Lin Mu is Still the Cutest

"Cough, cough..."

Kurenai surfaced from the river, coughing up water as she channeled her chakra to float upon the surface.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

She was an elite Jonin of the Hidden Leaf Village.

The combat prowess of ninjas from Konoha was top-tier across the entire Ninja World!

"As expected of Miss Kurenai, however..."

Itachi Uchiha suddenly appeared behind Kurenai, his expression cold, as if he were a god.

"The one whose journey ends here is you!"

A cold shout rang out, causing Itachi Uchiha to shift his gaze and turn toward the source.

A ninja with silver-white hair, wearing a dark green ninja uniform and a mask, stood there.

Kisame Hoshigaki, who had been battling Asuma Sarutobi on the bank, was slightly distracted by the new arrival.

Asuma Sarutobi seized the opening immediately, slashing out with his blade. Kisame Hoshigaki couldn't dodge in time, barely managing to lean back.

Even so, Asuma Sarutobi's sharp Chakra Blade sliced a bloody gash across his face.

Kisame Hoshigaki retreated a few steps, his peripheral vision fixed on Kakashi Hatake.

He then rapidly formed hand seals.

"Water Style: Water Shark Bomb Jutsu!"

Standing in the river, Kakashi Hatake remained completely calm. His left Sharingan flashed as his hands moved at an astonishing speed to form seals.

"Water Style: Water Shark Bomb Jutsu!"

Kakashi Hatake and Kisame Hoshigaki had used the exact same jutsu!

Splash--

The river was no longer calm; the water surged, swirled, and transformed.

In the blink of an eye, it coalesced into a water dragon that soared upward.

Boom, boom, boom!

The two water dragons collided and tore at each other, eventually annihilating one another and falling back into the river as a spray of water.

Kisame Hoshigaki's shark-like eyes went round, bloodshot, and a raspy voice emerged from his sharp-toothed mouth:

"The same jutsu as mine..."

Asuma Sarutobi, who had just used his Chakra Blade to force back Kisame Hoshigaki, stood up. A cigarette still dangled from his lips, though it was now soaked through.

"Why did you come here too?"

"Oh, although I asked the two of you to handle it, I suppose I was still a bit worried."

While answering Asuma Sarutobi's question, Kakashi Hatake kept his eyes locked firmly on Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki.

These two... they were extremely dangerous.

The atmosphere reached a strange, tense stalemate.

Finally, Kakashi Hatake broke the silence:

"A rogue ninja like you, coming to this village after all this time—what is your business?"

Itachi Uchiha did not answer; his gaze remained indifferent, even though the man before him was the renowned Copy Ninja.

There was still no fluctuation of energy from Itachi Uchiha, yet Kakashi Hatake dared not relax for even a second.

Those eyes are the same as before. That said, he is the true heir to the Sharingan; I must prepare for the worst-case scenario!

"Kakashi Hatake..."

Itachi Uchiha murmured.

Hearing Itachi Uchiha's soft whisper, Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, revealing his menacing, sharp teeth.

"I didn't expect that besides Itachi, someone else would actually possess those eyes... You must be the Copy Ninja Kakashi."

"I should be the one who is surprised."

Kakashi Hatake remained expressionless.

"I spotted two suspicious characters in the teahouse and wondered who they were. I never expected it to be Itachi Uchiha and that freak from the Hidden Mist Village, Kisame Hoshigaki."

His gaze swept past Itachi Uchiha and landed on Kisame Hoshigaki, finally resting on the massive blade strapped to Kisame Hoshigaki's back.

So that's it... One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Is that blade the Samehada?

Kakashi Hatake's gaze was vigilant, his left Sharingan scanning constantly, searching for any opening in the two men.

Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki were both incredibly powerful; defeating them head-on would be as difficult as ascending to heaven!

Suddenly, several small shuriken appeared between Itachi Uchiha's fingers.

Kakashi Hatake's pupils constricted as he lunged backward, his hands moving in a blur to weave the seals for his jutsu.

This was a battle between Sharingan and Sharingan!

Although a great war raged on the outskirts of the village, the streets of the Hidden Leaf Village remained peaceful and serene.

Along one of these streets, two figures—one tall and one short—walked at a leisurely pace.

"Huh? Why? Why? Why do I have to go on an interview trip with the Pervy Sage?"

Naruto Uzumaki ruffled his spiky hair, his face etched with blatant refusal.

"No, no, this isn't just any ordinary interview trip. There's a woman I want to interview, and I absolutely have to find her!"

Jiraiya wore a wide grin, constantly trying to entice Naruto.

But Naruto remained completely unmoved. He looked up, staring straight into Jiraiya's smiling face, and shouted:

"I don't have the time to waste on your lecherous interviews! I have to train!"

"Train?"

Jiraiya's smile faded, replaced by a look of surprise.

"I want Kakashi Hatake to teach me all sorts of ninjutsu. Like the Chidori or something..."

As Naruto spoke, he felt a bitter taste in his heart.

Kakashi Hatake has been playing favorites lately!

At this, Jiraiya's eyes darted around as he continued to coax Naruto.

"Oh my~ I don't think you'd be able to learn that move anyway. Besides, this woman is incredibly beautiful! You'd want to see her, right?"

Unfortunately, at this moment, the Prince had only Sakura, Sasuke Uchiha, and training on his mind.

He remained entirely unmoved, his tone resolute:

"Not at all! I'm not some brat who's going to be fooled by the Pervy Sage's sweet talk. In short, I'm not going!!!"

Jiraiya let out a cold snort, thinking to himself that this brat was truly difficult to deal with.

Suddenly, another figure crossed his mind... Lin Mu was certainly a much more lovable kid!

Still, he didn't give up, his eyes rolling once more.

He shifted his tone, feigning regret as he said:

"Well, I suppose it can't be helped! Sigh... and to think I actually know a jutsu even more powerful than the Chidori..."

Naruto's ears perked up.

Jiraiya turned to walk away, grumbling loudly:

"No choice then, I guess I'll just take Sasuke Uchiha instead!"

!!!

These words struck a chord in Naruto Uzumaki's heart. He dashed forward, blocking Jiraiya's path.

"I'll go!"

"I'll go back and pack my bags right now. Pervy Sage, stay right there and don't move!"

Leaving those words behind, he rushed home in a frantic hurry.

A few black lines appeared on Jiraiya's forehead.

He had been wise and formidable his entire life, yet he was currently helpless against this brat.

"Sigh, when will this kid ever be as smart and cute as Lin Mu?"

Jiraiya shook his head, let out a helpless sigh, and wandered off with his hands behind his back.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

The sound of roaring flames emanated from a secret chamber.

The chamber was small, with strange murals lining the left and right walls.

The wall directly ahead was painted with the crest of the Uchiha Clan.

Sasuke Uchiha stood beside a stone tablet near the wall, his entire body trembling slightly.

He stared at the tablet, staring at the crest.

The memory of that night surfaced in his heart once more—the night of the bloodbath, the night his kin were all slaughtered!

Uchiha... Itachi!!!