Some questions sound simple—until they start cutting into the truth.
The sun blazed overhead.
Rumble—
The earth trembled.
Dust billowed into the air as a massive gray serpent slithered across mountains and barren plains, heading west through desolate lands rarely touched by human presence.
Its eyes gleamed with ferocity.
Its gaping jaws hissed, a crimson tongue flicking in and out—
sending all nearby creatures fleeing in terror.
Orochimaru stood atop the serpent's head, arms folded, quietly admiring the passing scenery.
At last—
free from the damp, suffocating air of Amegakure.
Fresh air.
Normal air.
On the right side of the serpent's head stood Itachi.
His expression was calm.
The pain on his face had faded with time—
though not completely.
As his thoughts wandered, he glanced back at Kamizuki Gen, seated behind them.
Thinking.
This trip—
was Gen's idea.
He had personally invited both of them.
Orochimaru had wanted to leave Amegakure anyway.
He knew the purpose of this trip—
and frankly, it didn't require such a lineup.
He could have sent subordinates.
As for Itachi—
he wanted to observe Gen and Orochimaru up close.
So he agreed.
Thus—
the plastic brotherhood.
Akatsuki's Konoha trio.
Assembled.
Three figures in black cloaks with red clouds stood atop the serpent in a loose triangular formation.
"Itachi, I have a question."
Gen sat cross-legged on the cold scales, holding a book in one hand and a pen in the other.
He suddenly looked up—
toward Itachi.
"…Go ahead."
Itachi nodded.
But inwardly—
his heart skipped.
Gen tapped his chin with the pen, curiosity clear in his tone.
"Shisui's Kotoamatsukami… and your Mangekyō Sharingan—"
"Can they be used on someone like me?"
"A blind person?"
Itachi's expression shifted slightly.
"How do you know about Shisui's ability?"
Kotoamatsukami—
was a closely guarded secret.
Gen replied casually,
"I learned it from Danzō."
"Oh, and before Shisui jumped into the river, his right eye was taken by Danzō."
A convenient scapegoat.
Always useful.
"…I suspected as much."
A trace of sorrow flickered in Itachi's eyes.
He didn't want to dwell on it.
Gen sighed.
"Fortunately, the night I defected, I took that eye back from Danzō."
"Otherwise—what a waste."
"…What?"
Itachi's gaze sharpened.
He turned abruptly toward Gen.
Even Orochimaru showed interest now.
Gen feigned unease.
"Itachi… you wouldn't secretly attack me for your friend's eye, would you?"
Itachi calmed himself.
"No."
"Better it serve someone who can use it… than be defiled by Danzō."
"If Shisui knew—he would be glad."
Gen nodded solemnly.
"Good to hear."
"Oh, right—Itachi."
"…Yes?"
Gen continued,
"Besides Shisui's eye, that night Root operatives were collecting Uchiha eyes."
"I couldn't stand it."
"So I stopped them."
"That means… I currently have quite a few of your clan's eyes."
"If they knew those eyes could help me see again…"
"They'd be happy too, right?"
Itachi's pupils dilated.
Then—
he closed his eyes.
Suppressed everything.
And nodded.
So that's why—
so many Sharingan had gone missing.
He remembered.
Silently.
Another reason—
added to the list.
A future reason—
to kill Kamizuki Gen.
He would not allow Shisui's eye—
to be used against Konoha.
Seeing him endure all this—
Gen couldn't help but admire him.
A true genius.
Born to be a ninja.
So good at enduring.
He had revealed the Sharingan matter deliberately—
to avoid future complications.
Gen hated complications.
And Itachi—
was the worst kind.
Obito opposed you openly.
Itachi smiled at you—
then stabbed you later.
Gen was destined to stand against both.
After all—
he intended to rule Akatsuki.
And no—
you couldn't "redeem" someone like Itachi with kindness.
Gen returned to his earlier question.
"You still haven't answered me."
Itachi took a breath—
then spoke clearly.
"Kotoamatsukami and my genjutsu both rely on visual contact."
"If a blind person lacks eyes or visual pathways entirely—then no, they cannot be affected."
"However—"
"If they retain light perception…"
"Or use chakra-based perception—"
"Then yes."
"That still counts as 'seeing.'"
"Additionally, genjutsu isn't limited to vision."
"Touch can also transmit it."
He didn't mention Amaterasu.
That—
didn't care whether you were blind.
Gen nodded thoughtfully.
So that was it.
Back then—
when Danzō used Kotoamatsukami on him—
was it his Truth trait that nullified it?
Or—
was it simply because he was blind?
Now—
he had his answer.
If he hadn't possessed that immunity—
then through chakra perception—
Danzō could have still altered his will.
After all—
chakra sensing…
was just another form of sight.
Itachi paused—
then asked the question he had been holding back.
"…Where are we going?"
Gen smiled.
"To pick something up."
"…A Tailed Beast?"
Itachi raised a brow.
Konan had already explained the plan to him.
Gen shook his head.
"Not yet."
"The Tailed Beast operation hasn't started."
Itachi nodded—
then turned away.
No more questions.
As long as they weren't heading toward Konoha—
he didn't care.
And frankly—
he didn't want to encourage more of Gen's… strange questions.
Silence settled.
After a moment—
Gen lowered his head and began writing.
Orochimaru glanced back, smiling faintly.
"What are you writing?"
Itachi glanced once—
then looked away.
Uninterested.
"A diary," Gen replied.
"…."
Orochimaru chuckled softly and said nothing more.
A blind man—
keeping a diary.
Who was it for?
Gen turned to the first page—
and began writing in Chinese, a language only he understood:
"October 7th, light rain."
"This shinobi world is truly terrifying."
"I personally witnessed—"
"…No, that's not right."
"I sensed it firsthand…"
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