The Man Hidden in the Forest

Team Seven buried Bukai and the others.

Sasuke Uchiha sighed. "Although his scheme to take the Sharingan was despicable, he had more backbone than most people in the shinobi world."

Naruto Uzumaki nodded. "He was a rare kind of person..."

Sakura Haruno patted her chest and lowered her head dejectedly. "I thought we'd get to enjoy the hot springs in Yugakure, but we almost lost our lives tonight."

"I'm sorry. I was too weak..."

Sasuke Uchiha clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. "Once we get back to the village, I have to ask Granny Cat how Shisui's Body Flicker Technique is trained. Next time, I'll never be defeated by an enemy like that again!"

The Cloud shinobi brute had been too fast. Even though his Sharingan could see through his movements, his body's reaction speed could not keep up.

If he could obtain Shisui Uchiha's method for training the Body Flicker Technique, his speed would surely be able to keep up with his enemies!

"Sasuke, you just haven't found a ninjutsu that suits you yet."

Naruto Uzumaki patted his teammate on the shoulder and handed him a scroll. "I found this on one of the Cloud shinobi just now. It seems to be a Nintaijutsu that uses Lightning Release Chakra to boost speed. I think it should be useful to you."

"...Thank you."

Sasuke Uchiha lowered his head and took the scroll from Naruto. Then he suddenly asked, "By the way, was that ninjutsu you used to defeat that guy just now a new technique you developed?"

"No, it's another failed product."

Naruto Uzumaki shook his head and frowned. "Forget it. I'll refine it a little when we get back. It can barely be used as a Nintaijutsu move. I'll call it Rasengan Punch!"

Sasuke Uchiha: "..."

There was something wrong with this teammate's brain...

Whether it was Rasengan Impact Wave or Rasengan Punch, their power alone had already reached the standard of A-rank or S-rank Forbidden Jutsu!

And even the failed versions were this powerful. If he succeeded in developing them, just how powerful would the technique become? What terrifying ninjutsu was this guy researching?

"Alright, alright, let's head back first!"

Sakura Haruno shrank back and urged them repeatedly, "It's so late already. If Sensei Kakashi gets to the inn and can't find us, he'll be worried!"

"Yeah."

Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha both nodded.

Sasuke Uchiha had taken a kick to the chest from Bukai while trying to delay his attack. He needed to get back and rest as soon as possible.

Naruto Uzumaki was covered in sword wounds. They had only been simply bandaged, and the wounds were itching now. By the time they got back to Yugakure, they would probably be healed...

After Team Seven left the forest.

A figure jumped down from a large tree and stood beneath the moonlight, watching from afar as they departed from the forest, seemingly lost in thought.

Only after the three children of Team Seven had completely vanished from his sight did he turn around and walk deeper into the forest.

Deep in the forest, a tall man stood waiting for him.

The moonlight gradually brightened. When the tall man saw his teammate return, he chuckled. "Mr. Itachi, are you planning to make a move on your own younger brother?"

"Not yet."

Itachi Uchiha shook his head coldly and looked at his teammate. "Kisame, didn't I tell you to wait for me in Yugakure?"

"Oh, I suppose I got tired of waiting!"

Sensing Itachi Uchiha's displeasure, the tall man offered a completely insincere explanation. Then he pulled a bag from his pocket and handed it over. "Freshly bought sweet rice dumplings. They should still be warm."

Itachi Uchiha gave Kisame a speechless look. "..."

"Hah, I had them add extra sugar."

Seeing that his teammate still had not taken the bag, Kisame Hoshigaki continued, "The sweet rice dumplings sold during the Thanksgiving festival are limited edition. They're made with the best seasonal glutinous rice from Yugakure."

Since his teammate had put it that way, Itachi Uchiha could only take it helplessly. He asked curiously, "I remember that stall had a lot of people. How did you manage to buy them?"

"Well... some man was harassing women, and many of the villagers waiting in line went after him to uphold justice. So there weren't many people left."

Kisame Hoshigaki's smile gradually turned somewhat strange. "That man was one of the legendary shinobi. Luckily, I was the one standing in line and Mr. Itachi did not show up. Otherwise, if we ran into him, we might have had some trouble."

"One of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya?"

Itachi Uchiha swallowed a dumpling and said quietly, "He was the target of our mission this time, wasn't he?"

"There's no need for us to continue the mission."

Kisame Hoshigaki nodded. Watching his teammate eat with great relish, he asked with a chuckle, "How does it taste? It should have been worth the time I spent buying it, right?"

"It's not as good as the dumplings we bought in the Land of Fire last time."

Itachi Uchiha gently shook his head and began speaking about business. "Was someone else sent to take over because the payment for this mission was generous?"

"No, because the client died."

The tall man looked somewhat displeased, but then he put on an interested expression again. "The latest news is that Gato, the client who commissioned the mission, was reportedly killed by Zabuza Momochi."

Like Kisame Hoshigaki, Zabuza Momochi had once been one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Now, both of them were Rogue Ninja from Kirigakure.

"It looks like we'll be relatively free for a while."

After finishing all the sweet rice dumplings, Itachi Uchiha's gaze gradually darkened. "Just in time. I need to visit Granny Cat's place to restock on Ninja Tools."

"It's only buying Ninja Tools. There's no need to go so far, right? I get the feeling Mr. Itachi misses the food from his hometown!"

Kisame Hoshigaki shook his head in confusion. "But Yugakure's desserts have always been among the best-selling in the shinobi world. They can't be that bad, can they?"

Itachi Uchiha hid his expression in the darkness. "Because the Shuriken sold at Granny Cat's Ninja Tools shop are best suited for Uchiha Style Shurikenjutsu. I must avoid even the slightest error in battle in the future."

After saying that, Itachi Uchiha added in a low voice, "Yugakure's sweet rice dumplings can only be called average."

Kisame Hoshigaki looked strangely at the empty food bag, then at the grains of rice stuck to the corner of Itachi Uchiha's mouth, and helplessly handed him a tissue.

After his teammate wiped his mouth clean, Kisame Hoshigaki looked down at him. "Mr. Itachi, are you really not considering killing your younger brother here?"

"Even if Mr. Itachi does not care now, he may become a formidable enemy in the future. And given the hatred between you two, he certainly won't show mercy!"

"..."

Itachi Uchiha slowly raised his head. His eyes gradually turned red, three black tomoe appearing within them. "Kisame, do you think I would lose to him?"

"No, Mr. Itachi will definitely win."

Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, revealing a mouthful of shark-like teeth. "It's just that the blond brat beside him is already strong enough based on what he has shown so far. Once he grows up, dealing with him will certainly become even more troublesome."

"After all, if Mr. Itachi wants to have a one-on-one final battle with his younger brother in the future, I should be the one helping hold back his teammates... If we kill him now, I won't have to worry about such trouble."

"..."

Itachi Uchiha's Sharingan slowly faded. He pulled his clothes tighter and ended the conversation. "Let's go. First, we'll visit Granny Cat's Ninja Tools shop."

Second update

"The Shinobi World's Best Teammate—Kisame Hoshigaki"

Kisame Hoshigaki: I waited in line for so long to buy these dumplings. Hurry, eat them while they're still warm!

Itachi Uchiha: Did they add sugar?

Kisame Hoshigaki: I specifically had them add lots of sugar!

Itachi Uchiha: I don't like sweets!

Kisame Hoshigaki: Then just force down a little. Have it as a midnight snack?

Itachi Uchiha: Fine.

Kisame Hoshigaki: How does it taste?

Itachi Uchiha: Average.

Kisame Hoshigaki: ...Fine, then I'll buy more next time.

Black Zetsu, Obito: Kisame, can't you understand human speech?

Kisame Hoshigaki: Can't you understand Itachi-speak?