(Kakuzu POV)
Kakuzu watched as the group from Takigakure advanced through the waterfall land, his guard slightly lowered due to the familiar territory.
He observed the group, besides the Jinchuuriki, the others were merely cannon fodder.
Behind Kakuzu, two tall figures appeared, wire figures with masks as "faces".
The figure on the left with a red mask and the figure on the right with a blue mask opened their mouths at the same time.
The two of them released fire and wind simultaneously, transforming what were already clearly Rank A jutsus into a Rank S jutsu!
A sea of flames engulfed the entire forest in front of them.
Taki's group of ninjas widened their eyes as they watched an endless sea of flames advancing toward them, none of them had expected this!
There was nowhere to escape, even the earth was turned upside down by that jutsu.
-Shibuki-sama! - Taki's ninjas shouted, trying to protect him.
Fuu's eyes widened, wings unfurling on her back, but there was no time for anything else.
Kakuzu hadn't even moved when the sea of flames hit them head-on.
Kuzuku simply watched as the flames continued to advance until they stopped, the forest serving as fuel continuing to burn even after the initial surge subsided.
Pieces of burnt black trees were scattered everywhere, but as the smoke subsided and the fire died down, Kakuzu's eyes widened. There, where the Jinchuuriki should have been the only one to survive, thanks to the tailed beast's protection, Taki's group was perfectly fine. Not only that, but ahead of them, a figure with white hair and serrated teeth stood, smiling.
Suigetsu.
The area around them was hot and humid, at the last moment, Suigetsu created a dome of water to protect them.
Not far away, three more figures appeared.
Karin, Ranmaru and Sasuke.
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed rapidly, he recognized them.
The situation became increasingly complicated.
//-//
Not far away, at the top of a slope, two figures were looking at the escalating situation.
-Itachi-san, it seems Kakuzu is in trouble.- Kisame chuckled lightly as he spoke, finding the situation interesting.
Itachi did not respond, his eyes, with active Sharingan, fixed on Sasuke.
Sasuke wasn't supposed to be there, but that was good too.
Looking at the four who had arrived, Itachi pursed his lips slightly, Obito had already told him what had happened, Sasuke had chosen Otogakure.
At that point, Itachi knew it was very difficult to get Sasuke to return to Konoha, so he could only resort to Shisui's eye.
If he could make Sasuke want to return to Konoha, through his relationship with the Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki, he could be forgiven.
As for keeping Sasuke in Otogakure? Itachi didn't trust Orochimaru one bit, much less Jugo, he felt Sasuke was in a den full of snakes, and he needed to save him, even if it meant taking away his will.
-Shall we help him, Itachi-san?- Kisame asked, still smiling, his small eyes fixed on Itachi.
-Let's go.- Itachi said, advancing quickly.
//-//
Kakuzu sensed he would be unlucky this time, but when Kisame and Itachi appeared beside him, he breathed a sigh of inner relief.
But as soon as they appeared, Kakuzu ceased to be the protagonist of this fight.
As soon as they saw the newcomers, Sasuke and Suigetsu's eyes became incredibly focused.
Sasuke didn't take his eyes off Itachi, and Suigetsu smiled excitedly, looking at Kisame. It seemed his collection of seven ninja swords of the Mist would have one more, although obtaining the Hiramekarei would be difficult, the Samehada would be enough to make the Kubikiribocho in his hand be retired.
Kisame saw Suigetsu and for a moment thought he saw Mangetsu in him. -Ah, this must be Mangetsu's younger brother, you seem to have gotten quite strong.- He said, his smile widening as he picked up the handle of Samehada from his back.
-Kisame is mine, you guys can deal with the guy with the strings together.- Suigetsu said, taking Kubikiribocho off his back.
Karin scoffed, but didn't stop him, Ranmaru simply nodded.
-I'll deal with Itachi, don't interfere.- Sasuke said after they left.
-Two idiots.- Karin complained, but she wasn't very angry. Instead, she turned to Taki's still surprised group and said. -You stay behind first, they're after the Seven-Tails.
The eyes of Taki's group turned to Fuu, and Fuu swallowed hard, her smile gone.
-Ranmaru, you accompany them to Takigakure, I'll take care of the guy with the wires.- Karin said, adjusting her glasses slightly.
Ranmaru simply nodded, he didn't mind "running errands".
-Thank you, please inform Jugo-sama that Takigakure will remember this favor.- Shibuki said quickly. By this point, Shibuki no longer cared that Oto's group was in Taki's territory, he just wanted to escape with Fuu quickly.
Karin scoffed, waving her hand irritably. She was in a bad mood, after winning, she had expected Jugo-sama to give her some more "tangible" reward, but instead they had to watch Sasuke's battle and then rush off to the Land of Waterfalls. She clearly had reasons to be in a bad mood.
Once the opponents were decided, both sides were quiet for a moment, then everyone moved.
Taki's group fled with Ranmaru, Suigetsu attacked Kisame, Kakuzu attacked Karin, and only Itachi and Sasuke remained there, standing and looking at each other.
Sasuke's eyes were filled with endless hatred.
He remembered that night.
She remembered her loving mother.
He remembered his strict father.
He remembered the streets full of life.
He remembered his beloved brother.
In one night, he lost everything. Before him stood the cause of it all, that same beloved brother, the one who had taken everything from him.
The next moment, Sasuke's eyes opened directly to the Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi's eyes also changed, both looking into each other's eyes with emotions hidden by the cold reality.
That was what it meant to be a ninja.