A hour after Naruto and Jiraiya departed the Leaf Village.
Unbeknownst to most, three figures slipped through the village's defenses. Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki, and an unknown man with a sinister aura.
They were intercepted by Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi.
"Itachi Uchiha, what brings you here?" Asuma's voice was steady, but his eyes were sharp, wary of the notorious rogue ninja.
Itachi's gaze remained impassive, ignoring Asuma's question. Beside him, Kisame's grin widened, his shark-like teeth glinting in the sunlight. The unknown man stepped forward, his presence radiating an eerie calm.
Kurenai's mind raced. "Just what do they want? Whatever it is, we can't let them get their hands on it."
The unknown man spoke, his voice smooth and confident. "I've come to see an old friend."
Without hesitation, Kurenai weaved her hands through the air, casting a genjutsu. The man was suddenly ensnared by vines, trapped within the illusory world she had created.
Asuma seized the opportunity, unleashing a Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning.
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The ensuing cloud of smoke obscured their vision momentarily, but as it cleared, the charred remains of the man were visible.
"One down, two to go," Asuma declared, his knuckles cracking in anticipation of the next fight.
But before they could react, Itachi released his illusion. Asuma and Kurenai's eyes widened in disbelief as the unknown man stood before them, completely unharmed.
"Thank you, Itachi," the man said with a nod. "But I had that under control."
The man turned his gaze to Asuma and Kurenai, his expression unyielding. "Itachi, Kisame, step aside. I'll handle this."
Asuma and Kurenai stood side by side, their eyes locked on the enigmatic man. The atmosphere was tense, every muscle in their bodies coiled and ready for action. Itachi and Kisame stood a few paces behind their associate, their expressions unreadable, as if the impending battle was of little consequence to them.
Kurenai initiated the attack. Her hands moved swiftly through a series of intricate hand signs, her chakra flowing with precision and intent. "Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!" she declared. The world around her opponent seemed to shift and blur, the ground beneath him transforming into a dense forest. Massive vines sprouted from the earth, twisting and coiling around his limbs, binding him tightly in place.
Asuma wasted no time unleashing his jutsu. Asuma's Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning was a devastating technique.He took a deep breath, exhaling a thick cloud of ash that ignited into a blazing inferno. The superheated ash engulfed the man, the intense heat designed to incinerate anything caught within its grasp.
For a moment, the battlefield was a hellish landscape of roaring flames and swirling ash. Asuma and Kurenai watched intently, their senses on high alert for any sign of movement. The smoke and fire obscured their vision, but they maintained their stance, prepared for any counterattack.
