Chapter 467: Itachi Uchiha Returns to Konoha

Just as Uchiha Obito was about to use Genjutsu to control the Daimyo of the Frost Country, a figure wearing a conical hat and a black robe stood at the edge of Konohagakure.

"Take one more step, and you will trigger the defensive barrier."

Itachi Uchiha remained expressionless, his pale palm extending from his robe toward the air in front of him.

Zzzzt.

A sound like an electric current accompanied by leaping arcs of electricity.

Behind him, Kisame Hoshigaki had a strange look on his face and said, "Hey, hey, Itachi-san, didn't you say it would trigger the barrier? Could something bad happen?"

On his back, he carried a broad, jagged greatsword.

It was the source of most of Kisame's power, evolved and forged from his original Ninja Blade Samehada, a Purple weapon infused with a portion of soul power.

A special water-style Zanpakuto.

【Bleach】, a genuine Tier 2 ability; Kisame's current strength was already enough to release a Bankai for a short time.

He could roughly reach the 【Tier 2 (Commander Level)】 standard.

And beside him, Itachi Uchiha was even at 【Tier 2 (Gold Grade)】, a top-tier player across the entire Samsara Game.

Therefore, even if Itachi Uchiha actively touched the barrier, Kisame Hoshigaki did not have the slightest worry.

Even if a major power like Konohagakure had Gold Grade players sitting in command, the two of them could still retreat unscathed.

"Rest assured, the outermost layer is a sensory barrier; it only transmits information and poses no danger."

Itachi Uchiha's tone was firm.

He and Kisame had both betrayed the Akatsuki Organization and were wandering and being hunted; after traveling through the ninja world and the Pirate World, he ultimately chose to return to Konoha.

After all, although Konoha looked impregnable now, it was being besieged by several ninja villages.

Back during the Evil God Incident,

because the Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi broke his word, Kirigakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure were all at the border, dispatching Elite Level players to lead ninja squads to blockade the Land of Hot Water.

Although Konoha was strong, it had only just settled in the Land of Hot Water, and the 【Hokage Thanksgiving】 had only been held twice; it simply did not have much backup power.

If this continued for long,

it was hard to say it wouldn't be dragged down by the other ninja villages.

Therefore, Itachi Uchiha decided to return to Konoha to continue being a blade that guarded Konoha.

Kisame Hoshigaki said without reservation, "However, having said that, I really didn't expect the Hokage to have the guts to provoke the four great nations, including the Navy Alliance of the Pirate World, and now end up like this; it's all his own fault..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was met with Itachi Uchiha's icy gaze.

He immediately stopped talking and shrugged helplessly.

Unlike Itachi Uchiha, let alone Konoha, he didn't have much sense of belonging even to Kirigakure, and the same went for the Akatsuki Organization; Itachi Uchiha was one of the few men he was willing to follow of his own accord.

It was just unexpected that the seemingly cold and heartless Itachi Uchiha had actually been keeping Konoha in his heart all along.

He really was just like him.

Kisame Hoshigaki lowered his head slightly; whenever he dreamed at midnight, he could always recall those enemies, comrades, and innocent passersby he had killed.

It seemed like an easy execution, like mowing grass, but Kisame Hoshigaki could clearly remember everyone's expressions, demeanor, and movements in his dreams.

"It has nothing to do with Lord Hiruzen."

"Is that so?"

Kisame Hoshigaki looked at Itachi Uchiha's icy appearance and was stunned.

Then he began to think.

Even a brute like himself would absolutely never make the move of turning against four nations, especially after they had helped Konoha through a crisis.

The Hokage's various behaviors were very likely the result of being possessed.

The Samsara Game had a rich variety of skills, so it was no surprise there was an ability capable of controlling the Hokage.

As expected of Itachi-san, to be able to grasp the situation in Konohagakure from thousands of miles away and know the secret of the Hokage being controlled—truly unfathomable.

Kisame Hoshigaki's gaze toward Itachi Uchiha became increasingly admiring.

"It has nothing to do with Lord Hiruzen; it is all the fault of the four nations and the Navy Alliance!"

Itachi Uchiha thought to himself, "The Evil God attack was originally a disaster for the ninja world; the four nations actually held out for a better price and threatened Konoha, and afterward, they even reached out to demand high Reward Points. In my, Itachi Uchiha's, eyes, they already have the intent to seek death."

To fail at threats and then dare to send troops to blockade the Land of Hot Water—it was simply shameless.

Now that he had returned to Konoha, he must kill all these shameless people.

Half a minute later,

a figure approached rapidly from afar.

Kisame Hoshigaki warned, "Itachi-san, it's an Elite player."

This area was Konoha's territory; there was no reason for the other party to restrain their aura, and they were clearly exposing themselves to intimidate intruders.

"Don't be impulsive, Kisame."

Itachi Uchiha took a deep breath, looked at the Konoha ninja standing not far away with a guarded expression, and said, "I am Itachi Uchiha, and I wish to see Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi."

The newcomer was wearing the uniform of the 【Shadow Organization】, and a rich Flame Breath emanated from their body.

It was an Elite player who had upgraded their Fire Release skill to 【Tier 2】.

However,

Itachi Uchiha looked them over with dissatisfaction, his brows furrowed slightly, and said, "A full half-minute since triggering the barrier, and you only just arrived? Has the efficiency of the Anbu dropped to this level?"

With such slackness and negligence, how could they protect Konoha?

Back when he was in the Anbu...

"Itachi Uchiha, the wanted criminal?"

Hearing Itachi Uchiha identify himself, the Fire Release ninja also furrowed their brows, took two steps back, and increased the distance.

Itachi Uchiha was an extremely notorious world-class wanted criminal.

Before the Samsara Game appeared, he slaughtered the entire Uchiha clan, defected from Konohagakure, and then joined the terrorist Organization 【Akatsuki】 that was causing chaos everywhere.

After the Samsara Game appeared, he acted even more like a ghost, hiding here and there, ambushing the Raikage, and attacking officer-level players of the Navy Alliance...

His various heinous acts are too numerous to count.

And yet he dares to return, claiming he is looking for Lord Hokage?

"That's right, it is me."

Itachi Uchiha's expression remained normal as he nodded and said, "However, things are not as you imagine; I must see Lord Hokage now."

He felt not the slightest bit of shame.

Everything he had done was for Konoha, a sacrifice and dedication, including attacking various players, which was also done upon receiving secret letters from the Hokage, all to snatch Pollution Monsters for the 【Shadow Organization】 directly under the Hokage.

"Wait a moment."

The Fire Release ninja knitted his brows together, first stalling the heinous Itachi Uchiha, then quickly contacting his teammates.

On the other side, in the Hokage Office, Shimura Danzo, who was standing by the window overlooking Konoha, had his expression stiffen slightly after receiving the news.

This large floor-to-ceiling glass window in the office was special glass he had specifically sought out craftsman players to forge.

Even though he was very clear that such a floor-to-ceiling window would easily reveal the scene inside the Hokage Office and increase the risk of being attacked, Danzou still did so.

Everything was so that he could better stand in the position of Hokage and admire the entire prosperous Konoha.

"Itachi Uchiha has returned?"

(End of this chapter)