"Someone was captured on your very first operation. I don't know why you joined that organization, but I don't want you staying there..."
Whoosh!
One kunai thrown with grim resolve grazed Itachi's forehead protector, leaving another fine groove across the already slashed Konoha forehead protector.
"You have no right to speak to me like that."
Izumi's voice was icy. "But you're right. I didn't come to kill you this time. I came to relay our leader's words—[Itachi Uchiha, I know what you want to do. Whether you want to revive your clansmen or your parents, either is possible. Reshape can even provide you with a pair of Rinnegan to use.]"
"The condition is that you come with us."
"You're here for me? I'm actually worth that much?" Itachi sounded somewhat surprised, but he soon shook his head. "No."
"..."
At Itachi's answer, a handsome face flashed through Izumi's mind, bearing a slight resemblance to the man before her. Yet that boy possessed a confidence Itachi had never had.
Izumi understood his choice, and her tone grew heavier without her realizing it. "You want to stay alive?"
"...My brother hasn't given me his answer yet. I'm waiting."
Itachi spoke calmly.
In truth, Izumi's appearance did not surprise him. Ever since learning that an organization called Reshape had emerged, Konoha had made no attempt to conceal its intelligence on its members—
Orochimaru, Sasori of the Red Sands, Uchiha Izumi, and Deidara (already captured) were all publicly listed, with Konoha unilaterally offering hefty bounties for any information on their movements or whereabouts.
After returning from Konoha, Itachi Uchiha had also learned from Adult Sasuke that Reshape had seized Urashiki Otsutsuki's pair of golden Rinnegan. When he discovered that Reshape's New Member had quietly joined the Akatsuki, his initial assessment was that they were