Chapter 182
Just like in the original story, Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi were quickly overwhelmed and on the verge of defeat at the hands of Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki, when Kakashi appeared just in time to save them.
However, Itachi Uchiha used the power of his Mangekyo Sharingan: Tsukuyomi.
This technique directly dealt a heavy blow to Kakashi's mind, completely stripping him of the strength to fight again.
Fortunately, Might Guy arrived in time, and Itachi Uchiha seized the opportunity to temporarily leave with Kisame Hoshigaki.
Everyone immediately sent Kakashi back, where he lay in bed.
Sasuke and Hinata, who had finished their training, also went to look for Kakashi and happened upon this scene.
Kakashi lay weakly and powerlessly sprawled on the bed.
Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, and Kurenai Yuhiwere all tending to him and discussing the situation.
Sasuke furrowed his brow: "What happened?"
Naturally, they wouldn't tell him the truth.
But at this moment, Aoba Yamashiro suddenly pushed the door open and exclaimed in a startled voice.
"I heard that Itachi Uchiha returned to the Village, and his target is Naruto, right?!"
Kakashi, Asuma, and the others immediately looked helpless.
When Sasuke heard the name Itachi Uchiha, he was instantly struck as if by lightning, and his expression became more terrifying and ferocious than a demon!
"Uchiha…"
"Itachi?!"
"Why, what exactly happened?!"
"And what's this about Naruto being the target?!"
Kakashi weakly said, "Sasuke, calm down…"
But Sasuke could no longer calm down.
Bang—
He immediately rushed out with an angry roar, his figure rapidly speeding away.
Kakashi coughed, "Cough, cough… quickly stop him…"
Hinata hurriedly said, "Kakashi-sensei, don't worry, I'll go right away."
She also immediately followed him out… Outside Konoha Village.
Sasuke inquired about Naruto and Jiraiya's whereabouts and rushed off, with Hinata gradually catching up behind him.
"Sasuke, please, please don't be impulsive…"
"Going to see Itachi Uchiha now is tantamount to seeking your own death…"
Sasuke shook his head: "I need to go and inform Naruto quickly."
Hinata's heart also stirred.
Indeed, in Sasuke's heart, the person he valued most was still Naruto… only, he would never admit it himself.
Even though the anger and hatred in his heart would break through everything upon hearing the news, after calming down slightly, he began to worry more about Naruto's safety.
Hinata nodded: "If that's the case, I'll go with you!"
"Mm."
The two of them ran with all their might towards Tanzaku Town.
Upon arrival, they immediately began frantically inquiring.
"Hey, have you seen a white-haired man and a blond idiot?"
Sasuke grabbed a person and asked.
The person panicked and shook his head wildly: "No, I haven't seen them…"
Sasuke let him go and immediately rushed into another inn.
Hinata was equally worried, asking from one inn to another.
Finally, the two of them received a definite answer at a certain inn.
However… when they finally pushed the door open, they found that the old man and young man before them were not Jiraiya and Naruto… "No, it's not them?"
"How could this be…"
…At this moment.
Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki also pursued them to Tanzaku Town.
They used genjutsu to manipulate a beautiful woman to lure Jiraiya, entangling him and taking him away, then the two of them headed towards Naruto, who was in the midst of intense training… At this time, Naruto had already completed the first stage of Rasengan training.
He had ruptured water-filled balloons by rotating Chakra.
Unlike in the original story, the current Naruto's control over Chakra was peerless; not only did he master it quickly, but he also didn't need the coordinated effort of both hands.
He could easily accomplish it with just one hand.
However, the second step, rupturing a rubber ball, was much more difficult, and Naruto was still working hard.
"Uzumaki Naruto."
"Ah ah—"
Bang—
Naruto was startled, and the rubber ball in his hand was thrown out in fright.
"Who is it! Interrupting my training!"
He looked back and saw two fierce-looking figures, especially Itachi Uchiha's eyes, crimson as blood, emitting an extremely terrifying light!
"You, who are you…?"
Kisame Hoshigaki chuckled: "Is this the Jinchurikiof the Nine-Tailed?"
"He's still a useless brat, isn't he…"
Although Naruto didn't know who they were, seeing Itachi Uchiha's Sharingan, many thoughts suddenly came to his mind.
"Those, those eyes…"
"The same Sharingan as Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke…"
"You, who exactly are you…?"
Itachi Uchiha said coldly, "Uzumaki Naruto, taking you is the highest order given by our Akatsuki Organization."
"To avoid suffering, I advise you not to resist and to come with us obediently."
Naruto naturally wouldn't sit idly by and wait for death.
He roared, "Only a fool would obediently go with you!"
Kisame Hoshigaki shook his head and sneered: "What a brat who doesn't know his place…"
"Since that's the case, let me break his legs first, Mr. Itachi."
Saying that, Kisame Hoshigaki violently swung his greatsword, Samehada, fiercely slashing towards Naruto!
The speed was extremely fast, and the power was immense!
In an instant, Naruto felt as if a mountain was crashing towards his legs!
Who was Kisame Hoshigaki?
One of the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist Village, and in terms of strength, he was probably the strongest of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!
Zabuza Momochi was like a child compared to him.
Naruto was greatly alarmed but was also prepared.
As many examiners said during the Chunin Examsmeeting… Team 7's greatest advantage was not their strength itself.
But the tempering they received from numerous life-or-death battles and desperate struggles!
Naruto, moreover, was the strongest among them!
In this instant, if it were anyone else, facing two Akatsuki Organization members, S-rank rogue ninja, they would probably have been scared stiff and completely unable to move.
But Naruto remained calm, even… eager for battle!
"Don't underestimate me!"
Naruto roared, his body instantly transforming into an afterimage, moving like a flowing wind!
Rumble—
Boom!!!
Kisame Hoshigaki's fierce strike, which seemed to hit, in reality only cut through a wind-like afterimage!
Naruto's real body had already moved away, retreating more than ten meters!
Kisame Hoshigaki couldn't help but be surprised.
"What?!"
Itachi Uchiha also frowned slightly.
"A Wind Release Body Flicker Technique?"
"Unprecedented, is it a Ninjutsu he created himself?"
Naruto, who had retreated to a distance, didn't hesitate at all and immediately formed hand signs.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
In an instant, fierce winds rose, sweeping across the land, and in the barren wilderness outside Tanzaku Town, strong winds howled, dust danced chaotically, obscuring the sky and covering everything!
Itachi Uchiha's heart stirred again.
"Trying to block my vision with wind and sand, huh…"
"To use against my Sharingan…"
"This guy seems very good at actual combat, and, after all, having spent a long time with Kakashi Hatake and Sasuke, he already has methods and ideas to deal with the Sharingan…"
"An impressive fellow."
Kisame Hoshigaki was also surprised.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough?"
"The Ninjutsu is common, but what's with this scale and range?!"
"Is it the power of a Tailed Beast?"
"No, it's not, this is entirely his own Chakra…"
"This brat, in terms of Chakra volume alone, is probably already on par with me…"
It should be known that Kisame Hoshigaki was known as the "Tailless Tailed Beast" and had almost never encountered anyone who could compare with his Chakra volume, let alone a child like this!
Naruto didn't pause for a moment; facing such a terrifying and powerful enemy, he immediately unleashed his full power.
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"