Uninvited guests

In the depths of winter, Konoha was filled with a joyous atmosphere.

A main road winds its way into the distance from the village entrance, yet it feels somewhat monotonous and lonely on this festive day.

Suddenly, a Wind Chime rang out from deep within the winding road.

Ring ring...

Ring ring...

But then, deep within the great road...

Two blurry figures appeared, walking slowly but actually moving extremely fast.

In the blink of an eye, the two blurry outlines became clear.

"Izumo, look! Someone's coming!" Kotetsu, with his spiky hair and a Kotetsu Hagane wrapped around his nose, stared wide-eyed warily.

Upon hearing the sound, Izumo Kamizuki, who was dozing off in his chair, suddenly sprang up, his sleepiness vanishing instantly.

It's almost the New Year, so it's highly unlikely that anyone will come to Konoha to post missions.

Ring ring...

The Wind Chime, Mirai a sound, they felt a strong sense of drowsiness wash over them.

Their eyelids felt like they weighed a ton...

Immediately afterwards, with a thud!

Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki collapsed onto the table, snoring loudly as they fell asleep like logs.

Two figures dressed in Red Cloud Black Cloak crossed the gate of Konoha and swaggered into the village.

"Seriously, is it really a good idea for us to enter the village so openly? Don't forget you're Itachi, S-rank Rogue Ninja of Konoha!"

Kisame, carrying a large sword, looked around warily, and only after confirming that no one was paying attention did he slowly speak.

Itachi walked unhurriedly down the bustling street; the festive New Year atmosphere did nothing to warm his cold heart.

"I had no choice but to come."

And for this reason, a figure flashed through Itachi's mind.

Tōka is in Konoha, and has already made contact with Sasuke.

Itachi... was worried about Sasuke, so he had to make this trip, even at the risk of being discovered by the Konoha Ninja.

Kisame pursed his lips, looking around curiously.

He hadn't been to Konoha for several years, and it had changed quite a bit over the years. Kisame had walked this commercial street more than once during the Chunin Ninja Exams.

Now, many new shops have opened on both sides of the street, with green bricks and red tiles, and high walls, making it even more prosperous than before.

Let's go grab something to eat at the meatball shop up ahead.

Itachi suddenly had a craving for the village's Three-Colored Dango, and without waiting for Kisame's expression, he walked straight towards the dumpling shop.

Just as the two figures disappeared through the shop door, Kakashi, with his silver hair, landed outside with a whoosh and glanced at Itachi through a simple curtain.

"Honestly, they can't even eat in peace." Kisame grumbled as he sat down, but his hands remained still.

Itachi paused for a moment, then said Budong, "Boss, four skewers of Three-Colored Dango, please."

The moment Kakashi appeared, Itachi noticed someone following him, but he wasn't sure if it was a coincidence or if they were really after him.

That's why Itachi suggested we eat something.

Sure enough, no sooner had they entered the dumpling shop than Kakashi appeared blocking the entrance.

Kakashi's undisguised appearance had two meanings. First, Kakashi was telling Itachi that he had been discovered and had better behave himself.

The second meaning is a test: now that Itachi is S-rank Rogue Ninja of Konoha, what exactly is his purpose in infiltrating the village?

Seeing Itachi calmly eating his Three-Colored Dango even after being discovered, a dark glint flashed in Kakashi's eyes. Did he not seem worried about being found out?

Was he simply back to see Sasuke?

Just as Kakashi was about to Gate of Opening and enter the dumpling shop, a figure suddenly stepped past him and slipped into the shop first.

"Tōka?"

Upon seeing who it was, Kakashi's heart skipped a beat.

Kakashi, who knew Tōka inside and out, naturally couldn't Chunin.

Tōka and Itachi made contact, this is...

No, we need to notify the Hokage immediately!

Bang!

From a hidden corner outside, a wisp of White Smoke rose. Kakashi Hand Seals and created a Shadow Clone. One clone stayed behind to continue monitoring, while the other swiftly ran towards the Hokage Building.

Inside the dumpling shop, Tōka happened to plop down at the table next to Itachi and Kisame.

Sensing the familiar presence, Itachi noticed Tōka out of the corner of his eye, a flicker of surprise One Flash in his eyes.

Although he didn't believe Tōka was dead, the Land of Rain's Kakuzu had once sworn that Tōka had been buried by his own hands in the endless yellow sand...

Kisame, who was eating nearby, seemed oblivious to the sudden appearance of another person.

Kisame seems to know about Tōka? Itachi noticed Kisame's expression. As a fellow S-rank Rogue Ninja, Kisame must be able to spot Tōka, who is so close at hand.

The reason they didn't react at all must be because they already knew that Tōka was still alive.

"Itachi, are you homesick? So you came back to visit?" Tōka asked with a smile, twisting a string of dumplings and taking a bite out of half of one.

"Senior Tōka seems to be quite comfortable in Konoha." Instead of responding, Itachi started talking about something unimportant.

What may seem insignificant is actually the most important.

Tōka's upturned lips gradually faded. This guy actually threatened me?

The atmosphere in the small dumpling shop suddenly changed; the oppressive air became strangely heavy, like a sponge soaked in water.

Itachi...

Kisame was eating dumplings with his head down, his seemingly calm expression betrayed by the look of surprise and uncertainty in his eyes.

During their time together, Kisame felt that Itachi and he got along very well, and he didn't want Itachi to stand against Tōka.

"It's alright, Konoha is not bad." Tōka laughed it off.

The tense atmosphere eased, and Kisame, settled back into his stomach.

Tōka quickly moved to sit opposite Itachi, vaguely remembering that the boy in front of her only reached her waist when they first met.

Time flies!

"Tell me, what brings you here?" Tōka twirled the wooden stick in his hand, his gaze fixed on Itachi's face.

Itachi's hand, holding the Three-Colored Dango, froze. How did he know the purpose of my visit?

Tōka glanced at Itachi, who had a detached expression, and always felt that it was exhausting to talk to such a gifted guy.

Despite being just a teenager, Tōka felt as if he were facing a Third Hokage, like a Fox had lived for decades.

Seeing Itachi remain silent, Tōka cursed under his breath, "Don't act until you see the Rabbit."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of Sasuke for you. Also..." Tōka glanced outside the shop, then his body suddenly exploded, turning into a cloud of white mist and dissipating.

Shadow Clone?

Itachi's usually calm expression finally changed at this moment; he hadn't realized that the Tōka in front of him was just a Shadow Clone!

Within its scarlet pupils, three jet-black Tomoe spun, eventually spinning wildly until they Tomoe end to end, transforming into a giant windmill.

The violent Dojutsu swept across like a whirlwind, and the entire dumpling shop seemed to shake at that moment.

In the blink of an eye, Itachi abruptly closed his eyes, and his frenzied Dojutsu vanished instantly.

"Itachi, what's next?" Kisame wiped his mouth, looked up at Itachi, and asked.

"Let's go." Itachi locked onto the scent that Tōka had deliberately left behind, tossed down a ticket, and got up to chase after the direction Tōka had indicated.

Seeing Kisame quickly dropped the dumpling he was holding and followed.

Two dark figures swept past like the wind on the bustling street, moving at an odd speed. Even Kakashi was keeping watch outside the dumpling shop, almost missed them.

Without a second thought, Kakashi leaped away, chasing after Itachi and Kisame.

In a corner of Konoha, within the territory of the Uchiha Clan.

In the middle of a Lake surrounded by Forest, Tōka sat on a lone bridge, fishing with a fishing rod in hand, seemingly fishing at dusk.

Swish!

Two figures landed and stood not far from the lake.

"So, what did you call me here for?" Itachi stared intently at Tōka and asked in a deep voice.

Despite having fooled everyone, Itachi felt a strange unease deep inside; Tōka could see right through him!

Is it really a good thing for Sasuke to be around someone like that...?

Itachi hesitated, his clenched fist tightening and loosening repeatedly, but in the end he refrained from making a move.

"Let's take care of the tail at the back first." Tōka leaned casually against the wooden post, his slender fingers gripping the fishing rod, and said this without turning his head.

Kisame and Itachi's expressions changed slightly. The tail?

Kakashi kept a distance from the two, knowing their strength and daring not to approach, so neither Kisame nor Itachi noticed Kakashi.

Upon hearing Tōka's words, the two exchanged a glance and reacted immediately.

With a whoosh, Itachi and Kisame acted almost simultaneously, Body Flicker Technique into the forest and intercepting Kakashi from both sides.

"Kakashi, he actually followed us this far?" Kisame had fought Kakashi during the Chunin Ninja Exams, so he was naturally aware of Kakashi's strength.

As a member of the Anbu, Itachi was somewhat of a senior to Kakashi.

"Go all out!" Itachi knew Kakashi was a tough opponent, so he extended a hand from his wide sleeve, his fingertips holding several Shuriken.

Call out!

A blurry afterimage flashed by, and Itachi flicked his wrist, sending several bullets flying. The speed was so fast that it was imperceptible to the naked eye; all that could be heard was a sharp whistling sound.

Puff puff puff!!

Kakashi was struck by several Shuriken and stood frozen in place, seemingly still reeling from the shock of being surrounded by the two men.

Kisame slammed Samehada, which he had been holding high, down hard, landing squarely on Kakashi's skull.

However, instead of the cracking sound of bones breaking, a burst of white mist exploded with a bang, and Kakashi's figure vanished abruptly.

Kisame's greatsword crashed heavily to the ground, sending rocks flying and dust billowing up.

As the smoke cleared, Itachi and Kisame stood together again.

"It's Shadow Clone." Kisame's face darkened; he had actually been fooled by this thing.

"The information about the Shadow Clone will definitely be relayed back. Kisame, you should leave first." Itachi's eyes flickered slightly as he looked towards the direction of Konoha.

"Then you..." Kisame hesitated for a moment. Although Itachi was the leader of their team, he also served to keep an eye on each other.

"I have some things to discuss with Senior Tōka. I'll meet up with you in a while." As soon as Itachi finished speaking, he turned and walked towards the Lake.

It was on this Lake that Itachi learned the Great Fireball Technique.

The image of my father from the past seems to stand on the wooden bridge in the middle of the lake, expressionless, yet his eyes reveal a touch of kindness and pride.

As expected of my son...

Familiar words echoed in his ears, and Itachi stood by the wooden bridge, somewhat lost in thought.

It wasn't until a familiar yet unfamiliar presence approached, and Tōka suddenly appeared beside Itachi, that he was startled awake.

"Senior Tōka, you can speak frankly." Itachi's eyelids darkened, the coldness in his eyes vanished, and his face turned cold and expressionless once more.

Tōka glanced sideways at Itachi's profile, secretly making a mental fuss.

Does this guy have Mind Reading Technique? The moment I appeared in Sasuke's sight, he came to find me himself.

They even knew that my real target wasn't Sasuke?

"Kakashi's clone has disappeared, and the people from Konoha are almost here. Senior Tōka probably doesn't want them to see him, right?" Itachi reminded Dongge when he saw Tōka staring at him silently.

"Interesting." Tōka grinned, walked to the wooden bridge, picked up the fishing rod he had discarded, and sat down.

He patted the seat next to him, gesturing for Itachi to sit down as well.

Itachi hesitated for a moment, worried that the people from Konoha would arrive quickly, but he still sat down not far away as instructed.

"Weasel, you are the smartest person I have ever met." Tōka casually leaned against the wooden stake, holding his fishing rod, and watched the ripples gently spread.

"..." Itachi couldn't figure out what Tōka was up to, so he chose to remain silent.

"Want to know what I just did?" Tōka changed the subject and asked.

Who could have guessed that? Itachi frowned slightly, estimating the time. The Konoha ninjas should be arriving soon, right? He didn't come to Konoha to fight.

Moreover, Tōka seems to care absolutely nothing about the people of Konoha...

The Uchiha Clan's territory is located in a corner of Konoha. Although it is relatively far from the center, it can be reached in a short time by Elite Ninja.

Rustling...

The wind rustled the leaves, and the weasel could even hear hurried footsteps.

"It's just an illusion array." Tōka noticed Itachi's wariness and chuckled lightly. "How about you do me a favor?"

"Help?" Itachi's heart tightened; he knew the real show was about to begin!

The winter wind was unusually cold, blowing across the tranquil lake, creating flakes of ice that, though not yet frozen, still rose to the surface.

At first glance, the fishing line lay haphazardly on the ice flowers, yet it didn't sink to the bottom.

Itachi then noticed that Tōka's fishing rod had no hook or bait at all.

Just then, Tōka's voice rang out, "Four people have arrived from Konoha, and coincidentally, I dislike all four of them."

These words created a chilling atmosphere that made the air itself seem to sink.

Itachi narrowed his eyes. Just to kill four Konoha Ninja? It's probably not that simple. Is it because of their identities?

"I will Sasuke you teach Sasuke properly." Tōka's last words were like the final straw that broke the camel's back.

A crimson light flashed in Itachi's dark eyes, and three black Tomoe appeared in his crimson pupils.

The Tomoe spun wildly, eventually connecting end to end to form a large windmill-shaped pattern.

The murderous intent was like a violent storm, and the entire sky turned gloomy.

Sasuke, you will survive...

Whoosh! A dark shadow flashed by, moving like a snowflake, leaving no trace in the wind.