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Chapter 141: A Convergence of Two Rinnegan
Chapter 141: A Convergence of Two Rinnegan
~Ding, ding, ding~
The crisp wind chimes were stirred by the gusting wind, their gentle melody transformed into a passionate symphony.
Itachi Uchiha had been searching for quite some time.
Kisame Hoshigaki, who had been following him, was now wandering in another direction, unknowingly led astray by Itachi's genjutsu, along with his crow clone.
Just as Kisame had come to know Itachi well during their time together, Itachi's understanding of Kisame ran even deeper.
Under the influence of the Mangekyo Sharingan's genjutsu, despite Kisame's vigilance, there were moments of vulnerability during their peaceful interactions.
This wasn't the first time Itachi had slipped away from Kisame's side.
Especially when it concerned Sasuke.
Although he and Kisame got along well and the latter respected him, Itachi had long suspected that there was another reason Kisame had been assigned to accompany him.
Some things were better left unknown.
Itachi glanced at the crow perched on his left shoulder.
Within the left eye socket of the crow was a Mangekyo Sharingan with a black, blade-like design—the other eye of Uchiha Shisui.
Before Shisui had jumped off the cliff to his death, he had given this eye to Itachi.
There was a hidden connection between the two Mangekyo Sharingan that originated from the same person.
Itachi, himself a possessor of the Mangekyo Sharingan, employed a secret technique that took advantage of this trait to specifically search for Shisui's other eye.
Unlike his initial indifference toward Sasuke's departure to Huyi Xuanyue, Itachi could no longer sit idly by.
Now that he knew Sasuke was growing distant from Konoha and that Huyi Xuanyue possessed another Mangekyo Sharingan with a "Betsujin" ability, Itachi was compelled to take action.
Regardless of outsiders' perceptions, beneath his seemingly cold exterior, Itachi's heart was filled with genuine emotions for Sasuke and Konoha.
Even if the way he expressed these emotions seemed unbelievable and unacceptable to others, Konoha and Sasuke held incredibly important places in Itachi's heart.
It was one thing for Sasuke to seek power from Huyi Xuanyue, but the growing conflict between Sasuke and Konoha, and the seemingly irreconcilable situation, were not what Itachi wanted to see.
Just as the original story had intentionally left the crow with Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan inside Naruto, in case Sasuke remained unmoved and they needed to use "Betsujin" to turn his thoughts around and force him to protect Konoha, Itachi also sprang into action.
If possible, Itachi did not want to use "Betsujin" to alter his little brother's thoughts.
Just because he didn't want to, didn't mean others wouldn't.
As the owner of Shisui's other Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi was well aware of the power of "Betsujin."
Therefore, for Sasuke and for Konoha, he had to take it upon himself to investigate and decide on the next course of action.
Time flew by.
Using the subtle connection between Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi raced across the vast expanse of the Land of Fire, heading toward the unknown realm.
Suddenly, he paused, his eyes lifting to gaze toward the end of his field of vision.
"I've been found."
Itachi calmly acknowledged the reality of the situation.
Just as he could track them down through the hidden connection between the Mangekyo Sharingan, the other party could trace him back.
It seemed that they did not want him to discover their lair, and so they had taken the initiative to confront him.
Itachi didn't waste any effort and quietly stood his ground, waiting.
Itachi looked up at the newcomer, recognizing him immediately from the description in the intelligence report as the one always by Sasuke's side.
Meanwhile, Itachi glanced at the crow perched on his shoulder. The Mangekyo Sharingan within its left eye socket, belonging to Shisui, was fixed firmly on the stranger's mask.
As expected, the stranger possessed Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan. Just as he had suspected.
Maintaining his expressionless facade, Itachi questioned, "So, are you Huyi Xuanyue, or are you one of those who escaped the village back then?"
"Escaped the village?" Huyi Xuanyue didn't answer Itachi's question directly but instead responded with a puzzled tone, "It seems you know quite a bit."
The term "escaped the village" clearly referred to the group that included Uzuchiha Izumi. Huyi Xuanyue had assumed that Itachi was unaware of this incident, but now it seemed that he had known about it all along.
Indeed, Itachi had his suspicions about some members of the Uchiha clan being secretly led away from Konoha. During those years, the number of death certificates issued by the clan was higher than usual, and among them was someone he knew well—Uzuchiha Izumi.
The reason Itachi hadn't eradicated them all back then wasn't out of kindness but because they had essentially severed their ties with Konoha.
Since they were no longer considered part of the village, and the higher-ups in Konoha didn't pursue the matter, he saw no need to raise his blade against them.
Ignoring these individuals could be seen as a small act of mercy, preserving a remnant of the Uchiha clan, even if they were no longer considered part of Konoha's Uchiha.
However, as it turned out, that small act of mercy had now become a source of trouble.
Itachi looked at the stranger once more. Due to the mask obscuring his face and the altered tone of his voice, Itachi couldn't discern his expression at that moment.
If this stranger was indeed one of those who had escaped the village, it meant that they had all pledged their allegiance to Huyi Xuanyue. Sasuke was currently with them as well.
No wonder their attitude towards Konoha had changed so drastically.
Itachi's eyelids drooped slightly as the situation unfolded in a direction he least desired.
"Do you regret not slaughtering those who escaped the village back then?" Huyi Xuanyue inquired curiously, having noticed the subtle change in Itachi's demeanor.
"They're mere deserters, not worth my attention." Itachi replied nonchalantly as he removed the traveler's hat from his head. "But you, at this moment, are worthy of my attention."
Itachi's eyes narrowed, and the three tomoe in his Sharingan spun, evolving into the Mangekyo Sharingan. He glared coldly at Huyi Xuanyue and declared, "I shall take that Mangekyo Sharingan from you!"
Whether it was to change Sasuke's will or for the sake of Konoha, he couldn't allow the same "Betsujin" ability to fall into the hands of this stranger, or Huyi Xuanyue.
Itachi had made up his mind to retrieve Shisui's other eye and, in the process, interrogate him for information.
As luck would have it, Huyi Xuanyue also intended to collect both of Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan now that Itachi had come to him.
"It's time for you, a criminal of the Uchiha clan, to atone for your sins."
(End of Chapter)
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