81-85

Chapter 81: Long Time No See, Everyone

"Whoosh!"

A figure hastily dodged backward as a fireball surged forward—no surprise, it was Zabuza!

Seeing this, Itachi Uchiha allowed a faint smile to curl on his lips before hurling several kunai in rapid succession.

The angles were vicious, but just as Zabuza barely managed to evade them all, thinking the assault was over—another kunai came streaking toward him.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A sharp metallic chorus rang out as something incredible happened—

Every kunai that should have fallen uselessly to the ground was instead redirected by the final kunai’s impact, their trajectories shifting midair to strike again.

"What the—?!"

Zabuza had never seen kunai used like this. He barely had time to react before—

Thud! Thud!

Two fresh wounds split open across his body.

By then, Itachi was already upon him, his blade a flash of cold light.

Zabuza barely managed to draw his own sword in time.

SCREEEECH—!

The clash of steel sent a jarring vibration through Zabuza’s arms, forcing a grunt from him. The hasty block left him no room to counter.

But that wasn’t what troubled him most.

"Why the hell didn’t my Hidden Mist Jutsu work on you?!" he demanded, eyes narrowing. "How could you attack me so precisely?!"

That Great Fireball had been aimed perfectly—no way it was a lucky shot. If it had been, that would be terrifying in itself.

Had that fireball not caught him off guard, he wouldn’t be in such a sorry state now.

"Oh, it worked," Itachi admitted coolly. "But compared to the White Light’s mist, yours is child’s play."

"I’ve studied the Hidden Mist Jutsu extensively—just so I wouldn’t struggle as much against him next time."

As he spoke, Itachi lifted his gaze—revealing crimson eyes marked with a black triangular pinwheel.

Mangekyō Sharingan.

He drove his foot toward Zabuza’s gut, but Zabuza countered with a knee strike.

Yet Itachi wasn’t aiming to attack—he used Zabuza’s momentum to flip backward, putting distance between them.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

Like Yoru, he barely moved a finger before a barrage of fireballs engulfed Zabuza.

Zabuza had no choice—he dispelled the mist.

Sizzle—!

The flames struck… only to reveal a Water Clone, dissolving into steam.

The real Zabuza reappeared a distance away, breathing slightly ragged.

"Zabuza… canceled his own Hidden Mist Jutsu?"

"What the hell? That’s his strongest battlefield advantage—why would he give that up?!"

Kisame Hoshigaki watched, baffled. He knew better than anyone how deadly Zabuza was in that mist. Even he only fought evenly with Zabuza in those conditions.

Yet here Zabuza was, voluntarily stripping away his own edge?

"Could it be… that Uchiha kid can see right through it?"

The thought sent a chill down his spine.

If true, that was terrifying.

Meanwhile, not far from the battlefield, hidden among the trees, another group observed the fight.

Yoru and his assassination squad.

"Damn, that’s some intense combat. No way we’re jumping into that mess head-on."

"Let them wear each other out first—we’ll swoop in for the prize afterward."

One operative smirked at Yoru. "Hey, ‘Flash,’ why don’t you handle the Konoha ninja? We’ll take care of the Kiri guys."

"Sounds like a plan!" Yoru grinned, raising an eyebrow.

"Enough chatter," Wolf cut in coldly. "These aren’t pushovers. Stay sharp—we might not be the only ones lurking."

The squad tensed, focus renewed.

But Yoru’s mind was elsewhere.

"By now, the real me should be closing in on the battlefield…"

"Heh. What a bold plan. Only you’d dare pull something like this."

"Not only do we secure that priceless monument—we also clear any suspicion on my identity."

"Heh. The Land of Lightning’s Daimyō… what a generous man."

Meanwhile, atop a distant peak roughly five kilometers away…

Kakuzu listened as Zetsu relayed updates.

"Tch. Why’re we wasting time like this?" Hidan groaned. "Let’s just rush in, grab the damn thing, and leave! With our skills, who cares about these losers?"

Kakuzu shot him a withering glare. "Speak for yourself. I plan to live a little longer."

Even he wasn’t arrogant enough to think he could take on elite shinobi from both Konoha and Kiri at once.

"Ugh, boring," Hidan muttered. "How much longer’s this gonna take?"

"Zetsu. Status?"

"Maa~ Things are heating up nicely," Zetsu mused. "Oh, and someone interesting just showed up."

"Kakuzu, you’ll love this."

Kakuzu’s interest piqued. "Bounty?"

Zetsu grinned. "Yep. That legendary prodigy—the White Light."

"He just joined the Kiri side. The whole battlefield froze the second he appeared."

"Seems the Kiri nin don’t quite trust him, though."

Kakuzu’s eyes gleamed. "Well, well. This mission just got far more profitable."

"I was disappointed when I didn’t spot him earlier… but this makes up for it."

"That brat’s head and the monument—I’m taking both."

Back at the battlefield…

"Yo, everyone—long time no see!"

Yoru suddenly appeared between Suigetsu and Ameyuri Ringo, deflecting Yamato’s killing strike with ease.

"!!!"

"Why the hell are you here?!"

"No way…"

"Weren’t you on a classified mission? Since when did you get back?!"

The Kiri shinobi stared at him in shock—and deep suspicion.

"Can’t a guy make a surprise comeback?" Yoru chuckled before turning to Yamato.

"Heard you were dying to test my skills. Well, here’s your chance."

"Show me what you’ve got—don’t disappoint me."

Instead of charging recklessly, Yamato remained still, eyes locked on Yoru in a silent standoff.

*Chapter 82: A Troublesome Foe, Uchiha Itachi*

“Is that guy really Yoru?!”

“I don’t know… but something feels off. Stay on guard!”

“I never heard any news about him completing his mission!”

“Even if everything he said is true, we can’t let our guard down!”

“And that’s only if he really is Yoru—and completely non-hostile!”

Due to Yoru’s sudden appearance, both Momochi Zabuza and Ameyuri Ringo temporarily halted their battles. Their opponents did the same—this Yoru had shown up far too suspiciously, making his allegiance impossible to determine.

For now, both sides decided to observe the situation.

“Hopefully, his fight with Tenzo will reveal something.” That was the thought running through everyone’s minds.

Yoru smirked. “You’re pretty calm. But if you won’t attack first… then I’ll make my move!”

In an instant, he blurred forward like a phantom, his blade flashing coldly toward Tenzo.

“Too fast!!”

Both sides were stunned by his terrifying speed.

“Shhk—!”

Tenzo’s pupils shrank to pinpricks, his body freezing for a split second. By the time he reacted, Yoru’s blade had already grazed him, forcing him to retreat. Their reflexes were on completely different levels.

“Water Style: Water Gun Jutsu!”

Before Tenzo could even recover—

Yoru unleashed three high-pressure water bullets without a single hand seal, piercing straight through Tenzo’s body.

“Agh—!!”

Three bloody holes burst open on Tenzo’s torso, drawing a pained scream from him.

“Even though Water Gun is only a B-rank technique, with my current strength, its power rivals an A-rank attack.”

With that thought, Yoru lunged again, his blade aimed straight for Tenzo’s throat.

“Not good!”

“Save him—now!”

The Konoha shinobi sprang into action.

“Earth Style: Earth Wall!”

“Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!”

Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi—both masters of hand seals—reacted instantly. One erected a barrier to shield Tenzo, while the other unleashed a barrage of fireballs at Yoru.

Under normal circumstances, any shinobi would retreat when their target was protected and they were under attack. That’s what Itachi and Kakashi expected.

But—

“Splat! Splat! Splat!”

Yoru didn’t dodge. He took the hits head-on.

“He… didn’t avoid it?” Itachi’s eyes narrowed in disbelief.

Impossible. He knew exactly how fast Yoru’s reflexes were—there was no way he couldn’t evade such an attack.

But then, he realized why.

“Ssshh—”

The struck Yoru dissolved into water, evaporating instantly.

“A water clone? No… wait—!”

Itachi’s eyes widened. At first, he marveled at Yoru’s hand-seal-less jutsu, but then—horror struck.

“Kakashi! Attack now—don’t let him use Hidden Mist Jutsu!”

“His goal is to blind us and steal the Nagi Stone Tablet!”

Even as he shouted, Itachi exhaled a massive fireball, five meters wide, scorching the air.

“What?!”

Not only were the Konoha shinobi stunned—even the Kirigakure fighters were shocked.

That’s his plan?!

Yoru’s amused voice echoed through the battlefield. “As expected of Uchiha Itachi. You saw through me… but you’re too late.”

“Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu!”

A thick fog erupted, swallowing both Konoha and Kirigakure shinobi in an instant.

Silence.

Deadly, suffocating silence.

Visibility dropped to less than half a meter. No sound escaped the mist. Every shinobi tensed, their senses on high alert.

“No sound at all… So this is the infamous ‘White Flash’s Hidden Mist.’ Terrifying.”

Kakashi strained his ears, searching for any hint of movement—but nothing.

“Damn it. If we can’t communicate through sound, we’re sitting ducks.”

“Unless I can link up with a sensor ninja, we’re stuck.”

Itachi’s Sharingan scanned the mist, his gaze flicking even to the ground beneath him. Charging blindly would only lead to disaster.

“Dammit! If this keeps up, he’ll get away with it!”

One ANBU clenched his fists, resolve hardening.

“Sorry, Kakashi… but sacrifices must be made.”

“For the Hokage… for the Nagi Stone Tablet!”

His hands flew into seals—he was preparing an attack.

Meanwhile, the Kirigakure shinobi weren’t faring much better.

“This guy’s definitely not Yoru—attacking even us!”

“Zabuza! Use Wind Style to clear the mist! We can’t let him—or Konoha—take the tablet!”

Unlike the Konoha team, the Kirigakure fighters could still hear each other (a little privilege Yoru had granted them).

“Got it. Wind Style—!”

But before they could finish their seals—

“Crackle—!!”

A storm of lightning surged toward them, forcing an immediate retreat.

And then, inexplicably… the mist vanished.

A squad of Kumogakure shinobi stood revealed, their expressions a mix of aggression, excitement… and confusion.

“Huh? The mist just… disappeared?”

Their plan to ambush both Konoha and Kirigakure under cover of the mist had backfired.

“Retreat—now!”

Without the mist’s advantage, the Cloud ninja had no intention of fighting two villages at once.

But neither Konoha nor Kirigakure cared about them anymore.

Their focus was on one thing—

Yoru was gone.

---

Chapter 83: Paths Cross Once More

"Damn it—he’s going to take the Monument!"

As both sides turned their attention to the water, they saw Yoru—somehow already past Might Guy and Kisame’s defenses—clutching the ancient tablet in his hands.

"Stop him! Don’t let him break the surface! That relic cannot leave with him!"

"If we trap him underwater, he won’t last long!"

Not everyone was like Kisame, a shark-man who could breathe in water. The average shinobi could hold their breath for five minutes at most.

Among the Cloud ninja, Yoru’s water clone feigned surprise as it watched its real self below. "So that’s the White Light? He’s younger than I expected."

"You’re the one who got me suspected by the Raikage, huh? I’d love to test you myself."

Wolf’s eyebrow twitched at those words, a calculating glint flashing in his eyes.

Underwater.

"Not letting me surface, huh? And with two even deadlier enemies breathing down my neck?"

"Tch. If you wanna play this game, you’d better bring more than this."

A sharp grin split Yoru’s face as he tightened his grip on the tablet.

"Fighting my own allies from Kirigakure… Now that’s a thrill."

"But sacrifices must be made. This relic—and the treasure it leads to—are worth it."

"Handing something this valuable to some daimyō? Wasteful. No, this belongs in the right hands."

Yoru’s plan was simple: take it for himself.

Once his mission in Kiri was over, he’d deliver the tablet to Mei Terumī, funding the village’s revival.

"Now then… Let’s see if you can actually stop me."

Securing the tablet to his back, Yoru flared his chakra.

BOOM!

The water erupted.

A shockwave of force blasted outward, sending both Kisame and Guy reeling. Yoru shot toward the surface like a torpedo.

But then—

"Seventh Gate: OPEN!"

Guy’s voice, low and deadly, echoed behind him.

Yoru’s spine iced over.

CRACK!

An even greater surge of chakra detonated, parting the lake itself. The shock sent ripples so violent that those standing above were forced back, the surface now unstable.

"Guy, STOP! You’re just helping him escape!" Kakashi barked.

"Yamato—NOW!"

At Kakashi’s order, Yamato lunged, hands already forming seals.

"Zabuza, we move too! That relic cannot leave with some rogue shinobi!" Hōzuki Mangetsu snarled.

"Yeah, yeah—but if I let you all gang up on me, I’m dead."

Thanks to Guy’s chakra explosion, Yoru was inches from the surface.

And he wasn’t about to just stand there while everyone prepared to nuke him.

"Water Style: Water Wall!"

The jutsu was versatile—defense or offense, depending on how you used it.

At S-rank potency, Yoru’s version wasn’t a wall.

It was a tsunami.

A ten-meter-high tidal wave smashed outward, scattering every shinobi like leaves in a storm. Seals fizzled, attacks collapsed.

"Well then, folks—paths cross once more. Until next time!"

With that, Yoru burst from the water—and vanished into the forest.

"AFTER HIM!"

"DON’T LET HIM ESCAPE!"

"HE’S NOT GETTING AWAY!"

Three villages’ elites, outplayed by one man?

No way in hell.

"Heh. Now this is fun."

The thrill of the chase sent electricity down Yoru’s spine.

Then—hands flashed.

A thick fog erupted behind him, swallowing the forest in seconds. With his chakra reserves, blanketing two kilometers was nothing.

(If only I could use Lightning Style too… Shame.)

Inside the mist:

"Flash, move! You’ve fought Hidden Mist users before!" Wolf ordered Yoru’s clone.

"Yeah, yeah—but this guy’s version’s tricky. No promises."

The clone dashed into the fog, disappearing instantly.

Elsewhere, observing:

Zetsu suddenly stiffened.

"Hm? That look doesn’t bode well…" Kakuzu noted.

"This ‘White Light’… His mist is blocking my senses," Zetsu admitted. "I can’t track him at all."

"Clever bastard," Kakuzu mused, impressed.

"No matter. He can’t hide forever. Watch the perimeter—he’ll slip up."

With Zetsu’s surveillance, there was no way Yoru could escape.

The Monument would belong to Akatsuki.

"There! Edge of the mist—heading for the canyon at nine o’clock!"

Kakuzu stood. "Hidan. We’re moving."

"Ugh, finally! We could’ve settled this ages ago if you’d just listened to me!"

Hidan’s face twisted in annoyance. In his mind, they should’ve butchered everyone from the start. Who cared about stealth?

"Naïve. Charge into that mob, and even I couldn’t stitch you back together fast enough."

"You’d be deadweight. Or do you think those elites were just fodder?"

"HEY! Who the hell are you calling deadweight?!"*

But Kakuzu was already gone.

Grumbling, Hidan followed.

*Chapter 84: So It’s You, Hōzuki Kimimaro*

At the location where the shinobi of the three great villages had gathered—

“The mist is clearing!”

Someone shouted, and everyone turned to look. Sure enough, the thick fog was gradually dissipating, restoring visibility.

“Our sensory abilities are back!”

Shouts of relief came from all three villages as their shinobi immediately activated their detection techniques to scan the area.

*Among the Cloud ninja…*

“Damn it—Kōkō is injured! His chakra feels weak!”

Seijō, after just a few seconds of sensing, urgently reported to Tōrō.

“What?!”

The other Cloud ninja stiffened in alarm. Without hesitation, Tōrō led them rushing toward Kōkō’s location.

Of course, neither Kirigakure nor Konoha planned to just watch. They immediately gave chase.

“Protect Kōkō! Move faster!” Tōrō barked.

But the more the Cloud ninja accelerated, the harder Konoha and Kirigakure pushed to keep up—neither side willing to fall behind.

“Kōkō’s over there!” Seijō pointed ahead.

There, leaning against a tree, was Yoru—pale-faced, a bloody hole in his chest, and multiple gashes on his arms, still bleeding.

“Kōkō! Can you still move?” Seijō asked urgently.

Yoru coughed weakly. “I… overestimated myself. Thought I could still fight… but…”

He tried to stand, only to collapse back down with a pained grunt.

With help, he propped himself against the tree and sighed. “I failed. That ‘White Flash’… his swordsmanship surpasses mine, and his Water Style is even more refined than intel suggested.”

Tōrō frowned. “Which way did he go?”

“Twelve o’clock direction,” Yoru replied hoarsely. “If I had to guess… he’s heading for the canyon. Beyond it is dense forest—perfect for escape.”

Konoha and Kirigakure shinobi exchanged glances. The canyon was a likely path, but none dared to move first—each side wary of the others ambushing them.

Finally, Tōrō broke the stalemate.

“Hatake Kakashi, Ameyuri Ringo—how about this? Each of us sends four trusted shinobi to pursue White Flash. Whoever finds him signals the rest, and we settle this with one-on-one duels. Winner takes the Nagi Stone Tablet. Fair?”

Ringo smirked. “I agree. Konoha?”

Kakashi’s lone visible eye narrowed. “No objections. Refusing would just make me your common enemy—bad strategy.”

(This Kakashi wasn’t yet the easygoing mentor fans knew—he was still the ruthless ANBU Black Ops captain.)

*The Pursuit Teams:*

- *Konoha:* Might Guy, Uchiha Itachi, Tenzō, and a sensory ninja.

- *Kirigakure:* Hoshigaki Kisame, Momochi Zabuza, Ameyuri Ringo, and Hōzuki Suigetsu.

- *Kumogakure:* Seijō and three elite fighters second only to Kōkō.

“Then let’s move.”

Twelve shinobi took off toward the canyon.

---

Meanwhile, their real target—Yoru (or rather, his water clone that had switched places)—faced a new threat.

“Well, well… didn’t expect to run into you two here. This is… unsettling.”

The clone licked its lips, staring down Kakuzu and Hidan.

Kakuzu’s voice was ice. “Hand over the tablet. I’ll make your death quick.”

Hidan grinned darkly. “Or refuse, and let me introduce you to Lord Jashin’s special blessings.”

The clone chuckled. “You think I’d steal from three villages just to cave to threats? Come on—let’s see if you’ve got what it takes!”

Then, before they could react, it bolted—vanishing into the trees at inhuman speed.

“Tch! Little bastard’s fast!” Hidan snarled.

Kakuzu remained calm. “Zetsu. Mark him?”

From the shadows, Zetsu’s eerie voice replied: “Already done. He won’t escape.”

---

Three miles behind them, Zabuza’s team sprinted through the forest, passing corpses—all killed by a single, flawless slash to the throat.

“Who the hell is this guy? Since when does Yoru use a sword like this?” Zabuza mused, unnerved.

Suddenly—

“Look out!” Ringo shouted.

A barrage of white projectiles sliced through the air toward them.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Swords flashed, deflecting the attack—but then the team froze.

The “projectiles” weren’t kunai.

They were bones.

And in that instant, a name flashed through Zabuza’s mind:

**The Kaguya Clan.**

---

Chapter 85: "Oh? So You Have Allies?"

"Who’s there?! Show yourself!"

Zabuza’s voice cut through the forest as his gaze swept the surroundings, blade at the ready.

"As expected of Kirigakure’s elite. Impressive reflexes."

A figure emerged from the shadows—a pale, handsome youth with a crimson mark on his forehead.

Kimimaro.

"So it is you," Zabuza growled, his killing intent sharpening. "Kimimaro of the Kaguya clan. A B-rank missing-nin."

"Good. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down."

No questions. No hesitation. Zabuza lunged, his sword carving a deadly arc toward Kimimaro’s throat.

"After them!" Hōzuki Mangetsu barked.

Itachi, Seiryū, and the others moved to pursue—

"Ice Release: Thousand Flying Water Needles!"

A barrage of icy projectiles rained down, forcing them to halt.

On a branch above stood Haku, his expression calm.

"I won’t let you interfere with that man’s plans."

"Oh? Two traitors now?" Mangetsu’s voice dripped with contempt. "You’re really asking for death today."

"I knew that impostor wasn’t Yoru. A man like him would never ally with scum like you."

"A team ambush? Cute. But you picked the wrong enemies."

His tone was derisive. To a Seven Ninja Swordsman, two B-rank rogues were insects.

"We’ll see about that."

Haku’s hands flashed.

"Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"

Shing!

A dome of glistening ice encased the group, Haku’s form flickering between the mirrors like a ghost.

"If you can break free… then try."

"Tch. You think ice can stop us?" Mangetsu sneered, forming seals. "Water Sty—"

"Not happening. Ice Senbon!"

A storm of needles erupted from the mirrors—

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Itachi’s flames devoured the attack midair, then slammed into a mirror. A pained gasp echoed as half the dome shattered.

"Now! Water Release: Violent Water Wave!"

Mangetsu’s water fist smashed the remaining ice to pieces.

"Move out!"

As the group burst free, they found Haku blocking their path—panting, his right shoulder charred.

"Game over, brat."

Mangetsu blitzed forward, Executioner’s Blade swinging—

CLANG!

Kimimaro intercepted, bones grinding under the force.

"Haku… retreat. We’ve bought him enough time."

"Ice Release: Needle Barrage!"

Haku’s last attack forced Mangetsu back as the two vanished into the trees.

Though they’d caused no real damage, the delay was enough.

"Damn rats!" Mangetsu spat before rallying the others. "After the target!"

Three kilometers ahead…

"Heh. As expected of Akatsuki."

Yoru’s water clone grinned as Kakuzu and Hidan blocked his path once more.

"If you know what’s good for you," Kakuzu said coldly, "hand over the tablet. I’ll make your death quick."

"Sorry, but I don’t do quick deaths."

The clone’s hands blurred.

"Lightning Release: Falling Thunder Array!"

BOOM!

A pillar of lightning split the sky, cratering the earth—but Kakuzu and Hidan were already gone.

"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"

Kakuzu’s voice came from behind, a spear of electricity lancing toward the clone.

"Tch—!"

The clone dodged—only for Kakuzu to smirk.

"Too slow."

SHINK!

Black tendrils—Earth Grudge Fear—exploded from the ground, coiling like vipers.

"This won’t kill me!"

A blade flashed, severing the threads—

"Then how about this?" Kakuzu snarled.

"LIGHTNING—FALL!"

The sky roared as another bolt erased the clone’s position in a storm of destruction.