"Kurenai, you have no idea how amazing that move I just pulled off was!"
Asuma was as excited as a child, completely unlike the mature and steady uncle his students saw him as.
Just moments ago, using Orochimaru [Indestructible], he had pulled off a double substitution after being hit, stunning his opponent and securing a hard-fought victory.
Kurenai smiled softly. Her rank had recently risen to Jonin, while Asuma was already pushing for the Kage rank.
At that moment, two figures walking toward them caught Asuma and Kurenai by surprise.
The two wore black robes with red clouds and wide-brimmed bamboo hats that obscured their faces.
But one of them gave Asuma a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had seen them somewhere before.
"You're not from the village. What business do you have sneaking in here?"
Upon encountering suspicious individuals, Asuma immediately composed himself, speaking calmly and coolly.
One of the hat-wearing figures got straight to the point, "Long time no see, Kurenai, Asuma."
"You know us, which means you were once from this village. Who are you?"
Then, the mysterious figure lifted his hat, revealing a pair of crimson eyes.
"So, it's really you... Uchiha Itachi."
"Since you know Itachi-san, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Hoshigaki Kisame, former Kirigakure Ninja. Consider us acquainted."
Asuma, with a cigarette in his mouth, said gravely, "There won't be a future. I'll take you down right now."
---
After a brief exchange, Asuma and Kisame were evenly matched, locked in a stalemate.
Meanwhile, Kurenai, who had tried to use Genjutsu against Itachi, was instantly defeated.
Itachi even complimented her, "Impressive, Kurenai. But..."
However, at that moment, a voice came from behind Itachi.
"But you're done here."
The person coming is Kakashi! After freeing Kurenai, Kakashi casually copied Kisame's Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique to block the attack aimed at Asuma.
Seeing this, Itachi was shocked, 'So strong...'
'Had Kakashi become this powerful in the years since they last met?'
Just a few moves were enough for Itachi to gauge Kakashi's strength.
At this time, Asuma spoke up, "Why are you here too?"
Kakashi replied, "Although I asked you two to handle it, I was still a bit worried."
Then he turned to Itachi, "What are you two Missing-nin doing back in Konoha?"
"Unlike Kisame, I don't like wasting too much time on battles."
With that, Itachi launched an attack directly.
After a brief exchange, Itachi was even more surprised.
He had already activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, while Kakashi's eyes were still in their normal state...
'Kakashi can actually keep up with my pace?'
Kakashi, on the other hand, grew more cautious, 'As expected of Itachi, he can easily counter my attacks.'
"I told you, I don't like wasting time on battles."
As he spoke, Itachi's three-tomoe Sharingan slowly transformed into the Mangekyo Sharingan, which shaped like three curved blades.
"Asuma, Kurenai, don't look into Itachi's eyes. Only someone with the Sharingan can stand against him now!"
Kakashi urgently warned.
Asuma and Kurenai immediately closed their eyes.
"It's true that having the Sharingan can somewhat resist the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"But it can't break my unique Dojutsu, Genjutsu: Tsukuyomi."
"The only ones who can defeat me are those who possess the same Kekkei Genkai, the Mangekyo Sharingan."
As he spoke, Itachi looked directly at Kakashi, "And you, with just a single three-tomoe Sharingan, let me show you the difference between our eyes."
Afterwards, Itachi, who activated Tsukuyomi, felt that his Dojutsu encountered great resistance.
Itachi was slightly surprised, 'How was this possible? How could a mere three-tomoe Sharingan resist my Mangekyo Sharingan?'
At that moment, Itachi looked into Kakashi's eyes and saw that both of them were glowing crimson...
And the patterns within weren't simple tomoe.
Instead... they were three black scythes.
'Is that... Mangekyo Sharingan?'
Itachi was shocked and exclaimed, "Mangekyo Sharingan? How is that possible? And how do you have two of them?"
At this time, even the usually calm and composed Itachi couldn't hide his astonishment. When he first saw Kakashi's pair of Mangekyo Sharingan, he thought it was a Genjutsu caused by his own Mangekyo.
But then he realized, 'No, my vision might be failing, but I couldn't be under a Genjutsu.'
'That means... Kakashi's double Mangekyo is real.'
Itachi deactivated Tsukuyomi. He knew that against an ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan, Tsukuyomi would take effect quickly.
However, against another Mangekyo Sharingan, unless there was a significant difference in Ocular Power, it would be difficult to pull the opponent into the Tsukuyomi Genjutsu.
"Sorry, although I'm not an Uchiha, this Sharingan was a gift from my dear friend before he left... and there's also help from Manager."
With that, Kakashi grabbed a kunai and launched an attack.
"Kamui!"
Itachi had his Mangekyo activated, but he couldn't track Kakashi's movements at all. He was still reeling from the reality of Kakashi's dual Mangekyo.
At this point, Itachi's emotions went beyond surprise.
Itachi's mind raced, 'In the current Ninja World, aside from that masked man... only I and Sasuke possessed the Uchiha bloodline.'
'And Sasuke is Kakashi's student.'
At this point, it wasn't hard for Itachi to deduce a conclusion...
'Sasuke had awakened the Mangekyo, and Kakashi had taken it from him!'
Although Itachi didn't know how Sasuke had awakened the Mangekyo, even someone as rational as him was now overwhelmed with anger.
Even though Kakashi used Kamui to appear behind Itachi, Itachi, who was consumed by rage, sensed Kakashi appearing out of thin air behind him.
Ignoring the strain from using his Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi immediately activated Susanoo.
A giant crimson spectral figure emerged from him, deflecting Kakashi's sneak attack.
"What did you do to Sasuke?!"
Itachi demanded angrily.
He had worked so hard on his plans...
For Sasuke, Itachi had even prepared to sacrifice himself.
As a result... Sasuke's Sharingan had been taken by Kakashi?
Whether Sasuke was alive or dead, Itachi couldn't think clearly anymore.
He could clearly feel that he didn't have many years left to live.
The last time Itachi had been this angry was when the stubborn faction of the Uchiha had threatened to rebel... and Itachi had opposed them.
The two sides had clashed.
But later, at Fugaku's request, Itachi had to kneel and apologize to them to avoid further conflict.
Back then, Itachi had watched their arrogant figures leave, his Mangekyo forming as he considered killing them.
But for the greater good, he had held back.
But this time... if Sasuke were to die, there would soon be no Uchiha left in the world!
He, Itachi, was already an orphan, and now his only remaining relative was in peril... How could he not be furious?