"Mmm..." Itachi coughed up another mouthful of blood, his black and red cloud cloak nowhere to be seen, his body tattered.
So weak, he was just like when he fought Sasuke, an endless fatigue washing over him. Itachi finally collapsed from exhaustion.
With that, Tsukuyomi instantly shattered, and Sasori woke up. When he saw his "core of regeneration" destroyed and blood pouring out, he understood everything. Looking at Itachi lying on the ground, he couldn't help but sigh.
"Itachi, you really are amazing. No wonder Orochimaru never dared to target you again, and no wonder Pain told us to be careful. I didn't expect to fall into your hands."
His already weak body, in a fight against two, could still kill him. Sasori was truly defeated.
"Sasori... you..."
At this moment, Deidara's somewhat flustered voice came from behind. Although he and Sasori often bickered, there was no denying their strong bond.
He understood that if Sasori's "core of regeneration" was destroyed, he would truly die.
"Deidara, you need to be careful in the future, don't be so reckless." Sasori instructed like an adult, his lips stained with blood. He knew he didn't have much time. Though he was a puppet, his emotions hadn't vanished, but tears were hard to shed.
Remembering Deidara's anxious, impetuous, and reckless demeanor, Sasori felt a bit uneasy. With such a personality, he probably wouldn't live long.
"Sasori, can't you fix your 'core of regeneration'?" Deidara asked urgently.
Sasori shook his head and said, "I told you long ago, eternity is art. I'm still far from the peak of art."
Then he continued, "Also, I've wanted to tell you for a while now, stop being so childish. The Akatsuki are destined to be enemies of the entire ninja world. The Third Tsuchikage is your master, your fellow students are still there, can you bring yourself to harm them?"
"The only thing I regret is that I could never become a complete puppet."
After saying that, Sasori lowered his head and fell silent.
Deidara looked at the dead Sasori, then at Itachi lying on the ground, and said sadly, "This mission was truly crude and unsatisfactory."
A moment later, he sat on the back of his clay bird, looked at the sky, and muttered, "Return to Iwagakure..."
Then he shook his head. "Forget it. Being with a bunch of idiots who don't understand art is no way to find ultimate art. In comparison, Sister Konan understands art better than I do, hmm."
"I'll find her to team up with after I go back, hmm."
"Sorry, you can't go back then." A voice suddenly sounded all around, startling Deidara and making him break out in a cold sweat.
"Who?" Deidara's hair stood on end, and he quickly urged his clay bird to fly.
But at this moment, a melodious tune played, making his heart waver, freezing him in mid-air. Then, in his terrified sight, a kunai was thrust directly towards his heart.
"Sasori, I didn't expect to find you so soon."
...
When Kakashi and the others arrived, the battle was completely over. Three people lay scattered on the scorched earth, Itachi and the other two.
"Hey, Neji, are these guys... from the Akatsuki organization?" Shikamaru's forehead was covered in cold sweat, feeling like he had gotten into trouble again.
"Mmm, Itachi's identity was exposed, and he was pursued by these two." Neji replied indifferently, his eyes grim.
Pursued?
How is that possible?
Before Neji and Tsunade decided to reveal Danzo's crimes, they naturally considered Itachi's predicament and had already arranged for Mitokado Homura to negotiate with Itachi.
They had a secret communication channel. The moment Itachi received the news, he should have rushed back immediately. Even if the Akatsuki sent people to pursue him, they wouldn't have caught up.
The only possibility was that something went wrong with Mitokado Homura.
Damn it, a Kage-level fighter was lost for nothing.
"Huh, that's not right, he's not dead yet. There's still a faint fluctuation of Chakra." Neji's eyes lit up with joy as he looked at Itachi. A green ball of chakra swirled in his palm and flew into Itachi's body.
Gradually, Itachi's injuries began to improve.
Neji let out a sigh of relief, looked at Sasori and then at Deidara, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
When he arrived, Itachi had already pierced Sasori's "core of regeneration" and fallen to the ground, so he couldn't save Itachi.
Later, a conversation between Sasori and Deidara touched him, and he thought perhaps he should give Deidara a chance, but the guy insisted on returning to the Akatsuki.
But Neji still didn't intervene. The Akatsuki organization it is. Neji would have to go there himself not long from now anyway. Then what did he hear?
Deidara wanted to team up with Konan, so Neji, with good neighborly intentions, sent Deidara to join his Master Sasori in an instant.
You wanted to team up with Konan? Better go find your Master Sasori then.
(Deidara: You're kidding me, it was for this?)
"Deidara and Sasori are dead, and Itachi has returned to the village, meaning the Akatsuki's strength has taken a big hit, while Konoha is on the rise," Sakura whispered, her eyes gradually gaining a hint of brilliance.
Yes, Konoha no longer feared the Akatsuki.
With Neji stationed here, and Naruto having become the perfect Jinchuriki, plus Jiraiya-sama and Tsunade-sama, and the returned Itachi... these individuals alone were already on par with the Akatsuki.
The young prodigies, including Kakashi, had the same thought. Neji shook his head; the Akatsuki was just a prelude. The real disaster for the ninja world was yet to come.
"Strange, I'm sure I killed Kabuto, so why do I still have a sense of impending danger?" Neji muttered, a hint of solemnity in his gaze.
"Cough... cough..."
At this moment, Itachi groggily woke up. Sensing over a dozen Chakras instantly, he immediately assumed a defensive posture. Only when he saw Neji and the others did he relax.
"What happened to me?" Itachi asked.
"Weak constitution, overuse of Mangekyo, severe injuries, exhaustion, Chakra shortage..." Neji said lightly.
"Weak constitution..." someone whispered.
Itachi calmly acknowledged. He suddenly noticed that their gazes felt strange, as if he had lost something most important.
Itachi felt he should explain. So he said, "I'm sick, and it hasn't been cured."
"Oh..." Everyone suddenly understood and nodded in agreement.
Itachi: "??? I feel like I've dug myself a deeper hole."
Neji walked unhesitatingly to the four girls and poked each of their heads with a finger, giving them a bump, causing the four girls to look at him resentfully.
It's not just us, why don't you hit the boys? the four girls thought.
If Neji knew, he would righteously say: Because this way, I can get rewards.
---
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