Samehada's Gone Fishin' (And I'm Not Happy)

"To think that even Itachi-san's Amaterasu was ineffective… just what *are* you?"

As Itachi Uchiha's partner, Kisame was acutely aware of just how terrifying Amaterasu was.

It could burn anything, and would never extinguish until its target was completely incinerated.

But this boy in front of him had managed to get rid of it by simply taking off a piece of clothing?

"Let's withdraw for now, Kisame. Their reinforcements are here."

Itachi Uchiha covered one of his bleeding eyes, using the other to spot two Konoha Ninja wearing masks rapidly approaching.

The Anbu of Konoha Village.

Now he finally had an excuse to stop fighting.

But this Uchiha Kage… just what was he?

If everything before his eyes wasn't so undeniably real, he would've thought he was caught in someone's Illusionary Technique.

How could there be someone in this world who could completely ignore his Eye Technique?

"Withdraw? But my Samehada is still…"

Kisame glanced longingly at the Samehada Great Sword being carried on Uchiha Kage's back.

That was his sword!

"We can retrieve the sword later."

Sweat beaded on Itachi Uchiha's face from overusing his Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Understood."

Seeing that his partner's body was no longer fit for battle, Kisame reluctantly abandoned the idea of snatching back Samehada.

The two quickly found a direction and then vanished from the spot.

----

"Why would the Anbu be here?"

Seeing Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki retreat, and the two Anbu Ninja rushing over from a distance, Yuhi Kurenai was filled with confusion.

"I sent word ahead of time."

Knowing that Uchiha Itachi wouldn't try to kill Yuhi Kurenai, Uchiha Kage had contacted the Anbu Ninja who had already left Konoha Village some time ago to meet up with him for their mission outside the village, via messenger pigeon as soon as he saw Uchiha Itachi enter the Village.

That was the power of information.

Likewise, he was able to handle Kisame because he was familiar with all of Kisame's information.

"Where is Uchiha Itachi?"

Gekko Hayate, panting for breath, warily drew his Ninja Sword, but there was no sign of Uchiha Itachi.

Only a devastated Street clearly showed signs of the intense battle.

"Are you… alright?"

After receiving the message from Uchiha Kage, Uzuki Yugao had rushed over with Gekko Hayate as quickly as possible.

That was Uchiha Itachi, after all. Even with Jonin Yuhi Kurenai leading the team, they were probably…

However, upon seeing that Yuhi Kurenai and Uchiha Kage's group were all safe and sound, she became curious as to how they had managed to evade Uchiha Itachi's attack.

"We're fine. Thanks to you, we scared him off."

"It was clearly you who…"

Yuhi Kurenai was about to praise her Disciple, but he covered her mouth with his hand.

"Uchiha Itachi and his Missing-nin companion fled after seeing that Konoha had sent reinforcements."

Uchiha Kage decided to omit his role in the previous encounter.

Although he hadn't revealed any particularly special Ninjutsu just now, this achievement was still too dazzling.

If the villagers, especially Danzo, were to find out, he probably wouldn't be able to live in peace in the future.

"But we were able to hold out until now thanks to our Teacher."

So, Uchiha Kage decided to pass the credit to Yuhi Kurenai.

"Don't cover Teacher's mouth!"

Yuhi Kurenai slapped away Uchiha Kage's hand, but realizing what he was trying to do, she didn't expose her Disciple.

"Yes, it was me. I held off Uchiha Itachi."

Although she didn't know why her troublesome Disciple was trying to hide his strength, as his Teacher, of course she had to stand on his side.

Besides, he had even injured his hand to save her just now…

"As expected of Kurenai-senpai, an Elite Jonin of the Village… she can even handle an S-rank Missing-nin like Uchiha Itachi."

Gekko Hayate didn't have any doubts. He naturally assumed that Yuhi Kurenai had held off Uchiha Itachi, so he couldn't help but praise her.

"Then I'll have to trouble Jonin Yuhi Kurenai to report this to Hokage-sama. Hayate, Kage, and I have other missions."

Because they were comrades from the Village, Uzuki Yugao and Gekko Hayate both removed their masks.

"Other missions? Wait, Kage too?"

Yuhi Kurenai hadn't expected that in just a blink of an eye, her good Disciple had already changed into Anbu Ninja attire.

"That's right, Teacher. I'm now a member of the Anbu. Please take the Samehada Great Sword back to the Village and give it to Hokage-sama."

"You really know how to boss me around!"

Yuhi Kurenai never imagined that her Disciple would join the Anbu so early.

However, after thinking about Uchiha Kage's extraordinary strength, she felt that it was only natural.

"But you must tell Teacher about this kind of thing in advance next time, or I'll really get angry!"

Helplessly carrying Samehada on her back, Yuhi Kurenai warned Uchiha Kage with a double meaning.

She was referring both to the matter of hiding his strength and to the fact that he hadn't told her about joining the Anbu.

"Understood, Teacher. Next time, for sure."

What an easy Teacher to deal with.

Uchiha Kage had thought that it would take a lot of effort to get Yuhi Kurenai to help him, but he didn't expect that he only needed to say a word for her to understand everything.

"But Teacher, that sword is alive and recognizes its master. It's best to tie it up first before…"

Uchiha Kage was worried that Samehada might hurt Yuhi Kurenai on the way.

"No need to trouble yourself. Teacher knows Sealing Technique."

Taking out a special Scroll from her pouch, Yuhi Kurenai cleanly sealed Samehada inside.

"As expected of Teacher, you even know such amazing techniques like Sealing Technique."

Seeing Yuhi Kurenai's smug look, Uchiha Kage played along and complimented her.

"Hmph!"

But Yuhi Kurenai only snorted coldly.

Although she wouldn't think that her Disciple was mocking her, she was still angry at Uchiha Kage's concealment.

She must interrogate him properly after returning to the Village.

For example, just where did this troublesome Disciple learn a Ninjutsu like Rasengan?

"Let's go, Hinata, Shino. Let's quickly return to the Village and not hinder someone's mission."

In any case, the great crisis had finally been resolved.

Yuhi Kurenai had a sense of relief like she had survived a disaster.

"Yes!"

Nodding towards Uchiha Kage, Shino, of course, knew that Uchiha Kage didn't want to be so high-profile.

So, he just exchanged a tacit glance with him and didn't say anything more.

"But Teacher, you should be more careful on the way back, right?"

"With Hinata's Byakugan, as long as we hurry back to the Village without stopping, there shouldn't be any problems."

Instead of asking someone else, Uchiha Kage had his teacher personally deliver this valuable sword. This was likely to improve the reputation of both her and her class in the Village after their failed mission outside the village.

What a meddling guy, always bossing his teacher around!

"Mm…"

Hinata blankly glanced at Uchiha Kage, who had changed into Anbu Ninja attire, then lowered her head, her face flushed red.

Only she knew what had happened the moment he dodged Amaterasu.

But even if she knew, she wouldn't tell anyone.

Moreover…

Her mind was filled with thoughts – was that Kage-san from her dream last night the same person as this Kage-san before her?

Then, she secretly hoped it was true, even as she tried to deny it.

Just like that… the two emotions cycled back and forth in her mind, constantly pulling at her, until they eventually faded away.