In the Land of Waves, inside Gato's mansion.
Zabuza, Itachi, and Kisame sat down.
At first, Zabuza thought Konohagakure was working with the "Revolutionary Army," but when Itachi and Kisame showed up, he realized it was just a coincidence.
Like Kisame, Zabuza didn't like him much, but he trusted the guy's character.
His words were harsh, but he never lied.
"So these people are just Konohagakure's pawns—a survivor of the Uchiha clan, a kid from the Uzumaki clan, and Hatake Kakashi."
Zabuza stared at Itachi. He was sure that Itachi had attacked earlier because of personal grudges. But now wasn't the time to talk about it—he still needed Itachi to explain the situation in Konohagakure.
"The Uzumaki brat and the Uchiha survivor can be dealt with, but why would Konohagakure's higher-ups want Kakashi gone too?"
"Kakashi is an elite Jonin, after all. Losing someone like him doesn't seem worth it."
Kisame and Zabuza both looked at Itachi, waiting for an answer.
Itachi had no choice but to speak.
He hadn't expected to run into something like this in the Land of Waves. If he hadn't shown up in time, things might have gotten even messier.
Originally, he had planned to return to Konohagakure and warn Danzo to stay away from Sasuke. But now, that warning didn't seem necessary anymore.
"If there's anyone here who absolutely cannot be sacrificed, it's Naruto. His identity is special, and he's from the Uzumaki clan."
"And Zabuza, you have a good relationship with Shanks, don't you?"
Itachi reminded him.
Zabuza's eyes darkened as something clicked in his mind.
"That's right. Even for Shanks' sake, I wouldn't kill that brat. Besides, he's got the blood of the Uzumaki clan—he's worthy of that name."
"So that means Konohagakure's higher-ups don't actually care if Kakashi lives or dies. In fact, if he dies here, it might even be good for some of them."
"The White Fang of Konohagakure… Once a hero, but in the end, the village turned on him. And he didn't die at the hands of an enemy."
"Who can say for sure that Kakashi is still loyal to Konohagakure? Or to its leaders?"
Itachi's voice was calm.
He was loyal to Konohagakure, but not to the people who ran it. He understood the darkness at the top.
That was why he carried the burden of walking through that darkness.
And that was why he was even more certain that this situation was no accident.
Zabuza had close ties with Shanks.
Naruto was a Jinchuriki, but he carried the Uzumaki name.
As long as he was here, he wouldn't be killed.
But the same couldn't be said for others.
More than that, Itachi could see the bond between Sasuke and Naruto.
As Sasuke's older brother, he was happy Sasuke had a friend like Naruto.
At least it meant Sasuke wouldn't fall into the darkness of revenge.
At least Sasuke had someone who cared about him.
But at the same time, that bond was dangerous.
The closer Sasuke and Naruto became, the more likely Sasuke would end up as a sacrifice.
Naruto's identity was too important.
Konohagakure would make sure to keep him under their control—especially Danzo.
Knowing Danzo, he probably saw Naruto as nothing more than a weapon.
And what was the best way to control a weapon?
Take away all the people he cared about, one by one.
If Sasuke, Kakashi, and Sakura all died here, Danzo would only benefit.
And Itachi wouldn't even be able to track it back to him.
After all, Danzo hadn't made a direct move against Sasuke.
Itachi's expression darkened, and a cold killing intent flashed in his eyes.
"Is it possible that Konohagakure's higher-ups don't even know what this guy is capable of?"
Kisame, who had been deep in thought, finally spoke.
Zabuza and Itachi turned to look at him, and Kisame quickly explained.
"When I first met this guy, I was really surprised. His strength isn't weak at all. Even in our revolutionar— I mean, our Akatsuki group, he'd still be pretty strong.
Taking down a Konoha elite jonin wouldn't be a problem for him."
"And if Kakuzu hadn't given us the intel, we wouldn't have even known that Zabuza was the captain of the Blade-less Pirates."
"Konoha, on the other hand…"
"Are you saying Konoha isn't even capable of placing spies in Kirigakure?"
"Ever since the Bloody Mist policy, Kirigakure has been a complete mess. Konoha is the strongest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, yet you're saying they couldn't even send a spy into Kirigakure?"
Zabuza stood up. Both he and Kisame had lived through the Bloody Mist era.
Only those from Kirigakure truly knew what had happened inside the village. It had long since fallen apart.
"Kisame, don't underestimate Konoha."
Zabuza spoke like a senior giving advice, and Kisame clenched his teeth but didn't argue.
Zabuza might not be the smartest, but he had a point.
The truth was, Danzo had indeed planted a spy in Kirigakure—a powerful one with a unique Kekkei Genkai.
But… that spy had been killed by the Fourth Mizukage.
Back then, Kirigakure had gone completely insane, killing their own people left and right.
If even their own shinobi weren't safe, how could a foreign spy survive? It was all up to luck.
So, in the end, Zabuza's reasoning was sound—but his conclusion was wrong.
Meanwhile, Kisame hadn't analyzed anything, yet his conclusion was right.
Naturally, they went with Zabuza's explanation.
The logic was correct, but the result was wrong. Whose fault was that?
Obviously, Danzo's. He was the one who let his spy die.
"Konoha's Anbu definitely has the ability to pull that off."
"Looks like we'll have to take a trip to Konoha next."
Itachi handed something to Zabuza, then got up and walked away.
Kisame followed after him.
"Zabuza, next time we meet, let's have another fight. I won't take advantage of you today."
"Next time, I'll show you my ultimate move."
Kisame grinned.
Then he hurried to catch up with Itachi.
"Itachi, aren't you going to check on your brother?"
"No need. With Zabuza's character, he'll take care of Sasuke."
"That guy has really changed. He's not the cold, lifeless person he used to be. So this is what it means to be a pirate?"
Kisame sighed. The current Zabuza was completely different from the one he used to know.
"You seem pretty interested in pirates."
Itachi's lips curled slightly, almost forming a smile.
Kisame had changed a lot since meeting Zabuza.
"Heh, well, being in our organization as revolutionaries is fun and all, but if I ever become a pirate, Itachi, you should be my captain!"
"Alright."
Itachi nodded, and the two of them walked side by side. Kisame, however, paused for a moment when he heard Itachi's words, stopping in his tracks.
"But first, we need to make a stop at Konohagakure."
Itachi's voice came from ahead, snapping Kisame out of his thoughts. He quickly followed, despite being much larger and more intimidating than Itachi. At that moment, though, he seemed more like a younger Sasuke trailing behind his older brother.
"Who are we looking for?"
"Shimura Danzo."
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