Chapter 162 – Konan's Smile
"So you've grown, Sasuke…" Itachi thought silently, watching his younger brother with calm, unblinking eyes.
"Is this the shape of your hatred toward me? Foolish… my poor little brother."
His voice was icy as he grabbed Sasuke's arm and hurled him backward with effortless strength.
Naruto watched in shock as Sasuke slammed into the wall. The sight of his friend being crushed filled him with rage, and the Nine-Tails' chakra began to surge violently from within him.
But before it could explode, Hoshigaki Kisame unsheathed Samehada, the blade humming as it greedily devoured Naruto's chakra.
Even so, Kisame didn't harm him. Yusuke's warning still echoed in his mind.
Itachi could do whatever he pleased—Sasuke was his brother, and Yusuke wouldn't intervene in that bond.
But if Kisame dared to lay a hand on Konoha's Jinchūriki—especially the host of the Nine-Tails—then even he wouldn't escape death.
Just then, Jiraiya appeared behind Naruto.
Itachi recognized him immediately—one of the Legendary Sannin. But unlike before, there was no trace of fear in his gaze.
His body had recovered completely. Thanks to the power Yusuke had restored within him and the strength of his Mangekyō Sharingan, Itachi now stood at the absolute peak of his life.
Aside from the Hatake brothers, he feared no one—not even Jiraiya.
He stepped forward toward Sasuke, who was barely managing to stand. The battle quickly became one-sided.
Sasuke was overwhelmed. Itachi pinned him against the wall, eyes swirling with his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Then—Tsukuyomi.
The crimson world of illusion shattered Sasuke's consciousness instantly. His eyes rolled back, and he fell unconscious to the floor.
Jiraiya's expression hardened. He clapped his hands together. "Summoning Jutsu: Giant Toad's Stomach!"
The corridor around them warped, transforming into pulsating flesh that squeezed tighter by the second.
Kisame reacted quickly, slicing through the living walls with Samehada to open a path for escape.
"Let's go, Kisame. Kakashi's on his way here," Itachi ordered.
"Storm Release: Gale Kick!"
A slash of compressed blue wind tore through the stomach walls, creating a gap wide enough for them to escape.
Within moments, both figures vanished into the night, leaving Jiraiya behind.
"Where to now, Itachi-san?" Kisame asked as they dashed through the forest.
"We leave Konoha. Don't touch the Nine-Tails. We'll report directly to the Leader," Itachi replied.
Kisame exhaled heavily. "What a terrifying organization we're in…"
But before they could get far, a familiar voice interrupted.
"You really enjoy causing trouble, don't you, Itachi?"
Yusuke stood before them, hands in his pockets, expression calm yet sharp.
"My apologies, Yusuke-nii," Itachi said softly.
Yusuke waved it off. "Forget it. It's not that big of a deal. Heading back already?"
"Yes," Itachi nodded.
"In that case," Yusuke said, smiling faintly, "give my regards to Konan, Nagato, and Yahiko."
"Huh?" Kisame blinked, confused.
He didn't know Yahiko or Nagato, but the name Konan struck him immediately—the Angel of Akatsuki, partner of their leader.
Yusuke chuckled lightly. "Or rather—just tell your Leader I said hello."
"You… know our Leader?" Itachi asked, visibly surprised.
For him, Akatsuki's Leader was shrouded in secrecy. Almost no one outside the organization even knew his name.
"Of course," Yusuke said casually. "You could say we're old friends."
Kisame didn't even react. Somehow, he wasn't surprised. Everything about Hatake Yusuke felt detached from the norms of shinobi. He didn't radiate loyalty to any village—he moved like someone above all that.
"Here," Yusuke said, pulling something from his cloak—a small pack of colorful sweets.
"These are better than dango. Specialty from Kumogakure. My favorite flavor. Give some to Konan too—she likes sweet things. And share with the others. Building good relationships matters, you know?"
Itachi accepted it wordlessly. "Understood. Thank you, Yusuke-nii."
"And one more thing," Yusuke added, his tone turning cold. "Tell the masked man pretending to be Uchiha Madara—Naruto is my nephew. If he lays a finger on him, I'll kill him."
Before either of them could reply, Yusuke vanished into thin air.
Kisame stared into the empty space. "Hatake Yusuke… what a strange man."
Itachi smiled faintly. "He's always seen things differently from others. That's what makes him special."
"So you're close to him, huh?" Kisame asked.
"He's… half my teacher. I learned a lot from him," Itachi admitted.
— — —
Days later, Sasuke made his decision.
He chose to follow Orochimaru.
He wanted power—at any cost. Though he knew Kakashi was far stronger, Sasuke couldn't walk the same path. Orochimaru could give him what he desired quickly.
— — —
"The reason I've gathered you all today," Tsunade announced, her tone grave, "is because Uchiha Sasuke has defected. A retrieval team will be led by Nara Shikamaru. Understood?"
Her words sent a heavy silence through the room.
Soon after, the team was assembled: Uzumaki Naruto, Inuzuka Kiba, Hyūga Neji, and Akimichi Chōji—all ready to chase after their missing comrade.
— — —
Meanwhile, far away at the Akatsuki hideout—
"Itachi. Kisame. You've returned," a deep, commanding voice echoed.
From the shadows emerged a tall man with piercings adorning his face and the eyes of a god—the Rinnegan. Behind him stood a blue-haired woman, calm and ethereal, a paper flower resting above her ear.
"Mission failed," Itachi reported calmly.
"Oh?" Nagato—known to the world as Pain—tilted his head slightly. "Even you two can fail?"
He wasn't mocking. He knew the strength of the pair before him—the unshakable Uchiha Itachi and the Monster without a Tail, Hoshigaki Kisame. Failure was… unexpected.
"Very well," Pain said at last. "We'll set the Nine-Tails aside for now. I'll handle it myself later. You may leave."
"Leader," Itachi said suddenly, "Yusuke-nii asked me to send his regards to you and Konan."
Konan froze.
The moment that name left his lips, something within her shifted. Her eyes widened slightly—an emotion flickered across her calm face.
"…I see," Nagato murmured, his tone heavier now.
For a brief moment, the godlike calm in his voice faltered.
Itachi reached into his cloak. "He also asked me to give you this. He said you like sweets."
Konan took the small package with trembling hands. Her heart, long frozen by grief and bloodshed, stirred faintly.
She stared at the sweets for a long time—lost in thought.
Nagato said nothing. He simply watched her in silence. For the first time in years, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. But when the memory of Yahiko's death surfaced, it vanished.
"You may go," he said finally.
Itachi bowed lightly and turned away, Kisame following.
As their footsteps faded, Nagato spoke again—his voice low. "He's resurfaced."
"Yes…" Konan whispered.
"Konan," Nagato said, his tone hardening. "If one day he stands against us… I'll kill him myself."
Konan didn't respond.
She merely looked down at the package in her hands… and smiled. A faint, fragile smile—the first since Yahiko's death.
If Nagato had seen it, he would've been stunned. Konan hadn't smiled in years.
Ever since Yahiko's death, Nagato had changed. Power became his only pursuit, and Konan followed him into that cold void.
But now, with this simple gift—a small pack of sweets—her heart thawed, if only a little.
Nagato's threat didn't even faze her. Deep down, she knew one thing with absolute certainty:
No one in this world could defeat Hatake Yusuke.
Not even Nagato—no matter how divine his Rinnegan appeared.
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