Itachi stood before Arashi and Naruto, his expression serious and determined. The air crackled with tension as he delivered his grave message.
"They've run out of patience," he said, his voice resolute. He turned to face Arashi directly. "Arashi, Naruto, this is not a training exercise. These are real enemies, and if you're caught, your lives are in danger. Listen closely and follow my every instruction."
Both Arashi and Naruto nodded, their playful expressions replaced by a grim understanding of the situation.
Itachi continued, his gaze unwavering. "How many shadow clones can you both create?"
Arashi hesitated before answering, "I'm not entirely sure, but I can make a few hundred."
Itachi turned his attention to Naruto. "And you, Naruto?"
Naruto grinned confidently. "I can do fifty, no problem!"
"Excellent," Itachi acknowledged, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "Create as many clones as you can and then transform them into copies of me. Naruto, use your transformation jutsu to become Arashi."
Arashi's eyes widened as he grasped the strategy. It was a bold plan, one that relied on deception and misdirection.
"Understood!" he responded with determination, his voice echoing Naruto's resolve.
Following Itachi's instructions, both boys swiftly formed the necessary hand seals, their chakra surging within them.
"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" they shouted in unison.
In a breathtaking display of power, a massive white cloud enveloped the area as countless clones materialized before them. The sheer number was overwhelming, a testament to their dedication and training.
"Transform!" Itachi commanded, his voice echoing through the clearing.
The clones responded instantly, their forms shifting and solidifying into a multitude of Itachis and Arashis. The newly formed army scattered in all directions, creating a chaotic spectacle designed to confuse and disorient their pursuers.
Seizing the opportunity, Arashi, Naruto, and the real Itachi leapt onto the rooftops, their movements swift and silent.
Whoosh...
They traversed the village with breathtaking speed, utilizing the Body Flicker Technique to maintain their rapid pace. Itachi led the way, his Sharingan scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger.
"These distractions will only buy us some time," Itachi warned, his voice focused. "Remember, these shinobi are highly skilled. However, it gives me a few moments to devise a plan."
Suddenly, Arashi's keen senses picked up a subtle sound. Thud! A kunai embedded itself in the tree trunk just below them, a sizzling sound emanating from its tip. They recognized the telltale sign of an explosion tag.
"Jump!" Itachi shouted, pushing Arashi and Naruto away just as the kunai detonated.
Boom!
The explosion rocked the tree, sending splinters flying. Itachi's clone, caught in the blast, dispersed in a cloud of smoke.
Fwoosh, Fwoosh!
Two figures emerged from the shadows, their movements swift and predatory. Arashi's eyes narrowed as he recognized one of them.
'It's that old man. I remember him from before, with Shisui-Nii-san.' He also noted the distinctive Anbu uniform of the other figure.
Danzo and his subordinate came to a halt, their gazes fixed on the trio.
"Well, Arashi Uchiha," Danzo's voice dripped with menace, "you have grown quite a bit."
Memories of their previous encounter flooded Arashi's mind, fueling his anger and apprehension. He tightened his grip on his tanto, his voice filled with defiance. "Stay away from me!"
Naruto, ever impulsive, chimed in. "Yeah, stay away from Arashi, you old creep!"
Arashi inwardly groaned. 'Naruto, he wasn't supposed to know you're here too!'
Danzo's lips curled into a sly smile. "So, you're not a clone, huh?"
"He is!" Arashi retorted, trying to salvage the situation. "He's just a talkative clone, one that says what I think, old creep."
Danzo's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with suspicion. "Itachi Uchiha does not possess enough chakra to create and transform so many clones. And you would not be using up that much chakra while being pursued."
Arashi's heart sank. Danzo had seen through their deception. Their situation was dire. He tightened his grip on his tanto, preparing for the inevitable clash.
"In the Leaf, very few individuals can produce that many clones. Only one of them would be fleeing alongside you," Danzo continued, his gaze shifting to Naruto.
"Uzumaki Naruto," he declared, his voice dripping with satisfaction.
"Tch!" Arashi clicked his tongue, his frustration mounting. Their cover was blown, their options dwindling.
In a puff of smoke, Naruto reverted to his original form, his blue eyes flashing with defiance.
"Hmph... Well, Naruto Uzumaki, the demon child and the most despised boy in the village," Danzo taunted, a cruel smirk twisting his lips.
"Shut up!" Arashi snapped, his protective instincts flaring.
Danzo's smirk widened, relishing their discomfort. "Has anyone ever told you why you are so hated? Or why they fear and treat you as an outcast?"
"I don't care about that, and what do you know, anyway?" Naruto retorted, his voice shaking with suppressed anger. "You're just talking nonsense, trying to get inside my head!"
Arashi's gaze swept the area, sensing the presence of multiple chakra signatures surrounding them. 'At this point... I have no choice.'
"Let me make this clear," Danzo's tone shifted, becoming unexpectedly calm. "I have no intentions other than allying."
"Don't listen to him, Naruto," Arashi warned, his voice laced with urgency.
"Don't worry, I would never listen to some old geezer like him. Besides, it's obvious he's lying," Naruto replied, his bravado masking a flicker of uncertainty.
Arashi felt Danzo's unsettling gaze upon him and turned to meet it, only to be greeted with an even more sinister smirk.
"Hahaha! Arashi Uchiha, what a loyal friend you are," Danzo chuckled darkly. "You know the truth, yet you still choose to be his so-called friend. The friend of a monster. A weapon. A tool for the village to exploit."
Arashi's grip tightened on his tanto, his knuckles turning white. 'I know Shisui-Nii-san doesn't want me to use them, but I don't have a choice here. If he tells Naruto the truth, it'll ruin him.'
With a subtle shift in his expression, Arashi conveyed a silent message to Naruto.
He extended his hand, palm facing Danzo, and concentrated his chakra. "Universal Pull!" he exclaimed.
A powerful force erupted, yanking everyone closer together, momentarily disorienting them.
Seizing the opening, Arashi swiftly formed a series of hand seals, his chakra flaring.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A colossal fireball erupted from his mouth, engulfing the clearing in a searing inferno. The blast wave sent a shockwave through the forest, uprooting trees and scattering debris.
Arashi and Naruto leapt onto a nearby tree branch, shielding themselves from the intense heat.
"Ah!" Arashi clutched his eyes, a sharp pain lancing through them. He stumbled, dropping to one knee, his vision momentarily blurred. Naruto rushed to his side, offering support.
'What was that earlier?' Arashi wondered, his brow furrowed in concern. 'His eyes and hand... they had an unusual chakra.'
Arashi, still recovering, felt a sense of unease creeping back in. Something wasn't right.
"Hey, what's he talking about?" Naruto pressed, his voice filled with urgency. "What aren't you telling me?"
Arashi forced a smile, trying to reassure his friend. "Don't listen to him. He's just spouting nonsense, remember? We cover each other's backs, Naruto."
"Well, yeah..." Naruto's voice trailed off, his unease lingering.
"Come on, there's a hidden shrine up ahead. No one uses it, we can hide there." Arashi pulled Naruto towards the deeper part of the forest.
"I won't underestimate you again," Danzo's voice hissed from behind them, sending a chill down Arashi's spine.
He reacted instinctively, leaping away from Danzo's grasp, but the sudden movement caused him to lose his footing on the tree branch.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two Root shinobi materialized before Arashi hit the ground, their movements swift and precise. They seized Naruto, restraining him before he could react.
Arashi's eyes widened as he took in the scene. They were surrounded, outnumbered, and outmaneuvered. More shinobi emerged from the shadows, their presence suffocating.
"Let go of him!" Arashi roared, his voice raw with fury.
But his pleas were ignored. The shinobi tightened their grip on Naruto, a cruel smirk playing on their lips.
Arashi's mind raced, frantically searching for a way out of this desperate situation. 'I have a plan.'
"Aim for their feet!" Danzo commanded, his voice cold and calculating. "And leave the Jinchuriki alive!"
"Yes, sir!" the Root operatives responded, their voices a chorus of chilling obedience. They brandished their explosive kunai, their aim deadly accurate.
A barrage of kunai rained down on Arashi, leaving him with no escape.
Boom!
The clearing erupted in a blinding flash of light and a deafening roar. Smoke and debris billowed outwards, obscuring everything in their path.
"Arashiiii!" Naruto's anguished cry pierced the chaos as he struggled helplessly against his captors.
"Search the area!" Danzo's voice boomed, his tone brooking no argument. "Make sure you find him! Do not underestimate him again!"
The Root shinobi dispersed, their eyes scanning the smoke-filled battlefield. They were determined to find Arashi, dead or alive, and bring him back to their master.