Illusion Technique

Beneath his green jumpsuit, Might Guy did not look particularly muscular, but the moment he exerted himself—

His taut muscles bulged instantly, nearly bursting through the green jumpsuit.

Kisame chuckled and swung the massive Samehada at Might Guy, sending him flying with its tremendous force!

Might Guy was somewhat excited!

He had not expected Kisame, who looked so unremarkable, to possess such incredible strength!

No, looks and strength did not seem to have anything to do with each other.

Never mind that!

Konoha's Green Beast was about to be unleashed!

Every cell in Might Guy's body was leaping with excitement, yearning for a battle!

Might Guy assumed a stance.

"Eight Gates Formation: Gate of View, open!!!"

Green vapor immediately enveloped Might Guy's body!

Sensing trouble, Kisame leaped straight into the nearby river. Standing atop the water, he rapidly formed hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

The river water gathered into a dragon's head and instantly charged toward Might Guy!

Might Guy felt the blood in his veins surge!

Then he rapidly struck the air, the heat generated by the friction between his fists and the air turning into flames that flew toward the Water Dragon Bullet!

Water and fire collided.

They instantly turned into countless clouds of steam. Within the steam, Samehada sniffed out Might Guy's chakra and found his position!

But a green figure burst straight through the steam and kicked at Kisame.

"Youth never fades!!!"

Kisame had no time to form hand seals. Might Guy's kick struck his chest and sent him flying backward.

Yet Kisame was not injured. After rolling twice through the water, Samehada bit down on Might Guy's leg!

Kisame kept forming hand seals. "Water Release: Thousand Sharks Technique!"

The river water transformed into vicious sharks, snapping and tearing at Might Guy!

But at that moment—

A figure wearing a fox mask descended from the sky. The fox-masked figure drew the short blade from his back and swiftly slashed the Water Release sharks into vapor.

Then the short blade was thrust into a gap in Samehada.

Samehada cried out in pain, released Might Guy, and swam back to Kisame's side.

Might Guy said, "Kakashi, you're here!"

Kakashi nodded. "Yeah. Leave this to me. The Anbu will be here soon!"

But just as Kakashi was about to make his move—

Everything before him shattered like an illusionary reflection in water, and Kakashi froze where he stood.

A kunai was already pressed against his throat!

In the distance, Kisame was still fighting Might Guy.

Shisui held a kunai to Kakashi's throat!

A chill ran down Kakashi's back. Had everything that just happened been a genjutsu?

But Shisui clearly had no eyes. How had he fallen under a genjutsu, and when had Shisui cast it?

Shisui's indifferent voice sounded beside Kakashi's ear. "We do not want to fight Konoha. Make Might Guy stop, and Kisame and I will leave Konoha!"

Shisui had once been an Anbu. Kakashi and Shisui had once been colleagues.

He had greatly admired Shisui's strength, until Shisui later became a rogue ninja and joined the Akatsuki.

Although Shisui had now lost his eyes—

Kakashi still could not gauge Shisui's true strength. Kakashi said, "All right!"

Then Kakashi called for Might Guy to stop.

Shisui also said to Kisame, "Kisame, that's enough. We've already drawn Konoha's attention. Leave!"

Kisame said matter-of-factly, "Was the battle between me and the green watermelon head too loud?"

Then Kisame followed behind Shisui, intending to leave.

As he was leaving, Kisame turned to Might Guy and said, "Oi, green watermelon head, remember my name... Kisame Hoshigaki!

You are an opponent worthy of respect. I look forward to our next duel!"

After Shisui left, Kakashi felt a lingering fear.

If Shisui had truly wanted to kill him just now, then he would already be dead.

Shisui had defected three and a half years ago. In those three and a half years, Kakashi had no idea just how far that genius youth had grown.

In the forest outside Konoha.

A figure flickered continuously until he spotted two figures wearing black cloaks patterned with red clouds.

Shisui's ears twitched, as though he had detected a familiar presence.

Shisui said, "Itachi, you came."

Itachi leaped down from a tree, his gaze somewhat complicated as he looked at his former closest friend.

Kisame chuckled. "Heh heh, Shisui's younger brother?"

Then he raised Samehada and smashed it toward Itachi. A red glint flashed in Itachi's eyes, and he drew a kunai to fight Kisame.

Itachi said to Shisui, "Shisui, are you really not coming back?"

Shisui said, "No. The Akatsuki suits me very well, and I now believe the Akatsuki's ideals are correct."

"This world, this ninja world—as long as nations exist, as long as the ninja system exists, conflict and war will never cease.

The Akatsuki's goal is to gather the nine tailed beasts, seize the strongest power in the ninja world, and then use military force to prevent war.

Just like Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama did back then, using power to deter the entire ninja world!"

Itachi merely nodded.

His thinking was not yet as forward-looking as Shisui's.

For now, Itachi only wanted to preserve peace and balance between the village and the clan. The ninja world as a whole was not within his considerations.

Itachi and Shisui were closest friends.

The fact that Itachi could awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan for Shisui's sake alone showed the depth of their bond.

Itachi said to Shisui, "Shisui, you still have one eye left."

Shisui smiled. "Use it to do what you believe is right. I cannot see with my eyes now, but my heart sees more clearly than before."

Itachi and Shisui continued talking.

Beside them, Kisame kept punching the air and repeatedly unleashing ninjutsu at empty space.

Hearing Kisame's behavior, Shisui said, "Itachi, stop teasing Kisame. Release the genjutsu."

Itachi said, "No. You release it. Goodbye."

Then Itachi vanished.

Shisui helplessly shook his head. Itachi was still like this. No matter when it was, he always had to "spar" with him.

Shisui stepped forward. Once he came within five meters of Kisame, Kisame's genjutsu automatically dissipated.

For Shisui, casting genjutsu did not necessarily require his eyes.

Sometimes, chakra worked as well!

Kisame's eyes instantly cleared. Somewhat confused, he said, "Mr. Shisui, your younger brother is gone."

Shisui said helplessly, "Kisame, you were caught in Itachi's genjutsu. Itachi's genjutsu is now superior to mine!"

Because Shisui no longer had both eyes, while Itachi possessed the ocular genjutsu technique [Tsukuyomi], second only to Kotoamatsukami!