Being a rogue ninja is worse than being Hokage.

"Naruto! A very powerful chakra is moving towards us at high speed!"

Karin, who was in the center of the group and constantly aware of her surroundings, noticed the enemy approaching.

She suddenly shouted loudly, attracting everyone's attention.

Naruto and Sasuke's eyes sharpened, and the eight-person team stopped in their tracks.

Before them appeared an obstacle that seemed to appear in the blink of an eye.

The figure, dressed in a red robe with auspicious clouds from the Akatsuki organization, stood atop a long-abandoned telephone pole, blocking the way.

He casually carried the enormous weapon wrapped in white cloth on his shoulder and looked at the crowd he had intercepted.

"Why don't you save your eye power to deal with Itachi?"

Finally, the person blocking the way chose to "kindly persuade" Sasuke.

The moment the obstacle appeared, Sasuke was already in a state of combat readiness.

The black in Sasuke's pupils faded, turning into red three-tomoe Sharingan.

Even after three years, Sasuke still clearly remembered the strange appearance of the man blocking his way.

With his unusual skin color, peculiar eyes, and shark-like gills under his eyes, the man looked just like a real shark.

Three years ago, shortly after Naruto's defection from Konoha and Orochimaru's plan to destroy Konoha ended, he appeared before Sasuke as Itachi's "comrade-in-arms" when Konoha was weak.

Kisame Hoshigaki, a rogue ninja from Kirigakure and one of the original Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

The appearance of Kisame Hoshigaki before everyone at this moment undoubtedly proved the accuracy of the information Deidara marked on the map.

Itachi Uchiha is just ahead.

Sasuke's long-awaited revenge will finally come to an end today.

"I have no intention of fighting."

Sasuke's Sharingan remained wary of Kisame, who, unconcerned, proceeded to explain why he had appeared before them:

"This is Itachi's order... From now on, Sasuke Uchiha, please go alone."

Kisame Hoshigaki's goal was to stop Sasuke's comrades and create an environment for Itachi Uchiha to "fight" with Sasuke.

"As for your companions, let's stop here for now."

Although he didn't know Itachi's thoughts, Sasuke wanted to fight Itachi one-on-one.

He will operate in a small team, intending to have the team members help intercept the other members of the Akatsuki organization and prevent them from intervening in the battle while he seeks revenge against Itachi.

"Naruto, you guys wait for me here."

Sasuke agreed to Kisame's negotiation and asked the people around him to stop and wait for a while.

But Naruto had a different opinion.

"Let Karin go with you."

Naruto said.

Before Sasuke could ask, Naruto explained his reasons: "Remember our negotiations regarding Itachi Uchiha? I won't interfere with your revenge against Itachi, but I also need 'information about Itachi'."

Because of Kisame Hoshigaki's presence, Naruto did not elaborate on the negotiations between him and Sasuke.

But this was not the main reason why Naruto chose to have Karin follow him in the past.

"The situation in the forest is also very concerning. The actual situation is completely different from what we initially assumed. It would be unwise for you to remain alone now... You are already aware of Karin's perception abilities. If any unexpected problems arise, Karin can provide you with advance warning."

Besides the Konoha search team, there are other suspected Akatsuki teams.

Sasuke was also aware of this.

The Deidara and Sasori duo, who have already been dealt with by Naruto and Sasuke.

And... another pair of Akatsuki members hiding behind the Konoha search team.

It's hard not to wonder if the Akatsuki members who suddenly appeared in the forest have some connection with Itachi.

Sasuke didn't say much about Naruto's request, which stemmed from concern.

However, he also refused to allow Karin to follow him to Itachi's location.

Naruto guessed the reason for Sasuke's silence.

Naruto was well aware of Sasuke's desire to keep outsiders out of his personal feud with Itachi.

"Don't worry, just like we agreed, Karin won't interfere in your fight with Itachi."

As he said this, Naruto glanced at Kisame Hoshigaki, who was observing him with great interest.

Kisame Hoshigaki has probably already recognized Naruto's identity as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Naruto withdrew his gaze and continued, "Just as Itachi would send people to prevent us from getting involved in the battle, I will naturally take precautions against the involvement of other members of the Akatsuki organization. After all, we have already encountered several groups of Akatsuki members in just a short time... and Karin, who has the best sensory abilities among us, is the best choice."

Sasuke still didn't respond; it was Kisame Hoshigaki who answered:

“Uchiha Sasuke, dawdling isn’t a good habit. Itachi has been waiting for you for a long time—as for you, I won’t let you pass. Although Itachi said there’s no need for him to attack you first, if you start interfering—”

Kisame Hoshigaki held the ninja sword, its shape obscured by a white cloth wrapped around his shoulder, in front of him, and grinned with a mouthful of sharp teeth, saying, "—Occasionally slicing off a few unknown guys is enough to give Samehada a change of pace."

Sasuke looked at Kisame Hoshigaki, who had made a "threatening" statement.

Kisame Hoshigaki is indeed very strong. Even if the four Sound Ninja all attacked together, they might not be able to gain the upper hand against him.

but……

"whatever."

Sasuke finally responded.

Having said that, Sasuke didn't linger any longer. He lifted his foot again and stepped over Kisame Hoshigaki.

Just as he said, Kisame Hoshigaki let Sasuke pass him by, ignoring Sasuke's departure.

"Karin".

Naruto whispered to Karin.

Karin nodded and took a step back to catch up with Sasuke.

"Really..."

Kisame Hoshigaki vanished from the telephone pole he was standing on in the blink of an eye, and the next instant, he appeared in front of Karin using the Body Flicker Technique.

Kisame Hoshigaki swung his large sword, Samehada, with only one hand, slicing it towards Karin.

Despite being a huge and heavy ninja sword, Samehada was wielded by Kisame Hoshigaki with such ease and speed.

Karin had no time to react to Kisame Hoshigaki's attack.

But her goal was not to fight Kisame Hoshigaki.

Just as Samehada was about to cut Karin in half, Naruto appeared in front of her.

Flying Thunder God Technique!

However, although Samehada's target for its slash has changed, the purpose of its slash itself has not changed.

Kisame Hoshigaki's swinging of Samehada did not stop in the slightest despite Naruto's sudden appearance.

Having already realized Naruto's identity as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kisame's slashing movements became even more ferocious than when facing Karin.

Kisame Hoshigaki wasn't worried about Naruto using ninjutsu; the seven swords of Kirigakure each had their own unique characteristics.

Kisame Hoshigaki's Samehada has the ability to absorb the chakra of others.

Not only ninjas, but even the tyrannical chakra of tailed beasts is consumed by Samehada!

Naruto chose the Flying Thunder God Technique just as Kisame Hoshigaki was finishing his swinging motion.

Samehada will cut Naruto and Karin in half at the waist in the next second!

But the ending is always unexpected.

Just as Naruto reached Karin with his Flying Thunder God Technique, the scroll that Naruto was holding was suddenly unfurled.

Naruto held a ninja sword as large as Samehada in his hand.

Kisame Hoshigaki had anticipated that Naruto and Karin would shatter flesh and break bones, but the killing intent emanating from Samehada did not come from him.

Instead, it was a clash between ninja swords.

"This is--!"

Kisame Hoshigaki looked at the ninja sword in Naruto's hand with surprise.

Hozuki Suigetsu, who was watching from the sidelines, reacted even more strongly than Kisame Hoshigaki:

"—The decapitation sword!"

Naruto's sword is one of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Hidden Mist, originally belonging to Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist.

Unexpectedly, Naruto actually took out the Kubikiribōchō (Executioner's Blade) to fight Samehada.

Kisame Hoshigaki witnessed Karin's departure while confronting Naruto.

But now, Karin's actions are beyond Kisame Hoshigaki's ability to stop.

Kisame Hoshigaki put aside his previous contempt and stared intently at Naruto.

"There aren't many guys who can make my mission fail, and you're the first kid who can make my mission fail. This is really... unexpected."

And it wasn't just Kisame Hoshigaki who was surprised...

……

...On another battlefield, in the forest, Abi, who single-handedly intercepted eight members of the Konoha search team, and called himself a newcomer to the Akatsuki organization.

He too showed a surprised expression beneath the spiral mask that covered his true face.

Originally intending to kill Sakura directly, Tobi had to become intangible, allowing Sakura's sneak attack, which Tobi had already noticed, to "pass through" Tobi's own body.

As Sakura, looking bewildered, "passed through" Tobi's body, a pitch-black kunai simultaneously "passed through" Tobi's head and became firmly embedded in the tree trunk beside him.

The pitch-black kunai was infused with chakra and underwent a nature transformation, piercing through the tree and falling to the ground some distance away.

What was originally just an ordinary ninja tool, the kunai, has become extremely powerful and fast in attack.

If Afei hesitates even for a moment when deciding whether to materialize his body, he may not have enough time to dodge the kunai attack.