Naruto: Unlocking Kaido Template-Chapter 188

Jiraiya tossed aside the report in his hand. This was the fourth insane plan Danzo had submitted this month. Using the First Hokage's cells on death squads? Sure, not a bad concept—but Jiraiya discarded that one too, along with an impeachment letter submitted by Danzo's group of "water army" supporters.

He rubbed his temples. Danzo was a sly old fox, always with a new excuse up his sleeve. You'd never catch him around during a war or when Konoha was facing a real crisis—he vanished like vapor. But the moment peace returned, he'd crawl out from the shadows and start stirring up trouble again. Nearly every shady experiment and scandal connected to Konoha's dark side had his fingerprints on it.

"The man who tried to copy the Second Hokage but failed miserably... Any updates on the squad sent after Zixu?" Jiraiya sighed. Being Hokage had never been easy.

An ANBU, masked and kneeling before him, replied, "According to reports, a massive energy vortex appeared, and Zixu seemed to be sucked into it."

"He opened the Dragon Vein?" Jiraiya looked exhausted. None of this was good news.

He changed the topic. "Naruto's doing okay, right?" This time, only Kakashi and Sasuke were sent to infiltrate Amegakure. Because of Naruto's status as a Jinchūriki, Jiraiya had decided to keep him out of danger.

"Emotionally stable," the ANBU confirmed.

"Good."

Kakashi and Sasuke moved quickly. Sasuke was solidly built with great endurance. Kakashi, despite his low chakra reserves, had trained endlessly with Guy Sensei, so his taijutsu was no joke either. Before long, they arrived at the edge of Amegakure.

Raindrops tapped against their shoulders—it was living up to its name.

Sasuke adjusted his raincoat, visibly uncomfortable. "Kakashi-sensei, this rain isn't normal." His Sharingan activated, the three tomoe spinning as he stared at the seemingly regular raindrops.

Kakashi's single Sharingan turned red as he nodded. "Yeah. There's chakra mixed into the rain. Looks like a wide-area sensory-type jutsu. Be on alert—we might already be exposed."

Around them, Amegakure's villagers wore raincoats, straw hats, and even gas-mask-style gear, giving the place a grim and strange atmosphere.

"Let's move fast and get some intel," Sasuke said.

They entered a nearby tavern—one of many in the area. The constant rain had made drinking a common pastime. Even during daylight hours, the place buzzed with patrons.

Kakashi and Sasuke grabbed a random seat and listened to the chatter. Kakashi eventually joined in the conversation with a casual smile, claiming they were wandering rōnin just passing through.

Through the tavern gossip, they learned that Amegakure was now ruled by a so-called "God," whose orders were delivered by "Angels."

"God and Angels? Definitely has Akatsuki vibes..." Kakashi thought to himself. He was just about to leave when the tavern door creaked open.

A tall woman walked in, soaked from the rain. Her body looked like it was made of folded paper. Without a word, she whispered something to the tavern owner. His legs buckled and he scrambled to evacuate everyone else.

Kakashi's senses went on high alert. He pushed Sasuke behind him, stepping forward to face the woman.

"Akatsuki," he guessed silently. He didn't want to start a fight, so he tossed a smoke bomb to cover their escape.

When the smoke cleared, the woman dissolved into thousands of paper cranes—Konan. She sighed softly as she watched a paper crane in her hand flutter.

"They've arrived," she murmured, then vanished into the shadows.

Meanwhile, Kakashi suddenly realized something was wrong.

"Sasuke... he's gone?"

He retraced his thoughts and recalled a pair of eyes staring at him just before the smoke bomb went off.

"Sharingan... Uchiha Itachi..." A chill ran down his spine. Sasuke was in danger.

Elsewhere, Sasuke stood at the entrance of a dark cave. Deep inside, Uchiha Itachi sat, waiting.

"Itachi!" Sasuke's voice cracked with rage. His Sharingan burned crimson, veins bulging on his face as he clenched his fists. No words needed—he rushed in with his nunchaku spinning.

But the attack passed through Itachi like mist. It was genjutsu.

Sasuke froze as Itachi appeared behind him.

"How far can your Sharingan see?" Itachi asked, plunging a kunai through Sasuke's torso—only for the body to flicker and vanish.

"Heh... See for yourself." Sasuke's Chidori no Ken (Lightning Blade Sword) pierced through Itachi's body in return.

"Enough of these tricks," Sasuke muttered, addressing the empty stone chair. Illusions—they'd both been playing mind games from the start.

"Not bad..." Sasuke told himself. For once, he wasn't being crushed—by Naruto or anyone else. For once, he held his ground against the master of illusions himself. It gave him a dangerous sense of pride.

Itachi, however, had no idea what was going through his brother's head. He restrained his power—too much force could kill Sasuke by mistake.

"You're weak," Itachi said coldly. "Your hatred... it's not strong enough. The Uchiha Sharingan only awakens and evolves through pain and despair. You've grown soft, Sasuke..."

Sasuke ignored him and launched a Katon: Hōsenka no Jutsu (Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu), enhanced with shuriken.

Itachi mirrored him—same technique, same precision—their attacks canceled out midair.

Inside the cave, two brothers prepared for a life-and-death showdown.

For Sasuke, it was a battle that could change everything.

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