Gamakichi stared wide-eyed at the two men before him. Unlike everyone around him, he wasn't intimidated in the slightest. "They haven't even announced the start of the Fourth Round. What are you signing up for?"
"We're signing up early. We'll participate in the next round."
"Then just wait!"
Itachi nodded. Although the once-little toad spoke harshly, he didn't seem to mind at all.
But the moment he turned and stood off to the side, the surrounding crowd scattered, clearing a large stretch of ground in an instant.
"You draw even more attention than I expected."
Obito stood beside Itachi and grumbled.
"Do I? I thought I was keeping a pretty low profile."
As Itachi spoke, Obito gave him a look that said he wasn't buying it and casually hooked a thumb over his shoulder.
Itachi glanced over and saw someone nearby already hurrying away. "I have to get back and warn the others. We can't enter the Fourth Round, no matter what!"
A man's reputation preceded him.
Though that reputation was rather problematic, Itachi didn't really care.
Fewer enemies were better, after all.
"Did you suddenly decide to enter the Fourth Round because you noticed something in the first three?"
Obito suddenly asked.
"All I know is that Konoha participated in every round."
"Didn't you say we should watch for a while first?"
"It's precisely because I couldn't tell anything from the first three rounds that I think we need to act sooner. The longer we wait, the slimmer our chances might become." Itachi sighed.
"Chances of what?"
A slightly mocking question rang out beside them.
The instant Itachi heard that voice, surprise flickered in his eyes. But it vanished just as quickly, and he calmly turned toward the black-haired youth who had appeared beside them without their noticing.
"I