Two days passed, and Konoha basked under the blazing summer sun, its familiar warmth contrasting with the hustle of rebuilding efforts. Workers and idle shinobi alike labored to repair the wreckage from the recent invasion, voices shouting over the clamor of hammers and saws.
High above the bustling streets, on the rooftop of a freshly rebuilt building, stood a tall, shark-like man with skin the color of stormy seas. His toothy grin was wide, gleaming as he looked down at the village with keen interest.
"So, this is the Leaf Village you used to call home, huh?" mused Hoshigaki Kisame, the shark-man and infamous rogue ninja, as he surveyed the scene.
Beside him, Uchiha Itachi's gaze remained as cool and unreadable as ever. "Let's not waste time, Kisame," he replied with measured calm. "We have a mission to complete."
"Oh, lighten up, Itachi-san," Kisame chuckled, his gaze sweeping over the village with amusement. "You must have some thoughts about seeing this ol' place trashed. Sentimental memories? A little nostalgia?"
Itachi's lips curved into the faintest smirk, but his dark eyes gave nothing away. "Useless thoughts only get in the way."
In the distance, his gaze settled on the object of their mission: Uzumaki Naruto, lounging on a bench, looking as glum as he ever could. However, a lingering image of Gojo's wide grin flashed into Itachi's mind. He was not eager to face the man, but he knew they'd been spotted at the dango shop earlier—no doubt Gojo's doing.
"Just so we're clear, Kisame," Itachi murmured, his voice cold enough to chill the midday air, "if Gojo shows up, he's your problem."
Kisame gave a delighted growl, flexing his fingers around the hilt of Samehada, the monstrous sword slung across his back. "Gojo, huh? They say he's got some powerful tricks. I wonder how his chakra tastes…"
With a shared glance, the two vanished, heading for their target.
Down below, in the village park, Naruto sat slumped on a bench, staring up at the Hokage Rock faces, his thoughts drifting to memories of the Third Hokage—the "old man" who scolded him for his pranks but always treated him to ramen afterward. His chest felt heavy, an unusual absence of his usual boundless energy.
"Hey, Naruto," came a gentle voice, and he looked up to see Sakura smiling down at him. "Ready to go? Gojo-sensei said we're heading out today to find the Fifth Hokage."
Naruto managed a half-hearted smile and nodded, but Sakura could tell something was off.
Before she could press him further, Sasuke approached, hands stuffed in his pockets, his usual aloof expression in place. "You're acting pathetic, Naruto. We've got work to do. The village needs a new Hokage, not another sob story."
Naruto's eyes narrowed, and in an instant, he grabbed Sasuke by the collar. "Take that back, you jerk! Show some respect for Grandpa Hokage!"
Sasuke merely raised an eyebrow, unflinching. "As if you could ever beat me, loser."
Sakura sighed, ready to step between them when a low, mocking voice interrupted.
"Now, now, isn't infighting a bit counterproductive for friends?" A towering figure emerged from the shadows, and the three genin turned to see Kisame grinning at them with predatory delight.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, his hand instinctively moving toward his kunai. "Who are you?"
Kisame gave a low chuckle, his shark-like teeth glinting. "Oh, don't mind me. I'm just here for the Nine-Tails." His gaze fell on Naruto, and he looked as if he'd just spotted a rare, delicious treat.
Naruto clenched his fists, instantly bristling. "Who's this blue-skinned freak calling me Nine-Tails?" he shouted, his fiery spirit rekindling. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto, future Hokage! Get it right!"
Kisame cackled, clearly entertained. "I don't care what you call yourself, kid. Now come quietly, and I might make this quick. Maybe."
Before Naruto could respond, a second, far colder voice cut through the air like a blade. "Sasuke."
Sasuke froze, a chill running down his spine. He turned slowly, and his heart skipped a beat. Uchiha Itachi stood just a few feet away, his expression impassive and his presence overwhelming. The sound of his voice alone was enough to reignite the deep-seated fury that had simmered in Sasuke's heart for years.
"Itachi!" Sasuke hissed, drawing a kunai with a trembling hand, his body tense with the need for vengeance.
Naruto and Sakura stared in confusion as Sasuke lunged at his brother. But Itachi barely blinked, his hand moving in a swift, dismissive motion. In a single move, he swatted Sasuke aside, sending him spinning through the air until he crashed into a bench, shattering it to pieces.
"Pathetic, as always," Itachi murmured, advancing toward his fallen brother. Sasuke staggered to his feet, his face twisted in pain and rage, but Itachi was already gripping his wrist with unsettling precision, his voice dripping with venom. "You're still too weak, Sasuke."
Sasuke winced, his fingers clenching and unclenching as Itachi's grip tightened, forcing him to drop his kunai. "Keep hating me," Itachi said, his tone like cold steel. "Get stronger… until you have eyes like mine."
Sasuke looked up, his blood boiling, and for the first time, he saw Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan. The spinning tomoe seemed to burn with an eerie, mocking intensity. "I'll kill you!" he spat, his voice thick with rage and pain.
Itachi simply smiled—a chilling, unsettling smile that made Sasuke's skin crawl. With a swift, merciless kick, he sent Sasuke sprawling across the ground.
From behind, Kisame gave a bored yawn. "You've got quite the flair for family drama, Itachi-san." He turned his gaze to Naruto, brandishing Samehada with a flick. "Now, can we get back to the Nine-Tails?"