Asuma Sarutobi and the others had just returned Kakashi to his quarters when Sasuke appeared.
"Hey, Kakashi!"
Entering the room, Sasuke glanced at the unconscious Kakashi lying on the bed, then at Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi standing nearby. A trace of confusion flashed in his eyes.
"Why is Kakashi lying in bed? And why are you Jonin here? What's going on? What happened?"
"…"
Asuma and Kurenai remained silent. They both knew about Uchiha Itachi and didn't want to provoke Sasuke.
However, at that moment, Tokubetsu Jonin Aoba Yamashiro suddenly burst in, loudly blurting out as he entered:
"I heard that Itachi has returned! Is it true? And he's looking for Naruto, isn't he? Uh…"
Mid-sentence, Aoba realized Sasuke was in the room. His face immediately stiffened with regret.
But it was too late to take back the words.
Aoba's expression froze, while Sasuke, processing what he heard, bolted out of the room without a word.
"That guy's back in the village... and looking for Naruto? What's going on? If he catches Naruto, he's as good as dead. I won't let him succeed!"
Desperate, Sasuke began searching for Naruto. Thanks to a tip from Teuchi, the ramen shop owner, he finally found him in the town square.
Standing before Naruto were none other than Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi.
"It's been a while," Itachi called out, his expression calm. "Sasuke."
"Itachi Uchiha!"
Sasuke's face twisted with rage as he shouted the name. His Sharingan activated instantly.
Seeing Sasuke, Kisame smirked.
"Oh, a Sharingan user, and he even looks a lot like you. Who is this, anyway?"
"My little brother," Itachi replied indifferently.
"I heard the Uchiha clan was wiped out," Kisame added with a smirk. "By you, no less."
This statement only inflamed Sasuke further.
"Itachi Uchiha! I'll kill you!"
Hatred consumed Sasuke's expression.
"I've done as you said—I hate you! I loathe you! I've lived all these years just to kill you!"
Lightning crackled in his hand, producing the piercing chirping sound of *Chidori*.
"I'll kill you—now!"
Sasuke charged at Itachi, the Chidori in his hand aimed straight for him.
"Die!"
With a loud crash, Sasuke's Chidori blasted a hole in the wall. But Itachi remained unscathed, calmly catching Sasuke's wrist as the Chidori fizzled out.
A subtle twist of Itachi's hand.
*Crack!*
"Ahhh!" Sasuke cried out in agony as his wrist was brutally twisted. He collapsed to the ground.
"Sasuke!"
Naruto rushed to help, but Kisame blocked his path.
Despite the pain, Sasuke forced himself back up.
"This is my fight!"
Ignoring the injury to his wrist, he charged at Itachi again.
"I'll kill him! It has to be me!"
"…"
Itachi remained impassive, effortlessly sidestepping Sasuke's attacks before delivering a side kick.
*Thud!*
The kick sent Sasuke flying into the wall. Yet again, Sasuke struggled to his feet.
"I've lived for this day… just for this day!"
Screaming, he charged at Itachi once more, only to be sent flying back with another blow.
Before Sasuke could rise again, Itachi approached and mercilessly beat him down with punches and kicks. Finally, when Sasuke could no longer move, coughing blood, Itachi grabbed his collar and slammed him against the wall.
"You're weak. Why are you so weak? Because your hatred isn't strong enough."
With those words, Itachi activated his *Tsukuyomi*.
The genjutsu dragged Sasuke back to the night of the Uchiha massacre, forcing him to relive the slaughter of their parents over and over.
Meanwhile, Itachi's voice echoed in Sasuke's mind.
"You're not even worth killing. My foolish little brother… If you want to kill me, hate me. Despise me. And survive in disgrace."
"Ahhhhh!" Sasuke screamed in despair before losing consciousness.
Even Kisame couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy at the scene.
"Still the same, using *Tsukuyomi* on your own brother?"
Just as Kisame spoke, another voice rang out nearby.
"Do you think that's a bit much, Kisame?"
"Hm?"
Kisame turned to see Shigeo Aburame, wearing a red-hooded cloak, standing beside him. Kisame grinned.
"Oh, it's you, Shigeo-sensei. I didn't expect to see you here. Are you also after the Nine-Tails?"
"Not at all." Shigeo placed a hand on Naruto's head, affectionately ruffling his blond hair. "This boy is my beloved godson. I'm here to warn you: anyone who touches him makes an enemy of me. Pass that along to Nagato."
"Understood." Kisame nodded, then suddenly swung his massive sword, *Samehada*, at Shigeo.
*Slash!*
Samehada struck Shigeo's shoulder, but at the same moment, Shigeo's fist collided with Kisame's chest.
*Boom!*
Kisame's chest caved in, sending him flying like a baseball. He crashed through a wall and disappeared.
Shigeo glanced at his now-healed shoulder before motioning toward Itachi.
"You might want to check on Kisame. I may have overdone it a bit, though he should still be alive."
"…"
Without a word, Itachi released Sasuke and vanished.
As the dust settled, Shigeo sighed.
"Alright, Jiraiya-sensei, how much longer are you going to hide? Or have you really fallen for a honey trap?"
"Ha! You underestimate me!" Jiraiya's voice rang out as he appeared, carrying a scantily-clad beauty on his shoulder.
Smiling, Jiraiya struck a pose.
"True men like me aren't fooled by beauty. Women just throw themselves at me!"
Naruto: "…"
Shigeo: "…"
(End of Chapter)