Chapter 221: Mother, Who Is He?
Otogakure.
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Uchiha Itachi, having changed his clothes, walked down the street.
For a Ninja with the Mangekyo Sharingan, infiltrating any place is an easy task; all it takes is a single glance.
Orochimaru himself didn't care much about Otogakure, so he hadn't set up a sensory barrier like the one in Konoha.
Kisame Hoshigaki did not follow.
Using backup as an excuse, Uchiha Itachi had him wait outside the village.
If it were any other member of the Akatsuki Organization, they naturally wouldn't have been so obedient.
But Kisame Hoshigaki was a relatively traditional Ninja.
The type who would form hand signs exactly by the book.
Uchiha Itachi looked around expressionlessly.
He had never been to Otogakure before.
He walked around; it wasn't terrible, nor was it prosperous—it was just average.
Uchiha Itachi sniffed slightly and stopped in his tracks.
He smelled a familiar aroma.
Three-Color Dumplings.
The taste of Konoha.
And from what he knew, it wasn't a knockoff, but the authentic version.
Uchiha Itachi was somewhat puzzled.
Konoha Village and Otogakure had an irreconcilable grudge, so how could a branch store have opened here?
Following the scent, he arrived in front of a shop.
His deep and calm eyes flickered with a faint ripple of emotion.
Yakushi Kabuto.
He remembered him as Orochimaru's subordinate.
With that thought, Uchiha Itachi slowly stepped into the shop.
"Uncle Kabuto, help me get a bottle of sugar!"
Uchiha Ki reached out his small hand and waved it continuously.
But Yakushi Kabuto ignored him.
His eyes were fixed intently on the newly arrived Uchiha Itachi.
At the same time, he thought to himself that things were looking bad.
He never expected to run into him.
Recalling this man's terrifying strength, his right hand subconsciously clenched.
Uchiha Haru noticed his behavior and couldn't help but be taken aback.
She turned her head to look at Uchiha Itachi, feeling a sense of familiarity.
But she quickly looked away and smiled, "Uncle Kabuto, Ki wants some sugar. Go to the kitchen and get a bottle for him."
"Big Sister, let..."
Just as Uchiha Ki was about to say he could just ask the owner to bring it out, a Three-Color Dumpling was stuffed into his mouth.
Forget it, whatever, just eat first.
He was completely unaware that anything was wrong.
Looking at Uchiha Haru's smile, Yakushi Kabutowas instantly reminded of Orochimaru.
"I'll go get it."
He stood up and walked slowly to the kitchen.
Cold sweat covered his forehead.
But fortunately, Uchiha Itachi showed no reaction.
He hurriedly called out the hidden Otogakureguards and whispered, "Go inform Orochimaru. Tell him the eldest young lady is in danger."
Everyone knew that the most important person in Otogakure now wasn't Orochimaru, but Uchiha Haru.
Offending Orochimaru might result in death.
But offending Uchiha Haru, death was only the beginning.
The guard was startled; seeing that his expression didn't seem like a joke, he immediately took off running.
Yakushi Kabuto then turned back to his seat.
These two precious children absolutely must not come to any harm.
"Uncle Kabuto, have a glass of water."
Uchiha Haru picked up a teacup, handed it to him, and said, "There's no need to be nervous. This is Otogakure."
Yakushi Kabuto couldn't help but be stunned.
But then he gave a bitter smile.
You don't know how terrifying Uchiha Itachi is.
However... Yakushi Kabuto took a sip, his eyes drifting toward Uchiha Itachi, who seemed somewhat dazed.
Has he guessed something?
It makes sense.
As Orochimaru's most trusted subordinate, why would he be so idle as to accompany two children to eat Three-Color Dumplings?
Combined with their ages, with Uchiha Itachi's intelligence, it was only normal that he could guess.
Thinking of this, Yakushi Kabuto actually felt relieved.
Even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs.
If Uchiha Itachi really wanted to kill someone, how could the few of them still be sitting here eating?
He reached out and patted Uchiha Haru, smiling, "You really are like Lord Orochimaru."
Although he had known of her intelligence before, true ability shows in moments of crisis.
Uchiha Haru could be said to have inherited the talent of her parents.
As for her younger brother, he was more like a normal person.
"I'm her daughter, so of course I look like her!"
Although Uchiha Haru didn't know why Yakushi Kabuto suddenly relaxed, it was undoubtedly a good thing.
Her tone became much more cheerful.
Uchiha Itachi's body shuddered.
With his strength, eavesdropping on their conversation was effortless.
At this moment, only one word echoed in his mind.
Daughter.
Uchiha Itachi experienced a mental turmoil comparable to the Clan Massacre Night.
If it was pain back then, now it was complexity.
He reached out and pressed his hand against his eyes, momentarily unsure of what to do.
Although he had anticipated it, seeing it with his own eyes made the emotion feel exceptionally different.
"Uncle Kabuto, everything's okay now, right?"
For some reason, Uchiha Haru felt a bit uneasy.
"It's fine."
Yakushi Kabuto smiled and shook his head.
He thought to himself that she was just a child after all, eventually losing her composure and appearing restless.
However, in the next moment, his smile froze.
He saw Uchiha Haru jump off her stool, run over to Uchiha Itachi, and hand him a skewer of Three-Color Dumplings.
"Here. Brother Naruto said that Three-Color Dumplings are very sweet, and things won't be bitter after eating them."
Yakushi Kabuto was so startled that he immediately stood up, wanting to step forward.
Oh, my little ancestor!
Doing this will get people killed!
Uchiha Itachi's cold expression flickered slightly. He looked at Uchiha Haru and asked, "Why give this to me?"
"Because I think you look very sad."
Uchiha Haru tilted her small head and gave a brilliant smile.
"I saw Uncle Kabuto was very nervous, so you probably have some grudge against him. But, my mother is very strong, and Uncle Sasuke and Brother Naruto are also very strong, so you'd better leave now."
Uchiha Itachi closed his eyes for two seconds, then opened them again and asked, "Since you've guessed that I have a grudge against him, why are you advising me to leave?"
"Blades have no mercy; if a fight breaks out, someone will get hurt."
Uchiha Haru took a step forward, pried open his right hand, gave him the Three-Color Dumplings, and said, "Besides, Brother Naruto specifically got this shop from Konoha for me. I don't want it to be destroyed. Is that okay?"
Looking into her pure and flawless eyes, Uchiha Itachi suddenly felt all his hidden pain surge up at once.
He forced a smile and said, "I promise you."
Uchiha Haru was slightly puzzled.
She felt that this person was a bit strange.
She turned and went back to her seat.
Yakushi Kabuto wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
That was so damn intense!
If something had happened just now, the world would have probably turned upside down.
He sat back down, only to see Uchiha Haru make a funny face.
"..."
Yakushi Kabuto immediately had a premonition that his future might be a bit difficult.
This little girl's personality is truly something else.
A sudden gust of wind blew.
Orochimaru appeared directly in front of Uchiha Haru.
"Are you all right?"
Yet his eyes were fixed on Uchiha Itachi.
"I'm fine."
Seeing him, Uchiha Haru immediately felt she had someone to rely on. She could now ask the question she was hesitant to ask earlier: "Mother, who is he?"
"Nothing, just a Ninja I have a history with."
Orochimaru stroked her hair and said, "Kabuto, take the two of them back."
"Yes, sir."
Yakushi Kabuto immediately stood up and replied.
Uchiha Ki swallowed the last dumpling and obediently asked nothing.
Only Uchiha Haru gave a huff, puffing out her cheeks to show she was unhappy.
Orochimaru poked her cheek and said, "Next time, I'll take you to Konoha to play."
"You said it! Don't go back on your word!"
Uchiha Haru cheered and followed Yakushi Kabutoaway obediently.
She often heard Sasuke and Naruto talk about Konoha, so she longed to go.
But Orochimaru had never agreed.
"Now, back to business."
Orochimaru's face immediately turned gloomy. He licked the corner of his mouth and said, "Breaking into Otogakure all by yourself—how should I put it? As expected of an Uchiha? Or do you simply not care about Otogakure at all?"
Uchiha Itachi put away the Three-Color Dumplingsand said calmly, "I just came to see my foolish younger brother."
"Unfortunately, he is already the vessel I have set my sights on."
Naturally, Orochimaru couldn't have done nothing over the past two years.
He had even formulated strategies involving Naruto.
His improved Edo Tensei gave him too many possibilities.
To be more precise, he was already prepared to give it a try.
It was just that Uchiha Itachi's arrival was indeed beyond his expectations.