Utakata sat leisurely high up on a tree trunk, occasionally blowing into the bamboo implement in his hand and sending countless rainbow-colored bubbles drifting out.
At the arrival of Shin Uchiha and his companion, Utakata paused briefly. His relaxed expression turned serious, and he put away the object in his hand before addressing the two men:
"So you finally found me."
Hearing Utakata's words, Shin Uchiha paused as well. He glanced at Uchiha Shi beside him and saw that he was equally at a loss. Realizing Utakata had probably mistaken them for his pursuers, he curled his lips slightly and said:
"Utakata, we aren't from Kirigakure. We came to find you only because we want to make a deal."
Utakata hesitated at Shin Uchiha's words, but his expression softened a little once he learned they weren't from Kirigakure. With a slight movement, he jumped down from the tree trunk and landed a short distance from them:
"What do you want with me?"
Although he knew the men before him weren't Kirigakure Anbu sent to hunt him down, Utakata barely lowered his guard.
He had lived alone for years and rarely interacted with others, but he was no fool. Naturally, he still needed to be cautious around these strangers.
Shin Uchiha paid no mind to Utakata's wariness and spoke directly:
"Utakata, I came here hoping to obtain some of the energy of that monster inside you. Of course, if you have any conditions, feel free to name them."
But the moment Shin Uchiha mentioned the monster inside him, Utakata's expression changed drastically. He jerked backward, putting considerable distance between them, and drew his weapon, poised to strike at any moment.
To him, the monster inside his body was the source of his misfortune-and his greatest secret.
Because of that monster, he