20demayo Chapter 486 Itachi: My brother has defected?
Chapter 486 Itachi: My brother has defected?
Chapter 486 Itachi: My brother has defected?
The curtains of Ichiraku Ramen swayed gently in the night breeze, and the bells on the curtains had fallen silent.
Inside the shop, only the bubbling tonkotsu soup on the stove, the muffled sound of the uncle kneading dough by hand, and the soft sound of chopsticks hitting the rim of the bowl remained.
"Let's eat!"
Ringo Yuri clasped her hands together, her fingers interlaced, her movements swift and precise.
She picked up her chopsticks, lowered her head to the edge of the bowl, used the chopsticks to pick up a mouthful of noodles, and slurped the soup and noodles into her mouth in one gulp.
The noodles made a crisp, chewy sound when bitten, which was especially loud in the quiet little shop.
She chewed twice, her eyes widening slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in them.
"Slurp~~" She swallowed the noodles in her mouth, picked up another piece with her chopsticks, looked down at the soup clinging to the noodles, tilted her head, and the few sharp teeth at the corners of her mouth flashed under the light.
"The ramen at this shop is quite unique. The noodles are very chewy, and the tonkotsu broth has a special flavor."
The middle-aged man was forcefully slamming a lump of dough onto the cutting board when he heard the praise. He looked up, and the smile on his face creased the corners of his eyes.
He wiped his hands with his apron and said with a smile, "I'm glad the guests like it."
"This pork bone broth is our family's secret recipe. It's been simmering since last night, and the marrow from the bones has all dissolved into the broth. The noodles are also freshly kneaded, fermented, and cut every morning."
Itachi sat to the side, picked up his chopsticks with both hands, and gently tapped the tips of the chopsticks on the rim of the bowl to align the two chopsticks.
He looked at the untouched char siu and half a soft-boiled egg in the bowl, his lips moved slightly, the sound so soft that only he could hear it.
"I'm starting to eat."
He picked up a mouthful of noodles and put it in his mouth.
The moment his tongue touched the soup, he slowed his chewing by half a beat.
Something ancient was reawakened by this soup.
He swallowed, then picked up another chopstick, his movements still slow and careful.
Ringo Amori took a sip of soup, put the bowl down, and wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.
She seemed to be naturally restless. She stirred the bowl with her chopsticks twice, then looked up and let the light shine across the bar onto the middle-aged man.
"Boss, how long have you been running this shop?"
He flipped the dough over and pressed it down hard, his breath causing the white towel under his nose to flutter slightly.
"I started learning to make ramen from my dad when I was six years old. Back then, the pot was taller than a person, and I had to stand on a wooden stool to reach the stove." He took a moment to wipe the sweat from his face with the towel hanging around his neck, his tone full of a sense of accomplishment steeped in memories.
"If you count it up, it's been thirty-seven years."
"Thirty-seven years?" Ringo Yuri raised an eyebrow, her chopsticks hovering in mid-air.
"No wonder, the richness of the broth and the chewiness of the noodles don't seem like skills that can be honed over several years."
He chuckled, his deep laughter causing the spoons hanging by the bar to sway slightly.
"You flatter me, sir. There's no secret to it. It's just about mastering something to perfection, to the point where you can do it with your eyes closed without making a mistake."
Itachi did not participate in their conversation.
His chopsticks moved quietly in the bowl, and he chewed each bite carefully.
The conversations around him went in one ear and out the other; he neither deliberately avoided them nor deliberately participated in them.
Ringo Yuri's bowl gradually emptied. She had finished the noodles, and there were still three pieces of char siu pork and half a soft-boiled egg in the soup. The edge of the yolk was slightly broken by chopsticks, and the pale yellow egg liquid seeped out slightly, but did not flow out completely.
While kneading the dough, he glanced into her bowl and asked curiously, "Guest, why don't you try our secret-recipe char siu? This char siu is made with local black pigs from the Land of Fire, and the sauce is our own secret recipe. Many of our regular customers come specifically for this."
Ringo Yuyu gently picked up a trembling piece of char siu with her chopsticks, waved it in front of her eyes, and said with a sly yet satisfied smile, "You wouldn't understand, boss."
"The best food should be saved for last, to be savored slowly! That's called a delicious grand finale!"
As she spoke, she put the char siu into her mouth, chewed it carefully, and immediately showed an expression of great enjoyment on her face, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons.
"Mmm—! It's fatty but not greasy, lean but not dry, and the braising flavor has completely permeated it. It's so delicious!"
Seeing the customer enjoying his meal so much, the uncle seemed to feel that his skills had received the highest recognition. His wrinkles beamed with joy, and he was even happier than if he had made money.
The way the girl with the pigtail was eating noodles so intently reminded him of Naruto.
He turned around and continued kneading the dough, seemingly applying even more pressure.
The bell on the curtain suddenly rang again.
Two men wearing Konoha Chunin vests lifted the curtain and walked in.
The one in front had medium-length hair, walked with a leisurely gait, his arm draped over his companion's shoulder, and rubbed his right shoulder blade as he walked, his expression a mix of exhaustion and annoyance.
The one behind had short hair, was rather short, walked with a somewhat shuffling gait, and had dark circles under his eyes; it was hard to tell if he was suffering from insomnia or had just worked the night shift.
The middle-aged man, as if on cue, looked up and greeted, "Welcome!"
These four words carry the same weight for every guest; they won't diminish in importance because of who you are.
The two sat down at the two seats furthest to the side of the bar.
The man with medium-length hair pulled his arm away from his companion's shoulder, plopped down on a high stool, and continued massaging his shoulder, muttering, "Boss, same old thing, a large bowl of beef ramen, plus an extra serving of char siu."
The short-haired man slumped over the bar, chin resting on his arm, and listlessly said, "I'd like a large chashu udon. And an egg, please."
"Okay, two large bowls, please wait a moment!"
He turned and fired.
The flames on the stove suddenly leaped up, licking the bottom of the iron pot.
He was quick and efficient, scooping noodles, scalding beef slices, and laying out char siu with fluid and graceful movements.
The heat filled the space above the bar again.
Ringo Ameyuri chewed the last bite of her soft-boiled egg, her eyes casually glancing at the two new Chunin.
Their vests were worn at the edges, and their headbands were loosely tied, making them look more like they were treating themselves to a meal after finishing work than on a formal mission.
She didn't pay much attention and continued drinking her soup.
The itachi standing to the side didn't turn his head either.
His chopsticks held the last piece of noodles in the bowl.
The two Chunin chatted while waiting for their noodles.
The medium-length-haired ninja rested his elbows on the bar counter, rubbing the back of his neck with his hands, his voice tired and hoarse: "I say, why did you suddenly mobilize? We just finished cleaning up that mess from the Chunin Exams, the exam site was destroyed like a sinkhole, and there's still a cordon behind the Hokage Rock."
"It's only been a few days since things calmed down, how come it's happening again—"
"Someone has defected." Before he could finish speaking, the short-haired ninja lifted his face off his arm, lowering his voice slightly, but his tone carried an undisguised hint of smugness.
"Defected?" The long-haired ninja put down his hand that was rubbing his shoulder, his brows furrowed.
"Among the Sound Ninja who broke in during the last Chunin Exams, a check revealed one was a rogue ninja. It's not a big deal. It's just a matter of sending people to hunt them down. The Anbu isn't new to this job."
"Keep your voice down." The short-haired ninja nudged him with his elbow, and the old wooden chair creaked slightly.
"This defection is no small matter; the rumor is that it's that kid from the Uchiha clan."
His medium-length hair stopped moving, and the hand that was rubbing his shoulder hung in mid-air for two seconds before slowly returning to his knee.
"The Uchiha orphan? That brat named Sasuke?"
"How could he—"
However, before he could finish his question, he felt a cool breeze sweep past him from behind.
Almost simultaneously, the two subconsciously turned their heads to look at the bar.
The man and woman who were sitting there just moments ago, dressed in long black robes with red cloud patterns, have vanished without a trace!
Only a few banknotes remained on the counter, lying there quietly.
There was still a piece of char siu left in Ringo Ameyuri's bowl that she hadn't finished eating, while the chopsticks on Itachi's seat next to her, which were originally intact, had somehow broken into two pieces.
"?" The two Chunin looked at each other, somewhat puzzled.
But this was the heart of Konoha, and there were plenty of ninjas with strange clothes and eccentric behavior. They didn't detect any obvious hostility or chakra fluctuations, assuming it was just some eccentric ninja passing by eating noodles.
Neither of them were too wary, and they turned their attention back to the ramen that was about to be served.
After handing two bowls of freshly made ramen to two regular customers, the middle-aged man paused for a moment when he saw the empty seats and the money left behind.
He counted the money; it was not only enough, but there was even a little more, which was a pleasant surprise.
But—looking at the unfinished char siu in the girl's bowl and the two broken chopsticks on the other seat, Uncle Hand felt a vague sense of doubt and unease rising in his heart.
There was something strange about those two people.
"Feed"
The night wind blew in her face, the streets were deserted, and the streetlights cast a dim yellow glow, making Lin Qinyu's shadow long and thin.
Itachi's black robe with red clouds flashed past the alleyway a few dozen steps ahead, the hem of the robe disappearing at the street corner in the direction of the Hokage Rock.
With a push of her feet, Ringo Ameyuri's body stretched into a brownish-red afterimage, and she caught up with him in a few leaps.
"Itachi!" She landed half a step to Itachi's side and walked alongside him, her voice filled with dissatisfaction.
"You bastard! At least let me finish my char siu! I deliberately saved it for last! Do you even know that piece—"
I stared at the char siu the whole meal!
She had planned to savor the last bite of the delicious food, but after overhearing the conversation between the two ninjas, Itachi's aura suddenly turned icy cold, and he got up and left without warning. He was so fast that she almost couldn't react, and could only hurriedly put down the money and chase after him.
This made her very unhappy.
Her words were loud and disruptive.
However, after complaining for a few minutes, she keenly noticed that Itachi's condition in front of her was extremely abnormal.
Uchiha Itachi was usually taciturn and his emotions were as restrained as a deep pool, but at least he was calm and had a composure that showed he had everything under control.
But the current Itachi————
Although there was nothing unusual on the surface, Lin Qinyu could sense that the aura emanating from this guy was gloomy and cold, like the low pressure suppressed to the extreme before a storm, only forcibly restrained by his strong willpower.
The invisible chill and subtle anxiety that permeated the air were something Ringo Ameyuri had never experienced in all the years she had teamed up with Itachi.
"Hey, you—" Ringo Yuri frowned, her complaining tone replaced by a hint of wariness in her voice.
What did this guy hear?
Why such a strong reaction?
At this moment, Itachi Uchiha completely shut out Ringo Ameyuri's complaints and questions.
In his mind, it was as if thunder was constantly exploding, repeatedly echoing fragments of the conversation between the two Chunin: "The remaining brat of the Uchiha clan—"
"They defected—"
Sasuke————
He defected?
Have you left Konoha?
Why?!
He slaughtered half of his clan for Konoha, personally eradicated the deepest bonds in his bloodline, and personally branded Sasuke with hatred, making Sasuke's only motivation to live on "killing Itachi Uchiha".
The Third Hokage had personally promised him that as long as he took the blame for colluding with outsiders and massacring his clan, Konoha would protect Sasuke, ensuring he would be safe and sound in the village, growing up peacefully like an ordinary ninja.
Everything he did, all the sins, darkness, and pain he carried, including the pain of turning against his own brother, even going so far as to become a rogue ninja and join the Akatsuki organization to scheme against them—
All the sacrifices and calculations, at their very core, were ultimately aimed at enabling Sasuke to live peacefully in Konoha as a "Ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village."
Isn't it all about finding a fragile balance between the village and the Uchiha clan?
But now, the third generation is dead.
Why would Sasuke choose to defect from Konoha at this particular time?
What unexpected event happened that he was unaware of?
It's Konoha—no, it's Danzo!
That treacherous and ruthless Shimura Danzo, who had always coveted the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan!
Itachi's mind was racing.
It must have been that old guy who did something to Sasuke right after the Third Hokage died!
Or perhaps they exerted unbearable pressure, or tried to harm Sasuke, forcing him to flee?
Itachi still remembers that night, when he made the decision to massacre his clan and began to carry it out, and then Shisui, who had "come back to life," suddenly appeared with Shura and a group of Star Ninja.
Masami's accusation that Danzo stole the Sharingan from the Uchiha clan is still fresh in his mind!
A cold glint flashed in Itachi's eyes, and killing intent and anxiety clashed fiercely in his heart.
Should we go directly to the gloomy and hidden underground base of the "Root" to find Danzo?
Should we go to the Hokage Building first, capture one or two Jonin, and find out the specifics?
At this moment, Itachi was unaware that Danzo had already set off for the Land of Iron to participate in the "Four Kage Summit".
With the death of the Third Hokage, even his last shred of fragile trust in Konoha vanished.
This is also a major reason why he risked everything to sneak back into Konoha.
Danzo is warned not to have any improper thoughts about Sasuke!
He accelerated faster and faster, almost speeding straight towards the Hokage Rock, as if he wanted to find Danzo immediately!
Ringo Ameyuri followed closely behind. Although she was full of doubts, she could see that Itachi was in an abnormal state. She didn't ask any more questions, but instead became more vigilant and prepared to deal with any possible conflict.
Although she has a lively personality, as a member of the Akatsuki organization, her combat instincts and acumen are top-notch.
As Itachi, his body shrouded in gloom, soared across the rooftops, rapidly weighing his two choices, two figures walking side by side at a relatively quiet street corner not far ahead caught his icy gaze.
It was a man and a woman.
The man had a thick beard, an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth, and wore a green vest typical of Konoha Jonin. His demeanor was composed yet carried a hint of unruliness; it was none other than Sarutobi Asuma.
The red-eyed woman beside him had long, slightly curled black hair that cascaded over her shoulders and back.
She tilted her head to the side, covering her mouth with the back of her hand, seemingly listening to the man tell something amusing and chuckling softly.
The woman's profile appeared slender and gentle under the streetlights, causing the man to walk at a slower pace.
Itachi Uchiha's gaze instantly locked onto them.
Asuma, son of the Third Hokage, was an important member of Konoha's Jonin team and an elite Jonin.
He must know detailed information about Sasuke's defection, at least more than those two Chunin.
Almost instantly, Itachi made his decision.
He moved swiftly and silently, landing on the rooftop and blocking the street in front of Asuma and Red.
Seeing this, Ringo Amori immediately stopped and landed lightly on the edge of the roof of a nearby house. She crossed her arms and looked down with great interest, ready to watch the show.
She wanted to see what extraordinary thing could have caused Itachi Uchiha to lose his composure like this.
Asma and Kurenai were chatting when they suddenly felt the light ahead dim and a chilling, oppressive aura descend without warning, making their hair stand on end instantly. They stopped in their tracks almost simultaneously, their muscles tensing as they entered a state of maximum alert!
They raised their heads and looked ahead.
The dim light of the streetlights outlined a tall figure wearing a long robe with a black background and red clouds.
He stood there quietly, his medium-length black hair, his calm and expressionless face, and his eyes slowly lifting to meet their gaze—
Kaleidoscope Sharingan!
"Uchiha Itachi?!" Asuma's pupils suddenly contracted, and the cigarette in his mouth silently slipped out of his mouth.
Kurenai's face turned pale instantly, and she subconsciously took half a step back, her hand already on the ninja tool pouch at her waist.
A chilling killing intent swept through the entire street like a cold current.
The kingdom of stars.
"Damn it! Why did it suddenly start pouring rain!" Naruto took off his soaked orange jacket, grabbed the hem with both hands and wrung it out hard, splashing rainwater onto the stone slabs of the pavilion and forming a small puddle.
-
He shook his coat open, gave it a couple of hard shakes, and then put it back on. Before he could even put the sleeves on, he sneezed loudly.
"Achoo—!"
The pavilion is small, a common type of stone-built rest pavilion, with four stone pillars supporting a gray tile roof.
The pavilion was situated in a good location, built on a protruding part of a high slope. From the pavilion, one could see the gradually opening plains of the Star Kingdom directly in front of them.
The main road winds its way through the hillside below the pavilion and extends into the depths of the plain.
The rain came too suddenly.
The sky had only darkened for a moment, and the clouds hadn't even had time to thicken before large raindrops started pelting down, without any transition from drizzle to heavy rain. It was as if someone had overturned a giant bucket from the sky.
Although the rain came down quickly, it stopped just as fast. However, the rain was still at its heaviest, pattering against the roof tiles of the pavilion, and the spray blurred the distant plains into a gray-green silhouette.
Ino leaned against a stone pillar, tilting her head and twisting her ponytail, water droplets from the ends of her hair splashing all over the ground.
Sakura squatted down next to her, taking out the bandages and ration pills from her ninja tool bag one by one to check if they had gotten wet.
"Wasn't it supposed to be a severe drought? How come it's suddenly raining so heavily?" Ino muttered, continuing to twist her hair.
Shikamaru and Choji sat side by side on a stone bench inside the pavilion, and at the same time they both sneezed loudly.
"Achoo!"
The sound was so loud that even Akamaru, who was hiding under the roof of the house from the rain, was startled and his ears twitched.
Ino tossed her wrung-out ponytail over her shoulder and peeked at the two boys: "You guys have a cold?"
Shikamaru rubbed his nose and said in a muffled voice, "No."
He turned to look at Choji, who was taking out an unopened bag of potato chips from his ninja tool bag and was about to tear open the packaging when suddenly another loud sneeze came.
This sneeze was even more powerful, and he was jolted. He lost his grip on the bag of potato chips, and it flew out of his hand, but Tian Tian caught it with lightning speed.
"Choji, watch out!" Tenten shoved the bag of potato chips back into Choji's hand. Choji rubbed his nose and mumbled a "hmm."
Shikamaru rubbed the back of his neck, grinding his palm against the few stray hairs at the back of his neck.
He sneezed again, then looked up, his brow furrowed slightly, his tone tinged with uncertainty and confusion: "Strange—I have this creepy feeling."
"Achoo!"
"Furry?" Akamaru poked his head out from the top of his teeth and barked at Shikamaru.
Ya-Wai-Tou translated, "Akamaru said it's possible someone is talking about you."
"Talking about me? Who would talk about me?" Shikamaru looked at the pouring rain outside the pavilion and felt a slight, inexplicable tingling sensation on the back of his head, as if something bad was happening far away and his body had sensed it before his mind.
He thought about it for a while, but couldn't figure it out, so he attributed the feeling to being caught in the rain.