Late at night.
Hoshigaki Kisame knocked on Uchiha Itachi's door.
Once inside, the first thing Hoshigaki Kisame said made Uchiha Itachi's heart tighten: "I'm sorry to disturb you so late, Mr. Itachi, but someone wants to use my mouth to threaten you. If any of our organization's information is leaked, Uchiha Sasuke will be torn to pieces."
"..."
Uchiha Itachi slowly released his hand and calmly said, "Killing Sasuke means nothing to me, does it? Anyway, I'll kill him sooner or later..."
"No need to pretend."
Hoshigaki Kisame sat down in front of Uchiha Itachi, delivering each word like a hammer to Itachi's heart: "Mr. Itachi killed the whole clan just to protect Uchiha Sasuke's life, so why be so stubborn about it? Very few in the Akatsuki know about this, but unfortunately, I'm one of them."
"Who told you? Uchiha Obito?"
Uchiha Itachi's hand tightened again, ready to react at any moment.
Being seized by one's weakness is a very uncomfortable feeling.
Uchiha Itachi preferred to plan three moves ahead, using his intelligence to work from the shadows, ensuring everything appeared flawless so that those who thought they controlled him would only realize they had lost control when it was too late.
Now, others bypass all that nonsense and directly threaten him with Sasuke's life, making it difficult for Uchiha Itachi to manipulate the situation.
Faced with this, Uchiha Itachi sought to turn the tables, willing to reveal a crucial secret to Kisame: "But back then, I spared Sasuke's life only because my Sharingan was running low on power, so I needed Sasuke's eyes to regain the Mangekyo Sharingan's strength..."
"Pfft..."
Hoshigaki Kisame couldn't help but laugh, waving his hand apologetically: "Sorry, sorry, I just couldn't hold it in..."
Uchiha Itachi's face instantly turned sour.
Was his act seen through? Or what?
Inexplicably, he felt like a clown.
The Kisame before him had always presented himself as a very standard ninja, strictly following orders from above.
Yet, at this moment, Uchiha Itachi had the distinct feeling that Kisame saw through everything!
Uchiha Itachi's expression grew increasingly unpleasant as he looked at Kisame. Firm in his belief, he asked: "Did you know everything? Or have you always known?"
The two questions held different implications.
One implied Kisame discovered it recently, the other, that he had seen through his thoughts long ago.
If it were the first, that would be fine...
If it's the latter, then Uchiha Itachi truly felt like he'd always been a clown in Kisame's eyes.
"Sorry, I've always known."
Hoshigaki Kisame grinned, revealing his shark teeth.
Uchiha Itachi's heart pounded, his face grew ever more grim, and finally, with his impatience unveiled, he spoke deeply: "So you've always been watching everything between me and Sasuke from the shadows, mocking me in your heart?"
Damn it, how infuriating!
Imagining all the effort he put into avoiding Kisame, secretly teaching Sasuke ninjutsu, suddenly seemed like a joke to Uchiha Itachi.
Every time Sasuke provoked him, Itachi would casually beat him, ridicule him as a failure, to fuel Sasuke's resentment and unyielding will, and Kisame must have been laughing to himself from the sidelines!
Damn it, he really didn't want to endure this any longer!
Itachi felt like his life these past years was that of a circus clown, performing jokes for Kisame day after day without pause!
How did it come to this!
Uchiha Itachi was not doing well. He found it hard to suppress his rage anymore, for he was an Uchiha, a proud individual!
All the ninjas in the Ninja World should be under their Uchiha's control, so how had he become a joke!
And every time he covertly passed ninjutsu to Sasuke under Kisame's watch, he couldn't help feeling disdain for Kisame...
He never imagined he was the real joke in Kisame's eyes!
Shame... humiliation... anger...
These words were insufficient to express Itachi's feelings. He felt stripped bare, cast under the light for Kisame to judge.
Uchiha Itachi clenched his fists, looked at Kisame, and questioned word for word: "So you knew everything and still always humiliated Sasuke in front of me, deliberately provoking and testing me?"
"Huh?"
Kisame was caught off guard by this question. Why ask this, wasn't Mr. Itachi supposed to be feeling too humiliated at this point?
Kisame was actually quite pleased inside!
Previously, every time Uchiha Itachi secretly tried to teach Sasuke ninjutsu, he probably thought disdainfully of the useless Sharkman who couldn't even notice such things...
Do you realize it now?
He, Hoshigaki Kisame, knew everything!
But he said nothing, just watched the two brothers fooling around!
The satisfaction was beyond explainable!
Like jumping into a cold bath on a hot day, an indescribable pleasure.
Yet when Kisame was secretly pleased, he was hit with Itachi's question, leaving him unsure how to respond?
This...
How should he put it?
Honestly?
"If..."
Kisame looked at Itachi and calmly said: "What if I was just standing up for you, Mr. Itachi?"
Kisame stared directly into Itachi's eyes without flinching from the crimson Sharingan and spoke solemnly: "Mr. Itachi, are you really going to sacrifice yourself for a kid? Your talent and strength are among the two greatest I have ever seen in my life.
You were meant to have a greater stage in this Ninja World. If you're willing to kill Sasuke, illness is but a minor inconvenience, and you will have the chance to truly witness the truth of this world!"
Kisame spoke honestly.
He genuinely wanted to persuade Uchiha Itachi to defect.
Uchiha Itachi was the most respected ninja in Kisame's heart, and Uehara Naraku was his most respected leader.
If Uchiha Itachi were willing to join Uehara Naraku, he would definitely have a much broader stage!
Under Uehara Naraku's banner, everyone was treated equally, offering them significant rewards, including extended lifespan, freeing them from worries.
Kisame learned the truth and gained tremendous power; Hozuki Mangetsu gained new life, capable of secretly guiding and protecting his brother; Ringo Ameyuri was cured of illness.
Should Uchiha Itachi join Uehara, given Uehara Naraku's high regard for him, Itachi would likely gain even more, and his brother Uchiha Sasuke's safety would be assured!
For instance, Hozuki Mangetsu's brother, Hozuki Suigetsu, was so brazen in the Ninja World, constantly causing trouble for his brother, yet nothing happened because a guy named Yakushi Kabuto was secretly aiding him, right?
"As long as you are willing to pledge allegiance to my superior..."
Kisame looked at Uchiha Itachi, his expression becoming incredibly serious: "Mr. Itachi, although the boss occasionally indulges in some sadistic humor, treating this world as a game!
But the boss treats his people very generously, he will heal your body and protect your brother, there is nothing the boss cannot do, he is the god of this world!"
"There is no god in this world."
Uchiha Itachi calmly shook his head, then suddenly, in a probing manner, spoke: "Kisame, your superior isn't Uchiha Obito... is it?"
"..."
Hoshigaki Kisame curled up the corners of his mouth, looked at Uchiha Itachi with an amused smile: "Mr. Itachi, today you've learned plenty, but in light of your trump cards being exposed, are you sure you want to keep asking?"