Naruto: Imitation Ninja

In response to Kakashi's question, Uchiha Itachi neither confirmed nor denied it.

He simply gave a vague answer, allowing Kakashi to ponder it himself.

"However, instead of asking me this pointless question, I have a much more meaningful one I'd like to ask you."

As he spoke, under the influence of Uchiha Itachi's genjutsu (illusion technique), the scene before Kakashi suddenly shifted. He found himself bound to a cross, and Itachi was no longer alone—several versions of him had appeared.

"Where is the host of the Nine-Tails?" The Itachis in front of Kakashi each held a kunai, and as they spoke, they all spoke in unison.

"Your true objective is indeed him, isn't it?" Kakashi wasn't surprised when Itachi asked about Naruto's whereabouts. In fact, he thought it was only natural.

"However, I'm afraid I cannot answer that question, for he is one of my comrades."

"Just like your brother—Uchiha Sasuke."

"Sasuke?"

As a doting older brother, Itachi's hand holding the kunai trembled slightly upon hearing Kakashi mention his brother's name.

If it weren't for that damned Danzo, how could I have been forced to leave my brother behind, traveling to the Akatsuki organization with a bunch of powerful figures?

In this strange scene, Itachi softly muttered a phrase that deeply moved Kakashi: "Has he been well these years?"

"How does it matter to you, the one who destroyed your entire clan, how your brother has been?"

"Though I'm more curious about why you killed all the members of the Uchiha clan, but left only your brother alive," Kakashi sneered, looking at Itachi.

"You wouldn't understand. I had my reasons," Itachi replied with a bitter smile.

"But are you sure you won't tell me where the Nine-Tails' host is?"

"Absolutely not!"

"I see…"

Upon hearing Kakashi's firm refusal, Itachi had no choice but to give up.

This wasn't to say that he was abandoning the mission entirely, but rather that his goal for this visit had already been achieved.

"Then I'll have to leave a mark on you that conventional medical methods can't heal."

As the saying goes, if you're going to put on a show, do it properly. After all, with so many powerful people in the village, this level of genjutsu should be no problem for them.

"Please enjoy the pain that the genjutsu will bring you—Tsukuyomi!"

As soon as he spoke, the Itachis who had been standing calmly in front of Kakashi raised their kunai in unison and aimed them directly at his body.

"Ugh…"

Although Kakashi knew that the injuries he was sustaining were illusions, he couldn't resist the immense power of the genjutsu…

Even he, with his Sharingan, couldn't see through this world of reality and illusion.

"Indeed, when someone without a bloodline limit uses the Sharingan, is this the extent of its power?" Itachi remarked, glancing at Kakashi's left eye.

...

How long had it been?

This was the question Kakashi kept asking himself as he was trapped in Tsukuyomi, wanting to know how much time had passed.

It had to have been two or three days, right? Otherwise, the bloodstains on his body wouldn't have dried up so quickly.

"Well? Are you interested in telling me where the Nine-Tails' host is now?" Itachi asked, observing Kakashi's gradually deteriorating state.

"Heh… don't even think about it. Even if you torture me to death, I won't tell you where he is," Kakashi slowly raised his head, his gaze devoid of its usual sharpness.

"Since you've said that, I suppose I'll grant you a release." With those words, in the real world, Itachi suddenly produced a kunai and thrust it directly toward Kakashi, still trapped in the illusion.

"Leaf's Strong Gale!"

At that moment, a man clad in a green jacket and exuding youthful energy kicked Kisame, who had been fiercely fighting from a distance, directly toward Itachi.

"Your friend, the spirited and youthful Might Guy—has arrived!"

From the side appeared a man with a kappa-like hairdo and thick eyebrows. He struck his usual pose, right hand on his waist and left thumb held high, flashing a bright smile.

"Who the heck is this guy? How did he suddenly show up?" Kisame, rising from the ground, looked at the man with thick eyebrows in confusion.

"The Blue Beast of Konoha? I didn't expect you to show up too," Itachi, who had once been in Konoha, had heard of this name—a man who had pushed physical techniques to their limits.

"Is this guy one of Konoha's trump cards too?" Kisame asked, his excitement showing instead of fear.

"If he's called a trump card, then he must be formidable, right?"

Seeing Kisame's eager expression, Itachi raised his hand to stop him.

"Hold on, Kisame. Since a guy who's usually only interested in training has shown up, the next person who comes will be even stronger."

"Tch~ What a disappointment… I thought I'd get to see an exciting ninja battle," Kisame muttered.

At that moment, a twisted space appeared out of nowhere, and Xingliu entered, bringing a man wearing wooden clogs along with him.

"Whoa~ Didn't expect even one of the Legendary Three Ninjas of Konoha to show up. It seems I was right to block you," Kisame whistled, looking at the two people who had suddenly appeared.

Though he kept a calm expression, sweat began to form on the back of his neck.

"Konoha's Sage, and a man who can casually intercept flying opponents. Looks like our mission has completely failed," Itachi coldly stared at the Konoha ninjas surrounding them.

"Not a total failure, I'd say. The fact that we've had to bring out this lineup to encircle you means you're pretty lucky," Xingliu smiled as he spoke to the two.

"Yes, quite lucky indeed. But if you call this an encirclement, it's not quite that yet," Itachi remarked as he and Kisame's figures slowly transformed into crows. "Look forward to our next meeting…"

"Tch~ As expected, people who use genjutsu always manage to make their escape with style," Xingliu commented, watching the two figures transform into crows and fly away.

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