Chapter 25: "I Acknowledge You"

"Your hand seals are terrifyingly fast, but a Water Wall won’t stop a Chidori!" Kakashi thought coldly.

The Chidori was an A-rank ninjutsu—nothing could withstand it!

If a mere Water Wall blocked it, he’d wash his hair upside down.

But the next moment, Kakashi’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"Squelch!"

His arm pierced through the Water Wall… yet couldn’t advance another inch.

It stopped right at Yoru’s chest, barely breaking skin—as if he’d struck reinforced alloy instead of water. The density was unreal, the resistance like solid steel.

Yoru didn’t hesitate. The instant Kakashi faltered, he leapt back.

The Konoha ANBU were stunned.

Kakashi… failed to take down a kid? This had to be a joke.

"Good! Well done!" Tenkō cheered, then smirked. "Thanks, Konoha shinobi. You’ve given me the perfect setup."

"Suiton: Exploding Water Wave!"

A torrential surge erupted, flooding the entire earthen fortress in a three-meter-deep deluge. It paled next to Kisame’s scale, but the force was still overwhelming.

Yet Tenkō wasn’t done.

"Suiton: Water Clone Jutsu!"

Multiple clones formed, slamming their palms onto the water as the current disoriented everyone.

"Suiton: Water Prison Jutsu!"

Every Konoha ninja was trapped.

"Now! Retreat!" Tenkō gritted his teeth. Controlling so many at once strained him to the limit.

Yoru and the others didn’t waste time. They burst from the water, scaling the walls—

"Katon: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Kakashi emerged mid-leap from the earthen barrier, unleashing a seven-meter fireball. The ambush was too sudden.

Several Mist ninja were engulfed, screaming as they plunged back into the water. The rest scattered, some forced to retreat.

Yoru barely dodged—then froze.

Kakashi vanished again.

"Where—?"

Eyes sharp, ears alert, he backpedaled along the wall. A surprise attack now would be fatal.

"Doton: Headhunter Jutsu!"

A hand shot from below, seizing his ankle—

"Suiton: Water Clone Jutsu!"

Yoru barely escaped. Reforming, he locked eyes with a pair of spinning tomoe.

Itachi Uchiha had broken free.

A chill shot down his spine. If I’m going down… I’m taking you with me.

"Genjutsu: Shackling Stare!"

"Genjutsu: Paralysis Jutsu!"

Both illusions hit simultaneously.

They stiffened, plummeting.

Itachi almost laughed. Using genjutsu on the Sharingan? Desperation.

No illusion could fool these eyes—let alone against his prowess. Yet when he tried to reflect it…

It didn’t work.

Alarmed, he flooded his chakra, shattering the illusion just before hitting the water.

Opposite him, Yoru crawled onto the surface, coughing blood. Breaking free had drained his already-low chakra.

"Impressive, Itachi Uchiha. Even the Water Prison couldn’t hold you."

Of all the trapped ANBU, only Kakashi and Itachi had escaped.

"You’re no slouch either," Itachi replied evenly, breathing slightly labored. "Evading Kakashi’s killing blows twice? And breaking my genjutsu?"

Nearby, Kakashi held off a swarm of Mist ninja—one jonin, three special jonin, six chunin—with eerie ease, pinning White Wolf and Hawk in place.

Itachi lunged toward Tenkō.

To turn the tide, he had to break the Water Prison.

"Not happening!"

Yoru intercepted, sword flashing, forcing Itachi back.

"Suiton: Water Gun Jutsu!"

Twin pressurized shots pierced Itachi’s body—only for him to dissolve into crows.

A Crow Clone!

"Tenkō! We need to go!" Yoru shouted. "Hawk’s team won’t survive Kakashi!"

Tenkō nodded. "They’re neutralized for now." Ibiki and the others were on the verge of drowning; recovery would take time.

"But Kakashi… trapping him’s impossible."

With that, he dispelled the Water Prison, his clones charging Kakashi.

Yoru, however, suddenly pivoted—

CLANG!

His blade met Itachi’s kunai mid-air.

"You’re not interrupting," Yoru grinned.

Their clash resumed, a whirlwind of steel and fury.

"Hikage! Fall back!" Tenkō’s voice rang out.

Yoru disengaged—only for three shuriken to thud into his back.

But the "Yoru" splashed into water.

Itachi exhaled. Too fast. His hand seals are unreal.

"Leave them! Prioritize the wounded!" Kakashi ordered.

Itachi’s gaze snapped to the water—where venomous snakes slithered toward Ibiki’s team.

Poison.

"Hikage, huh…?" Itachi murmured, committing the name to memory before diving to save his comrades.