"Uchiha Itachi?" Jiraiya glanced at Naruto. He knew Itachi had joined the Akatsuki organization, and he had also investigated that the organization's target was the Tailed Beasts.
"Yes. Itachi infiltrated the village and attacked Kakashi. I heard them say their target was Naruto, so I rushed over," Sasuke explained, adjusting his breathing and suppressing the rage in his heart.
"Don't rush. Have some water." Naruto handed him a vase.
"Mm."
Naruto nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. Weren't you speaking quite fluently just now? Why do you always squeeze out words just a few characters at a time when talking to me?
Jiraiya waited until Sasuke finished drinking and regained his composure, then asked again, "Who else was with Itachi?" Although Jiraiya hadn't uncovered much, he knew that Akatsuki members always operated in pairs.
"Uh…" Sasuke paused. He hadn't actually asked who Itachi's partner was before rushing off. Closing his eyes to recall, Sasuke said, "Asuma-senpai's shoulder was injured. It looked like a cut from a sharp weapon, but also like it was torn."
Jiraiya lowered his head in thought.
"Sasuke, where is Kakashi?"
Sasuke gave the location, his words concise, not exceeding five characters.
Naruto casually opened a portal and sent a shadow clone through. Are you two nuts? he thought. Why waste time thinking? Just go ask directly!
"It's Kisame Hoshigaki. Skilled in Water Style, and his weapon can absorb chakra," Naruto relayed the information his shadow clone sent back. Although he already knew who Itachi's partner was, he couldn't just say it without explaining how he got the intel.
"Kisame Hoshigaki, huh." Jiraiya pondered. This guy wasn't easy to deal with; the ability to absorb chakra was a counter to almost all shinobi.
"By the way, who's Itachi?" Naruto started acting again.
Jiraiya then began explaining Itachi's history, finally adding, "Their target is you, Naruto!"
Naruto nodded, indicating understanding. So they're just here to snatch my foxy lady, right?
"I will kill him!" Sasuke's eyes burned with fury.
The three continued walking and talking until they reached a small inn. Jiraiya booked two rooms.
"Old man, what's the meaning of this?" Naruto asked.
"Funds are limited… oh… oh… oh…" Jiraiya hadn't finished speaking when his soul was completely captivated by a beautiful woman at the entrance.
"Naruto, here are the keys. You two go back to your rooms and rest first. I'll be back soon." Jiraiya stuffed the keys into Naruto's hand, got up, and dashed off.
Naruto smacked Jiraiya on the back of the head with a brick. So you're willing to risk it because it's not your kid, huh?
Jiraiya remained unfazed, rubbing the back of his head as he ran off. You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing the child. Besides, a thief can strike any day, but you can't guard against them forever.
"Are they here?" Sasuke also noticed the woman was under a genjutsu.
"Here." Naruto handed Sasuke the Kusanagi sword imbued with the 'Entrance Skill.'
"Does he always…?" Sasuke asked incredulously, watching Jiraiya walk away with his arm around the beautiful woman. Naruto had briefly described Jiraiya in his letters, so Sasuke knew he was strong, but this…
"Ever heard of gambling, whoring, and drugs?" Naruto led the way upstairs. "We're here."
"Oh." Sasuke, preoccupied with thoughts of Itachi, casually opened the door.
"Ahhh!!!"
"Get out…!"
A woman's scream and a man's roar interrupted Sasuke. "Sorry, wrong room." Sasuke closed the door again.
Naruto chuckled inwardly. The Entrance Sword truly lives up to its name. As long as you hold it, you'll be drawn into any nearby battles.
"Are they…?" Young Sasuke didn't understand such things yet.
"Expanding the clan, multiplying the population," Naruto said, opening the door to his own room.
Sasuke followed him in, still pondering.
Naruto took out ice and began cooling the room. He then took out paper and a brush and started holding a grudge.
Konoha Year 60, August XXth
Jiraiya, despite knowing that the S-rank rogue ninjas Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi were targeting me, still used me as bait.
I'll remember this grudge.
--- Uzumaki Naruto
Mom, Naruto thought, you deal with him however you see fit. Look at the kind of master and apprentice your husband has – one wants to make your family extinct, the other wants to end your family line!
The two sat on the bed, adjusting their condition and preparing. They both knew that luring Jiraiya away meant the enemy was about to make their move.
Knock knock knock
The knock came. Naruto guessed instantly it was Itachi. Jiraiya always used the window, and Kisame clearly wasn't the type with such manners.
"They're here!" Sasuke said, suppressing his anger.
The two walked forward and opened the door. Four pairs of eyes met.
"Don't interfere," Sasuke said to Naruto, activating his Sharingan and staring intently at Itachi.
"Okay."
"Quite determined, aren't you, little brats," Kisame sneered, hoisting Samehada onto his shoulder, revealing all his jagged teeth when he spoke. His features were certainly… distinctive.
Naruto took out a brick, wanting to smash his teeth in. He felt Kisame's entire existence served only to highlight Itachi's good looks. This man's presence clearly dragged down the overall aesthetic appeal of the Akatsuki idol group; because of him, Akatsuki had been forced to pivot from being idols to being judged solely on strength.
"Could you step aside? How about we take this outside?" Naruto asked.
"Sure," Kisame replied, shifting sideways. Itachi also stepped back.
Naruto and Sasuke started walking out.
Bang!
Kisame swung Samehada, slashing out when Naruto was halfway through the doorway. Naruto blocked it with an iron wok. The force was immense; Naruto was pushed back two steps, and Samehada's spikes embedded themselves in the wok.
"Ugly people sure cause a lot of trouble," Naruto muttered, letting go. I don't want this wok anymore. It's yours.
"You're quite arrogant, little brat," Kisame's expression was ferocious.
Naruto glanced at Sasuke, who was facing off against Itachi. Bro, I've got the aggro stable over here. You can start the boss fight now.
Kisame swung Samehada in a sideways uppercut towards Naruto.
Naruto retreated, raising another iron wok to defend. This time, Kisame's strength was even greater. The wok was sent flying, hit the wall, and bounced between the confronting brothers.
As if receiving a signal, Sasuke charged forward, his sword crackling with lightning. "Uchiha!! Itachi!"
Kisame retracted Samehada. "Little brat, your chakra quality is very high. It likes it very much."
"Thanks."
"Weird little brat." Kisame raised Samehada, bringing it down straight towards Naruto's head.
Naruto dodged backward, avoiding the heavy blade. Samehada's blade suddenly extended, tearing Naruto's clothes and drawing faint streaks of blood.
Boom! The blade slammed into the floor, shattering the ground and kicking up a large cloud of dust.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Within the dust cloud, Naruto created clones and began implementing his plan. Samehada was truly formidable; just two hits had absorbed half his chakra. But no matter how much you absorb today, I'll make you spit it all back out!
Kisame swung his blade, dispersing the dust. Samehada, having absorbed a huge amount of chakra, had grown enormous and was making strange noises, clearly delighted.
"Wind Style: Blow Dryer!" Naruto also activated his blow dryer technique to clear the remaining dust.
Kisame laughed, looking at the crowd of clones before him. "Little brat, got a lot of chakra, huh? Looks like it's enough for two more absorptions!"
Kisame hefted his blade, leaped over the crater he had just made, and charged into the group of clones like a fierce tiger descending upon a flock of sheep.
"Light Style: Mirror Reflection!" A group of shadow clones held up mirrors, reflecting light into Kisame's face.
"Nani!" Under the intense glare, Kisame could only squint, landing amidst the shadow clones. Relying on memory, he swung his blade, dispelling swathes of clones. Samehada absorbed the clones' chakra, growing even larger.
Swish Swish
Two whistling sounds cut through the air. Kisame, his vision still impaired, raised his blade to block. Two leg weights, thrown by shadow clones Naruto had positioned in the room beforehand, hurtled towards him.
The shadow clones, breathing white mist, charged out wielding Mithril axes, simultaneously tossing a barrel of oil to the real Naruto. The Mithril axe struck Samehada, which Kisame held defensively before him. The immense force of the clone just before self-destructing, combined with the hardness of the Mithril axe, actually managed to chip off two of Samehada's spikes.
"Aooo…" Samehada let out a strange cry, twisting its form and tearing through the clone just before it exploded.
The real Naruto, having caught the oil, dashed forward and shoved the entire barrel into Samehada's now wide-open, wailing mouth. Just as Kisame sensed something was wrong and swung his blade, the impacted Naruto thrust a burning torch into Samehada's mouth as well.
Naruto slammed against the wall, watching Samehada spewing fire and shedding scales, and grinned. Even the stinging pain from the cuts on his body couldn't mask his joy. I wouldn't have been able to stuff that barrel in if I hadn't fattened you up first.
Since you drew your sword against me, even knowing I'm outmatched, I will still break your blade. Damn right, I grew up watching Drawing Sword!
At this point, barely two seconds had passed since Kisame was hit by the bright light. His vision began to recover. While soothing the writhing, howling Samehada in his hand, Kisame squinted at the Mithril axe embedded in the wall. "Little brat, your weapon is quite special." Weapons capable of damaging Samehada were rare.
Naruto felt like he'd heard this line before. Why do all you Ninja Swordsmen love saying that? Is there something wrong with me using an axe in a fight?
"Water Style—…" Just as Kisame was about to use a water jutsu to extinguish the fire on Samehada, he was interrupted.
"That's far enough! Toad Mouth Bind!"
Jiraiya made his timely entrance. He had been observing secretly; as long as Naruto wasn't losing badly, he hadn't intervened. Now that Kisame was about to use ninjutsu, he knew Naruto couldn't block it. It was time for him to step in.
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