"Wow… You two look really close. Don't tell me you're on a date? Sakura and Hinata would be heartbroken if they saw this."
Izayoi and Sasuke Uchiha were out shopping for groceries and cookware. On their way to the next store, a teasing voice called out behind them. Hearing it, Sasuke's face instantly darkened, and Izayoi raised a hand in greeting:
"Good morning, Kakashi-sensei."
"Kakashi-sensei, what are you doing here?" Sasuke asked as he walked over.
Leaning against a pillar, Hatake Kakashi was engrossed in his copy of Icha Icha Paradise. His uncovered right eye casually flicked toward a nearby dango shop, where two figures in black cloaks patterned with red clouds sat sipping tea and eating dango – daringly wearing the Akatsuki uniform in the middle of Konoha.
Anyone who had faced the ninja of the Konoha Crush or was active on the underworld scene would instantly recognize that attire.
Sensing Kakashi's line of sight, Sasuke started to glance that way, but just then a female voice spoke up behind them:
"Kakashi, Izayoi, Sasuke – what are you doing here?"
They turned and saw Yūhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma approaching.
"Good morning, Kurenai-sensei, Asuma-sensei," Izayoi greeted politely as always.
"Are you two on a date?" Kakashi persisted with his banter, that same teasing tone.
Asuma and Kurenai both reddened slightly in embarrassment. Before they could respond, a sudden gust of wind swept past. Glancing toward the dango shop, the two black-cloaked figures inside were gone without a trace.
"I've got things to do. Later."
Closing his little orange book, Kakashi nodded at Asuma and Kurenai before disappearing in a Body Flicker.
Catching on to his meaning – and realizing what that wind gust had been – Asuma and Kurenai nodded in turn, then dashed off themselves without a word to Izayoi or Sasuke.
Sasuke, taking it all in, frowned. "What's up with those jōnin?"
"They're off to chase your brother," Izayoi replied kindly. "Just now, Itachi was inside that dango shop – you didn't notice?"
"My brother?" Sasuke froze for a moment, then his face twisted with rage. "Itachi Uchiha was here?!"
"Yup, but he's gone now."
Without another word, Sasuke channeled Lightning Release chakra to boost his speed and shot off in the same direction Asuma and Kurenai had gone.
Watching Sasuke vanish into the distance, Izayoi's lips curved upward as he murmured, "This encounter will hit him hard. Now he'll hunger even more for power, giving him the resolve to evolve – and accept the costs."
"My little 'crop' is about to mature for harvest once again."
…
Beside a river dividing the forest, two figures in black cloaks patterned with red clouds, wearing straw hats adorned with wind chimes, found themselves blocked by Sarutobi Asuma and Yūhi Kurenai.
"So we've been spotted after all?"
Kisame Hoshigaki removed his hat, baring his shark-toothed grin. "The boss sure is extreme – sneaking around to work with Orochimaru, killing people in Konoha without even telling us. But you Konoha folk sure are cocky, sending just two shinobi to stop us."
"Kisame Hoshigaki, the 'Demon of the Hidden Mist,' an S-rank rogue ninja from Kirigakure," Kurenai immediately recognized him.
Asuma drew his trench-knives (lit. "Flying Swallow") and glared at the duo, murder in his eyes. "So the one with the Rinnegan is your Akatsuki leader? You cooperated in the Konoha Crush along with Orochimaru. Now you stroll in after we posted bounties – if so, you two won't be leaving here alive."
"Heh…" Kisame bared his teeth again, then turned to his partner. "Itachi-san, all Konoha shinobi talk this big?"
"Long time no see, Asuma-san. Likewise, Kurenai-san."
Removing his hat, Itachi Uchiha revealed the three-tomoe Sharingan in his crimson eyes, fixing a calm gaze on their alarmed faces. "Kindly step aside. I'd rather not kill you two."
"Hah…" Asuma sneered, surprised but not backing down. "Doesn't sound like the same guy who slaughtered his entire clan."
"Itachi Uchiha!!"
As the four of them sized each other up, tension mounting, a voice brimming with hatred ripped through the air – accompanied by a buzzing static, like a thousand chirping birds:
"CHIDORI!"
A lightning-charged figure materialized behind Itachi, crackling blue-white sparks in hand, the double-tomoe Sharingan in his eyes spinning wildly with pure killing intent. "Die, you bastard!"
Yet Itachi, facing away from the lethal blow, showed no change in expression. An instant later, he shifted slightly – much like Tenten against Temari – and Sasuke's Chidori struck empty air. Itachi snatched Sasuke's wrist and flung him into the forest, slamming him into a large tree.
Before Sasuke could groan, Itachi appeared in front of him, one hand clutching his throat and lifting him off the ground, the other seizing Sasuke's lightning-cloaked fist and dislocating his wrist with a small twist.
Sasuke, gagging from the choke, couldn't even scream – his face purpling from lack of air. But his eyes burned with undying hatred, glaring at Itachi as if trying to kill him through sheer will.
"Sasuke!"
Kurenai and Asuma tensed, about to rush in and save him. But Kisame's massive bandaged sword, Samehada, swung out like a heavy club, driving them back.
"Let them have their brotherly reunion. Don't interfere!" Kisame jeered. "Sorry, but this road is closed."
Asuma and Kurenai exchanged glances and nodded. Then they advanced in flawless tandem: Asuma brandished the Flying Swallow laced with Wind Release, lunging at Kisame, while Kurenai formed rapid seals, her body twisting and blurring like a mirage before disappearing. Her upper torso reappeared over Sasuke's head, thrusting a kunai toward Itachi in an illusion meant to force him to retreat.
"Don't get in my way, Kurenai-san."
Itachi spared her a flat glance, and a single rotation of his three-tomoe Sharingan unleashed a silent wave of Yin Release chakra.
Kurenai froze, wide-eyed, the illusions dissolving. Her true body emerged some distance away, completely paralyzed. Glancing down at Sasuke's futile struggles, Itachi spoke coldly:
"You're only at two-tomoe Sharingan? Apparently your hatred for me isn't strong enough yet, my foolish little brother. Let me help you out."
With that, the three tomoe in Itachi's eyes twisted into a black triangular pinwheel—the Mangekyō Sharingan, each use depleting it further. He planned to cast Tsukuyomi, forcing Sasuke yet again to relive the clan's massacre, amplifying his hatred. But a voice abruptly cut in:
"Hey… Itachi Uchiha. What do you think you're doing to my Otouto?"
Whoosh—
Before Itachi could unleash the Mangekyō, the shrill whistle of something slicing the air and a wave of murderous intent forced him to let go of Sasuke. In a blink, he vanished. Not even an instant later, a white-hot laser tore through the spot where he'd just stood.
That beam swept on toward Asuma and Kisame, who were still fighting. They both leapt into the air to dodge. Asuma landed on a tree branch, while Kisame, standing now on the river's surface, sheathed Samehada and formed a simplified seal:
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A huge surge of water formed a dragon that crashed against the incoming laser beam. Although the dragon was sliced apart with ease, the watery mass successfully reduced the laser's power. Apparently sensing it wouldn't be able to finish them off, the laser's user ceased fueling it.
Crunch—
The caster crushed the swirling Storm Release sphere in his hand, and Izayoi strode over to Sasuke, who sat on the ground gasping for breath.
"You okay?"
"I-I'm fine," Sasuke croaked, eyes still locked on Itachi's figure standing atop the river. Rage flared again, and he shouted, "Izayoi, kill him for me!"
"That's tricky," Izayoi said thoughtfully. "But we can try, before they figure out my abilities."
He turned to Itachi and Kisame, quickly gathering a basketball-sized mass of energy in his hands.
"That's a Rasengan? But this is way bigger!" Kisame exclaimed, startled. "And earlier I saw Storm Release… Itachi-san, do you know this brat? He seems real chummy with your brother. Have you met him before?"
"His name is Izayoi, top of Sasuke's graduating class—a civilian orphan, I believe." Even as he said it, Itachi's calm facade showed a hint of surprise at Izayoi's power.
"A civilian orphan?" Kisame muttered, glancing at Samehada vibrating in his hand. "He's got chakra that's making my sword drool. That's no ordinary orphan. Probably one of the 'missing Senju' or something."
"Itachi-san, let me have a little fun," Kisame requested, intrigued.
"No," Itachi said coldly. "Your jutsu cause too much commotion, and our identities are already exposed. There's bound to be a ton of shinobi converging on us."
Just then, both men's expressions tightened. The swirling energy Izayoi held had sprouted three small orbs inside it.
Normally, pure chakra wouldn't alarm top-tier Kage-level fighters so much. But the moment these mini-orbs formed, they each took on a different color: one transparent-white (Wind), one yellow-brown (Earth), and one orange-red (Fire).
Then one reversed its spin and rammed into the other two, threatening to blow everything sky-high. Yet the swirling sphere didn't explode. Instead, it turned glassy-clear, revealing a fist-sized white core inside. Anyone with sensory ability could feel the terrifying power lurking in that little white orb.
Even high-ranking Kage-level nin like Kisame and Itachi recognized the structure—though the shape was unfamiliar. Before Kisame could cry out, Izayoi on the bank hurled the translucent-white globe at them.
"Are you kidding me? A Dust Release you can throw!?" Kisame yelled, dropping all pretense. He and Itachi each wasted no time fleeing, while Asuma and Kurenai likewise bolted into the forest.
Meanwhile Izayoi, his eyes flicking in surprise at how large this new move had grown, quickly hoisted Sasuke over his shoulder and ran.
Whoosh—
When the glowing sphere splashed onto the river, the white orb within shattered like fragile glass, instantly saturating the bubble with brilliant white light.
The sphere expanded rapidly as if in a silent explosion. The outer shell remained intact, so no energy leaked, but the sphere kept inflating. Realizing how dire it was, Itachi's face darkened, and he let a single tear of blood drip from his Sharingan:
"Amaterasu!"
Black, inextinguishable flames appeared and spread across the light bubble. Yet in the next moment, they were visibly consumed, disintegrated by an even greater power.
"Itachi-san, cover me for two seconds," Kisame barked, weaving signs.
Itachi channeled monstrous ocular power, forming an orange-red spectral arm and shield—a partial Susanoo—to intercept the bubble of light. The expansion at last slowed. Then Kisame roared:
"Water Style: Water Shark Bullet!"
A colossal water shark burst from the river, gulping down both Kisame and Itachi, diving deep underwater at breakneck speed.
BOOM—
Nobody knew how far they'd swum before an ear splitting blast reached them. From an aerial vantage, one would see a massive sphere of light on the river's surface, expanding like a lid over the area—yet with no shockwave or outward spread.
It soon vanished as rapidly as it formed. Left behind was a smooth crater devoid of rubble or blast marks, soon to be filled by the flowing water. Konoha would doubtless gain a new lake.
~~~
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