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*Drip drip drip...*
The drizzle beyond the mountains gradually turned into a downpour.
"Itachi-san, it's still raining heavily outside. Going out now might not be good for your health."
Kisame, standing within a mountainside cave, looked at Uchiha Itachi who had stepped into the rain alone and offered a kind reminder.
To this man who had massacred his clan and slain his comrades, Kisame felt a strange mixture of sympathy, respect, and curiosity.
Did Itachi cry after killing his entire clan?
But given his cold nature, it was likely someone like Itachi didn't even possess tears.
"More importantly, we should get on with scouting for the Nine-Tails' whereabouts."
Standing in the rain, gazing up at the fog-drenched sky, Itachi clenched a small slip of paper in his hand.
*Flap flap...*
A crow, also soaked, landed on his shoulder.
The letter from the Third Hokage had truly caught him off guard.
But at this point, was there really a chance for someone like him—a clan slayer—to return to the village?
He had long decided his fate: when Sasuke grew strong enough, he would die by his brother's hand. Let Sasuke become a hero of the Hidden Leaf and restore the Uchiha name.
As for returning to the village and rejoining the ANBU?
Itachi felt Hiruzen Sarutobi's brain must have gone soft.
But... Sasuke was still in the village. And there was another unexpected survivor of the Uchiha...
Those were matters to consider. And—
It had been so many years since he last saw Konoha. He did, in truth, want to see it once more.
"So eager, Itachi-san? Could it be you're still attached to your hometown?"
They indeed had orders from the Akatsuki to scout the Nine-Tails.
But it wasn't urgent. Not the kind of mission that needed rushing.
Could Itachi have... other thoughts?
As a double agent in the Akatsuki, Kisame not only had missions but was also assigned to observe Itachi.
"No. Not at all."
*Whoosh.*
With a few caws from his crows, Itachi's figure dispersed into a swarm of birds and vanished into the rain.
"...Got it, got it. No pressure."
Seeing his partner already gone, Kisame had no choice but to follow with his Samehada strapped to his back.
"Today, Itachi-san's unusually motivated..."
---
---
"What do we do, boss? Why the hell did two Leaf ninja suddenly show up?"
They were a gang of wandering shinobi operating near Konoha's borders, usually robbing caravans or attacking villagers.
But this time, they accidentally encountered two "official" Leaf ninjas. Though the newcomers were just kids, their gang couldn't help feeling nervous.
If Konoha started paying attention, they'd likely become the targets of a random B-rank bounty mission.
To the village, it would be a minor detail—but to them, it would be life or death.
"Don't panic. First, let's make sure there really are only two of them!"
The rogue leader, clearly nervous but trying to stay calm, reassured his men.
"Looks like it's just the two kids."
All the bandits had been "driven off," and with time passing and no reinforcements arriving, there were no signs of ambush.
Now, it was just their group, the two Genin, and the half-dead merchant caravan.
"Then finish the job! Kill them all! Then we'll flee to the Land of Whirlpools to lie low!"
Two kids. They had the numbers.
And if they could loot some jutsu or ninja tools, they'd hit the jackpot.
After all, they'd become wandering ninja by stealing scrolls from a dead shinobi.
The idea of looting these Genin for profit filled their hearts with excitement.
"Yes, boss!"
Honestly, these men had already been bloodthirsty, having killed plenty during the caravan attack.
Leaf shinobi or not—this was Fire Country's border. If they crossed it, who'd catch them?
"Kill them!"
On command, the once-scattered bandits surged back down the hillside, surrounding Hinata and Shino.
---
"Hinata, be careful! They're enemies too!"
Faced with the charging horde of bandits and six surrounding ninja, Aburame Shino grew more serious.
Still, he knew they had backup—Uchiha Ying and Kurenai-sensei were hidden nearby.
"Mhm!"
Hinata also knew they weren't truly alone. But...
What if they couldn't hold out?
Would... would they die?
No... If Ying-kun died, he couldn't restore the Uchiha clan!
I... I must not lose to these thugs!
"Impressive. Just two brats, but..."
The rogue leader's manic expression dimmed after watching Hinata casually throw his men.
And that kid's insects were a problem too.
But—
"Kids are still kids. They've never killed before."
Seeing how the Genin only knocked his men out without killing, the rogue sneered.
*Crack!*
He grabbed a trembling caravan survivor and snapped their neck. With a cruel twist, he flung the bloodied head toward Hinata and Shino.
"Ah!"
Blood spattered her face, and the flying head sent Hinata screaming.
Even Shino, usually calm, was visibly shaken, his hands trembling.
Too cruel...
"Heh. Knew it. Just rookies. Can't even handle this."
Seeing their panic, the leader grinned, and in their hesitation, cast his jutsu.
**Fire Style: Flame Bullet!**
After quick hand signs, he spat rapid fireballs toward them.
"Damn...!"
Hinata realized she couldn't dodge.
She raised her arms instinctively to protect herself.
"Damn it, the insects can't reach in time..."
Shino, running low on chakra, also failed to respond in time.
"Sensei, protect Shino!"
**Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!**
In that moment, Uchiha Ying jumped between Hinata and the fireballs, unleashing a massive fireball that swallowed the flames whole.
"I told you not to order the teacher around!"
On the other side, Kurenai grabbed Shino and pulled him clear.
"More Leaf ninja?!"
The rogue froze as reinforcements appeared.
Too late to retreat now.
"Fire the arrows! Kill them!"
Normal folk had only one way to threaten ninja: arrows.
The rogue leader made one last gamble.
Bandits on the hillside raised bows and fired at the group below.
"Y-Ying-kun..."
Damn... So many arrows.
If only I had mastered the clan's Rotation technique...
How can I protect Ying-kun?
Hinata's eyes filled with tears and frustration.
"Ninjas are called ninja because of the sheer gap in power between them and ordinary people."
Facing the arrows, Uchiha Ying remained calm.
In Tobirama Senju's day, this would be child's play.
**Fire Style: Fire Annihilation!**
*BOOM!*
Flames burst from his mouth, sweeping the hillside like a tidal wave.
In a flash, the world was ablaze.
The arrows disintegrated mid-air, their archers turned to ash.
"What... what the hell did you do?!"
A single jutsu scorched everything—bandits, trees, and all.
Only flames remained.
Even the surviving rogue ninjas could barely speak.
Their own fire jutsu felt like pathetic sparks in comparison.
"I've seen many people like you. I once thought you'd all vanish as the ninja villages advanced... but this world never changes."
The strong feast, the weak survive.
A world of blood and cruelty.
If so—
Let me, the one branded evil, reshape it!
"W-what are you doing?!"
"Don't come any closer!"
The survivors trembled.
One glare from Ying made them collapse in fear.
**Genjutsu: Naraka Mirror!**
"AAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
No Sharingan needed—against trash like them, even basic illusions reduced them to howling wrecks.
As they screamed, curled in terror, Ying raised his kunai—
"Wait."
Kurenai appeared, grabbing his wrist.
"Sensei?"
"I'm not sparing them... but let me extract intel first."
This kid's killing intent... was strong. Maybe too strong.
Still, Kurenai smiled softly.
"But honestly... B-rank fire jutsu? You're full of surprises."
Looking at the scorched slope, she gulped.
He'd even mastered the genjutsu she taught recently.
Was this the talent of a true genius?
If he kept growing at this pace, would he surpass her someday?
Wait—he said "seen many" people like this?
Hasn't he always been in the village...?
"It's just a basic jutsu. As long as you have chakra, it works."
Compared to Madara, Ying's Fire Annihilation was a mere spark.
Still, thanks to absorbing fragments from Naruto and Sasuke, his chakra had grown.
For now, this level of power was perfect—a talented Genin, not too suspicious.
He needed just enough strength to avoid becoming cannon fodder in ANBU.
"W-Wow... as expected of Ying-kun..."
Hinata's earlier worries vanished, replaced by awe.
So he *was* holding back during school...
"Yeah... this kind of gap... I don't even feel like challenging you anymore."
Even Shino was stunned by the jutsu—and by Ying's ruthlessness.
Was it the Uchiha's grudge?
They all graduated together... and the difference was already so massive.
"Don't say that. Your bugs are still useful. You're on night watch."
The sky dimmed. The sun left only a sliver of orange light.
Nightfall approached.
Ying glanced at the lifeless caravan, then at the interrogated and executed rogues.
Something felt off.
This simple C-rank treasure hunt... felt like it might turn into a Wave Arc-style bloodbath.
---
---
"Itachi-san, that fire earlier?"
"Mhm. A strong ninja was fighting nearby."
With his Sharingan, Itachi glanced at the burning hillside.
"Should we check? Could be Leaf shinobi. We're already in Fire Country, right?"
"Don't stir up trouble. If we alert them, we can't sneak into the village."
Kisame's probing question earned a flat rejection.
"Aw, worried you might see an old friend, Itachi-san?"
"Do you think I still have 'friends' in the Leaf?"
Ita
chi's voice turned cold.
"...Sorry. I spoke out of line."
Kisame shut up fast.
But moments later, he couldn't help himself.
"Still, I heard there's something interesting near the Land of Whirlpools ruins—some talk of death gods and treasure..."
"Don't get sidetracked, Kisame."
"Yessir! Straight to Konoha. Nowhere else. Promise."
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