The Pantheon of Nine
By: Finn Mertenz
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. I DO NOT CLAIM TO OWN NARUTO.
Chapter 106: The Last Potato Chip! Surrounded By Crows.
Saturday 5:56pm, July 24th 58SSP.
A blinding aura of white light polluted everything from sight, obscured by pillars of boiling steam. Also, the rapid sound of panting could be heard, drawing attention to Choji's burnt hand.
Standing in a large crater of crumbled earth, Choji's pale-skinned body was stained with scoffs of dirt. Contrasting his white scarf, Choji's Sage-like eyes were narrowed and discolored, struggling to stay open.
Glaring off towards the distant horizon, Choji grunted and groaned under his breath, leaking blood from his chest. With strands of dirty blue hair framing his face, Choji soon recognized the silhouette of Shikamaru.
Undaunted by Choji's wounds, Shikamaru crossed both arms in front of his chest, displaying a wide smile. Focused on his friend, a twinkling light erupted from Choji's eyes, straining to speak.
Shik-... Shikamaru? Choji stuttered internally
"Choji! Sorry I'm late!" Shikamaru chuckled.
La-... Late? Choji repeated, barely able to breath.
Oh, yea... I withstood the attacks from that strange man, back then... Dwelling on these thoughts, Choji didn't even know Kakuzu's name.
Afterwards... I used Sage Art: Sparkling Shockwave, shattering his remaining masks... Propelled by scorched feet, Choji's legs twitched with each thought.
"That's right... And after that, you defeated him with one punch!" Shikamaru cut in.
Stunned by these words, Choji was left utterly speechless for several moments. Before long, Choji's stained face was covered with a genuine smile, magnified by his sparkling blue eyes.
"Yea-... Yeah! I won! I won!" Choji erupted with delight.
"It's just like you said... I really am a shinobi!" Speaking these words, tears of joy began to pour from Choji's eyes.
Soon, Shikamaru was accompanied by the transparent outline Ino and Asuma, chuckling in response. Inspired by his laughing friends, Choji's mouth fell open with awe, marveling his own fortune.
"Everyone already knew that, Choji." Asuma spoke out, smoking a cigarette with one hand.
This statement was magnified by the sudden appearance of Choza, holding both arms in front of his wide stomach. Also, Team Kurenai, Team Guy and even Team Kakashi could be seen, depicted as young Genin.
"Way too go! Choji!" Kiba shouted, followed by a bark from Akamaru.
Quietly clapping, Hinata and Shino both applauded the young Akimichi clan member. sparkling like the sun. Even Sasuke and Naruto were smiling, gazing upon their childhood friend and classmate.
"That's my son." Choza exclaimed, nodding his head in approval.
Throughout his early childhood, Choji was constantly mocked and belittled, always questioning his place in life. But now, in his last moments, Choji finally found his place, he was a true shinobi of Konoha.
"We'll handle everything from here, just lay down and rest." Naruto beamed with joy, holding one thumb in the air.
Yea... Rest. Choji repeated the same word, closing his Sage-like eyes.
Falling to the ground, Choji's most prominent feature was the prestigious smile across his stained face. Colliding with a mound of dirt, Choji's smile grew in size, defined by fresh rays of moonlight.
O-... Oh! That's right! I-... I still had some potato chips left... Drifting through Choji's mind, this was his final thought before slipping away.
Choji never desired power, fame or money, he wanted only to protect his friends, that his was ninja way. And despite the odds, Choji stood his ground against the Akatsuki, at the cost of his own life.
Meanwhile.
"Something's wrong... I can feel it." Raiga spat out, leaping across several tree branches.
As Raiga advanced, pillars of smoke poured from the village of Tani, obscuring their narrow cavern from sight. Surging through the background, Asuma, Kurenai, Shino, Hinata and Shikmaru all trailed behind Raiga.
"Don't worry... Choji can handle anything." Shikamaru scoffed, illuminated by rays of moonlight.
Charging across the terrain like a distorted blur, this group of shinobi eventually entered the village of Tani. Rushing through a narrow corridor of stone walls and wooden houses, Tani's iconic lake came into view.
"What happened here?" Kurenai stuttered, glancing at a bundle of floating debris in the lake.
Exposing a partially collapsed Buddhist shrine, Hinata rushed forward after hearing various barks from Akamaru. This realization inspired Shino and Kurenai to charge after her, leaving Team Asuma behind.
"Where's Choji?!" Shikamaru gasped, glancing from side-to-side.
Instead of responding with words, Raiga pointed across the lake, drawing attention to a small crowd of Tani shinobi. Without thinking, Shikamaru quickly ran across this lake, creating a distinct ripple with each step.
"Choji! Choji!" Shrieking these words, Shikamaru approached the crowd of ninja, pushing them aside.
Nudging through a handful of shinobi, Shikamaru recognized the crouched silhouette of Ranmaru, defined by his Ketsuryūgan eyes. However, this young boy was huddled over Choji's discolored face.
Despite Choji's new hair color and pale skin, Shikamaru instantly identified the iconic swirls across his cheeks. Enthralled by Choji's face, Shikamaru fell onto both knees, pushing Ranmaru to the side.
"What happened to him?! What did you do!" Speaking with panic, Shikamaru gripped Choji's chest before shaking him.
"I was just trying to help..." Ranmaru mumbled, twirling his fingers together.
Ignoring these words, Shikaumaru hastily reached into his own satchel, pulling a bag of potato chips into view. Tearing this bag open, Asuma was standing in the background, pulling a fresh cigarette from his pouch.
"Choji! Choji! Eat up! I have you're favorite!" Shikamaru pleaded, grabbing a handful of chips and eating them.
Standing behind Shikamaru, Asuma raised a cigarette to his mouth before lighting it, inhaling a fresh puff of smoke. As a veteran of war, Asuma had seen this outcome before, on the fields of battle.
Swallowing handful after handful, Shikmaru eventually dumped the remaining chips atop Choji's stomach. Spewing crumbs and potato flakes across his outfit, a single chip remained intact.
"Choji! Come on! I saved it for you!" Stuttering these words, Shikamaru clenched both fists.
Before Shikamaru could continue, Asuma abruptly gripped his head, exhaling a puff of smoke into the air. During a moment like this, Asuma needed a cigarette now more than ever.
"That's enough..." Asuma murmured, allowing smoke to pour from his nose.
Confused by the strange appearance of food, Ranmaru scratched the back of his head. But Asuma and Shikamaru knew exactly what this was, it was the last potato chip.
One day later.
Pillars of boiling steam and dense mist obscured everything from view, eventually pierced by a wooden building. Soon, the iconic gate of Yu could be seen, protruding out from a cloud of steam.
"I can't believe you're leaving already." The middle aged voice of Kazan spoke out, standing in front of his village.
Kazan's most prominent feature was his sparkling bald head, and the collection of scars across his nose. Also, since his last appearance, Kazan had grown into the 5th Jokage, the most powerful shinobi inside Yu.
Despite his elite status, Kazan barely stood taller than a child, contrasting his stern and rigid face. Before long, Kazan's black eyes blockaded everything from view, drawing attention to his spiky brown goatee.
Denoting his veteran rank, Kazan was adorned in the iconic angle-length attire of a Kage. Colored grey, Kazan's Kage hat was draped across one shoulder, hanging against his back.
"Yea... I've been floating around here for long enough." Utakata mumbled in response.
Scratching his exposed chest, Utakata yawned into one hand before Hotaru poked his nose. This youthful kunoichi was defined by dark-green eyes and shoulder-length blond hair.
"We have a long journey ahead of us! Naruto is weeks away." Hotaru exclaimed, holding one finger in the air.
"I'm not looking forward to it..." Utakata remarked, rubbing the side of his head.
"But still, I feel like I'm forgetting something." As he spoke, Utakata patted the loose fabric of his kimono.
Ignoring these words, Hotaru reached out before grabbing Utakata's hand, dragging him down the road. Earning a wide smile from Kazan, the 5th Jokage waved goodbye to his new allies, consumed by steam.
Thirty minutes later.
Engulfed by drifting clouds of steam, Hotaru and Utakata both traveled down a narrow dirt road. Humming a quaint tone, Hotaru didn't even notice the distilled expression across Utakata's face.
"I know I forgot something..." Utakata muttered, holding his chin with one hand.
"Master, I have a question." Hotaru spoke out, glancing up at the afternoon sun.
Holding both hands against her back, Hotaru struggled to contain the deep blush across her face. Caught with hesitation, Hotaru froze in the road, accidently bumping against Utakata.
Saving Hotaru from embarrassment, a squawking crow soared through the air, dropping several feathers. Flapping both wings in unison, this crow landed in the middle of the road, hopping forward.
"Wai-... A crow?! We don't have any crows in this land?" Hotaru murmured, scratching her head.
Enthralled by this realization, Utakata briefly gasped before clapping both hands into the Ram Seal. Spewing chakra-filled bubbles from his mouth, Hotaru was encased by a hardened layer of bubbles.
Without warning, the nearby crow erupted into a fiery explosion, surging across the ground like a wave of flames. Floating into the sky, Hotaru was safe from this harsh flames, but Utakata had no bubble.
Just my luck... Of all things to forget... Utakata stuttered internally.
Jumping atop a distant tree branch, Utakata's kimono rustled in the breeze, polluted by pillars of smoke. Scoffing with annoyance, Utakata left his wooden pipe at Yu, an iconic tool for his Soap Bubble Ninjutsu.
Obscured by pillars of dust and debris, Itachi was leisurely standing in the road, enveloped by the sleeves of his outfit. Muffled by the sound of a jingling bell, Itachi wore a bamboo hat with linen wrappings.
Partially unzipping his outfit, Itachi's crimson red Akatsuki ring was exposed, adorned with the Kanji for 'Scarlet'. Pulling his hat loose, Utakata noticed the scarred headband across Itachi's forehead.
Denoting his status as a rogue shinobi of Konoha, Itachi's headband briefly glimmered in the sunlight. Glaring at the red cloud on Itachi's outfit, Utakata grumbled under his breath.
Experiencing a quick flashback of Deidara, Utakata leapt to the forest floor, combing his hair with one hand. Walking onto the road, Utakata narrowed his visible right eye, defining his pale-skinned face.
He isn't alone... There's another one. Glancing with side-to-side, Utakata's sensory abilities were on full display.
Restrained by a chakra-filled bubble, Hotaru was floating through the air, soaring above the tree-line. Unable to free herself, Hotaru was stuck in this mobile prison, held in place by dense chakra.
"Don't worry, no one will interfere… I don't require any assistance." Itachi mumbled, dropping his hat to the ground.
He wears the same outfit... And yet, something is different about this guy. Utakata told himself, comparing Deidara to Itachi.
His chakra feels twisted and tainted... But deep down, I sense regret. Pulled from these thoughts by a gust of wind, Utakata's kimono rustled in the breeze.
"There's no need for conflict, if you come with me, the girl is free to leave." Speaking with a low voice, Itachi briefly glanced at Hotaru.
Instead of waiting for a reply, Itachi raised his right hand into sight, pointing at Utakata. Before the veteran shinobi could react, Utakata's eyes began to convulse, knocking him onto one knee.
Coughing into one hand, Utakata was soon overwhelmed by a crippling wave of Kage-level Genjutsu. Slipping into the unconscious world, Utakata faceplanted the ground, creating a small cloud of dust on impact.
"The capture of the six tails is complete." Murmuring under his breath, Itachi tilted his head to the side.
Exposing a blank expression in his eyes, Itachi abruptly gagged on a mouthful of blood. Falling onto both knees, Itachi's vision became distorted and blurred, continuously coughing into both hands.
Not now... It's too soon... Itachi panicked, pouring blood from his mouth.
During this chaotic eruption of blood, Utakata's limbs began to twitch and snap at an impossible angle. At the same time, Utakata's skin became covered in a thick layer of slime, rupturing into an acidic bubble.
Revealing his chakra-filled blue eyes, Utakata's face was covered by an infectious array of boiling blisters. Groaning with agony, Utakata dragged both hands across the ground.
Polluting the air, Utakata's bubbles were defined by an ocean blue tint, cracking the nearby earth. Unable to move, Hotaru drifted through the skyline before disappearing from sight, trapped in a bubble.
Suddenly, three slime-covered tails ruptured out from Utakata's lower back, piercing the fabric of his kimono. Howling with a demonic shriek, Utakata's jawline was casually torn from it's socket, screaming in protest.
Leaping back at the last moment, Itachi narrowly avoided a barrage of blue bubbles, spewing from Utakata's mouth. Colliding with the earth, these bubbles erupted into chakra-filled shockwave.
Spreading across the earth in all directions, this shockwave effortlessly uprooted an entire section of the forest. Launching chunks of debris towards Itachi, this veteran Uchiha soon landed atop a distant tree branch.
Swishing his chakra-filled tails through the air, a growling Saiken came into view, partially obscured by debris. Screaming without end, Saiken's most prominent feature was his pulsating blue skin, held together by chakra.
"So... I guess Genjutsu won't work on you." Mumbling these words, Itachi wiped the blood from his mouth.
Growling in response, a stream of bubbles protruded out from Saiken's mouth, drenched with slime. Unlike Shukaku or Kurama, Saiken was extremely protective of his jinchūriki, defending Utakata on his own accord.
Crawling onto his hind legs, Saiken's slime-covered arms came into view, throbbing with blue chakra. Baring his jagged teeth, Saiken's mouth was corroded with thick saliva, a pus-filled maw of slime and ooze.
Carving a massive crater into the earth, Saiken charged forward, swishing his slug-like tails in unison. With each step, the ground below abruptly swelled under Saiken's touch, boiling into bubbles.
Scowling in response, Itachi revealed a handful of shuriken, hurling these metal objects through the air. Moving at Kage-level speed, Itachi clapped both hands together, creating a sudden spark of embers.
Weaving through the Rat, Tiger, Dog, Ox, Rabbit and Tiger seals, Itachi permeated the air with dense chakra. Exhaling a fiery gust from his mouth, Itachi's shuriken were empowered by flames.
This display of Ninjutsu was a C-rank technique, known as Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu. Combining this technique with his Shurikenjutsu, Itachi was partially obscured by a wall of embers.
Soaring through the air, these fiery projectiles were knocked aside by a bombardment of bubbles. Gasping with shock, Itachi was ripped apart by hundreds of bubbles, demolishing the tree-branch he stood on.
Replaced by a flock of crows, a handful of black feathers briefly polluted the tree-line. Muffled by the repetitive sound of squawking, Saiken howled with pain as a fourth tail boiled into place.
Flapping through the air, these crows soon merged together in the center of the road. Creating a distorted blob, the silhouette of Itachi eventually came into view, engulfed by a tornado of black feathers.
As both of his eyes twitched uncontrollably, hundreds of blue and red orbs were expelled from Saiken's body. Cracking his jawline, these orbs began to swirl and merge together in front of Saiken's mouth.
Awed by this display of chakra, Itachi turned around before running away, sprinting down the narrow road. Rupturing the nearby ground, a tailed beast bomb was suspended in front of Saiken.
Swelling with chakra, a pair of optical tentacles ruptured out from Saiken's skull, displacing his eyes. Engulfed with acidic slime, Utkata's hair was boiled into vapor, removing the last shred of his humanity.
Spewing like a geyser, a tailed beast bomb was launched from Saiken's mouth, accompanied by droplets of slime. Dispersing a clump of heavy rocks, this lethal attack carved a massive ravine across the earth.
Muffled by the harsh rustle of his outfit, Itachi glanced over his shoulder while running away. Overshadowed by Saiken's approaching bomb, Itachi's black pupils began to swirl and spin.
Morphing into the Mangekyō Sharingan, Itachi's face was irradiated by a crimson red aura. Flickering under the sunlight, Itachi turned around, confronting Saiken's chaotic sphere of chakra.
Exposing his Mangekyō Sharingan, Itachi's most prominent feature was his blood-filled veins, contrasting his white sclera. Throbbing with chakra, a spark of black embers was ignited by Itachi's ocular prowess.
Obscured by crackling embers and specks of debris, Itachi's right eye violently convulsed before leaking blood. Erupting into a funnel of black flames, the nearby road was completely enveloped by a fiery wall.
Before long, Saiken's bomb surged through these shifting flames, emitting a radiant aura of blue light. Colliding with the earth, Saiken's bomb ejected a crippling shockwave in all directions.
Polluted by a mountainous cloud of dust and debris, a vast section of the forest was casually uprooted. The impact from this explosion rang out for several miles, shaking the distant village of Yu.
Emerging from pillars of dust, a flock of crows flew across the sky line, squawking in unison. Reaching the tip of a lush tree, these crows merged into a gelatinous blob, defined by Itachi's Sharingan.
"Such a waste... He's faster than I thought." Talking to himself, Itachi was surrounded by black feathers.
Wiping the blood from his eyes, Itachi gasped as Saiken leapt through the tree-line, soaring into view. Swinging his slime-covered arms in a horizontal slash, the air was polluted by a barrage of bubbles.
Displaying Kage-level prowess, Itachi managed to evade each of these approaching bubbles. Flipping and twisting through the air, this elite Uchiha was eventually confronted by a leaping Saiken.
Spitting a barrage of bubbles from his mouth, Saiken was briefly obscured by an endless array of bubbles. Scoffing in response, Itachi's right eye was flooded with blood for the second time, leaking a steady stream across his nose.
Scorching a clear path towards Saiken, this partially transformed jinchūriki was engulfed by black flames. Howling with agony, Saiken fell to the earth before rolling across the ground.
Muffled by clumps of falling debris, Itachi landed in front of a squealing Saiken, burnt and charred by crackling embers. Wiping the blood from his face, Itachi combed one hand through his hair.
Allowing his Mangekyō Sharingan to recede, Itachi's eyes retained their crimson red color. Ignoring the pain-filled screams of Saiken, Itachi displayed a blank and solemn expression across his face.
Burning through Saiken's slime-covered chakra, the scorched silhouette of Utakata came into view. Twitching and writhing for several moments, Itachi casually towered over this grumbling jinchūriki.
"This could've been avoided." Mumbling under his breath, Itachi glanced up at the rising moon.
Without warning, Itachi fell to the earth while spewing blood from his mouth, staining his hands and outfit. Draining the chakra from his black flames, the Amaterasu abruptly dissolved, freeing Utakata.
Caught in a moment of weakness, Itachi continued to cough, barely able to keep his eyes open. Using his last shred of strength, Utakata blew a tinkling pair of bubbles from his mouth, rising into the skyline.
Easily recognizing these floating orbs of chakra, Itachi was to distracted by pain too react. Before long, these bubble drifted from sight, soaring through the night sky.
Meanwhile.
The bustling sound of commerce and trade could be heard, magnified by crowded streets and laughing adults. These vibrant roads were illuminated by an array of street lights.
As the Hokage Monument came into view, Guy's stone face could be seen, smiling over the village of Konoha. Despite Orochimaru's recent invasion, the people of Konoha were filled with joy and laughter.
Everyone except Sasuke, an isolated face that casually walked through the populated streets. Focused on the ground, Sasuke didn't even react as a lost civilian asked for directions.
Walking without pause, Sasuke's blue eyes were blank and solemn, giving him a far off expression. Eventually, Sasuke strolled up a narrow staircase, walking in front of a rust-covered playground.
Freezing mid step, Sasuke became distracted by a glimmering piecing of metal, a nearby seesaw. Painted in contrasting colors, one seat was crimson red while the other was a radiant violet.
Years ago, Sasuke and Naruto personally painted this seesaw, playing on the wooden contraption for hours without end. But now, this playground was completely empty, filled only by a gust of wind.
How long has it been? Sasuke asked himself,
Propelled by these thoughts, Sasuke took several steps forward, basking under the moonlight. Held in place by childhood memories, Sasuke fell into a brief moment of silence.
Glancing up, Sasuke was distracted by an endless array of twinkling stars, contrasting the night sky. Reflecting against his snake-like blue eyes, Sasuke was briefly hypnotized by countless stars.
Are you looking up at the stars... Right now? Pondering these thoughts, a single crow flew into view.
Perched atop a set of monkey bars, the night sky was pierced by a loud squawk, pulling Sasuke from his thoughts. Tilting his head to the side, Sasuke scoffed with annoyance, staring at the crimson eyed crow.
Flocking to the ground, this nameless crow turned around before hopping towards a nearby forest. Filled with interest, Sasuke trailed after the skipping crow, beginning a short journey through Konoha.
Five minutes later.
Pushing a pair of bushes to the side, Sasuke's pale-skinned face could be seen, surrounded by trees. Walking forward, Sasuke was escorted by a crimson eyed crow, squawking with encouragement.
"Where are you taking me?" Sasuke muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Following the nameless crow, Sasuke leapt over an ornate wall, landing on a stone sidewalk. Observing his surroundings, Sasuke just entered the Uchiha District, standing outside the Naka Shrine.
"Oh? I haven't been here in ages..." Talking to himself, Sasuke crossed both arms in front of his chest.
Weeks after the Uchiha Massacre, Sasuke visited the Naka Shrine with Naruto, exploring the secrets inside. The Naka Shrine was the first Uchiha settlement inside of Konoha, a sacred spot for their clan.
Hidden below a leaf-green tatmi mat, the Naka Shrine was the entrance to a stone monument. Engraved by the Sage of Six Paths himself, this sacred rock was handed down from generation to generation, eventually held by the Uchiha.
But Sasuke didn't care about such trivial things, he was more interested in the stray crow. Escorted inside, Sasuke pulled the hidden mat from it's place before walking underground.
Skipping down a narrow staircase, Sasuke soon entered an isolated cavern, lined with decorative markings on the wall. Admiring these impressive pieces of art, the ground morphed from stone to wood.
Approaching the stone monument, Sasuke was met be an approving squawk from the unnamed crow. Hopping on top of the ancient monument, this twitching crow became intently focused on Sasuke.
"I've already read that... I can't get past the first paragraph." Complaining under his breath, Sasuke rolled both eyes.
Flocking to the floor, this unnamed crow abruptly pecked the stone monument, chipping at the words. This continued for several minutes before Sasuke reached out, trying to grab the crow.
Squawking in response, Sasuke's hand was pecked before the hostile crow flew outside. Obscured by a brief cloud of black feathers, Sasuke shook his head from side-to-side.
"What's so important about this rock?" Mumbling these words, Sasuke crouched down on one knee, studying the stone monument.
Humming with a solemn tone, Sasuke's blues eyes morphed into a Mangekyō Sharingan. Basking in ancient knowledge, Sasuke became lost in thought, studying the sacred rock, finally able to read.
Meanwhile.
"Yes! Another successful day of youth!" Guy cheered, locking the front door of the Hokage Office.
"I'm so excited." Kakashi chuckled with a sarcastic tone, winking his visible eye.
The 5th Hokage just finished an extensive day of paperwork, standing in the middle of an isolated street. Accompanied only by his advisor, and a handful of hidden Anbu, Guy dramatically stretched both legs.
"I need to get home to Anko... She's been real affectionate lately." Mumbling these words, Kakashi rubbed his chin.
"Have fun! I'm going to run a few thousands laps around the village." Guy remarked, unleashing a pearl white smile.
Waving goodbye, these childhood friends turned around before walking their own path. Muffled by the sound of a barking dog, Kakashi strolled around a narrow corner, entering an empty road.
Releasing a sigh of relief, Kakashi reached into his satchel before revealing his iconic orange book. Giggling like a school girl, Kakashi held one hand over his mouth before reading.
"Oh no... She didn't..." Muttering under his breath, Kakashi's face turned bright red.
After several moments, Kakashi was pulled from these thoughts by a squawking crow, soaring into the night sky. Briefly confused by this revelation, Kakashi gasped after recognizing the crow.
Surging forward, Kakashi leapt across various roof tops, chasing the black bird with vigor. Charging across the roof of Ichiraku's ramen shop, Kakashi concealed his orange book, taking on a stern persona.
For him to come back now... Of all times. Kakashi panicked, running out of sight.
Five minutes later.
The iconic hoot of a distant owl could be heard, illuminated by faint rays of moonlight. Blending in with the full moon, Kakashi's silver hair was jutting out from a dense bush, partially hidden.
Utilizing decades of experience, Kakashi crouched against the grassy earth, studying a pair of nearby feet. Shielded by a pair of wooden sandals, these feet belonged to an elderly Biwako.
Standing in the center of a dense forest, in the middle of the night, the widow of Hiruzen held both arms against her back. Adorned with a leaf-green kimono and a white haori, this village elder was completely alone.
What is she doing out here... At a time like this... Pondering these questions, Kakashi narrowed his visible eye.
"You're late." Biwako muttered with a commanding tone.
After speaking, Biwako was met by the crimson eyed silhouette of Itachi, sulking out from the shadows. This revelation forced Kakashi to dramatically gasp, causing his visible eye to convulse.
"Forgive me. I was distracted." Mumbling in response, Itachi bowed his head..
Scoffing with annoyance, Biwako took several steps forward, standing mere inches away from Itachi. Despite his status as a rogue shinobi, Biwako glared directly at Itachi's face, allowing their eyes to reflect off each other.
"I've already told you... Sasuke is safe, just as my husband promised." Biwako proclaimed.
"My husbands passing changes nothing. Every strong man relies on a stronger woman... If my husband made a promise, I shall honor it." Speaking these words, Biwako was undaunted by Itachi's presence.
Closing his crimson eyes, the air was filled with a brief silence, pierced by the sound of a flapping crow. Soaring into view, this crow became perched on Itachi's shoulder, shedding a handful of feathers.
"Very well... If the 3rd Hokage trusted you with this secret, then I shall too." Murmuring this reply, Itachi opened both eyes.
Shocking the veteran shinobi, Kakashi became frozen with fear as Itachi casually glanced at him. But instead of reacting, Itachi displayed a far off expression in both eyes.
"I expect you to maintain your side of the deal." Biwako cut in.
"The Akatsuki must be eliminated, at any cost.' As she spoke, Biwako was shrouded by Itachi's shadow.
Devoid of words, Itachi nodded with agreement before turning around and walking away. Met with a deep hum from Biwako, the village elder crossed both arms in front of her aged chest.
"One more thing..." Speaking up, Itachi froze after hearing these words.
"Twelve years ago... When the Nine tails fox attacked, Kushina was in childbirth." Speaking with an elderly tone, Biwako strolled behind Itachi.
"But, a masked individual managed to slip past Kushina's Anbu, and the 4th Hokage himself." As Biwako spoke, a distant owl could be heard.
Exposing her wrinkle-covered face, Biwako was abruptly illuminated by an array of moonlight. Piercing the tree branches overhead, this bright light also brought attention to Itachi's pale skin.
"I can't remember, I was just a child at the time." Itachi murmured a reply.
Scoffing with hostility, Biwako leaned forward, revealing a minor hunch in her elderly back. Irradiated by the crimson aura from Itachi's eyes, Biwako cleared her throat before speaking.
"Oh? Then how about five years ago, during the Uchiha Massacre?" Mumbling these words, Biwako earned a stark glare from Itachi.
"You did unspeakable things that night... Traitorous things..." As Biwako spoke, Itachi's eyes briefly twitched.
"But you weren't alone, you had help from a mysterious shinobi, the same masked individual that freed the nine tails." This revelation forced Kakashi's jawline to fall open.
Left completely speechless from these secret words, Kakashi quietly gasped for several moments. Pretending not to notice, Itachi released a scoff of disbelief, combing his hair with one hand.
"You're mistaken... I have no idea what you're talking about." Muttering a response, Itachi was distracted by moonlight.
Stomping her foot in protest, Biwako reached out before slapping Itachi across his pale face. Watching from a concealed bush, Kakashi's visible eye widened with shock, stuttering under his breath
"Don't you dare lie to me, young man. While you're off playing rogue shinobi, I've been watching over Sasuke." Biwako spat out.
"I don't care what rank you have, I brought you into this world. I helped your mother deliver you." Engulfed by Itachi's shadow, Biwako acted like she was talking to a child.
"Sasuke, Naruto even Sakura... I delivered all of them, I'm not just the widow of Hiruzen, I'm the senior medical ninja of Konoha." Speaking with a motherly tone, Biwako was lecturing an S-rank criminal.
"The night of Naruto's birth, I was there, I saw the masked man with my own eyes." Poking Itachi's chest, Biwako narrowed her black eyes.
Distilled by an awkward silence, Biwako breathed a sigh of relief before pinching the bridge of her nose. For over fifty years, Biwako had silently kept watch over Konoha, the rock that Hiruzen constantly leaned on.
"But more than that, did you think my husband wouldn't tell me? Did you think that Hiruzen just kept these secrets to himself?" Speaking with a rhetorical tone, Biwako didn't even wait for an answer.
"I was married to Hiruzen for over forty years, he told me everything, we had no secrets between us." Hearing these words, Itachi glanced up at the moon.
"A wife's duty is to stand by her husband, that's my job." Met by an awkward silence, Itachi eventually nodded with agreement.
Disturbed by the harsh flapping of a black crow, a bundle of feathers polluted the tree-line. Drifting through the air, these feathers partially obscured Itachi and Biwako from view.
"You're a good woman, Biwako... You're kind, loyal and loving." Itachi wheezed with a faint voice.
Suddenly, Itachi's pale face was stained by a barrage of rain drops, streaming across the bridge of his nose. Dripping from strands of wet hair, this downfall of rain discretely concealed the tears on Itachi's face.
"I hope Sasuke can find a girl like you." Muffled by falling rain, Itachi dispersed into a flock of crows, flying from view.
