Sasuke, just a kid!
Sanji, a clone of Itsuki.
He silently watched Sasuke's dumbfounded expression, feeling amused inside.
Too naive.
Even now, this kid still believes that hard work will bring rewards.
That's completely wrong to the core.
In the current Konoha, no matter how hard you try, it's useless. Neji's words ring true for today's Konoha:
People's fates have long been sealed.
Neji himself is a vivid example.
Did his fate change?
No!
Did the Hyuga clan's fate change?
No!
Everyone follows their own destiny—those meant to become Hokage will become Hokage, and those destined for obscurity will remain so.
From beginning to end, there has been no change at all.
"Anyway, keep trying!"
Itsuki smiled at Sasuke and said, "I have some things to take care of. Be careful. In the Forest of Death, no one can be trusted."
"Even you?"
Sasuke's words carried a hint of provocation and dissatisfaction.
Itsuki, without hesitation, responded, "Including me! Maybe the one who kills you... will be me!"
Sasuke was stunned.
The two entered the Forest of Death together, then went their separate ways.
...
Itsuki carried Anko as they continued forward.
"Where exactly are you taking me?"
Anko asked, feeling uneasy.
She had snapped out of her earlier daze.
She realized that Itsuki seemed to have a clear purpose, moving straight ahead in the Forest of Death.
"Of course, to see the beautiful scenery!"
Itsuki laughed. "What's wrong? Anko, don't you want to?"
"Of-Of course I want to!"
The smile on Anko's face became somewhat forced.
"To see the scenery? What scenery?"
You've been trampling over every plant and flower along the way, what exactly are you looking at?
Loneliness?
Suddenly!
Itsuki exerted strength and threw Anko out of his grasp.
Anko landed steadily on her feet, holding a kunai in her hand.
Like a snake, she stood her ground, coldly staring at Itsuki.
"As expected of Orochimaru's disciple!"
Itsuki sighed. "You almost hurt me."
"Stop pretending!"
Anko sneered. "If I could really hurt you, would you still be Uchiha Itsuki?"
Itsuki chuckled, lifting his gaze as three tomoe appeared in his eyes.
"Ugh!"
Anko's body stiffened as she slowly assumed a defensive stance.
"You... a genjutsu..."
Anko gritted out a few words through clenched teeth.
"That's right!"
Itsuki smiled warmly. "As an Uchiha, it's only natural that I excel at genjutsu, isn't it?"
"No argument here!"
Anko blurted out, then stared at Itsuki in horror. "What have you done to me?"
"Just controlling your speech."
"I'm pretty confident in my genjutsu. Since you know I'm Uchiha Itsuki, you should understand that."
Itsuki didn't care, eyeing Anko up and down.
Not bad!
At first, I thought she was just a little girl, but now that she's all tied up, it shows.
Not top-tier, but pretty balanced. That "just right" feeling really catches the eye.
And besides...
If I remember correctly, Anko's age, though younger than Kakashi, isn't much younger.
Itsuki hadn't specifically checked, but he guessed Anko was around 22 to 25 years old.
In ninja terms, that's pretty old.
Yet she still looks so young!
Innocent...
Oh no, I can't keep thinking like this! If I continue, I might just have to deal with her here and now.
"What are you planning?"
Anko noticed the strange look in Itsuki's eyes and her voice trembled.
"Deal with you, how about that?"
Anko was stunned, then her face turned even more fearful as she realized what he meant.
"Speaking of which!"
Itsuki suddenly came to his senses and looked at Anko strangely. "You're my senpai, aren't you?"
He had just remembered that the person in front of him was also one of Orochimaru's disciples.
Like him!
They hadn't had much interaction.
This was due to Orochimaru's nature.
He wasn't the type to encourage his disciples to get close and bond with each other.
After Orochimaru left, Itsuki retreated to the Uchiha clan, while Anko was thrown back into the village, suffering quite a bit of damage.
Konoha's people may not be skilled in much, but they excel at blaming others.
Itsuki found this strange.
"I don't quite understand."
Itsuki looked down at Anko. "You must hate Konoha too. So why try to betray me?"
Anko glared at Itsuki without saying a word.
"Sigh..."
Itsuki sighed, frustration in his voice. "Do I really have to use genjutsu? Come on, with a possible big battle coming, I'd rather save my strength where I can."
Anko still remained silent.
"Well then!"
Itsuki sighed again, his gaze turning cold.
"No choice. Goodbye, Senpai!"
"Hehe, Itsuki-kun, no need to be so hasty."
A raspy voice sounded.
Itsuki turned to see a shadow behind him, his gaze indifferent.
He didn't know when, but someone had appeared behind him.
The figure had long black hair, golden slitted pupils, purple markings extending to his nose, extremely pale skin, and blue-green jade earrings hanging from his ears.
Just standing there, he exuded an aura of treachery, cruelty, and coldness...
The Cold Lord!
Orochimaru!
"Sensei has come after all!"
Itsuki's cold demeanor vanished, replaced by a wide grin as he looked at Orochimaru.
"Sensei, Sensei!"
Anko, even more excited, struggled to break free from her restraints.
To her surprise, she managed to loosen them a bit.
But unfortunately...
Itsuki glanced at her, and she immediately fell silent.
Orochimaru's eye twitched.
He and Itsuki had once made a deal where Itsuki revealed that his own resistance to genjutsu was exceptionally weak.
Orochimaru had tested and confirmed this.
And Uchiha Itsuki was highly skilled in genjutsu.
A natural counter!
That's why Orochimaru had kept his distance from Itsuki for so long.
"Why have you come to Konoha, Sensei?"
"Didn't Itsuki-kun also come?"
Orochimaru grinned. "Let Anko go. This little girl probably attacked you because of me."
"Oh!"
Itsuki turned to Anko, smiling. "For Sensei's sake? You risked everything for him. Touching, but a bit foolish."
Orochimaru added cryptically, "Itsuki-kun, never underestimate the words of the Third Hokage. His power to manipulate hearts is extraordinary, enough to make anyone sacrifice everything for him."
Itsuki instantly thought of Itachi.
In the original story, Uchiha Itachi wiped out the entire clan!
Can you say that had nothing to do with the Third Hokage?
He was the Hokage!
Imagine if the Third didn't know about the massacre.
Then it gets interesting.
If the strongest clan in Konoha, possibly in the whole ninja world, is wiped out without the Hokage knowing, should he still be Hokage?
Wouldn't it be better to find a quiet place to hang himself?
Because he wouldn't live much longer anyway!
Sooner or later, Danzo would have killed him!
(End of chapter)