Konoha.
In Tsunade's house.
Swish!
Shishou, having just stored the Great Slug Sage into his insect breeding space, appeared in Tsunade's living room. By this time, Tsunade and Shizune had been waiting for a while.
"What did you talk about with the Great Slug Sage?" Tsunade quickly asked upon seeing Shishou appear.
Beside her, Shizune also looked at Shishou with great curiosity, eager to know what secrets had made him so secretive.
"Hehe, the Great Slug Sage sensed an opportunity to increase its strength, so it asked me for help," Shishou explained, casually sitting down on the living room sofa and pulling Tsunade and Shizune into his arms. "It also requested that you don't summon it for a while."
Tsunade frowned, giving Shishou a skeptical look. Shizune, on the other hand, nodded repeatedly, fully trusting Shishou.
"Is that really true?" Tsunade asked.
"Of course it's true. Why would I lie to you?" Shishou replied, giving Tsunade a mischievous smile and patting her.
Before Tsunade could respond further, Shishou pinned her down, ready to divert her attention with their usual activities.
"Don't move. It's broad daylight..." Tsunade protested, trying to resist but also fearing that angering Shishou would lead to even more intense consequences.
"Broad daylight? So what? We're married; why care about such things?" Shishou said, raising an eyebrow. He then turned to Shizune and said, "Shizune, come help."
Tsunade: "..."
Shizune: "..."
...
A few days later.
In a forest in the Land of Fire.
Shishou stood on one side of a stone bridge, quietly reading a ninjutsu scroll.
Before long, Uchiha Itachi, dressed in black, appeared on the other side of the bridge.
"I have completed the tasks you assigned," Itachi said, looking at Shishou. "When do you plan to start teaching Sasuke?"
Since Shishou had forcefully subdued Nagato, the leader of the Akatsuki, the organization had been lying low, gathering strength. Not only was Nagato trying to master new powers, but even Uchiha Obito was often moving in secret, frequently taking action. This made Itachi sense danger and hope even more for Shishou to take Sasuke as his disciple soon.
As long as Shishou had a master-disciple relationship with Sasuke, Itachi believed that Shishou would protect Sasuke's safety.
Shishou put away the scroll and looked at Itachi, avoiding the question. "Has the Akatsuki been up to anything secret lately?"
Although Konan was currently with Shishou, she had been away from Amegakure for a long time and didn't know much about the Akatsuki's recent activities.
"The leader's power has seen a significant breakthrough recently. He seems to have acquired new abilities," Itachi reported honestly. "And that Uchiha Madara is trying to recruit more members and has been very elusive lately. I'm not sure what he's up to."
Hearing Itachi's analysis, Shishou raised an eyebrow, not surprised. Nagato might adhere to the agreement with Shishou, but Obito would not.
Obito was ruthless, had no limits, and possessed the overpowered Mangekyō Sharingan ability, Kamui. Capturing and killing him would not be easy.
Suddenly thinking of something, Shishou turned to Itachi and said, "You know that guy's abilities well. It's not easy to catch him unless you give me Shisui's eye in advance."
"With that, I might find a chance to control him."
"That trash..." Shishou adopted Kushina's term for Obito. Ever since learning that Obito had targeted Naruto, Kushina had loathed him deeply, wishing to tear him apart.
Hearing Shishou's request, Itachi glanced at him, as if to say, "Do I look like a fool to you?"
Despite his thoughts, Itachi didn't know how to respond. Shisui's eye was his only leverage against Shishou, and he wasn't going to give it up easily.
After some thought, Itachi said, "If you take Sasuke as your disciple and protect him, I'll give you Shisui's eye."
Because of Shishou, Itachi believed that Konoha wouldn't face major issues, so he focused most of his thoughts on Sasuke.
Seeing Itachi bring up Sasuke again, Shishou spread his hands helplessly. It wasn't that he didn't want to teach Sasuke, but he had no time. After all, Mei Terumi and Yugito Nii were still waiting for his guidance.
"You don't need to worry about Sasuke," Shishou reassured. "He has someone to teach him, someone more suitable than me."
Shishou was referring to Uchiha Mikoto, who had recently awakened her Mangekyō Sharingan and was the best person to teach Sasuke.
Hearing Shishou's words, Itachi fell silent. He knew whom Shishou was referring to, a topic he had been avoiding.
He feared he might start questioning the relationship between his mother and Shishou. So, Itachi had always forced himself to ignore Mikoto's existence.
However, with Shishou bringing it up, Itachi had to face it.
Finally, Itachi closed his eyes and asked, "Are you talking about... mother?"
Ignoring Itachi's pained expression, Shishou continued, "Thanks to you, she has successfully awakened her Mangekyō Sharingan and gained formidable abilities."
"With her around, there's no need to worry about Sasuke."
"And with her watching over me, I can't ignore Sasuke either."
Hearing this, Itachi pursed his lips. Shishou's last sentence hit him hard. Smart as he was, Itachi understood the hidden meaning.
"Here, take what you want," Itachi said, leaving a crow behind and quickly departing, not wanting to face Shishou anymore.
He didn't know how to continue staying there.
"Hehe," Shishou chuckled, watching Itachi's hasty retreat.
"You still won't call me dad."
**********
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