In the forest on the southwestern border of the Land of Fire.
Three Konoha shinobi, forehead protectors gleaming, darted swiftly through the woods.
Leading them was Might Guy, sent by Sarutobi Hiruzen to pursue Asuma, Gangzō Tetsu, and Kamizuki Izumo.
"Guy! Hurry!" Izumo called, glancing sideways. "If our timing is right, the fight should've already started."
"Worried too much, Izumo?" Tetsu chuckled. "Uchiha Kenya is already branded an S-rank rogue. By now, he's probably fled the Land of Fire. And even if he hasn't, there's no way he can defeat the Copy Ninja Kakashi—let alone three Jōnin at once."
Izumo hesitated, then muttered, "Still… it never hurts to be cautious."
Guy's expression hardened, though his smile quickly returned. "Shenyue's right. Let's move faster. But…" His teeth flashed in a grin. "I believe in Kakashi. As my eternal rival, he won't lose so easily!"
Rumble!
A crushing wave of pressure exploded from ahead.
The three shinobi froze, faces paling.
"This… this oppressive force—what is it?"
Guy's smile vanished, replaced by grim seriousness. "It's coming from that small village intel mentioned. The battle's already begun. Prepare for the worst."
"Go!"
Guy shot forward, his speed so extreme that Tetsu and Izumo—merely elite Chūnin—struggled to keep up.
Crackle—!
Lightning erupted from Kakashi's right hand, the thunderclap echoing as his Sharingan locked onto Kenya. His speed blurred, a living bolt of lightning.
"Raikiri!"
He lunged, the killing strike less than half a meter from Kenya's chest—
But in that instant, a pale golden, translucent diamond-shaped barrier appeared, blocking Raikiri's thrust.
It was Aizen's Kidō, a defensive spell meant to intercept high-speed assaults. Not invincible, but enough to create an opening.
Crack!
Within a heartbeat, Raikiri shattered the barrier. But that half-second was more than enough for someone at Kenya's level.
Whoosh!
Kenya vanished, reappearing behind Kakashi in an instant. Kyōka Suigetsu gleamed as he thrust for Kakashi's collarbone.
"Kakashi! Behind you!"
Kurenai and Asuma leapt in from both sides, weapons flashing—kunai and chakra-coated trench knives intercepting the blade.
Clang!
Kurenai's kunai snapped like brittle glass. Asuma's Wind-style-enhanced trench knife barely managed to stop the thrust.
"Earth Style—Rock Spears!"
Shiranui Genma's hands blurred through seals, and spikes of hardened earth shot up from the ground, lunging toward Kenya.
Kenya twisted his wrist. Kyōka Suigetsu spun at blinding speed, its edge whirling like a propeller, shredding the stone spears to dust.
"Now's our chance!"
From above, Kakashi struck again, Raikiri in hand, descending like a thunderbolt.
"Raikiri!!!"
Kenya's eyes narrowed. His left palm rose.
"Hadō #31: Red Cannon!"
Boom!
A blast of crimson light erupted from his hand, colliding with Raikiri.
The explosion shook the streets, shockwaves tearing through the ruins. Smoke and dust engulfed everything.
Kurenai, the least durable of the four, was blasted backward, coughing blood.
"Wind Style—Storm!"
Asuma steadied himself, vision blurred, but he pushed forward, teeth gritted, launching his counterattack.
But before his jutsu struck, Kenya's hands flashed through seals, pressing against the ground.
A wall of stone erupted, blocking the wind.
"Earth Style—Earth Wall!"
Asuma froze. "Impossible…!"
He had studied Kenya's files. Among Kenya's listed chakra affinities, Earth Style was never included.
"What the hell…?"
"Did you see it?" Kenya's cold voice whispered from behind him. "My Kyōka Suigetsu?"
Asuma's eyes widened. He turned—Kenya was standing right behind him, blade poised.
But in front of him, another Kenya still stood beyond the wall.
In the real world, Kakashi, Genma, and Kurenai saw something even stranger.
Kakashi himself had been the one to cast Earth Wall.
And Asuma… was charging his attack straight at Kakashi.
"What—?!" Kakashi's eyes widened.
Shhhk!
Kyōka Suigetsu pierced Asuma's heart from behind.
The illusion shattered like broken glass. Asuma gasped, finally realizing—what he had seen was nothing more than Aizen's illusion.
Blood spilled from his lips. "An… illusion…?"
"Asuma!!!" Kakashi and Kurenai shouted in unison.
"You bastard!" Genma roared. "Give Asuma back!"
Kenya's gaze was ice. "He wanted to kill me. Can't I kill him?"
With one sharp twist, he shattered Asuma's heart completely and withdrew the blade.
[Current Template Character: Aizen Sōsuke – Unlock Rate: 13.99%]