Danzo was dead.
Itachi Uchiha stood over his body, silently watching as the Root leader bled out on the ground. After a moment, Itachi took out a scroll and sealed away Danzo's arm—the one fused with First Hokage cells and implanted with Sharingan.
"Well, Itachi, we've certainly caused a big commotion. Konoha ninja will be on us any second now, right?" Kisame Hoshigaki said, resting Samehada on his shoulder with a wide grin. "In that case, should we take Danzo's body with us? I bet the leader could pull some useful intel from it."
A ninja's body, especially one like Danzo's, could provide a great deal of information.
"Taking the body will be difficult," Itachi said, shaking his head. He suddenly whipped his head to the side as a shuriken whizzed past his face.
Kisame raised Samehada defensively. "An enemy managed to get this close without us noticing!"
A man with white hair emerged from the shadows, casually tossing a kunai in his hand as he slowly walked toward them. "Long time no see, Itachi."
"Mr. Kakashi, it's been a while." The rogue Uchiha stood up, tucking the scroll into his pouch. He looked at Kakashi Hatake with a serious expression. "I just didn't expect you to stand by and watch me kill Danzo. Were you using me to do your dirty work?"
He had sensed someone was watching for a while. The only thing Itachi hadn't expected was that it was Kakashi, lurking in the dark and allowing them to kill Danzo.
"No," Kakashi said, scratching his white hair with a helpless look. "I just wasn't confident I could take on both of you. I was waiting for backup."
Originally, after spotting Itachi and Kisame at a dessert shop, Kakashi had tailed them. When they entered the Root organization's base, he decided to wait for reinforcements. Kakashi had assumed Itachi was working with Danzo and planned to take care of the rogue ninja who was colluding with him.
Who would have thought Itachi would attack and kill Danzo instead?
The white-haired Jonin certainly hadn't felt the need to step in and stop it. Danzo's fate was his own. The man was old, consumed by conspiracies, and had even led a unit to ambush Team 7. He should have died long ago.
"I don't believe you," Itachi said flatly. As his former subordinate in the ANBU, he knew Kakashi's mind games all too well. This was just a classic case of letting two rivals fight it out.
"Whatever," Kakashi replied, pushing up his headband to reveal his crimson Sharingan. "Either way, I can't let you leave this place."
Three figures in Jonin uniforms landed in different positions around them, surrounding Itachi and Kisame.
Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, and Might Guy.
But besides these familiar Jonin, there was one other person Itachi never expected to see.
Sasuke Uchiha. His expression was blank, his ninja sword held ready. In his eyes, the three-tomoe Sharingan blazed—a gift he had received after a desperate fight against Kabuto Yakushi. It was because Sasuke had awakened this power that Kakashi had summoned him to help capture Itachi.
The young Uchiha stared at his older brother, his face twisting into a vicious snarl. "Itachi Uchiha... This time, I will kill you!"
"You've gotten stronger again, Sasuke..." Itachi seemed momentarily dazed to see his younger brother. He hadn't expected him to awaken the three-tomoe Sharingan in such a short time. His fingers twitched slightly as he said coldly, "Then let me see if you've become worthy of being killed."
"Watch out!"
The moment Itachi finished speaking, a tense Might Guy saw a subtle movement and kicked Sasuke out of the way just in time.
Four jets of water shot through the air.
Water Style: Water Fang Bullet Jutsu!
They hadn't even seen Itachi move, yet he had already completed a ninjutsu. His hand seals were astonishingly fast.
"You're as fast as ever, Itachi!" Kakashi yelled, charging forward with a kunai. He knew better than anyone that they couldn't give Itachi a single moment to use his Sharingan's powerful genjutsu.
"What a hassle," Kisame grinned, blocking Kakashi with his massive Samehada. "Looks like I get to kill someone impressive today!"
"We don't have time for this," Itachi said calmly, his eyes scanning the charging Asuma and Guy. The tomoe in his Sharingan spun, transforming into the Mangekyo.
Susanoo: First Form!
A ferocious, red skeleton of chakra erupted around Itachi's body. A single arm grew from its ribcage and swung, knocking both Might Guy and Asuma back.
Asuma stared at the skeleton, the cigarette falling from his mouth. "What in the world is that...?"
"Be careful!" Kurenai shouted, reminding them to dodge.
A huge red fist smashed down. Guy and Asuma scrambled to avoid the Susanoo's attacks, unable to even get close. Standing in place, Itachi simply manipulated the one-armed Susanoo, effortlessly blocking two Jonin.
Just as a frustrated Guy was about to open the Eight Inner Gates, a blinding ball of lightning forced him to leap back.
Lightning Style: Chidori!
A ball of lightning crackled in Sasuke's hand. The boy charged forward, thrusting his attack at the Susanoo, but he couldn't even leave a scratch.
Itachi directed the crimson hand to grab Sasuke, lifting him into the air and pulling him close. The rogue ninja looked up, staring into his brother's three-tomoe Sharingan. "Still so weak, Sasuke..."
"Bastard!"
"Your hatred is still not enough," Itachi said, a line of blood trickling from the corner of his eye as his Mangekyo Sharingan activated a second time. "It seems I must remind you of what happened that night... Tsukuyomi!"
The blood-red moon of the Uchiha massacre filled Sasuke's vision. In an instant, his will collapsed. Kakashi had allowed Sasuke to join, believing his newly awakened Sharingan would offer some resistance to genjutsu. He never expected him to fall to Tsukuyomi so easily.
Crack!
A flash of green light! With a powerful kick, Might Guy shattered the Susanoo's arm and rescued Sasuke.
"Truly amazing, Mr. Guy," Itachi noted, observing the green steam rising from Guy's body. A black flame erupted from his other eye, blocking Guy's follow-up attack. A second Susanoo arm sprouted, grabbed Kisame—who was still clashing with Kakashi—and pulled him close. The next moment, they vanished.
-----
Bonus Banter:
Pain: What did you two do in Konoha?
Itachi: We killed Danzo.
Pain: Why?
Itachi: Orochimaru killed the Third Hokage. As a fellow rogue ninja, I can't let him steal the show.
Pain: You only killed Danzo?
Itachi: You think he shouldn't have been killed?
Pain: ...Good kill. Konan, give Itachi and Kisame a bonus this month.
Itachi: No need to give Kisame a bonus. I did all the work.
Pain: ...
Kisame: ...