Capítulo 26: Itachi’s Choice

"Did no one ever tell you that being too smart is annoying?" Kuro raised an eyebrow, clearly uncomfortable.

The constant presence of Itachi and his ability to read between the lines were starting to get on his nerves.

Itachi, for his part, reflected for a moment before shaking his head. "It's not that I'm particularly smart; it's that you're too immature. Once you receive proper education and experience what it truly means to be a ninja, that will change."

This guy...

Kuro felt a slight tug at his pride.

Anyone who had watched the anime knew that Itachi wasn't just a prodigy among ninjas; he had a superior mindset, even by the standards of the shinobi world.

Yet this comment sounded more like an attempt to mask his own discomfort.

Kuro relaxed a bit and smirked ironically.

"Heh, no need to feel me out anymore. If you're here, it means you've already made a deliberate decision."

Itachi nodded slowly.

"That's right."

As he spoke, he removed his mask, revealing his face.

His black hair was tied back, exposing long, pronounced eyelashes. His face was delicate, almost too perfect for a ninja, and the lines beneath his eyes gave him a melancholic appearance.

His dark eyes looked at Kuro calmly but carried an intensity only an Uchiha could convey.

"My name is Itachi Uchiha. I'm an ANBU under the Hokage-sama's orders. From your tone, it seems you already know everything about me and why I'm here."

Kuro looked at him with a faint smile.

"I know everything."

Without hesitation, he sat cross-legged on the tatami mat and patted the floor in front of him, signaling for Itachi to do the same.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Itachi approached and sat in the same position, facing him.

"Your current position is very delicate," Kuro said seriously. "You're too close to the Hokage's mansion. If anyone finds out you're in contact with me, it'll cause unnecessary trouble for both of us. So, get to the point."

Itachi nodded slightly. "In that case, I'll be direct: can you help me?"

"I can."

"How will you help me?"

Kuro smirked faintly. "That depends on the kind of help you're looking for."

Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly at the ambiguity, but his emotions betrayed him in his hurried tone. "Do you have many solutions?"

"Not many," Kuro replied calmly. "Just two."

With that, Kuro raised both hands.

In his right hand appeared a small, glowing red crystal (Shisui's).

In his left, a transparent bluish crystal ball that seemed to contain a bottomless vortex.

And then the "Crystal Ball of Wishes" materialized in his other hand.

Seeing these items appear out of thin air without sensing any chakra use from Kuro, Itachi was slightly surprised.

"This red crystal contains the power of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan," Kuro explained.

"And this sphere is an object that can grant any wish. Both can help you resolve the conflict between the Uchiha and the village peacefully."

Itachi said nothing, but his dark eyes transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Kuro didn't move, sitting calmly with a smile.

The red crystal radiated Shisui's chakra, so distinctive there was no mistaking it.

The sphere, on the other hand, was an enigma.

Through his eyes, Itachi could see the bottomless vortex within it, a gravitational force that seemed to want to devour his very will.

He quickly averted his gaze, feeling something within him falter.

Taking a deep breath, he looked back at Kuro, who hadn't moved.

"A ninja, by definition, is an existence that defies common sense. But what you possess..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "It's beyond even that."

Itachi lowered his gaze to the two items that shouldn't exist.

"You could have created another Nine-Tails."

One of Shisui's eyes was in Danzo's possession, while the other was said to be lost. Yet the small crystal Kuro presented appeared to be an entirely new pair of dōjutsu.

This red crystal seemed to be something completely different—created, not stolen or transplanted.

If he can create a dōjutsu, isn't it possible he could create another Nine-Tails?

Though the thought was unsettling, it didn't feel entirely implausible.

At first, Itachi had thought Kuro might have acquired Nine-Tails chakra and Sharingan abilities through some unconventional means.

But now...

Kuro didn't need to steal anything; he could create it himself.

Is this his natural ability, an unknown Kekkei Genkai?

Recalling the results of his investigation, Itachi knew that Kuro was a legitimate resident of Konoha, an orphan whose parents had died protecting the village.

He had never left Konoha or come into contact with outside forces that could have given him access to this kind of power.

Does this ability have a limit?

Even if it did, the impact of such a power was already monumental.

"It's impossible; I have no idea how to create living creatures," Kuro said modestly, raising his hands. "I can create something similar to the Nine-Tails, but it wouldn't come close to the real thing."

Itachi remained silent, processing what he had just heard.

Though he had suspected the magnitude of Kuro's power, hearing it directly made it even more unsettling.

This kind of ability is... surreal.

It was such a terrifying power that just imagining it would send shivers down the spine of any reasonable person.

It reminded him of Shisui's ocular technique, Kotoamatsukami.

And yet...

When Danzo learned of its existence, he hadn't hesitated to try and seize Shisui's eyes.

The logic was clear: if something couldn't be controlled, it couldn't be allowed to exist.

However...

Compared to Kuro's abilities, Kotoamatsukami was insignificant—like a billionth of a hundred millionth in terms of scale.

For a moment, a spark of murderous intent flashed through Itachi's mind.

If this power cannot be controlled, it must be destroyed.

But the thought was fleeting.

He quickly reasoned that something so far beyond common understanding couldn't be destroyed by conventional means.

Any ability or power within the framework of human comprehension, no matter how strong, always had weaknesses.

But this... was beyond understanding.

Attempting to destroy it was absurd.

Moreover, he had to consider how fortunate Konoha was that someone with such an ability had been born within the village.

Even more, it was a blessing that Kuro hadn't been corrupted by dark or destructive ideologies.

The only option was to secure this relationship as sincerely as possible.

Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his posture and, with solemnity, bowed deeply to Kuro.

"Please help me. As long as it doesn't compromise the village's interests, I am willing to sacrifice everything: my life, my freedom, whatever is necessary."

Kuro raised an eyebrow, observing Itachi's sincerity.

"I take back what I said earlier. Talking to intelligent people is much easier," he chuckled.

From the start, he had deliberately exposed everything: the "Broken Fairy Crystal" of Shisui, the "Crystal Ball of Wishes", and even hinted at the existence of the "Kurama Ring."

All to demonstrate the scope of his power and make his intentions clear.

He knew that with Itachi's intelligence, he would see beyond the surface.

It was only a matter of time before he arrived at the only logical conclusion.

And now, here Itachi was, willing to sacrifice himself for the village.

"You've probably already guessed my intentions with all this," Kuro continued, "but it doesn't matter. I have no interest in power struggles or political intrigue. I think we'll get along well in the future."

Itachi didn't respond, simply straightening up and looking at Kuro with the same calm demeanor he always carried.

Kuro smiled faintly and, without another word, pushed the "Crystal Ball of Wishes" toward him. "I recommend you use this. Though... it comes with consequences."

"Consequences...?"

Itachi raised an eyebrow at that, then looked at the object in his hands.

"...."

Finally, lifting his gaze to Kuro, he asked, "What are the side effects of using this?"

________

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