Itachi's gaze never once moves from the other boy to his errant animal, cold stare taking in everything about him. He needs to know who else is working for this organization, and whether or not they might represent aspects of his own psyche. Anything that might give him some cliched hint that this isn't real. Barring that, it's at least good to know the company he'll be keeping, criminal or otherwise.

The book is lowered as the other gets closer. He won't let him follow the vulpix around behind him before speaking up. "You could just return them to their capture devices and save yourself the trouble." The advice isn't given in a friendly manner, it's simply given, the boy's expression stoic.

The irony of the comment isn't lost on him, but then he isn't worried about keeping his own in check at the moment.