Itachi put away his sword, its once gleaming blade now hidden in its sheath.
His eyes returned to their deep black, gazing at Chizhao's face, as clear as spring water, and his tone was flat.
"Do you know where Shisui is?"
Chizhao smiled slightly: "I know, come with me."
She turned gracefully and led Itachi towards the quiet little cabin.
When Itachi saw that familiar face again, the gloom accumulated in his heart instantly dissipated.
"Ah! Itachi, you've had a hard time, haven't you? I'm sorry for throwing such a heavy responsibility on you..."
Shisui's voice was soft and full of apology.
"Shisui... This is great, you're alive..." Itachi's voice revealed unconcealed joy.
His best friend's revival brought endless solace to his exhausted heart.
He tried to suppress the emotional impact of the stinging in his nose.
Taking a deep breath, he walked up to Shisui and solemnly returned the sword to his hand:
"This is your sword, I'm giving it back to you."
"Thank you, Itachi, it's so good to see you again."
Itachi looked at Shisui's tightly closed eyes, his heart a mix of emotions. He lowered his gaze, his low voice suppressing gratitude:
"No, it's me. It's so good to see you again."
Seeing that the atmosphere between the two was about to turn sentimental, Chizhao bounced out, standing beside them, and greeted them warmly.
"Let's talk in the cabin. There's good tea and delicious taiyaki."
Sitting at the wooden table, Itachi observed everything around him, his gaze falling again on the girl's face on the other side of the table, his eyes full of inquiry.
This girl, exactly...
"Itachi, I know you have many questions right now, but first, tell me."
After my death, did the Uchiha rebellion continue?"
Itachi was silent for a moment, his gaze lingering between Chizhao and Shisui, seemingly still determining if the girl beside him was trustworthy.
"You probably guessed it, the person I've been monitoring is actually Chizhao. And she saved me, so she can be trusted."
After hearing Shisui's words, Itachi's gaze finally moved from Chizhao's face, fixing on Shisui, who sat with his eyes closed and a serious expression.
Chizhao, relieved, quietly picked up a taiyaki and began to eat it.
Itachi's oppressive aura truly was chilling...
With his guard down, Itachi recalled the series of events that had recently occurred within the clan, his tone heavy:
"Actually, after news of your death spread, some people within the clan thought I killed you."
"When I cleared my name, they then turned their anger towards Konoha, believing that Konoha Anbu forced you to die to weaken the Uchiha Clan's rebellious power, which made them even more radical, and the sentiment for rebellion grew daily."
Shisui's fingers tightened on his teacup for a moment. He frowned, his face solemn, and sighed deeply:
"It seems my sacrifice did not bring the expected peace; instead, it pushed the Uchiha into an abyss."
"But you are still alive. As long as you are alive, we will definitely find a way to resolve this conflict peacefully."
"My eyes were taken by Danzo, so Kotoamatsukami cannot be activated. What other way is there to stop this civil war?"
"Then just get your eyes back."
A sudden voice broke their discussion, and the two young men present were stunned.
Itachi looked at the girl, who was the same age as his younger brother, and for a moment didn't react.
Receiving Itachi's bewildered gaze, Chizhao immediately sat up straight, her heart beginning to panic.
Oh no, it seems inappropriate for me to say such things. After all, what little girl can speak so astonishingly?
She scratched her head internally, quickly thinking of a reasonable excuse.
"It... it was the Turtle Sage who said that..."
"Turtle Sage?"
Shisui was puzzled; he had no idea there was a Turtle Sage.
【Wang-san! Wang-san! Emergency!】
【What's wrong? I didn't say anything...】
【Help! Help!】
Chizhao, looking flustered, quickly pulled a turtle from her backpack and held it up in front of the two.
"It's him, the Turtle Sage's... envoy... Wang-san!"
Looking at the righteous girl in front of him, Itachi frowned.
Why did he feel like he was being fooled?
"Itachi, what is that?"
"Just a... normal turtle?"
【Wang-san, hurry up and talk! Prove you're not just a normal turtle!】
Receiving Chizhao's signal, Wang-san scratched his head, his two tiny, bean-sized eyes darted around, and he made a sound, meeting Itachi's suspicious gaze.
"Meow~ Meow-wuh~"
?!
Itachi was shocked.
Shisui was stunned.
The whole world fell silent because of a turtle's meow.
【No! Why are you meowing! What turtle meows!】
【Didn't you tell me to prove I wasn't just a normal turtle?】
This...
Chizhao, momentarily speechless, froze with wide, blank eyes.
"Shisui, did you hear that?" Itachi whispered, his eyes fixed on the turtle in Chizhao's hand.
Shisui slowly nodded, his voice full of uncertainty: "Itachi, what you saw, was it really a turtle?"
"Authentic..."
Although it was absurd, at least they both, in some sense, now knew that Wang-san was not just an ordinary turtle.
Guiltily placing Wang-san on the table, she communicated with him mentally:
【From now on, whatever I say, you say.】
"I apologize for my rudeness earlier. Chizhao has already introduced me. I am Wang-san, the envoy of the Turtle Sage."
Wang-san lifted his small head, his gaze again drawn to the taiyaki on the table.
So, using all four limbs, he slowly crawled over, unceremoniously picked up one of the taiyaki, and began to eat it.
Itachi, seeing this, crossed his arms, his expression becoming serious again.
His gaze was like a torch, his black pupils scrutinizing the girl in front of him:
"I've never heard of a Turtle Sage. What is your relationship with him?"
"Itachi, don't be so serious; you'll scare her."
Hearing Itachi's unfriendly tone, Shisui could only helplessly intervene.
Hearing Itachi sigh softly and say nothing more, Shisui also turned towards the direction of Chizhao's voice, his tone gentle as a spring breeze:
"Chizhao, why haven't I heard you mention the Turtle Sage before? Is it related to your precognitive abilities?"
Following Shisui's words, Chizhao nodded.
Realizing that Shisui probably couldn't see, she spoke again:
"Yes, Shisui-ge, all the abilities you saw me use before were taught to me by the Turtle Sage, and some of my precognition... was also told to me by the Turtle Sage through dreams."
"So that's how it is..."
Having, as she believed, reasonably explained her abilities, Chizhao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But now, there was still one important matter.
Chizhao remained calm and composed, her thoughts again linking with Wang-san:
"There is still hope for the future of the Uchiha Clan."
Wang-san, who was lying on the table, happily eating taiyaki, finally spoke.
Naturally, he drew the conversation away from Chizhao.
Itachi's eyelashes fluttered slightly, his hands clenched into fists, and an inexplicable tension surged within him:
"How so?"
"I have a plan to save the Uchiha Clan. Would you like to hear it?"
In the quiet house, the air seemed to solidify. Itachi's gaze fixed on Shisui, who also fell silent.
Sensing the inquiring gaze from across the table, Shisui picked up the tea on the table, took a small sip, then put down the teacup, his tone calm and steady.
"Alright, I'd like to hear the details."
Chizhao secretly breathed a sigh of relief in her heart and began to narrate the plan she had long considered, speaking through Wang-san.
"First, Itachi will continue to act normally between Konoha and the Uchiha internal affairs. When the rebellion reaches an irreconcilable point, the Konoha higher-ups will want to strike first and massacre the entire Uchiha. At that time, Itachi only needs to request to carry it out himself."
Itachi's pupils sharply contracted, his breathing became heavy, and he looked with complex eyes at the almost dozing Wang-san, a nameless ripple surging in his heart.
Massacring the entire clan, was this truly the outcome the Konoha higher-ups desired?
Was this truly the only solution?
According to the current development of the situation he was witnessing.
The fate of the Uchiha, it seemed, was already sealed...