Naruto: I Reincarnated As Itachi Uchiha

"Damn it! The security in this village is tighter than I expected."

Uchiha Itachi leaned against a corner, his dark eyes scanning the bustling streets of Kirigakure. His appearance was disguised once again, but the wound on his chest, hastily bandaged, showed signs of infection. The unrelenting rain had only made matters worse, soaking his body and sapping his strength.

A faint glimmer of dawn broke through the overcast sky, illuminating his forehead protector, now hidden beneath a cloth. His body, still that of a child, trembled slightly as he pushed himself off the damp ground.

"I can't afford to stop now," he muttered under his breath, taking slow, deliberate steps along the wall like a wandering orphan.

Suddenly, a sharp voice called out. "Stop right there! Who are you? I've never seen you in Kirigakure before!"

Itachi turned weakly, his dark eyes meeting the gaze of a Kirigakure ninja. Putting on a feeble expression, he replied, "Ninja-sama, I'm just a wandering child. I haven't eaten for days… Please, have mercy."

The ninja's gaze narrowed. "A wandering child? Then explain the ninja pouch you're carrying!"

Itachi's heart sank. Reaching back instinctively, his hand brushed against the pouch hanging at his waist. Damn it. I've been exposed.

In a flash, his kunai was in hand, slicing cleanly across the ninja's neck. Blood sprayed as the man crumpled to the ground, but the commotion had already drawn attention. Dozens of figures darted into view, their headbands gleaming with the symbol of Kirigakure.

"Damn it," Itachi cursed, his fevered body barely able to keep up. His chakra reserves were depleted, his infection worsening with every passing moment. Dodging swiftly, he evaded streams of high-pressure water jutsu that tore through the village streets, leaving destruction in their wake.

"They're not holding back," he thought grimly, noting the scale of the ninjutsu unleashed. Unlike Konoha, Kirigakure's population density was lower, making it easier for its shinobi to use large-scale attacks without concern for casualties.

His Sharingan spun to life, recording the movements of the attacking shinobi. Nine of them were keeping pace with him, while others lagged behind. Could his genjutsu buy him enough time to escape? He wasn't sure, but he had to try.

The Sharingan's crimson tomoe began to rotate faster, drawing the pursuers into its hypnotic illusion. Blood trickled from Itachi's eye, a testament to the strain on his body. The effect was immediate—his enemies froze mid-step, ensnared by the genjutsu.

Taking advantage of the moment, Itachi formed a series of quick hand seals. "Body Flicker Jutsu."

In a puff of smoke, his body dissolved into a murder of crows that scattered in all directions. When the crows reassembled, Itachi had taken on a new disguise. Yet even as he fled, he could sense the tension rising.

The number of pursuers was growing. What had started as a small hunt had now escalated to nearly a hundred shinobi.

"Do these people have nothing better to do?" Itachi muttered, his exhaustion clear.

He spotted a wall up ahead and surged forward, vaulting over it with the last of his strength. To his dismay, another wall loomed before him. His chakra reserves were too low for another technique, and his body, weakened by fever, gave out.

He collapsed onto the ground, his breathing ragged. Looking around, he spotted a thicket of bushes and crawled toward it. Pushing aside the foliage, he discovered a hidden hot spring.

The turquoise water shimmered invitingly, steam rising in gentle curls. Itachi hesitated. "I can hide here, but there's no guarantee they won't search the area."

He approached cautiously, only to freeze at the sight of someone else in the spring—a woman with chestnut hair, lounging against the edge with a relaxed expression. She didn't appear to be a shinobi, but appearances could be deceiving.

Gripping his kunai tightly, Itachi dashed toward her, his Sharingan blazing to life once more. As the woman turned her head, their eyes met, and the illusion activated instantly.

"Don't move,"** Itachi growled, his voice low and menacing despite his exhaustion. "If you make a sound, we both die."

The woman's calm demeanor didn't falter. She glanced at the young boy before her, noting his pale complexion and bloodied state. Though he appeared no older than twelve, the deadly glint in his crimson eyes left no doubt—he was a shinobi.

Itachi's voice hardened. "When the ANBU come, tell them you saw nothing. Say a middle-aged man turned into crows and disappeared. If you expose me, I'll kill you before they can catch me."

With that, his strength gave out completely, and he collapsed into the hot spring. The warm water engulfed his body, offering a fleeting moment of solace.

---

Moments later, the sound of footsteps echoed nearby. A squad of ANBU appeared at the edge of the spring, their masks gleaming in the dim light. The woman, now draped in a white towel, turned to face them with a sharp glare.

"What's the meaning of this?" She snapped. "Are you here to disrupt my bath?"

One of the ANBU stepped forward. "Apologies, ma'am. We're searching for an intruder—a young boy with a Sharingan. Have you seen anything unusual?"

The woman smirked, her tone icy. "Unusual? Yes, a man stepped over my head moments ago. I melted him with my Boil Release, but he turned into crows and scattered. I suggest you stop wasting my time and leave."

Her sharp words, coupled with the intimidating aura of her bloodline ability, sent a chill through the ANBU squad. Without another word, they bowed and retreated, disappearing into the mist.

The woman's gaze softened as she glanced at the water where Itachi lay hidden. **"Uchiha, huh?"** she murmured. "Even a child like you bears the weight of that cursed clan."