Kiyosuke took a deep breath and shouted loudly,
"Is anyone going to do something about this?! One of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, is peeping at the women's bathhouse in Konoha! Where's justice in this world?!"
"..." Jiraiya froze.
A series of shrill screams followed, and then a barrage of objects came flying over the partition.
Bang!
The door to the men's bathhouse was slammed open by an old lady who stormed in, shouting furiously,
"Jiraiya, you little pervert! After all these years, you still haven't changed that filthy habit of yours! Looks like you've got a death wish!"
Seeing who it was, Jiraiya jumped up in shock.
"Old hag?! You're still working here?! Are you kidding me? Is this your house or something?!"
Back when he was young, this same old lady had caught him red-handed peeping here. Who would've thought that after decades, she was still here? She'd gone from a young lady to a granny, and somehow this bathhouse still felt like her personal territory.
The old woman gave a sinister grin.
"Looks like you really want to die, huh?!"
She stomped forward menacingly, and Jiraiya immediately leapt out of the bathhouse. On the way out, his eyes couldn't help but glance down at the open-air women's bath below—only to be met by another round of piercing screams before a wooden basin, thrown by the furious granny, smacked him right in the head and sent him crashing down.
With a painful cry, Jiraiya plummeted to the ground. Kiyosuke quickly followed to check on him.
Jiraiya climbed up, wiping the blood from his nose.
"Kiyosuke, you ...., what did you come to see the great Sage for? I'm busy gathering research material!"
"Give me a break. You're just peeping."
Kiyosuke exposed his lie without hesitation.
Jiraiya just smirked.
"Heh, calling it 'peeping' is an insult to literature. Don't underestimate me. There are plenty of fans waiting for the next volume of my novel!"
His last book had been finished a year ago, and the new one had been in "preparation" ever since—for countless "reasons." Jiraiya's writing speed could only be described as turtle-paced. Honestly, if things went on like this, maybe Naruto should just write it instead. His writing was about the same, and at least he was faster.
"Anyway," Kiyosuke said seriously, "I came to you for an important matter."
He explained his plan to launch an operation against the Akatsuki.
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow.
"You sure it's just the few of us?"
"It'll be enough," Kiyosuke replied. "After that, I'll also head to Kirigakure."
That trip to Kirigakure was to ask for Terumī Mei's help—after all, Hoshigaki Kisame would be a powerful asset, and with the Fifth Mizukage's authorization, he could join them openly.
"Alright then. When do we leave?"
"In a while. Not just yet."
It wasn't time to depart. Before that, Kiyosuke still had one more visit to make—to the Uchiha clan.
...
After parting ways with Jiraiya, Kiyosuke arrived at the Uchiha household. Today, Uchiha Fugaku wasn't at work—he was at home resting, drinking tea with Shisui. Sitting nearby, Sasuke wore a puzzled expression.
Why is Shisui still alive?
Wasn't he supposed to be dead?
Then what about Itachi's defection? Was there another reason behind it all?
What's going on here? Father seems to know something... Mother too... Am I really the only one who doesn't know anything?!
"Kiyosuke-sama, please, have a seat," said Fugaku, gesturing politely.
The three exchanged glances, each nodding silently in understanding.
Kiyosuke's face was grave as he spoke.
"Fugaku-san... I owe you an apology."
Fugaku's hand trembled slightly as he steadied his expression.
"Why do you say that?"
"Itachi... has sacrificed himself."
Clatter!
Mikoto, who had just finished pouring tea, dropped the teacup to the floor. It shattered into pieces as her face went pale.
Shisui closed his eyes, grief washing over his face.
Sasuke, however, stood frozen, unable to process the words.
Kiyosuke continued, his tone heavy.
"Years ago, when Danzō tried to seize Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, Itachi received an offer from Akatsuki. The Third Hokage and I decided to use that to our advantage. Shisui faked his death, and Itachi used that as a reason to assassinate Danzō, staging his defection from Konoha to infiltrate Akatsuki."
"All these years, Itachi has been sending intel back to the village—loyal, diligent... He was an outstanding shinobi. He could've even become Hokage someday."
"But... I didn't expect that he'd be exposed. When I arrived to back him up yesterday, all I found was this."
Kiyosuke pulled out a forehead protector from his robe.
A deep slash ran across the metal plate—mark of a missing-nin.
It was Itachi's.
"I'm sorry... I was too late. Itachi... didn't make it."
Fugaku fell to his knees, trembling as he stared at the forehead protector. His hand reached out, shaking uncontrollably, too afraid to touch it.
"No... No, no, no!!!"
Sasuke's eyes widened as he screamed in denial.
"No! Itachi's strong—he's the strongest! There's no way something happened to him! It's not true! It's not!!!"
He clutched his head, panic overwhelming him. His perfect, invincible brother... gone? Leaving behind only a forehead protector?
"You're lying! You have to be lying!!!"
Sasuke grabbed Kiyosuke by the shoulders, his Sharingan spinning wildly as blood streamed from his eyes.
"Please... tell me you're joking!!"
"I'm sorry," Kiyosuke said softly. "It was my command that led to his sacrifice. Forgive me, Sasuke. Itachi... is gone."
Regret filled Kiyosuke's face. His words shattered what little hope Sasuke had left.
Itachi... truly gone.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"
Sasuke screamed in anguish as a strange chakra burst from his body, his eyes morphing—Sharingan transforming before their eyes.
The three tomoe connected into a single pattern, forming a six-pointed star.
Kiyosuke's lips curved into a grin.
"Excellent. The plan worked."
...
"Plan?"
Sasuke blinked, confused.
He turned around—only to see his father calmly sipping tea, his mother cheerfully wiping the floor, her complexion healthy and rosy. No sign of grief remained.
Shisui scratched his head awkwardly.
"Sorry, Sasuke. That was all an act. Itachi's fine. He'll be back soon."
"You... tricked me?!"
Sasuke shot up, glaring furiously.
"Hahaha, my bad. It was for your own good."
Kiyosuke handed him a small mirror.
"Here, take a look."
Sasuke took it, only to gasp in shock at what he saw.
"This... this is the Mangekyō Sharingan?!"
"Exactly."
Fugaku and Shisui both activated their own Mangekyō, revealing the distinct patterns in their eyes. Fugaku spoke solemnly,
"Sasuke, the Mangekyō Sharingan is the evolved form of the Sharingan. It grants immense chakra and unique ocular powers—but the cost is great. Overuse leads you into darkness. That's the price of power. To awaken it, one must experience profound pain. That's why Kiyosuke-sama devised this method—to help you awaken yours."
Sasuke's lips trembled.
"So... everyone lied to me. Even you, Mother?"
"Sorry, Sasuke," Mikoto said gently. "I'll make you your favorite dinner tonight."
"So... I was the only one who didn't know Itachi's defection was fake?"
Everyone nodded.
"..."
"Then I'm leaving."