Splash. Splash.
A drop of water hit the ground.
Kisame Hoshigaki suddenly drew the greatsword Samehada from his back, shook the water droplets from its surface, and stood beside Itachi Uchiha. The shark-faced man looked at the newly arrived Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki, then turned to his partner. "Itachi, do you need me to take care of them for you?"
This thoughtful gesture did not earn his partner's praise.
Itachi reached up, slowly undid his collar, and shook his head. "Your fights make too much noise. Let me handle it."
"Hmph, you still think I'm the same helpless kid from before?" Sasuke looked at his older brother with contempt. Since experiencing two ambushes by Root, Sasuke had become much stronger. He clutched a kunai, ready to rush forward.
"Brat, don't be rash."
Anko Mitarashi stopped Sasuke, grabbing his collar and pinning him against a tree. "Itachi Uchiha and that freak from the Mist are both S-rank wanted criminals. They're not opponents you genin can handle!"
"Let go of me!" Sasuke slowly raised his head, his Sharingan fixed on Anko.
The woman involuntarily released him, frowning. "He's already awakened a three-tomoe Sharingan at such a young age?"
Sasuke ignored her. Gripping his kunai, he charged forward again, staring at his always-unflappable brother as he gritted his teeth. "Always that same expression... Itachi, it's really annoying!"
Whether it was back when they were loving brothers or later when Itachi slaughtered their entire clan, his face was always so calm. Sasuke even suspected if there was anything in this world that could move this cold-blooded, heartless man.
Itachi raised a hand and grabbed his brother's arm, looking down at his eyes—three tomoe in the left, two in the right. He couldn't help but narrow his own eyes. "You've already awakened a three-tomoe Sharingan?"
"That's right! And this time, I'll definitely kill you!"
Sasuke struggled free from Itachi's grip with all his might, leaped into the air, and delivered a swift kick toward his face. Itachi simply ducked under it and kicked Sasuke squarely in the chest.
After only a few exchanges, Sasuke was sent flying backward.
It was not surprising at all.
One might have thought that since Sasuke could hold his own against Root ninjas, he could at least last for a while against Itachi. But the gap in taijutsu between the two brothers was like the distance between heaven and earth.
Naruto Uzumaki caught his teammate and sighed helplessly. When it came to letting people down, Sasuke never disappointed.
Itachi suddenly spoke. "Sasuke, you've improved so quickly..."
Everyone listening was a bit baffled.
No matter how you looked at it, did Sasuke really deserve praise? He had rushed in faster than anyone and was defeated even faster. If this was called improvement, how bad must he have been before?
Itachi pressed his fingers to his forehead, hiding his expression. "At least now you dare to resist, although your resistance is still pathetic..."
This was just a pure insult.
But Kisame chuckled beside him. "Just as I'd expect from you, Itachi. So merciless, even when facing your last living relative."
"Get back!" Anko bit her lip and stood in front of Sasuke and Naruto. "You two, get out of here quickly," she said in a low voice. "Itachi came to Konoha to kill Sasuke!"
"No need to be so nervous, Miss Anko." Itachi calmly shook his head and spread his hands. "The current Sasuke is just a good-for-nothing. He doesn't spark any desire in me to act, so I won't kill him now."
"Bastard!" Sasuke slammed his fist on the ground, pushed his teammate aside, and rushed forward again, quickly forming hand seals as he charged.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Sasuke brought his fingers together and spat out a volley of small fireballs from his mouth.
A sturdy figure blocked Itachi's path, raising the greatsword Samehada to intercept the technique. The flames were absorbed by the blade and slowly extinguished.
Kisame looked at Sasuke and chuckled lightly. "Brat, trying to use ninjutsu in front of me? You're thinking too highly of yourself."
As his voice fell, he swung Samehada fiercely, forcing the charging Sasuke back.
Sasuke leaped away, his expression wary as he looked at the sword in Kisame's hand. "The chakra from the Phoenix Fire... was absorbed..."
He turned his head and couldn't help but look at his teammate. Naruto also had an ability to absorb chakra, so Sasuke wanted to confirm what he saw. "Naruto, that greatsword in his hand... did you see that clearly?"
"Yeah." Naruto walked forward step by step and stood beside his teammate. "That sword definitely absorbed the chakra from the ninjutsu," he said in a low voice. "Man, we've run into someone with the same trick."
"Oh?" Kisame tightened his grip on Samehada. "Itachi," he said softly, turning his head, "if I'm to face this troublesome blond brat, can you just kill your brother? It would save us a lot of trouble in the future."
"..." Hearing his partner's words, Itachi closed his eyes with a hint of helplessness. "That kid isn't so easy to deal with. I've already gotten what I came for. There's no need to waste time here, or we'll attract Konoha's ANBU."
Kisame grinned, revealing a terrifying mouth full of shark-like teeth. "Then let me provide cover."
"No. Your jutsu make too much noise." The tomoe in Itachi's Sharingan spun continuously, merging into the Mangekyo pattern. He stared intently at the three people opposite him, his gaze slowly moving between them.
Kisame advised in a low voice, "Itachi, using those eyes causes great damage to your body... They're just a few kids. Is it really necessary?"
"One second is enough."
Itachi quickly aimed at his target. He didn't choose Sasuke, but the blond genin.
Naruto, as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, was especially important. Using genjutsu on him would bring more panic to Konoha's higher-ups, making them understand that they should stick to their previous agreement. It would also let them know who the Akatsuki's real target was.
Moreover, among these three, Itachi had personally witnessed Naruto's battles. His strength was clearly the greatest. If he acted like a reckless youth and chased after them with Sasuke, it would indeed be a problem.
"Tsukuyomi!"
"That's..." Sasuke saw his brother's eyes change. The strange pattern made his heart tremble. "Mangekyo Sharingan!"
He suddenly shouted at the others, "Hey, Naruto! And you, woman! Don't look at his eyes!"
Absolutely do not look directly at the Sharingan. Otherwise, you'll be caught in the enemy's genjutsu. And the Mangekyo was even more powerful.
Naruto looked around in surprise. His world had suddenly turned into a black-and-white scene. A cross was erected in the desolate landscape. In the sky hung a blood-red moon. When Naruto looked down, he saw himself tied to the cross. Itachi stood before him, holding a ninja sword.
"This is..."
"This is the world of my Tsukuyomi," Itachi said, raising his head to reveal his scarlet eyes.
-----
Bonus:
Naruto Uzumaki: Why did you pull ME into Tsukuyomi? I'm not the one who wants to kill you!
Itachi Uchiha: I know...
Naruto Uzumaki: It's your brother who wants to kill you!
Itachi Uchiha: I know...
Naruto Uzumaki: Then why drag me in? Pull your brother in!
Itachi Uchiha: He probably just awakened his three-tomoe Sharingan. His mind can't handle the mental damage.
Naruto Uzumaki: So you've considered my feelings in all this?
Itachi Uchiha: Just bear with it and it'll be over. Seventy-two hours. I'll stab you once per second.
Naruto Uzumaki: Are you even human?