A new arrival and it's about Itachi God. So, do give it a go.
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***
"What are the rules?" Kakashi asked, his brow furrowed.
Shisui mirrored his confusion.
Neither had been briefed on the specifics of the Joint Chūnin Exams.
Itachi pulled a red scroll from his pocket, its edges worn from travel.
"In simple terms, the first exam spans the entire Land of Water. Our task is to complete the objectives listed on this scroll."
He paused, turning the scroll over in his hands.
"However, this scroll contains only half of the tasks. Another ninja team holds the other half, but I don't know which one."
Kakashi and Shisui nodded, the explanation clicking into place.
They had been lurking near Kirigakure before the exam began and had observed candidates departing the village.
"When we left Kirigakure, I eliminated the ANBU tailing us," Itachi continued.
"But I doubt that's the extent of their defenses for an event of this scale."
He estimated that the three days between their arrival in Kirigakure and the start of the exam were likely used for personnel deployment.
Shisui frowned, piecing it together.
"The rules are unconventional. It's unclear who proposed them, but the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, likely approved them to draw Kirigakure's elite away from the village."
"This creates chaos—an opportunity," Itachi said, his voice low.
"The masked man controlling Yagura probably designed these rules to destabilize Kirigakure."
Kakashi's eye narrowed.
"So, our target, Ao, is likely among the Kirigakure ninja deployed outside the village?"
Itachi nodded.
"Given Ao's abilities, it's highly probable. As a sensory ninja with the Byakugan, he's ideal for tracking candidates across the Land of Water's vast terrain."
The exam's scope made it nearly impossible for Kirigakure to monitor every corner effectively, even with significant manpower.
A sensory ninja like Ao would be invaluable in such conditions.
"But Kirigakure is massive," Kakashi said, frustration creeping into his tone.
"Where do we even start?"
Shisui glanced at Itachi.
"You said the scrolls' tasks are randomly assigned, right? That means they were shuffled before distribution."
"Correct," Itachi confirmed.
"Then there are two possibilities," Shisui continued.
"Either personnel are assigned based on the candidates' abilities, or they're matched to the tasks on the scrolls."
Kakashi rubbed his chin.
"With a major incident in Kirigakure, they'd likely recall all candidates and staff quickly."
"Not necessarily," Itachi countered, his eyes narrowing.
"The masked man orchestrated this to target me. He's weakened Kirigakure's defenses to draw me out. He won't allow information to spread quickly."
Shisui caught on.
"You're saying he's delaying communication deliberately?"
"Yes," Itachi said.
"Even so, the Land of Water is vast. Finding Ao with our current resources is like searching for a needle in a haystack."
Shisui sighed.
"Only one person in Konohagakure could handle intelligence gathering on this scale."
Kakashi nodded, understanding immediately. "I'll return to Konohagakure and report to the Hokage. We need Shibi Aburame, the head of the Aburame clan."
During the Third Shinobi World War, Shibi's insect-based techniques had provided Konoha with critical intelligence, allowing them to outmaneuver enemies.
"Can you manage it?"
Shisui asked Kakashi, concern in his voice.
He knew the toll of Kakashi's Mangekyō Sharingan and the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Both consumed immense chakra, especially over long distances.
"I'll be fine," Kakashi assured him.
"Transporting Shibi-sama alone won't be an issue. While I'm gone, you two stay sharp."
"Don't worry," Shisui said.
"If things get dire, we'll use the Fourth Hokage's kunai."
In their previous encounter with the masked man, they had avoided using Minato's specially marked kunai.
Even if the Fourth Hokage arrived, the battle wouldn't have ended swiftly, and the commotion would have drawn Kirigakure's attention.
If ninja from Kirigakure, Kumogakure, or Sunagakure discovered Konoha's infiltration, it would complicate matters significantly.
"Be careful," Kakashi said.
Sensing his Flying Thunder God mark, he vanished in a flash.
Itachi's expression darkened.
"This situation is escalating. More people are getting involved than I wanted."
His secrets were meant to stay hidden, but confronting a powerful enemy had forced him to reveal his abilities.
The battle outside Kirigakure would have been noticed by Shikaku Nara, who was in the village at the time.
As his former teacher, Shikaku would undoubtedly detect the unusual chakra fluctuations of Itachi's Susanoo.
Shisui placed a hand on Itachi's shoulder.
"There's nothing we can do about it now."
Itachi's eyes widened suddenly, a flicker of anxiety crossing his face.
"What's wrong?" Shisui asked.
"The masked man can't track us right now," Itachi said, his voice tense. "He'll target her instead."
Even if Itachi was slow to process emotions, he knew Izumi Uchiha had become an irreplaceable part of his life after his rebirth.
Danzō had exploited this vulnerability before, and the masked man, desperate to eliminate Itachi, would likely do the same.
"Shisui, we need to move!"
Itachi said, already sprinting toward the direction Izumi had taken when leaving Kirigakure.
Shisui followed closely behind.
"Izumi, I'm sorry you're in danger because of me," Itachi thought.
"But I won't let anything happen to you."
...
Inside Kirigakure, amidst a chaotic area ravaged by iron sand, a cube-shaped prison formed by four towering water walls stood.
Within this water prison, Terumi Mei's Boil Release technique rapidly dissolved everything around Sasori.
Sasori's clothing and exposed skin on his face and hands melted away, yet his strikingly handsome face remained expressionless.
"Bang!"
Sasori opened a scroll, sealing the Third Kazekage puppet beside him inside it.
"I can't let you ruin my work of art," he said calmly, raising his gaze to Terumi Mei.
"How is this possible?"
Mei's eyes widened in shock, fixed on Sasori's face.
Human flesh dissolves differently from objects, but beneath Sasori's dissolving skin, no trace of human tissue appeared.
His shattered skin resembled the Third Kazekage puppet's dissolution.
Sasori's Akatsuki robes were heavily damaged, revealing his form underneath.
From the dissolving facial skin, Mei realized Sasori's body wasn't human.
"You turned yourself into a puppet!"
Mei exclaimed, horrified.
Observing Sasori's joints, she confirmed he was a puppet.
Sasori chuckled, tearing off his tattered Akatsuki robes.
His upper body revealed two lids, and across his chest was a core with "Sasori" carved in red.
Behind him were a scroll rack and a modified weapon, the Spiral Blades.
"It's been ages since I used this body in battle," Sasori said.
His puppet form continued dissolving, but he showed no pain—puppets don't feel it.
Whoosh!
Under Mei's horrified gaze, Sasori opened his abdominal lid, launching steel cables toward her.
The cables moved swiftly.
Mei halted her Boil Release and dove aside.
"Bang!"
The cables struck the water wall behind her, splashing water and piercing it.
Sasori leaned forward, the cables reeling back, pulling him swiftly toward Mei.
Pipes emerged from his palms.
"Boom!"
Flames erupted from the pipes, hitting the water and creating steam.
"Trying to escape?"
Mei formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Fang Bullet!"
Water surged from the other three water walls, compressing and swirling.
"Splash!"
A massive, spiraling water stream crashed toward Sasori.
He extended his Spiral Blades, which spun rapidly, shredding the incoming water.
As Sasori countered, another massive Water Fang Bullet erupted above him.
"Tricky guy," Sasori muttered, pulling a third scroll from his rack.
Swish!
The scroll unfurled, releasing ten red-robed puppets around Sasori.
Chakra threads extended from his fingers, connecting to them.
"A puppeteer's limit is ten fingers," Mei said.
A puppeteer's strength depends on how many puppets they control, with ten being the maximum.
In puppeteer history, only Monzaemon Chikamatsu and Chiyo of Sunagakure matched Sasori's skill.
Sasori, having turned himself into a puppet, surpassed them.
Sasori flicked his fingers, and the ten puppets began forming hand seals.
"Chichi! Huala!"
The puppets unleashed ninjutsu of various attributes.
"Like the Third Kazekage puppet?" Mei thought.
Though unfamiliar with these puppets, their abilities suggested they were once powerful ninja, killed by Sasori and retaining their skills.
"Boom!"
Ninjutsu clashed.
Sasori, using six puppets, blocked Mei's attacks.
The other four charged forward, unleashing ninjutsu.
Elsewhere in Kirigakure, two massive beasts collided.
"Hah!"
Chōza Akimichi grappled an enormous bullfighting ox, toppling it and flinging it aside.
"Boom!"
Simultaneously, Loess of Iwagakure unleashed a ten-meter rock fist, smashing a giant bird from the sky, landing near Chōza's ox.
Chōza and his team herded Pain's Animal Path summons into one area.
"Inoichi!"
Shikaku Nara called to Yamanaka Inoichi, who was forming hand seals.
"Mind Body Switch Technique!"
Inoichi aimed at the giant summons.
Shikaku formed seals, his shadows extending and splitting, restraining each summon.
"No more trouble," Shikaku said.
Without Inoichi's technique, his Shadow Imitation Technique couldn't control so many summons alone.
With the summons restrained, Kitsuchi and his team focused on the five Paths of Pain.
They had already deduced their abilities.
Kitsuchi targeted the Animal Path.
Though the summons were controlled, Shikaku and Inoichi's hold wouldn't last long.
Cloud ninja, skilled in taijutsu, surrounded the Preta Path.
Baki and Sand ninja engaged the Asura Path.
As they prepared to attack, Inoichi sensed a chilling chakra fluctuation.
"Be careful in the air!" he shouted, warning everyone.
....
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