Itachi Uchiha, a Pleasure to Meet You

Squelch!

But there was no time for him to react again. A pale blade plunged through his heart with a wet stab.

"Eagle, White Wolf, let's go save them!"

Ye Liangnai saw that the other Mist Ninja Anbu had all been tied down by the enemy.

Only the three of them had been largely overlooked because of their age, so he shouted.

"Understood!"

Although the two of them were quite unwilling to let Ye Liangnai order them around, the mission took priority.

They immediately moved out together.

"Stop them! That leader isn't ordinary!"

Kakashi immediately called out. The leader he was referring to was Ye Liangnai.

"Understood!"

Several free Konoha Anbu immediately gave chase: one Special Jonin and two Chunin.

Ye Liangnai was quite familiar with that Special Jonin-level enemy.

He was Konoha's interrogation master, Ibiki Morino.

"I'll hold them off. You two go save them!"

Ye Liangnai stopped, turned around, and charged toward the three of them.

"Brat, you're courting death!"

Seeing Ye Liangnai actually intend to stop all three of them by himself, one of the Chunin-level Konoha Anbu sneered.

He immediately began forming Hand Seals. "Fire Release: Dragon Fire—"

But before he could finish, Ye Liangnai shouted, "Multi-Hawk Flash!"

Three icy Cold Lights streaked past Ibiki Morino and the others at high speed, their piercing whistles tearing through the air.

Other than Ibiki Morino, who reacted quickly enough to barely block it at the cost of a wound—

The two Chunin-level Anbu clutched their throats and collapsed, terror filling their eyes.

Gasp!

The surrounding Konoha ninja were all shocked by the sight.

A trace of lingering fear remained in Ibiki Morino's eyes as well.

Just a moment ago, he had nearly followed those two Chunin-level Anbu to their deaths.

"Cold Light, the target has been rescued!"

At that moment, Eagle and White Wolf called out from behind Ye Liangnai.

"Good! Take the target and retreat!"

Ye Liangnai brightened and immediately backed away, standing back-to-back with White Wolf and Eagle. "I'll cover you. Let's go!"

With that, the three immediately retreated. The sight made the Konoha Anbu panic as they shouted, "Damn brats, don't think you can run!"

"Ibiki, hurry after them! Don't let them escape!"

Meanwhile, the Mist Ninja were overjoyed. "Don't think we'll let you have your way!"

They firmly held back the Konoha Anbu.

"I didn't expect Kirigakure to produce such a monstrous genius as well!"

Looking at Ye Liangnai, Kakashi seemed to see his younger self.

"But unfortunately, your plan cannot succeed!"

Hearing that, Tian Jia, who had been delighted that the mission had been completed so quickly, suddenly froze.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

A series of fierce blade clashes suddenly rang out behind him, and Ye Liangnai's group was stopped.

Another squad of Konoha Anbu had appeared in front of them.

The leader's presence had actually reached Jonin level, while the other two were also Special Jonin.

Powerful enemies!

That was Ye Liangnai's first thought.

Then, when he saw the rotating three-tomoe Sharingan in the leader's eyes, his similar height, and the nasolabial lines on his face—

Ye Liangnai's expression immediately turned grave, graver than ever before.

Because he had recognized the identity of the enemy before him.

Itachi Uchiha!

The greatest genius of Konoha's new generation, the pride of the Uchiha Clan.

He said to Eagle and White Wolf, "Quickly find a way to transfer the intelligence. Otherwise, this mission may very well fail!"

Hearing this, Eagle and White Wolf's expressions tightened as they answered seriously, "Understood!"

"I'll buy you time to transfer the intelligence. Hurry. This enemy is extraordinary—I may not be able to hold him off for long!"

Without forming Hand Seals, Ye Liangnai shouted, "Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!"

A massive cloud of mist spread out, enveloping dozens of meters around them.

"Such fast Hand Seals!"

Itachi Uchiha was shocked when he saw it.

It was the first time he had encountered someone whose Hand Seals were faster than his, so fast that even his three-tomoe Sharingan struggled to see through them.

"Hmph, you think a mere Mist Concealment Technique can stop us?"

"Since you know we're extraordinary enemies, why continue wasting your effort?"

"That's right. Do you really think you're Demon Zabuza? Maybe if he were here, it would be different."

"I'll break through your Mist Concealment Technique with brute force!" the two Special Jonin said disdainfully.

They thought Ye Liangnai's powerful enemy referred to them, but in truth, he was referring to Itachi Uchiha.

Itachi Uchiha immediately warned them, "You two, do not underestimate him. This person is troublesome!"

But the Uchiha Clan was quite unwelcome in the village at the time.

The two Special Jonin-level Anbu ignored his warning outright.

"Yamashiro, lend me a hand!"

"Understood!" the other Special Jonin replied.

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

"Wind Release: Hurricane Jutsu!"

Boom!!

Fire fed on the wind!

In an instant, the entire mist turned blazing red, the temperature soaring as even the ground was scorched black!

"Water Release: Water Wall!"

But Ye Liangnai naturally would not let them succeed. A concentrated stream of water rose up and blocked all the flames.

When the flames met the water, even more vapor was produced, making it even more advantageous for Ye Liangnai to act.

"Damn it, it was blocked so easily! This guy actually has such strength?"

Seeing their combined ninjutsu extinguished in an instant, the two Special Jonin were shocked and furious.

But they did not know that danger had already reached them.

"Multi-Hawk Flash!"

An icy voice rang out.

Two sharp Cold Lights followed, giving the pair no chance to react before severing their carotid arteries.

At this point, only ninja at Jonin level or above posed a threat to Ye Liangnai.

With the Mist Concealment Technique, he could instantly kill anyone below that level.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire!"

But just as Ye Liangnai retreated, a barrage of fireballs pursued him, slightly disrupting his rhythm.

A volley of Shuriken immediately came flying after him.

He truly deserved to be called the man known in the original story as "Itachi God"—his ability to locate targets by sound was formidable.

"As expected of the Uchiha Clan's genius, Itachi Uchiha. You really are impressive!"

After dodging the Shuriken and moving deeper into the mist, Ye Liangnai said in praise.

"I was recognized!" Itachi Uchiha could not help but be shocked.

Then he immediately demanded, "How did you determine my identity? Was it just from a pair of Sharingan?!"

They had only just met, yet his identity had already been exposed. Was Ye Liangnai a god?

He still knew absolutely nothing about Ye Liangnai!