Asuma had hoped to block Itachi's attack, but he failed.
Just as he released his aura, countless thorny brambles suddenly erupted from the ground, forcing him back.
"Asuma, don't worry about me! Get out of here!"
Looking at Itachi before her, Kurenai Yuhi shouted at Asuma with a worried expression.
"Who is it?!"
Itachi's eyes narrowed sharply, and he instantly withdrew the kunai that had been about to strike.
He leaped backward to widen the distance, sweeping his gaze around before it settled on a silver-haired man standing before him.
"No wonder you were able to approach me without making a sound. So it was you, Mr. Kakashi."
Looking at the silver-haired man, Itachi showed no surprise in his eyes, as if he had long known Kakashi would suddenly appear.
"That's right, it's me! Itachi, I didn't expect you to still remember me. What an honor!"
Kakashi smiled faintly, then looked at Zhi Ge, who was still fighting nearby, feeling deeply shocked.
"This kid can actually hold his own against Kisame Hoshigaki?! It looks like he has completely pulled ahead of ninja his age..."
Kakashi knew very well that Kisame Hoshigaki had not truly used his full strength, but even a stronger Chunin would have been crushed under such circumstances.
It seemed that Zhi Ge's strength had at least reached the level of a top-tier Chunin.
With Kakashi arriving as reinforcements, Kurenai Yuhi immediately broke free of her restraints. The situation now became Zhi Ge facing Kisame Hoshigaki one-on-one, while Kakashi, Kurenai Yuhi, and Asuma faced Itachi together.
"Itachi, as a rogue ninja, you still dared to sneak back into Konoha. You have no chance of escaping now!"
Kakashi looked at Itachi and spoke calmly.
"Mr. Kakashi, although you possess the Sharingan of our Uchiha Clan, power that does not