Nagato and Konan involuntarily paused slightly.
This was the first time they had heard Kyo speak so vaguely...
Although he also liked to speak in riddles in the past,
But,
He had never been like this before.
Clearly he already knew Itachi's strength very well, yet he still didn't come to a conclusion.
Just this alone,
Was enough to show...
Itachi, undertaking this mission, was very likely... not in a good position.
Thinking this,
The two fell silent.
However,
Regardless, they naturally wouldn't interfere with Kyo's plan.
He, who always made flawless calculations,
Absolutely had his own reasons for everything he did.
…
Ten minutes later.
Amegakure, on the street.
Kyo, walking alone in the rain with his umbrella, suddenly encountered a figure approaching from ahead.
It was someone also wearing the Akatsuki uniform, with black hair and red pupils.
It was Itachi.
At this moment,
His expression was as usual impassive.
Finally,
When they were three meters apart, Itachi stopped.
He gazed at Kyo with an extremely calm look, and spoke softly, expressionlessly, saying calmly:
"Kyo-senpai"
"How much do you know about the matter concerning Sasuke...?"
The very direct opening was enough to show his purpose in coming to find Kyo.
However,
Kyo did not stop, but still walked forward leisurely, and as he walked, he chuckled lightly:
"Why are you asking me about your brother's matters?"
"Shouldn't you be the one in this world who knows him best?"
As the words fell,
Itachi's gaze flickered slightly.
However, his expression remained unchanged.
Years of acting had allowed him to master perfect expression control.
He just lowered his gaze slightly, looked at Kyo, and said softly and calmly:
"You misunderstand."
"I only want to know his current location."
"To my knowledge, he was taken away by Orochimaru three years ago."
"And not long ago,"
"You had dealings with Orochimaru again."
"Logically, you should have heard something about him."
"Please tell me."
Itachi as always got straight to the point, speaking very directly.
Especially in front of Kyo,
Because he knew,
He was no match for Kyo in a battle of wits.
And in psychological warfare, Kyo was completely impenetrable, simply a steel plate.
Therefore,
It was easier to be direct.
Hearing this,
Kyo raised an eyebrow slightly, then smiled and shook his head, saying:
"I don't know the exact location either."
"However,"
"It's probably around the Land of Grass and Land of Hot Water area."
As he spoke,
Kyo had already walked beside Itachi, suddenly stopping, turned his head to glance at Itachi, and said with an ambiguous smile:
"Itachi-san, please don't hold back."
"Good luck to you."
Saying this,
He stepped forward again, umbrella in hand, and walked away into the distance.
And in the rain,
Itachi on this side slightly lowered his eyes and said softly:
"Thank you."
As the words fell,
He hesitated no longer, then lifted his step and walked towards the distance.
Under the heavy rain,
Two similar figures, heading in completely opposite directions, gradually moved apart.
…
The next day.
At the border of the Land of Hot Water.
On a cliff, Obito, wearing an orange mask, sat there, holding a map in his hand, examining it carefully.
Suddenly,
A Venus flytrap creature emerged from the ground.
"?"
Noticing this,
Obito immediately put down the map in his hand, fixed his gaze on it, and said in a low voice:
"How's the situation, Zetsu?"
His voice, as always, was that low.
Although he no longer acted under the identity of Madara, his habits hadn't changed much.
As if he had gotten used to it.
And at this moment,
Zetsu glanced around, then spread his perception ability outwards, and after a moment, said in surprise:
"Huh?"
"Where's Madara-sama? Why isn't he here...?"
Hearing this,
Obito expressionless, said calmly:
"He went to take care of something."
"If you have important information, tell me first."
Zetsu was silent for a moment, then looked at Obito again and said in a low voice:
"Akatsuki's Tailed Beast extraction plan has been temporarily suspended."
"All the Jinchuriki are restrained in Amegakure, all alive."
"Currently,"
"Nagato seems to have made Uchiha Itachi's younger brother 'Uchiha Sasuke' the primary target for elimination."
"Yesterday,"
"He already arranged for Uchiha Itachi to handle it personally."
"...???"
As Zetsu's series of words fell,
Obito was momentarily stunned, somewhat confused.
Huh?
What's going on?
Uchiha Sasuke???
Uchiha Itachi's younger brother...???
This guy suddenly became Akatsuki's primary target?!
Obito's heart was instantly puzzled.
He naturally couldn't not know Sasuke.
When he participated in the clan massacre, Obito knew that Itachi, after cooperating with Konoha's higher-ups, actively left one survivor.
That was his younger brother, Sasuke.
And after that,
Although Obito didn't pay constant attention to this younger brother, he occasionally received some information about him.
For example, three years ago,
He was taken away by Orochimaru, then left Konoha, whereabouts unknown.
Unexpectedly...
This guy had appeared again.
And as Akatsuki's primary target...
Without even thinking, one knew,
There must be something fishy about this.
Realizing this,
Obito looked at Black Zetsu and said calmly:
"Do you have his location?"
"I want to know where this Uchiha Sasuke is now."
"...?"
Hearing this, Zetsu was momentarily stunned and subconsciously said:
"What do you want him for?"
Obito stood up, putting away the map in his hand, and said calmly without any emotion:
"Have you heard this saying —"
"'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'."
"Since Akatsuki has now made Sasuke their primary enemy, then... maybe we have a chance to cooperate with him."
"I'd like to see what kind of existence the younger brother of the prodigy Itachi really is."
Obito said slowly, his Sharingan gaze flickering slightly.
In fact,
That saying was something he had heard from Kyo before.
He thought it made a lot of sense and remembered it.
And at this moment,
Zetsu finally understood his meaning.
Then, after thinking for a while, he said:
"Well..."
"His exact location is temporarily unknown."
"But... it should be found soon."
"Alright."
Obito nodded, thoughtfully, and said:
"Then go."
"Maybe we can recruit a new cooperative partner before Madara returns."
"...Understood."
Before the words faded,
Zetsu's body merged back into the ground and disappeared.
And a strange light appeared in Obito's eye as he muttered to himself:
"Uchiha Sasuke..."
"If nothing unexpected happens, he probably hasn't awakened the Mangekyo yet..."