Rain fell heavily through the trees.
You hated missions like this.
The forest was nearly impossible to navigate at night, and the rain had turned the ground into mud beneath your feet.
Your squad had been separated nearly an hour ago.
You weren't worried.
Not yet.
You had dealt with worse.
You stopped beneath a tree and checked for any signs of your teammates.
Nothing.
You sighed.
Reader: Great.
A faint sound came from behind you.
You immediately reached for a kunai.
You turned.
Nothing.
The forest was silent.
Too silent.
Your eyes narrowed.
Someone was there.
You could feel it.
Then a voice came from the darkness.
???: You shouldn't be here.
You froze.
A man stepped between the trees.
Long black hair.
A cloak decorated with red clouds.
A Hidden Leaf headband with a slash through the symbol.
And eyes you recognized immediately.
The Sharingan.
Your grip tightened around the kunai.
Reader: Itachi Uchiha.
He stopped.
His expression didn't change.
Itachi: You know who I am.
Reader: Everyone does.
His gaze remained fixed on you.
You knew the stories.
A former shinobi of the Hidden Leaf.
An S-rank missing-nin.
A member of the Akatsuki.
A murderer.
A traitor.
Someone you were absolutely not supposed to approach.
You took a cautious step backward.
Reader: What are you doing here?
Itachi: That isn't something you need to know.
His voice was quiet.
Not threatening.
That somehow made him more intimidating.
You kept your kunai raised.
Reader: You're an enemy of the village.
Itachi: I know.
No denial.
No argument.
Just two words.
You watched him carefully.
Reader: You could kill me.
Itachi: Yes.
Your stomach tightened.
