Under the Homusubi mask, Ho's lips arched in s smirk.
Defeating Itachi is not a difficult task for Ho, but Ho still feels a certain sense of accomplishment that is difficult to understand, after all, the person Ho defeated is the Uchiha Itachi, the very same Uchiha Itachi who was undefeated in the entire Naruto series.
While Ho was feeling a certain sense of accomplishment that inflated Ho's ego, a certain change happened that suddenly caught Ho by surprise, and Ho's smile froze halfway, "This…?"
Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw…
Almost at the same moment that Ho noticed, Itachi who was pinned to the tree trunk by Ho broke into many crows and scattered all over the battlefield.
"Crow Clone Technique!?" – exclaimed Ho.
And as soon as countless crows scattered over the battlefield, Ho noticed from the corner of her viewing range that so many metal wires have suddenly appeared all over the battlefield.
Looking at the Kunai and Shuriken that were shot towards her, Ho understood that she has fallen into the traps set up by Itachi.
With just one look, Ho was able to judge that retreat was not an option now.
Looking at the Shuriken and Kunai that were about to impale on her, Ho had a bitter smile and can't help but think, 'Sigh, why am I not surprised by this development? And is this what they call instant Karma?'
This was the last thought of Ho as the rain of shuriken and Kunai impaled on Ho. Severing her left arm and as well as several injuries all over.
As the Shuriken and Kunai approached Ho-san, Itachi who was hiding somewhere else can't help but have sweat flow down his temple in expectation and nervousness.
But seeing the Shuriken and Kunai actually impaling Ho, Itachi was shocked.
Ho possesses Mangekyou Sharingan, so blocking this rain of Shuriken and Kunai shouldn't have been any problem to Ho.
Itachi did not expect that not only did Ho not use Susanoo to block, but Ho also did not even try to dodge, and Itachi instantly knew that something was wrong.
His guess was only confirmed when the body that was impaled by many shuriken and Kunai, including the left hand that lied on the ground broke into countless Crows.
Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw… Caw…
Itachi was obviously surprised, "This… this… is Crow Clone Technique!"
But Itachi did not have the time to be shocked as the crows that flew out of the Crow Clone of Ho, started a battle with the crows that flew out of Itachi's Crow Clone Technique, and Itachi was more surprised to see that the number of Crows kept increasing and increasing covering the entire daylight sky, they even surrounded him obscuring his field of vision.
No matter how much Itachi tried to eliminate these crows, the previous ones disappeared in a poof of white smoke but at the very same instant, more crows appeared.
"No, this is not just Crow Clone Technique!?" muttered Itachi while killing the crows that were continuously attacking him.
"You are right Uchiha Itachi, this is not just Crow Clone Technique, this is a combination technique of the Crow Clone Technique and Scattering Thousand Crows Technique!"
Just as he heard this sudden bewitching voice next to his left ear; all the crows that surrounded him and obscured the sky disappeared, and Itachi was also frozen on his spot.
He couldn't move, because if he did, his entire body would be mutilated into many pieces.
"It's my loss." – Itachi said while lowering his head in defeat.
Itachi is still a kid, and it took all his skills and experience to confront Ho up to here, so he didn't have any more energy left, and as soon as the metal wires were removed by Ho Itachi collapsed to the ground.
Looking at Itachi's disappointed face, Ho said, "No need to beat yourself over it, you were able to defeat my Crow Clone, you are already very good, and you will only get better after your training is completed." Ho's words were of course a bit sentimental.
Compared to Itachi, when Kuroto was at this age, Kuroto wasn't even able to confront a chunin on an equal ground much less confronting such strong individuals like Homusubi.
So Itachi's potential is very-very-very high; as long as he doesn't go through what he did in the original Naruto story, and that's obviously not going to happen because the path Itachi has chosen here is different.
After resting for a while, Itachi said, "Ho-san, you are also a member of the Uchiha Clan, aren't you? But if that's the case, why do I feel like I have never seen you within the clan?"
Based on the combat style of Ho, Itachi has figured this out.
Ho said, "You don't need to worry about this detail for now."
Itachi was silent and nodded after thinking a little.
Ho said again, "Alright, today's assessment ends here, I needed to have some understanding of your abilities to formulate plans for your formal training, we will begin your official training from tomorrow, make sure to come here tomorrow around the same time, the location of your training area will keep changing as we can't stay in a location for more than once, so make sure to follow up on the information I will be sending you."
Itachi nodded, "Thank you very much Ho-san."
'Ho' nodded and said, "I am sure that you understand this already, but you have to make sure that not even a single soul discovers where you are going or coming from, not even Shisui for that matter, otherwise you will directly be disqualified, make sure to always keep that in mind.
Also, make sure to always be on guard against Shimura Danzo, and Orochimaru, there is a high possibility that either of them might target you, understand?"
'Danzo-sama and Orochimaru-san?' Itachi thought about Ho's words a little, and then immediately nodded, "I understand."
After explaining a few more key points to Itachi, both of them separated, while Itachi returned to the village, Ho went on to do whatever things that a member of Amatsukami has to do.
Along the return journey, Itachi analyzed the battle he had with Ho, and the measures he can take the next time, and before he knew it Itachi had already returned home.
Entering his home, Sasuke greeted him, "Nii-san, where did you go today?"
Itachi said with a gentle smile, "I went out to train Sasuke."
Itachi's cheek inflated in a cute pout, "You are so cunning nii-san, you always sneak away to train alone or with Shisui-nii-san, you don't take me with you, humph!"
Itachi shook his head helplessly and started to remove his shinobi sandals.
Sasuke put both of his hands on Itachi's back and said with a complaining look, "It's so boring to play around with those kids, they are not even half as good as I am, ne-ne, nii-san, the next time you go out to train will you take me with you?"
Itachi who has already removed his Shinobi sandals beckoned Sasuke to come closer to him.
Sasuke was joyful and quickly moved his head a little closer.
As Sasuke's head approached for a possible hug, Itachi flicked Sasuke's forehead and said, "Not now Sasuke, maybe some other time."
After that, Itachi got up and walked towards the inner courtyard, his face thoughtful as before, as if he was deeply considering some things, while Sasuke pouted as he rubbed his forehead.
…
And one month passed.
In this one month, Itachi had to follow intensive training, nothing he wasn't already used to, the most benefit Itachi had was in his Taijutsu, even if he can perfectly replicate most Taijutsu styles because of his Sharingan, practicing them and understanding them at a deeper level still makes up a large difference. So, Itachi's Taijutsu progressed most with his regular training and confrontations with Ho.
The speed at which Itachi was growing was so fast that even Kuroto was highly surprised, but when he thought that the person she thinking about is Uchiha Itachi, then there was nothing more to think about.
In addition to training Itachi, Kuroto was also vigilant against the possible chaos that Hiruku might cause.
But to Kuroto's surprise, there were no movements from Hiruko's side, as if he doesn't plan to attack Konoha or any other shinobi villages at all, and this was a cause of both confusion and worry for Kuroto.
Shaking his head helplessly, Kuroto who has just finished his Anbu duties for the day was returning to his home.
It was another calm and peaceful night, a bit too peaceful, and a bit chilly.
The sun had long set, and the moon was over the head, the street lights had already lit, illuminating the streets.
Casually walking on the street, Kuroto thought, 'Either Nagato managed to tone down Hiruko, or there is something wrong with Hiruko's state, and the Kekkei Genkai's he has absorbed, or maybe Obito is planning something, otherwise it is difficult to imagine that Hiruko will be silent for so long.'
But Kuroto is going to bet on the last possible scenario.
Because Kuroto intuitively feels that something big is about to happen, and Hiruko will definitely be part of that something big, otherwise it is practically impossible to stop him for so long.
Walking to his home, Kuroto noticed an Anbu shinobi along with two children waiting at the gate of his house.
Kuroto frowned, more so when he noticed who the two children are.
Walking closer to the house, Kuroto asked, "Huh… Shion-chan, you… what are you doing in Konoha?"
As soon as Shion was Kuroto, she immediately rushed towards him while crying, "Kuroto-oniichan… please… please save… my Oka-san!"
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Read up to Chapter - 537 on P.a.t.r.e.o.n. Page: p-atreon.com/Milta_translations