With the mission approaching, Uchiha Kei returned home step by step after leaving Hagoromo Gengetsu's office.
The door creaked open.
"Why are you so late? Uchiha Kei! You've got some nerve..." His pregnant wife started scolding him the moment he stepped in.
But then, noticing his expression, she paused, realizing something was up. She quickly swallowed her words.
She took the fish he was holding, her gaze complex but ultimately resolute. "I'll make dinner. You should rest."
As his closest companion, she knew Uchiha Kei best. His current state could only mean one thing.
While she worried, she understood his reason for living up to now and wouldn't try to stop him. All she could do was silently support him.
The sound of frying filled the kitchen.
Normally, Uchiha Kei would insist on cooking for his wife. But now, he pulled out a whetstone and began sharpening his blade.
The sounds of frying and sharpening echoed in the warm house, initially distinct but gradually blending together.
At the same time, other Uchiha were preparing their weapons, just like Kei.
Uchiha Izumi, for instance, was silently talking to the people in an old photograph.
Lastly, Uchiha Sasuke stood silently on a rooftop, staring at the bright moon.
The same moonlit night...
"My foolish little brother..."
That man had stood before him, his face cold, saying,
"If you want to kill me, hate me! Detest me! Live in an unsightly way! Run away, keep running, just to survive. Then, one day, when you have the same eyes as me, come before me."
Crack!
Electricity crackled around Sasuke, tearing through the memories that surfaced.
He looked at the moon, his eyes cold.
"I won't live according to your plans. I've made it this far on my own."
"Uchiha Itachi! Wait for me!"
The next morning.
At the sky elevator in Lockfront Village, all the Uchiha were gathered.
Nearby, friends who had grown close to the Uchiha over the years came to see them off.
Hagoromo Anki, who arrived with Kei's wife, patted Sasuke, Izumi, and Kei on the shoulder. Understanding the significance of this mission, he simply said:
"Good luck!"
The three nodded.
Before they could say more, Hagoromo Gengetsu arrived, and silence fell over the area.
"Let's move."
Without further ado, Hagoromo Gengetsu waved and set off.
He would be joining them, not only to provide support but also to check something at Naka Shrine.
Seeing him take the lead, all the Uchiha followed without hesitation.
They didn't question whether Itachi would be at Naka Shrine. If Hagoromo Gengetsu said so, there was no need to doubt.
The vengeful spirits of the Uchiha began their journey.
As the target of their vengeance, Uchiha Itachi sat by a cliff, occasionally glancing at the ongoing battle between Kisame and the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Roshi.
"Lava Style: Scorching Stream Rock Technique!"
"Water Style: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Knowing the outcome, Itachi turned away, gazing at the distant horizon.
He had a premonition of what was to come, his eyes deep and contemplative.
Finally, today, at this moment, feeling the movement on the other end of his summoning contract, Itachi closed his eyes and sighed softly:
"They're here."
Poof!
A puff of white smoke appeared beside him.
As the smoke cleared, a large orange tabby cat, half human-sized and adorned with a gold abacus and shiny new rings, appeared.
"Meow Mail Service is here for you. Here's a letter for Uchiha Itachi. Meow~" The tabby said, handing over a letter.
Influenced by Shisui, Itachi's usual summons were crows. However, the Uchiha had long maintained good relations with the Ninja Cat clan, who served as their weapon and intelligence merchants.
Though Itachi hadn't summoned them often, he had signed a summoning contract with them as a child, just like other Uchiha.
This time, it was the Ninja Cats who reached out.
Itachi had an inkling of who the sender was.
Opening the letter, he found a simple message.
"Naka Shrine, to settle everything!"
The signature was "Uchiha."
"Sasuke, and the others?"
Burning the letter to ashes, Itachi murmured calmly.
He would leave soon.
Not just because of Hagoromo Gengetsu's influence, which left no room for refusal.
His days were truly numbered.
After his battle with Hagoromo Gengetsu, his health had deteriorated significantly.
Even without the letter, he would have sought a chance to confront Sasuke.
Ultimately, he intended to pass his Mangekyōu Sharingan to Sasuke.
As for Sasuke's resentment towards Konoha, without Shisui's Mangekyōu Sharingan, he was powerless to address it.
In his final moments, faced with the choice between Sasuke and the village, Itachi chose Sasuke.
"Meow~ Thanks for your patronage. The delivery fee is 200,000 ryo."
The tabby cat, still present, extended a paw and smiled, seeking payment.
With a calm expression, Itachi handed over the money.
"Thank you~ Please come again. Meow~~"
The cat, delighted, waved goodbye before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Five minutes later.
Kisame approached, tossing the unconscious Roshi to the ground, grinning: "That old man was tough, but we got him. Itachi, let's notify the leader."
"No," Itachi said, rising. "I need to go somewhere. Kisame, you handle the Four-Tails Jinchuriki."
"Somewhere? Is it important?"
Itachi looked up, feeling the rain pour down.
Letting the rain wash over him, he remained calm:
"Yes, very important."