CHAPTER 135: CHAPTER 135

"Kabuto, you go first," Kakashi murmured.

In the same breath, his hands blurred—shuriken fanned out in a deadly storm.

"Hah! You think it’ll be that easy?"

The Iwagakure captain sneered, barking, "Leave none alive!"

Earth Release: Fist Rock!

Stone encased his hands, fists swelling into jagged boulders. He slammed them forward—shuriken clanged harmlessly off, ricocheting away.

Kakashi’s eyes narrowed. In a flash, his short sword was drawn, slicing toward the captain’s wrist. The strike was so fast it landed before the man could even register it—stone armor or not, pain lanced up his arm.

"You’re no ordinary ninja..."

Alert now, the captain’s hands blurred into seals.

Earth Release: Moving Earth Core!

The ground heaved, lifting Kakashi skyward atop a massive stone pillar.

Kakashi frowned—and his left eye bled red, the Sharingan whirling into view.

Shock flickered across the captain’s face. "An Uchiha...? No—one Sharingan... The Copy Ninja, Kakashi!"

Recognition hardened his expression. Kakashi’s reputation was one thing; facing him in person was another. He shifted to full focus.

Kakashi cast a quick glance toward Kitazawa and Kabuto—and froze for half a heartbeat. Kabuto, though fending off three Chūnin, wasn’t overwhelmed. Kitazawa, however, was holding two Jōnin at bay—and not just surviving, but matching them.

So he hadn’t been bluffing about his strength.

But there was no time to dwell. The captain had to go down first.

Half a minute earlier.

The moment Kakashi attacked, the remaining five Iwa-nin split the battlefield with practiced precision—two Jōnin sealed off Kitazawa, while three Chūnin surrounded Kabuto.

It was logical—Kabuto looked young, less threatening. In truth, without Orochimaru’s training, his skill was only average for a Chūnin.

One of Kitazawa’s opponents—a younger Jōnin—stepped forward.

Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears!

Jagged spires of rock lunged toward him, just as the second Jōnin, an older man, swung a katana toward Kitazawa’s head.

Leaf-Style Body Flicker!

Kitazawa vanished into a swirl of leaves, both attacks hitting nothing but air.

"Stay sharp!" the young Jōnin barked, back-to-back with his comrade.

Wind Release: Shuriken!

Two spinning projectiles whistled toward them—only to be intercepted by the older Jōnin’s blade, his chakra flaring in a web of sword light.

But Kitazawa was already in front of the younger man.

Earth Release: Fist Rock!

Stone-coated knuckles arced toward him—then a single feather drifted down.

The Jōnin’s pupils dilated. His body froze. Genjutsu!

And there—a second Kitazawa in the corner of his vision. When—?!

He didn’t have time to finish the thought.

Rasengan!

The spiraling sphere of chakra smashed into his chest, tearing flesh and armor alike. Pain snapped him from the illusion—but too late. Kitazawa’s kunai flashed, slashing his throat in one clean motion.

Blood sprayed. The young Jōnin’s eyes glazed with disbelief—Wind Release was one thing, but Genjutsu, too? He collapsed.

From start to finish, less than three seconds had passed.

Kabuto exhaled in relief—Kitazawa’s true strength was on a whole different level.

The Iwagakure captain, however, was wide-eyed. A Jōnin down in under a minute? Impossible.

The older Jōnin didn’t hesitate—hand seals snapped into place, two Shadow Clones materializing. They coordinated instantly—earth walls blocked Kitazawa’s wind shuriken, while the ground surged beneath him, forcing him airborne.

Perfect for the real one to strike.

Sword light blazed from all directions—only for Kitazawa to burst into smoke. A clone.

The real Kitazawa was already behind him.

Eight Gates Formation: First Gate!

His speed exploded, and the same deadly Rasengan from moments ago bloomed in his palm.

The older Jōnin’s eyes went wide—then the chakra sphere drove into his heart. His clones roared in fury, launching a barrage of earth spears.

Kitazawa’s body flickered away, weaving seals mid-movement.

Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!

Three roaring dragons of flame spiraled out, heat warping the air. One clone disintegrated instantly. The other dodged—but the real body was swallowed whole.

Screams ripped through the battlefield. Flesh blackened. Smoke rose from a charred husk.

Kabuto stared, astonished. Such mastery of Fire Release was rare even among Konoha’s best.

The Iwagakure captain was beyond disbelief now. Two Jōnin dead in less than a minute? Was Kitazawa secretly the Third Hokage in disguise?

Even Kakashi’s thoughts were unsettled—Rasengan, Eight Gates, Genjutsu, elemental mastery. Kitazawa wasn’t just strong; he was dangerously versatile. Against someone like that without prior intel... even Kakashi might lose.

’Chance!’

Kakashi caught the Iwagakure captain’s momentary distraction—and struck.

In an instant, he sank into the ground.

"Earth Release against Iwa shinobi? Pointless!"

The captain’s eyes narrowed. Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu.

He sprang upward without hesitation.

Boom!

The ground erupted. Kakashi burst out right on his heels, lightning sparking violently around his right hand.

Even in broad daylight, the concentrated chakra flared like a miniature sun.

The captain’s face shifted from confidence to alarm.

Kakashi’s killing intent was palpable, his thrust aimed straight for the heart.

At the brink of death, the captain crossed his forearms, earth chakra coating his skin in jagged rock armor—

—but the Raikiri sliced through it like paper.

Blood sprayed high into the air.

The captain’s scream was cut short by a look of horror—just before Kakashi drew his short blade and drove it into his chest.

They landed almost in unison.

Kakashi on his feet.

The captain on his knees... then still.

"Run!"

The three remaining Chūnin abandoned Kabuto without a second thought and bolted.

Kakashi’s wrist flicked. His short sword spun through the air, skewering one in the back.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"

Kitazawa exhaled a flurry of flames. They bloomed like crimson petals before scattering into embers—

When the glow faded, three corpses lay where the Chūnin had stood.

"We’re saved..." Kabuto exhaled shakily.

Three Chūnin at once was still beyond him—thankfully, the two ANBU were more than up to the task.

Kakashi was legendary. Kitazawa... unknown, yet frighteningly capable. Kabuto assumed he was an ANBU operative.

Kakashi knew better—Kitazawa was a mere academy instructor.

’How does a teacher fight like this?’

Kitazawa retrieved a storage scroll, sealing away the six bodies—three Jōnin, three Chūnin.

An extraordinary haul, especially outside of wartime.

Their deaths meant no Konoha losses and potential intelligence for the Yamanaka clan.

A pity there were no scrolls—Earth Release Jutsus would’ve been a bonus. Not that anyone carried such treasures without reason.

Closing the scroll, Kitazawa realized—this was his first true Jōnin battle.

Sparring with Tsunade hadn’t counted; this was life and death.

’High-level jutsu really are game changers.’

Rasengan, Multiple Shadow Clones, Eight Gates Formation, Nirvana Temple Technique... all A-rank.

He assessed himself: unless he faced absurd bloodline monsters or legends like Tsunade, he could hold his own.

Kakashi didn’t interfere. Kitazawa, as captain, had every right to the spoils.

Still, Kakashi felt awkward—he’d assumed command earlier, doubting Kitazawa’s strength. Now, he realized Tsunade had chosen the right man.

"This place isn’t safe. Iwa will send pursuers soon," Kitazawa said, stowing the scroll. "We’ll only be safe in the Land of Fire."

Kakashi nodded.

Kitazawa glanced at Kabuto—and raised a brow.

The boy was healing himself with green-glowing palms.

Kakashi’s eyes narrowed. For someone his age to know the Healing Hands Technique... a medical prodigy.

Under normal circumstances, no village would risk such talent as a spy.

But with Danzō’s Root, such cruelty was routine.

"I’ll help," Kitazawa said, weaving signs. His own medical chakra flared to life.

Kabuto stared. ’He knows medical ninjutsu too? Who is this man?’

Once patched up, the trio pushed on, finally halting at dusk inside the Land of Fire.

"We rest here," Kitazawa exhaled. Even he was worn down from the fight and the day’s run.

Kabuto sat heavily; unlike the others, he hadn’t fully recovered.

"Pakkun, keep watch," Kakashi ordered, summoning the pug.

Kitazawa privately noted the convenience of summons. His mind flickered to Katsuyu, the great slug of Shikkotsu Forest—one of the Three Holy Lands alongside Mount Myōboku’s toads and Ryūchi Cave’s snakes.

Not just beasts—they carried Sage arts that elevated shinobi to another level.

[Mission: Escort Yakushi Kabuto safely to Konoha]

[Reward: Yin Healing Wound Destruction]

[Mission complete. Reward issued.]

’Already?’ Kitazawa frowned. They weren’t home yet—but perhaps Iwa had abandoned the chase.

Either way, he now possessed a defensive medical technique that could be decisive in battle.

Three Days Earlier – ANBU Headquarters

Nono blinked at Tsunade, caught off guard. She’d been preparing for a mission in the Land of Earth when two ANBU intercepted her.

"Your mission’s canceled, Nono," Tsunade announced with her usual bluntness. "As of today, you’re free of Danzō Shimura."

Nono froze. It was something she had dreamed of—but when it happened, it felt surreal.

"Lady Tsunade... the orphanage, and Kabuto—"

"I’ve already spoken to the Hokage. The orphanage will be funded directly by Konoha. And Kabuto? Kakashi and Kitazawa are bringing him back."

"Kitazawa?" She knew Kakashi’s name well—but the other?

"You can thank Kitazawa for all of this," Tsunade smirked, recounting the events.

By the end, Nono was speechless. A casual mention of a mission together had somehow spiraled into this—and Kitazawa had gone so far to help her.

All she’d done for him was assist in a few surgeries and offer some medical ninjutsu tips... yet here he was, moving mountains on her behalf.

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