Chapter 10: Kakashi's New Moonlight
"Hatake Kakashi—the infamous Copy Ninja?"
Hearing Uchiha Itachi mention that name, Jūzō Biwa's expression subtly shifted. Kakashi's name echoed far and wide across the ninja world.
"Hm. I didn't expect him to leave the Anbu and take on students," Itachi responded calmly. Still, he felt a faint headache coming on.
Of all places… why did it have to be here?
Though he now stood on the opposite side, Itachi still considered himself a part of Konoha. Whether others agreed or not didn't really matter to him…
"Tch… This just got complicated," Kakashi muttered, finally closing his book and glancing at the boy beside him.
These are the 'dangerous individuals' you mentioned, Gen? he thought, sweat forming at his temple.
Calling them "dangerous" was an understatement—one was Jūzō Biwa, a former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and the other was Uchiha Itachi, the man who wiped out his entire clan and was once Kakashi's comrade in the Anbu.
Kakashi couldn't help but wonder if his bad luck was acting up again. How else could a random escort mission turn into a deadly confrontation with two of the most feared rogue ninjas?
"Assassins! Attack!"
Unlike Kakashi, the sword-wielding "farmers" disguised as guards didn't hesitate. Irritated by the presence of the two extra ninja in the group, they saw this as the perfect chance to prove themselves. Drawing their chakra-infused blades, they charged with battle cries.
"Wait—don't!" Kakashi shouted, alarmed.
But it was too late. He caught a glimpse of Itachi forming hand seals.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A roaring inferno surged toward the guards. They instinctively raised their weapons, chakra pulsing as they tried to block the flames.
BOOM—
When the smoke cleared, Jūzō was already among them. His massive Executioner's Blade(Kubikiribōchō) swept through with terrifying ease—two guards fell without a sound.
"Bastard!"
The remaining guards leapt to attack, but Itachi's shuriken found them before they could even get close.
Jūzō and Itachi worked together flawlessly. Against such overwhelming power, the guards were nothing more than wheat before a scythe. Kakashi could only sigh.
They didn't even last long enough for me to step in…
He turned to Gen, his expression serious. "If you get an opening, run. This mission's gone way off-script—we're facing enemies far beyond our pay grade."
But to his surprise, Gen wasn't listening.
Instead, the boy had pulled out a signal flare—and fired it into the sky.
Kakashi froze, speechless as the red light bloomed above them.
Wait… is he serious?
"Itachi," Jūzō said, narrowing his eyes at the glowing signal. "Think they've called for backup?"
Gen smiled and stepped forward. "Funny thing, I actually saw you two in town last night."
He straightened, his tone growing cold and sharp.
"Especially you—'The one who slaughtered his entire clan.' I'd say most Konoha shinobi would recognize you on sight. We sent a request for reinforcements immediately. You're out of time."
Itachi's calm expression wavered just slightly. Even though he was prepared to be called a traitor, hearing it out loud from a fellow Konoha ninja still stung.
Meanwhile, Kakashi was staring at Gen like he'd lost his mind.
Who called reinforcements?! Are you trying to get us killed?!
"Seems like you've made quite the name for yourself, Itachi," Jūzō said, eyeing the two Leaf shinobi with growing aggression. "But kid, did you ever think…"
Suddenly, Jūzō disappeared in a blur.
"…what if we just finish this quickly?"
WHOOSH—
Gen leapt back just in time as Jūzō's massive blade cleaved the ground where he'd stood.
"I'll deal with this brat. Itachi—handle Kakashi Hatake. I'll back you up once I'm done!"
Damn it… Kakashi cursed silently. This was the worst-case scenario.
Gen's bold move might've worked as a bluff, but if their enemies were determined to finish the job quickly, the flare had only pushed them harder.
Now, not only did he have to fight Itachi, he had to figure out how to protect Gen too.
No choice… I have to get Gen out of here! he thought, gripping a kunai tightly.
But then—
"Forgive me, Kakashi-senpai."
Itachi appeared in front of him, his Sharingan spinning.
"Itachi…" Kakashi murmured, frowning. He knew his former teammate well. Rumor had it Itachi's eyes had evolved further after the Uchiha Massacre—and now he was more dangerous than ever.
But regardless of the past, Kakashi was a Konoha jōnin. He had a job to do. He had to stop this traitor, and protect his student.
Kakashi pushed up his forehead protector, revealing his own Sharingan, voice cold.
"If I were you… I'd turn back now."
"But it doesn't matter anymore," he added, his tone sharper. "We only need to stall you until reinforcements arrive. This ends today."
"Perhaps," Itachi replied calmly, though chakra surged through his body.
"But what about your student?"
With those words, Itachi lunged. The two began to clash, high-speed jutsu and taijutsu filling the air.
—
Elsewhere, Jūzō's attacks came fast and heavy. His massive blade moved like it weighed nothing, each strike kicking up wind and debris, turning trees and boulders to rubble.
Gen didn't speak. He dodged swiftly, breathing carefully.
Yeah, I wanted to run, he thought. But now that I've seen them… I know how to trigger Kakashi's "exclusive mission."
And, just as conveniently, a new side quest had triggered as well.
[New Side Quest Acquired]
Kakashi's New Moonlight
Make Kakashi realize: who matters most to him now!
Gen had been reluctant at first. The objective sounded... personal. But if they were going to fight anyway, he might as well accept it.
He wasn't confident he could win—but stalling? That was doable.
Besides… there was Itachi. A man who still considered himself a Konoha shinobi, whether he admitted it or not. He might hesitate to go all out. If Gen could give him a "reason he couldn't ignore," maybe things could shift.
And worst-case scenario? Gen was fast.
"Alright then…"
SWISH—
Dodging another of Jūzō's monstrous swings, Gen felt his chakra surge.
Time to see… just how far my Purple Lightning(Shiden) has come!
But just as his hands sparked with electricity, Jūzō's eyes suddenly narrowed—not from fury, but from something… else.
A flicker of confusion?
Or perhaps… hesitation?