Hokage Building.
Having just heard Konan's story, Jiraiya looked at Tsunade, as she pushed open the door and entered, and unconsciously shrank back.
After exchanging information and summarizing it, everyone in the room frowned.
What are Shikaku's thoughts?
Although Shikaku's previous assumptions about the Uchiha Clan were seriously flawed.
But it's abnormal in itself to ask a normal person to analyze the thoughts of a madman...
Shikaku stroked his mustache and analyzed in a deep voice, " The Land of Iron, which is also the location where the Raikage initiated the Five Nations Conference!"
"This kind of classified information was only recently obtained by Konoha. It seems that Akatsuki's intelligence system is also very powerful!"
" Deidara, the missing-nin from the Land of Earth skilled in destruction; Sasori, the missing-nin Sasori of the Red Sands the Sunagakure, a genius puppeteer..."
"If these two dangerous individuals sent by Akatsuki were to launch a massacre in a neutral country first, even if it can't be stopped, the Five Kage Summit will inevitably be postponed again!"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "It seems the Akatsuki, or rather Obito, is afraid of our five-nation alliance!"
"Otherwise, they wouldn't have been so eager to send people to sabotage the meeting place!"
Although Konan's words cannot be completely trusted, Konan resentful expression earlier...
Shikaku lowered his head in thought. The Akatsuki had sent out a total of three teams.
Firstly, Uchiha Itachi and Kisame, along with the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, went to Kirigakure to hunt down the Three-Tails!
Secondly, Kabuto and Kakuzu didn't hesitate to completely break ties with the black market, directly robbing funds and the corpses of powerful figures!
Thirdly, Sasori and Deidara went directly to the meeting place and started a massacre!
The Akatsuki's actions, so rushed and even visibly hurried...
Could the reason really be fear of a five-nation alliance?
Shikaku a moment, then looked up at Tsunade, "Although Konoha isn't the closest village to the Land of Iron, Konoha's currently the only one that Akatsuki's meeting."
"Regarding the intelligence about the Akatsuki's meeting, I'd like to share it with the other countries free of charge."
"Furthermore, in order to prevent the tragedy in the Land of Iron, Lord Hokage needs to immediately assemble a delegation for the talks and depart."
"Finally, regarding the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, that is, Naruto's arrangements..."
Yugakure.
Shisui looked up at the signs hanging on the shops, his lips twitching uncontrollably.
The left side features a gold ¥ symbol, the right side a gold $ symbol, and the reverse side depicts a cat raising its paw...
Is this the cult my best friend was talking about...?
What an eye-opening day...
Kirigakure, Rich Man Bridge.
Itachi and Kisame, who was carrying the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, were listening to their mission target complain.
"Your organization's leader truly deserves to die!"
Yagura, in his Tailed Beast Transformation, carried massive boulders on his back, with two small squads of Kirigakure Anbu on his back as well.
"You insist on showing off to the boss, but you can't even last a few seconds!"
"Not only did over a thousand meters of the bridge surface collapse, but the cracked sections still haven't been repaired!"
Yagura got angrier and angrier as he spoke!
Especially since the bridge wasn't even finished during the holiday, and they're already rushing to fix it!
"Alright, alright."
Kisame looked at the target of this mission and grinned, "I'll lock this guy on my shoulder in the company first, then I'll come over to help you later."
"Really? Kisame!"
Yagura had received notification from the company about Kisame's situation, so he did not suspect Kisame's motives.
Seeing Kisame nod with a smile, Yagura felt a warm current flow through his heart!
The oppression under the Haruma, the ruthlessness of Fugaku...
Having witnessed so much evil in people's hearts, Yagura this sudden warmth!
"Then hurry up and go, I'll wait for you here."
Oh, and don't forget to leave the bridge toll.
Uchiha Clan headquarters.
Mikoto carefully examined the Itachi in front of her, her eyes slowly beginning to redden.
"You've matured a lot, and you've lost a lot of weight."
Mikoto's gentle voice trembled slightly before she pulled her son, whom she hadn't seen for many years, into her arms.
"Mother, my lord."
Nestled in Mikoto's arms, Itachi's cold, unchanging face, which had remained unchanged for so many years, finally revealed a faint smile.
Fugaku stood to one side of the corridor, silently watching the heartwarming scene of mother and child, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Night, the full moon hangs high in the sky.
Itachi, now dressed in casual clothes, looked at the four sets of bowls and chopsticks set on the dining table with a slightly puzzled expression.
"Father, didn't you say that Shisui went out on a mission with you?"
"It's not Shisui ~"
Mikoto, wearing an apron and carrying a plate, came out of the kitchen with a smile, "Yesterday—"
" Uchiha Itachi!!"
A sudden roar from the courtyard drew the family's attention!
Looking at Sasuke, who had grown considerably taller, Itachi's eyes showed a slight surprise, along with a hint of joy.
"You bastard!!"
Sasuke shouted and leaped into the air, charging straight towards Itachi's position!
With a piercing screech, Sasuke's right hand unleashed an extreme burst of lightning!
" Chidori Stream - Thunder Beast!"
In a flash, Itachi slightly shifted his body, and his hands instantly passed through both sides of Sasuke's neck!
"Bang!"
Itachi gently patted Sasuke's back with his hands.
Looking down at Sasuke, who had run headfirst into his arms, Itachi's eyes were filled with warmth and affection.
"Sasuke, Sasuke."
Itachi isn't as nearsighted as he used to be with Mangekyō, and besides, the courtyard and the restaurant aren't far apart.
The younger brother, who seemed murderous, had no murderous intent in his eyes; instead, they were full of longing.
"Did Father talk to Sasuke about it?"
Fugaku, standing to the side, nodded calmly. " Sasuke returned a day before you. Mikoto told him the truth last night."
"Is that so..."
If it were his mother, he probably wouldn't be angry even if he didn't agree.
"Why!"
Sasuke struggled to break free from Itachi's embrace, his eyes red and glaring at Itachi, "Why didn't you tell me the truth back then?!"
Itachi chuckled softly, reaching out to ruffle Sasuke's hair into a ball. "Please forgive your brother one last time, Sasuke."
Itachi felt there was no need to explain the special circumstances the Uchiha Clan in Konoha back then. Anyway, his clan was doing well now, his parents were doing well, and Sasuke didn't hold a grudge against him...
That's enough.
As the mother of the two brothers, Mikoto lacked Itachi's carefree attitude and was more concerned Sasuke might harbor resentment towards his older brother.
"You were too young back then, and you were still under the surveillance of Konoha's Anbu."
Mikoto explained softly, "If Konoha finds out you're faking it, the clan's evacuation plan won't go so smoothly."
"Even the downfall of the family's Hawk Faction was your father's idea!"
Sons are meant to be pampered, husbands are meant to be sold.
Mikoto's technique of shifting the blame is something she learned from Haruma.
Fugaku: "..."
So it was all my fault back then?
Itachi: "..."
Could it be that Haruma is with his mother?
"Why weren't you told when that family moved to Kirigakure?"
Sasuke was well aware of the harsh environment the Uchiha Clan faced, being feared by the village's higher-ups and ostracized by the villagers.
But even after all these years in Kirigakure, Sasuke only learned the truth from his mother last night, and he still has a lot of resentment that he can't vent.
Faced with Sasuke's displeased gaze, Fugaku was speechless once again...
Heh, let it all be destroyed!
P. S.: Thanks to 480 for the milk tea and the like!
Updates as usual this afternoon!