166-170

Chapter 166: A Brief Reunion, Then Discovering Something New 

"Itachi, can you handle this?" 

Itachi had been a bit shaken by Izuna's words, so, almost without realizing it, his Flying Raijin jutsu brought him back to the very first place they'd arrived in the Warring States period. He suddenly remembered he needed to find Orochimaru and Kakashi. 

Even though Kakashi's fighting prowess was fearsome now, it wasn't good to just let him run wild. As for Orochimaru, his survival skills were top-notch, so there wasn't much to worry about there. But since he'd brought them here, he had to bring them back whole. So, after observing the four young men of the Warring States era, Itachi decided it was time to locate his comrades. 

Seeking Out Allies 

Itachi spread his(perception), and it didn't take long before he found both of their chakra signatures. Even though Itachi's strength was still suppressed by Wood Style, Hashirama, and Asura's will, for some reason, the resistance within him had lessened after coming to this Warring States era. After all, the Hashirama here was still just a brat! As for Asura's will, Itachi wasn't quite sure about that. 

But his perception ability had never been affected. His current sensory skills might only be slightly inferior to the Nine-Tails itself, far surpassing ordinary people already. 

A Strange Encounter 

After locating Orochimaru and Kakashi, Itachi was slightly surprised by their appearance. Soon, they led him to the place where Orochimaru had buried his sensor previously. It was there that Orochimaru quietly asked Itachi if he could figure things out. 

"Let me see," Itachi said. He sensed that the Ryūmyaku's (Dragon Veins) energy was currently sluggish. It was as if they had pushed it too hard. Perhaps the Rinnegan within Nagato and the Wood Style of others were drawn here and forcibly pulled over, due to the Ryūmyaku's attraction. It seemed the Ryūmyaku was a victim too. After all, the Rinnegan's true owner wasn't just Madara; it contained parts of Indra and Asura's will. And Wood Style? Well, that goes without saying. 

The Mystery of the Ryūmyaku 

Of course, this explanation seemed a bit forced. But Itachi didn't understand why it was happening this way. Even with his knowledge of the future (the original plot), he couldn't explain this problem. Either it was the Butterfly Effect, or his theory was correct. After all, in the original story, the years they crossed over were separated by six years, but they all seemed to be in this specific time period now, which could mean the Ryūmyaku's energy was simply too depleted. 

Kakashi and Orochimaru watched Itachi furrow his brows, feeling a little helpless. Kakashi didn't understand it at all. Orochimaru, if he wanted to figure out something so illogical, knew it would be extremely difficult. After all, science required data and formulas. With nothing at hand, and without even understanding the basic principles, how was he supposed to research it? Itachi didn't know their thoughts. He was simply sensing this Ryūmyaku, which was still incredibly vast and powerful. Though its energy was much thinner compared to his last inspection, it still felt boundless and limitless. 

A Moment Alone 

"You two go have some fun," Itachi said, after a moment of silence, rubbing his nose and smiling faintly at them. "It's rare to come to the Warring States period; it'd be a waste not to look around." His eyes were calm, betraying none of his inner thoughts. 

"I'm not really interested in this place..." Kakashi retorted immediately after Itachi spoke, already pulling out his little orange book and flipping it open as he talked. 

"Come on, Kakashi, let's go see this world... If you stay here, you'll just disturb Itachi. Then maybe we won't be able to go back, or something might go wrong when we do," Orochimaru said, seeing Kakashi's attitude and Itachi's desire to study the Ryūmyaku alone. Orochimaru considerately shooed away the insensitive Kakashi. 

An Unexpected Persuasion 

"Oh... but..." Orochimaru's words made Kakashi pause slightly. Just as he was about to say something to refuse, a small snake slithered out from Orochimaru's sleeve. 

"That's an excellent idea, Lord Orochimaru..." Kakashi said, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead as he swallowed hard, looking at the tiny venomous snake flicking its tongue. 

The Unseen Presence 

As the two left, silence once again fell around Itachi. He found a stone stool, sat down, and closed his eyes. The wind whistled around him. He wondered if it was his overwhelming perception stirring the air, or if the weather was about to change. 

"I really did sense it just now, that fleeting aura... but why is it gone when I try to sense it again?" After a long while, Itachi seemed dazed, muttering to himself in confusion. 

The Ryūmyaku was inherently unconscious, merely a gathering of underground energy. The energy of the surrounding land, the contained chakra, all converged here. But he had just sensed that there seemed to be something within it, or rather, something with consciousness. This naturally piqued his interest. If there was something conscious existing in such a place, its power would certainly be extraordinary. Plus, Itachi had read many novels; isn't a place like the Ryūmyaku where rare treasures of nature are born? Such things are gifts from the heavens, unique and incredibly powerful. 

Of course, if it was an awareness born from the Ryūmyaku itself, that would be even more fascinating. The immense power of the Ryūmyaku, even if it couldn't be used for combat, or perhaps couldn't be used for combat, could still be used to traverse the river of time... Its functions were incredibly potent. Or even better, if it possessed both combat and temporal capabilities, that would be truly astonishing. 

Chapter 167: Zetsu's Scheme 

Time passed by, almost imperceptibly, and a whole year had slipped away. 

Itachi spent over half a year searching the Ryūmyaku's convergence point, but he couldn't find that entity again. He even started to doubt if he had been mistaken. After failing to find what he was looking for, Itachi began researching how to return. 

… 

"So the plan was this simple! I can't believe it took so long back in the Shinobi World…" 

"Now, all that's left are the closest Tailed Beasts, the One-Tails and the Nine-Tails… Once I find those two…" 

Inside a massive cave, Nagato looked at the Two-Tails through the Eight-Tails, which he had violently beaten into submission and bound with chains. His tone was complex. He had schemed for so long in the Shinobi World, but here, the Tailed Beasts were completely ignored, with no one bothering with them. With his power, beating a Tailed Beast was effortless. The only thing that took a lot of time was finding them, especially the Three-Tails and Seven-Tails… 

Konan didn't respond to Nagato's words. She was lost in thought, her gaze shifting between the Tailed Beasts, seemingly in pain from the chains, and the outside of the cave, her eyes filled with a complicated expression. At this moment, she was beginning to realize that perhaps this wouldn't truly bring peace… 

… 

"Don't worry, Izuna. Father may be gone, but Big Brother will protect you well…" 

Outside the room, Madara, whose face was grim and whose eyes held something more than before, spoke seriously. 

Uchiha Tajima had been ambushed by the Senju clan a few days prior. The Senju clan had sent two elders and Senju Butsuma himself to lead the charge. The battle had been fierce, obscuring the sun and moon… 

Originally, the two clans had planned to team up and search for the two mysterious figures. However, after searching extensively, they found no trace of the two. As time went on, Senju Butsuma gradually forgot the power of the two mysterious figures. A thought sparked in his mind, and he secretly invited Uchiha Tajima to meet, claiming it was to discuss a secret matter. 

… 

Uchiha Tajima read Senju Butsuma's letter. In it, Senju Butsuma claimed to have found traces of one of the mysterious figures, and what's more, it was the masked mysterious person. Uchiha Tajima couldn't sit still. 

He had originally intended to bring people with him, but he remembered that he had already mastered the Mangekyo Sharingan, and the meeting place was not far from the Uchiha clan's territory. Uchiha Tajima recalled how the relationship between the two clans had been somewhat delicate over the past year, with a few minor collaborations that had worked out quite well. Despite their deep-seated animosity, they had almost suffered a loss last time. 

Feeling confident that he could retreat safely, Uchiha Tajima decided to go alone, intending to lull Senju Butsuma into a false sense of security. He planned to defeat the Senju clan in one fell swoop and usher in his own era, the era of Uchiha Tajima. He wasn't entirely unprepared, though. He had ordered a dead-end servant to summon all the elders to his study. That way, if a fight broke out, the elders he had summoned could immediately come to his aid… 

… 

However, his ideas were beautiful, but he was still outmaneuvered by Senju Butsuma. Senju Butsuma immediately launched a powerful attack. The other two elders attacked with desperate intensity… His Susano'o was broken before it could even fully form under the full-force assault of the three. Even then, he didn't panic. 

However, Senju Butsuma was no easy opponent. His repeated calculations against Uchiha Tajima proved his intelligence. And last time, when Uchiha Tajima unleashed his Absolute Zero dōjutsu, Butsuma had noticed it and guessed that the incredibly powerful ninjutsu was related to those strange Sharingan. Otherwise, Uchiha Tajima wouldn't have had blood flowing from his left eye after using the jutsu. So, with ruthless intent, he directly attacked Uchiha Tajima's eyes. 

… 

Although Uchiha Tajima was inwardly wary, the three attacks were too sudden. He didn't even have time to activate his Mangekyo or summon his Susano'o. At this moment, a bitter feeling arose in his heart, thinking that he was still one step behind… Or rather, he was just too slow… One step too slow again… 

The attacks from the two elders behind him, after breaking Susano'o, quickly coalesced again. Uchiha Tajima ignored them, his left eye rapidly spinning. 

… 

Targeting Senju Butsuma, who was reaching for his eye, a patch of icy blue suddenly appeared in the air. The surrounding lush green leaves turned into ice crystals at a visible speed. Senju Butsuma felt as if all the blood in his body was about to freeze. 

"Hurry up! What are you waiting for?! Do you want me to die?!" Senju Butsuma, realizing he was about to be frozen, roared as the massive chakra he had gathered in his hand became too heavy to advance. 

Fingers… arms… forehead… Blue ice crystals rapidly enveloped Senju Butsuma from the outside in… Just as the ice crystals were about to completely encase Senju Butsuma, two sharp blades pierced through Tajima's chakra defense and plunged into Uchiha Tajima's body. One of them pierced straight through Uchiha Tajima's heart… 

… 

Uchiha Tajima looked at Senju Butsuma in front of him, a complex feeling in his heart, his eyes somewhat chaotic. His left eye spun rapidly… Uchiha Tajima's body vanished into thin air… 

"He's dead?" 

"No! It's that…" 

One elder said, looking at Uchiha Tajima, who had disappeared as if turned to ash. The other elder immediately shouted, but before he could finish… 

Knowing the information, he was impaled through the neck by a sword… 

… 

"You know too much…" 

Uchiha Tajima's body reappeared in the azure forest. The ice crystals on Senju Butsuma's body were rapidly melting. At this moment, Tajima only had one Mangekyo Sharingan left; his left eye, the one with Absolute Zero, had turned blank, like a cataract, like a Byakugan… He had just used Izanagi, and while the ninjutsu beneficial to him still existed, he had lost the eye that could use Absolute Zero… 

"Ugh…" 

The Senju clan elder's longsword clattered to the ground, his hands tightly clutching his throat. Then his eyes glazed over, pupils dilated… He fell straight to the ground. He was dead… 

… 

Seeing the remaining Senju clan elder lost in thought, filled with fear, Uchiha Tajima's heart filled with joy. It seemed… he would win this battle… 

Without hesitation, he rushed towards Senju Butsuma, who was close to being unfrozen. Compared to the elder, he wanted to kill his old rival, Senju Butsuma, the Senju clan head, first… 

"Hehehehe, you lost… Senju Butsuma…" 

Uchiha Tajima stood before Senju Butsuma, his blood-stained sword in hand. He saw the unwillingness and fear in Senju Butsuma's eyes… Slowly raising his sword, Uchiha Tajima's eyes were filled with a sense of melancholy. It seemed the long-standing conflict between the two clans was about to end in their generation… 

… 

"Pfft…" 

Uchiha Tajima, who had become somewhat overconfident, spat out blood, having been severely struck in the back of the head by the Senju clan elder. At this moment, the Senju clan elder's eyes were peculiar, his face half-black and half-white… 

"It seems you're getting old. Just one Izanagi's chakra has made your perception so terrible…" 

The Senju clan elder spoke eloquently, looking at the fallen Uchiha Tajima, gently wiping his longsword on his sleeve… His attitude was playful… 

"Well done!" 

Seeing this, Senju Butsuma, who could now speak, cheered loudly. This useless elder had finally been useful for once… But then his expression changed. Uchiha Tajima's body vanished again… 

"Protect me quickly!" 

Senju Butsuma seemed to have realized something and shouted at the elder… 

… 

"Too late…" 

Uchiha Tajima reappeared on the battlefield, vigorously swinging his longsword. His eyes were now blank, and the corner of his mouth curved into a smile… He felt it, splattering on him – the foul-smelling, warm, wonderful blood. It was Senju Butsuma's… But before his smile could solidify, his head flew off… 

… 

Only the elder with half a black and half a white face remained. His eyes were hollow as he squatted down to the two corpses, arranged them slightly, placed the longsword in Butsuma's hand, and then walked away. He left without a trace of credit or recognition… 

This elder walked into a cave and then fainted. A dark shadow slowly merged into the ground from his body. It was he who instigated Senju Butsuma to act, he who refused to save Senju Butsuma, and he who killed Uchiha Tajima… And this elder's memory had been completely erased by him. If it weren't for fear of too many Senju clan members dying and not being able to fight the Uchiha clan, this elder wouldn't have survived either… 

Of course, it was also because the powerful Senju elders were being watched by various factions; once they moved, everyone would know. So, the people Senju Butsuma brought this time were two weak, nameless shinobi… 

Thus, the era of Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama had finally arrived… 

Chapter 168: The Way Home 

"Creak…" The door slowly opened… 

Izuna, with swollen red eyes and his hair messy like a bird's nest, stood at the doorway, gazing at Madara with profound sorrow. The keen light and childlike innocence that once filled his eyes were gone. 

"Izuna…" Madara's heart ached seeing his only younger brother in such a state. 

"Don't worry, Big Brother. You should be more careful about the situation you're about to face…" Just as Madara was about to say more, Izuna spoke softly. Though his face was pale, almost bloodless, like someone gravely ill, he continued to earnestly caution Madara. 

"So, like this, and like that, we should be able to go back, right?" 

Itachi had researched for a long time. In the end, he thought about it and decided to go with a massive explosion. While an explosion seemed unreliable, it appeared to be the only method available. As for whether they could truly return, that would be up to fate. Going back was better than not; it's not like he could live from the Warring States Period all the way to Shippūden. Although he didn't understand the Ryūmyaku's principles, there should still be rules governing it, right? Probably… 

Itachi tucked the hastily drawn diagram into his robes, his senses wide open, preparing to find Kakashi and the others. The diagram was far from simple; it contained the explosion points he had calculated. In truth, he wasn't as relaxed as he appeared. He, Kakashi, and Orochimaru weren't the only ones stuck in the Warring States Period. Obito, Nagato, and Konan were there too. If they were to return, they definitely had to bring them along. Otherwise, if they turned the Warring States Period upside down, how would things play out? Or what if Obito and the others caused trouble, lived until his birth era, and snuffed him out in his cradle? Wouldn't he be dead prematurely? 

While he wasn't sure if the future would be the same timeline, the same world, if this timeline's history was altered, Itachi wasn't keen on taking the risk. After all, there were too many unstable variables with this jutsu. Perhaps they would all be pulled along when he activated the teleportation. Maybe… 

So, it was time for a reckoning and a resolution. Of course, he was a man who convinced others with virtue and treated them with respect. If persuasion didn't work, well, he'd just have to switch to a different method of discussion… 

"Who's there…?" Kakashi, who was reading his adult novel, sensed a disturbance. He put down his book, surprised. However, before his chakra could even activate, someone pressed down on his shoulder… This startled him. What the heck was that?! So fast… 

"Relax…" Itachi appeared in Kakashi's room, gently pressing Kakashi down onto a stool, speaking softly. 

Hearing Itachi's words, Kakashi-bro sighed in relief, then looked annoyed. This appearing and disappearing act was too terrifying! What if he was doing something else? Thinking of this, Kakashi's face turned green… He was the last of the Hatake line, a "one-shot wonder" in his family. If his "thing" stopped working, wouldn't the Hatake clan be doomed?! 

"Itachi, next time, can you not just whoosh into existence like that? I need my privacy, too!" Thinking about it, Kakashi looked displeased, grumbling about Itachi's "violence." 

… 

"My apologies. Next time, absolutely…" Kakashi's words made Itachi, who was sensing Orochimaru, pause slightly. A strange expression crossed his face. Then he seriously addressed Kakashi's dissatisfaction. After all, leading a team was tough; he couldn't afford to let such minor things cause friction. 

Kakashi felt a little better after hearing Itachi's words. Then, as if something occurred to him, his spirits lifted. "Did you find a way back?" Kakashi tucked his little book into his kunai pouch, asking nervously. The Warring States Period was interesting, but it was history. The technology here wasn't developed. How could it compare to the fun of the modern era? 

… 

Kakashi's sudden excitement made Itachi slightly helpless. He rubbed his nose, looking at Kakashi seriously. "More or less. We can go back," Itachi said with a gentle smile, like Kakashi's inner Ultraman. Kakashi clenched his fists, his body trembling slightly. Among their group, the others weren't too keen on returning, but Kakashi was the one who yearned for it the most. After all… he had finally gained strength; he wasn't ready for an early retirement! 

"Itachi's here, huh…" Just as Kakashi was about to say more, Orochimaru gently opened the door, speaking with soft eyes. A year had passed without them noticing. Seeing Orochimaru, Itachi found a place to sit down, poured himself a cup of tea, and began to drink it. The trio was assembled; there was no rush for now. He'd have some water first. 

… 

"Indeed…" After finishing his water, Itachi set the cup down and said flatly. After all, Orochimaru was still a good friend; he couldn't neglect him. Itachi had to be fair to everyone. 

"What's the principle for returning? I've been researching here for a while, thinking it over and over…" Orochimaru asked directly, like someone with a solved problem but unsure if their answer was correct, and now that the answer was available, wanting to check. 

"Your idea is correct." Itachi seemed to understand Orochimaru's thoughts and simply nodded in affirmation. He didn't state his own method, nor did he wait for Orochimaru to state his. 

… 

"Is that so… There are too many unstable variables with that… But it seems to be the only method…" Hearing Itachi's words, Orochimaru paused slightly, then said with a somewhat complex expression. It seemed like another gamble. Of course, he also felt quite pleased; after all, a true confidant was hard to find. Itachi understood before he even spoke. 

"What are you two talking about in riddles?!" Kakashi couldn't sit still. What were these two talking about behind his back? He couldn't understand a single word, and it was frustrating… 

… 

Kakashi's question brought no response from the other two. Itachi had originally intended to answer, but Orochimaru's next question stumped him. 

"So, Itachi, are you sure that doing this will take us back to the future, and not just send us further back in history again? What if this is a one-way trip with no return ticket?" 

Orochimaru's question was spot-on. Itachi had considered this but had selectively ignored it. Perhaps the Lost Tower movie plot had convinced him. If you delved deeper, there were no answers to these things. And now that they had traveled to the Warring States Period, the storyline had already changed. Could they truly go back? What if they went even further back, to the era of Indra and Asura, or even the Sage of Six Paths' era… Kaguya's era… What would they do then? Don't forget, their travel to the Warring States Period might have been influenced by the wills of Asura and Indra… 

… 

"This is the only method. There's no controllable way for now. While it's uncertain, it's better than just waiting, right?" Itachi's expression became somewhat less confident, a look that hadn't appeared on his face in a long time. 

"I see…" 

"What the heck?!" 

Two vastly different responses echoed in the room. Poor Kakashi-bro finally understood. Thankfully, his intelligence wasn't low, or he wouldn't even be able to get a word in! 

Chapter 169: Itachi's Wild Interference 

"Congratulations, Madara..." 

After giving Kakashi and Orochimaru the intel, Itachi arrived at the Uchiha compound. Madara, who was drinking sake, sensed the fluctuations in the air and was ready to retaliate, his sake cup filled with chakra. But upon hearing Itachi's voice, he relaxed. 

"Congratulations for what? Congratulating me for becoming an orphan?" Madara didn't turn around, silently finishing his drink. The strong sake burned in his chest, mixed with that aura akin to a scorching sun, as he spoke bitterly. 

"My condolences..." Seeing Madara, this man, succumb to such despair, Itachi felt a pang of sadness. It wasn't that his feelings for Madara ran deep. It was more like, they were both burdened by fate. Human strength has its limits. Even if one becomes incredibly strong in the end, there are still things that can't be accomplished. And when one is still weak, well, that goes without saying. 

A Drink with "Big Brother" 

"Drink with me for a bit... Big Brother..." Madara pulled out a new cup, poured some sake, and placed it beside him. His connection to Itachi was practically nonexistent, but Madara was a man of his word. If he promised something and could do it, he would. A title, and the path in his heart—which held more weight? 

Hearing Madara's address, Itachi's face was a mixture of emotions. He hadn't expected Madara to actually call him "Big Brother." Back then, he had only done it out of mischief. Yet, this "Big Brother" seemed to hold a special power. After all, Sasuke was also an Indra reincarnation, his own younger brother. And Madara before him... was the same. Though, if he thought about it that way, he might have an extra "cheap dad." Itachi shook his head, casting aside the ridiculous thoughts. He walked step by step towards Madara, a warm gaze fixed on his back. 

A Taste of Uchiha Sake 

The scene shifted, and Itachi sat opposite Madara, picking up the cup in front of him and drinking. "Cough, cough... This sake is strong, huh? This world doesn't seem to have many strong liquors. Where did you get this from?" Itachi's face visibly reddened in an instant. With his low alcohol tolerance, it was just as expected. 

Madara looked at Itachi's discomfited state and suddenly felt like laughing. But remembering the sake's origin, he slumped back into despondency. "This is my father's hidden stash. He always used to control me, not letting me drink, calling me useless..." Madara continued, drinking and talking to himself, as if Itachi were merely a stone or a piece of wood. His tone was complex, making Itachi's heart heavy. 

An Explosive Revelation 

"Congratulations, you've awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan." Seeing Madara's dejected appearance, Itachi felt utterly annoyed, so he provoked him. However, this time, Madara seemed to explode. With his hand like a blade, the wooden table in front of him shattered, and his hand plunged into Itachi's stomach, blood spurting out. It was as if Itachi hadn't expected Madara to suddenly launch a sneak attack. 

"Say something annoying like that again, and I'll kill you... Big Brother." Madara grabbed the sake flask, took a swig, and casually wiped the crimson liquid on his clothes. He looked utterly carefree. 

"Truly a Mangekyo Sharingan filled with extraordinary potential, your speed has become so fast..." Itachi sat motionless, the gash in his stomach rapidly healing, returning to normal in the blink of an eye. All that remained was the glaring hole and red stain on his robes. Itachi's voice caught Madara's attention, and then he froze. His face flushed. He held his breath. He had been taken aback just now; he hadn't expected this "cheap big brother's" recovery ability to be so powerful. How long had it been? Truly, in the blink of an eye, his bodily injury had healed completely? Even if he had held back, he estimated that such an injury, even with a good medical ninja, would require at least a few days of recovery. 

The Path to Eternal Power 

Seeing Madara's embarrassment, Itachi showed no intention of fighting, merely observing Madara calmly. Their gazes met. 

"The Mangekyo Sharingan, while powerful, eventually reaches its limits. With continued use, your eyes will gradually go blind. And above the Mangekyo Sharingan, there's another eye, one that never loses its sight... it's called the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. The condition for evolving it is... to implant the Mangekyo Sharingan of a blood relative and fuse them." Itachi spoke plainly, ignoring Madara's ashen face. 

"From what I know, your father's eyes have already used Izanagi and are completely useless. If you want to reach the peak of your strength, you can only replace them with your brother Izuna's eyes. And the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan can evolve further. You'll need the cells of your good friend Hashirama, only then can you truly stand at the pinnacle of the ninja world... only then will you have the strength to protect what you want to protect." 

"Oh, and the Byakugan is a good eye. After you take your brother Izuna's eyes, you can give him a pair." 

"This is a gift from your Big Brother. How you use it is up to you..." 

Leaving a Legacy 

Just as the rotation speed of Madara's Mangekyo in his eyes accelerated rapidly, Itachi finally finished speaking. And as Itachi finished, Madara finally understood Itachi's meaning. At first, he had thought Itachi was telling him to personally kill his brother Izuna, but after listening, he realized that only the eyes were needed. But eyes... and Mangekyo Sharingan at that... Madara fell silent. He slumped to the ground; his stool had already been destroyed by him. 

At this moment, Madara's eyes were unfocused, his expression no longer arrogant, just a bitter smile as he poured sake into his mouth. He craved strength, more than anyone. But why was the method to gain strength so cruel? One was his own blood brother, the other his best and only friend. 

Watching Madara sitting on the ground, drinking dejectedly, Itachi shook his head. He had only intended to see Madara one last time before leaving. He hadn't expected to reveal so much at once, leaving the usually domineering Madara so dejected. 

"Oh, and you also need to visit the Three Great Sage Regions to learn Senjutsu. That's also a key to power... I hope that when I see you again, you'll possess enough strength to be my opponent." Itachi thought for a moment, then spoke again. After he finished, his body dispersed, transforming into scattering crows. 

Itachi's feelings for Madara were complex, but one thing he knew: he didn't want Madara to suffer such a tragic fate. This man seemed so strong, yet his entire life was filled with loss, and deception. This man shouldn't have such an end; even if he died, it should be a different kind of death. As for the Butterfly Effect, Itachi didn't care at all. Let the world change a thousand times; he would remain steadfast. 

After meeting Izuna and guiding him on the Flying Raijin training method, Itachi tapped Izuna's forehead and then left the Uchiha clan. 

Chapter 170: The Curtain Falls on Prosperity 

"Is that him? Why is he here?" 

Nagato, who was having some difficulty attempting to summon the Gedo Statue, paused slightly. In this era, the Gedo Statue hadn't been fully manipulated by Madara, so Nagato, using his secondhand Rinnegan, found it somewhat challenging, especially since the Gedo Statue was still sealed on the moon. In Nagato's perception, Itachi was approaching, step by step, towards their location. He looked up, his purple eyes flickering faintly, mixed with a hint of bewilderment. 

Beside him, Konan, who was reading a Warring States Period book, heard Nagato's voice and slightly raised her beautiful face. However, she hadn't quite caught what Nagato was saying. 

"Konan, go and greet our guest…" Nagato was naturally aware of Konan's movements. After a moment's thought, he told her this. He was curious to see why Itachi would come to him at this time. 

Hearing Nagato's words, Konan said nothing but nodded gently, her beautiful eyes holding a touch of curiosity. After all, they didn't know anyone in the Warring States Period. Who could be coming at this time? Of course, it was also because she didn't want to use her sensory abilities that she felt curious. After all, a monotonous life was better with a little mystery and surprise. Thinking this, Konan stood up, placed her stool back, and lightly tidied her robes and hairstyle as she walked out of the cave. Even without using her senses, she could feel someone approaching. 

The scene shifted. Konan stood quietly at the cave entrance. Due to the terrain, the wind was strong, blowing her hair and making her robes rustle. Yet, she stood unmoving, like a tree in the wind, holding a piece of shikigami and calmly folding small creations. She was incredibly serene. 

"It's been a while, Konan… You've become even more beautiful…" Soon after, footsteps approached. Just as Konan was about to complete her final origami fold and check who was coming, a gentle and familiar voice echoed at the cave entrance. This voice made her pause slightly, a little stunned. 

"It's you. I was wondering who it was…" Konan put the unfinished shikigami into her sleeve, planning to fold it later. Ignoring Itachi's flirtatious praise, Konan's lips curved slightly, and she spoke gently. Compared to her usual coldness towards outsiders, Itachi often brought out a different side of her, making her shed her ice queen demeanor. Perhaps it was Itachi's youthful vitality and his profound eyes. Itachi was an incredibly complex person, someone who couldn't be easily seen through—a walking contradiction. 

"What are you folding?" Itachi took a few steps forward, stopping in front of Konan, and asked flatly. His curious eyes were undisguised. In the windy opening, their robes rustled, and their hair was swept by the rushing wind. Yet, they remained utterly calm amidst the torrent, showing extraordinary composure. 

"It's windy outside. Let's talk inside…" Konan instinctively wanted to make a playful remark, but seeing Itachi's somewhat curious eyes, she stopped. 

"Uh… alright." Itachi saw the cunning on the girl's face, lightly rubbed the tip of his nose, and said helplessly. 

"Why have you come this time?" Inside the cave entrance, though the wind howled outside, no chilling gusts intruded, as if there was a fierce beast within the cave that kept them from entering. Konan's tone was indifferent, as if she had thought of something, her voice returning to its usual state, or perhaps even colder than before. 

Itachi saw the beautiful woman in front of him stop, so he paused his steps as well. The woman's fragrance wafted into his nostrils, making him feel a slight sense of ease. The phrase "You smell good," which he had almost blurted out, was swallowed back into his heart. 

"I already know what you've been doing lately…" After a moment of silence, Itachi didn't want to lie to the beautiful woman in front of him… but he also didn't want to reveal too much. 

"Then why are you here? Are you here to stop our plan?" The boy's words made the woman in front of him pause, then slowly turn around… Her eyes were filled with complex emotions: contradiction, anger, and more. She had always believed Itachi was on their side. Now, hearing such suggestive words from Itachi made her feel displeasure and sparked wild imaginings. 

"You're seeing things, Konan…" Itachi's eyes became complex, hearing the hint of grievance in the woman's tone. Konan wasn't that familiar with him, but he was intimately familiar with Konan, having known her entire life. 

"Seeing things?" Itachi's words startled Konan, and her beautiful eyes looked bewildered. She clearly didn't understand what strange words Itachi was speaking. 

"What I mean is, your plan is ultimately just a fleeting illusion; this path is a dead end." Konan's confused, adorable expression made Itachi feel a pang of reluctance. But thinking of his plan for this trip, Itachi braced himself and spoke. In truth, he rarely advised others, as everyone's立场 (tachiba, position or stance) was different. Perhaps due to his lack of experience, he felt complicated at this moment, wanting to try and convince Konan but feeling somewhat powerless. 

"A dead end? Why is it a dead end? If you don't try, how will you know it's a dead end?" Konan found Itachi's words utterly confusing, but the complexity on Itachi's face softened her heart, and also… angered her… 

"Because I will stop you… In the Shinobi World, I wouldn't care if you did this, but now, in the Warring States Period, no, it's not allowed." Itachi wasn't a meddlesome person; most of the time, he chose to ignore things. But this time, if Nagato truly went through with this, he felt it was highly inappropriate. After all, he was someone who had traveled through time. If history was altered and affected the future, where would he go? As the saying goes, "Every man for himself." Not to mention that his acquaintance with Konan and Nagato wasn't deep, even if it were, he couldn't just stand by and watch them mess things up. He wouldn't boldly preach about changing history being wrong, nor would he talk about helping ordinary civilians. He was just doing it for himself, to ensure he didn't die young or face unforeseen circumstances… It was that simple. 

Just as Itachi finished speaking, a film of water gathered in Konan's eyes, blood vessels prominent, as she lightly bit her lower lip. At this moment, she looked utterly disappointed. She had hoped to fight alongside Itachi, hoped he would give her some motivation, a glimmer of light in this unseen future. That's why she was so happy about Itachi's arrival. However, as Itachi spoke, her happiness didn't last long. 

"Why? Weren't we like-minded comrades before? And what do you mean 'not in the Warring States Period'? You're not even giving me a reason, and you want me to give up?" 

"I'm sorry, Konan… Come back with me. In the current era, I won't interfere with whatever chaos you create, but here, it's truly not allowed…" Seeing Konan's sorrowful expression, as if she had been betrayed by a comrade, Itachi turned his head away. Just like how he stopped Obito, Nagato's plan also posed a certain threat to him. He wasn't well-versed in complex schemes; he just needed to ensure his own safe birth and successful time travel. So, he had no choice but to step in and stop their plan. 

It seems Itachi has laid his cards on the table, and Konan is clearly distraught by his stance. Do you think Itachi will be able to convince Konan and Nagato to abandon their plans, or will things escalate into a conflict?