The four watched Itachi chase after Naruto. Jirobo hesitated. "With an opponent that powerful, could Lord Beiming be in danger? Should we follow and take a look?"
Sakon replied coldly, "We'd better follow Lord Beiming's instructions."
"But it's such a shame not to watch a clash between powerhouses up close."
"Hmph, don't speak too soon. Lord Beiming just said he'd let us see his true strength. I'm sure he has his reasons for keeping us away."
Meanwhile.
After racing through the woods for a dozen or so breaths, Naruto landed steadily in a clearing.
Towering trees surrounded it, and there were no signs of human activity. It was indeed an ideal battlefield.
Even if Itachi could calmly face any unexpected development, Sasuke was his final line in the sand.
In his eyes, everything he had done had protected not only Konoha, but also his younger brother, Sasuke.
Sure enough, only a few breaths after Naruto reached the clearing, a gust of wind swept down behind him as Itachi landed.
Naruto stood with his back to Itachi. Two years had passed, and he was now nearly six feet tall. His limbs were well proportioned, and his distinctive bearing made him look composed and all the more extraordinary.
After landing, Itachi first carefully surveyed the surroundings with his Three-Tomoe Sharingan active.
Only after confirming there were no obvious signs of an ambush did he turn his indifferent gaze toward the black-haired young man with his back to him.
"Who are you?"
Looking at Naruto's back and considering their location near the Land of Fire's border, Itachi had reason to suspect that this man was either a confidant of the Third Hokage or an intelligence operative from Danzo's Root.
Itachi knew that Sasuke had defected. In fact, he had not blamed the Third