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Chapter 396: The Terrifying Akatsuki?
Chapter 396: The Terrifying Akatsuki?
"Be careful, there are ninjas fighting up ahead."
Leading the group, Kakashi Hatake noticed signs of a scuffle in the nearby village.
Obito immediately rushed to Kakashi's side to assess the situation, while Rin Nohara and Genma Shiranui remained vigilant, guarding the middle-aged client.
To get a better view, Obito activated his Sharingan to enhance his perception.
"One, two, three... five. There are five ninjas, but they're all fairly weak, and none of them are wearing headbands. I can't tell which village they're from." Obito shared his observations.
"They're probably either from some ninja organization or a group of rogue ninjas." Kakashi replied.
The ninja world consisted of more than just the hidden villages, but it was true that the ninjas from those villages were the strongest.
"Teacher Mu Yue, should we take a detour?" Kakashi turned to Mu Yue and asked.
Kakashi was inclined to take the longer route, even though the ninjas they spotted seemed mediocre in skill. The top priority of an escort mission was to ensure the client's safety, and it was best to avoid any potential troubles.
"That's unnecessary. I alone can take on all five of them; they're not that strong." Obito disagreed, feeling that a detour would be overly cautious.
In Obito's opinion, the fighting ninjas wouldn't even make it past the third round of the Chunin Exams. He found it a bit disappointing to have to go out of their way because of such mediocre opponents.
"No need for a detour. There are only these five ninjas nearby." Mu Yue contemplated for a moment before responding.
Obito couldn't help but smile triumphantly when Mu Yue agreed with his assessment.
"Teacher Mu Yue, your ability to sense ninjutsu doesn't justify your recklessness," Kakashi teased lightly.
"You're just being stubborn. No matter what reason I give, you'll still disagree," Obito retorted.
Despite their bickering, the two didn't slack off. They continued to argue while staying alert and observing their surroundings.
As they entered the village, Kakashi noticed that the villagers were anxiously watching the ninjas' fight. This struck him as odd—typically, villagers would keep their doors shut tight to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.
Ninja battles were not meant to be spectator sports. A single kunai was enough to end an ordinary person's life.
However, Kakashi didn't think the villagers were merely curious onlookers. Perhaps they were so engrossed in the battle that they became nervous and tense?
At that moment, the villagers spotted Mu Yue's group entering the village. Upon noticing the Konoha headbands and flak jackets, they instinctively took a step back.
"More stray ninjas planning to raid our village... What a terrible situation we're in," the middle-aged client sighed.
Although he didn't know the identities of the two ninjas being ganged up on, the client could tell from their uniforms that they were members of Akatsuki.
While Akatsuki might not be the strongest ninja organization in the Rain Country, their unique principles had earned them a significant reputation in the region.
Among ninja organizations, Akatsuki was like a breath of fresh air. They offered reasonable prices for their services, and their members were known to occasionally perform good deeds.
Despite his favorable impression of Akatsuki, the middle-aged client had no intention of asking Mu Yue's team to aid the Akatsuki ninjas.
This situation was beyond the scope of their escort mission. While Mu Yue's squad had a responsibility to deal with the ninjas attacking their client, they were under no obligation to follow his orders regarding other matters.
"You take on the two in robes, and I'll handle the other three," Kakashi said to Obito after a moment's thought.
With such little time to analyze the situation, Kakashi opted for the simplest solution—take down all five ninjas and be done with it.
As he spoke, Kakashi kept an eye on Mu Yue's reaction. Seeing that she didn't object, he focused his breathing to heighten his senses.
"You wanted to take a detour earlier, and now you're eager to engage. Your tongue is as sharp as a kunai, Kakashi," Obito quipped.
Despite his comment, Obito followed Kakashi's instructions.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Obito gathered a large amount of chakra in his throat and then expelled it, converting it into fire-attribute chakra as it left his mouth. A massive fireball blazed towards the five battling ninjas.
Whoosh!
The raging inferno coalesced into a gigantic fireball that hurtled towards the ninjas, prompting them to cease their fight and scatter. The sheer intensity of the fireball was too much for them to withstand directly.
"Let's get out of here. Our luck's not good today. Those Konoha ninjas look like trouble," a tall rogue ninja suggested, recognizing Obito's considerable skill.
Their intention had been to raid the village and grab some loot; they had no desire to tangle with ninjas from Konoha.
As the tall rogue ninja finished speaking, he realized that his two companions had already taken off running without a second thought.
"Damn it all!" The rogue ninja cursed before turning tail and fleeing as well.
"Lightning Flash!"
Kakashi's legs, enhanced by the chakra he had gathered, propelled him forward at incredible speed. The breathing technique he had employed, combined with the activation of his lightning-attribute chakra, further augmented his body, making him appear like a lightning bolt streaking across the ground to the villagers.
Swish!
Kakashi brandished his White Fang ninjato as he sprinted, and the legs of the two leading rogue ninjas exploded in a spray of blood, causing them to tumble to the ground.
The third rogue ninja, slightly behind the others, witnessed Kakashi's astonishing display of speed and slammed on the brakes, no longer daring to continue his escape attempt.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Kakashi didn't let up. He drew a shuriken and hurled it at the uninjured rogue ninja, forcing him into a panicked, clumsy dodge. The shuriken left several gashes on his body.
Before the rogue ninja could figure out how to escape, a kunai imbued with lightning pierced his knee.
Kakashi's shuriken attack had been a feint; the true strike was the kunai enhanced with lightning-attribute chakra.
"We're not bandits! We're here to protect the village!" one of the Akatsuki ninjas shouted, hoping to defuse the situation.
Obito paid no heed to the Akatsuki ninja's words and continued his assault. He had no way of knowing if the man was telling the truth.
The best course of action was to incapacitate them first and then ask the villagers for the full story.
However, the Akatsuki ninja's words did give Obito pause. Concerned about killing someone who might be innocent, he refrained from using fire jutsu and relied solely on taijutsu for the fight.
Even with this self-imposed restriction, Obito's skill was more than enough to quickly overpower the already injured Akatsuki ninja.
"Konoha ninjas, we thank you, but please, don't harm them. They're here to protect our village," the village chief interjected, having witnessed Kakashi's swift defeat of the rogue ninjas. He believed that Kakashi's group wasn't a threat and stepped forward to clarify the situation.
"It's fine, you saved us as well." One of the Akatsuki ninjas, a tall and thin man, shook his head.
If it weren't for Kakashi and Deidara's intervention, they would have surely perished under the onslaught of the three rogue ninjas.
The other Akatsuki ninja also voiced their gratitude.
Having realized that the three assailants were rogue ninjas intent on robbery, Kakashi swiftly dispatched them with precise strikes.
Not wanting to leave any potential threats alive, he made sure to finish them off. After all, if they were to recover from their wounds, they might come back to seek vengeance on the villagers.
Noticing the injuries on the Akatsuki ninjas, Rin Nohara stepped forward and used her Palm Mystical Healing Technique to aid them.
Vibrant green light enveloped their wounds, rapidly knitting their injuries back together without leaving behind even a scar.
"Wow, thank you so much. That was amazing!" The tall and thin ninja exclaimed in delight.
Within the Akatsuki organization, there weren't many ninjas skilled in medical techniques, so without Rin's help, they would have needed a significant amount of time to recuperate.
Deidara's gaze unconsciously drifted upwards, knowing that some of the wounds he had inflicted were now being healed.
"We are truly grateful for your assistance. We are ninjas of the Akatsuki organization. If you ever need help in the Rain Country, please don't hesitate to seek us out," the tall and thin ninja apologized once more.
However, what he intended as a simple expression of gratitude caused both Rin and Kakashi's expressions to shift. Kakashi's eyes narrowed, and a sharp glint appeared in them.
Deidara, initially confused, soon realized the implications of the other ninja's words, and his expression mirrored Kakashi's surprise.
"You're from Akatsuki?" Kakashi quietly asked, his voice laced with suspicion as he gathered his chakra, his eyes scanning the surroundings alertly.
While he trusted Mu Yue's sensory abilities, he knew that in the future, Akatsuki would become a formidable ninja organization capable of challenging the five great ninja villages. Caution was warranted.
"Yes, have you heard of us?" The tall and thin ninja asked excitedly. It wasn't common for ninjas from the five great ninja villages to specifically remember their organization.
"Indeed," Deidara replied, his hand hovering near his mouth, ready to activate his Explosive Clay technique if needed.
Rin, too, gathered her chakra in her palm, this time not for healing but for her Chakra Scalpel technique, a potent offensive tool.
Due to the intelligence brought by Naruto and Yamato, Akatsuki was branded as the most terrifying ninja organization in their minds.
Asuma Sarutobi, sensing the shift in the atmosphere and the subtle actions of Kakashi and his team, furrowed his brow in confusion. He couldn't quite grasp why the mention of Akatsuki elicited such a response.
Although Asuma and Jiraiya would eventually meet their demise at the hands of Akatsuki members, the abridged account of the mission in Loufan that Deidara had shared with them didn't include any details about the organization.
Asuma's impression of Akatsuki was still largely shaped by their previous encounter during the mission in the River Country, where, despite a tense standoff, he hadn't viewed them as inherently malicious.
"If only there were more responsible ninja organizations like yours in the Rain Country, perhaps the situation here would be better," the middle-aged client remarked.
Hearing the client's words, Kakashi, Deidara, and Rin exchanged glances, feeling that the situation was quite different from what they had imagined.
"We will do our best. We've come together precisely to bring about change in the Rain Country!" The tall and thin ninja declared, his fist clenched with determination.
Deidara, on the other hand, looked utterly bewildered, scratching his head in confusion. "What happened to the terrifying ninja organization I've heard about? They sound like a bunch of do-gooders. Are you sure it's the same group?"
Kakashi and Rin, sensing the sincerity in the Akatsuki ninjas' words, slowly released the chakra they had gathered for combat. It was clear that these individuals weren't putting on an act.
In the end, Kakashi and his team bid farewell to the Akatsuki ninjas, who departed with expressions of gratitude. After a brief rest, Kakashi's squad continued on their way, escorting the client towards their destination.
Along the journey, Asuma voiced his confusion about their earlier reaction.
Kakashi didn't immediately respond to Asuma's inquiry. Instead, he subtly glanced at Mu Yue out of the corner of his eye and waited until he and Asuma were walking side by side at the front of the group before answering.
"Deidara probably hasn't told you about Akatsuki, but according to the information we received from Loufan, during the peaceful era in the future, Akatsuki becomes the most powerful ninja organization in the world," Kakashi explained in a low voice, ensuring that only Asuma could hear him.
"Its members are all S-rank missing-nin from various ninja villages, and they engage in activities like capturing tailed beasts."
Asuma now understood why Kakashi had been so cautious. Such a fanatical organization indeed warranted a healthy dose of wariness.
"Crazy" was the only word Asuma could think of to describe Akatsuki. Tailed beasts were the ultimate weapons of the five great ninja villages, and by targeting them, Akatsuki was essentially declaring enmity with those villages.
"If they continue to grow, perhaps they will possess that kind of strength in the future," Asuma mused, recalling Mu Yue's assessment of the Akatsuki ninjas they had just encountered.
Despite their seemingly unassuming appearances, Mu Yue had stated that there were two individuals he couldn't defeat, and one who could instantly kill him.
If such talented individuals continued to develop their powers and gathered a cadre of strong ninjas, they might very well achieve the feats Kakashi had described.
"I once encountered several Akatsuki ninjas during a mission in the River Country..." Asuma shared his own experience, his expression turning grim.
Kakashi's face grew solemn as he heard this. He was well aware of Asuma's capabilities, and for him to admit that he could be easily defeated was concerning.
After all, Asuma possessed the Sharingan, which enhanced his insight, and he was exceptionally skilled in teleportation techniques. Even the most elite jonin would struggle to defeat him instantly.
Of course, the term 'elite jonin' didn't apply to legends like Jiraiya and Orochimaru, the Three Ninjas, whose strength transcended the traditional ninja rankings.
"Then there's no mistake," Kakashi concluded. "This Akatsuki is the same one that will target tailed beasts in the future. They're likely biding their time and gathering strength right now."
Asuma's explanation only served to heighten Kakashi's suspicions that Minato's death might somehow be connected to Akatsuki.
The timing of the tailed beast's rampage and Akatsuki's goal of capturing them seemed more than coincidental. Kakashi suspected that Akatsuki might have attempted something during the Nine-Tails' attack but had retreated to build up their forces upon witnessing the might of the five great ninja villages.
...
"I never expected that even the Leaf ninjas would know about our organization. At this rate, we might be able to change the entire Rain Country soon," the tall and thin Akatsuki ninja said joyfully as they made their way back.
The other Akatsuki ninja also wore a broad smile.
Chatting happily, they returned to the village where Akatsuki had set up their base.
Unbeknownst to them, a ninja with brown hair trailed discreetly behind them.
(End of Chapter)
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