39)Foxy Adventures: Ch.39

A few minutes before the attack:

“Have you spotted anyone, Karin?”, Kakashi asked as he hid in the top branches, watching as the Uzumaki girl shook her head while Sakura looked at the moving carriage in the distance.

“Other than my cousin's clones coming close now and again to check up on us, there's no one else.”

'Considering that the person who last attacked us was close to the village, it's safe to say that they were either the scout or part of a scouting unit,' Kakashi thought as he looked at the carriage.

In his experience as a shinobi and as an ANBU Black Ops, the first attack was always done to determine how powerful the defence of the target is. You never fully commit on the first attack because you first need to figure out every variable in the equation that might give you a perfect score.

'Therefore, the second attack is going to be an attack to drain them and make sure that the group can't prep-!', Kakashi's head whipped to the side as he heard a soft whistle, grabbing both Sakura and Karin right as a sword barely missed cutting them.

“Hmm, I suppose that's to be expected,” The blue-eyed man murmured as he stood up, his Akatsuki robe having two red clouds instead of the usual one on it while his long green hair swayed in the wind.

Held in each hand was a sparking Taiji sword, each sword having an upward-curved bladed prong near the tip on one side and another near the base of the sword on the other side.

'Zabuza was already a problem, but he…this might be a hard battle.'

“Kakashi Hatake of the Sharingan. I see that you survived the attack of my former colleague.”

“Raiga Kurosuki, the Thunder of the Mist. I see you survived the battle against Might Duy,” Kakashi spoke as he placed Sakura and Karin on the ground, both girls looking wary as the two men stared at each other.

“I did. It was surprising that a man known as the Eternal Genin was able to do that to us, but I suppose it was our mistake to think that we were all-powerful.”

“Kakashi-sensei, who is this guy?”

“Raiga Kurosuki, an A-Rank rogue shinobi from the Hidden Mist and a former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.”

“S-So, like Zabusa?”, Sakura asked with wide eyes, Karin looking just as shocked as the two girls inched backwards while Kakashi nodded.

“Just like Zabusa. Sakura, Karin, go find Sasuke now.”

“Got it!”, Unlike before, Sakura quickly shook off her fear and rushed away, Karin following after a moment of hesitation while Kakashi lifted his headband as Raiga just watched the girls leave.

“Are you sure you wish to do that? You may need all the help you can get.”

“I don't think I'll need it against you,” Kakashi murmured as he took out a pair of kunai, raising both to his mask before Raiga narrowed his eyes as the Jounin blew a layer of sharp wind to turn each into a wind blade.

“Oh? I thought the Copy Ninja was a lover of the Lightning Style.”

“Well, I am Kakashi, He Who Knows A Thousand Jutsu,” Kakashi spoke with a calm smile hidden under his face mask and the Mist swordsman didn't waste time as he shot forward.

The first slash Raiga aimed was swift and aimed at his shoulder, his Sharingan catching the motion as he parried the strike before countering with his own stab.

Watching Raiga block the attack before hopping back, Kakashi spun his two kunai into a sword-like grip and held them in front of him right as Raiga swung down, sparks flying and the wind screeching as their chakra-laced weapons clashed.

“I see the times of peace have dulled your edge, Kakashi Hatake! Where is the man that killed my fellow Swordsman?!”, Raiga exclaimed as he pushed down, Kakashi narrowing his eyes before he dropped abruptly and rolled to the side.

Raiga's blade cut cleanly into the ground as if there was nothing there, the swordsman pulling them up and rushing after the Leaf Jounin who was rapidly weaving through hand signs while taking a deep breath.

Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!

Water Style: Shark Bullet Barrage!

Spitting out a flurry of fireballs, Kakashi hummed as Raiga countered with a barrage of shark-shaped water bullets, putting out the fire ones before the two men landed on a tree.

Shockwaves rippled in the air as the two clashed, Kakashi spinning and ducking under a slash while kicking Raiga's legs from under him, but the swordsman landed in a handstand while kicking Kakashi's wrist downward.

The Jounin frowned as his stab that was meant for Raiga's heart instead cut into his target's side, but the wound was shallow as the Mist Jounin's sword sparked and he grinned.

Lightning Ball!

Water Style: Water Wall

Raiga's eyes widened as Kakashi spat out a water wall that had both of them in the centre before the lightning balls exploded and electrocuted both men with a powerful explosion.

Creating a layer of Lightning Chakra over his body as the electricity raced through his form, Kakashi landed on the floor with a stagger while watching Raiga do the same, both fighters glaring at each other.

However, the Jounin frowned as Raiga took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, nodding while sheathing his blades with a smile.

“We're equal, which means you have no hope against him.”

“Against who?”

“Oh, you'll see. Until our next bout, Kakashi Hatake,” Raiga murmured before he vanished, Kakashi waiting a few moments before he turned and raced to where he could see Karin, Sakura and Sasuke fighting against another person.

'There's something about this mission that's bugging me…and I'm going to find out.'

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“You think he likes one or the other?”

“Knowing Sasuke, I think he likes Karin more because she's stronger than Sakura.”

“Yeah, but Sakura is smarter and Sasuke does appear to be attracted to women that are smarter.”

“Eh, I think he's going to focus more on strength since he has to revive his clan and all.”

'Why is this happening? Am I being punished?', Sasuke thought with gritted teeth as he sat in a tree top, trying and failing to ignore the two clones of Kakashi whispering about his love life like some gossiping buffoons.

He didn't know why he needed two as Sasuke was certain he could handle any foe that came after him, but Kakashi did not think so and since he didn't want Sakura and Karin to be on their own, that meant he had to deal with two Shadow Clones of the man.

As if one Kakahi wasn't enough.

“So, Sasuke, which would you pick? Sakura or Karin?”

“Neither. Both are-”, Sasuke blinked as a clone grabbed his shirt and threw him upwards, his Sharingan activating immediately when the clone was split from head to groin while the other clashed with the opponent.

“Damn, I was hoping to get the Uchiha with that,” The green-haired man spoke as his sword sliced right through the kunai of the Kakashi clone, who looked shocked when the sparking lightning sword cut him in half.

'W-Wait, that's…that's the Sword of the Thunder God!', Sasuke thought in shock as he landed on a tree, watching as the man in the Akatsuki cloak looked at him with a smirk while holding the blade lazily in his right hand.

“So, don't suppose you'll just let me take you out in one hit, will you?”, The man asked as he swung his blade, Sasuke frowning as he heard the high-pitched humming coming from the blade.

“No, I won't. Will you?”, Sasuke asked, watching as the man just smirked before instantly hopping down as the man vanished. Running down the side of the tree, the boy quickly leapt to another tree as the man appeared beside him and sliced through the bark of the tree like a hot knife through butter.

Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!

A fireball soared through the air and lit up the surrounding area, but Sasuke frowned as the man simply twirled the sword and unleashed a burst of lightning that dispersed the flames with ease.

“Yep, there's the Fire Style of the Uchiha, but I have to admit that it's a lot weaker than your brother's,”

“Who the hell are you?”, Sasuke asked, ignoring the anger he felt from the man's words as he watched him blink before shaking his head with a chuckle.

“Of course, the Leaf still doesn't inform its warriors of the ones that ran. I am Aoi Rokusho, A-Rank rogue shinobi.”

“Was that given to you before or after you stole the weapon of the Second Hokage?”

“Oh, I didn't steal it. It was stolen for me and it's not like his corpse was using it,” Aoi answered with a shrug, but Sasuke stayed silent as he stared at the chakra flowing through the blade.

'It's not that strong of a flow. I think…yeah, that should work,' Crouching on the tree while weaving through three hand signs, Sasuke grinned as potent Lightning Chakra condensed around his hand, the sound of a thousand birds chirping soon echoing in the air while Aoi looked amused.

He'll soon see.

Chidori

With a grunt, Sasuke was a blur as he shot down along the tree, holding his left hand to the side as he landed and vanished with a boom. Diving in between the trees, Sasuke could see the man trying his best to follow him before he ducked and rushed around to attack him from behind.

Yet, as he stabbed forward, his eyes widened as the man spun and swung the sword with a grin, a pained cry immediately escaping his lips as the lightning blade cutting through his Chidori while also paralysing his entire body.

“Ohohoho~ I was not expecting the signature jutsu of Kakashi Hatake! Guess you do have some of your family's talent after all!”, Sasuke ignored Aoi's sadistic shouting as he tried and failed to get his body to move, a wheeze escaping his lips when a powerful kick to his stomach made him gasp for air and roll over onto his back.

Gritting his teeth in pain as Aoi stabbed his arm, Sasuke stifled his pain while glaring up at the man, who grinned as he slowly pulled the blade out before spinning it into a reverse grip.

“I was going to enjoy this more, but orders are orders and mine are to make sure your village knows the consequences of messing with the Akatsuki. Goodbye, Sasuke Uchiha.”

Illusion Arts: Faint Mirage

Sasuke was a bit confused as he saw the dazed look entering Aoi's eyes and stop his attack before a pair of hands grabbed onto him and pulled him away, surprised to see Karin as she tossed him to Sakura while throwing a trio of kunai with exploding tags.

Yet, it did not last long as Aoi quickly snapped out of the illusion and swung the Sword of the Thunder God, unleashing another burst of lightning to block the explosion whilst glaring at the three kids.

“Hah, Raiga was supposed to keep you all busy, but I guess one can't expect an incompetent swordsman to do your work.”

“What…are you doing here?”, Sasuke asked with a frown as Sakura helped him stand, Karin landing beside him with a smirk as she saw the glare on his face.

“No need to look so grumpy. Kakashi-sensei is busy with the other guy so we thought we'd come and help here.”

“I didn't need your help.”

“ 'Thank you for saving me, Karin' 'Oh, it's no problem, Mr. Grumpy. Sakura and I are happy to help.' See, that's not so hard, now is it?”, Karin spoke with a huff and Sakura shook her head as Sasuke gritted his teeth before shaking her head.

“While she is being a bit pushy, Karin is right. You looked like you needed help. Who's the opponent?”

“…Aoi Rokusho. He's a former Leaf shinobi and currently an A-Rank rogue shinobi. According to his own words, at least.”

“Oi, you saying that I'm lying, boy?”, Aoi asked with a frown as he swung the blade from side to side, Karin frowning in confusion when she heard Sakura's gasp.

“I'm guessing he's famous or that lightning saber thing is?”

“That…that's the Sword of the Thunder God. It belonged to the Second Hokage, but I thought…it was stolen.”

“Eh, I know what that look in your eyes mean and I didn't steal it…technically. I had it stolen, but it's not like the corpse of the Second was using it anyway. Besides, I would say that I look rather dashing with it.”

“You'd look better dead,” Sasuke growled as he went through three familiar hand signs before turning his glare to Karin as she grabbed his wrist.

“How many times today?”

“Let go.”

“I will. How many times?”, Karin insisted, the Uchiha keeping his glare on her while Sakura kept her eyes on the family who smiled amusedly at their interaction.

“Once.”

“You got two more, then,” She whispered, Sasuke frowning at her words before nodding as electricity sparked and covered his left hand.

“I'll need an opening.”

“We'll give you o-”

“Leroyyyyy~ JENKINSSSSSS~!!!!”, The trio looked up to see a horde of Naruto's clones diving down from the sky, Aoi looking just as surprised before the area was soon covered in smoke.

“Come on!”, A clone shouted as he raced out of the smoke, grabbing Sasuke's arm and hopping into the trees with a bewildered Sakura and Karin following after.

“Hey, Kakashi! Follow!”, Naruto shouted as he grabbed the man by his collar, who blinked in confusion as he got dragged along before they found themselves a few dozen meters away from where the fighting was still ongoing.

“What was th-”

“Shut up!”, the clone hissed, surprising Sasuke at the sharpness in his tone as well as Sakura while Karin and Kakashi frowned as they saw the clone's gaze focused on the spot where they had left.

After a few minutes, they watched as the clone let out a relieved sigh and sagged against the tree they were hiding in.

“Okay, he's gone. Everyone can talk now, but quiet voi-”

“What the hell are you thinking for stealing my kill?!”, Sasuke didn't waste any time as he cut the boy off and the clone rolled his eyes with a sigh.

“Sasuke, I didn't steal your kill. I did it because most of the other clones had to get the man's attention on them. I wanted to learn more about our opponents and I did.”

“From the sound of it, I'm guessing that there were some shinobi that attacked the carriage,” Kakashi spoke and the clone nodded as he stood up.

“Yep, two other Akatsuki, though from the looks and with how you were further away, I'm guessing you guys got attacked by two as well?”

“Pretty much. What's the next course of action?”

“Right now, the original is making a few new clones to scan the terrain, but in the meantime, we want you guys closer to the centre. Instead of being two to three hundred meters away, we need it to be one hundred. There will be sixty or so clones that will be doing the patrol work on the outer edge while the original and the samurai will-”, Team 7 frowned as the clone stopped talking, Kakashi feeling dread as the clone paled considerably.

“What's the matter?”

“Go! To the original! Now!”, The clone shouted before he popped, Kakashi immediately moving with Team 7 behind him as they rushed to where Naruto and the carriage was supposed to be.

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'This is bad,' I thought with a grimace as I stared at the figure in front of me, the man having a wide grin on his face as he swung his scythe around while the other man behind him adjusted the briefcase in his hand with narrowed eyes.

“Glory be to Lord Jashin! We found our target, eh Kakuzu?”

“Hidan, shut up.”

'WHY?!!'

A/N: Sorry for the late upload. Had some connectivity issues with my account and with my laptop.

Anyway, we're officially moving on from canon~!! Why are the Immortal Duo there? Find out next time.

Next chapter: Rage

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one

Ba-Bye~!!