The battle between Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi unfolded in the heart of Konoha, tension thick in the air. The moment Itachi's kunai pierced what should have been Kakashi's flesh, the body burst into water with a splash—just a water clone. From the distance, Kisame smirked as he rested Samehada on his shoulder, his sharp eyes scanning the battlefield.
"As expected of the famous Copy Ninja Kakashi," Kisame mused. "Even his water clones are on a different level."
Kakashi reappeared near Asuma and Kurenai, his Sharingan spinning as he took a defensive stance.
"Asuma! Kurenai! Close your eyes!" Kakashi barked. "If you don't have a Sharingan, looking at him will be the last mistake you ever make!"
Before either of them could react, a calm yet confident voice echoed across the battlefield, cutting through the tension like a blade.
"Ah, ah, when did the village become so lively?"
The arrival of Souta Kazuki, the Fifth Hokage, made everyone turn their heads. The young Hokage strode forward, his dark cloak billowing behind him. His crimson Mangekyō Sharingan gleamed ominously, taking in the scene before him.
"Kakashi-sensei," Souta said with a smirk, "I thought you were Konoha's Anbu Commander. Shouldn't you be more aware when guests arrive?"
Kakashi let out a breath of relief at the sight of him. "Hokage-sama."
Souta grinned wider. "Still so formal, huh?"
Kisame burst into laughter upon seeing Souta. His laughter was loud, mocking, full of ridicule.
"Hahahahaha! What is this?! The Hokage of Konoha is just a kid?!" Kisame sneered. "You people must really be desperate! Hey, kid, did they pull you out of the Academy to wear that hat?"
Souta's expression didn't change, but behind him, the twelve elite genin of Konoha's next generation stepped forward. Among them, Sasuke Uchiha's eyes burned with hatred, his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning as he glared at Itachi.
"Wipe that smile off your face, fish-man," Sasuke snarled. "If you think the Hokage is weak, why don't you step forward and test him?"
Naruto Uzumaki clenched his fists, the golden aura of Kurama's chakra beginning to envelop him.
"You idiot," Naruto grinned. "You just made the biggest mistake of your life."
Without warning, he formed a dozen shadow clones in an instant. His real body vanished in a flicker, appearing behind Kisame.
"RASENGAN!"
Kisame barely had time to react before the swirling sphere of chakra smashed into him, sending him skidding across the ground. He gritted his teeth, pressing Samehada against his shoulder to absorb some of the impact.
"Tch... this brat's chakra..." Kisame muttered. "So much power!"
Before he could recover, Sasuke lunged forward, his newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan giving his movements a terrifying precision. His Susanoo materialized, forming a massive spectral arm that swung straight at Kisame.
"DIE!!!"
Kisame jumped back just in time, barely avoiding the blow. His grin was gone.
"This is bad, Itachi," he muttered.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi stood frozen, his mind racing. His eyes flicked between Sasuke, Naruto, and—most of all—Souta.
Something is wrong.
The Konoha he knew no longer existed.
The Third Hokage was missing. Instead, a child with a Mangekyō Sharingan led the village. Sasuke—his own little brother—had already awakened his Mangekyō. Naruto controlled the Nine-Tails' power perfectly. And Souta Kazuki...
He wasn't normal.
Itachi could feel it in the way he stood, the way his chakra pulsed. This wasn't someone he could take lightly.
"Itachi!" Kisame called out. "We need to retreat! This isn't what we expected!"
But before they could act, space distorted. In an instant, two figures appeared beside Kakashi.
The first was a man with spiky blond hair, blue eyes, and the unmistakable presence of a warrior.
The Yellow Flash.
The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
The second was a man with silver hair and cold, piercing eyes. His blade, the legendary White Fang, gleamed in the sunlight.
Hatake Sakumo.
"Sensei," Kakashi whispered in disbelief.
Minato smiled. "Kakashi, you're still reading those weird books, aren't you? Maybe if you trained more, you wouldn't be struggling so much today."
Kakashi felt his face burn in embarrassment.
Sakumo, however, wasn't in the mood for jokes. He gave Kakashi a cold stare before sighing. "I always thought my son would inherit my strength. Instead, you let enemy ninjas waltz into the village without a fight."
He shook his head.
"Maybe you should quit being Anbu Commander and go shovel manure instead."
Kakashi's eye twitched. "I... don't think that's necessary."
The battle was escalating. Uchiha Izuna and Senju Tobirama arrived next, still bickering over their rivalry.
"Damn it, Tobirama!" Izuna yelled. "You must have hidden something when you taught me the Flying Thunder God! Why are you 0.01 seconds faster than me?!"
"Heh," Tobirama smirked. "Maybe you're just bad at it."
Minato chuckled. "You two are still arguing? Maybe I should show you both how it's really done."
More figures arrived.
"Sarutobi! START!"
A younger Sarutobi Hiruzen leaped into the battle, his face filled with youthful energy.
Might Guy and his father, Dai, stood at the ready, their bodies pulsing with the power of the Eight Inner Gates.
"This is youth!" Guy declared.
"That's right, Father!"
Uchiha Itachi felt his breathing grow heavier. This... this was not what he expected. This was no longer the Konoha he left behind.
Finally, two more figures emerged from the shadows.
Itachi's blood ran cold.
"Father... Mother..."
Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha stared at him, their faces unreadable.
For the first time in years, Itachi felt fear.