Uchiha Itachi chuckled and glanced at Kisame. "You've surprised me, Yehuo. In less than a year, you've become strong enough to defeat Mr. Kisame. Your Sharingan must have improved considerably. Have you been focusing on Genjutsu?"
"...Heh. You'll find out soon enough!"
Yehuo grinned savagely and raised Steel Cutter across his chest. "Come on!"
"..."
Uchiha Itachi merely stared at Yehuo's crimson eyes. Tear tracks of blood still marked his own face. Both of them looked battered.
But
Yehuo was in slightly better shape.
"Then show me how far into the future those eyes of yours can see..."
Whoosh!
The instant he finished speaking,
both figures vanished from where they stood.
Clang!
The sparks from Kunai meeting Tachi had yet to fade when Yehuo drove a knee toward Itachi's throat.
Feeling Uchiha Itachi's strength ebb, Yehuo sneered. "Is that all? Is Izumi's spirit haunting you and draining your strength?!"
"..."
Uchiha Itachi said nothing. His gaze turned icy