"They really did have other intentions."
Kakashi wasn't surprised by Kisame's sudden betrayal and attack.
The next second, he saw Bai Mo block his path, and his expression immediately tightened.
Their previous brief exchange hadn't allowed him to discern the other party's true abilities.
Now, having activated his Sharingan during his recent fight with Zabuza, Kakashi wanted to try again.
His Three-Tomoe Sharingan fixated on Bai Mo.
Bai Mo, giving Kakashi face, immediately began forming hand seals.
Kakashi instantly started to follow along.
"That young kid, be careful! That's the Copy Ninja—Sharingan Kakashi! He can copy your ninjutsu!"
Zabuza Momochi, having been rescued, saw the familiar scene and hastily warned Bai Mo.
However... what ninjutsu was this, with so many seals?
A cold sweat appeared on Kakashi's forehead.
Despite his concern, Kakashi's hands dared not stop.
His Sharingan remained intently fixed on Bai Mo's hands.
He observed in minute detail, even discerning the muscle movements in Bai Mo's hands as he transitioned to the next seal, thus knowing what the next seal would be in advance, forming the seals faster than Bai Mo himself.
He had relied on this same ability when clashing with Zabuza earlier.
"Reaper Death Seal!"
"Reaper Death... what?!"
Kakashi, with great confidence, completed the hand seals before Bai Mo and, following Bai Mo's words, shouted out the name of the ninjutsu.
But as soon as he shouted the name, Kakashi was startled.
What was that?
Kakashi didn't know the hand seal sequence for the Reaper Death Seal, but he knew the name; after all, his teacher Minato Namikaze had used it to seal the Nine-Tails.
Once this forbidden jutsu was used, it was uncertain whether the enemy would be sealed, but the user would definitely die.
Kakashi was truly startled.
He only breathed a sigh of relief after realizing there was no chakra fluctuation.
"Scared you, did I? Will you still dare to casually copy ninjutsu next time? And even release it ahead of time?"
Bai Mo shook his hands.
His hands were a bit sore from forming the seals just now.
Kakashi's face was covered in black lines at his words.
This personality was too nasty, wasn't it?
But then he thought about it, and what the other party said made some sense.
If someone deliberately targeted him and used a "self-destruct" type of ninjutsu with hand seals...
And he chose to use it a step faster than the opponent, wouldn't that be instant doom?
Having figured this out, Kakashi became even more confused.
The other party deliberately helped him remove his weaknesses and flaws, so were they a friend or foe?
"Hahahaha, I didn't expect the Copy Ninja Kakashi to be played by a youngster, hahahaha!"
Zabuza burst into laughter upon seeing Kakashi's discomfiture.
"You idiot who forms over forty seals for one ninjutsu shouldn't be laughing at others."
Bai Mo's single sentence brought Zabuza's laughter to an abrupt halt.
"Kisame, is he your subordinate?"
Zabuza's expression was displeased.
"No, I guess I'm his subordinate."
Kisame replied casually.
"What?"
Zabuza frowned.
Before he could say anything more, the masked figure, hidden in the shadows, finally couldn't help but leap out.
Thinking about Zabuza, he was indeed a formidable character.
At the end of Shippūden, facing Ōtsutsuki Kaguya were Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi, and a "Masked Man."
Now, facing Zabuza was the same configuration.
"Who's there?"
Kakashi heard the movement, turned his gaze, and held a kunai in front of him.
"Gentlemen, I am from the Kirigakure Anbu. My mission is to apprehend the rogue ninja Zabuza and retrieve the Kubikiribōchō. Could you hand this person over to me?"
Haku still used his pre-planned speech, attempting to persuade the group.
"It's indeed a Kirigakure Anbu mask..."
Kakashi was quite speechless at the current scene.
If it were just Zabuza, then this person appearing wouldn't be a problem.
But now there was not only Zabuza but also Kisame Hoshigaki.
Crucially, they, the Konoha ninja, were also cooperating with Kisame Hoshigaki, who was also a rogue ninja from Kirigakure.
Was this speech meant to force everyone to kill to silence them?
"Haku, you idiot, stop talking!"
Zabuza interrupted Haku.
Shouting out the name indicated that they knew each other.
Kakashi instantly understood that the other party was an imposter, aiming to rescue Zabuza.
"Lord Zabuza?"
Haku was very confused.
"Kisame, what do you want to do? You're not after this sword of mine, are you?"
Zabuza didn't speak to Haku anymore but looked at Kisame.
Now that he had just been defeated by Kakashi, he would surely be defenseless against Kisame.
And Kakashi's chakra was also considerably depleted, and he had several dependents with him. Facing a ninja like Kisame, who had vast chakra reserves and was fully rested and prepared, Kakashi would inevitably have no choice but to retreat.
Therefore, Zabuza's life or death entirely depended on the other party.
Kisame, however, didn't answer Zabuza but looked at Bai Mo.
"What do I want your sword for? Since we saved you, then you, your sword, and your subordinate must all become members of our branch."
Bai Mo spoke.
As soon as Bai Mo said this, the other group, Kakashi, immediately became alert.
Branch? That means there's also a headquarters?
Could the other party be a new force, centered around rogue ninja, gathered somewhere?
"...An organization capable of recruiting a ninja of your strength, Kisame, must be formidable. I can agree, but I have a few questions I'd like to ask first."
Zabuza, after a brief deliberation, chose to agree.
He then said nothing further but turned his gaze to Kakashi and the others.
Kakashi's expression was grave at this moment.
With such an organization of rogue ninja, Kakashi didn't believe they intended to do anything good.
If left unchecked, it would sooner or later threaten the village's safety.
It would be best to find a way to obtain more information.
But the current situation was clearly not the time to gather intelligence.
To risk three subordinates for information went against his long-held ninja way.
"We..."
"Strategist, the mission is complete."
Just as Kakashi was about to say something and retreat directly, a flock of crows suddenly flew in, coalescing into Uchiha Itachi, who handed a scroll to Bai Mo.
"Uchiha Itachi?"
Kakashi, seeing Itachi, instantly thought, This is bad.
Sure enough, no sooner had he thought this than Sasuke, behind him, trembled all over, threw out a Fūma Shuriken, and then charged forward with a kunai.
"Itachi!!!"
Sasuke rushed forward with a crazed expression.
Bai Mo nodded, took the mission scroll, and said a few words to Itachi.
Itachi then slowly turned his head and activated his Sharingan.
The Three-Tomoe rotated, directly transforming into the Mangekyō.
"Stop! Itachi! Don't hurt Sasuke..."
Kakashi cried out in alarm, hastily shouting.
But halfway through his shout... Kakashi found his surroundings suddenly changed, and he was bound to a cross.
Huh?
So he wasn't attacking Sasuke after all?
Outside the Tsukuyomi space, Sasuke was also startled.
After all, Itachi's eyes were too familiar.
Seeing those eyes meant he was about to relive the night of the clan's massacre.
But this time, it didn't happen?
Sasuke touched his body to confirm he was alright, then looked back to see Kakashi had fallen headfirst into the water and was being carried ashore by Naruto and Sakura.
....
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