Chapter 50 "How did you find me?"...

I should tell Shikamaru next time not to write in so much detail. After all, it's not a serious matter. After you finish reading this letter, immediately pick up your pen and write a reply. While you were writing, the owl that was responsible for delivering the letter stayed by your side. It looked docile and would occasionally tilt its head. Since it's a summoning beast, and a talking one at that, it means it's very smart and can probably understand your letter.

Sure enough, after watching for a while, it said, "I suggest you ask Shikamaru a few more questions about his recent situation. He seems to be looking forward to you asking him these questions."

Completely unaware that he had been betrayed by the summoning beast, Shikamaru was still writing his mission report. He just suddenly felt a little uncomfortable, rubbing his wrist. Was it because he had been working at his desk for too long and was feeling unwell? He attributed this unease to his long hours of paperwork.

Meanwhile, the summoning beast owl on the other side has already spoken to you, saying, "Although Shikamaru acts very nonchalantly, he is always very happy every time I deliver a letter to him, but he probably doesn't want me to tell you these things."

"You can guess that he doesn't want you to still tell me all this?" You think this owl is really interesting. The owl says, "I'm just his spirit beast, not his servant. I don't have to listen to everything he says. I have my own judgment."

This is probably the downside of summoning beasts being too smart; they have too many of their own ideas. It added, "But as long as he doesn't know that it was me who said it, it's not a big problem."

It's quite savvy in understanding human relationships. You said, "That's pretty much the idea. You're very smart."

“After all, the relationship between summoning beasts and ninjas is a two-way selection process. A smart summoning beast will choose a smart ninja. If the other party is also stupid, I will be very frustrated.” The owl said, then suddenly realized something and turned its head to the other side. The crows outside the window were reflected in its round pupils. They were not ordinary crows. It said to you, “You are a very busy person. There are other people looking for you.”

You turn around and see a crow perched outside the window. It's Shisui's crow. It definitely didn't come here just to join in the fun. You remember that you asked Shisui to do something for you last time. As for payment, he didn't ask for anything. That was a while ago. If you calculate, he should have already started work by now.

Holidays are always short, and the ninja's working hours are comparable to those of a corporate slave who has been exploited to the extreme, so you haven't seen his crow for a while. Now that you've finally seen him, you open the window with a hint of surprise and let the clever crow fly in.

When the crow and the owl met, it was a truly bitter encounter. They disliked each other intensely. The owl said, "I don't want to fight you here. I'm just here to deliver a message, nothing more."

If it could, this owl would probably shrug like its owner, looking helpless, much like Shikamaru.

You reached out and patted the crow's head, saying, "Don't fight. What letter did Shisui send?"

The crow tilted its head, flapped its wings, and flew to your palm. A letter was tied to its leg. After you took it off, the crow stayed by your hand, quietly watching you. Its expression was somewhat similar to that of its master, Zhishui.

Because birds come to deliver messages to you from time to time, you always keep some grain in your drawer. You just gave the owl a handful, and not wanting to be biased, you opened the drawer and gave the crow a handful as well.

The crows pecked at the grain slowly and methodically, taking a couple of pecks before looking up at you. Shisui's letter said that he had returned to Konoha and would come to see you again during his next break.

When I saw him say that he was taking a day off to come see you, I felt a little sorry for him. Otherwise, he might as well have gone solo with you. There's absolutely no future working for Konoha, and you're constantly being annoyed by those old men in the elders' council. If it were you, you would have run away long ago. Only someone as stubborn as the Uchiha could have such a deep belief in the so-called Will of Fire.

Having grown accustomed to corporate culture in your past life, you're no longer susceptible to this kind of thing. In the end, it's all the same old tricks, but unfortunately, people in this world haven't realized it yet.

The owl said, "Why does that Uchiha keep coming to see you? Do you two have a special relationship?"

A special relationship...? Hmm, that's definitely a bit special. You said, "It's probably because I work for you for free."

The owl was taken aback by the clear and straightforward explanation, and it felt a little sorry for the Uchiha.

After you finish writing the letters and have them mailed by an owl and a crow respectively, you stand up and stretch your limbs. Sigh, I've worked so long today...

When the crow returned to Konoha with your letter, Shisui was analyzing the actions of Konoha's higher-ups with Itachi. The crow didn't fly in immediately but stayed on the open-air balcony. Itachi noticed something and said to Shisui, "Your crow seems to have brought something back."

Shisui said, "It's probably just some information we've gathered." He said it so casually, as if it really was just some simple information, but Itachi still couldn't help but take another look.

His intuition told him it wasn't that simple. He said, "Really? Why don't we take a look? What if it's some important news?"

If he refused again, Itachi would probably become suspicious, so Shisui stood up and went to the balcony. He waved to the crow, which obediently flew over and landed on his forearm. Standing behind Shisui, Itachi quietly watched as Shisui took the letter off the crow's leg and unfolded it to take a look.

With just one glance, Itachi could tell that it was a letter you wrote.

No wonder he kept making excuses earlier, so that's why...

My first reaction to discovering that Zhishui was still in contact with you wasn't so angry. After all, he had already caught some signs beforehand. Perhaps they were just wild guesses, but it turned out that they weren't just baseless speculations; they were all true.

Itachi asked, "When did it start?" He was asking when Shisui and he had resumed contact. Shisui didn't turn around, and said in a nonchalant tone, "It's been a while. As for why I didn't tell you, the reason is simple: Akira didn't want me to tell you these things. Besides, if you knew, you would probably feel bad, right? Someone you used to like doesn't actually like you that much, and is even intentionally avoiding you. No matter how strong a person is, they will feel pain."

Shisui spoke as if he were showing consideration for his friend and couldn't bear to see him sad. As for his real purpose, it was self-evident. Itachi was not someone who could be easily dealt with. He said, "Should I thank you for your thoughtfulness?"

Undoubtedly a sarcastic remark, Shisui said, "Well... no need for thanks, it's what a friend should do."

Itachi's expression gradually turned cold. He said, "I think you might not understand what I mean." Or perhaps he understood perfectly well, but was just pretending not to.

Zhi Shui said, "Mingxi doesn't want to see you. She told me this herself because you caused her too much trouble before, and your relationship ended a long time ago. You still act like your fiancé. Forgive me for being blunt, but isn't this just being clingy?"

He spoke quite directly, and was indeed outspoken. Itachi's expression was calm and composed as he said, "The credibility of any news decreases after it has been passed around."

The implication was that he didn't believe Shisui's words at all, and even reminded him that he should think carefully before speaking.

"Ah... I know it's hard for me to stop you, so just wait until you see Mingxi next time and ask her. She'll tell you herself that she doesn't like you."

Itachi was thinking, "Don't you really like him at all? He's lived with you for over ten years. He knows you so well, knows all your likes and dislikes, and can even understand the meaning behind your little gestures. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that you two are a match made in heaven. Was everything before just his delusion?"

You don't like him at all?

Itachi fell into deep thought, and Shisui comforted him, "Aki just doesn't like you, she doesn't hate you."

Such a comforting effect is negligible, and it's more like a show of force, definitely a boast.

"But how can you be sure that Mingxi likes you?" What's so special about his friend? Is it his appearance or his personality? Speaking of appearance, although Itachi doesn't pay much attention to his looks, he knows that his appearance meets the aesthetic standards of many people. Even you have praised him several times, saying that he is handsome and beautiful, which is enough to show that you are very satisfied with his appearance.

And what about Zhishui? Are you also satisfied with Zhishui?

Shisui shrugged: "I never said she liked me. I'm very careful about that." With his friend as a cautionary tale, he would deliberately avoid topics that might upset you when interacting with you, so he should be grateful to have Itachi as a friend.

He not only thought this in his heart, but he even said it out loud. He said, "I am actually very grateful to you. After all, if it weren't for you, I might have made a mistake too."

His friend's gratitude was more like a catalyst, igniting Itachi's anger. So... he was thanking him again. Itachi lowered his eyes, and just when Shisui thought he would fly into a rage, he simply smiled. "Looks like you only ever thought you and Aki had a good relationship..."

To become a ninja, and an excellent one at that, one often possesses a strong heart, enough to withstand external malice. Itachi Uchiha's heart was that strong; even when his friend had clearly explained his relationship with him, he still stuck to his previous opinion and believed it without a doubt.

"Then I won't bother you any longer," Itachi said politely, then walked to the door to leave. Shisui also walked to the door, watching his figure disappear at the end of the corridor.

She was definitely angry after all.

At this very moment, far away in the Land of Rope, you suddenly sneezed. You rubbed your cheeks, and Haku, who heard you sneezing, came over. Worried that this was the beginning of a cold, he took your hand and used his chakra to examine your physical condition, which was even more convenient than taking a CT scan.

It seems there shouldn't be any problems so far. Bai's tightly furrowed brows relaxed a little, but he couldn't let his guard down. He said, "Mingxi, you can't stay up late tonight."

"Huh? Have you been staying up late a lot lately?" You said with a hint of surprise, "I don't think I've been staying up late lately, have I?"

Haku said that he could handle the work and that it was most important for you to rest. However, given the chaos of this world, you received a message before going to sleep from Deidara, saying that they had successfully captured a Jinchuriki.

Seeing this message, you remained calm, without any feelings of irritation, anger, or fear. You simply stared at the message quietly, then rubbed your temples. Bai, seeing that you were still awake at this hour, sat down on the edge of your bed and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Hmm... It's a message from Deidara, saying that the Akatsuki has successfully captured a Jinchuriki."

"Really? They're pretty quick." Bai said. Actually, he didn't care much about any of that. The only thing he cared about was how you felt. Were you feeling lost? He reached out and cupped your cheeks, asking, "Mingxi, are you sad?"

"No, not at all. It's just a bit of a hassle, I still need to transfer my assets." You rested your head on Bai's shoulder, and he reached out and patted your back lightly. You gradually relaxed, and he said, "The asset transfer is just a little troublesome, I can do it for you."

He can do many things for you; he just wants you to stay happy.

You slowly open your eyes. Deidara's intelligence is just a signal, meaning that war is about to spread in this world again.

Oh well, maybe you'll have some peace and quiet once the world ends.

You casually wrote letters to other villages, warning them to be aware of their village's jinchūriki. Whether they listened or not is another matter. Anyway, you've done what you could, and the rest is up to the villages' reactions.

Ultimately, you're only connected to the world because you're bound to this capitalist system. If you didn't have this system, you might just restart it someday if you had a change of heart.

So world peace doesn't mean much to you. You just treat this life as a game to experience, the kind of game where you don't save and just switch games when you die.

You've been in the Land of Rope for a while now, and thanks to Sasori's suggestions for improvement, steel production has doubled this quarter. He's truly a master of his craft and a very useful tool.

This is the happiest thing for you recently. When you're happy, you give bonuses to the factory workers. After all, having been a corporate slave for many years in your previous life, you know that verbal praise and compliments are all empty words. Only the bonuses in your hands are real. The employees who receive the money are full of energy and throw themselves back into their work, thus creating a virtuous cycle.

You are very satisfied with this.

However, life is full of ups and downs. You might think everything is going smoothly one day, but then something unexpected might happen. For example, you might encounter an Uchiha from Konoha on a rainy night. It's not Uchiha Shisui or Uchiha Sasuke, but Uchiha Itachi.

You stand at the doorway, looking outside. The figure stands quietly in the rain. Should you be glad he remembered to hold an umbrella? At least that way your floor won't be soaked. You don't say anything, but you feel that this scene is really like a cliché horror movie plot like "Rainy Night Murderer".

After gazing at him quietly for a while, he finally moved. He walked towards you, and the distance between you kept shrinking until you were only a few steps apart. He raised the umbrella in his hand a little higher, revealing his entire face. His long hair had grown even longer than when you left him, reaching his waist. As he tilted his head back slightly, the stray hairs hanging on both sides fell back, revealing that familiar and beautiful face.

He called your name, "Mingxi." His voice was a little hoarse and sounded somewhat pitiful, but you always felt that he was just pretending. Uchiha Itachi was a very good person at disguising himself. He usually hid his arrogance very well. Most people who knew him would not see through his true nature, which was enough to prove that his acting skills were superb.

But you're not buying it. You've already figured out his true nature, and you won't be so easily fooled. You ask, "How did you find me?"

"Finding Mingxi won't be difficult for you." He seemed saddened by your cold and distant attitude. Did you really hate him that much? Is everything just as Zhishui said?

You stand on the steps by the door, lowering your eyes to gaze at Itachi's face. Because you've raised your umbrella a little higher, fine raindrops fall on his cheek, wetting his dark hair. Stray hairs cling to his fair skin, making him look even more alluring. He then says, "Or does Mingxi not want to see me?"

Why did things end up like this between you and him?

You said, "Yes, I really don't want to see you. I've already made it clear to you that our relationship ends here. If you come looking for me now, it will only make you seem like you're being clingy..."

Itachi asked, "Then what exactly is our relationship?" He seemed determined to get an answer from you. You paused for a few seconds, thinking seriously, and then said, "If I really had to define it, it would be a pure power-for-sex transaction. After all, you sold yourself out to get my help and save the Uchiha clan from being wiped out."

"So... not even the slightest bit of liking? I heard Shisui came to see you, why did even Shisui..." Itachi muttered to himself, "Is it really the effect of the Mangekyou Sharingan?" He had already attributed the reason to Shisui using the Mangekyou Sharingan on you, without even considering that if he used the Sharingan's eye technique on you, your body would definitely be affected.

He just desperately needed to find a reason, a suitable reason, to justify the relationship between Shisui and you. The Mangekyou Sharingan was the best explanation and the one he could most accept.

"Since you also possess the Mangekyou Sharingan, you should know that's impossible. You can tell whether I've been subjected to a lowered eye technique with just one glance." You shrug. "Now take a close look and see if I've been subjected to a lowered eye technique."

Itachi remained silent, still unwilling to admit that you and Shisui seemed to have a better relationship than he did.

Where exactly did the mistake go wrong? He was completely baffled and could only beg you for an answer.

He said, "Why did we end up like this?" He meant that you two were so in love before.

Standing outside the door isn't going to work, and the rain is getting heavier, with raindrops blowing all over you in the wind. You sigh and say, "I'm going in. Are you going to stay outside?"

Itachi finally quieted down for a moment. He followed you into the house, placing the umbrella by the door. Rainwater slid down the closed umbrella. He walked almost silently, making no sound as he followed you. When Haku came downstairs and saw the person behind you, he was greatly surprised. He said, "Aki—him?"

You reassured them, "Don't worry, they're just visiting."

In your description, Itachi Uchiha, who came specifically to demand an explanation, has become a visitor. His purpose has changed instantly, but Haku still scrutinizes Itachi Uchiha with a critical eye. If the other party does anything detrimental to you, he will immediately take action.

However, what Bai feared didn't happen, because Uchiha Itachi behaved exceptionally docile and obedient throughout. You led him to the living room and sat him down without hesitation. The nights after winter were particularly cold, but thankfully the villa had underfloor heating, making the entire living room warm and cozy. You said to him, "If you're just here to catch up, I don't mind. But if you're here to bring up that marriage that never happened, then I mean you can leave now. Or I'll use other means to make you leave. So you choose one: be kicked out or stay here as a guest?"

Everyone knows how to answer this multiple-choice question, right? Uchiha Itachi is a smart person, you know he will choose the correct answer, and you hear him say, "I apologize for what happened before."

Was his apology sincere? You looked at him suspiciously, staring at his profile, trying to analyze his expression to determine how much of what he said was true and how much was false.

"Really? But I don't seem to sense any sincerity from you."

“I thought we were on the same page, but now it seems that it was just wishful thinking on my part. To make up for the mistakes I made before, Mingxi will do whatever she wants me to do now.”

Ah, you've thought of many possibilities, such as him still believing that you and he are engaged, or that he wants to forcibly take you back to Konoha, but you didn't expect him to be so honest in admitting his mistakes. Something's definitely up.