"Hmph, there's no mistake about it!"
At this moment, Sarutobi Asuma had recognized the person standing before him.
"Uchiha… Itachi!"
Seeing the two of them on high alert, Hoshigaki Kisame, who was standing beside Itachi, decided to speak up.
"Are you acquaintances of Mr. Itachi? Then allow me to introduce myself!"
With that, he removed his straw hat, revealing his pale, shark-like face.
"My name is Hoshigaki Kisame. I look forward to working with you!"
"There won't be a 'next time!'" Asuma's face was full of fighting spirit. "I'll take you both down here and now!"
Kisame, however, was not provoked. Instead, he glanced at Itachi with a faint smile.
"Mr. Itachi, it seems you're not very popular in the village."
At this moment, Yūhi Kurenai also spoke up.
"I know who you are, Hoshigaki Kisame. A former ninja of the Mist Village, wanted for assassinating a daimyo and for acts of national sabotage. The Land of Water has issued a bounty on your head!"
Faced with Asuma and Kurenai's hostility, Itachi furrowed his brow.
"Asuma-san, Kurenai-san, please don't get in my way. I don't wish to kill you."
"Oh?"
Asuma narrowed his eyes slightly. "That's not something someone who murdered his own clan would say. Appearing here dressed like this, what is your purpose?"
*Boom!*
Before Itachi could reply, Kisame, who could no longer restrain himself, pulled the giant sword Samehada from his back and smashed it into the ground.
"This guy's annoying. Should I just kill him?"
"It seems we can't leave the village peacefully anymore."
There was a hint of helplessness in Itachi's tone. "But don't go overboard. Your techniques tend to attract too much attention."
"Got it!"
Kisame threw his hat to the side and swung Samehada directly at Asuma. The battle commenced immediately.
However, unfamiliar with the abilities of Samehada, Asuma was gravely injured in just two exchanges, his arm severely wounded, significantly reducing his combat effectiveness.
Fortunately, Kurenai quickly used a genjutsu to restrain Kisame's movements and attempted to trap Itachi as well. However, the next moment, her illusion was reflected back by the Sharingan, leaving her immobilized.
Looking at Kurenai, who was frozen in shock, Itachi spoke calmly. "Such a level of genjutsu is ineffective against me."
He raised a kunai and swung it at her. At the last moment, Kurenai bit her lip to break the illusion's control, narrowly dodging the strike, but Itachi kicked her off the embankment.
The battle had clearly turned in Itachi and Kisame's favor.
At this critical moment, Kakashi arrived.
To counter the Sharingan's illusions, he instructed Asuma and Kurenai to close their eyes while he engaged Itachi and Kisame. But even with his efforts, Kakashi was swiftly overwhelmed by Itachi's Sharingan genjutsu *Tsukuyomi.*
Within the genjutsu, time, space, and matter were all controlled by Itachi. Though only an instant passed in reality, Kakashi endured days of mental torment within the illusion.
From an outsider's perspective, Kakashi fell to his knees almost instantly, clearly drained and mentally devastated.
"Oh?" Kisame remarked, impressed. "He didn't collapse after being hit with that? But, Mr. Itachi…"
He turned to Itachi. "Overusing those eyes is dangerous for you too."
"…"
Itachi said nothing, his expression calm, though the faint tremor in his eyelids betrayed his strain.
Through heavy breaths, Kakashi managed to ask, "Are you after Sasuke?"
"No," Itachi replied flatly. "I'm here for the Fourth Hokage's 'legacy.'"
The mention of this shocked the Konoha team. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was a commoner—what legacy could he have left? If anything, the only thing that came to mind was his son, Naruto, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
Kakashi, aware of certain secrets from Jiraiya, wore a grave expression. "You're after the Nine-Tails sealed within Naruto, aren't you? You're not the only ones acting, are you? Your organization is called 'Akatsuki,' right?"
"Hmm?"
Itachi hesitated briefly but then gave a decisive order.
"Kisame, take Kakashi. As for the other two, make them disappear."
Following the command, Kisame charged forward, his Samehada slicing toward the blinded Asuma and Kurenai.
Just then, a figure stepped in to block Kisame's path.
"Stop, Kisame."
"Huh?"
Kisame paused, smiling as he recognized the newcomer. "Well, if it isn't *Master Shi*. It's been a while. Are we enemies this time?"
The person blocking Kisame was none other than Aburame Shigeo. Though he had hoped Might Guy would arrive as in the original timeline, he had no choice but to reveal himself when that didn't happen.
Sighing at Kisame's enthusiasm, Shigeo replied, "Ah, one headache after another. Honestly, I'd prefer not to fight here. What do you say, Itachi?"
"We didn't come to start a war," Itachi said coolly. "As regrettable as it is, there's no reason to stay any longer. Let's go."
"Tsk, what a shame."
Reluctantly, Kisame sheathed Samehada and addressed Shigeo. "I look forward to our next encounter, *Master Shi*."
With that, Kisame and Itachi disappeared in a flash.
After ensuring their departure, Kakashi relaxed. "They're gone. You can open your eyes now."
Asuma and Kurenai cautiously opened their eyes, still on edge as they turned their attention to Shigeo.
"Captain Aburame, you seem close to those two. Why did Kisame call you *Master Shi*?"
The tension between them was palpable. However, Kakashi interrupted before the questioning could continue. "Asuma, Kurenai, Shigeo isn't an enemy. I…"
Before he could finish, Kakashi collapsed, and Kurenai hurriedly caught him.
Asuma hesitated, clearly troubled. Shigeo waved him off with a faint smile. "Don't ask me. It's too complicated to explain. If you want answers, ask the Third Hokage. I have other matters to attend to."
Without another word, Shigeo disappeared.
"Ugh…"
Asuma opened his mouth to protest but sighed in resignation. "One mystery after another. Let's get Kakashi back to his quarters, Kurenai."
"Alright."
**(End of Chapter)**