Kakashi: What Kind of Organization Is This Terrifying?

Faced with this situation, Sarutobi Asuma merely sneered. "There won't be any later. I'll deal with you right now."

Hearing that, Kisame Hoshigaki still had the mood to joke. "Itachi, looks like you're hated by everyone in the village too."

Uchiha Itachi had no desire to respond.

"I've heard about you too, Kisame Hoshigaki." Yuuhi Kurenai's expression was grave. "You were originally a ninja of Kirigakure, but later became a Rogue Ninja under suspicion of assassinating the Daimyo and sabotaging the country. Every nation received the Land of Water's warrant for your arrest!"

"You're both S-rank criminals in the bingo book. Itachi, after causing such a huge incident, you still dared to set foot in Konoha. You've got some nerve."

Sarutobi Asuma spoke solemnly.

"Asuma, Kurenai, just pretend you didn't see me." Uchiha Itachi spoke calmly. "I don't want to hurt you."

Uchiha Itachi believed he was telling the truth. He was no longer the boy he had been years ago. With his current strength, the two Elite Jonin before him truly were no match for him.

But when Sarutobi Asuma heard that, anger immediately rose within him. What did that mean?

Could it be that the two of them, Elite Jonin, couldn't handle him alone?

When Uchiha Itachi committed that act back then, he had only been an ordinary Jonin. Even if he was far stronger now, did that mean he could look down on them?

"That doesn't sound like something a man with his comrades' blood on his hands would say." Sarutobi Asuma said unhappily. "You're obviously not dressed like respectable people. I don't believe you'd flaunt yourselves around without a purpose. What is your objective?"

Having heard this exchange, Kisame Hoshigaki had already grown impatient. He pulled Samehada from his back and smashed it heavily onto the ground. "Enough chatter. Want me to take care of him?"

Uchiha Itachi said calmly, "It seems they won't let us pass obediently. But don't go overboard. Your techniques are too conspicuous."

Hearing that, Kisame Hoshigaki seemed as though some kind of seal had been released.

"Then it's settled."

In an instant, both sides made their move. Kisame Hoshigaki gripped Samehada and lunged forward, slashing viciously at Sarutobi Asuma.

At the same time, Kurenai unleashed a genjutsu and moved against Uchiha Itachi.

In the midst of battle, Sarutobi Asuma immediately realized the gap between himself and this humanoid Tailed Beast. With the strength of just one arm and Samehada alone, Kisame Hoshigaki suppressed the Chakra Blades that Sarutobi Asuma held in both hands.

He was even using only the tip of the blade, which made it harder to exert force.

That showed just how terrifying Kisame Hoshigaki's strength truly was.

Outside the scene, Hatake Kakashi immediately sat up straight. He had heard Kisame Hoshigaki's name before. Among the ninja who had defected from the Land of Water, he was one of the very best.

He was enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with Konoha's Uchiha Itachi, and the combat power he displayed now was absurdly strong.

What concerned Kakashi even more was that the two were clearly dressed in the same style. In other words, they might belong to the same organization, and both had painted nails.

That might be one of the defining characteristics of their organization.

These two were both S-rank wanted criminals, experts at the very least on the level of Elite Jonin. An expert of this caliber would have no trouble becoming a Kage in a Small Ninja Village.

Yet these two wore identical clothing and had joined some specific organization. That was a dangerous sign.

The best-case scenario was that these two were merely working together, with no one else involved.

But what if the worse possibility was true, and there were other people in this organization?

Using these two as the standard, it was likely a powerful organization that required S-rank ninja from each village just to qualify for entry.

If that was the case, it was truly terrifying.

"My great sword, Samehada!" Kisame Hoshigaki said as he slashed down. Its sharp scales tore away a large chunk of flesh from Sarutobi Asuma's shoulder. "It isn't used to chop people. It's used to shave them down."

With just one move, Kisame Hoshigaki had injured Sarutobi Asuma, an Elite Jonin.

Covering his wound with one hand, Sarutobi Asuma spoke in a deliberately relaxed tone. "Kurenai, what's taking you so long?"

At that moment, Yuuhi Kurenai's figure materialized behind Uchiha Itachi. She was actually about to use genjutsu on him.

"Oh no." Outside the scene, Hatake Kakashi immediately realized the problem. Using that in front of the Sharingan was like showing off one's skills before a master swordsman.

It was simply asking for humiliation.

He had considerable experience using the Sharingan. Although the Sharingan could not be deactivated and consumed enormous amounts of his Chakra, often leaving him short on Chakra—

—the benefits it brought were also obvious. With the Sharingan, he had copied over a thousand ninjutsu, an amount ordinary ninja could scarcely imagine.

Another huge benefit was that he had become immune to low-level genjutsu. No genjutsu of that level was effective before his Sharingan; he could even use it to hypnotize his opponent in return.

Sure enough, after trapping Kisame Hoshigaki with genjutsu, Yuuhi Kurenai transformed into a tree to trap Uchiha Itachi.

Uchiha Itachi watched expressionlessly as Yuuhi Kurenai appeared above him, preparing to strike.

"You're finished!"

Yuuhi Kurenai shouted, but in the next instant, she discovered that she herself was trapped on the tree, bound by her own genjutsu.

A Jonin highly skilled in genjutsu had been reflected in an instant. No, perhaps even earlier—perhaps from the moment she looked directly into the Sharingan, she had already been affected by its genjutsu suggestion.

"Genjutsu of this level is useless against me." Uchiha Itachi looked at Yuuhi Kurenai and spoke without expression.

Yuuhi Kurenai was still in shock.

"This is... genjutsu reflection?"

Just as Uchiha Itachi raised a shuriken and prepared to attack Yuuhi Kurenai, she barely managed to bite through her tongue. The pain instantly broke her free from her own genjutsu.

But although she avoided Uchiha Itachi's fatal blow, his following kick sent her flying onto the water nearby.

"Kurenei!"

Sarutobi Asuma shouted worriedly when he saw this.

"You still have the leisure to worry about someone else?" Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, speaking with a half-smile.

"Just as expected of Kurenai, but..."

Just as Yuuhi Kurenai had steadied herself on the water's surface, Uchiha Itachi had already appeared behind her.

"But this should be the end." Hatake Kakashi's lazy voice sounded from nearby. "I'm talking to you."

It turned out that Hatake Kakashi had arrived at the crucial moment to provide support.