"Kaito! Why would Itachi return to Konoha?" Might Guy finally let his guard down and asked as the Akatsuki duo vanished from sight.
"What else in Konoha could possibly interest two Kage-level shinobi?" Kaito replied calmly, eyes narrowing.
"I'll find Naruto. Guy-sensei, you take Kakashi-sensei and Asuma-sensei back to the hospital," Kaito instructed.
Without waiting for a reply, he disappeared in a crackle of energy, lightning flashing as he vanished from the scene.
"It's Naruto…" Might Guy muttered, turning to Kurenai. "Let's move!"
"Right!" Yuhi Kurenai nodded, glancing in the direction Kaito had left, her expression tinged with worry.
Be safe…
---
Meanwhile, in a small town near the Land of Fire...
Naruto and Jiraiya had spent their day eating, wandering, and getting distracted—as usual. Anyone watching would think they were on vacation, not on a training journey.
In a cheap, slightly worn-down inn...
Naruto sprawled across the tatami mat, clearly annoyed. "This pervy sage is hopeless! Off chasing women again. When's he gonna teach me a real jutsu?"
Knock knock knock!
There was a firm knock on the door.
Naruto rolled over and grunted, "Who is it?"
"It's me," came a familiar voice from the other side.
Naruto's eyes lit up. He rushed to the door, flinging it open. "Kaito! What are you doing here?"
"I heard you and Jiraiya were out training. Thought I'd drop by to check in," Kaito said casually, lying without hesitation.
In truth, after leaving Might Guy and the others, Kaito had used electromagnetic sense to locate Naruto. With his speed, he arrived long before Itachi and Kisame could.
But to his surprise, Naruto was alone. Jiraiya was nowhere to be seen—probably off chasing another barmaid.
Tch. This idiot left Naruto alone... knowing full well who's after him?
"Thanks, Kaito!" Naruto grinned, genuinely touched. "That means a lot!"
Kaito scratched his head. Man, this kid's too easy to fool.
He stepped into the room, but just as he began speaking, two familiar chakra signatures triggered his senses. His expression turned serious.
He immediately covered Naruto's mouth and made a quieting gesture.
Naruto blinked in confusion but nodded.
Kaito walked to the door, gathering chakra in his palm.
Knock knock knock!
The moment the door creaked open—
Boom!
Kaito's chakra-enhanced fist blasted forward, demolishing the door. The explosive force surged outward, striking the first figure outside—Kisame.
Caught completely off guard, Kisame's body twisted from the shockwave. Blood burst from his lips as he was launched like a cannonball, smashing through several walls before disappearing into the distance.
"Yo, Itachi. Long time no see," Kaito said as he slowly lowered his arm.
"...Ayanami Kaito," Itachi muttered, eyes narrowing. "Again."
That speed… Is that the Body Flicker Technique? No, faster than that.
"Kaito! Who are these guys?!" Naruto asked, pointing at Itachi in shock. "Why does he have the same eyes as Sasuke?!"
Kaito sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "They're enemies. They're here to capture you."
He paused, then added bluntly, "They're after the beast inside you."
Kisame, now standing at a distance, wiped blood from his mouth and slowly approached. His expression had turned sinister.
"You little brat… You're the first one to make me cough blood in years," he growled.
He gripped Samehada tightly, murder in his eyes.
"You can't protect this boy on your own," Itachi said evenly. "Hand him over, and we'll leave."
Itachi wasn't confident about engaging Kaito. Five years ago, during the Uchiha massacre, Kaito had already shown strength comparable to masked Madara. And now, he was even stronger.
On top of that, Itachi had no real desire to capture Naruto. His mission as a Konoha double agent always made things... complicated.
Suddenly—
"You bastard! Uchiha Itachi!!"
A furious voice erupted at the door.
Sasuke stood there, his eyes spinning with two tomoe, lightning cackling in his right hand.
Chidori howled like a thousand birds.
"Sasuke, no!" Naruto yelled.
But Sasuke had already begun his charge, his Chidori cutting into the wall as he dashed forward.
"You're dead, Itachi!"
Bang!
Itachi calmly raised his hand and caught Sasuke's wrist mid-thrust, stopping the Chidori in its tracks.
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief.
With his other hand, Itachi casually grabbed Sasuke's forearm and twisted.
Crack!
The sharp snap of breaking bones filled the room.
Sasuke screamed, collapsing to his knees.
"My foolish little brother," Itachi said coldly. "You still don't understand the gap between us. Allow me to remind you... of that night."
His Mangekyō Sharingan activated.
"Arghhh!" Sasuke screamed, clutching his face as the illusion took hold.
"Sasuke!" Naruto cried out, about to rush forward.
Kaito grabbed his collar and yanked him back.
"Don't be stupid. They're having a family reunion," Kaito said dryly. "Besides, Itachi won't kill him."
Naruto struggled. "But—!"
"Do you want to get caught, too?" Kaito snapped. "Stay still."
With his current strength, Kaito was confident he could face either Kisame or Itachi one-on-one, maybe even both together. But protecting Naruto during the fight was another matter entirely.
(Till Itachi slams you with Genjutsu...)
That was the real problem.
Damn it, Jiraiya... Where the hell are you when it counts?
---
Too much hate comments, lost the drive to even check the notifications anymore.
So I might not react to your "Thanks for the chapters" and stuff.
Send Powerstones btw, it motivates me.