The rhythmic patter of rain was unrelenting as Itachi Uchiha adjusted the brim of his bamboo hat, shielding his face from the drizzle. Four days had passed since he set out on this mission alongside Mitarashi Anko. Now, they had finally reached the Land of Water, skirting the boundaries of the Fire Nation.
To the casual observer, a young girl and a child wandering the streets would draw little attention. Even in a nation like the Land of Water, notorious for its isolation and hostility, they appeared to be nothing more than ordinary travelers.
Kirigakure, however, was a stark contrast to the bustling streets of Konoha. The village felt lifeless, the streets eerily empty save for the occasional shadow slipping past. Anko had gone ahead, leaving Itachi to handle his part of the mission. With a quick glance around, he secured lodging at a modest inn, his actions deliberate and inconspicuous.
Beneath the hat, his crimson Sharingan flickered briefly. The village's defenses were riddled with gaps, and Itachi had no trouble navigating its vulnerabilities. The objective was clear: confirm the safety of Konoha's informant embedded within Kirigakure. With the war only recently halted, ensuring the flow of reliable intelligence was critical. The risk of misinformation could lead to catastrophic consequences for Konoha.
His efficiency was unmatched. Thirty-five individuals contacted in under an hour. Yet, even as he moved swiftly, he was acutely aware of the three Kirigakure ANBU tracking his every step.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. They're persistent, he thought, but predictable. His small figure darted into a narrow alley, the sound of his sandals splashing through puddles echoing faintly.
Moments later, three masked ANBU operatives appeared, exchanging hand signals before pursuing their quarry.
###
Itachi stopped in the shadows, his hands casually clasped behind his back. Turning to face the empty alley, he called out, his tone calm yet mocking.
"Alright, you can stop hiding now. Come out and prepare yourselves... for death."
Silence hung heavy in the air.
Without warning, a massive water dragon roared toward him, its form twisting violently as it surged forward. Itachi leapt backward, narrowly evading the attack, only for a cascading waterfall to crash down in its wake.
So aggressive, and they don't even know who I am, he thought, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. What if I were just a civilian? These guys don't seem to care about collateral damage.
Reaching into his pouch, Itachi pulled out a scroll, summoning a short blade with a burst of chakra. His Sharingan whirled to life, analyzing the ANBU's movements with surgical precision.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"
Blazing crescents erupted from his blade, forcing his attackers to retreat. Yet, before they could form a water barrier, Itachi had already closed the gap. His blade plunged cleanly through the back of one operative, the tip emerging crimson-stained through their chest.
A gasp, a spray of blood, and the ANBU fell lifeless.
The remaining two reacted swiftly, their kunai slashing toward him. Itachi twisted, avoiding a fatal strike, though one blade grazed his chest. Pain flared, but he pushed through, rolling backward and forming hand seals mid-motion.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A blazing sphere erupted from his mouth, engulfing the two operatives. One was incinerated instantly, while the other barely managed to escape with severe burns.
"Chunin-level skills? How pathetic," Itachi muttered, his voice dripping with disdain.
He pressed a hand to his wound, wincing as fresh blood seeped through his fingers. A sudden cacophony of footsteps reached his ears—reinforcements.
"Wonderful," he sighed. "More distractions."
###
The alley erupted in chaos as dozens of Kirigakure ANBU converged on his position. Itachi adjusted his bamboo hat and quickly formed seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Destruction!"
A colossal inferno roared to life, consuming everything in its path. Flames tore through buildings and alleys, the searing heat forcing even the seasoned ANBU to scatter. Smoke and ash filled the air, providing the perfect cover.
Drained but determined, Itachi transformed into the guise of an older man, masking his chakra signature. He tossed a handful of explosive tags behind him, the deafening blasts obliterating all traces of his escape route.
In the distance, the lead ANBU operative landed amidst the devastation. His masked face betrayed no emotion, but the tension in his stance was palpable. "Fan out! Seal the area and find him!"
The remaining operatives scattered, their movements precise and methodical. Yet, despite their efforts, Itachi had already vanished into the shadows.
###
Perched atop a distant rooftop, Itachi watched as the ANBU combed the village below. He exhaled slowly, his chest still aching from the earlier skirmish.
"They don't seem to give up so easily," he muttered. "But they'll never catch me."
With one last glance at the chaos he'd left behind, he disappeared into the misty night, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
This was Kirigakure, the infamous Village Hidden in the Mist. And tonight, it was a hunting ground.