Itachi Uchiha

Naruto strolled through the streets of Konoha with Konohamaru at his side.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting a warm glow over the two of them and adding a touch of coziness to this leisurely afternoon.

Naruto carried a bag of sweets he'd just bought from the dessert shop, their aroma making Konohamaru swallow repeatedly.

"Naruto big brother, that dessert looks so good!" Konohamaru stared straight at the sweets in Naruto's hand, his face full of anticipation.

Naruto smiled and patted Konohamaru on the head, handing him the treat. "Here, give it a try. This is my favorite flavor!"

The two chatted as they ate, savoring this rare moment of free time.

But just as they were lost in the sweetness of the dessert, Asuma and Kurenai discovered something unusual on the other side of Konoha.

Two mysterious figures in black cloaks embroidered with red clouds had slipped into the village, their movements furtive, immediately putting Asuma and Kurenai on alert.

The two quickly gave chase, determined to uncover the identities and intentions of these strangers.

The mysterious figures seemed to sense they were being followed, and with unspoken coordination, they moved to a secluded stretch of water.

When Asuma and Kurenai finally got a clear look at the pair, both of them showed expressions of shock.

One of them was none other than Konoha's rogue ninja, Itachi Uchiha.

His cold, stern face and deep, piercing eyes sent a chill down their spines.

The other had a face resembling a shark, with pale skin and sharp teeth, looking exceptionally ferocious.

"Itachi Uchiha, you actually dare to return to Konoha!" Asuma glared at Itachi, his voice thick with anger and hostility.

Itachi gave a cold smirk but said nothing. The other mysterious figure spoke up instead. "Guess I should introduce myself. Kisame Hoshigaki. Pleasure's all mine."

Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki—both S-rank wanted rogue ninja—exuded a suffocating, dangerous aura.

Itachi's eyes were deep and icy, as if they could peer into the deepest secrets of a person's heart.

Kisame was like a beast lurking in the deep sea, his massive frame, shark-like gray-blue skin, and razor-sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight. The bandage-wrapped greatsword in his hand seemed to come alive, radiating a murderous intent that made one's heart tremble.

Asuma and Kurenai immediately shifted into combat stance, knowing full well that the strength of these two rogue ninja was not to be underestimated.

Asuma's body flickered, and the kunai in his hand turned into a flash of silver light, aimed straight at Kisame's vital points.

But Kisame's reaction was astonishingly fast. With a swing of his greatsword, the bandages coiled like a serpent, not only easily blocking Asuma's attack but also binding him in the process. The sheer force was so immense that Asuma could barely break free.

Meanwhile, Kurenai tried to use her Genjutsu advantage to launch a surprise attack on Itachi Uchiha.

She formed hand seals, her eyes growing hazy as she attempted to pull Itachi into a world of illusion.

But Itachi merely smiled faintly. Those deep eyes seemed to see through all falsehoods. His Sharingan slowly rotated, unleashing powerful ocular power that instantly shattered Kurenai's Genjutsu. The backlash made her stagger, nearly falling to the ground.

In an instant, Asuma and Kurenai were completely on the defensive. Their attacks seemed utterly powerless against Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki.

Just then, Kakashi's figure cut through the air like lightning, joining the fray.

As an elite Jonin of Konoha and a Sharingan user, he thought he could turn the tide for Asuma and Kurenai.

But Itachi Uchiha only let out a contemptuous laugh. His eyes flared, and he unleashed his signature Genjutsu—Tsukuyomi.

In that moment, the entire world seemed swallowed by darkness. The consciousness of Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai was forcibly dragged into a twisted illusion space.

Here, time, space, and sensation lost all meaning. They were bound to crosses, unable to move, lambs waiting for slaughter.

Just as Itachi Uchiha was savoring this absolute control, his gaze suddenly froze. It pierced through the barriers of the illusion and fixed on the sky.

The sun there now blazed with an unusual brilliance, as if heralding someone's arrival.

In the sky, a golden-haired youth floated leisurely. He wore sunglasses, and his blue eyes sparkled with a cunning light through the lenses.

That youth was Naruto.

He held a Konoha-style dessert in his hand, chewing slowly as he watched the battle below with a mocking gaze, as if it were nothing more than an entertaining show.

Itachi Uchiha's body tensed. Almost without thinking, he launched Tsukuyomi at the floating Naruto.

His Sharingan flickered with an eerie light, attempting to drag this seemingly carefree but clearly unfathomable youth into the world of illusion.

But before his reincarnation, Gojo Satoru's mental strength had already been immense. After being reborn as Naruto, the combined power was even more terrifying. Paired with the penetrating effect of the Six Eyes, Itachi's Tsukuyomi vanished like a stone dropped into the ocean, without stirring a single ripple.