**Chapter 12: Kakashi: What Organization is This Terrifying?**
Facing this situation, Sarutobi Asuma merely sneered and said, "There is no 'later'. I'm taking you two down right now."
Hearing this, Hoshigaki Kisame actually had the mind to crack a joke: "Itachi-kun, it looks like you're quite hated in the village too."
Uchiha Itachi had no desire to respond to that.
"I've heard about you too, Hoshigaki Kisame," Yuhi Kurenai said with a grave expression. "You were originally a Kirigakure ninja, but became a missing-nin on suspicion of assassinating the Daimyo and undermining the country. Every nation has received the Land of Water's wanted order for you!"
"You two are both S-rank criminals in the Bingo Book. Itachi, after causing such a huge incident, you actually dare to step foot into Konoha Village? You've got some nerve!"
Sarutobi Asuma said solemnly.
"Asuma, Kurenai, just pretend you didn't see me," Uchiha Itachi said indifferently. "I don't want to hurt you."
Uchiha Itachi believed he was speaking the truth. He was no longer the boy from a few years ago. With his current strength, the two Elite Jonin before him truly wouldn't be his match.
But when Sarutobi Asuma heard this, he immediately felt a surge of anger. *What does that mean? Does he think two Elite Jonin can't handle the likes of him?*
When Uchiha Itachi committed those acts back then, he was merely an ordinary Jonin. Even if he is much more powerful now than he was then, does he think he can look down on Asuma?
"That doesn't sound like something a man who stained his hands with the blood of his kin would say," Sarutobi Asuma said unhappily. "Judging by your attire, you aren't here for anything good. I don't believe you're just strolling through the market without a purpose. What is your objective?"
Hearing this conversation, Hoshigaki Kisame grew impatient. He directly pulled out Samehada from his back and slammed it heavily onto the ground, saying, "You're talkative enough. Should I finish him off?"
Uchiha Itachi said calmly, "It seems they won't let us pass obediently. But don't go overboard; your techniques are too conspicuous."
Hearing this, it was as if some seal on Hoshigaki Kisame had been lifted.
"Then it's decided."
In a flash, both sides took action. Hoshigaki Kisame instantly attacked with the great sword Samehada, slashing viciously toward Sarutobi Asuma.
At the same time, Kurenai unleashed a Genjutsu, moving to strike Uchiha Itachi.
During the battle, Sarutobi Asuma immediately realized the gap in combat power between himself and this "Tailless Tailed Beast" before him. Relying solely on the great sword Samehada and the strength of one hand, Kisame suppressed Sarutobi Asuma, who was using trench knives with both hands.
Kisame was even using just the tip of the sword, a position disadvantageous for applying force.
This showed just how terrifying Hoshigaki Kisame's strength was.
Outside the screen, Hatake Kakashi immediately sat up straight. He had heard of Hoshigaki Kisame's name; this was a top-tier existence among the missing-nin of the Land of Water.
He was strong enough to rival Konoha's Uchiha Itachi. The combat power displayed now was indeed excessively strong.
But what concerned him more was that the two were dressed in the same style. In other words, they likely belonged to the same organization, and they both had painted fingernails.
This meant it might be one of the characteristics of their organization.
Both of them were S-rank wanted criminals, at least at the level of Elite Jonin experts. Experts of this level would have no difficulty becoming a Kage in a small ninja village.
Yet, these two wore uniform clothing and had joined a specific organization. This was a very dangerous signal.
The best-case scenario was that these two were just colluding partners with no one else involved.
But what if it was a worse scenario, and there were others in this organization?
If these two's strength was the standard, it was likely a powerful organization that required S-rank ninja status just to join.
If that was the reference point, it was terrifying.
"My great sword, Samehada!" Hoshigaki Kisame said as he slashed down, the sharp scales tearing a large chunk of flesh from Sarutobi Asuma's shoulder. "It isn't used to cut people, but to shave them."
With just one move, Hoshigaki Kisame had injured Sarutobi Asuma, an Elite Jonin.
Sarutobi Asuma covered his wound while feigning ease, saying, "Kurenai, why are you so slow?"
At this moment, behind Uchiha Itachi, Yuhi Kurenai's figure manifested; she was attempting to use Genjutsu on him.
"Not good." Outside the screen, Hatake Kakashi immediately realized this was bad. Trying this in front of the Sharingan was like showing off one's skills with a blade in front of a master swordsman.
It was simply foolish.
He had considerable experience using the Sharingan. Although the Sharingan's inability to deactivate drained a large amount of his chakra, often leaving him with insufficient reserves, the benefits it brought were obvious. Relying on the Sharingan, he had copied over a thousand Ninjutsu, an amount unimaginable for ordinary ninja.
Another huge benefit was immunity to low-level Genjutsu. No Genjutsu was useful before his Sharingan; he could even use the Sharingan to hypnotize the opponent in return.
Sure enough, in the video, after trapping Hoshigaki Kisame with Genjutsu, Yuhi Kurenai turned into a tree to bind Uchiha Itachi.
Uchiha Itachi watched expressionlessly as Yuhi Kurenai appeared above him, preparing to strike.
"You're finished!"
Yuhi Kurenai shouted, but in the next instant, she found herself trapped in the tree, bound by her own Genjutsu.
A Jonin extremely skilled in Genjutsu had her technique reflected in an instant. No, perhaps even earlier—from the moment she looked directly into the Sharingan, she had already been caught in the Sharingan's hypnotic suggestion.
"Genjutsu of this level has no effect on me," Uchiha Itachi looked at Yuhi Kurenai and said expressionlessly.
Yuhi Kurenai was still in shock.
"Is this... Genjutsu Reflection?"
Just as Uchiha Itachi drew a kunai to strike Yuhi Kurenai, she barely managed to bite the tip of her tongue. The pain allowed her to break her own Genjutsu in an instant.
Although she dodged Uchiha Itachi's fatal blow, she was subsequently kicked by him onto the water surface nearby.
"Kurenai!"
Seeing this, Sarutobi Asuma shouted in worry.
"You still have the leisure to worry about others?" Hoshigaki Kisame grinned, speaking with a half-smile.
"As expected of Kurenai, however..."
Just as Yuhi Kurenai gained her footing on the water, Uchiha Itachi had already arrived behind her.
"However, this ends here." Hatake Kakashi's lazy voice appeared not far away. "I'm talking to you."
It turned out that Hatake Kakashi had arrived at the scene at the critical moment to provide support.