As Tsunade and Shizune prepared to leave, the group gathered outside the inn where they had stayed. Hiro stood by to bid them farewell. The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting a golden glow over the scene.
Just as he was about to leave, the air around them grew heavy with an ominous presence. In an instant, Hiro's senses heightened.
Naruto furrowed his brows. "What is this feeling?"
Jiraiya's face darkened, his usual lighthearted demeanor vanishing. "Itachi."
Out of the shadows, Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki emerged, their cloaks billowing slightly as they stepped forward, their eyes locking onto the group.
"It's been a while, Jiraiya," Kisame greeted with a shark-like grin, his hand resting on the hilt of Samehada. "You always seem to be in the middle of something fun."
Jiraiya positioned himself protectively in front of Naruto, his gaze narrowing. "I didn't expect you two to show up here."
But before he could say more, Orochimaru and Kabuto appeared from the opposite side, instantly turning the situation into a powder keg of tension.
"Well, isn't this a reunion?" Orochimaru purred, his voice dripping with malice. "Jiraiya, Tsunade. How lovely to see you both."
Tsunade's hands clenched into fists as she glared at her former teammate. "Orochimaru," she growled.
Naruto's eyes widened. "What the hell is going on here?!"
Jiraiya glanced at Naruto. "Stay focused, kid. This is serious."
Before anyone could move, Itachi's Sharingan spun, and in an instant, the world around Hiro distorted. Time seemed to slow as the Mangekyō Sharingan locked onto him.
In a flash, Hiro engaged with Itachi and Kisame, moving with precision and speed. The clash of chakra and steel echoed through the clearing as Hiro parried Kisame's massive sword and narrowly avoided Itachi's Genjutsu attacks.
Tsunade was about to rush to help, but Orochimaru suddenly appeared in front of her. Though both of his hands were useless, he was not to be taken lightly.
"Tsunade, we should take this somewhere else. We don't want to destroy this whole place in our fight."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed as Orochimaru appeared before her, his serpentine smile only fueling her rage.
Despite his hands being rendered useless, the sinister aura surrounding him was still palpable. His presence alone served as a reminder that he was not to be underestimated.
"Orochimaru," she spat, fists clenching. "You've got some nerve showing your face here."
Orochimaru's smirk widened. "Tsunade, you know how destructive our little reunions can be. Perhaps we should move this elsewhere," he suggested, glancing around the clearing.
"We wouldn't want to destroy everything here, now would we?"
Tsunade's eyes flickered between Hiro, who was locked in combat with Itachi and Kisame, and Orochimaru, standing smugly before her.
She clenched her fists tighter, the weight of the decision bearing down on her. She couldn't afford to rush to Hiro's aid—not while Orochimaru was in her way.
"Damn you, Orochimaru," she muttered under her breath.
Her gaze briefly scanned the battlefield again. Hiro was holding his own, his movements sharp and precise as he deflected Kisame's brutal strikes and resisted Itachi's relentless Genjutsu.
But how long could he keep it up?.
Orochimaru's mocking voice cut through her thoughts. "What's the matter, Tsunade? You seem... conflicted. Is it because of that boy? Or perhaps... you don't have the strength you once did?"
Tsunade's fury spiked. "I'll show you exactly how strong I am!" she roared, her chakra flaring around her as she charged forward.
Jiraiya stood there, confused. Aren't these Akatsuki guys here for Naruto? Then why are they fighting that guy? He didn't know, but since this guy hiro was Tsunade's companion, he felt compelled to help. He slowly told Naruto to stay back.
"Kisame, you go with Kabuto and stop Jiraiya," Itachi ordered, his voice calm and collected.
In a flash, they were no longer in the town but in the dense forest nearby, the atmosphere thick with tension and impending violence.
"I'll take care of this guy," Kisame said, cracking his knuckles and eyeing Jiraiya with a predatory grin.
Kisame jumped in front of Jiraiya, blocking his path.
The two combatants faced off, Kisame wielding Samehada with menacing intent. Meanwhile, Tsunade found herself facing Orochimaru.
Across the clearing, Hiro stood his ground against Itachi.
Itachi's Sharingan glowed ominously, his expression inscrutable.
"Before we continue, I need to know your name," Itachi said, his voice steady. "You're an Uchiha, aren't you? I heard from Kabuto that you also possess the Mangekyō."
Hiro met Itachi's gaze but stayed silent, wondering how to tell him he was now his father.
With a quick motion, Itachi lunged forward, throwing a shuriken at incredible speed. Hiro sidestepped just in time, the shuriken slicing past him and embedding itself in a tree.
Seizing the moment, Hiro activated Shinigami's Veil, his form shimmering before disappearing from sight.
Before Itachi could make his next move, Hiro quickly assessed the situation. He took a deep breath, centering his chakra. It was time to show Itachi what he could do without relying on his hidden powers.
As Itachi closed the distance, Hiro unleashed a flurry of hand signs, summoning Wind Release: Gale Palm.
A powerful gust of wind erupted from his palm, pushing against Itachi and forcing him to adjust his stance. The force knocked some branches off nearby trees, creating a brief barrier between them.
"It seems you have more than just a name," Itachi acknowledged, his calm demeanor unwavering. "But let's see how you handle this."
Itachi responded with Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu, launching a massive sphere of flames toward Hiro. The fireball lit up the forest, scorching the ground as it sped toward him.
Hiro quickly countered with Water Release: Water Wall, forming a barrier of water that absorbed the impact of the flames. Steam hissed around him, creating a thick mist that momentarily obscured the battlefield.
Seizing the opportunity, Hiro charged through the mist, closing the gap between him and Itachi. He aimed a solid punch at Itachi's midsection, but Itachi sidestepped gracefully, using Hiro's momentum against him.
Itachi countered with a swift kick aimed at Hiro's side, but Hiro rolled under the strike, coming back up with a knee aimed directly at Itachi's chin. Itachi caught his leg, twisting and throwing Hiro off balance, forcing him to land hard on his back.
//
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