Chapter 51: Uchiha Rubik and the Dam Builder
The deathly stillness hung in the air like frozen ice. The masked man's abrupt disappearance left everyone's expressions peculiar. Though the suffocating pressure had faded, the atmosphere on the scene only grew tighter.
"Mr. Itachi."
Kisame's low voice broke the silence. He deliberately avoided questioning "Tobi's" unusual vanishing act, hoisting the massive Samehada onto his shoulder. His shark-like eyes turned toward Uchiha Itachi, asking with unspoken understanding:
"What should we do now?"
In his mind, he had all but confirmed that the constantly goofing-off "intern" Tobi was likely the very "Uchiha Madara" who had recruited him into the organization. To divert attention from his enigmatic leader, Kisame naturally steered the conversation back to the mission at hand.
Uchiha Itachi's gaze lingered on the spot where the masked man had disappeared for less than half a second before returning to its usual depthless calm. He naturally understood Kisame's intention and had no desire to expose it.
Yet his inner state was far from serene. The image of Rubik's suddenly activated Three-Tomoe Sharingan burned into his mind like a brand.
Was this a surviving Uchiha who had been left behind? Or... a far more bizarre notion, one that sent even a chill through him, crossed his mind.
Connecting "Madara's" almost undignified reaction earlier, and the deeply personal way that boy had called out "Brother Tobi"...!
In a flash of thought, Itachi's mind churned, but his superhuman rationality and restraint suppressed every storm in an instant. Now was not the time for investigation.
"Our objective hasn't changed."
Itachi's voice remained flat and unreadable, as though the earth-shaking scene just moments ago had never occurred.
His gaze passed over Rubik, who stood before Naruto, and completely ignored his younger brother Sasuke, who was glaring at him with searing hatred.
His eyes ultimately fixed steadily on Naruto behind Rubik—startled but reignited with hope by Rubik's presence.
"Priority is capturing the Nine-Tails."
That chilling declaration echoed clearly through the small space, instantly refreezing the atmosphere that had briefly thawed after Tobi's departure!
As Itachi's gaze locked onto Naruto, Kisame immediately understood. The bandages on Samehada's hilt writhed slightly, exuding an even thicker killing intent. His shark-like mouth curved into a menacing grin, his aim clearly fixed on Rubik and the boy behind him.
Sasuke's body trembled violently! Not from fear, but from the rage and hatred of being utterly ignored!
"UCHIHA ITACHI—!!!"
Sasuke practically screamed, his pitch-black pupils bloodshot from sheer loathing, as if they might bleed at any moment!
He lurched to his feet, his clenched fists driving nails deep into his palms. He stared fixedly at Itachi—the man he dreamed of day and night, the enemy he despised to his core, the butcher of his entire clan! Yet from the moment he appeared, Itachi hadn't spared him so much as a sidelong glance! As if he were nothing more than an irritating speck of dust!
This blatant contempt and disregard wounded Sasuke far more than any verbal mockery! He felt like a clown, his burning hatred utterly insignificant in the other's eyes!
"Where are you looking?! I'm right here! Uchiha Itachi! Answer me! Why?! Why did you do that?!"
Sasuke's roar carried a despairing, crazed desperation. He longed to charge forward, even at the cost of his life, to tear a crack into that cold mask!
Yet Itachi's gaze remained fixed on Naruto, as if Sasuke's anguished shouts were nothing but negligible wind. He didn't even turn his head. This silent, total disregard was like a razor's edge, repeatedly carving into Sasuke's dignity and heart.
Sasuke, goaded past reason by Itachi's indifference and cold contempt, let wild lightning crackle in his palm, coalescing into the piercing screech of Chidori!
His eyes bloodshot, he recklessly lunged toward the figure he loathed above all others!
"Stop!"
A low shout struck Sasuke's ear like a thunderclap! Rubik precisely grabbed Sasuke's wrist mid-Chidori release! The violent lightning-natured chakra was forcibly suppressed.
"Let me go!!"
Sasuke jerked his head toward Rubik, his voice distorted by fury and humiliation.
"Don't get in my way! I have to kill him! Right now!!"
"My foolish little brother..."
Itachi finally shifted his gaze from Naruto to the nearly crazed Sasuke. There was no anger in that look, no mockery—only an almost hollow calm, and fathomless disappointment.
"You truly are... as weak as ever."
His voice was low and slow, each word like a needle piercing Sasuke's heart and pride.
"Is it because... your hatred still isn't deep enough?"
Before the words faded, Itachi's figure vanished! The next instant, he appeared silently beside Sasuke, that pale, elongated hand reaching straight for Sasuke's fair throat! Far too fast for Sasuke to react!
Just as those cold fingers were about to touch Sasuke's pale skin—
Slap.
Another hand—with absolute force—locked onto Itachi's wrist! It was Rubik!
Itachi's motion halted. He tilted his head slightly, his eerie Sharingan eye fixed on Rubik close beside him.
Rubik's face betrayed no expression, but those crimson Sharingan eyes churned with suppressed emotion. His voice was low, laced with a bone-chilling frost:
"Don't mess with me right now, Uchiha Touch."
"It's Itachi."
Kisame corrected with displeasure.
Rubik paid no heed to Kisame's correction. Each word seemed squeezed through his teeth:
"Listen up, Uchiha Melt. I'm in a really bad mood right now, so quit your pretentious act. Get lost while you still can."
Itachi's gaze lingered on Rubik's tense face for a moment. A faint, barely perceptible flicker of inquiry passed through his eyes, but he offered no reply.
"Tch!"
Kisame clicked his tongue in annoyance, pointing Samehada at Rubik, his shark-like face twisting with irritation and killing intent. Yet as his eyes fell on Rubik's dark, impatient expression, a strange sense of familiarity struck him!
This face... those eyes... and his confrontation with "Madara-sama" just now... Countless conjectures pieced together in his mind at lightning speed!
"Mr. Itachi,"
Kisame suddenly grinned, flashing what seemed like a relaxed, probing smile—meant to break the deadlock and test his theory.
"This kid... wouldn't happen to be one you 'accidentally' left behind back then, would he? Want me to 'clean up' for you?"
He brandished Samehada, his tone deliberately teasing, but his eyes remained locked on Rubik.
"Who do you think you are, Dam Builder?!"
Rubik whipped his head around, his crimson Sharingan boring into Kisame!
"Didn't you hear what I said? SCRAM—!"
Boom!
Kisame stared at Rubik in astonishment—just sheer force of presence had made even this battle-hardened Mist veteran unconsciously step back half a pace. Any pretense of a smile vanished from his face.
This feeling... could... could this brat really be...?!
Kisame's expression turned wildly conflicted—shock, wariness, confusion all tangled together. Deep down, he knew that capturing the jinchuriki today was out of the question. He looked at Itachi once more and asked:
"Mr. Itachi... what's the call?"
His voice had dropped significantly, carrying a tone of consultation.
Itachi gave Rubik one long, searching look, as if those Sharingan eyes could see straight through him. The force at his wrist clearly conveyed both the other's repressed emotion and formidable strength.
After a few seconds of silence, Itachi finally spoke again, his voice still even, but missing a fraction of its earlier pressure:
"Would you let go of my hand?"
Rubik snorted, flinging away Itachi's wrist with undisguised revulsion, as though discarding something filthy.
"Stinks of the underworld. Disgusting."
In every possible sense, he loathed this repulsive man.
He didn't spare Itachi or Kisame another glance. His crimson Sharingan slowly faded back to deep black, yet the residual irritation deep within his eyes remained clear.
Right now, his mind was full of Tobi's evasive retreat. He had no patience left to bicker with this prepuce rat.
Itachi withdrew his hand, flexing his fingertips almost imperceptibly. Without another word—not even a look at Sasuke, who was nearly broken by fury and humiliation—he gave Kisame the slightest signal.
Kisame understood at once, relieved as though granted a pardon, and hefted Samehada. The two vanished as abruptly as they had appeared, their silhouettes fading swiftly in a haze of smoke, leaving behind scattered debris and three troubled teenagers.
The taut string in the air finally loosened with their departure—but what remained was a heavier silence and countless emotions waiting to explode.
Sasuke gasped raggedly, his body trembling from exhaustion and extreme emotional turbulence, staring fixedly at where Itachi had vanished, his eyes burning with frustration. Naruto looked at Rubik's dark back, still shaken, then worriedly at Sasuke, at a loss for what to do.
Rubik, meanwhile, simply bent down in silence, picking up the dirt-streaked vegetables that had rolled across the ground—each movement weighed down with suppressed agitation.
"Naruto... later, I'll have Master come keep you company. Tonight... I need some time alone."