Chapter 65: Unwelcome Visitors
Although Jiraiya hadn't specified the mission at this moment, Naruto, as a traveler, didn't need to guess at all. He immediately agreed to follow him to find Tsunade. After all, with Jiraiya by his side, he could ask him many questions about training. Moreover, Tsunade was a beautiful woman in her forties or fifties—he'd be happy to meet her.
The two agreed to meet at the village gates in the evening and set off then.
After bidding farewell to Jiraiya, seeing there was still time, Naruto wanted to say goodbye to Kakashi, Sakura, and Hinata. After all, the mission to find Tsunade wasn't a matter of two or three days; even if hurried, it might take ten days to half a month, and if slower, who knew when he'd return.
As Naruto walked down the street, he suddenly caught a glimpse of two very conspicuous figures in a teahouse out of the corner of his eye. He immediately stopped and secretly observed.
They wore wide-brimmed hats, their entire bodies concealed by large cloaks. The two figures were sitting in the street-side teahouse, seemingly drinking tea, but a peculiar aura emanated from them. With two people like this sitting in the teahouse, it was impossible not to draw attention.
Sure enough, Kurenai and Asuma, who were just patrolling, noticed the two figures at a glance.
Asuma whispered, "Those two look suspicious. They don't seem like Konoha ninjas. Let's follow them quietly later!"
Kurenai nodded slightly without objection. Although reluctant to patrol with Asuma, during Konoha's critical recovery period, she had no choice. Regarding these two suspicious figures, she even sensed a familiar aura.
At that moment, Kurenai caught sight of Naruto, who was also watching the two from not far away. Her expression changed slightly. Because of the conflict and ambiguity between them the other day, Kurenai was now truly troubled by Naruto. She frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and finally walked over.
Lowering her voice, she said, "Naruto, have you noticed those two?"
Naruto turned his head and saw it was Kurenai. After a moment of surprise, he was somewhat taken aback that she wasn't angry with him over what had happened. He nodded and replied quietly, "Yeah. Those two are very strong. Are you planning to follow them?"
"Hmm! This is a critical period for Konoha. We can't let any suspicious individuals slip by," Kurenai said seriously.
Naruto frowned. He already knew the two were Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki. Of course, he was fully aware of the plot that would unfold next. However, if only Kurenai and Asuma were to follow—just the two of them—they would likely be in grave danger. After all, the current situation had some deviations from the plot. Jiraiya's departure to find Tsunade had been delayed by a few days, and he was still in the village. Moreover, Itachi and Kisame's target was himself, and with only two fairly strong ninjas, Kurenai and Asuma, nearby—and Kakashi absent—if they were to follow now, it would inevitably lead to a confrontation between the three of them and the Akatsuki pair.
"They're leaving!" Just as Naruto was thinking, Asuma suddenly alerted them. Kurenai quickly followed Asuma, stealthily trailing the two.
Naruto had no choice but to follow as well. The opponents were elite members of Akatsuki. If only Asuma and Kurenai were there, they'd likely be in danger with no backup. He didn't know what would happen then. He couldn't stand by and watch Kurenai and Asuma get killed. Asuma had also shown him guidance and kindness, and while there had been some conflict with Kurenai, it was insignificant when lives were at stake.
...
Kurenai and Asuma trailed the pair all the way to the river, where Itachi and Kisame finally stopped.
Turning around calmly, Kisame said coldly, "Your tracking skills are pathetic."
The two were instantly shocked! They'd been discovered!
With the skills of two elite jōnin, they hadn't expected to be spotted by these two!
"Who are you, really!? What's your purpose in coming to Konoha?" After the initial shock, Kurenai recovered and asked with equal coldness.
"What a pain," Kisame muttered under his breath. Beside him, Itachi slightly lifted his bamboo hat, revealing a pair of blood-red, three-tomoe Sharingan eyes. He said indifferently to the two, "Long time no see, Kurenai, Asuma."
"Uchiha Itachi!!!" Asuma exclaimed in shock.
"What are you doing in Konoha, you traitor?" Kurenai said coldly. "You slaughtered your own clan in a single night. Someone like you isn't worthy of setting foot in Konoha!"
"Tsk tsk tsk, Itachi, it seems what you did back then made your fellow villagers quite angry," Kisame teased from the side.
Itachi shot Kisame a cold glance, and Kisame immediately fell silent. He then turned to Asuma and Kurenai and shouted, "Just the two of you think you can follow us? You're looking down on us too much!" At the same time, he lifted his own bamboo hat, revealing that blue-gray, shark-like face.
"This guy… seems to be the S-class missing-nin from Kirigakure, Kisame Hoshigaki!" Upon seeing Kisame's appearance, Asuma was shocked once more.
Two S-rank missing-nin!
At that moment, the pressure on the two of them was immense!
However, nervous as they were, they couldn't lose their composure. Facing two super-strong opponents, Asuma and Kurenai refused to back down.
"What is your purpose in coming to Konoha?" Kurenai demanded again.
Itachi's expression remained unchanged as he said calmly, "That's none of your concern. I don't wish to kill you. Leave."
"If you don't make it clear, we won't let you go!" Kurenai said coldly, fearlessly.
Itachi was silent for a moment, then had no choice but to say, "I have no choice but to tell you. Our purpose in coming here is to take the Fourth's legacy. You'd best not interfere."
Hearing this, both Kurenai and Asuma were taken aback, immediately realizing what he meant. The Fourth's legacy—wasn't that Uzumaki Naruto?
Thinking this, Kurenai immediately said angrily, "What do you intend to do to Naruto?! I won't allow you to harm him!"
Asuma also stated, "Then I can't let you leave! Explain clearly—what is your purpose in capturing Naruto?"
Although the fact that Naruto was the Nine-Tails jinchūriki was considered a secret in Konoha, elites like Kurenai and Asuma naturally knew. So, upon hearing Itachi's target was Naruto, they immediately thought of the tailed beast inside him.
"You're really long-winded," Kisame said impatiently. "Since these two won't cooperate, we'll have to kill them."
With that, Kisame swung the Executioner's Blade from his back, preparing to charge.
However, at that moment, Naruto, who had been hiding nearby, suddenly leaped out.
Seeing Naruto appear so suddenly, everyone was shocked.
Asuma and Kurenai inwardly cried out in dismay. In fact, they now regretted allowing Naruto to follow them earlier. Seeing him dare to show himself now, their expressions grew even more tense.
Itachi also frowned slightly.
In truth, with his perception, he had already noticed Naruto hiding nearby, but he hadn't expected him to reveal himself after hearing his words. If that was the case, he'd have to take him back.
"Hey! It's a kid! From the intel, isn't this the Nine-Tails jinchūriki? Is he an idiot?" Kisame grabbed Itachi and asked. "Isn't he afraid of us at all?!"
"Hey! Naruto! Get out of here!" Seeing Kisame about to make a move, Kurenai immediately shouted at Naruto. "Their target is you! Why aren't you running?!"
Hearing this, Naruto turned and smiled. "Run? This is Konoha. Why should I run? If people come to bully us and I run away, that'd be too pathetic!"
"You! Why are you so stubborn!?" Kurenai was now both angry and helpless, and even more worried he'd get himself killed. Was this guy really not afraid of death?
"Haha! The brat's quite gutsy! I just don't know if you're all talk or have real skill?" Kisame said with interest. As he spoke, he swung the Executioner's Blade toward Naruto, suddenly stirring up a gust of wind.