Konoha: Gu Master

"Not sure?" Tsunade's expression faltered briefly, but she nodded in understanding.

Either way, the fact that this leader called Pain even existed meant he was an extremely dangerous figure. In fact, every Akatsuki member Itachi described sounded formidable.

"Thank you, Itachi," Tsunade said, a bit shaken. "Without you, we'd be completely in the dark about this."

An organization like Akatsuki, lurking without warning, posed a huge threat to the five great villages. Although the information Itachi provided wasn't overly detailed, it was more than enough to prepare Konoha.

"It's my duty," Itachi replied with a slight nod.

Konoha's current growth was exactly what he'd hoped to see. The Uchiha clan was also doing well, leading peaceful lives. Now, the intel he'd gathered had real meaning.

"Did you and Kisame come to Konoha with a specific mission?" Tsunade asked, lowering the scroll, her voice tense. "Are you planning to disrupt the Chunin Exams?"

"No," Itachi shook his head. "We're here to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."

"What?!" Tsunade's eyes widened.

She had imagined many possible goals, but the Nine-Tails had not crossed her mind. Every shinobi knew of the power of the tailed beasts.

To encounter one was usually a fight for survival, let alone attempting to capture one. Konoha's Nine-Tails, in particular, was the strongest of them all—only someone of Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha's caliber could control it in the past.

"The Akatsuki's objective is to capture all nine tailed beasts," Itachi added.

Tsunade was stunned. Was Akatsuki insane?

Besides their immense strength, the tailed beasts were central to every village's power. No village would ever willingly let its tailed beast go, much less hand it over to someone else.

Akatsuki, therefore, was essentially declaring war on the entire world.

"I won't actually capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki," Itachi explained. "To avoid suspicion, however, I'll have to stage a fight with Kisame."

"How do you plan to 'stage' this fight?" Tsunade asked, taking a slow breath.

"I'll attack Team Seven, and then you'll arrive in time to intervene," Itachi replied without a hint of hesitation, as if he had already anticipated the scenario.

Shinho suddenly recalled a meme from his past life: "Sasuke only needs to get beaten up to grow stronger, but Itachi always has to be strategic."

"That can work," Tsunade agreed after a brief pause, weighing the potential risks. Though she was worried for Team Seven's safety, she knew that Itachi would never go too far.

As for Kisame, Kakashi could hold him off long enough for them to arrive and "rescue" the team.

"Thank you." Itachi's hands formed a seal, and he vanished in a puff of smoke.

"It was just a shadow clone," Tsunade observed, impressed. "He's as cautious as ever."

"Shall we inform Aunt Mikoto?" Shinho asked, glancing toward the nearby Uchiha residences.

"No need," Tsunade replied after a moment's thought. "Best not to say anything to them."

"What do we do about Akatsuki?" Shinho asked, changing the topic.

"No idea," Tsunade said bluntly. "This is one of those times when ignorance really is bliss."

The more she learned about Akatsuki, the more intimidating they seemed. She was starting to worry whether Konoha would even have a chance of winning against them, especially if that Pain fellow truly had the Rinnegan. 

Would they be up against a second Sage of the Six Paths?

"Then there's no need to rush," Shinho replied with a reassuring smile.

"You seem calm," Tsunade observed, slightly curious. "Aren't you worried at all?"

"I have nothing to worry about with my sensei here," Shinho said casually.

"…" Tsunade shot him a look and rolled her eyes.

She almost wanted to admit that she was worried, but saying so would undermine her image as Hokage. 

Though, did she even have any image left to maintain in front of him? Memories of her fear-of-blood treatments resurfaced—back then, Shinho had been a comforting presence, almost like a human pillow. 

But now, she worried he might not be able to hold back if she leaned on him like that again.

"Let's head back." She glanced over at the nearby compound and turned to leave, Shinho following.

"Shizune," Tsunade called upon returning home, "please inform Kakashi that his break is over."

"Understood," Shizune nodded. Originally, Kakashi had been given time off since Jiraiya was covering his team, but now he'd have to be involved in the staged confrontation with Itachi. 

Tsunade kept the real reason under wraps to avoid any slip-ups. If Itachi's true allegiance were to be exposed, Konoha would lose a powerful asset.

The next day, after breakfast, Shinho made his way to Training Ground One.

Sasuke and Naruto were already there, practicing the Rasengan.

"Kakashi-sensei." Shinho greeted Kakashi.

"Free practice for you today," Kakashi replied in his usual deadpan voice.

"Understood."

Climbing into a tree, Shinho began meditating, cultivating his chakra and focusing on his Yin Seal. Kakashi glanced up, slightly taken aback. Had Shinho already mastered the Rasengan?

It was a strange thing, having the strongest member of Team Seven be a medic-nin. But at least he didn't have to worry much—Team Seven would surely do well in the upcoming Chunin Exams.

Kakashi resumed reading his Icha Icha paradise.

Meanwhile, in a nearby grove, Itachi and Kisame discussed their plan.

"According to the intel, Naruto Uzumaki is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki," Itachi said with a calm expression. "Kisame, you'll take on Kakashi Hatake."

"Kakashi, huh? The Copy Ninja—I've heard of him." Kisame grinned, his rows of sharp, shark-like teeth on full display. "This'll be a good chance to taste his chakra."

Behind him, his sword Samehada gave a slight twitch, almost as if in agreement.

"Itachi-san," Kisame continued thoughtfully, "if I recall, Naruto's teammate is Uchiha Sasuke."

"What of it?" Itachi replied, casting a glance his way. "I won't go easy on anyone."

"Understood," Kisame said, his hand tightening on Samehada's hilt. "Shall we begin?"

"Go," Itachi replied coolly. "Make it quick."

Itachi had known Kakashi well during their time in the ANBU. 

He trusted that Kakashi could at least hold his own against Kisame, if not defeat him outright. That would buy him enough time for a necessary conversation with Sasuke.

As the wind whistled through the training ground, Kakashi felt a sharp, instinctual twinge of alarm. Looking up, he saw a blinding white light in the distance, hurtling straight toward him.

Only then did he make out the details: a massive sword, wielded by a strange-looking man with a shark-like appearance, complete with fish-like skin and rows of razor-sharp teeth. 

His forehead protector bore the symbol of Kirigakure, but the slash through it marked him as a rogue ninja.

That sword… and that face… Kakashi's expression hardened in an instant.

It was Kisame Hoshigaki, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

Reacting on instinct, Kakashi jumped back. But the strike was already closing in, and it was too fast to evade.

Samehada slammed toward him.

With a loud boom, a deep crater appeared on the ground.

"Fast on your feet, huh?" Kisame raised his eyebrows.

The loud noise quickly caught the attention of Sasuke and Naruto.

"What's going on?" Naruto looked around in confusion, unsure of the situation.

"It's an enemy!" Sasuke reacted immediately, saying, "Get ready for battle!"

But the next second, he froze in place.

"Sasuke?" Naruto blinked, noticing the figure, and asked, "Isn't that your—"

"Shut up!" Sasuke's Sharingan turned blood-red, a single tomoe spinning wildly in each eye. His voice shook with fury. "It's Itachi!"

Without hesitation, he drew his Lightning Blade sword, channeling chakra into it until it crackled with electricity. Then, putting all his strength into one swing, he slashed at Itachi with the blazing sword.

"Nice sword," Itachi murmured as his body dissolved into a cloud of cawing crows, leaving Sasuke's blade swinging at empty air.

"But the wielder… lacks talent."

Reforming behind Sasuke, Itachi kicked him hard in the back, sending him hurtling forward. 

Sasuke barely managed to avoid a crash by using a Body Flicker to reappear some distance away.

"Sasuke! I'll help you!" Naruto, seeing Sasuke struggling, rushed forward to engage.

"Leaf Hurricane!" Naruto swung at Itachi.

Itachi glanced at him, and Naruto froze. As Naruto wasn't yet a perfect Jinchuriki yet, he couldn't put up a fight against Itachi's Mangekyou Sharingan.

"Damn it!" Sasuke sheathed his sword and rapidly formed hand seals. A massive fireball spewed from his mouth, flying straight toward Itachi.

But Itachi responded with a fireball of his own, one far larger than Sasuke's, which engulfed Sasuke's attack and continued to bear down on him.

"Is this all your Fire Style has to offer?" Itachi taunted coldly.

Sasuke's eyes glowed an even deeper red with frustration, but he couldn't form seals fast enough to counter and was forced to dodge the oncoming flames.

Damn it! he thought. If only I had mastered the Rasengan!

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Nail Crimson!" Itachi tossed a handful of kunai, which were soon engulfed in flickering flames, resembling a deadly scattering of burning petals.

Sasuke had barely regained his footing when he noticed the kunai, encircled by fire, closing in from all sides.

"Lightning Style: Thunderclap!" A massive bolt of lightning erupted from Sasuke's mouth, blasting away the kunai.

"Too slow."

Itachi's voice came from behind him. Sasuke spun around, only to stare directly into the terrifying depth of Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Genjutsu: Scorching Blaze(Unknown flame)!"

Itachi's eyes bored into Sasuke's, and in that instant, Sasuke felt as though his legs were engulfed in searing flames. The pain was unbearable, and he screamed.

"Aaahhh!"

"My foolish little brother… Five years, and yet you haven't improved at all. You're as utterly useless as ever." Itachi shook his head, his voice brimming with contempt.

"Bastard! I'll kill you!" Sasuke's eyes bulged with fury, the lone tomoe in each eye spinning wildly.

"Oh? You think you can?" Itachi replied, watching him coolly.

"Aaargh!" Sasuke stepped forward, his chakra wavering as if he were on the verge of breaking the genjutsu.

Itachi allowed himself a slight flicker of anticipation. Could he really break it?

But Sasuke's Sharingan remained at a single tomoe in each eye.

"Playtime's over." Itachi glanced at Kakashi, who was struggling against Kisame. "I'm here to take Naruto Uzumaki."

With that, he walked toward the immobilized Naruto.

Just then, a sharp sound sliced through the air, the high-pitched noise of a blade cutting at high speed. Itachi's body dissolved into crows just before Sasuke's Lightning Blade could pierce him.

Itachi watched as Sasuke positioned himself defensively in front of Naruto, his Sharingan now evolved with twin tomoe in each eye. 

Itachi felt a sense of relief wash over him.

"Uchiha Itachi!" Sasuke glared, undeterred.

"You're unworthy of looking me in the eyes," Itachi remarked coldly. "If you ever hope to confront me, first attain my level of eyes."

"Hah! Leaf Hurricane!" Interrupting Itachi, a shout burst forth as a green blur shot through the air, accompanied by the sonic boom of sheer speed.

A figure in green moved faster than the eye could follow, surrounded by ripples of shockwaves. This wasn't a speed one could simply resist.

Not something I should block head-on, Itachi thought as his Mangekyo Sharingan activated.

"Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique!"

But the newcomer, Might Guy, was unaffected, moving with his eyes shut.

So he's fighting blind, Itachi realized, quickly forming hand seals as he faded into the background.

"Kakashi!" Guy shouted, pivoting in midair to redirect his kick toward Kisame.

"Kisame," Itachi called from a distance, "we're done here. Let's go."

Kisame clenched his fist and swung at Guy's leg.

With a thunderous crash, shockwaves rippled outward. 

Kisame's eyes widened in surprise.

Such power!

But he wasted no time, withdrawing quickly and vanishing in a Body Flicker.

"Itachi!" Sasuke immediately chased after him.

"Sasuke!" Guy shouted, alarmed. 

Then he froze, watching in confusion as someone leapt down from a nearby tree and punched Sasuke, knocking him out.

It was Shinho.

"Don't go after them!" Shizune called, halting Guy's movements.

"Kakashi, are you all right?" Asuma appeared, steadying Kakashi, who looked pale and drained.

"His sword… it drains chakra," Kakashi whispered hoarsely.

That was, without a doubt, one of the most exhausting fights he'd ever been in. It was impossible to keep up while constantly having his chakra stolen.

"Let me handle it." Shizune crouched beside him, her hands glowing with healing green chakra. Slowly, colour returned to Kakashi's face.

Kakashi glanced over at Shinho.

This guy sat out of the entire fight, he thought suspiciously. Something's up.

Based on what he knew of Shinho, he wasn't the type to avoid conflict with a powerful enemy. So, what was really going on?

….

[Achievement Unlocked: "Oscar-Worthy Acting" - Reward: Great White Elephant Strength Gu.]

[Great White Elephant Strength Gu: Third-Rank Gu; boosts strength with the addition of a white elephant Beast Phantom.]

Shinho raised his eyebrows.

Honestly, he had just been looking to slack off a bit, but earning an achievement on top of that was a nice surprise.

The Great White Elephant Gu had similar effects to his earlier Horse Strength Gu, though the former provided an elephant's power while the latter provided a horse's.

[Achievement Unlocked: "Sasuke the Ultimate Pressure Tank" - Reward: Slowstep Gu.]

[Slowstep Gu: Third-Rank Gu; temporarily slows down an opponent's movements.]

Another one? Shinho blinked in surprise.

Though the title of the achievement seemed a little impolite, he couldn't complain about the reward.

Speed was one of the most important factors when it came to fighting between high-level shinobis, if he could slow down the enemy, that added to one more advantage he could use.

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