Uchiha Itachi leaned against a large tree, his face pale and his breathing rapid.
His Anbu mask had been lost somewhere, and sharp weapons had slashed several gashes into his Anbu vest, faintly revealing dried blood on the skin beneath.
But his injuries were not serious.
The Mysterious Masked Man had not attacked him.
Those Kirigakure ninja also seemed to have received some sort of order and had spared him.
But compared to his physical exhaustion and injuries, what concerned Uchiha Itachi more was the mental shock.
The Mysterious Masked Man's words kept echoing in his mind.
Are you Uchiha Itachi of the Uchiha Clan, or Uchiha Itachi of Konoha?
You're lost, aren't you?
Some things can be done without staying in Konoha.
"No..."
Uchiha Itachi shook his head, forcibly driving these distracting thoughts from his mind.
"I'm Uchiha Itachi of Konoha... I'm a Konoha ninja..."
Just then.
A figure appeared out of thin air.
Uchiha Itachi's pupils abruptly contracted. He instinctively activated his [Three-Tomoe Sharingan], his body instantly entering a combat-ready state.
A kunai slid from his sleeve, and he gripped it tightly.
But when he saw who had arrived, he froze on the spot.
"Advisor... Minamoto?"
"You're still alive, Itachi."
Uchiha Minamoto walked up to him, his gaze sweeping over his injuries.
"Can you still move?"
"Yes."
Uchiha Itachi removed his mask and struggled to his feet.
"Senior Kakashi..."
"I know."
Uchiha Minamoto cut him off and tossed him a medical kit.
"I just checked the surroundings. There are no chakra fluctuations from any other ninja within fifty kilometers. You can rest here for a while. I'll come back to pick you up later."
With those words.
Uchiha Minamoto's figure disappeared again.
Even with his [Three-Tomoe Sharingan] active, Uchiha Itachi could not make out the path of his