A new arrival and it's about Itachi God. So, do give it a go.
And, If you're enjoying the story, please consider giving it a power stone!
Your support helps the book grow and lets me know you're excited for the next chapter.
Thank you for reading😌
***
"Prepare for action."
Shisui's face suddenly grew serious as he leaned against the cliff.
He and Kakashi had come to the Land of Water precisely to await this moment.
"Alright," Kakashi replied, dashing towards where Shibi stood outside the cave.
Just as Itachi, standing in front of Izumi, was about to get up, Shisui said, "Itachi, you should stay. The three of us can handle the rest."
Itachi hesitated slightly, shook his head, and said, "Although the core of this plan isn't combat, too many variables have occurred so far, and we don't know how much the enemy has noticed."
"So, to be on the safe side, it's best for me to follow."
"But…"
Shisui frowned, looking at Izumi and Kimimaro beside him.
"Let Izumi come along. If my strength is truly not needed, I'll just take her with me and watch from the side," Itachi said.
Of course, he couldn't let Izumi act alone again.
"We're leaving here soon. It's up to you to decide where to go and what to do next," he said, turning to Kimimaro.
"Then let's do it."
Shisui pondered for a moment, then nodded.
Itachi reached out and helped Izumi up.
Izumi moved a little, and she was no longer seriously injured, so she no longer relied on Itachi's support and walked out on her own.
Itachi followed closely.
Kimimaro suddenly spoke up, saying, "Why did you save me?"
Hearing this, Itachi turned sideways, looked at him, and said, "If Orochimaru gets your power, he will become a threat to our village in the future."
"In that case, why did you just let me act freely?"
Kimimaro frowned and said, "Perhaps if you had just spoken, I would have become your village's strength in the future. At least your strength."
"Really?"
Itachi looked at the boy's handsome and innocent face and said, "This may be a solution, but if it's just because I saved you, then the power gained in this way is also a potential danger to the village."
"Because you have lost your own mind and are dependent on the will of others, you will only become a weapon."
"We don't need such a weapon," Itachi whispered, his eyes showing a slight fluctuation in emotion.
Because everything he told Kimimaro was also a retelling of his past self.
While Itachi hadn't lost his will, his entire life had been a mere pawn in the hands of others.
But things were different now.
"The ultimate meaning of survival is up to you to discover," Itachi said, turning and heading towards the cave entrance, where he reunited with Izumi, Shisui, and the others.
They exchanged a glance and then fled.
Kimimaro remained, his previously expressionless face now tinged with doubt.
"My own will?"
With a swish, the five of them swiftly moved through the forest, forming a swastika formation.
Izumi, the weakest, was at the center, with Itachi and Shisui at the front and rear.
With the Sharingan's clairvoyance, they could take in everything around them, making it easier to observe the elusive Zetsu and locate him.
According to the intelligence transmitted by Shibi's insects, their target, Ao, was returning to Kirigakure with two other Kirigakure ninjas.
Realizing that eliminating Itachi was impossible, the masked man immediately began recalling the Kirigakure ninjas dispatched for the exam.
Itachi and his team discussed countermeasures while heading toward the route Ao and the others would take to return to Kirigakure.
Due to Itachi and Shisui's involvement, Kakashi and Shibi agreed to let Izumi know the details of the mission.
"What should we do?" they were momentarily perplexed.
Shisui and Kakashi's premature exposure had severely hampered their plan.
They had to find a chance to single out Ao and use Shisui's left eye technique to alter his will.
However, they couldn't alert or kill the two Kirigakure ninjas accompanying Ao.
As the Fourth Mizukage, the masked man was undoubtedly wary of them.
Any unusual behavior by any Kirigakure ninja team returning to the village would arouse his suspicion.
If the masked man became suspicious of Ao, even if Kotoamatsukami successfully overwrote his will, the operation would be meaningless.
To complete their plan, they had to create an accidental incident to distract the two Kirigakure ninjas from Ao's side.
Just as everyone was at their wit's end, they were getting closer to the path Ao had to take to return to Kirigakure.
"They're almost there."
Shibi's insects had been tracking Ao and the others in real time, but until now, they hadn't come up with a solution.
Itachi and the others frowned.
If there was no other way, they would just rewrite Ao's mind first.
"There are three more chakras, but they don't look like they belong to Kirigakure," Shibi said.
"Can you even tell which village they are from?"
Itachi asked.
"Because the ninja from each village practice different types of ninjutsu, there are subtle differences in their chakra fluctuations," Shibi explained.
"Yes," Itachi nodded.
He didn't think much of it, though.
He thought it was probably from another genin team that had also received the exam cancellation and returned to Kirigakure.
"Bang!"
Suddenly, an explosion echoed from the forest to the left and front of Itachi and his group, startling the animals and sending them scattering.
"What's going on?"
Kakashi looked in that direction.
"Those are the ninjas I mentioned earlier, those who aren't from Kirigakure," Shibi said.
"From the sound of the explosion, it doesn't sound like an explosive tag. Is it some special ninjutsu?"
Shisui said.
A ninja who has reached a certain level of strength can judge the essence of things by any detail.
Explosions sound the same to ordinary people, but to their ears, they can be divided into many categories.
"If it's not an explosive tag…" Itachi's eyes suddenly lit up.
Izumi, observing Itachi's changing expression, raised an eyebrow and said, "Could it be that guy?"
"That should be right. The Chūnin Exams have been suspended. There's no reason for ninjas from other villages to make such a big commotion."
A smile appeared on Itachi's face.
He looked at Shisui deliberately and said, "Senior Shisui, your right eye's pupil technique can temporarily control a person. It shouldn't interfere with the functioning of your left eye's pupil technique, right?"
Shisui replied, "Of course."
He looked at the smile on Itachi's face and asked doubtfully, "Looking at you, do you have any ideas?"
Itachi nodded and said, "I've got a plan on how to distract the two Kirigakure ninjas around the target!"
...
Amidst the mountains and forests, an area was engulfed by the explosion, snapping several large trees and laying them flat on the ground.
"Tsk, what's that? The Chūnin Exams just started and they're over," Deidara said unhappily, looking at the devastated area ahead.
"It can't be helped," the honest-looking Akatsuchi patiently counseled.
"Let's go."
"Rushing!"
He had barely finished speaking when the sound of someone moving on a tree trunk, causing the leaves to shake, was heard.
Deidara, Akatsuchi, and another teammate looked in the direction of the sound.
Soon, three figures gradually became clear.
Deidara's expression, once gloomy, suddenly brightened.
"Uchiha Itachi!"
The figures before him were none other than Itachi and his two "teammates": Daisuke Kido and Shinichi Hattori.
The two men beside Itachi perched on the trunk of a large tree, while he himself leaped and landed in front of Deidara.
"It seems you've gotten quite a bit stronger in the intervening time."
Itachi looked at Deidara, a smile gradually spreading across his face.
"Of course."
Deidara's eyes fixed on him.
"How about a sparring match?"
He reached into the ninja tool pouch at his waist.
"Okay."
His reaction was somewhat unexpected for Itachi.
But it was exactly what Itachi had hoped for, and he immediately agreed.
"Then let's see!"
Deidara was feeling displeased by the abrupt end to the Chūnin Exams when Itachi appeared before him.
He hadn't yet offered any provocative words, but the mention of strength naturally brought back memories of the previous mission.
As soon as he finished speaking, he reached into the ninja tool pouch and tossed it, and two white birds formed from explosive clay flew towards Itachi.
Deidara formed a seal with one hand and shouted softly.
"Art is explosion. Crack!"
"Boom!"
The clay exploded, and the resulting flames instantly enveloped Itachi's figure.
"Ah, aah!"
But then, several crows emerged from the flames and rushed towards Deidara.
"Hehe."
Seeing this, Deidara chuckled softly.
After his last fight with Itachi, how could he not be on guard?
He then threw another explosive he had prepared, and it detonated instantly!
Several of Itachi's summoned crows were instantly obliterated in the blast.
Swish!
But then, amidst the first wave of blasts, Itachi had already burst forth.
"Swish, swish, swish!"
Itachi swung his arms, launching several shurikens at Deidara.
Deidara swung back several shurikens, simultaneously maneuvering himself to deflect Itachi's shurikens.
"You're truly much more powerful than you were six months ago."
Itachi couldn't help but admire Deidara's talent.
In just six months, not only had he become faster at producing explosive clay, but his movements and reflexes had also vastly improved.
With that, Itachi suddenly transformed and fled towards the other side of the forest.
"Don't run!"
Deidara naturally tried to follow.
"Wait!"
At that moment, Akatsuchi, who was beside Deidara, tried to stop him.
Swish!
A figure suddenly appeared before Akatsuchi and attacked.
Startled, Akatsuchi leaped back to avoid the blow.
He settled, staring at "Daisuke Kido" before him, and muttered, "Were his moves this fierce before?"
The Konohagakure and Iwagakure teams had only met within the Land of Water, so while Akatsuchi had observed Itachi's teammates, he didn't pay much attention to such an insignificant individual.
Meanwhile, "Shinichi Hattori" appeared before another of Deidara's teammates and blocked his movements.
At that moment, Itachi and Deidara, one in front of the other, had already disappeared into the forest.
Akatsuchi tried to call Deidara back, but "Daisuke Kido"'s attack resumed.
He dodged again, forming hand seals with his hands.
Even as he did so, "Daisuke Kido" continued to attack solely with taijutsu.
"Is this guy good at taijutsu?"
Akatsuchi muttered.
"BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!"
Explosions echoed continuously through the forest.
Itachi simply charged forward, his speed just enough for Deidara to keep up.
Deidara, in turn, continuously threw explosives, trying to stop Itachi's escape.
"You bastard, stop!"
Deidara shouted, doubts already forming within him.
He had fought Itachi once before, and his fighting style was completely unlike Itachi's back then.
If he was afraid of his companions being drawn into the fight, the distance now was sufficient.
Swish!
As he finished speaking, Itachi perched on the trunk of a large tree and turned around.
"Finally, you're not running away?"
Deidara smiled faintly, reaching into his ninja tool pouch, preparing to create even more powerful explosive clay.
Suddenly, a figure appeared on the tree trunk behind him.
"Chi!"
In Shisui's blood-red eyes, three black tomoe spun, transforming into a four-cornered, windmill-like, kaleidoscope pattern.
The pattern on his right eye flickered, and Deidara's movements suddenly stopped.
"It seems just as you expected, this kid's got a real quick temper." Shisui looked at Itachi, blood trickling from his right eye.
"Let's hurry, we should be near our target soon," Itachi said.
Shisui's right eye technique didn't require sight of another person to activate.
However, this wasn't without limitations.
The reason he could control Deidara so easily was due to the vast difference in their power.
Eye power overshadows another's will, much like chakra perception.
If the opponent possessed a certain level of power, it could be detected.
He and Shisui immediately rushed towards their previous location, and Deidara, who had been controlled by Shisui's right eye technique, followed suit.
Itachi's two teammates had been transformed by Shibi and Izumi using transformation techniques.
This was done because Itachi intended to leverage Deidara's ability to manipulate explosive clay.
Using the explosive clay to create chaos, he could separate Ao from the two Kirigakure ninjas.
When they reached their previous location, the three of them reunited with Kakashi.
Shisui and Itachi exchanged a glance, both forming seals with their hands.
"Bang, bang!"
They transformed into the appearances of Akatsuchi and another teammate of Deidara, respectively.
Kakashi looked at Shisui's transformed form and performed a transformation technique, transforming into Akatsuchi's.
Shisui then transformed back to his original form.
Before the three of them reached the path that Ao and the Kirigakure ninjas had to pass through, Shisui hid in the nearby forest.
The maximum distance that Shisui's right eye could control was within five meters.
However, with Shisui's agility and speed, even at such a close distance, ordinary Kirigakure ninjas would not be able to detect him.
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)