The next day, Training Ground 417, Konoha.
"This is a mission request for me?"
Itachi's previously contented face showed confusion. Last night was the most comfortable he had ever experienced, feeling refreshed and his mind clear, with no more bottlenecks.
His strength had even improved considerably. He had to admit, Shisui-bro was quite useful!
"That's right. This is a direct order from the Hokage himself, assigning you as Konoha's envoy to visit the Hidden Cloud Village for discussions."
Itachi pointed to the writing above and said, "It says here, appointed Uzumaki Rinhyu for this..."
*Swish!*
Before Itachi could finish, Rinhyu snatched the mission request and found a piece of charcoal on the ground, doodling on the document.
"Done! Minato is too careless, even getting names wrong!"
Itachi's expression was one of barely suppressed amusement, but smiling wasn't his forte. He asked, "Is this really okay?"
Being sent to the Hidden Cloud Village for discussions was, to put it bluntly, to pick a fight and demand an explanation from the Fourth Raikage.
Itachi was tempted, as the Hidden Cloud had recently kidnapped his younger brother, Sasuke. With this official status, he could openly enter the Hidden Cloud Village to seek answers.
However, Itachi felt he wasn't good with words. Rather than engage in verbal combat, he preferred to be a sharp sword, striking the Hidden Cloud a heavy blow.
"Rinhyu-sensei, I don't think I'm suited for this mission. Perhaps someone else would be better."
"How can that be!"
Rinhyu pointed to the thick, distorted characters on the mission request, "Look! It has your name on it. How can you just change it? What do you take the Hokage for?!"
"..."
Itachi simply put on a stern face and stopped talking, fearing that any further conversation would dispel the pleasant mood he had from last night.
"Hey Shisui, what are you doing over there? Hurry up and help persuade your little brother, Itachi!"
Shisui had two dark circles under his eyes and was squatting by the river, contemplating life, feeling dejected. How could Itachi treat him like this!
And Rinhyu-sensei, he was such a cheat!
Shisui feared that before he could achieve his goal, he would be played to death by these two. One tricked him into gouging out his eye in reality, and the other tormented him in his mental world.
He, Uchiha Shisui, was truly miserable!
"Hmm... are they calling me?"
Shisui turned his head, and a face that looked ten years older appeared before Rinhyu.
Damn it!
Shisui, what did you and Itachi do last night? You look like you've lost ten years of your life! So diligent!
"Shisui, why do you look like this?"
"Yeah, Shisui-bro, why do you look ten years older?"
Shisui looked at the two "culprits" with tearful eyes, his voice choked, unable to speak. Don't you two know why I look like this?!
My youth!
It's been ruined by these two, one physically torturing me by gouging out my eye, the other defiling me mentally with Tsukuyomi. Why don't you both experience my Kotoamatsukami!
Shisui stared at the two with ill intent. Rinhyu-sensei's power was too great, so it was uncertain if Kotoamatsukami would work. But Itachi, who had just awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan... *slurp!*
Itachi-bro, since you've given me Tsukuyomi, as an older brother, I must return the favor with Kotoamatsukami!
What you did to me in the Tsukuyomi space, I will repay to you in the real world, without missing a single move!
Itachi-bro, don't blame Shisui-bro, this is all for your own good!
Itachi suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and shivered involuntarily. He said, "Shisui-bro, your gaze is very strange."
"Wh-where is it!"
Shisui put on a serious expression and said, "I think Rinhyu-sensei is very right. Since your name is on the mission request, you should accept this mission."
Itachi put away his other thoughts, his face showing difficulty, "But I have no diplomatic experience at all. I don't know how to proceed."
"That's true. Then let's have Shisui do it."
Hearing Rinhyu call his name, Shisui quickly shook his head and refused. Who knew what kind of trap Rinhyu-sensei had set for him to fall into? He would never believe them again, even if beaten to death!
"Since neither of you will go... then we can only use this method!"
"What method?"
Seeing that both of them had taken the bait, Rinhyu chuckled, "Mercenaries!"
...
Land of Lightning, Hidden Cloud Village.
In the Raikage's office building, a loud bang echoed through the conference hall. Ay punched a corner off the table, roaring,
"More than ten Jonin, and you couldn't even kidnap a three-year-old child, and they were all wiped out by Konoha! Is the strength of us Cloud nin so pathetic?!"
The Cloud elders sitting below remained silent. Even they hadn't expected the outcome of being completely wiped out.
Konoha had just been invaded by the mysterious organization "Immortal," losing some of its ninjas. Even Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, had defected from Konoha. Logically, Konoha should be in a very weak state at this time.
How could they completely wipe out the Cloud nin, and how did they discover their true intentions?
The conflict between Uchiha and Konoha was not only well-known to Konoha's residents but also to the ninja world.
For the Cloud to target the Uchiha, their failure shouldn't have been so easy. Konoha wouldn't have sent their defense forces into the Uchiha.
And the Uchiha, having just gone through the Third Great Ninja War, were in a recovery phase. The only prominent figures they had were Uchiha Shisui.
And they had sent more than ten Jonin this time, so how could they fail!
"Raikage-sama, now is not the time to dwell on why we failed,"
Tudai broke the awkward atmosphere and said, "We should now discuss how to deal with Konoha's next counterattack."
"Konoha killed our people and they still want to demand an explanation from us?" a Cloud elder sneered.
Another Cloud elder disdainfully said, "Konoha is so timid, they wouldn't dare to confront the Cloud. As long as we show a strong attitude, Konoha will back down themselves!"
Everyone present nodded. This was consistent with their perception of the Hidden Leaf Village. Although strong, they lacked a certain ferocity.
This reminded them of that legendary man. He had unparalleled strength in the ninja world, yet he begged the five great ninja villages to accept the tailed beasts he had painstakingly captured, which was truly unbelievable.
The Will of Fire, it truly harms people!
The Cloud had a deep understanding of this from the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. It was likely that the current Fourth Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi's successor, Minato Namikaze, was also deeply affected by it!
Tudai said seriously, "Although Konoha advocates for peace and would not actively provoke conflict, we in the Cloud must remain vigilant. It is always wise to be cautious."
"Tudai, you are too cautious. I bet Konoha won't even say a word this time!"
Hearing his subordinates talk about Konoha's weakness, Ay's mood gradually calmed down. He said, "I'm even thinking if I should send someone to Konoha to demand an explanation!"
"Urgent report!"
Suddenly, a Cloud ANBU appeared in the conference hall and bowed respectfully to Ay,
"Report! We have received a letter from Konoha. Konoha will send an envoy to visit our Hidden Cloud Village!"
"..."
The slap in the face came so quickly. Ay's brown skin turned dark, and he gritted his teeth, "I'd like to see who Konoha dares to send to their death!"