Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi

During the day, Jiraiya took Naruto out for a good time in the town, managing to empty Naruto's wallet quite a bit in the process. Meanwhile, Kusuo was in their room, seriously teaching Hinata the breathing method.

He didn't know if it was because of the addition of chakra or if the people of this world were just naturally strong, but after this period of practice, Hinata had already completely mastered Total Concentration Breathing. The next step was to make it an instinct, to maintain this breathing rhythm at all times.

Although it wasn't as powerful as Kusuo's own system-enhanced version, Hinata's progress was already visible to the naked eye.

"Next is to start practicing Total Concentration: Constant. Remember to maintain the rhythm of Total Concentration Breathing at all times. If I find you slacking off, be careful, or I'll serve you a 'great punishment'," Kusuo said with a smile, his voice gentle.

Hearing the words "great punishment," Hinata's pretty face instantly turned red, as if she had thought of something shameful. She suddenly didn't dare to look him in the eye, and her speech became timid and hesitant. This maidenly posture made Kusuo's heart fill with affection.

'Amitabha,' he chanted silently in his mind.

After giving her some key points about Total Concentration: Constant, Kusuo hurriedly left. He splashed cold water on his face to finally calm the restlessness in his body. As his body grew, his self-control was becoming more and more of a challenge. He had to be extremely careful.

Suddenly, a clamor came from outside. His ears twitched, and Kusuo's heart immediately began to beat faster. He quickly picked up his sword. He gave Hinata, who was inside the room, a final instruction, "Hinata, practice well in the room. Don't come out no matter what happens outside."

Leaving these words behind, Kusuo vanished from the spot in a flash.

...

"Who are you two? Why are you attacking us?"

In a deep corridor downstairs, Jiraiya stood protectively in front of Naruto, asking in a deep voice. In front of them were none other than the Akatsuki duo who had appeared in Konoha before. S-rank missing-nin: Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki.

Beside Naruto was a large, sunken crater, clearly the result of a heavy blow.

"Heh heh, I didn't think our names wouldn't be effective in a place like this," Kisame said with a grin, holding his greatsword, Samehada. At the same time, Itachi also took his hands out from his Akatsuki robe. His hands formed seals at light speed, so fast they left afterimages.

"Fire Style! Great Fireball Technique!" An intense fireball spewed from Itachi's mouth. Then, it suddenly expanded, rushing towards Jiraiya and Naruto with scorching high temperature.

BOOM!

A sword aura slashed down from the floor above, directly splitting the giant fireball in two. It grazed past Naruto's hair, singeing a few strands.

Kisame was immediately startled. The greatsword Samehada in his hand instantly swelled up, entering a combat state. This sword aura... could it be him?

A glint of light also flashed in Itachi's otherwise calm eyes. The next second, a figure in red descended from the sky. To be precise, he jumped down from the hole in the floor that had been cut open by the sword aura.

Kusuo held his sword, smiling lightly as he faced Itachi and Kisame. He then said to Jiraiya behind him, "Jiraiya-sensei, you were the one who invited me out here. You'll have to cover the repair costs for the building."

This kid. Jiraiya looked at Kusuo standing in front of him and smiled with relief. He had defeated Orochimaru and cut down Danzo; he had absolute confidence in his strength. But these words... were a bit too霸氣 (bàqì) - domineering. The fight hadn't even started, and he was already saying the building was going to be destroyed. Just how much confidence did one need to speak with such a tone?

On the other side, Kisame laughed with disdain. "And who might this be? Turns out it's just a little brat. Konoha's talent really is endless, for them to even spout such big words."

"In a moment, I'll let you know what you should be doing at your age. Don't think you're a swordsman just because you picked up a sword."

With that, Kisame leaped high, the great mouth of Samehada opening wide, about to chomp down on Kusuo's head.

CLANG!

A crisp sound. Kusuo casually swung his sword and parried Kisame's full-power strike. The greatsword Samehada discontentedly nudged Kisame's head with its hilt, expressing its dissatisfaction.

"I know, I know. I'll be careful next time," Kisame said, comforting the ninja blade in his hand while turning to face Kusuo with a different expression.

Finally, Itachi spoke. "He is very strong. Don't treat him like an ordinary child."

Kisame nodded. He always took the words of his partner, Itachi, very seriously. During this time, they had been traveling the ninja world, carrying out missions for the Akatsuki, and were not aware of the major events that had just occurred in Konoha this past month. Therefore, they had no idea that Konoha now had a sword-wielding boy Asura.

"We haven't seen each other in a few years. Your strength has improved quickly," Itachi said faintly to Kusuo.

Hearing Itachi's praise, Kusuo's expression was indifferent. "It has indeed been fast. After our last battle, this sword has not met a worthy opponent for a long time."

When Itachi had tested him back then, he was only seven years old and hadn't even mastered Total Concentration: Constant. Now, six years had passed, and his own strength was a world apart. He had faced one enemy after another, and none had ever given him any pressure.

Except for him. Uchiha Itachi.

"Very well. Let me see just how much you have improved."

Without wasting words, Itachi's hands once again formed seals at light speed. A dozen shuriken were thrown simultaneously, colliding in mid-air, yet they still managed to shoot towards them from various tricky angles. He spat a mouthful of fire onto the shuriken.

"Fire Style! Phoenix Sage Fire Claw Red!"

Just like that night a few years ago, he was still using this move to probe. Unfortunately...

SWISH!

Kusuo lightly slashed his sword. All the burning hidden weapons fell to the ground, leaving deep marks.

Itachi's pupils contracted. Such strong sword aura, and his swing speed is also very fast. Compared to a few years ago, it's a world of difference.

Just then, Kusuo, who had been passively receiving blows, moved. His figure was like a flash of lightning, as violent as a sudden downpour, and he instantly slashed towards Itachi.

"Itachi-san!" Kisame shouted, immediately raising Samehada to block in front of him. Unfortunately...

POW!

With the dull sound of a body colliding, Kisame's body was sent flying, crashing into the wall at the end of the corridor.

"Your strength is lacking," Kusuo said with a light laugh, swinging his sword again.

Swoosh!

A crescent-shaped sword aura flew out, cutting through Itachi's body.

"Caw! Caw! Caw!"

The body that was cut turned into a flock of crows and scattered. Then, Itachi reappeared beside Kisame. He calmly sized up the opposing lineup. The legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, and a sword-wielding monster whose strength was a world apart from before.

"Father was right. This child truly has a capacity far beyond his peers," Itachi thought, looking at Kusuo's now magnificent figure. He remembered his time in the village. Although they hadn't met many times, the other had still left a deep impression on him.

'Life is a one-way journey; what's past is past, and what's missed can't be reclaimed...'

That was what he had said to him. And now, he had achieved it.

Just like that, Itachi suddenly smiled. He said to the blood-coughing Kisame beside him, "The opponent is very strong. We're retreating for now."

With that, the Sharingan in Itachi's scarlet eyes suddenly changed, the three tomoe slowly twisting. Finally, they transformed into a shuriken-shaped Mangekyo. Blood seeped out.

"Amaterasu!"

A circle of black flames burned through the outer wall, and Itachi and Kisame quickly departed. Jiraiya and Kusuo chased them to the corner. Staring gravely at the unquenchable black flames on the wall, Jiraiya took out a scroll from his pouch. After sealing the Amaterasu flames inside, he reverse-summoned it back to the village.

But just as he was about to remind Naruto and Kusuo to be careful in the future, that the enemy might attack at any time, he found that Kusuo's figure had already rushed out.

"Not good!" He didn't have time to think too much. He hurriedly said to Naruto, "You go back and stay put. I'll go chase that kid back!"

Then, Jiraiya rushed out without looking back.

On the coast.

The just-retreated Itachi and Kisame were running across the surface of the sea.

"Itachi-san, with your strength, you shouldn't be afraid of those two, right? With those eyes of yours..." Kisame didn't understand why he wanted to retreat.

Itachi said faintly, "That person is one of the legendary Sannin. He's very troublesome. And I know the other brat."

"You know him?" Kisame was very surprised. The one slash from Kusuo that had sent him flying had truly shocked him.

"We've met a few times," Itachi's words were brief, unwilling to dwell on the past. Seeing this, Kisame immediately stopped asking.

But just then... "Watch out!"

A heart-pounding fluctuation suddenly came from behind them. Relying on the danger sense he had cultivated from his years of slaughter in the Hidden Mist, Kisame promptly pulled Itachi's body and dodged to the shore.

He looked back, and his face instantly turned pale with horror. Behind them, a mountain-cleaving, peak-slicing sword aura, a full hundred meters high, had appeared.

One slash. It fell.

BOOM!

The heavens collapsed and the earth split. The entire sea was literally split in two. The sword aura was unstoppable, the gale force wind rampaging. Like the sword of high heaven, it descended from the sky, carving out two world-shaking waves. The scene was utterly shocking. The waves rolled, leaping several meters high, white foam spraying everywhere. It wasn't until it reached the edge of his vision that the golden-glowing sword aura finally subsided.

Hiss!

Is that a slash a human can even produce?

Kisame was shocked. He looked at the greatsword Samehada in his hand. He could make waves, briefly part the seawater, he could do that too. But a sword aura of this power, stretching hundreds of meters... he was still not at that level.

"Who is this person?" he asked Itachi warily. Itachi also shook his head, but his calm face finally showed a hint of gravity.

"Yoho, it seems if I hadn't made that slash, it would have been really hard to catch up to you."

A clear voice drifted over悠悠 (yōuyōu) - leisurely. On the coastline, at the very edge of their sight, a boy holding a sword was walking on the waves towards them.

Hatake Kusuo.

"It's actually this brat? How dare he chase after us?" An astonished look flashed across Kisame's shark-like face, and he immediately let out a savage grin. The sword aura from before was indeed impressive, but that didn't mean he was afraid.

This was the coast. No one had a greater advantage here than him. If this blind brat dared to provoke him, he didn't mind dragging him into the sea. At that time... let's see if you can still swing that sword of yours.

-------

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