Sasuke found them just outside the town, Kakashi leaning against a tree while Naruto argued loudly with Sakura about whose fault it was that they had "wasted the whole day doing nothing."
"—I'm telling you, if we just painted a few doors—"
"That is not how investigations work, Naruto!"
Sasuke stopped in front of them, slightly out of breath. "Kakashi."
'When will this kid will start calling him Sensei...' Kakashi could only hope, sooner than later.
Kakashi looked up at once. "You're late. Where's Sukuna?"
Naruto blinked. "Yeah, I'm starving."
Sasuke frowned. "I couldn't find him anywhere."
That wiped the humor off Kakashi's face.
Sasuke crossed his arms, forcing himself to stay calm. "We found something."
As he said this, Kakashi's mood became more solemn.
"Explain from the start."
Sasuke nodded and explained everything about Sukuna's plan for directly looking for Itachi rather than going in circles. That they suspected Itachi and acted as if he was the one who did it.
An innkeeper recognized Itachi from the bingo book. Said he stayed there not long ago. He wasn't alone—there was another rogue ninja with him. Tall. Shark-like.
Naruto's eyes widened. "Shark? He really looked like a shark..."
Sakura shot him a look. "Focus Naruto."
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed. "And Sukuna?"
Sasuke hesitated. "He told me his stomach hurt. Said he'd be right back." His jaw tightened. "But the way he said it was strange. He acted strangely."
Kakashi already had a bad feeling about this.
"I found him suspicious, so I followed him," Sasuke continued. "He didn't go far. He just… vanished. No tracks. No chakra trail. Nothing."
Silence settled in.
Sakura slowly turned to Kakashi. "That's… bad, isn't it?"
Kakashi exhaled sharply and rubbed his forehead. "Isn't that something you know better than me, Sakura? He's your brother."
"Well, I know it's bad. I was hoping you'll tell me otherwise." She huffed.
Sasuke looked down. "I think he figured out where Itachi was. And went after him alone."
Naruto's face fell. "Alone?!"
Kakashi straightened, annoyance and worry mixing in his voice. "I shouldn't have let either of you split up. This mission is already beyond Genin level."
He didn't know what to be more annoyed with, whether the fact that a newly made Genin was going after Itachi alone, or the fact that the same Genin not so recently took down a Jinchuriki.
Kakashi had a feeling that this mission was going to be a long one.
"Let's move," Kakashi said. "If Sukuna's involved himself with Itachi… we're already late."
Naruto cracked his knuckles. "Good. I've been itching to punch this Itachi fellow, whoever he is."
Sasuke and Sakura looked at him like he was an idiot. 'So the idiot didn't know who they were talking about until now.'
-x-
They moved fast, cutting through the forest like a storm given form.
Branches cracked beneath heavy boots as the Raikage led from the front, lightning chakra faintly crackling around his body, pushing their speed beyond what normal shinobi could manage.
Of course, this wasn't his top speed, far from it. He had to maintain speed with his subordinates.
Behind him, two of his subordinates carried the unconscious girls, one each. Both Hinata and Karin were passed out.
And then there was the subordinate who had been infected by poisonous insects and was recently cured by Tsunade. He was the weakest link among them, severely weakened and slow.
No one spoke at first. The urgency of escape pressed down on them like real weight.
They weren't there for that, to kidnap a Hyuga from the main branch and an Uzumaki. Many couldn't believe that they pulled it off, pondering whether it was a stroke of good luck or willingly inviting too much trouble.
Finally, one of the shinobi broke the silence, voice tight. "Raikage-sama… what if Konoha initiates war against the Cloud for this reason..."
The subordinate asked, hesitant but bold at the same time. He by no means was afraid of war; however, no one wished for conflict which would involve two or more villages.
Everyone knew the temporary peace currently existing in the Elemental Nations was paid for with blood by their ancestors and seniors.
Another nodded grimly. "We attacked a Konoha team inside the Land of Fire. One of their jōnin was nearly killed."
"The Hyuga girl," the first continued, glancing back despite himself, "She's from the main branch of Hyuga line. No curse seal. When they know about it—"
"A war," the second finished quietly.
The Raikage snorted, not slowing even a fraction. "You think I don't know that?"
His eyes stayed forward, sharp and unyielding. "Last time, when a Hyuga killed our ambassador, I demanded justice. And what did Konoha do?"
No one answered. They all knew.
"They handed me his dead body," the Raikage growled. "Sarutobi Hiruzen did. Because he had no choice."
"He is old, and Konoha has no such strong next generation right now. Since the Fourth Hokage has died, Konoha has been passive."
"But that was years ago," one subordinate said carefully. "Konoha may not accept this."
"They won't like it," the Raikage agreed. "But they won't rush into war either. Not now. Not with their strength fading."
His lips curled into a hard smile. "And even if they do, they will know the true power of Kumo. I say it's about damn time the Elemental Nations know who's the strongest hidden village really."
After that, none said anything further. There was no point. The deed was done, and they had gotten what they wished for. Kumo had gotten not only the Byakugan but also Uzumaki blood. It was a win, even if it led to war.
And that was exactly when they heard a peculiar sound of a projectile rushing toward them. All of them immediately halted in their path instantly, and the next second it hit the ground before them.
A kunai lay embedded in the dirt directly in their path.
It was not ordinary.
Three prongs. A distinctive shape, old yet unmistakable.
The Raikage's eyes widened, his body halting so abruptly that his men nearly collided with him.
"…That's impossible," He whispered.
The Raikage stared at the kunai, recognition striking like thunder.
A chill crept into the air. His nerves strained to their absolute degree. However, the expected flash of yellow didn't come.
What came was a slicing sound and a metallic smell from behind him.
He moved like lightning, only to find his two subordinates down—the one who was holding onto the Uzumaki girl and the other, the one who had previously was infected. Both directly beheaded.
The third one, who still had the Hyuga in his hands, clenched and looked like he was shocked out of his wits. Everything happened in a flash.
And now there stood a pink-haired boy, holding the redhead in his arms, glaring back at him with his red eyes.
The Raikage's blood boiled, seeing his two subordinates beheaded, heads rolling to the ground. Lightning flashed around him with so much intensity that it almost charred the ground.
One second he was there, and the next he was already on top of the boy, ready to plaster him to the ground.
However, his fist hit nothing but the ground—the boy vanished from his place the moment he arrived.
The Raikage looked back and found he was where previously that kunai fell.
xXx
A/N : Ahh here is it. Hero save the girl... though calling Sukuna hero isn't right.
Sukuna vs Raikage... what do you guys think will happen ?
By the way, do tell where I can improve my story and writing, I'm currently working hard to do it. Any constructive criticism will be appreciated.
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