The Cloud ninja stationed nearby noticed the massive commotion at Yunlei Gorge. From their vantage point atop the cliffs, they had been observing the battle between Killer Bee and Kisame.
It wasn't until Killer Bee collapsed that they reacted.
"Quick! Inform the Fourth Raikage!"
In the gorge, the massive water prison that had spanned miles collapsed in an instant. Torrents of water rushed downward, merging into the sea.
Within moments, the once-raging water receded, leaving behind only a few scattered puddles.
Killer Bee lay unconscious on the ground.
Kisame stood nearby, slowly reverting to his normal form. Samehada separated from his body, dropping to the ground.
He took a few deep breaths, clearly exhausted.
"The Eight-Tails' host is strong," Kisame muttered. "It would've been trouble if he had fully transformed."
He lifted Samehada again and positioned it near Killer Bee's legs.
"I'll just take his legs. That way, he can't escape."
Just as Kisame was about to bring the blade down, Samehada twitched in his grip.
He frowned. "Samehada?"
Suddenly, the blade transformed, its rough, scaled surface flaring up. The sharp edges scratched Kisame's hand, forcing him to let go.
He scowled, watching as Samehada slowly crawled toward Killer Bee, hovering protectively over him.
"You like his chakra that much?" Kisame muttered.
Before he could react further, a volley of kunai came flying toward him.
Kisame quickly leaped back, dodging the attack.
Kakashi and Sakiya landed beside Killer Bee, weapons drawn.
At the same time, Itachi appeared, landing next to Kisame. His gaze locked onto Kakashi and Sakiya.
But his mind was elsewhere.
No Sasuke? Did Danzo hold him back? Or is there another reason…?
Kakashi, now certain that Itachi was a spy, felt far less fear facing him. Still, he played along.
"Sakiya, be careful! Don't look into his eyes!"
Sakiya nodded.
"The power of conviction is not something to underestimate."
On the other side, Kisame studied Sakiya, frowning.
"This girl… she's tricky."
Itachi spoke calmly.
"The ninja beside her is Kakashi Hatake of the Leaf."
Kisame's eyes narrowed.
"Oh? The famous Copy Ninja? Another Sharingan user?"
Itachi nodded, his voice steady.
"Kakashi is no weaker than I am."
Kisame's expression hardened.
"That complicates things."
He glanced at Itachi. "Mr. Itachi?"
Itachi gave a slight nod. "I understand."
A moment later, the three-pronged tomoe in his eyes began to spin—morphing into the shape of a Mangekyō Sharingan.
At the same time, Kisame began forming hand seals.
Kakashi's eyes widened.
"Watch out! Don't look at Itachi's eyes!"
But it was too late.
Itachi's gaze locked onto him.
The swirling patterns in his eyes deepened.
"Tsukuyomi."
Kakashi felt the world around him twist and distort, everything turning upside down in an instant.
The next moment, he found himself in a strange realm—a blood-red moon hung in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the space.
His body was bound to a cross, completely immobilized.
In front of him stood Itachi, his expression cold and detached, a kunai in his hand.
"Welcome to my world… Tsukuyomi."
Kakashi, however, remained calm. He knew the truth about Itachi.
"So we meet again, Itachi Uchiha…"
Before he could finish, a sharp pain pierced his abdomen.
Shhk!
Itachi had stabbed the kunai straight into his stomach.
Kakashi's eyes widened in shock.
"Urgh… why?"
Itachi's face remained emotionless.
"In this world, time, space, and even reality itself are mine to control."
His voice was cold, detached.
"For the next seventy-two hours, I will keep stabbing you. Let's see how long you can endure."
He yanked the kunai out—Kakashi winced as another wave of pain surged through him.
Itachi raised the kunai to strike again.
"Wait!" Kakashi gasped. "Aren't you still a Leaf shinobi?"
The kunai stopped—an inch from Kakashi's skin.
Itachi's gaze sharpened.
"Then tell me, Kakashi… are you working for Danzo?"
Kakashi frowned.
"No. The Fifth Hokage sent me to rescue the Eight-Tails."
Itachi's expression remained unreadable.
"Anything else?"
Kakashi hesitated, then spoke.
"If you're asking about Sasuke… The Fifth Hokage wants you to return to the village. She intends to let you reunite with him."
Itachi stiffened.
For the first time, his composure wavered.
He fell silent.
Kakashi watched him carefully. This illusion is unbelievable… Is this the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan?
After a long silence, Itachi finally released his Sharingan.
The eerie red moon vanished, and Kakashi felt himself falling as the illusion faded.
He landed on his feet, free from the cross.
Itachi's voice was calm but firm.
"I will not return to Konoha. The sins I bear have already decided my fate."
Kakashi frowned.
"And Sasuke? I don't know why you set all this up, but if you never tell him the truth, he'll continue to hate you forever. What's the point of that?"
Itachi turned away, his expression unreadable.
"There's nothing more to say, Kakashi. My decision is final. Sasuke's future is mine to handle. I will not return to Konoha."
His voice remained calm, resolute.
Then, after a brief pause, he added:
"While we are still within the illusion, I will tell you everything I can about Akatsuki."
Kakashi watched him carefully, opening his mouth to respond—
But no words came.
--------------------
Back in the Real World
The moment the illusion ended, Kakashi collapsed to one knee, gasping for breath.
Sakiya crouched beside him, placing a hand on his head with a curious expression.
"Are you okay? So, were you the target of his 'Eye of Conviction'?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"As expected, his Eye of Judgment is stronger than yours."
Kakashi, still pretending to be unconscious, barely had the energy to complain.
Does she just make up names for other people's moves?
And shouldn't you at least sound worried?
Of course, before the illusion ended, Kakashi and Itachi had already discussed their plan. He was just playing along.
Now, he could watch Sakiya without distractions.
Kisame stared at Kakashi on the ground, clearly confused.
"Wait… didn't you say his strength was equal to yours?"
He turned to Itachi, raising an eyebrow.
"And yet, all it took was one glance?"
But after a moment, Kisame shrugged it off. He knew Itachi's abilities well.
"Hah, he's been caught in your illusion, but his mind didn't completely break?"
Itachi's Sharingan faded from its kaleidoscope form, returning to its normal three-tomoe state.
"Yes. Seems like he has a strong will."
Kisame chuckled and formed the final hand seal.
"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Suddenly, a massive tidal wave surged forward.
Sakiya's eyes lit up in excitement.
"A domain-level spell? I can do that too!"
She leaped into the air, hovering above the waves.
Meanwhile, Kakashi—who was still pretending to be knocked out—felt pure despair.
"Wait, hold on—I'm supposed to be unconscious! I can't use chakra right now! Sakiya, at least help me—"
But she didn't even glance at him.
And so, Kakashi was completely swept away by the wave.
Sakiya, meanwhile, landed gracefully on the water's surface, her feet barely causing a ripple.
Then, a massive magic circle began to expand beneath her.
"The Revised Law of the World—Endless Magic Domain—Activate!"
In an instant, layer after layer of radiant circles unfolded, covering the entire battlefield.
A burst of dazzling light flooded the area, turning everything into a vibrant, multi-colored spectacle.
Kisame's expression shifted.
"Wait a minute… this girl… why does she feel completely different from before?"
At that moment, a blade crackling with lightning shot straight toward Kisame.
He dodged to the side, but his eyes narrowed when he recognized the weapon.
It was a very familiar blade.
Sure enough, a familiar figure appeared—Killer Bee!
"Baga Yaro! Kono Yaro!"
Bee had regained consciousness, his chakra flaring once more.
Mostly thanks to Samehada's support.
This was going to be a problem.
Kisame glanced between Sakiya, whose magic was filling the battlefield with dazzling effects, and Killer Bee, who was standing next to her.
He sighed. "This is getting annoying."
Just then, Itachi stepped forward.
"I'll handle the girl."
Kisame nodded. "Then I'll take care of the Eight-Tails."
But before anything could happen—
A flash of lightning streaked across the battlefield.
"Bee!"
Killer Bee immediately recognized the voice.
It was his brother—the Fourth Raikage, A!
"Big Bro!"
With a loud crack, the lightning halted in front of Bee.
A towering man with bronze skin and a powerful build stood before him.
His white, half-open cloak revealed his muscular chest, and the green shuriken-style symbols on his shoulders gleamed under the light.
A broad belt and heavy armor completed his imposing presence.
At this moment, his body crackled with electricity, his hair spiked up from the surging lightning chakra.
"Bee! Are you alright?"
Killer Bee nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine, Big Bro."
Then, he glanced at Sakiya, scratching the back of his head.
"I think… she kinda saved me."
A turned toward the girl.
His sharp eyes immediately caught the Konoha-standard arm guards she was wearing.
Sakiya met his gaze, grinning playfully—her sharp canines flashing.
A frowned slightly.
No matter how he looked at it…
This girl didn't seem all that strong.
The moment A turned his gaze toward Kisame and Itachi, his expression twisted with rage.
"These are the guys?"
Killer Bee nodded. "Yeah, bro."
On the other side, Kisame immediately realized that this mission had gone south.
The Fourth Raikage's arrival meant their chances of success had dropped to near zero.
He glanced at Itachi. "What do you think?"
Itachi, as calm as ever, replied flatly.
"The odds aren't in our favor. We should retreat."
Kisame didn't argue. "Agreed."
But A wasn't about to let them leave so easily.
"You think you can just come and go as you please, you bastards?!"
In a blur of movement, the Raikage exploded forward, closing the distance in an instant.
Kisame's eyes widened. "Damn, he's fast!"
But before A could reach them—
Itachi activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Genjutsu: Tsukuyomi."
In an instant, A felt his limbs locked in place as if nailed to the ground, an unbearable pain searing through his body.
From an outsider's perspective, the Raikage—who had been moving at extreme speed—suddenly froze mid-stride and collapsed face-first into the dirt.
Killer Bee's eyes widened. "Big Bro!"
But Itachi didn't even glance back.
"We're leaving."
Kisame chuckled as he watched the Raikage faceplant into the ground.
"Damn, Itachi, you're brutal."
With that, the two vanished, leaping away in rapid succession.
Bee didn't even try to chase. Instead, he rushed to A's side, helping him back to his feet.
The Raikage, now free from the illusion, slammed his fist into the water, sending a spray of droplets into the air.
"Damn Sharingan!"
Meanwhile, Sakiya deactivated her magic, the battlefield returning to normal.
As the water level receded, the wet ground beneath became visible once more.
Then, from out of nowhere, Kakashi suddenly jumped back onto the scene—his expression bright and full of energy.
Gone was the pale, exhausted, mentally drained look he had just a few moments ago…
-------------------
The Fourth Raikage turned his attention to Sakiya and Kakashi.
"I appreciate you saving Bee, but why are Konoha ninja here?"
Kakashi met his gaze without hesitation.
"We're here to rescue the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki. If possible, we also planned to capture the Akatsuki members involved."
"Akatsuki?"
A frowned, recalling the information he had received over the years from Ōnoki—the black cloaks with red clouds, the group of powerful rogue ninja.
Then he thought about the Sharingan that had paralyzed him in an instant.
Those two were no ordinary enemies.
A's expression darkened. Akatsuki wasn't just some minor threat. It was dangerous.
Kakashi continued.
"We received intelligence that Akatsuki was targeting the Eight-Tails."
A narrowed his eyes. "And where did you get this 'intelligence'?"
Kakashi smirked. "That's classified."
A scoffed. "And how did Akatsuki find Bee's location?"
"I don't know," Kakashi admitted.
But at that moment, A's expression shifted.
Darui was missing.
A large portion of their forces had been sent to deal with Iwagakure.
The pieces started to fall into place.
This was Akatsuki's doing.
They sabotaged the negotiations, created tension, and distracted his forces.
With most of his troops deployed, Kumogakure had been wide open.
And if their real goal was the tailed beasts...
A's eyes widened.
Yugito had already disappeared.
He clenched his fists. "They're collecting tailed beasts… but why?"
Kakashi exhaled slowly.
"To awaken the Ten-Tails."
The air around them grew heavy.
"What?"
Both A and Bee were stunned.
"The Ten-Tails is the ultimate war weapon," Kakashi explained. "Akatsuki wants to use it to wipe out the Five Great Nations."
A fell silent, processing the weight of those words.
Then, after a long pause, he spoke.
"Go back and tell Tsunade. I'll be at the Five Kage Summit."
With that, he and Bee turned and left.
Kakashi let out a breath.
Another S-rank mission cleared.
__________
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