This wasn't Kita's first time sneaking into Konoha.
Looking at the village after the battle, she felt nothing in her chest. Fortunately, Orochimaru hadn't gone so far as to destroy Ichiraku Ramen, which brought her a small measure of gratitude. Honestly, Ichiraku Ramen really was good—she could still polish off a large bowl of chashu ramen even now. It was pricier than most ramen shops, but worth it.
Satisfied, she set down her chopsticks, left the coins, pulled up her hood, and melted back into the crowd. Using a simple visual illusion to lower her presence was second nature. While thinking about how to extract the Hyūga clan leader's Byakugan, she heard the village alarm sound.
Kita didn't think she'd regressed so far that eating a bowl of ramen would get her detected. Still, she didn't rule it out. Hiding carefully, she noticed someone running toward another part of the village.
Hmm… Akatsuki in red clouds and black cloaks. Long time no see.
It didn't matter if it was Itachi or Kisame—she hadn't seen them since years ago. Seeing them again, Kita wanted to say that Itachi seemed taller. But there was no need for her to appear yet. On the water's surface, Itachi and Kisame were clearly surrounded by Konoha shinobi. One of them was none other than Kakashi Hatake, whom she had crossed paths with before.
Kita stood at the edge of a tree, among many skilled fighters. Some might sense her presence, so she suppressed her chakra to nearly nothing, watching the battle unfold above the water.
With Zetsu's memories and partial abilities, she could clearly see the clash of dojutsu techniques. She had to admit, Uchiha Itachi had grown to a height worthy of admiration after so many years. In nearly a single second, even less, Kakashi had already fallen to the ground.
Hmm… that green-skinned monster is worth noting. There are few who could kick Kisame like that.
A brief distraction, and she felt eyes sweep over her. Furrowing her brows, she vanished from the spot. In the center of the lake, Itachi's eyebrows furrowed. When his Mangekyō Sharingan scanned again, the sensation of being watched had disappeared.
"Forget it, Kisame. We didn't come here to start a war," Itachi said calmly to Might Guy, who was ready to fight. "It's regrettable, but we can't continue. Let's go back."
Kisame sheathed his sword with a sigh. "Finally in action… there's no choice."
The two vanished as soon as they spoke. Even with a hundred Mights, no one dared pursue them. Whether it was the name Uchiha Itachi or Kisame, the Tailed Beast-controlling swordsman of the Seven Ninja Swords, neither was a foe to be taken lightly.
Stopping at the outskirts of the village, Itachi halted suddenly, glancing back at Konoha.
"Hmm? Don't want to leave?" Kisame teased, though not maliciously. His claim of returning for the Fourth's inheritance was just an excuse. After the Third Hokage died, Itachi had to ensure Konoha's leadership wouldn't target Sasuke. Only then did Kisame accompany him.
"So harsh. You want me to beat you until you cry next time I return to Kirigakure?" Itachi joked in his usual calm voice. Kisame laughed slyly.
"I'm not like you—I still have a homeland to be attached to."
Indeed. For Akatsuki members, the idea of a homeland was almost unattainable; few had one to return to.
"By the way… odd," Itachi continued, moving away from talking about his homeland. Kisame scratched his face. "You weren't really welcome there either. Not odd, right?"
Itachi paused, trying to steer the conversation back on track.
"This just now… I felt someone's attention, but it vanished in an instant. Strong, but fleeting."
"The Fifth Hokage?"
"Doesn't seem like it."
"Jiraiya?"
Itachi shook his head, moving forward. "No… probably just an illusion."
Kisame shrugged, keeping pace, teasing, "Maybe you got too excited seeing your little brother, huh, Mr. Brother Complex?"
Itachi stayed silent for a few seconds, then couldn't hold it. He kicked Kisame hard. "Dead shark! At least I have a brother to be obsessed with!"
Kisame looked genuinely hurt…
Itachi really almost got discovered, Kita thought from her perch in the dense forest. She hadn't been wrong; his potential was enormous. If she faced Itachi now, it wouldn't be as easy as before. Luckily, she had secured this corner early on.
Daytime theft of eyes wasn't wise, so she waited until nightfall. Sneaking into the Hyūga clan at night was easy, reaching the leader Hyuga Hiashi's room was simple. A swift, silent strike—Hiashi was down, and she extracted his Byakugan. Just as silently as she arrived, she departed.
Attempting to leave the village, Kita had to admit: even she could make mistakes.
The white-haired man following her was unsettlingly familiar—enough that she couldn't kill him outright.
"Miss, moving in so openly… do you think Konoha has no one left?"
Jiraiya.
Kita stopped, scanning her cloak. From head to toe, not a hair was exposed. How did Jiraiya know I was female? Orochimaru's friend was indeed formidable.
As she pondered, the space around her shifted. The ground softened, and the space began sealing—Jiraiya's binding technique. Her first time witnessing it.
"So, no escape. Miss, I think it's time you reveal yourself." Jiraiya approached cautiously. He was strong, and without his timely return, he wouldn't have sensed the slight chakra fluctuation. No one knew when she entered Konoha, but her movements indicated departure. Jiraiya pursued to identify this audacious intruder.
Kita considered her options. Two solutions: kill Jiraiya, or shake him off. The first is simpler.
But… this is Konan and Nagato's teacher.
Sighing, she shot forward down the corridor. Lightning sparked in her hands, striking the blood-red walls.
BOOM!
Breaking through, she vanished from the binding technique with a few swift movements.
Jiraiya pursued relentlessly.
"Don't think you can escape!!!"
Impossible, Kita thought, accelerating. She summoned her clay bird; with earth chakra, it transformed into a massive bird, leaping and soaring across the sky. Watching Jiraiya clench his teeth below, she smiled faintly. Good, deliver this to Shonin directly.
In the forest of the Land of Fire, Kisame and Itachi looked up, puzzled, at the bird flashing overhead.
"Is that Deidara?" Kisame frowned.
Itachi squinted. "Can't see clearly. I'm near-sighted."
Kisame snapped, "Then why no glasses?!"
"It's probably eye strain. But only Deidara has clay birds. What's he doing here? Alone?"
"No idea. We should ask him. Maybe get our own clay bird—no more sleeping in the wild."
Itachi snorted. "Sounds like you have earth chakra too."
"…Just like you, four-eyed weasel."
"Shut up, dead shark."
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