Konoha Village Shopping Street
Looking up, the streets were already bustling with people; the shouts of vendors and the playfulness of children mixed together. The liveliness of the past had returned, as if that disaster had never descended.
Looking at this scene, it didn't seem at all like just a few days ago they were immersed in the grief of the Third Hokage's passing. In just a few days, the usual bustle had returned, as if sorrow had never left a mark on this land.
"Konoha actually recovered so quickly; this recovery ability is extraordinary! As expected, the world doesn't stop turning just because someone is gone," Aoki Yoru couldn't help but sigh.
Then he walked towards the Three-Color Dango Shop. Nao had been pestering him for a long time, so he would treat this as a reward for her hard work.
Usually, he didn't let Nao eat too much. Eating too much of this kind of thing makes it easy to gain weight. Just look at Anko in her middle-age years to know—she became so fat it was hard to look at.
"Hmm? To actually see Kakashi here, how rare. He shouldn't be the type to like this!"
When he arrived at the dango shop, Aoki Yoru saw Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai standing at the entrance, whispering about something.
Aoki Yoru walked straight up to greet them. "Kakashi-sensei, Senior Asuma, and Senior Kurenai, hello. Are you all planning to have a meal together?"
"It's Yoru. I'm waiting for someone, waiting for Sasuke." As he spoke, Kakashi's eyes glanced inside.
Inside, a person wearing a black-and-red cloud cloak and a conical hat heard Sasuke's name. Their finger twitched slightly, revealing their inner lack of calm.
At this moment, Aoki Yoru remembered who was inside: the filial son, Uchiha Itachi.
It must be that after learning of the Third Hokage's death, he was worried the higher-ups wouldn't honor the agreement to treat Sasuke well, so he came back for a stroll to warn them.
'However, Danzo, who was the most wary of the Uchiha, has been killed by me. Itachi shouldn't need to come, right? Could it be that he also doesn't trust the other two Advisors? He really is a brother-con; he won't overlook any risk.'
Looking up, the two people had already disappeared from their chairs, leaving only two cups of hot drinks emitting steam.
Aoki Yoru nodded to Kakashi, then disappeared from the spot along with Asuma and Kurenai.
On the outskirts of Konoha, by the Yekawa Riverside.
Aoki Yoru and the other two blocked them.
Asuma stepped forward and said, "You aren't from the Village. What are you doing in Konoha?"
"Long time no see, Mr. Asuma and Ms. Kurenai." As he spoke, Uchiha Itachi took off the conical hat on his head.
"You are... Uchiha Itachi..."
After seeing the person's appearance, Asuma's pupils constricted slightly, revealing a horrified expression. He hadn't expected to see him again in this way.
Then the person next to Itachi also took off his conical hat and threw it on the ground. "Are you acquaintances of Mr. Itachi? Then I'll introduce myself as well — Kisame Hoshigaki. Please take care of me."
Kurenai gave a cold snort. "Kisame Hoshigaki, a rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist Village, an S-rank wanted criminal."
Kisame Hoshigaki ignored her, turned to look at Aoki Yoru, and grinned hideously. "Is it you, kid, who rescued Kakashi from under our noses last time?"
That time, they had seen Aoki Yoru's clone pull Kakashi underground, but the Tailed Beast Ball was already right in front of them, so they could only focus on defense and couldn't bother with them.
He then pulled out the Samehada from behind him and slammed it hard onto the ground. The ground cracked with spiderweb-like fissures in response.
"This time, let's settle the score from last time!"
Upon hearing this, Aoki Yoru drew his yerun and stared closely at Kisame, having decided on his opponent.
As for Uchiha Itachi, he would let Asuma and Kurenai handle him. Anyway, Itachi wouldn't kill them, and Kakashi would arrive soon.
"Senior Kurenai, Senior Asuma, I'll handle Kisame Hoshigaki."
Kurenai and Asuma nodded and looked warily at Uchiha Itachi.
"Asuma, Kurenai, I have no intention of killing you. Can you let us pass?"
Itachi looked at the two expressionlessly. If possible, he didn't want to fight his Konoha compatriots. He only came to Konoha to warn the two high-level officials to keep their promise.
"That won't do. It's time to pay for the crimes you committed." Kurenai said as she formed hand seals to cast a Genjutsu.
Uchiha Itachi sighed and turned to his companion. "Kisame, settle this quickly. Your moves cause too much commotion; Konoha's reinforcements will arrive soon."
"Don't worry, Itachi-san. I'll finish this kid quickly; it won't take long."
With that, Kisame lifted Samehada and slashed at Aoki Yoru.
Seeing this, Aoki Yoru immediately raised his sword to meet the attack. The opponent was no ordinary person but a powerhouse among Kage-level ninjas; he could be killed if he wasn't careful.
"Clang—"
Aoki Yoru's expression changed. This was the first time a weapon could block yerun completely intact. Moreover, the opponent's strength was truly immense, making his wrist feel numb from the shock.
Little did he know that Kisame on the opposite side was also filled with disbelief. With his strength plus the weight of Samehada, he actually hadn't gained the upper hand in a contest of strength.
Aoki Yoru used the force to jump back, widening the distance. Looking at the Samehada in his hand, he couldn't help but marvel, "As expected of the most special of the Hidden Mist Village's famous Seven Ninja Swords."
Then, the Chakra under his feet erupted with full force as he used the Body Flicker Technique to rush toward Kisame.
"Clang, clang, clang—"
Aoki Yoru continuously increased his movement and sword-swinging speed. Kisame was forced to defend, struggling to keep up.
Although his eyes could follow Aoki Yoru, his body couldn't. Samehada was too heavy, severely affecting his movement speed.
Kisame knew this couldn't continue. He took a deep breath, and his chest bulged.
"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave"
Instantly, an overwhelming torrent spewed from his mouth. He turned his head, and the water swept in all directions. Wherever the water passed, debris flew, and the ground trembled, as if it would completely swallow everything in sight.
Seeing the incoming torrent, Aoki Yoru immediately widened the distance and performed Moonwalk to step through the air.
Seeing Aoki Yoru stepping through the air, Kisame Hoshigaki's pupils constricted. Moves for moving through the air were very rare.
He then clasped his hands together and shouted, "Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique"
Before his voice faded, the area of water that had just rampaged suddenly surged. A giant water-blue shark leapt fiercely from the water, carrying a sharp whistle of wind, and bit hard toward Aoki Yoru in the air.
Looking at the attacking shark, Aoki Yoru formed a one-handed seal and shouted softly, "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique."
Instantly, from the water behind him, a water dragon dozens of meters long crashed into the sky, slamming hard into the pouncing water shark.
"Boom—"
The two water forces collided violently, sending towering sprays of water flying in all directions, and water mist filled the entire battlefield.
At this moment, taking advantage of the mist, Kisame jumped up and slashed down hard at him with Samehada.
Standing in the air, Aoki Yoru seemed to sense something and raised his sword to block horizontally.
"Clang—"
"So heavy!"
Aoki Yoru's expression changed slightly. The sudden impact made him unable to maintain his form in the air. His body sank abruptly, and he crashed hard toward the water's surface.
He concentrated Chakra in his feet and stepped heavily onto the waves. Using the rebounding force, his body paused slightly, and he finally stopped steadily on the water's surface without falling in.