The next instant, he appeared in front of Itachi again.
He was still holding the unconscious Kisame Hoshigaki.
Xin casually tossed Kisame onto the ground like garbage.
This spot was a full hundred meters from where Kisame had landed after being kicked away.
That terrifying speed of instantaneous movement left Itachi unable to remain calm any longer.
He looked at Kisame on the ground, then at Xin's relaxed expression.
Itachi knew full well that even if he used every trump card he had, he might still be no match for the boy before him.
But he still could not stop worrying about Sasuke's safety.
Seeing Itachi's conflicted expression, Xin sighed helplessly.
"You really won't budge without something concrete."
Xin changed the subject with a question.
"Senior Itachi, do you have the Totsuka Blade right now?"
Itachi paused, then shook his head.
"I haven't obtained that spirit weapon yet."
"That explains it."
Xin began explaining.
"The Totsuka Blade is a spirit weapon containing a special Sealing Jutsu. It has no physical form and can seal any soul it pierces inside a drunken, dreamlike Genjutsu world."
Xin looked at Itachi.
"That thing is practically the absolute counter to Living Corpse Reincarnation."
"Even if Orochimaru really does use Living Corpse Reincarnation on Sasuke."
"As long as you pierce Orochimaru with the Totsuka Blade, you can forcibly strip out and seal his soul. Sasuke will naturally be unharmed."
Xin paused and added another remark.
"According to ancient records, the Totsuka Blade is very likely a divine weapon of our Uchiha Clan. It should exist within some special form of Susanoo."
Xin spread his hands.
"Unfortunately, my Susanoo doesn't have that thing. If you awaken a complete Susanoo in the future, you might want to keep an eye out."
After hearing this, Itachi fell into a long silence.
He had heard the legends of the Totsuka Blade, but had not known its specific abilities countered Orochimaru so thoroughly.
A long while passed.
Itachi finally nodded.
"I hope what you've said today is true."
In the end, Itachi chose to compromise.
He turned his gaze to the unconscious Kisame on the ground.
Xin snorted coldly.
"Take your partner and get lost."
Xin's tone was stern.
"And warn him to watch his mouth when he sees me from now on. If he dares call me a brat again, I'll kill him outright."
Itachi said nothing more.
He bent down, grabbed Kisame by the collar, and transformed into a flock of crows, swiftly disappearing into the depths of the forest.
Watching them leave, Xin could not help shaking his head.
"What a god-tier brocon."
Xin made the teasing remark.
Then, in excellent spirits, he eagerly set off toward Konoha.
Meanwhile.
Beside a lake far from Konoha.
Kisame's eyes snapped open, and he sat up from the ground.
"Where's that damned brat?!"
Kisame roared, his face twisted with rage.
He looked around, but saw only Uchiha Itachi standing on the water.
Kisame snatched up Samehada beside him, his tone full of resentment.
"Mr. Itachi, I was careless just now and fell for that kid's sneak attack!"
Kisame gritted his teeth.
"I'm going back to tear him to pieces!"
No sooner had he spoken than Kisame suddenly felt the world spin around him, nearly pitching headfirst into the lake.
The mental trauma inflicted by Tsukuyomi: Illusion World was extremely severe, leaving his mental state utterly weakened.
Itachi turned around, his expression more grave than ever.
"Kisame, take my advice."
Itachi looked at him coldly.
"If you encounter Uchiha Xin again, do not provoke him under any circumstances."
Itachi stressed his words.
"He's dangerous. Extremely dangerous."
Kisame's expression changed dramatically.
He stared at Itachi with wide eyes, disbelief all over his face.
In all his time with Itachi, he had never seen him look so wary of anyone.
Even when facing Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, Itachi had merely said to retreat, never using words like "extremely dangerous."
Kisame swallowed.
A terrifying thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Could that Uchiha Xin be even stronger than Jiraiya?
Elsewhere.
After racing the entire way, Uchiha Xin finally reached Konoha's gates.
He was just about to step into the village.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two figures wearing animal masks instantly appeared before him, blocking his path.
They were Konoha's Anbu.
"Uchiha Xin."
One of the Anbu stepped forward, his tone serious.
"Orders from Lord Third Hokage."
The Anbu relayed the order.
"Upon your return to the village, you are to report to the Hokage's office immediately, without delay."
Xin frowned.
He understood at once.
It seemed Kakashi had already reported how Xin's Shadow Clone had looked grave and told him there was a major crisis in the Land of Snow.
He had reported everything to the Third Hokage exactly as it happened.
The old Third was so anxious that he had specifically sent Anbu to wait for him at the village entrance.
The atmosphere inside the Hokage's office was somewhat heavy.
Uchiha Xin pushed open the door and strode inside.
When he got a clear look at the old man sitting behind the desk, his steps faltered slightly, surprise in his eyes.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi still wore his Hokage robes and held his signature pipe.
Although he had been fortunate enough to survive the Konoha Crush Plan without dying from using the Reaper Death Seal, this single month had drained him of all his vitality.
His already wrinkled face was now as withered as dead wood.
His once-sharp eyes had grown clouded, and his back was deeply hunched.
Though he was only sixty-nine, he now looked as weathered as a hundred-year-old man on the verge of death.
Hearing the movement, the Third Hokage slowly raised his head.
When he saw that the visitor was Uchiha Xin, he mustered a gentle smile on his deeply lined old face.
"Xin, you're back."
The Third Hokage set down his pipe, his voice hoarse and filled with deep exhaustion.
"I've already read the mission report from the Land of Snow."
The Third Hokage picked up a document from the desk, approval in his eyes.
"You did an outstanding job this time. Not only did you protect the film crew and Princess Kazahana Koyuki, you also helped the Land of Snow quell its rebellion and put an end to that ambitious schemer Kazahana Dōtō."
The Third Hokage nodded with satisfaction.
"In light of this mission's difficulty and its tremendous contribution to diplomatic relations between our two countries, I have officially upgraded this escort mission to S-rank."
The Third Hokage took a letter of appointment bearing the Hokage's official seal from a drawer and held it out.
"At the same time, after deliberation among the village's leadership, you have been granted special permission to bypass the formalities of the Chunin Ninja Exams and be promoted to Special Jōnin of Konoha."
Xin stepped forward and accepted the letter of appointment with both hands, his tone calm.
"Thank you for nurturing me, Lord Hokage."
The Third Hokage waved a hand, indicating that there was no need for thanks.
Then the smile gradually faded from the Third Hokage's face, and his expression grew serious.
He stared into Xin's eyes and leaned forward slightly.
"Xin, you previously sent a Shadow Clone back to find Kakashi, saying there was something particularly important that you had to report to me in private."