As soon as Naraku ran out, several figures hidden in the shadows moved in a different direction.
"The whistle!"
More than a dozen shinobi surrounded Shisui and Itachi.
Figures appeared in rows, stepping out confidently.
They made no attempt to hide their identities, arrogantly revealing their faces—as if the outcome of this battle was already determined.
"Suddenly, both a high-ranking jonin and the son of the Uchiha patriarch will die here. Your father Fugaku won't mourn your death, will he?" one of the ninjas mocked, laughing without fear that Shisui and Itachi would escape.
Shisui narrowed his eyes.
"Are you a shinobi from the Sarutobi clan?" he asked, staring at the man in front of him. The man looked familiar—he had seen him somewhere before.A vague memory surfaced.
The man laughed in surprise but showed no fear at being recognized.
"Didn't expect the famous Shisui to recognize me, but it's useless. Even if you kneel down and beg for mercy now, I won't let either of you live."
"Don't blame me for conspiring with that idiot from the Hyūga clan."
Shisui's face darkened.
His heart chilled.
They were near the Naka River—close to a forested area. Usually, this place was deserted except for those training in ninjutsu or enjoying a picnic.
But this was still inside Konoha!
A large group of shinobi gathered here, aiming to kill them in broad daylight.
Shisui couldn't believe it…And yet—he had no choice.
The enemy didn't even try to hide.
How bold. How shameless.
"The ninja who attacked Naraku-san yesterday also used Konoha's signature techniques," Shisui said coldly, his eyes flaring with rage."And Naraku-san didn't even mention they were Root members. But now you're doing it again?!"
Among the attackers, two wore distinct masks.
One had blue markings.
The other had purple.
These weren't the usual animal-styled ANBU masks. The complex patterns indicated they belonged to indigenous shinobi factions.
The Sarutobi ninja sneered.
"You really think you're walking away from this?""After we kill you, it's just a matter of how we stage the battlefield."
"But it's pointless explaining this to you... since you'll be dead soon."
Before he could finish, Shisui vanished and reappeared directly in front of him.
A sharp metallic clang rang out as Shisui's blade was met mid-strike by the blue-masked ninja, who barely managed to block it.
"What power…!" the masked ninja's hand trembled as he held his short sword.
Just as Shisui was about to follow through with a killing strike, the purple-masked ninja suddenly intervened.
Shisui frowned and stepped back.
"You're not strong enough to face Shisui. Don't interfere again," the purple-masked ninja said coldly, turning to the Sarutobi shinobi.
"You...!" the Sarutobi ninja growled, humiliated. He was supposed to lead this team.
But he grudgingly accepted the truth. The masked ninja was right.
Turning toward Itachi, he sneered:
"Little brat. Get on your knees and beg, and maybe I'll let you die with dignity."
A light breeze swept through the clearing, heightening the tension.
Itachi didn't speak.
He activated his Sharingan.
Scarlet irises. Black tomoe spinning slowly.
"Sharingan, huh?" the Sarutobi ninja grinned wickedly. "Looks like a genius is about to die by my hands."
Itachi stared at him.
Then calmly asked:
"Are you jealous?"
"What?" the Sarutobi ninja frowned.
"Jealous of the Uchiha. Our strength. Our bloodline..."
"Shut up, you damn brat!" the ninja snapped, his rage exploding.He felt as if a child had stripped him bare with mere words.
"Our Sarutobi clan is never weaker than the Uchiha! Our Fire Release is the strongest in Konoha!"
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
As the ninja formed hand seals, hatred burning in his heart, Itachi silently echoed his thought:
You're jealous of my talent.
But his seals were faster—much faster.
A massive fireball—nearly four meters wide—formed instantly and roared toward the Sarutobi ninja.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
"No… Impossible…" the Sarutobi ninja barely finished forming his own jutsu before the massive flame swallowed him whole.
Inside the Hokage Building
The Third Hokage and his advisors watched the battle unfold through the crystal sphere of the Observation Ball.
Their focus was on Shisui and Itachi.
As for Naraku—rushing toward a squad led by Shinnosuke—they had already deemed him a dead man.
"Pity... We'll lose two promising seedlings today." Hiruzen shook his head, sighing.
The idea that any of the three would survive hadn't crossed his mind.
"They got too close to that scourge, Naraku," Koharu scoffed. "Better to clean them all out now before they become a threat."
Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement.
The shinobi surrounding Shisui and Itachi included members of the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, Root members, and loyalists of Koharu and Homura.
More than a dozen against two?
Escape was impossible.
But then—
The ninja from the Sarutobi clan was seen stepping back from Shisui, pale and terrified.
Danzo smirked.
"Looks like your clan's youth still has much to learn, Hiruzen."
Hiruzen fumbled for words, slightly embarrassed.
"He was just... careless. After all, the enemy is Shisui."
Then, Itachi entered the frame.
"The enemy is a child," Hiruzen said with confidence. "A genius, yes. But talent alone can't bridge the gap in age and experience."
However—
The next moment, the Sarutobi ninja facing Itachi was shown frozen in disbelief, right before being engulfed in flames.
The cup in Hiruzen's hand shattered, falling to the ground.