Although both wore conical hats that obscured most of their faces, Mizuki recognized them at a glance.
Kisame's features were distinctive. With the bandage-wrapped greatsword Samehada strapped to his back, if Mizuki couldn't recognize him, all those years of watching Naruto would have been for nothing.
In the first instant, he closed his eyes.
He wasn't concerned about Kisame — Samehada and all that, he wasn't afraid of it at all. So what if it absorbs chakra? Can you even touch me?
Besides, with Kisame's hand seal speed, before his jutsu could even be executed, Mizuki's teleportation switch combined with explosive tags would blast him two or three times over.
Mizuki wasn't worried about Kisame, but he didn't dare show any carelessness toward Itachi. This man's Sharingan Genjutsu was the most troublesome thing.
Ordinary Genjutsu — Mizuki would never fall for it, relying on his exceptionally strong chakra control. Genjutsu works by disrupting the enemy's internal chakra flow, thereby controlling the five senses. His superior chakra control made it impossible for those casting Genjutsu to disrupt his chakra. Ordinary Genjutsu simply couldn't affect him.
But dōjutsu-based Genjutsu was different. It bypassed chakra entirely, directly disrupting spiritual power and plunging people into illusions.
Itachi was a master of Genjutsu, and he also possessed the supposedly invincible Tsukuyomi. Mizuki had to be on guard. His soul had transmigrated here, absorbing the original Mizuki's soul and memories, making his spiritual power stronger than most. But he didn't dare gamble.
What if he got caught in Tsukuyomi and couldn't break free? Wouldn't that put him in danger?
So, upon realizing it was Itachi, he immediately closed his eyes. With Echolocation, he didn't need to rely on sight — being able to "see" his opponent's movements was enough.
Of course, this still wasn't completely safe. Itachi also had his right eye's technique, Amaterasu — whatever his eyes saw would be ignited by black flames.
Mizuki had already made up his mind to say a few words and leave. After returning to Konoha, there might be a fight. Getting injured here wouldn't be smart.
"Hm?" Beneath his conical hat, surprise flashed in Itachi's eyes.
With his intelligence, the moment Mizuki closed his eyes, he realized the other was guarding against him.
'He's wary of the Sharingan, but I haven't revealed my true face yet — my eyes are concealed by the hat. How does he know I have the Sharingan? Could he possibly know me?' Itachi was puzzled.
After graduating from the Ninja Academy, he had joined the ANBU. Except when at home, he always wore a mask and never showed his true face.
And Mizuki was just an ordinary Chūnin, a civilian at that — there was no connection between them. He shouldn't know who Itachi was.
Closing his eyes before even seeing their faces seemed odd no matter how you looked at it.
"You two seem to have come looking for me specifically. What's this about?" Mizuki asked.
Itachi and Kisame removed their conical hats and looked at him.
Kisame was displeased. "Hey, you're talking to us with your eyes closed — isn't that pretty rude!"
Mizuki, "You shark-face, I don't even know you. Why should I be polite to you?"
Kisame: "…"
His mouth opened and closed, but he was at a loss for words!
What he said made so much sense, I have no comeback.
Itachi spoke, "We're from the Akatsuki Organization. I'm Itachi Uchiha, and this is Kisame Hoshigaki. We want to invite you to join us. The Akatsuki has already obtained intelligence on your abilities. You fought Orochimaru without being defeated, and you possess a space-time ninjutsu that allows you to swap positions with people. Your strength meets our requirements, and you can become an official member."
Mizuki was surprised. How did the Akatsuki know about him? When he fought Orochimaru, were there any members present?
He thought of something and suddenly spoke loudly, "It seems you know quite a lot about me!"
The louder the sound, the farther the sound waves traveled, and the larger his echolocation range. He discovered that 60 meters away, on a tree, there was a person. A figure with a bizarre appearance, with a serrated pitcher plant growing from his neck, enveloping his head.
'It's Black and White Zetsu!'
When he fought Orochimaru earlier, Zetsu must have been hiding nearby, watching the entire battle. Zetsu observed Mizuki's abilities, then Obito informed Pain, and the Akatsuki found out.
Mizuki became vigilant. Zetsu's abilities were too special — appearing and disappearing without a trace, impossible to guard against. From now on, he had to be careful not to let more intelligence leak to this plant thing.
"Itachi Uchiha, S-Rank Missing-nin of Konoha, who massacred the entire Uchiha clan. Kisame Hoshigaki, S-Rank Missing-nin of Kirigakure, wielder of Samehada, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. For such powerful individuals to invite me is truly an honor. Unfortunately, I am a Konoha ninja, and I have no interest in betraying Konoha to join another organization."
Joining the Akatsuki offered Mizuki no benefits. Moreover, he completely disagreed with their ideology.
What nonsense about making the ninja world feel pain to promote peace — was there something wrong with their brains? And Obito's Infinite Tsukuyomi plan was nothing but self-deception. What kind of peace was illusory peace?
Mizuki's refusal didn't surprise Itachi and Kisame.
Itachi said, "As far as I know, you haven't been doing well in Konoha. The Third Hokage, for unknown reasons, doesn't favor you. First, he assigned you to be an assistant instructor at the Ninja Academy, with extremely poor treatment. Then he sent ANBU to monitor you, keeping strict watch. You've been targeted for assassination in Konoha. Half a month ago, while carrying out a mission to eliminate bandits, you were ambushed by three Root ninjas, and even your fiancée died. Is such a Konoha still worth your dedication?"
Itachi's words made Mizuki grumble internally.
What's the meaning of this? You double agent, you joined the Akatsuki for Konoha's sake too, didn't you? Since you stand on Konoha's side, why are you working so hard to persuade me to betray them?
'Could it be that he's afraid if I stay in Konoha, I'll harm it?' Thinking of this, Mizuki felt even more speechless about Itachi.
Is it necessary to be so devoted to Konoha?
He even suspected whether Itachi had been hit by Shisui's Kotoamatsukami.
Itachi continued, "This time, three Konoha ANBU died in the Land of Waves. When the Third Hokage summons you back, he will hold you accountable."
Mizuki, "Those three ANBU were killed by Orochimaru. What does it have to do with me?"
Itachi, "The ANBU died, yet you're alive. The Third will say you colluded with Orochimaru and brand you a Missing-nin. No matter how you defend yourself, it'll be useless. The ninjas and civilians in the village will agree with what the Third says. If you return to Konoha, you'll be pushed into a corner. Although with your strength, you can resist and even cause massive casualties to Konoha, they have strength in numbers — in the end, you'll die."
Mizuki raised an eyebrow.
Saying all this, aren't you just afraid that if I return to Konoha and things turn sour, I'll cause casualties?
What an Itachi — truly devoted to protecting his village.
"Alright, enough. If you want me to join the Akatsuki Organization, it's simple. Catch me, then defeat me, and I'll agree to become a member."
Mizuki chuckled. In the next moment his body disappeared, leaving only a fallen leaf in his place, drifting down toward the ground.
His actual body had appeared 50 meters away. But as soon as he appeared, he immediately disappeared again, flashing forward another 50 meters.
With continuous teleportation, in the blink of an eye, Mizuki vanished from Itachi and Kisame's field of vision.
"This… how are we supposed to catch him?" Kisame was dumbfounded.
Itachi said, "It seems his ability isn't just swapping positions with people, but also with objects. He exchanges positions with a fallen leaf 50 meters away, instantly advancing 50 meters. This ability is even more practical than the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God."
Kisame, "Itachi-san, and Angel, what should we do next?"
At this moment, Konan also emerged from the forest.
Konan said, "Since he wants to return to Konoha to die, we don't need to concern ourselves with him."
But Itachi said, "His ability can't be used infinitely — it must consume chakra. If we pursue him, we have a chance of catching up. Someone like this, if he joins our Akatsuki Organization, will greatly help the organization's future plans. Besides, Konoha already knows of his power. If the Third changes his strategy and doesn't kill him but instead values him, Konoha's strength will increase. In the future, the organization will have one more enemy to deal with. So my opinion is, if he won't agree to join, then kill him."
Kisame turned his head and looked at him with confusion.
He felt that today's Itachi was abnormal — his killing intent seemed too heavy.
Konan asked directly, "Itachi, I've sensed the killing intent from you since earlier. Do you have a grudge with this Mizuki?"
Itachi was silent for a moment, then said, "I have no grudge with him. I just hate Konoha. Any Konoha ninja, I'd be happy to kill with my own hands."
Konan, "That's good. I thought you were worried that if he returned to Konoha, he would cause destruction there, so you wanted to kill him. If that's the case, then let's pursue him. If he truly won't join the Akatsuki Organization, then kill him. Bring his body back and hand it over to Sasori. That way his abilities can still be used by the Akatsuki Organization."
After she made the decision, the three immediately used the Body Flicker Technique, pursuing in the direction Mizuki had left.
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Mizuki, using his teleportation switch, advanced 300 meters.
"This distance should be enough. They shouldn't continue pursuing, right?" He leaped across tree branches in the forest, picking up speed.
But after a short while, he heard the sound of clothes flapping in the wind behind him.
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T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
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That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)