Chapter 406: We Are Companions
"It's my eyes."
Sasuke's cold voice interrupted Shikamaru's thoughts.
The black-haired youth had already raised his head, those eyes that once held endless hatred and pain now settled with a deeper, more complex light.
He paused slightly, his tone turning cold and certain:
"It's my Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. He thinks my eyes are still ordinary Mangekyo."
After a moment of thought, Sasuke figured out the key point.
Uchiha Itachi had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan many years ago. According to what his father said, using that power inevitably came with severe erosion of vision, eventually leading to darkness.
The other party must have reached a desperate situation where they needed to seek "light" during the long wear and tear of power.
And himself, the younger brother with direct Bloodline, these newborn Mangekyo that hadn't been over-consumed, were undoubtedly the best choice.
Fusing the Ocular Power of a blood relative, awakening eternal light, and escaping the fate of blindness.
It's just that Itachi didn't know that Uchiha Fugaku's eyes had already fused with his own, quietly completing the transformation into the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
This power was no longer an "antidote" that needed to be plundered, but a sharp blade already held firmly in his hand.
Thinking of this, a surge of anger, mixed with old pain and current cold mockery, slowly rose in Sasuke's heart.
Coming for his eyes?
Just like when he slaughtered the whole clan for the so-called "testing of capacity" back then?
"Hmph," Sasuke let out a very slight cold snort from his nose, his gaze as sharp as a blade about to be unsheathed, "What a complete bastard."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Shikamaru looked at the undercurrents churning in Sasuke's eyes, knowing that this wave caused by Uchiha Itachi's reappearance was destined not to subside easily.
He sighed inwardly; troublesome things had indeed come again.
But since his companion had made a judgment, the next thing to do was to formulate a strategy to deal with those Mangekyo Sharingan that might be hidden in the shadows, full of calculation.
"What do you want to do? I'll cooperate with you."
Sasuke didn't hesitate at all: "I plan to kill him and bring his body back to the Uchiha clan grounds as an offering to console the deceased clansmen."
"Alright."
Shikamaru's answer was equally straightforward, without any dissuasion or extra questions.
As Nara Shikamaru, as a companion, he stood unconditionally by Sasuke's side.
"Frontal conflict or large-scale encirclement is easy to alert the enemy and might trigger a chain reaction we can't fully control."
Shikamaru's fingertips unconsciously traced across the tabletop, "Uchiha Itachi's Genjutsu and Body Flicker Technique are top-tier, and with his Akatsuki background, his alertness must be extremely high.
We need a tracking network that is hidden enough and can cover a sufficient range."
He pondered for a moment: "I will immediately contact Shino, who stayed in Hidden Leaf Village. The Aburame Clan's Insect Secret Technique has unique advantages in tracking, reconnaissance, and information transmission, especially in dealing with complex environments and counter-tracking. Letting Shino's insects serve as 'eyes' and 'beacons' can greatly improve our efficiency in locking on and monitoring."
Then, his gaze shifted, seemingly looking towards the more distant Land of Earth: "Neji and Tenten, who are currently performing a joint mission in the neighboring Hidden Stone Village, can also be included in the intelligence network.
Neji's Byakugan has unparalleled X-ray reconnaissance capabilities, which are crucial for long-distance observation and preventing traps or ambushes. The Hyuga Clan's field of vision can just make up for the 'blind spots' that other tracking methods might have.
I will find a way to transmit a summary of the situation to them through secure channels and request support."
"As for nearby tracking and ground guidance... Kiba and Akamaru are the best choices.
The Inuzuka Clan's Scent Tracking Technique, combined with Akamaru's sensitivity, can perform efficient ground tracking and path confirmation even when scent clues are limited.
They can serve as our vanguard and ground guides for the operation."
Shikamaru's speech was steady and his thoughts clear, simulating a tactical chessboard in his mind, placing different abilities like chess pieces on it.
"Kiba and Akamaru will perform initial scent locking and ground tracking, Shino's insect swarm will provide large-scale information collection and hidden monitoring, and Neji's Byakugan will be responsible for X-ray confirmation and early warning at key nodes.
We will then formulate the final contact and combat plan based on the information they provide. Sasuke, what do you think?"
He didn't ask "if he really wanted to kill."
He just paved the way his companion was determined to take as much as possible, clearing obstacles and increasing the chances of winning.
This was Nara Shikamaru's way of cooperating, supporting his companion's will with absolute strategy.
No matter where that will pointed, even if the path ahead was deeper darkness and thorns.
Sasuke turned his head slightly, his gaze lowered, as if studying the wood grain on the floor, his voice so soft it was almost covered by the rustling of leaves in the wind outside the window.
"Thank you."
This word escaped his mouth with a rare softness, like the edge of an unpolished jade, completely out of place with his usual cold and hard tone.
A flicker of understanding smile passed through Shikamaru's eyes, and then he returned to that lazy but reliable look.
He waved his hand, his tone relaxed but carrying an unquestionable certainty: "You're welcome. We are companions, after all."
He paused, his gaze seeming to drift into the distance, as if seeing that reliable figure who always stood in front of everyone through the scene before him.
"If that guy Naruto were here, he would definitely help you hunt down Uchiha Itachi at the first opportunity."
The corners of Shikamaru's mouth curled up unconsciously, as if imagining that scene, "That guy is always so reliable."
Listening to Shikamaru's words, although Sasuke didn't respond, his tightly pursed lips relaxed a bit.
Even if Naruto wasn't there, he wasn't alone.
Shikamaru's method of communication was very simple, taught to him by Naruto.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
After summoning a small deer, Shikamaru quickly wrote a letter at the desk, then stood up and came to the small deer.
"I'll have to trouble you. Go find Shino!"
After rubbing the small deer's head, Shikamaru put the letter into the satchel on its back.
"Yoo~ Yoo"
The small deer cried out twice, then vanished into smoke after Shikamaru's Summoning Jutsu release seal ended.
Then Shikamaru contacted his father in Hidden Stone Village in the same manner.
The small deer that returned to the Nara Clan galloped towards Shikamaru's house.
Shikamaru's mother, Yoshino, came out to look after hearing the small deer's cry. After taking the letter out of the satchel, she casually stuffed a Deer cracker into the small deer's mouth.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Shikamaru's Summoned Beasts are three small deer, while Shikaku's are two large deer.
One could tell it was Shikamaru's Summoned Beast just by looking at it.
This was Shikamaru's letter; that brat was finally willing to send a letter to his mother.
After opening the letter, Yoshino's smile instantly froze.
Inside were just two lines of scribbled words.
"Mom, help me give this letter to Uncle Inoichi."
"Uncle Inoichi, we need Shino's help. Have him come to the border between the Land of Bears and the Land of Rain."
Loving Book So Far? Check Out 30+ Advanced Chapters At PA Treon
patreon.com/FictionOP