"Uchiha Kisame, why would you do this?"
Guy remained on guard, but couldn't help asking the question, confusion written all over his face.
After a few seconds of silence, Itachi finally spoke in a low voice. "I'm Uchiha Itachi."
As for why he intervened he'd already noticed that the ANBU had surrounded the area. If the fighting continued, things would only spiral further out of control. More importantly, if he didn't step in, Asuma and Kurenai might die.
The biggest reason, however, was that Akatsuki's intel had already been thoroughly exposed. With Danzō imprisoned and Konoha's internal surveillance compromised, his position in the organization no longer held much strategic value.
Asuma and Kurenai exchanged a glance. They understood now it was Itachi. He was the one the Hokage had planted as a spy within Akatsuki.
"Thank you," Asuma said, lighting a cigarette. He looked at Itachi and asked, "So what now? You've made your move. There's no going back, is there?"
"First, we need to get Kakashi-senpai and Sasuke treated... The Third Hokage has already arrived."
Guy helped Kakashi to his feet and hoisted Sasuke onto his back. Realization suddenly dawned on him, and he exclaimed, "So you're not a rogue ninja after all!"
The Hokage had indeed arrived, having rushed over the moment he received the report. Seeing Kisame incapacitated, he gestured for most of the ANBU to withdraw, leaving only a few elites to restrain Kisame and seal his chakra.
Having taken in the entire scene, the Third Hokage saw it for what it was Itachi was no traitor, but a loyal protector of the village. Few accomplishments were more significant than saving the Hokage.
As for Asuma… he'd nearly caused a catastrophe on Konoha's home turf. Clearly not top-tier material. But that was his limit. If the Sarutobi clan had any hope for the future, it lay with Konohamaru.
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked over, pipe in hand, his expression complicated. "Take Kakashi and Sasuke to get treatment. And keep all of this confidential for now. Itachi, come with me."
Back at the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen pulled two sodas from the fridge and handed one to Itachi.
Itachi took a moment to observe the office, which looked quite different from how he remembered it. Soda, snacks, manga magazines strewn among the piles of paperwork.
He'd once assumed the junk food and comics were for the Hokage's grandson.
Now… he wasn't so sure.
He glanced at Hiruzen, who was already sipping soda like it was the most natural thing in the world. The Third Hokage had changed so much, Itachi could barely recognize him.
Perhaps the younger appearance was the result of some secret technique. That wouldn't surprise Itachi. Having lived among Akatsuki's elite, he had seen stranger things. He wasn't particularly curious about the Hokage's lack of aging.
What worried him more was the change in mindset.
"Itachi, now that things have reached this point, what do you plan to do next?" Hiruzen asked.
After a pause, Itachi replied, "Given my current position, returning to Konoha isn't an option. And I can no longer face Sasuke as the person I once was."
Hiruzen nodded knowingly. "Then continue serving as a shinobi. We've got a lot of plans in motion. With all the reforms underway, Konoha is giving up a significant portion of its mission income. The budget's tight. The daimyo and the clans' donations can only go so far."
Itachi nodded and listened quietly.
"There's a client with an urgent request. But the mission is extremely difficult challenging even for you. However, the reward is massive. Completing it could earn us ten times what we receive from the daimyo."
That wasn't exaggeration. The Whitebeard Pirates controlled a vast territory more like a feudal state under a different world government than a typical pirate crew.
"…" Itachi was genuinely surprised. Could there really be such a wealthy client in the ninja world?
"It's a client from another world," Hiruzen explained. "That world is far larger than ours. The people there are incredibly powerful."
Of course, by the standards of the later Kizaru and Fujitora era, it wouldn't seem like much. But in today's Shinobi World, their power was still overwhelming.
"Even with your Mangekyō Sharingan, I doubt you could take on their top fighters head-on..."
If it were Edo Tensei Itachi, perhaps. Hiruzen couldn't help but think a little grimly.
Clearly stunned, Itachi finally asked, "Will I need to face their strongest directly?"
"Most likely," Hiruzen answered, puffing on his pipe. "The client is a pirate. He's already been captured. He gave us two options for completing the mission."
"Pirate?" Itachi frowned. He couldn't quite match the word 'pirate' with the idea of a wealthy employer.
"Their world operates differently. And not all pirates are what you imagine. This one, at least, isn't like Ace. Think of it more like... a powerful shinobi clan from the Warring States era. Hmm... no, not quite. Let me explain in detail later and compile a full dossier."
Hiruzen began laying out the background of the One Piece world.
Then he explained what the client Ace wanted.
First, to change the Whitebeard Pirates' decision to rescue him. That, most likely, would be impossible.
Second, if the first could not be accomplished, to at least prevent Whitebeard's death.
It was at this moment that Itachi truly grasped the vastness of the universe and the boundless nature of time and space. Though raised with the mindset of a Hokage, even he was shaken. He sighed and said, "The world is so much bigger than I ever imagined. I was just a frog at the bottom of a well."
"Don't sell yourself short," Hiruzen encouraged him. "You are one of Konoha's finest. My top undercover agent! The future of the village rests on your shoulders. When you return, there's still so much more you'll be responsible for. In my eyes, you're a strong contender for the next Hokage."
"Hokage-sama, you flatter me. I am but a criminal."
"A real man doesn't wallow in self-pity!" Hiruzen bellowed. "Now that the village is back on track, the Uchiha clan could be rebuilt. That's your path forward!"
Itachi was completely thrown off. The Third Hokage he remembered could never have said something like that.
"Hmph. Not just the Uchiha. Tomorrow, I'm meeting with the Hyuga clan. That damned Caged Bird Seal has to go!"
The seal had already started hindering the loyalty of Hyuga elites. If they only served the clan and not the Hokage, wasn't that potential rebellion?
"You've really changed, Hokage-sama," Itachi said, a trace of amazement in his voice.
"Of course I have. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have immediately locked up that fallen shinobi Danzō! If I'd had this resolve back then, he never could've deceived me."
Hiruzen exhaled a cloud of smoke before continuing. "Now, I've made up my mind. For the sake of Konoha, I won't spare anyone be they my old comrades, my students, or even my own family if they threaten this village."
The more righteous and resolute the Hokage became, the more Itachi felt a strange bitterness in his chest… If this version of Hiruzen had existed back then, he would never have been forced to choose between loyalty and love, never manipulated by Danzō and "Madara."
But there was no way to say that now.
He simply replied, "Hokage-sama truly spares no effort for Konoha."
Spoken like a true loyal shinobi. The words were clean and dignified.
Hiruzen tapped out the ashes from his pipe, the embers still glowing faintly. "This mission is critical, Itachi. I'm counting on you."
Itachi nodded. "When do I leave?"
"In three days. I'll get you all the background on their world tomorrow."
As Itachi turned to leave, he asked one final question. "And Kisame?"
"Don't worry. He's in a cell right next to Orochimaru's. I had the sealing team create a special ward for him."
As he left, Hiruzen made one last promise: Sasuke would receive the best training Konoha could offer. The Ryuchi Cave Sage Techniques were his to inherit. If Orochimaru refused to repent, he'd give Sasuke the Saru clan's summoning scroll instead.
Mist Rogue Ninja Kisame Captured; Notorious Uchiha Itachi Still at Large
Shimura Danzō flipped through the newspaper and let out a cold snort.
So Hiruzen had started purging the stains of his reign first himself, then Orochimaru, and now Uchiha Itachi.
Always the same. Weak in resolve, soft at heart, incapable of doing what needed to be done. If Danzō were Hokage, he would've handed out a cup of poisoned sake long ago.
Sensei Tobirama… you truly chose poorly.