Uchiha Itachi didn't understand how the young man and Kurenai had disappeared. With his reaction speed and vision, it was impossible for him to miss something like that. After so many years, having faced countless powerful enemies, Itachi still had that much confidence in himself.
"Space-time ninjutsu?"
Turning his head, he looked toward the shore. Ethan was now standing there, not far behind Asuma, while Kurenai was half-crouched on the ground.
Compared to Ethan, who appeared completely unaffected, Kurenai, experiencing space-time ninjutsu for the first time, felt quite unwell. The sudden spatial shift left her disoriented. At this moment, she also realized that the Flying Thunder God Technique was not something just anyone could use. To kill and move at lightning speed like the Fourth Hokage, in addition to mastering space-time ninjutsu, one also needed an extraordinary sense of balance and reaction speed.
Clearly, Ethan was a young man with that kind of talent. Perhaps it was because the Third Hokage had seen that potential that he allowed him to learn such a technique.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Thanks to Ethan's support, Kurenai hadn't been injured. However, her expression was grim. Being countered so thoroughly in her specialty made her feel bitter.
At this point, the most logical course of action would be to retreat and call for reinforcements, leaving the enemy to Ethan and Asuma.
However, as a strong-willed woman, Kurenai couldn't accept retreating from the battlefield and leaving the fight to a "Genin," even though she had heard that Ethan was about to be promoted to Chunin. Essentially, there wasn't much difference. Not long ago, Ethan had still been under her instruction.
"How can I let my student take the front?"
So, she didn't retreat. Instead, she gripped her kunai and prepared to continue fighting.
Though Kurenai's greatest strength was genjutsu, the fact that she had been promoted to Jonin proved that she had no serious weaknesses. Since she couldn't use genjutsu, she would rely on taijutsu and ninjutsu.
"Wrong choice."
Just as she readied her stance, Uchiha Itachi's voice suddenly came from behind. She hadn't sensed him move at all.
"Shadow clone?"
Itachi was still standing on the water ahead, and now another version of him was behind her. Kurenai's first instinct was that the one in front was a shadow clone meant to distract her. She turned quickly to counterattack, but she didn't expect Ethan to move faster. He activated a jutsu without hesitation.
Earth Style - Earth Wall.
A wall of earth rose abruptly, separating Kurenai from Uchiha Itachi. Almost at the same time, a violent explosion occurred on the other side of the wall, shattering it completely.
Thanks to the barrier, the terrifying blast didn't injure Kurenai, Ethan, or even Asuma, who wasn't far away.
"That one was the shadow clone..." Kurenai finally realized the truth. Itachi had sent a clone near her and detonated it at just the right moment. "When did he cast that jutsu?"
At the same time, Kurenai was shocked by Ethan's judgment and reaction speed. He had accurately predicted the enemy's intentions.
"Oh?"
Having his attacks thwarted twice in a row by the young man, Itachi was visibly surprised. He had no idea Konoha had produced such a capable ninja.
By age, he looked to be about the same as Sasuke...
Kisame was still fighting Asuma. As a Water Style user, Kisame suddenly unleashed the Water Shark Bullet Technique, which was then countered by another Water Style jutsu used by Kakashi, who had just arrived.
"Kakashi Hatake..."
The Kakashi in front of Kisame was a shadow clone. The real Kakashi stood in front of Itachi, directly between him and Ethan.
After Kakashi arrived, he exchanged a few words with Itachi and quickly figured out the purpose of the two wanted criminals' appearance in Konoha: they were after the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki.
In fact, Kakashi had already received this intel from Jiraiya. Knowing that an organization called Akatsuki was targeting Naruto, Jiraiya had taken Naruto under his wing, both to train him and protect him.
He also knew that the members of that group, including Itachi, were extremely dangerous individuals.
Their battle began without warning. One moment they were talking, the next, they were fighting. Itachi displayed overwhelming strength. Although Kakashi responded well, everyone present could see that he was being pushed back and forced to defend.
In order to end the fight quickly and avoid unnecessary complications, Itachi was already preparing to use Tsukuyomi on Kakashi.
When Kakashi heard Itachi preparing to unleash the power of his Sharingan, he immediately warned Asuma and Kurenai not to meet the opponent's gaze. He claimed that only someone like him, who also possessed a Sharingan, might be able to withstand the genjutsu.
Confidently, Kakashi believed he had developed his Sharingan to a high level, enough to resist Itachi's illusions. The result: he was defeated in the very next moment.
Genjutsu battles, being spiritual confrontations, often concluded in an instant in the real world.
It all happened so fast that, even knowing what was coming, Ethan had no time to react. The moment Kakashi chose to look into Itachi's eyes, his defeat was inevitable.
Even warning him in advance would've been meaningless. Kakashi had too much confidence in himself. Without this kind of crushing loss, he probably wouldn't have been motivated to improve, nor would he have discovered that he had already awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
More importantly, as a Konoha spy, Itachi would never kill Kakashi. At most, he would seriously wound him—but not fatally.
So Ethan didn't intervene. He waited until Kakashi collapsed, then used Body Flicker Technique to rush over and catch the heavily injured Kakashi, who was barely conscious.
Asuma and Kurenai, who didn't dare look directly at Itachi, couldn't see what had happened. It wasn't until Ethan brought Kakashi back and placed him beside Kurenai that they realized he had been defeated.
"Ethan... go. Call for reinforcements."
Kakashi's sudden collapse shocked Asuma and Kurenai. They immediately understood how terrifying Itachi was when serious. He was far beyond their ability to handle. The only chance was to stall for time while Ethan warned the Hokage.
"I doubt he'll let me leave so easily."
Ethan could feel Itachi's gaze fixed entirely on him. Unlike before, Itachi's attention was now clearly focused.
"I don't want to cause too much trouble, so... stay here for a while."
As Itachi spoke, a huge flock of crows suddenly flew toward Ethan and Kurenai. Since Kakashi was down and within the attack range, and Kurenai couldn't open her eyes and judge what was happening, Ethan, the only one still able to fight, couldn't dodge at all.
Abandoning his comrades was not an option. Given Konoha's values, Ethan wouldn't be able to remain in the village if he fled.
And based on his prior actions in rescuing others, it was clear he wasn't the kind of person who would leave his teammates behind.
"Acting like I've already lost..."
In a way, Uchiha Itachi was an even more troublesome opponent than Orochimaru. With Ethan's current 'strength', it was impossible to defeat him. But he didn't need to win. He didn't even need to injure him. He just had to hold out for a few exchanges.
He formed a hand seal with his left hand, as if about to release a jutsu. But in the next moment, he suddenly twisted and delivered a spinning kick behind him.
"?"
Kurenai couldn't see anything, but she could feel the incoming attack. However, Ethan's kick wasn't aimed forward... it was aimed behind him?
Itachi had a particular preference for sneaking behind his opponents and delivering finishing blows. This time was no exception.
Ethan's kick landed squarely on Itachi's arm. Itachi reacted quickly. The moment he realized his tactic had been anticipated, he used his arm to block the blow.
"You're not affected by the genjutsu..."
"My resistance to genjutsu is slightly above average."
The crows from earlier weren't pure genjutsu. Mixed among them were real shuriken. But to Ethan, those were meaningless.
A simple Water Style - Wild Water Wave scattered the shuriken. Though some still flew his way, their speed and power had been greatly reduced. With just a few quick movements, Ethan dodged the ones still aimed at him.
As for Kurenai, though she couldn't open her eyes, shuriken of that strength wouldn't injure a Jonin. She could also shield Kakashi at the same time.
"What's your name?"
"Ethan."
Itachi seemed to nod slightly, as if saying: I'll remember you.
Almost at the same moment, the two launched attacks simultaneously.
Both Itachi and Ethan formed hand signs quickly and subtly. It was nearly impossible for bystanders to even notice the hand movements. One second they seemed to be standing still, the next second, the jutsu had already been unleashed.
Even Kisame, nearby, was taken aback.
"I didn't expect Konoha to have a ninja who can use ninjutsu like that..." But he still assumed this young guy wouldn't last long in a true battle. He'd probably be defeated by Itachi soon.
To Kisame's surprise, after a short exchange of ninjutsu, Itachi suddenly covered his left eye and retreated to Kisame's side.
"Withdraw immediately!"
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
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