"Puff!!!"Just as Naruto was speaking, Hoshigaki Kisame had already launched his attack—his target: Konoha Jōnin, Kurenai Yuhi.Since Itachi had forbidden him from confronting Sarutobi Asuma directly, Kisame redirected his fury toward Kurenai. Under the overwhelming power of Samehada, Kurenai found herself outmatched. She could barely withstand a few rounds before a devastating blow landed squarely on her chest.Blood sprayed into the air."Kurenai!!!"Seeing her in danger, Asuma disregarded everything else. With no hesitation, he rushed forward to help her.However, Uchiha Itachi was already a step ahead. A water clone of his blocked the way. Asuma gritted his teeth and gripped his chakra blades tightly."Chakra Blades: True Edge!"With one swift motion, Asuma sliced through the water clone, cutting it into pieces. But before he could press forward, the clone exploded. The unprepared Asuma was blasted back violently."Ugh…!"Coughing up blood, Asuma struggled to his feet. Just a single water clone from Itachi had left him with several broken ribs. The situation was turning dire."Damn you, Uchiha…!" he hissed.But things weren't over. Several shuriken came flying toward him from multiple directions. Asuma tried to concentrate, but the pain radiating from his ribs dulled his reflexes. He couldn't move in time.Just as the shuriken were about to strike, a puff of white smoke erupted in front of him.Bang!A toad with iron wrist guards appeared and intercepted the attack, blocking the projectiles effortlessly."This is…?""Jiraiya…"Uchiha Itachi turned slowly. Behind him stood a tall man with long white hair, his presence overwhelming."Rasengan!"In Jiraiya's hand, a swirling ball of blue chakra roared to life and flew toward Itachi. It hit—but instead of flesh, the body exploded into a flurry of black crows.The crows reformed Itachi's figure a few meters away."Tsk. You really are the Uchiha genius," Jiraiya said with grudging admiration. "Dodged it without wasting a single movement.""To be praised by one of the Sannin… I'm honored."Itachi's expression remained calm, his gaze locked onto Jiraiya. He made no sudden movements, but his eyes took in everything.Sensing the tension, Jiraiya didn't strike again. Instead, he asked:"Itachi, with your skill in shuriken and your bloodline's abilities, isn't what you just showed only the tip of the iceberg?"Itachi didn't respond.Suddenly, Kisame jumped over from the side, slightly panicked."Itachi! Kurenai Yuhi was taken away by someone wearing a mask!""Hmm?"Itachi glanced toward the battlefield. Only bloodstains remained where Kurenai had been; her body was gone."So there's another hidden ninja involved… Let's retreat, Kisame.""Understood."Just as the two were about to leave, Jiraiya quickly formed a hand seal."Ninjutsu: Toad Mouth Binding Technique!"The interior walls of the area morphed, turning into the fleshy interior of a massive toad's stomach—Mount Myōboku's Rock Toad barrier. Jiraiya was trying to trap them, hoping to interrogate them about the Akatsuki.But Itachi acted immediately."Amaterasu."In an instant, black flames ignited around them—an eerie, cursed fire that wouldn't extinguish until its target was completely incinerated. The flames tore through the barrier, opening a path for escape.Kisame and Itachi vanished through the hole, their figures swallowed by darkness.Jiraiya stood silently. He made no attempt to pursue.Behind him, Sarutobi Asuma was groaning in pain, unable to stand. Hatake Kakashi lay unconscious."For now, getting them to the hospital is more important," Jiraiya muttered to himself."Jiraiya… don't worry about me. Save Kurenai!" Asuma pleaded, blood dripping from his lips."Don't be ridiculous," Jiraiya replied coldly. "I don't even know where she was taken. Besides, I'm not a subordinate of the Sarutobi clan."He bent down and lifted Kakashi in one arm and Asuma in the other."I'm here because of the old man—Hiruzen. My real mission is to protect Naruto. The Akatsuki is after the Tailed Beasts. But…" he glanced upward, thoughtful, "…this Naruto doesn't seem to need my protection."As he leapt off toward Konoha, he whispered to himself:"Still, what is Itachi really after? Is he here for the Nine Tails… or something else? The Sarutobi clan?"---Meanwhile, far outside Konoha, inside a dark cave…"Kurama, she's badly hurt.""Hmph. Konoha's shinobi are weak. That little hit did nothing to me. I could recover without your help.""Not everyone is you, Kurama. Now lend me some of your chakra.""Wait, you're serious about saving her?"Uzumaki Naruto didn't answer. Instead, he raised his palm. A layer of red chakra, thick and volatile, appeared around it—Nine Tails Chakra."I'm sorry," Naruto whispered.He gently pulled open Kurenai's blood-soaked clothing, revealing the mesh armor underneath, now dyed crimson."Kisame didn't hold back… though it really should've been Asuma he hit instead," Naruto muttered.With a focused look, Naruto's chakra-imbued hand turned into a blade. He carefully cut away the mesh fabric, revealing pale skin and a deep wound just above her chest.Thankfully, the blow had not struck her heart.Naruto placed his hand over the wound. The red chakra enveloped the injury, slowly knitting flesh together."Looks like your chakra works well with medical ninjutsu," Naruto said."Of course it does," Kurama snorted. "My chakra has healing properties. But Naruto… her wound is higher up. Why are you… holding that part?""I'm just checking her for other injuries. She's unconscious—it's important to be thorough."As Naruto gently examined her body, his fingers brushed over a particularly sensitive spot.A soft, almost inaudible murmur escaped Kurenai's lips:"Wait… wait…"Naruto froze. Despite the seriousness of the situation, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. Still, he refocused on healing the wound. He couldn't afford to let anything distract him—not even this.Kurama sighed in the background."You're such a handful sometimes, Naruto..."---To be continued...
more chapter available in p@tréøñ(Atoki_29)