Chapter 200 Minato and Kakashi vs. Itachi

Itachi was Konoha's most infamous rebel ninja, and as such, the responsibility of capturing him fell to Konoha's most capable. Minato and Kakashi exchanged a glance, their unspoken communication clear. They were ready.

"Ready, Kakashi?" Minato asked, his voice calm but with an edge of determination.

Kakashi nodded his one visible eye narrowing. "Let's end this quickly sensei." His tone was steady, betraying none of the tension he felt inside.

With that, they rushed forward together, closing the distance between them and their target. But Itachi, wielding the fearsome Mangekyō Sharingan, was not a foe to be underestimated. He remained still, waiting for them to come closer, his eyes gleaming with quiet confidence.

Kakashi was the first to speak. "Don't look him in the eyes!" he warned, knowing all too well the danger that lay in meeting the gaze of Uchiha with a Mangekyō.

Minato immediately averted his eyes, focusing instead on Itachi's movements, while Kakashi did the same, avoiding Itachi's gaze with a practiced ease. Both knew that to look directly into Itachi's eyes would mean falling into his genjutsu, a trap they couldn't afford to fall into.

"We can't afford to fall in genjutsu," Minato muttered, his voice low but firm as he continued his forward momentum. "Stay focused."

Kakashi kept his gaze down and sideways, relying on his other senses to track Itachi's movements. "Tatsuya was right... If we fight a Uchiha, the best way is to avoid their eyes completely," he thought, recalling the conversation with Tatsuya.

It had been an offhand remark during a casual conversation, but it felt like a life-saving piece of advice at that moment. Tatsuya had always spoken about the Sharingan with an almost eerie understanding, and this was one of the lessons he had casually shared with them: "To fight Uchiha, you don't fight with your eyes."

Kakashi grimaced, realizing that despite their training and knowledge, this was the first time they were using this advice in a real confrontation. "I never thought it would come to this," he muttered, his breath steady despite the danger.

However, avoiding direct eye contact was only part of the challenge. They had to rely on their sensing opponent's chakra to predict and counter Itachi's movements, a skill that was incredibly difficult to master.

Fortunately, both Minato and Kakashi were extraordinarily gifted, and their sensing abilities were far sharper than the average ninja's. This talent allowed them to hold their ground in the face of Itachi's relentless assault.

Meanwhile, Terumi Mei and Kurenai had no interest in getting involved in such a high-level battle.

Seeing Tatsuya constantly on the move, trying to avoid being caught, Rin wanted to rush in to assist. However, to her surprise, she was intercepted by Terumi Mei and Kurenai, who had circled her.

While the two women were frustrated by Tatsuya's evasive tactics, their anger was directed primarily at Rin. They were most upset by how Rin had assisted Tatsuya in deceiving them.

Although they had never been on the best of terms, both Terumi Mei and Kurenai now found themselves in an uneasy alliance, confronting Rin about her recent involvement with Tatsuya.

From his position, Tatsuya observed the unfolding situation with a hint of relief. He was glad the three women had chosen not to participate in the battle.

The only reason he had shown up here in the first place was his concern for Kurenai. He couldn't shake the memory of how she had been injured during her encounter with Kisame in the original timeline.

Although Tatsuya was currently avoiding interacting with Kurenai and Terumi Mei, his concern for their safety never wavered.

Under pressure from the two women, Rin had no choice but to reveal everything about her recent time with Tatsuya. She admitted that they had been spending a lot of time together, simply playing card games in the same room.

However, it was clear that Terumi Mei and Kurenai didn't entirely believe the story. It was a simple, mundane explanation, but given the circumstances, it seemed almost too bland to be true.

Despite this, Rin's sincerity—along with her reputation for being a kind-hearted person—eventually won over Kurenai, who, as her closest friend, slowly shifted from suspicion to trust.

As the tension between the women began to ease, their attitude toward Tatsuya also softened. Their arrogance towards him evaporated, replaced by an understanding of his role in their lives.

Meanwhile, Kisame struggled to land a blow on Tatsuya, growing increasingly frustrated as the battle continued. To make matters worse, the three women, now united in their support for Tatsuya, cheered him on with enthusiasm.

"Really? A cheering squad?" an anbu watching the unusual scene unfold. It was hard not to envy Tatsuya at this moment.

Kisame, who had been unable to land a hit on Tatsuya, now found his fury building. Seeing the women cheer for Tatsuya only made him more irate. In his frustration, he wielded Samehada recklessly, slashing wildly at the air.

In an instant, a black blade of energy streaked across the battlefield, knocking Kisame's sword back hundreds of meters. The impact sent a wail of agony from Samehada as black flames licked at its surface.

The flames were unmistakably Tatsuya's—a manifestation of Amaterasu. It was clear that Kisame's earlier antics had provoked Tatsuya beyond measure.

"Enough," Itachi called out, his voice cutting through the chaos. He discarded Minato and Kakashi with a swift movement, signaling for Kisame to retreat.

Tatsuya sheathed his Zanpakutō, the flames of Amaterasu extinguishing as quickly as they had appeared. He knew that if the fight continued, Kisame would likely be killed, and the mission would not be completed. A loss like that would make it even harder for Itachi to regain the trust of Akatsuki's leader, and finding Obito would become even more difficult.

Seeing Samehada still wailing, Kisame seemed to finally understand the gravity of the situation. He had no intention of continuing the fight. With a nod from Itachi, the two vanished into the distance, using the Uchiha's genjutsu to escape Konoha.

Minato and Kakashi, who had just been discarded by Itachi, exchanged incredulous glances as they watched Tatsuya calmly return his sword to its scabbard. They couldn't quite believe what had just transpired.

It was clear that Itachi and Kisame's smooth escape was due to Tatsuya's control. As long as Tatsuya wished to keep them within Konoha's boundaries, there was no way they could escape. Tatsuya didn't feel the need to explain himself. After all, his decisions were his own, and everyone knew better than to question them.

Seeing Tatsuya approach, Terumi Mei immediately twisted her lithe body and leaned toward him.

"That was a close one," she said with a sly smile. "But, luckily, I've got my husband to save me."

Her voice, laced with affection, drew a sharp look from Kurenai, whose expression shifted into one of derisive amusement. The tension between the two women was palpable, their rivalry only growing stronger.

Terumi Mei, however, seemed oblivious to Kurenai's glare, happily nestled in Tatsuya's arms. It was clear that, for her, the battle was over, and she had no interest in anything other than her comfort.

Meanwhile, Kurenai, irritated by the sight, stepped forward and firmly pulled Terumi Mei out of Tatsuya's embrace. She wasn't one to let this kind of display slide, especially with the tension so thick between them.

The moment the battle was over, Minato and Kakashi quickly separated, each dealing with their concerns.

In the distance, Naruto, ever the curious one, had managed to sneak out of the house, eager to witness the aftermath of what he assumed had been an epic battle. His mind raced with the possibilities—maybe he'd see a great fight, even a glimpse of some of the powerful shinobi he admired. But as he crept closer to the scene, his hopes were dashed.

Instead of the aftermath of an intense conflict, Naruto found himself face-to-face with something far more familiar—and, to his dismay, far less exciting. Two women, both with fiery personalities, were in the middle of an argument. Terumi Mei and Kurenai were exchanging sharp words, their rivalry thickening the air between them. It wasn't exactly the action Naruto had hoped for.

His face fell as he watched the heated exchange, and a deep sigh escaped his lips. "Man... this is so boring," he muttered to himself, disappointed. He had hoped for some real action, but this was just... petty bickering.

Naruto turned to leave, ready to return home, but just as he was about to slip away, a high-pitched voice rang out from behind him, and his stomach dropped.

"Naruto Uzumaki!" Kushina's voice boomed, unmistakable and full of fury.

Naruto froze, his face draining of color. Panic surged through him as he realized that his mother had caught him sneaking around again. Without wasting another second, he bolted down the nearest alley, hoping to escape her wrath before it could catch up with him.

Desperate to avoid being caught, Naruto slammed his hands together and quickly formed a series of Shadow Clones. With a burst of chakra, the clones appeared each one scattering in a different direction, hoping to confuse Kushina and give him enough time to escape.

But, as he darted through the streets, he could hear Kushina's voice growing closer, her anger unmistakable.

"Naruto! Get back here this instant! Did you forget it was me who taught you shadow clones!" she yelled, her tone sharp and full of maternal concern.

Naruto's heart raced as he turned another corner, narrowly avoiding one of the clones that had disappeared down the wrong alley. He could almost hear his mom's footsteps behind him, her voice a constant reminder that he couldn't outrun her forever.

His mind raced. "I can't let her catch me! I've gotta lose her somehow!" he thought, pushing his legs harder, his clones only offering a brief distraction.

Meanwhile, Kushina wasn't far behind. She could feel the signature of her son's chakra, a familiar and unmistakable sensation. Her fiery red hair swirled around her like an inferno as she launched into action, summoning her own Shadow Clones with a swift hand sign. Just like Naruto, she scattered them in all directions, their movements seamlessly tracking her son's energy.

"You think you can outrun me, Naruto?" she smirked, her voice filled with the same playfulness that had once made Minato fall in love with her. "I can feel your chakra all over the place, brat. No clone of yours is going to fool me."

Naruto's eyes widened in panic as he tried to speed up, but no matter where he turned, he felt the pressure of his mother's chakra growing closer. He couldn't escape her sense of tracking, not when she was so determined.

Itachi and the others never anticipated that the Jinchūriki they had come to find in Konoha would be late.

After Kisame was defeated by Tatsuya, fear settled into him. It had been a foolish decision to rush in without fully understanding the enemy's capabilities.

For Tatsuya, his woman was his bottom line. Although he had refrained from killing Kisame earlier, it wasn't out of mercy—it was part of his broader strategy. Tatsuya needed Itachi to remain within the Akatsuki organization, helping him track down the elusive figure known as Obito. Without Itachi's presence, Tatsuya had no clue where Obito might be hiding, and he didn't know what move the enemy would make next.

When playing chess, the key to victory lies in anticipating your opponent's next move. By predicting the future, you can make decisions that account for every possibility. But as of now, Tatsuya did not know where Obito was or what he was planning.

Itachi's appearance in Konoha was no coincidence—it must have been a mission assigned on short notice. Otherwise, Itachi would have informed Tatsuya in advance. After all, a sudden appearance in Konoha would be risky for both Itachi and the village.

Tatsuya returned to his mansion, knowing it would be easier for those searching for him to find him there. The Senju clan's streets were nearly empty now, making it a perfect hideout.

Sure enough, as soon as Tatsuya settled back into his residence, someone arrived, walking into the mansion just after he'd stepped inside. The visitor was not who Tatsuya had expected, and this surprised him.

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