"You truly are worthy of the name Uchiha Madara!"
Obito, who had already stood up, surrounded by the distorted space, was now fully composed.
Itachi deactivated his Amaterasu, his Mangekyō Sharingan fading from view.
He spoke softly, a hint of admiration in his tone.
Chakra flared around Obito as he prepared to unleash a Wood Release technique. But he hesitated, recalling his grand plan. His chakra calmed, though his body did not stop moving.
"Young one, don't you know it's terribly rude to interrupt someone's thoughts? And hasn't anyone ever told you not to strike someone stronger than yourself?"
Obito grabbed Itachi by the throat, lifting him effortlessly as Itachi made no move to resist.
Seeing the bloodshot whites of Itachi's eyes, so intense they seemed ready to bleed, Obito's killing intent subsided. He loosened his grip, letting Itachi fall to the ground.
Looking down at the Uchiha prodigy, who sat on the ground in a daze, Obito's expression remained cold.
---
"Heh, just a joke. After all, killing someone like Uchiha Madara isn't that simple. The name 'Shinobi Shura' was earned through countless battles," Itachi said, forcing a faint smile.
Despite his composed words, he felt a wave of frustration.
Even when Obito was completely unguarded, a full-power Amaterasu had failed to harm him. Itachi hadn't expected this outcome.
The energy drain from such a technique was significant—one reason he hadn't persisted. Additionally, he knew from research that Obito's intangibility could last up to five minutes, becoming solid only during an attack.
"Heh, seems that little girl holds a special place in your heart. She called your name as she died..." Obito said, a cruel smirk crossing his face.
The mention of Rin was a calculated jab, meant to exploit any weakness he perceived in Itachi's psyche.
For a man who'd just narrowly escaped death, Obito wasn't one to forgive easily.
"Oh? Which girl are you talking about? I only acted to test your resolve and see if your organization is strong enough."
Itachi dusted off his clothes, walking a few steps closer to the fire before sitting down. He casually began sharpening a branch to prepare it for roasting meat.
"Don't let there be a next time. If you try again, your so-called genius will meet its end," Obito warned coldly, his voice carrying an unmistakable threat.
Realizing the killing intent had dissipated, Itachi quietly exhaled in relief.
Earlier, he'd calculated an 80% chance of success before launching his attack. The moment he realized he couldn't kill Obito, he'd immediately stopped.
Obito still had his uses. Unless the stakes changed drastically, Itachi believed Obito wouldn't kill him. That belief gave him confidence.
Dealing with someone like Obito—a man whose thinking was dangerously obsessive—required caution. If their positions ever truly diverged, Itachi thought, sending Obito to meet Rin might be for the best.
"But then again... what is my position?"
Itachi found himself momentarily lost in thought.
---
"What an interesting kid," Obito murmured.
As Itachi had anticipated, Obito showed no further desire to strike. Instead, he sat down beside the fire, observing Itachi as though nothing had happened.
Itachi, for his part, roasted the meat with meticulous care, his calm demeanor betraying no hint of the earlier tension.
It was as if the confrontation had been nothing but an illusion.
"If there ever comes a day when I can create a world without war, a world of true peace where the dead can be brought back to life—what would you do?" Obito asked softly.
He'd long anticipated Itachi's counterattack. Taming a self-proclaimed genius was never an easy task. Demonstrating a stark difference in power was essential to break their pride and bring them to heel.
Itachi paused mid-motion, the question pulling him from his thoughts.
Obito's words sounded like an advanced form of manipulation—a more sophisticated attempt to plant seeds of doubt or loyalty.
"That would take the power of a god..."
Realizing Obito's intentions, Itachi replied calmly, his mind racing.
"Does he think I attacked him to avenge Izumi?"
Recalling Obito's earlier comments, Itachi settled on the most plausible explanation.
---
"Who's to say it wouldn't?" Obito responded quietly.
Though he projected confidence, even he was plagued by doubts. This grand vision of his—a world of peace achieved through an almost fantastical plan—was the only thing keeping him moving forward.
The aroma of roasted meat began to fill the air, grounding the moment in an odd tranquility.
"Let's trade," Obito said suddenly, taking the roasted meat Itachi handed him but not eating it.
Instead, he passed his own portion back to Itachi, proposing an exchange.
Itachi blinked in mild surprise, then let out a soft chuckle.
Handing over his perfectly roasted meat, he accepted the one Obito offered in return.
---
Seeing Itachi's faint smile, Obito felt an inexplicable wave of irritation rise within him.
He turned his back, and the area around the mouth of his mask wriggled slightly, revealing his mouth.
Then, he began to eat, while his chakra remained in a constant state of alertness.
He was always like this, which was why Itachi hadn't succeeded in his attempts.
This habit of his had been ingrained for so long that he couldn't even remember when it started.
In truth, while Itachi was grilling the meat, he had been watching him the entire time. Itachi hadn't had a chance to poison the food. Additionally, this vigilance gave Itachi the false impression that he was overly wary of poison.
However, with the cells of Hashirama Senju coursing through his body, poison was the least of his concerns.
If Itachi still refused to give up and made a move against him, he'd much prefer to deal with other tactics than those bothersome flames.
After all, geniuses like Itachi were rare, and the organization was already short on manpower.
To enjoy the convenience someone brings, you have to tolerate their shortcomings, right?
...
As Obito began eating, the aroma of grilled meat filled the air. Itachi, unable to resist any longer, gave in to his hunger.
He started devouring the food voraciously.
His concern for appearances was quickly forgotten as he ate to his heart's content.
"So, what stance do I even need to take? When the time comes, I'll revive my so-called parents, train Sasuke, enjoy good food, and live life to the fullest. How wonderful that will be."
As he savored the delicious grilled meat, the doubts from earlier faded away in Itachi's mind.
Knowing the answer to the bigger picture, he became calm and collected.
With clarity in his heart, he remained unshaken.
...
Soon, Itachi finished the large piece of grilled meat in his hand. He pulled a piece of paper from his pouch and wiped his mouth.
Then, he picked up a small twig and began to whittle it.
Without a toothpick on hand, he decided to make one on the spot.
Meanwhile, Obito finished his grilled meat, feeling content.
Thankfully, Itachi hadn't made a move while they were enjoying their meal—anything else would've been infuriating.
Obito casually wiped his mouth with his sleeve as the mask around his mouth wriggled back to its original shape.
When he turned around, he saw Itachi intently carving a small toothpick with a kunai.
Obito felt a pang of disdain in his heart.
He stood up and leaned against a tree nearby, preparing to rest and digest his meal.
...
"Hey, kid, doesn't your ninja academy teach you how to kill anymore? All they teach now are some basic life skills?" Obito lazily mocked.
He found that taunting this kid was actually kind of entertaining.
"Yeah, using senbon needles would be a waste," Itachi replied nonchalantly. After a brief pause, he added, "If you've already used them, keeping them on you feels uncomfortable."
"Heh, what a pathetic village, rotting to its core," Obito muttered, gazing at the beautiful sky in silence.
Who knew what thoughts were running through his mind?
---