Chapter 278: The Combined Strength of Itachi and Kisame
Although Kakashi's tone was relaxed, his attitude was very serious.
With several Jōnin gathered on his side, Kakashi was confident in taking down the opponent.
It was just that he didn't want to fight here, because Konoha had just restored order, and fighting here would definitely disrupt it again.
Kisame looked at Itachi beside him, waiting for his judgment. He didn't mind a killing spree anyway.
Itachi was about to say something, but his gaze fell on the end of the crowd, where a figure flashed past. It was Sasuke, who had finished his morning training and come to eat.
Sasuke lived alone. Although he could cook, most of the time he still solved his food problems on the street.
He didn't notice them, and Itachi didn't want Sasuke to notice them, so he said, "Let's go. We'll settle this outside."
"Alright."
As Kisame's voice fell, the two of them disappeared in front of Kakashi. Their speed made Kakashi wonder for a moment if they had also mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.
But then he was shocked to find that the people around him had already moved a few steps, yet he felt that only an instant had passed. This meant that they had been silently hypnotized.
"Where are they?"
Asuma frowned. More cold sweat broke out on Kakashi's forehead. He then said, "This guy might not be someone we can handle. Kurenai, be ready to call for help."
Asuma said with some dissatisfaction, "Who is it that the four of us can't take down?"
"I'm guessing... it might be Itachi Uchiha."
Itachi led Kisame specifically to the riverbank. Looking at the wide river, Kisame smiled with satisfaction.
Although he could release a massive amount of Water Style even without water, his combat power could be further enhanced where there was water. This naturally made him feel his teammate's thoughtfulness.
Then, Kakashi led the group to surround Itachi and Kisame from four directions. Asuma and Kurenai took the lead.
Not because they were stronger, but because Kakashi had already hidden himself and activated his Sharingan, ready to use Chidori. As for Guy, he was their most relied-upon force, needing to act at the most critical moment to prevent being hypnotized by Itachi again.
"Long time no see, Itachi Uchiha."
Kurenai spoke slowly. Itachi lifted his bamboo hat in surprise. "So you recognized me... It seems you've grown too."
"Hmph," Asuma snorted coldly. "Since you've already left the village, why come back?"
"Do you want to take revenge on Konoha now? How has Konoha offended you?"
Itachi looked at Asuma as if he were an idiot, too lazy to argue with this second-generation rich kid about the past grudges between the Hokage's faction and the Uchiha.
He just asked calmly, "I heard that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō are both dead, is that right?"
"Hmph. No comment."
Asuma refused to answer. Kisame took off his bamboo hat. "No one cares about me? Then I can only introduce myself. I am Kisame Hoshigaki."
"Mr. Itachi, the people of Konoha seem to hate you very much."
Kurenai spoke slowly. "Kisame Hoshigaki, rogue ninja of the Hidden Mist, charged with assassinating feudal lords and destroying national infrastructure—you are both S-rank rogue ninja."
"Since you know our names and still dare to stop us, are you confident in your strength? Just as well. I wanted to stretch my muscles too."
Kisame raised Samehada. Itachi reached out to stop them. "Kurenai, Asuma. I have my own purpose for coming to Konoha today. I have no intention of starting a slaughter with you—"
Itachi's calm demeanor enraged Asuma.
He was already in a bad mood because of Hiruzen's death, and now he was being fed dog food by Kurenai every day. The Trench Knives in his hands were thirsty.
He immediately assumed a fighting stance. "I naturally know you have your purpose for coming to Konoha. Otherwise, why dress so flashily? State your purpose now, and I might let you leave."
Itachi was silent.
His opponents had long since reached the level of the Sannin. Now, watching Asuma flex his muscles in front of him, he naturally felt like he had run into a fool.
"Mr. Itachi, it looks like I have to act."
Kisame spoke happily. Itachi nodded. "Make it quick. Don't go too far. We're still close to the village."
"Then let's begin."
Kisame swung Samehada down at Asuma's head. Asuma crossed his Trench Knives to block, but the blow made him feel as if his knees were about to shatter.
Asuma was confident in his taijutsu and strength, but his opponent was like a humanoid Tailed Beast, wielding a heavyweight weapon like Samehada. He naturally couldn't withstand it.
Seeing this, Kurenai immediately cast a genjutsu. But Kisame just pulled Samehada, and a large chunk of flesh was torn from Asuma's shoulder.
"My great sword Samehada isn't used for cutting people—"
Immediately after, Kisame smashed Samehada down at Asuma again. At the critical moment, Kurenai's Tree Binding Death activated, binding Kisame and Itachi.
Just as Kurenai was about to attack Itachi, Itachi used his signature move, Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change.
This was a jutsu that unraveled a genjutsu cast on oneself and reflected the effect back onto the enemy.
Theoretically, this jutsu wasn't exclusive to Sharingan users, but the requirements for the caster were simply too high. Unless there was a huge gap in skill, only Sharingan users dared to use this jutsu freely.
The next second, blood trickled from the corner of Kurenai's mouth. The feeling of a mental backlash was indeed unpleasant.
Then the genjutsu disappeared, and Kisame regained his mobility. He smashed Samehada down at the charging Asuma again.
Asuma didn't block it head-on this time, but dodged agilely, then swung his Trench Knives.
Although in the anime, the Trench Knives looked like they were trailing huge chakra blades, in reality, without sensory abilities or dōjutsu, the chakra blades were invisible.
Therefore, even though Kisame dodged Asuma's attack, a wound was still left on his body.
Kisame looked at Asuma in surprise. Asuma, having won back a round, smiled triumphantly. Both of their weapons had hidden secrets.
"In that case—Water Style: Water Shark Bullet Technique!"
Just as Kisame was about to use Water Style, a clap of thunder came from behind. Kakashi's Lightning Cutter hit Kisame's back, piercing his heart and lungs.
Kisame turned his head in disbelief to look at Kakashi. Is he going to die just like this?
No!
Kakashi suddenly felt the chakra circulation in his Sharingan stagnate. He immediately used his pupil power to dispel the genjutsu. Where was Kisame in front of him? There was only Guy, holding his wrist.
In front of Guy were the pale-faced Asuma and Kurenai, who was planning to use genjutsu to stop Kakashi but was too slow.
"That move—thank you, Mr. Itachi. Caught off guard, I might have really fallen for it."
"But now—"
Kisame's fighting spirit surged. Now that all four of them had appeared, he could act without scruples.
Kakashi reacted and quickly said, "Don't look at Itachi's eyes! That guy can silently hypnotize us with genjutsu. Even I can't resist it!"
Although Kakashi's eye was currently a three-tomoe Sharingan just like Itachi's, on one hand, Kakashi's Sharingan came from Obito, and this eye itself wasn't specialized in genjutsu. Plus, with the gap in pupil power between them, Kakashi's performance in front of Itachi was even worse than Orochimaru's.
At least Orochimaru hadn't been controlled by the hypnotic eye yet.
Several people immediately lowered their heads. The next second, Kisame laughed and slashed at them.
They quickly dodged Kisame's Samehada, but Kisame's movements were wide and sweeping, with a huge attack range. In almost a second, the four of them were in danger.
Itachi just watched all this with his three-tomoe Sharingan active from beginning to end, calmly ensuring the situation was within his control.
At this moment, Kisame's wrist was suddenly kicked. It was Guy making his move.
After a brief observation, he had figured out Kisame's fighting habits. Then, just by looking at the power generation in Kisame's waist and legs and the direction of his arm swing, he judged Kisame's attack, fighting back and forth with him.
Seeing Kisame blocked, Kakashi and the other three immediately assisted from the side. Four against one immediately put Kisame in a tight spot.
Kisame quickly retreated, looking at Guy in surprise. "Who is this guy? I've never heard of you!"
"Konoha's Noble Blue Beast, Might Guy!"
"So it's the Konoha Rare Beast. In that case, let me see your strength!"
Kisame pressed forward again, planning to fight one against four.
On the side, Itachi Uchiha couldn't watch anymore. He silently formed seals and acted.
Just as Guy and the others suppressed Kisame, Itachi, holding a kunai, silently pierced Kakashi's back.
Kakashi's pupils constricted, then his body turned into smoke and disappeared.
Before the others could breathe a sigh of relief, Kakashi popped his head out of the water and shouted, "Watch out!"
The next second, the sound of explosive tags came from Itachi's body. The violent explosion forced several people to flip back and dodge, too late to care about where their eyes were looking.
And in this instant, except for Kakashi, the other three were all controlled by the Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique.
This jutsu, in Itachi's hands, was a powerful genjutsu that could even control Orochimaru. Naturally, these people couldn't resist it.
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