Several ANBU were examining the scene.
The two gate guards lay unconscious on the ground, their eyes vacant—clearly victims of a powerful genjutsu.
Seeing Kakashi arrive, the ANBU captain nodded.
"Kakashi-senpai."
"What's the situation?" Kakashi asked.
"Both guards were hit by genjutsu," the captain replied. "And it's extremely high-level—far beyond what an ordinary shinobi could manage."
Kakashi crouched down and examined the guards.
Activating his Sharingan, he carefully observed the lingering traces of chakra.
His brows knit together.
"This genjutsu's technique…"
The ANBU captain asked, "Did you discover something, Kakashi-senpai?"
Kakashi stood up.
A conclusion had already formed in his mind.
"Uchiha Itachi… so he's returned."
His thoughts raced through what he knew.
"If it really is him, then his target must be…"
"Naruto."
Kakashi turned sharply.
"Continue the investigation. If you find anything else, report to headquarters immediately."
"Yes!"
Kakashi vanished at once.
He bit his finger and formed hand seals.
"Summoning Technique!"
Poof!
A small ninja hound wearing a flak jacket appeared.
It was Pakkun.
"Yo, Kakashi," Pakkun said. "Another job?"
"Emergency mission. Find Naruto."
Pakkun sniffed the air.
"Got it. Naruto's scent… that way. Looks like Ichiraku Ramen."
Kakashi's gaze hardened.
"If Itachi really has returned…"
"Even if Naruto is his main objective, he'll definitely want to see Sasuke as well."
———
Ichiraku Ramen.
"Sasuke! Come on, hurry up!"
Naruto grabbed Sasuke's arm and dragged him along.
Sasuke resisted, clearly unhappy.
"Hey, Naruto! I still need to train my Summoning Jutsu!"
"I just signed a contract with the Monkey Clan. I need to get used to it as fast as possible!"
Naruto laughed.
"Training, training—how can you train on an empty stomach?"
"And besides!"
He puffed out his chest proudly.
"You've got a summon now too, right? Then let's see whose is stronger!"
"My Gamabunta is super powerful!"
"That little monkey of yours doesn't stand a chance!"
Sasuke bristled instantly.
"What did you say?! Little monkey?!"
"Enra is Lord Enma's son!"
"That toad of yours doesn't compare at all!"
Naruto snorted. "Gamabunta's strong too, you know!"
"Hmph! Then let's compete!"
"Fine! You're on!"
The two glared at each other, sparks flying.
Then Naruto suddenly grinned.
"But before that…"
"We've gotta fill our stomachs first!"
"How can we summon anything without energy?"
"So—ramen first!"
Without waiting, Naruto dragged Sasuke straight into Ichiraku Ramen.
"Uncle Teuchi! Two extra-large bowls of tonkotsu ramen!"
Sasuke really was hungry.
"…Fine. We'll eat first."
They sat down.
Teuchi smiled as he served the bowls.
"Here you go—two extra-large orders!"
Naruto grabbed his chopsticks and glanced at Sasuke.
"How about it, Sasuke? Let's see who finishes faster!"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
"Bring it on. I'm not losing to you."
"Alright! Let's start!"
They began eating at the same time.
Slurp! Slurp!
Ramen disappeared at an astonishing pace.
"I finished my first bowl!" Naruto shouted.
"So did I!" Sasuke shot back.
"Another bowl!"
"I'll take one too!"
Teuchi could only smile wryly as he kept serving.
The two were completely locked in their competition.
———
Outside the ramen shop.
Two figures wearing black cloaks patterned with red clouds approached slowly.
Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame stopped outside.
Through the noren, they could see inside.
Naruto and Sasuke were devouring ramen at full speed.
"Another bowl!"
"I won't lose to you, dead last!"
"You're the dead last, arrogant Sasuke!"
Their bickering drifted outside.
Itachi's gaze flickered.
"Sasuke…"
He watched his younger brother's lively 모습.
A trace of complexity crossed his eyes.
"He's grown…"
"And… he seems to be doing well."
Kisame clicked his tongue.
"So that's your little brother, Itachi-san?"
"Looks pretty spirited."
"And he gets along well with the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki."
Itachi remained silent.
Just then—
Shun!
A figure appeared near the ramen shop.
It was Kakashi.
His eyes swept the area and instantly locked onto the two cloaked figures.
"Found you…"
Itachi noticed him at the same time.
Their gazes met across the distance.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
Kisame grinned.
"Well, we've been spotted, Itachi-san."
"What do you say? Want to have some fun?"
Itachi replied calmly, "Withdraw."
"Do not cause a disturbance in the village."
He glanced once more at Sasuke inside the shop.
Then he turned away.
"Let's go."
The two vanished in a flash, heading toward the outskirts of Konoha.
Kakashi immediately gave chase.
———
Outskirts of Konoha Village.
Itachi and Kisame came to a stop.
Ahead of them—
Kakashi stood in their path.
"Oh my, oh my…"
"Look what I've stumbled upon."
"Two rogue ninja."
He tilted his head slightly, though his eyes were razor-sharp.
"Uchiha Itachi."
"And… Kisame Hoshigaki of the Hidden Mist."
"Two S-rank missing-nin paying Konoha a visit."
"I'm almost honored."
Kisame rested Samehada on his shoulder.
"Well, if it isn't Konoha's Copy Ninja—Kakashi Hatake."
"Your intel's impressive."
"To recognize me on sight."
Kakashi smiled faintly.
"One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—Kisame Hoshigaki."
"You murdered your superior and defected from Kirigakure."
"A bounty worth tens of millions of ryō."
"Hard to miss."
He then looked at Itachi.
"And as for you…"
"The famed prodigy—Uchiha Itachi. A name that shakes the shinobi world."
Itachi met his gaze calmly.
"Kakashi-senpai."
"It's been a long time."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Still calling me senpai?"
"You slaughtered your entire clan. I don't think I'm qualified for that title."
Kisame laughed loudly.
"Itachi-san, this guy's interesting."
"Should I test him a little?"
"They say he's copied thousands of jutsu—the Copy Ninja of Konoha."
"I'm curious to see if the rumors are true."
-------------------_-----_---------_--_-_-
Read 15 advanced chapter on
👉 patreon.com/Master_fic
read 10 chapters ahead just for 5$