The next day.
Today was the day Naruto and Itachi would visit the Akatsuki together.
Naruto used the Teleportation Device to reach the Base first thing that morning.
Naturally... Naruto had told his dad about it before leaving.
When Minato Namikaze learned that Naruto wanted to visit the Akatsuki, he initially refused, but after Naruto worked his talk-no-jutsu on him, he agreed.
Naruto said he was going to the Akatsuki to try to set Nagato's thinking straight. Who was Nagato? He was Jiraiya's first disciple and Minato's senior fellow student.
Besides, Nagato was the most important pawn of the masterminds behind the scenes: Black Zetsu, Madara Uchiha, and Obito Uchiha.
What would happen if that pawn abandoned the darkness and joined the light ahead of time?
Black Zetsu would remain a lonely orphan stirring up trouble.
Madara Uchiha wouldn't be resurrected.
Obito would be left all alone, and the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan would stall outright.
That was why Nagato's role was so important.
After hearing Naruto's analysis, and with his knowledge of the original story, Minato finally agreed to let Naruto contact Nagato.
Still, he left a Flying Thunder God Mark on Naruto.
If Naruto was attacked, then... the Flying Thunder God Mark would activate, and Minato Namikaze would sense it. He could then teleport straight over to provide support.
At the Base.
Itachi and Shisui had been waiting for Naruto since early that morning.
When Naruto stepped out of the Teleportation Device, Shisui patted Itachi's shoulder and said, "Naruto, I'm leaving Itachi in your hands! Don't let anyone sweet-talk him into joining them!"
Itachi: ...
Itachi really wanted to say, Do you think I'm you?!
But when he remembered Shisui's abysmal score on the scam prevention exam, he kept his mouth shut. That would hit far too close