In Konoha, they wiped out the Sarutobi clan at the start.

Chapter 184 Kakashi Avoids a Beating

A corner of Konoha Village, beside the river.

At this moment, Kakashi was already facing off against Itachi and Kisame.

With Kakashi were two special Jonin, Yamashiro Aoba and Namiashi Raido.

"You're not from the village, and you're wearing the same uniform as Fujiwara Chiya. Are you part of the same organization? What is your purpose in coming to Konoha?"

Kakashi looked at Itachi and Kisame with a serious expression.

"It's been a long time, Mr. Kakashi, Mr. Aoba, Mr. Raido," Itachi Uchiha said calmly.

"Since you know us, that means you, like Fujiwara Chiya, were once a Konoha ninja. Who exactly are you?" Yamashiro Aoba stepped forward and stood side by side with Kakashi.

Uchiha Itachi slowly lifted his hat, revealing a pair of scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan. Kakashi and the other two's pupils contracted simultaneously, and cold sweat dripped down their foreheads.

Only after Uchiha Itachi removed his straw hat and, just like in the original story, unbuttoned the collar of his Akatsuki robe did Yamashiro Aoba finally manage to speak with difficulty, "There's absolutely no mistake, you are Uchiha Itachi."

"It seems you all know Mr. Chiya and Mr. Itachi. Well then, let me introduce myself." Kisame politely removed his wind chime hat and slowly began to speak, "Kisame Hoshigaki, nice to meet you in the future."

"There's no future." Namiashi Raido, the former direct bodyguard of the Third Hokage, stepped forward and said, "Fujiwara Chiya, who was with you, recently caused chaos in Konoha and even made it difficult for the Third Hokage to rest in peace after his death. Today, I will definitely not let you go."

Kisame chuckled. "Heh, it seems you really got a hard time from Mr. Chiyo recently. I heard that your so-called Third Hokage was just a figurehead, all hype. He shamelessly claimed to be the strongest Hokage of all time, even surpassing the God of Shinobi. No wonder Mr. Chiyo despised him so much."

"You bastard!" Raido roared, about to charge forward, but Kakashi stopped him with a raised hand: "Calm down, Raido, don't fall for his provocation."

Kakashi looked at Kisame and said, "Kisame Hoshigaki, I know you. You are the eccentric from Kirigakure and the wielder of Samehada, the great sword of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. You were wanted by various countries for killing the daimyo of the Land of Water and for obstructing and sabotaging the work of the state, and thus became an S-rank rogue ninja."

"It's a great honor to be recognized by the famous Copy Ninja. Although you lost to Mr. Chiya some time ago, you were able to defeat that kid Zabuza, so you must have some skill. It just so happens that my Samehada sword hasn't met its match in a long time. You are a worthy opponent to be nerfed."

Kisame drew his Samehada sword and glanced at Itachi, asking for his opinion, "Shall we start fighting?"

"It seems I won't be able to leave safely," Itachi said calmly. In fact, clashing with the Konoha ninja was one of his purposes for this trip, to intimidate the Konoha leadership and let them know that he was still alive, so they wouldn't dare to harm Sasuke.

The other purpose was to convey to Konoha the information that the Akatsuki organization was about to capture the Tailed Beasts.

"Then let's fight!" Kisame swung Samehada and charged towards Kakashi and his two companions, his sword flashing as he brought it down.

With a sharp metallic clang, Kisame's greatsword was barely blocked by Raido Namiashi's black sword.

Meanwhile, Aoba Yamashiro summoned crows to interfere with Kisame's actions and joined the battle, engaging Kisame in fierce combat.

Neither Itachi nor Kakashi looked at Kisame and the other two; they simply exchanged glances.

Kakashi asked in a deep voice, "Aren't you going to reveal the purpose of this trip?"

"No, it's nothing, I'm just looking for something," Itachi said calmly.

"What are you looking for?" Kaka continued to ask.

Itachi glanced at Kisame and slowly said, "The Fourth Hokage's legacy."

"Naruto?" Kakashi recalled his conversation with Jiraiya before the Chunin Exams and asked, "What do you want with Naruto?"

Itachi didn't answer again, but instead stopped Kisame, who was using taijutsu to fight Yamashiro Aoba and Namiashi Raido, saying, "That's enough, Kisame. This will never end."

"I want to play a little longer." Kisame used a sweeping attack to force back Namiashi Raido, knocked down several crows that were attacking him, and then instantly retreated back behind Itachi.

Having failed to gain any advantage, Yamashiro Aoba and Namiashi Raido also retreated to Kakashi's side.

Kakashi took out a kunai and threatened, "Then answer my question."

Itachi was silent for a moment, then closed his eyes slightly and answered irrelevantly, "I'm different from Kisame; I won't waste that much time."

As he spoke, Itachi slowly opened his eyes, revealing his three-tomoe Sharingan.

Kakashi was shocked and quickly closed his right eye. At the same time, he shouted urgently to Aoba Yamashiro and Raido Namiashi, "Quick, Aoba, Raido, close your eyes. This is the Sharingan."

Upon hearing this, Yamashiro Aoba and Namiashi Raido quickly closed their eyes.

Just as Kakashi was about to fall into Itachi's Tsukuyomi as in the original story, Sasuke, who had been hiding in the shadows, finally couldn't hold back any longer and appeared between Kakashi and Itachi, saying, "Enough, stop it."

"Yo ho, more help here?" Kisame's expression suddenly turned cold, but he didn't seem to care about the middle-aged Sasuke. He pointed Samehada at Sasuke and said, "Hiding isn't polite. Untie it now, or I'll take matters into my own hands."

At this moment, in order to avoid being recognized by acquaintances, Uncle Sasuke used a transformation technique to change into a magician's outfit, and also put on an eyepatch over his left eye.

Upon hearing Kisame's words, the middle-aged Sasuke did not reply, but simply dispelled the transformation jutsu as instructed.

Looking at Uncle Sasuke's slightly weathered yet very familiar face.

And beneath those eyes, there was a chakra similar to his own.

In an instant, Itachi seemed to understand everything.

A relieved smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

This is Sasuke after he grew up.

It seems his plan succeeded. Sasuke did not lose his sight and successfully regained his eyes, upgrading them to the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.

"Why pretend?" Itachi asked calmly.

Uncle Sasuke lowered his head, recalling the sweet times he spent with his brother, but he still didn't speak. He didn't believe his brother wouldn't recognize him.

Kisame said, "It seems you're unwilling to answer."

Just as he was about to make his move, Itachi called out to him, "Stop, Kisame."

Kisame looked at Itachi with a puzzled expression, then heard him say, "Continuing to fight will only lead to an endless battle. There's no need to create unnecessary trouble for yourself."

After saying that, the two of them disappeared from the spot at the same time.

"Who are you, and why are you helping us?" Kakashi had no intention of chasing Itachi. He knew that if this middle-aged man hadn't appeared, the three of them would have been in grave danger.

"Besides Akatsuki, there have been other people causing trouble for Naruto lately. Let's find a way to protect him properly." Uncle Sasuke glanced back, left these words, and followed Itachi in the direction he was in, much to Kakashi's horror.

P.S.: Second update, please vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)