Elder Itachi seemed to find his shocked expression amusing, a teasing smile appearing on his lips. "With that brain of yours, you should've sensed long ago that I treat you somewhat differently from the other clan members."
Aokiji played dumb. "What do you mean? I don't really understand."
"You really do like playing dumb. Well, that's precisely what makes you clever."
Elder Itachi slowly raised his right hand and formed a hand seal with one hand. "Look into my eyes."
The moment their gazes met, he poured Chakra into Aokiji.
A faint headache came over Aokiji. After only a moment, the memories he had sealed away resurfaced. He gave a bitter smile, and his last shred of hope vanished with a sigh. "So you knew from the beginning..."
Elder Itachi let out the laughter of a victor. "Kid, don't assume everyone else is that stupid."
Aokiji shrugged and spread his hands. At this point, there was no need to hide it anymore.
His irises, originally black as night, turned an alluring pigeon-blood red. A black dot emerged near his pupils, spinning and stretching into a Tomoe Pattern.
Elder Itachi narrowed his inner eye corners, his lids half lowered as ripples glimmered in his deep pupils. "You really are lazy. You haven't trained the Uchiha Clan's power at all, and you're still at the one-tomoe stage even now."
Aokiji closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they had returned to normal. "No, I call that being cautious."
"..."
Aokiji asked in confusion, "Why are you suddenly telling me everything now?"
"If I didn't, why would a brat like you obediently work for me?"
Elder Itachi grinned, a sly look at the corner of his mouth. "Aokiji, you wouldn't want everyone to find out about your Dual Kekkei Genkai, would you?"