At the top of the tower, Itachi Uchiha smiled calmly.
"Long time no see, Kisame."
In the water below, Kisame Hoshigaki froze as he heard Itachi's voice. He couldn't believe his ears.
How is this possible?
Wasn't Itachi already dead?!
Kisame rubbed his eyes, thinking he was hallucinating. Naruto saw his stunned expression and grinned.
"Hey, hey! Why are you spacing out? Come on up!"
As he said that, Naruto stretched out his hand toward him.
"Banshō Ten'in!" (Universal Pull)
With a sharp suction sound, Kisame was forcibly pulled from the water by Naruto's Rinnegan technique and landed on the platform.
Even after landing, Kisame remained on guard, standing combat-ready in front of Naruto. Itachi stepped forward, his gaze calm as he looked into Kisame's wary eyes.
"Kisame, are you alright?"
Kisame instinctively took a few steps back, eyes narrowing. "Mr. Itachi is dead. You faker! I didn't expect you to go this far, Naruto. Just to win my loyalty, you'd bring a fake Uchiha Itachi out here?!"
Naruto burst out laughing and glanced at Itachi.
"Itachi, you better prove yourself."
Itachi nodded silently. He slowly activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, the tomoe rotating into the kaleidoscopic pattern.
"Kisame! Look at me!"
Caught off guard, Kisame's eyes met Itachi's and he was instantly caught in a Genjutsu.
Within the illusion, Itachi displayed everything—memories of fighting alongside Naruto, the battles, the philosophy they shared, and his resurrection. Kisame saw it all unfold before him.
After a few seconds, the illusion released. Kisame's eyes widened in disbelief, the truth washing over him.
"I get it now… Mr. Itachi is dead. You were resurrected using Edo Tensei… and Naruto… You, you actually used the legendary Sage Technique to bring him back!"
He looked at Naruto, completely shocked.
"Damn… You're even crazier than that Obito bastard!"
Naruto met his gaze and spoke clearly. "At least I don't run from reality. Obito's idea of a world without lies, hatred, or conflict—sure, the ideal sounds noble. But his method? Forcing everyone into a dream world? That's where he went wrong."
Before Naruto could continue, Kisame cut in, his eyes sharp. "This world is full of lies and hatred. Compared to this rotting world, a fake dream… might just be better!"
Naruto shook his head slowly.
"No."
He stepped up to Kisame, looking him straight in the eye.
"I believe that rather than dreaming of a fake paradise, we should transform this hypocritical world together. A true shinobi sees the ugliness of the world… and still chooses to love it, to face it head-on."
His voice became firm.
"Not like Obito—hiding behind a mask, running from pain, trying to control everything."
Kisame stared into Naruto's unwavering eyes. Then he turned his gaze to Itachi, who remained silent but supportive.
Naruto pressed on. "And let's not pretend Obito came up with that plan alone. His 'Eye of the Moon' Project? That whole thing—it's a lie someone else fed him. A beautiful lie to make him a pawn!"
"WHAT?!" Kisame's eyes widened. Even Itachi looked at Naruto, clearly surprised.
Nagato, standing nearby, smiled faintly.
Naruto crossed his arms and continued. "Obito's Moon's Eye Plan—originally conceived by Uchiha Madara—was supposedly a Sage of Six Paths-level technique to bring world peace. But that's not it."
Itachi narrowed his eyes. "Then what is it?"
Naruto met his gaze. "Itachi, think. That Genjutsu, the one that traps the entire world in a dream—what's the difference between that and your own Genjutsu? Isn't it just a scaled-up version?"
He added, "When you use Genjutsu, it's not real. You do it for a reason. You manipulate someone's senses to control them, right? So what's the real purpose of the Infinite Tsukuyomi?"
Itachi's eyes widened slightly, the realization beginning to dawn.
"You're right… There's always a purpose behind using Genjutsu. Creating illusions is a method of control…"
Naruto snapped his fingers. "Exactly. That's the essence of the Moon's Eye Plan. The dream is only bait. The true purpose is to gather the chakra of all humanity… and resurrect someone ancient."
"Resurrect someone?!" Kisame was completely shaken.
His entire worldview was crumbling.
Naruto nodded, looking him dead in the eye. "Yes. The plan is to bring back Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, the mother of chakra. She's the real threat—the one behind everything. Obito doesn't even know that he's just a pawn."
Kisame was silent for a moment, processing this avalanche of information.
Naruto gave him a choice. "So, Kisame—will you continue chasing a fake dream, becoming someone else's tool, or will you join me in transforming this flawed world?"
Kisame's fists clenched. Naruto's words echoed in his head, especially that one line:
A true shinobi sees the hypocrisy of this world and still chooses to love it and face it bravely.
He still hesitated, uncertain.
Naruto spoke again. "Don't forget, you promised me back then. You said if I could do it, you'd believe. I brought back Itachi. Isn't that enough proof?"
He pointed to Itachi. "If I can bring back the dead and wield Sage Techniques, then I can change the world too."
Itachi nodded in agreement and stepped forward.
"Kisame, I chose to trust Naruto. We've both died once already. So this time… let's live for ourselves."
Kisame gave a bitter laugh. "Live for ourselves, huh…"
Itachi added, "If you're not ready to openly stand against Obito, then be like me—put on a mask, and use your heart to watch the world. Watch Naruto. See how he changes it."
Kisame looked up at Naruto, his expression softening.
"…Alright, Mr. Itachi. I'll trust you."
Then he turned to Naruto and added, voice rough but honest, "Naruto, I'll cooperate. But don't get it twisted—I'm not your lapdog. I'm only doing this because I trust Itachi. I'll be watching."
Naruto grinned. "That's good enough for me."
He extended his hand again.
"Then, on behalf of Yugakure, I welcome you. From today, you're part of the Heaven Organization. We're companions now."
Kisame stared at Naruto's hand, unmoving.
Companions? A village?
Things he had long given up on… were now being offered freely.
Itachi noticed his hesitation, stepped forward, and grabbed Kisame's hand—joining it with Naruto's.
"Mr. Itachi?!"
Itachi nodded. "Trust me, Kisame. You made the right choice."
A rare, small smile appeared on Kisame's face.
Having Mr. Itachi back…
I no longer have to carry out this journey alone.
"Oh, right—Naruto," Kisame said with a serious look. "One more thing. You have to return Samehada to me!"
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly. "Well… I would give it back, but… Samehada might not like you anymore."
Kisame: "NANI?! (ÒωÓױ)"
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