At the same time, beneath the dappled shadows of the forest canopy, Itachi directed Sasuke and the others through a grueling training session.
Sunlight filtered through dense leaves, casting shifting patterns across their bodies. A breeze stirred the branches overhead.
Sasuke's eyes burned with determination as he focused on refining his Fire Release.
The peace did not last.
"…This…"
Itachi halted mid-motion. His gaze sharpened.
A foreign chakra signature had entered his perception.
It did not belong to the Hidden Leaf.
Hostile.
Sharp.
Deliberate.
"Stop!"
His voice cut through the clearing like steel.
Sasuke extinguished the flame in his palm at once.
"What is it?"
"Enemies," Itachi replied calmly. "They're close. We withdraw immediately."
Before they could move—
The air rippled.
Several figures emerged from the trees like specters, their forms blurring as they landed in a tightening circle around the group.
Hidden Cloud shinobi.
Jōnin.
Their expressions were cold, predatory.
Like wolves that had already chosen their prey.
"So it is you."
The leading Special Jōnin smiled thinly, eyes roaming over Itachi and Sasuke.
"Children. Come quietly."
Itachi exhaled once.
So be it.
"Fall back."
His body moved first.
He vanished in a flicker of motion.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Flames scattered in rapid succession, spiraling through the air in controlled arcs, forcing the enemy to break formation.
"So you dare resist?"
Lightning crackled in the Special Jōnin's palm.
The bolt tore through the clearing—
—but Itachi had already shifted position.
He evaded cleanly, momentum carrying him forward.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
The massive sphere of flame surged outward, engulfing the clearing in searing heat.
The Hidden Cloud shinobi's smirk vanished.
A mere genin?
Impossible.
He threw up a surge of chakra and leapt back—
—and noticed too late.
Itachi's arm snapped forward.
A black, narrow blade whistled through the air, carving a lethal arc toward the man's chest.
"Damn it!"
Lightning flared again.
He forced his hands together, pushing a condensed burst of golden thunder forward.
The clash detonated.
Flame and lightning collided in a blinding explosion.
The forest trembled.
Trees cracked.
Stone splintered.
In the smoke—
Sasuke moved.
A kunai flashed.
The Hidden Cloud shinobi barely deflected it—
—and in that heartbeat, Sasuke was already behind him.
The enemy turned.
Too late.
Sasuke leapt, locking his legs around the man's neck. His fists fell like hammers.
Crack.
Bone gave way.
A strangled scream split the forest.
Sasuke kicked off and landed heavily, breathing hard.
The shinobi collapsed.
His skull twisted grotesquely, blood pooling beneath him.
Silence followed.
"Good work, Sasuke."
Itachi's voice carried quiet approval.
But he did not relax.
His head turned slightly, eyes scanning the treeline.
More chakra signatures.
Several.
They had not come for a skirmish.
They had come to seize.
The Hidden Cloud shinobi tightened their formation, eyes burning with intent.
Itachi's mind worked quickly.
Outnumbered.
Outpositioned.
A direct clash would cost them.
But arrogance—
Arrogance could be exploited.
He drew in a steady breath.
If they sought to capture—
Then he would make them regret it.
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