226-230

Chapter 226: Approaching the End

"Naruto, did someone force you to do this? Or were you caught in someone else's scheme?" Sasuke's heart grew heavy as he stared at the completely different Naruto before him. If it weren't for Naruto's strong, familiar chakra, he would've suspected that the Naruto in front of him had been replaced.

Naruto didn't know how to answer Sasuke. But since Sasuke wasn't attacking, he wasn't panicking. After all, Itachi's instruction was just to hold Sasuke back. As long as he wasn't hurting Sasuke, anything was fine. Besides, the one who told him to do this was Sasuke's own elder brother; surely he wouldn't intentionally harm Sasuke, right?

---

Watching the two of them chat, Itachi felt a bit helpless. He'd certainly put Naruto in a tough spot. He should have explained things more clearly. But it was close enough. Plan B was useless, so now it was time for Plan A.

On the rooftops, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru were both panting heavily. Their taijutsu skills were evenly matched, though Hiruzen was slightly stronger. If Orochimaru hadn't been so willing to risk his life with every move, Hiruzen would have had the upper hand. But that was Orochimaru's strength. Not many people could pull off those kinds of moves.

---

"Hiruzen, I'll help you!" Sensing that Hiruzen Sarutobi's chakra had significantly dropped, Danzo Shimura emerged from the shadows onto the battlefield. Soon, he would put Hiruzen through the wringer, showcasing his own worth. Perhaps then, Itachi might temporarily change his mind... This was Danzo Shimura's only gamble. He didn't understand the true meaning behind Itachi's actions. In his mind, it was simply revenge; surely killing Hiruzen Sarutobi would be enough. After all, if Itachi wanted to kill him, he could have done it easily a long time ago. There was no need to wait until now. This was a man fighting for his life.

Unfortunately, Itachi had no intention of sparing Danzo. Danzo's final use was to die... Otherwise, Danzo held no further purpose for Itachi. The time was perfectly ripe...

---

Danzo? Why is he here now? Danzo's voice startled Hiruzen Sarutobi, and then confusion washed over him. He knew perfectly well that Danzo had tried to move against him more than once, even succeeding at one point. Wasn't Danzo always waiting for the day he died so he could become Hokage himself? Hiruzen Sarutobi understood Danzo very well. But he clearly didn't understand why Danzo would choose to help him at this moment. Had he finally seen the light? Don't be ridiculous. Even if pigs could fly, he wouldn't believe Danzo Shimura would turn over a new leaf. Not causing any trouble for these past few years was Danzo's biggest contribution. As this thought crossed his mind, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly froze. Could Danzo genuinely have reformed? Had he endured all these years, refraining from mischief, because he'd finally understood? A glimmer of hope surged in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart. If Danzo stepped in, holding off Orochimaru shouldn't be a problem, right? And then Itachi would appear. If that happened, he could find a way to take Itachi down with him... That way, Sasuke's Sharingan would evolve into a Mangekyo, and he would follow Hiruzen's will, becoming the new Hokage.

He no longer held any hope for his own survival. Now, he only wanted to die alongside Itachi, fulfill Sasuke's potential, and keep Sasuke in the Hidden Leaf Village. After all, if he died and Itachi manipulated Sasuke into doing evil, who would be able to stop him then? Itachi was simply too dangerous. He didn't want to leave everything to some vague miracle. He wanted to use his own life to forge the future of the Leaf. He believed that with the Mangekyo Sharingan, Sasuke's achievements would be no less than Itachi's.

"Hiruzen, watch out!" Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind wandered, a kunai appeared behind him, clutched by a pair of wrinkled hands. Hiruzen Sarutobi reacted, but as he moved to dodge... a sharp pain shot through his lower back. His face filled with confusion, anger, and doubt.

Ah... that dog Danzo had been in league with Orochimaru all along. He had forgotten... He truly was getting old... to actually believe Danzo would turn over a new leaf... Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was bitter. Itachi's pressure was simply too immense, not allowing him to relax. As for other details, his aging mind was slow to react, including his usually sharp analytical brain.

---

"Heh heh, Sensei, let your dear friend finish you off. I won't bear the name of a teacher-killer." Orochimaru's lips curled into a slight smile, his voice light. Yet, a flicker of sadness and struggle passed through his eyes, before settling back into emptiness.

"Danzo, why? Our struggles are our own. We've fought side by side for so many years... why would you..." Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled out the kunai from his lower back, sweat beading on his forehead from the pain. Clutching his bleeding lower back, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke with heartbreak. Danzo could be on Orochimaru's side, but there was no way Danzo would personally attack him in broad daylight like this. Even if he killed him, Danzo would never become Hokage. Hiruzen Sarutobi felt like a complete fool. Even now, he couldn't understand what was happening. Danzo had shouldered so many dark burdens for the Leaf, a man who yearned so much to be Hokage. Why would he do something like this? Directly cutting off his own hope of becoming Hokage?

"Why am I helping outsiders fight you?" Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression, his eyes sinister. He calmly finished Hiruzen Sarutobi's unspoken words. "Who knows?" Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi remain silent, Danzo took a pill and put it in his mouth. He shook his head slightly, his heart filled with immense sorrow.

---

No one could have predicted that he and Hiruzen Sarutobi, two incredibly intelligent individuals, would be played for fools by a junior, now even reaching a point of mutual destruction. And he had become Itachi's blade. Hiruzen Sarutobi, on the other hand, faced betrayal from all sides. Even if he killed Hiruzen Sarutobi, his own chances of survival were slim. Suddenly, he felt this world was meaningless, so powerless. For years, he had lived like Itachi's dog, just barely surviving. Even more tragically, even as Itachi's dog, he still couldn't save his own life. He saw his own reflection in Hiruzen Sarutobi. And there was that... the list of his own crimes, written by his own hand...

---

"Hiruzen Sarutobi, let's see how much strength you have left." Danzo Shimura spoke calmly. He tried to keep his mind empty. Even if Itachi controlled him, he wouldn't let Itachi win too easily. Looking at the disheveled Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo finally awoke, and he wanted Itachi to understand that Danzo Shimura was not afraid of death.

Hiruzen Sarutobi heard Danzo's words, his face filled with heartache. Was he finally going to fight his old classmate? He'd had several chances to kill him before, but the memories of fighting side-by-side in life-or-death situations had stopped him. And now, had it finally come to this?

Chapter 227: The Curtain Falls 

Danzo lunged at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a kunai. Itachi's brow furrowed, and his Mangekyo Sharingan appeared, beginning to interfere with Danzo's will. 

"Ah!" Danzo screamed as Itachi began his intervention. However, he didn't stop, his eyes bloodshot. "Hiruzen, I'm being controlled by Kotoamatsukami! Kill me quickly!" Danzo repeatedly slapped his head with one hand, quickly explaining his situation. 

Itachi sighed slightly at this sight. As expected, the Kotoamatsukami he used in that emergency situation still had a hidden flaw. After all, Kotoamatsukami is a technique that modifies will, and he hadn't overwritten Danzo's entire mind. This would cause Danzo immense pain and torment, but because his memories were intact, he still had a slim chance to resist for a few seconds. Modifying memories, while a more complex process, carried no such risk. 

As Itachi manipulated the mark in Danzo's mind, Shisui's Mangekyo pattern briefly appeared in Danzo's eyes before fading, his gaze returning to a calm, still state. However, after hearing Danzo's words and the name Kotoamatsukami, and recalling Shisui's report in his mind, Hiruzen didn't hesitate. His massive staff struck directly at Danzo's head without a moment's pause. 

Bang! Danzo's head exploded, spewing red and white matter. The originally sturdy roof beneath him couldn't withstand the impact, and a huge gap appeared, sending his body plummeting. 

Itachi's expression was grim as he watched this unfold; too many unexpected changes had occurred. Danzo had never disobeyed his orders these past years, which had lulled him into a false sense of security. His sudden outburst now, so unexpected, had thrown the plan off course. With Orochimaru already gone and Kakashi blocking Guy, if he were to kill Hiruzen... sigh. 

"Uchiha..." Hiruzen looked at his former comrade, who preferred death over abandoning him. He finally realized that Itachi had completely changed, no longer the Uchiha Itachi he once knew. He screamed, intending to expose all of the Uchiha's secrets to the public. He wanted Sasuke to know who the culprit was, to create a rift between them. Once he and Danzo died, the Uchiha clan's information would vanish with them, and then Itachi wouldn't be able to clear his name, even with ten mouths. 

"Sigh..." Before Hiruzen could finish shouting, a melancholic voice emerged from behind him. The voice was chilling, making Hiruzen feel as though he'd fallen into an ice cave. The name he was shouting died in his throat. Sasuke, drawn by the commotion, looked up at the elevated platform. "No!" Sasuke cried out, seeing his older brother behind Hiruzen, a long sword pressed against Hiruzen's back. Hiruzen was startled, a dazed look in his eyes. Itachi watched Sasuke running quickly, almost stumbling. 

"Sigh..." Itachi sighed softly again, his breath seemingly possessing a unique magic. 

Thud! The white blade penetrated Hiruzen's body inch by inch, and in an instant, the blood-stained blade pierced through his chest. Hiruzen's startled expression turned to disbelief. He had been caught in a genjutsu just now! He'd seen his deceased teacher and Danzo. This momentary distraction meant he had no reaction at all as Itachi's sword pierced his heart. 

Itachi watched Hiruzen's Golden Staff swing backward, his expression blank. He tightly gripped the sword hilt and twisted it fiercely. 

"Hiss!" Hiruzen first felt a sharp pain, then gasped, and the pain quickly faded. The world began to spin, and the strength in his body rapidly dissipated... Itachi calmly pulled out the long sword, watching the falling Hiruzen indifferently. He saw Hiruzen's wide-open eyes reflecting the sky and his own inverted image, as if he couldn't die in peace. His eyes still showed traces of surprise, fear, and confusion. Then his pupils rapidly dilated, and his twitching body calmed after a few seconds... 

"No!" Sasuke finally reached Hiruzen's side. Seeing Hiruzen on the ground with no heartbeat, Sasuke cried out in despair. "Grandpa!" Sasuke felt a powerful wave of grief wash over him, the heartbreak making it difficult to breathe, feeling as if his head would explode. Finally, his vision went black, and he fainted... Itachi calmly looked at Sasuke lying on the ground without speaking. Under normal circumstances, there's a very small chance of fainting from grief. However, Sasuke's immense emotional shock and the evolution of his Mangekyo Sharingan caused a huge impact on his body. His body's self-preservation mechanism kicked in, causing him to pass out. 

Naruto slowly approached Itachi, feeling the cold aura emanating from him, and secretly swallowed. The powerful Hiruzen had been instantly killed by Itachi, without even a chance to resist. This opened up a whole new world for Naruto. He knew Itachi had just used the Flying Raijin Jutsu. Itachi, of course, was unaware of Naruto's thoughts. The last time he stunned Hiruzen, he had placed a Flying Raijin mark where Hiruzen couldn't see it. Since Hiruzen couldn't see it himself and no one else had seen it on him, he naturally wouldn't know. The Flying Raijin mark was like a tattoo; when not activated, it had no fluctuations whatsoever, like an ordinary picture. Unless Itachi himself sensed and activated it, no one would be able to discover it. 

"Pick up Sasuke; we're getting ready to leave." Itachi spoke softly, looking at the somewhat distracted and oblivious Naruto. He casually tossed his blood-stained long sword onto the ground. 

"Oh, oh." Hearing Itachi's words, Naruto snapped out of his daze, his eyes gleaming. Had he successfully infiltrated them? Naruto felt a surge of excitement. He could finally leave this prison-like Konoha. How great! 

"Take this! Leaf Great Whirlwind!" In the forest, Kakashi, with his silver hair and skin mask, faced a roaring Guy. Kakashi, who had been constantly sensing Konoha with a part of his mind, felt Itachi preparing to leave and his heart stirred. He took a deep look at Guy, then his figure began to fade. 

"Don't go!" Guy, who had been having such a good fight with Kakashi, subconsciously blurted out as he saw Kakashi suddenly preparing to escape. He hadn't had such a satisfying fight in a long time. To just leave like that, it was ridiculous! Guy was indignant. But the moment he lowered his head, a glimmer flashed in his eyes. That person just now... was very familiar... Both the white hair and the fighting style were like the long-missing Kakashi. Many thoughts flashed through Guy's mind in an instant, but he dared not dwell on them. 

"I hope the casualties aren't too severe," Guy murmured wistfully as he slowly walked back to the village. The battle in the village had already ended. Juzo's eyes were gleaming, but he said nothing. Beside him, the Kazekage's face was beaming. Hiruzen's death meant that it was time for a new reshuffle... If he could annex the fertile lands of the Land of Fire, then the glorious era of the Hidden Sand Village would be at hand... 

Chapter 228: Toneri 

With his treacherous intentions hidden, the Kazekage and his subordinates immediately headed back to their village. They were the ones who received the first-hand intelligence, and if the situation changed, they would be the first to seize the opportunity. As for the Mizukage next to him, heh heh... After being sealed off for so long and suffering heavy losses, what could they possibly accomplish? The Kazekage thought to himself, his hand hidden within his sleeve, clenching into a fist, suppressing his excitement. 

A large man, who had been observing from a corner, gradually faded away. However, his upright posture had become somewhat hunched, and his presence seemed to wilt with a sense of weariness. His heart was heavy. Under his watchful eye, a new era was about to begin, and he had been relegated to a mere spectator, despite all the sacrifices and contributions he had made for the Leaf Village in the past. 

On the moon, Toneri Otsutsuki sat idly, resting his chin in his hands. The young man was strikingly handsome with his willow-leaf eyebrows, but his eye sockets were empty, devoid of eyes. However, this didn't hinder his vision. In his perception, though everything around him was grey and white, it didn't stop him from daydreaming. Six months ago, the last of his clan passed away, leaving him as the sole inhabitant of the moon. His companions were books and puppets. 

Suddenly, the young man, who had been lost in thought, paused. His empty eye sockets turned toward a certain spot. The air shimmered with a crystal-like sparkle. Toneri was silent for a moment, then waved his hand, pouring a massive surge of chakra into a dusty crystal orb nearby. This was a spatial distortion screen, left behind by his ancestor, Hamura Otsutsuki. When Hamura Otsutsuki led the majority of his clan to the moon, it wasn't just to guard the sealed Gedo Statue, but also to create this spatial distortion screen to conceal the planet, preventing outsiders from the heavens from descending again. 

However, decades ago, during the great war between the Main Family and the Branch Family, their bloodlines became diluted, and the Gedo Statue vanished without a trace. It was uncertain how long this spatial distortion screen, which maintained the spatial curvature, could last. The reason for the conflict was that the Branch Family believed the world created by the Sage of Six Paths was a failed one, full of war, and they intended to initiate an apocalypse, eliminating everyone in the ninja world to create a new one. The Main Family, however, believed in upholding their ancestor's commands. The war raged for several years. In the end, almost everyone died, except for Toneri Otsutsuki's parents. The remaining survivors were gravely wounded and eventually passed away. His own parents died of exhaustion after giving birth to him. Since then, he was the only remaining descendant of the Branch Family on the moon, without eyes. 

"Ah, how boring," Toneri sighed. His heart was already restless. If the ninja world were to descend into another great war, he would use the moon to crash into the earth, affecting the tides, and directly bring about the apocalypse. However, he remembered his parents' dying wishes: there was still a clan branch left on the surface. He was curious about how these clan members were faring now. Or perhaps, they had long since gone extinct. Toneri reclined on a large rock, propping his head with his hand, preparing for a quick nap. Just as he was about to drift off, he suddenly froze. Then, a shiver ran down his spine. In his perception, a person had suddenly appeared in front of him... 

This person was a middle-aged man, with a sinister look in his eyes and an overbearing presence. Those eyes, in particular, sent a chill down his spine, as if he were being watched by an ancient, savage beast. It made his scalp tingle. 

"Toneri Otsutsuki?" Madara looked at the seemingly young man before him, speaking with some doubt. 

"Who are you looking for?" Toneri was pressured by Madara's overwhelming aura, his heart a bit flustered. This person, he was no match for him... So, he answered in a panic. 

"Are you Toneri Otsutsuki?" Madara's eyes, like those of a venomous snake, stared at Toneri. Toneri was cowed by the presence. Although he possessed great power, without any opponents, he lacked combat experience. Being fixated upon by someone like Madara, who had walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, made his heart pound with unease. At the same time, he wondered if this person was the "outsider from the heavens" that his ancestors had guarded against. But why was this person's chakra so similar to his own? Furthermore, the spatial curvature hadn't changed, so why would an outsider from the heavens descend? Toneri Otsutsuki's mind raced, but he found no answers. 

Madara noticed the young man seemed distracted and had no intention of speaking, so his brow furrowed slightly. Especially since the other party looked so young, he didn't quite match the description Itachi had given him. Yet, Itachi had clearly said... 

"What do you want with me?" Just as Madara suspected Itachi's intelligence might have been flawed, Toneri stood up. His empty eye sockets made Madara pause for a moment. 

"Come with me." Sensing the surging chakra within Toneri, Madara thought for a moment before speaking. He suppressed the doubt in his mind. The other party's strength was immense, even if he looked quite young. 

"Where are we going?" Toneri gave a slight gesture, and the crystal orb he had just infused with chakra appeared in his hand. 

"The ninja world." Madara instinctively replied, looking at the completely different aura around Toneri. Itachi hadn't clearly explained why he needed Toneri back, only that he was a piece of Kaguya's revival plan. So, unless it was absolutely necessary, Madara didn't want to create too much conflict. If Itachi knew what Madara was thinking, he'd probably be speechless. Itachi sent Madara to bring Toneri back to be a vessel. That is, to become the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki, to carry out what Madara had been fooled into doing. Of course, Itachi didn't actually know what would happen then, such as the Divine Tree bearing fruit... He simply wanted to see Kaguya, and if things got tough, he'd just force the issue. He didn't need Kaguya at her full power. He just wanted to glimpse her beauty. To experience it firsthand, and to hell with the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan. 

If it required most of the ninja world's population, he felt he still couldn't bring himself to do it. Such a thing felt a bit too fantastical. His plan would stop at the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki stage and wouldn't proceed further. At that point, he'd hijack Black Zetsu; if he didn't revive Kaguya, then so be it. If Black Zetsu didn't revive her, then he would reluctantly become the new Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki. Then, he'd find Isshiki, raid their secret base, and see how their Kara plan was coming along. After that, he'd go play around on the Otsutsuki planet. This was his current ultimate plan. He also had to prepare for the future and seek the path of transcendence. The Six Paths level shouldn't be the end; Itachi was very clear on that point. After all, the Six Paths level wasn't that strong. A Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki at Six Paths level was just... average. 

"The ninja world? You're from the ninja world?" Toneri's eyes widened in surprise at Madara's words. The chakra he had been slowly releasing into the crystal orb stopped. He hadn't expected such a person to exist in the ninja world. In that case, his branch family's rebellion and their desire for an apocalypse might have been a bit hasty. 

Chapter 229: The Strange Man 

"Big Brother Itachi, where are we going now?" Naruto asked, carrying Sasuke on his back and following behind Itachi. He felt the atmosphere was a bit too quiet, and his eyes kept darting around Itachi's back as he wondered. 

"To a place," Itachi replied without turning around. The place they were headed, of course, was Orochimaru's hideout. After completing their respective missions, they would each withdraw, and with Itachi there, nothing unexpected should happen. 

"Oh..." Seeing Itachi didn't want to elaborate, Naruto could only suppress his curiosity and reply. His eyes, however, were still darting around, looking at everything with great curiosity. After all, they hadn't taken this route to the Land of Waves last time. 

"Ouch!" Naruto, walking along, didn't notice Itachi had stopped and crashed directly into his back. It felt like hitting an iron plate, leaving him breathless and uncomfortable. 

Itachi didn't turn around, simply staring intently at the figure sitting by the river, fishing, not far ahead. He sensed a huge threat from this person. In this world, there weren weren't many people who could threaten him anymore. Itachi was trying to guess the person's identity. However, the individual was wearing a straw cloak and a sedge hat. From the back, it seemed to be a man, but nothing else was discernable. 

"Big Brother Itachi, someone's fishing!" Naruto noticed Itachi standing still and looked in the direction Itachi was staring. He then exclaimed in surprise. It was a muggy summer day, but this person was wearing a straw cloak, which seemed very odd. As for the sedge hat, that wasn't surprising. 

"Let's go," Itachi said, not answering Naruto. He simply took a turn, preparing to detour. He didn't know if the person was an enemy or a friend, nor their identity, so it was best not to take any chances. After all, there were still many secrets in the ninja world. He couldn't sense any hostility from the person, so he opted for the "better safe than sorry" approach. 

Naruto heard Itachi's words and saw the slight deviation from their usual straight path, realizing the seriousness of the situation. That peculiar person up ahead didn't seem like a good guy. With that thought, Naruto didn't say anything more, following behind Itachi like a little tail. His already not-so-strong frame, carrying someone almost as big as himself, looked a bit odd. 

The fishing old man's figure remained motionless, still fishing. Itachi only slightly relaxed after they were out of sight. It seemed it was just a coincidence. If a fight had broken out, he had two burdens with him, which would have been difficult to handle. Although he could put the two kids into his Tsukuyomi space, there were uncontrollable things inside them. Unless it was an extremely urgent situation, he didn't want to expose such a mysterious technique. 

Bang! Bang! Just as Itachi was deep in thought, feeling somewhat troubled, a series of wood-chopping sounds rang out. The sound of chopping wood seemed to possess a magical quality, making Itachi's gaze instinctively follow the sound. 

"What in the world?" The person who had just been fishing was now ahead of them, not far away. Still wearing the straw cloak and sedge hat, but now he was chopping trees. Naruto heard Itachi's words and stood silently behind him, wondering if it was a ghost. 

"Who are you, and why are you playing tricks?" Itachi looked at the persistent figure in front of him, walked a few steps, and then stopped. He spoke with a hint of solemnity, his body's surging energy already activated, ready to unleash a devastating attack at any moment. 

The only reply Itachi received was the rhythmic sound of chopping wood, as if the other party couldn't hear his voice. 

Seeing this, Itachi frowned slightly. This person wasn't a friendly sight... Thinking this, Itachi's eyes changed, and soon, his Mangekyo Sharingan appeared in his eye sockets, accompanied by a provocative sensory aura enveloping the other party. He hadn't used his sensing ability earlier because he didn't want to make an enemy, but now that the other party was being so aggressive, he couldn't hold back. Itachi's right eye spun, ready to strike, but a moment later, he fell silent. His sensing ability seemed to sink into a mire; he couldn't perceive anything. He couldn't even tell if the other party was human or ghost. 

This situation rarely happened to Itachi. At this moment, he felt a little caught off guard. Should he attack? The other party hadn't shown any hostility yet. Should he not attack? But the other party kept bothering him. After thinking for a moment, and taking a deep look at the figure's back, Itachi decided to detour again. 

Naruto remained silent behind Itachi, simply following him quietly. Sasuke, carried on Naruto's back, frowned deeply, full of distress, as if tormented by pain even in his dreams. 

"That strange person doesn't seem to be following us anymore," Naruto said, breathing a sigh of relief after about half an hour as his tense nerves began to relax. He didn't like talking to other people, but for some reason, seeing Itachi made him want to say a lot. Even though Itachi was Sasuke's older brother, Naruto felt a deep sense of closeness to him, a bizarre feeling like they were connected by blood. 

"Wow, there are two huge giants up ahead! They look so cool!" Itachi didn't reply, and Naruto didn't mind. It was as if he was talking to himself, or perhaps to Itachi. He was like a child, a little more active and showing his curious nature when dependent on an adult. 

"This is called the Valley of the End," Itachi said softly, looking at the massive statues ahead. But then he paused. That strange entity was now sitting atop the head of the huge statue; if one didn't look closely, they wouldn't even notice the small figure. 

"You and Sasuke should fall back a bit," Itachi said, turning to Naruto. He realized now that the previous two encounters were meant to lead him here. What was this person's intention? Itachi couldn't figure it out, and he didn't remember anyone this strange in his memories. The Akatsuki members he had dealt with, while also dressed strangely, weren't this strange. Especially that straw cloak gave Itachi a very ancient feeling, making him feel out of place in this world. 

Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan spun rapidly in his eyes as he walked step by step toward the strange person. "Who are you? Why have you been following me? Or rather, why have you led me here?" Itachi asked, slowly approaching. He felt that the other party was most likely a human, not the spiritual entity he had initially suspected. If it were a spirit, he could only think of one possibility: the Shinigami. But he had never dealt with the Shinigami before. Could it be that fate intended Hiruzen to be taken by the Shinigami, and by instantly killing Hiruzen, he prevented him from using the Reaper Death Seal, which displeased the Shinigami, causing them to bother him? Please, that's too far-fetched. 

Chapter 230: The Imposter 

"Uchiha Itachi, seventeen years old. Kage-level strength, possessing the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan... Wood Style, Sage Mode..." Just when Itachi thought the strange man wouldn't speak, he suddenly spoke out of nowhere. His voice, however, was hoarse, like a crow's caw or as if his throat were broken. 

Hearing the other party's words, Itachi fell silent. This person knew his secrets, things that ordinary people weren't privy to. Like Sage Mode, like "Eternal"... Wait. Itachi suddenly realized that "Eternal Mangekyo," or rather, "Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan," wasn't that what Madara-san called it? How did this person know? Could it be someone from Madara's era, still alive? Are there others besides Hashirama and the others? Itachi thought about their voices, compared them, and found no match. 

--- 

"Who exactly are you?" Itachi felt a sense of frustration, all his secrets laid bare while he knew nothing about the other person. As Itachi's emotions fluctuated, even the pattern of his Eternal Mangekyo seemed to whiten slightly, though it quickly faded. 

"Who am I?... How dare you cause such destruction in Konoha, and then you ask who I am?!" The man in the straw cloak in front of him rapidly changed his tone, a wave of imposing aura washing over Itachi. By his voice, he was a man... and a rather irritable one at that... Itachi's expression was strange; the mysterious veil had been lifted. But... since when did Hashirama, or Tobirama, like to play these games? 

--- 

"As expected of the God of Shinobi, to still be alive after all this time." Itachi said, his face calm. 

--- 

The man fell silent upon hearing Itachi's words, then took off his sedge hat and tossed it aside, revealing a handsome face. Itachi saw the man and immediately understood: wasn't this Hashirama, the one who knelt before the other four Kage? And his appearance hadn't changed a bit, showing no signs of age. The sense of mystery vanished, and Itachi's internal irritation about the unknown gradually dissipated. 

"I have my reasons for doing this." Considering that the other party couldn't be judged by normal standards, Itachi's voice dropped a few decibels. After all, even if Hashirama wasn't as strong as Madara now, he was Madara's best friend; he couldn't be messed with. And that sense of threat wasn't a joke. Madara's repeated failures weren't without reason... Itachi only had Sage Mode and Wood Style more than the often-beaten Madara. He didn't believe his mastery of Sage Mode and Wood Style could rival Hashirama's, especially Hashirama who had lived so long. This was a living legend, a true powerhouse. 

--- 

"Oh? What reasons?" Hashirama's tone was calm, and Itachi couldn't tell what he was thinking, which made him feel a bit uneasy, like being stared down by a wild beast. 

"My Uchiha clan, all those living souls, all those heroes who were betrayed and died because of them... don't they deserve an explanation?" Itachi suppressed his distracting thoughts and spoke calmly, his voice returning to its usual steady tone. 

--- 

Hashirama fell silent after hearing Itachi's words. He, too, despised those two juniors in his heart. His appearance this time was just to scare Itachi a little, to give him a signal that he was still alive and that Itachi should consider the consequences of messing with Konoha, and also to ask Itachi if he had any methods to make himself stronger. Although he possessed Madara's cells and had fully integrated them, he still had a considerable gap compared to Madara. His younger brother was even more useless, still not fully integrated and stuck at that intangible Kage-level. Itachi was a difficult one to handle, and Hashirama abandoned his thoughts of giving Itachi a beating. 

"Madara told me to find you. It seems my current strength has hit a bottleneck," Hashirama said after a moment of silence, getting to the point. Hashirama's sudden change of subject made Itachi a bit uncomfortable. Just moments ago, it was about fighting, and now they were having a casual chat? 

--- 

"What level have you reached now...?" Itachi asked, looking at Hashirama's eyes and pondering. He didn't know Hashirama's current state. Was it his Sage Body keeping him youthful, or had he already transcended? Itachi's originally contemplative gaze immediately widened in shock when he saw Hashirama's aura. Seven Truth-Seeking Orbs floated behind Hashirama, and a Sage Mode marking appeared on his forehead. His aura was incredibly potent, but he hadn't fully entered the Six Paths level; at most, he had one foot in... 

--- 

Itachi felt a bit fortunate now that he hadn't rashly made a move earlier. If he had, wouldn't he have walked right into a trap... Especially since Hashirama was clearly in a suppressed mood just now. He definitely would have become a punching bag. Although he had the Flying Raijin, at their level, their sensing abilities were incredibly terrifying, especially when they were locked onto. 

"You're missing a pair of eyes, specifically, Sage Eyes," Itachi said after sensing Hashirama's state. That was the rule of this world. Only the combination of Sage Eyes and a Sage Body could achieve the Six Paths. Otherwise, it would only be considered a pseudo-Six Paths, possessing some Six Paths-level abilities. Of course, this was still far, far stronger than a regular Kage. 

--- 

"Sage Eyes?" Hashirama was puzzled by Itachi's unfamiliar term. But it sounded very profound; where could he get such a thing? It sounded anything but simple. 

"Yes, Sage Eyes..." Four types of eyes appeared in Itachi's mind: the Rinnegan, the Tenseigan, the Jōgan, and Isshiki's unnamed eye, referred to as the "Turning Wheel Eye," which was incredibly powerful and eye-catching. 

"How do I get Sage Eyes?" Hashirama raised his thick arm and lightly stroked his chin, striking a pose like The Thinker. But in Itachi's prejudiced eyes, he saw hidden mischievousness and goofiness... After all, Hashirama's cunning demeanor in his youth was deeply ingrained in people's minds. There was also that time he pretended to commit suicide with a kunai to trick Madara, and saying, "Nine-Tails, you're too strong..." 

--- 

"You need two types of eyes now; obtaining either one will work. One is the Sharingan, and the other is a Byakugan with very high purity. I think the Byakugan suits you well and can cooperate with Madara," Itachi stated calmly. He didn't mention that the prerequisite for the Sharingan was the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. What if Hashirama turned dark and just took his eyes? That would be a joke, so he spoke this way instead. 

"I see." Hashirama mused after hearing Itachi's words, thinking about how to visit the Hyuga clan. "I just hope the Hyuga clan has some in stock," Hashirama thought to himself. If not, he would just have to "borrow" someone else's eyes... After all, Madara seemed to be planning something big, and he needed to raise his strength quickly. At worst, he could return them after the war. 

"Wait a minute, although the Sharingan and Byakugan are strong, aren't they significantly weaker than the Rinnegan?" Hashirama asked, hitting on a crucial point. 

"That still requires incubation. Anyway, just find a Byakugan with high purity and then incubate the Sage Eye from it," Itachi briefly explained, not wanting to say too much.