The procession began. Straw-hatted samurai hoisted a sealed palanquin onto their shoulders. Inside, the unseen noble remained silent.
"Tch. Quite the entourage," Gen muttered, eyeing the ornate carriage.
"Attitude's worse."
"We're paid professionals. Ignore them." Kakashi flipped a page, unfazed. "Besides... if those 'dangerous individuals' you sensed do show up..."
A ghost of a smile touched his visible eye. "...these samurai make excellent distractions."
Last night, Gen had described the two overwhelming chakra signatures. Kakashi took it seriously—even if details were vague.
"True. Though they'll be useless." Gen frowned. "Sensei... did you request Konoha backup? Those two felt..."
Wrong.
He'd recognized those black-and-crimson robes instantly. Akatsuki. As for who...
Doesn't matter. Anyone wearing that cloak is trouble.
His mind raced. A palanquin. Samurai disguised as peasants...
This matches Kisame and Itachi's early mission!
If it was them... Gen's gaze flickered toward Kakashi. He recalled Itachi effortlessly dropping Kakashi with Tsukuyomi—back when Kakashi underestimated the Mangekyō.
That defeat birthed Kamui three years later...
Gen's expression hardened. This mission just became critical.
"Relax." Kakashi's voice cut through his thoughts. "I'll protect you. Speaking of..." He eyed Gen. "How's your Lightning Release progressing?"
"Promising." Gen forced calm. "But without the Sharingan, I'm focusing on shape and nature transformation. Pushing the boundaries..."
He outlined his theory—molding lightning into whip-like currents (Chidori Senbon), wide-area surges (Chidori Nagashi), ultimately converging toward Purple Electricity.
"Aim high. Even the Third Raikage only achieved rudimentary shape mastery." Kakashi nodded slowly. "Succeed, and you'll make history."
"I have ideas—"
Hmm?!
Both froze. Ahead, blocking the forest path, stood two figures in black robes adorned with blood-red clouds.
"Well, well..." Kisame Hoshigaki's shark-toothed grin widened. "Konoha strays?"
"Kakashi-senpai." Uchiha Itachi's voice was cool as winter stone. "Long time."
"The Copy Ninja Kakashi?" Kisame's grip tightened on Samehada.
"It seems he left ANBU." Itachi's tone held detached curiosity, masking inner turmoil. Of all places... Kakashi? Now?
He still considered himself Konoha's shadow. This encounter was... inconvenient.
"Trouble..." Kakashi's book vanished. His lone eye darted to Gen. This was the "very dangerous" threat? "Very" is an understatement!
Kisame Hoshigaki. Ex-Mist Swordsman.
Uchiha Itachi. Slayer of his own clan.
My ANBU subordinate...
Was his cursed luck striking again?
"Assassins! Attack!"
The samurai captain roared, seizing his chance to prove their worth. Blades imbued with chakra gleamed as they charged.
"Wait!" Kakashi's warning died in his throat.
Itachi's hands were already moving.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!
FWOOM!
A tsunami of flame engulfed the path. Samurai raised chakra-coated blades in desperate defense.
In the fire's wake, Kisame blurred forward. Samehada, thirsty and massive, swept horizontally.
SHINK! CRUNCH!
Two samurai fell, bisected before they could scream.
"Bastards!" Two more lunged at Kisame's exposed flank.
Itachi's wrist flicked. Kunai streaked like black lightning, finding throats with lethal precision.
Thud. Thud.
It was over in seconds. Kakashi hadn't even drawn a kunai.
"Gen," Kakashi's voice was steel wrapped in silk, "if there's an opening—"
He turned. Stopped.
Gen wasn't listening. A flare pistol was pointed skyward.
WHOOSH—BANG!
A crimson signal burst bloomed against the noon sky.
...What? Kakashi stared, dumbfounded. Suicide?!
"Signal flare?" Kisame scowled, Samehada dripping. "Reinforcements?"
"Unfortunate timing." Gen lowered the launcher, meeting Itachi's onyx eyes without flinching. "We spotted you in town last night."
His voice cut like glass. "Especially you, Uchiha Itachi. Clan-slayer. Kin-killer. Did you think any Konoha shinobi wouldn't recognize that face?"
He smiled coldly. "We requested ANBU backup immediately. Your window closed."
"..."
Itachi remained statue-still, but a flicker of pain crossed his face. Kakashi's visible eye widened further. Provoking them?!
"Seems your reputation precedes you, Itachi." Kisame bared his teeth, shifting his grip on Samehada. "But kid..."
His voice dropped to a guttural snarl. "...did you consider one thing?"
"Hmm?" Gen tilted his head, feigning confusion.
SHUNSHIN!
Gen backflipped violently as Kisame exploded forward! Samehada shrieked through the space his head occupied moments before!
"Speed kills, brat! Itachi! Handle Kakashi! I'll gut this pup!"
Kisame's roar shook the trees. Gen landed lightly, already weaving hand signs. Kakashi's mind raced—viscid dread warring with flint-eyed focus.
Too fast. Kisame's on Gen instantly. No time—
Lightning Release: Chidori!
SCREEEEE—!
A thousand shrieking birds erupted from Kakashi's palm, cobalt lightning shearing the air as he lunged not at Itachi—
—but toward Kisame's unprotected back!
Itachi moved. Not to intercept Kakashi. His Sharingan spun, locking onto Gen who'd just completed his own seals.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!
Gen's fireball roared forth—not at Kisame or Itachi, but past them, engulfing the untouched palanquin in an inferno!
BOOM!
Wood shattered. Silk curtains vaporized. Inside, not a noble—but stacks of sealing scrolls bound in explosive tags ignited simultaneously!
KRAKOOM!
The blast wave hurled Kisame sideways, Samehada shrieking as it deflected shrapnel. Smoke swallowed the clearing.
In the chaos, Gen hit the ground rolling. His right hand glowed faintly green—not with lightning, but precise medical chakra. He slammed it against the neck of a "dead" samurai near Kisame's landing spot.
Medical Ninjutsu: Chakra Scalpel!
The blade of pure chakra sliced upward—not to kill, but to sever the chakra pathways to Kisame's dominant arm!
Kisame roared, more in shock than pain. Samehada clattered from suddenly nerveless fingers.
SHUNSHIN!
Gen vanished before the dust cleared, reappearing beside Kakashi. Both were breathing hard.
Across the smoldering ruin, Itachi stood untouched, Sharingan whirling. Kisame clutched his limp arm, face contorted in rage. The flare's crimson embers still drifted down like bloody snow.
Gen met Itachi's gaze, a ghost of a smirk on his lips.
Phase one: complete.