Akuma's POV:

I was walking the usually busy streets of Konoha. There had been a few days since the invasion on the village and Old Man's funeral. So far, things had been peaceful and back to normal. I was on my way towards the training ground while avoiding the mean stares and gossips of the villagers.

Yeah, back to normal, I thought and left out a sigh.

Since the funeral, no other Hokage had been chosen. That meant no missions for us. Therefore, I was once again here and I was bored to death. At least, I did not have to do chores or anything but still, I missed the action. I know what you will say, you were against the jinchuriki of Shukaku and Shukaku himself and you want action. What can I say? I was an energetic person and I needed to do something. In addition, all these days I had spent a lot of time on my own.

Training, being with my thoughts and no one else. Ever since the funeral and the lunch after it, Team 7 had not been assembled again. I occasionally fell on Sasuke during training but he seemed to have changed. Possibly because Naruto saved the day? Who knew? I had been spending some time with Naru but since we did not have academy or missions together, we did not have much to do. Sakura? Well, she had her own life and from what she told me, her parents have found the chance and gave her chores to do. Hinata was still injured and unable to train.

Shino, well he never talked much and it was boring to be with him if the only thing you do is watch insects. Therefore, I had been stuck with myself and right now, I definitely needed something to do. I passed Ichiraku's ramen but stopped when I heard a noise. I lifted the curtains and entered the shop, only to come face to face with an almost naked Naruto. Thank Kami almost, as he still had his underwear on.

I cleared my throat, unfazed by the incident. It was not the first time I had seen him on his boxers. One of the disadvantages of being his next-door neighbour and best friend. However, he heard me and looked at me, also unfazed. "Naru, what are you doing?"

"Oh, hey Akuma. I was looking for my coupon for free ramen but I cannot find it"

"How about I help you but first… please wear your clothes back on" I said and left out a sigh.

"Ah! You are right. Give me a second Akuma"

"Take your time" I sarcastically replied and looked at Techu who gave me a smile and I returned one back.

"Okay, I am ready"

I looked back at Naruto but my attention went to his headband. Most specifically, to something that was slowly showing from the inside. Shaking my head at the whole ordeal, I pointed at the object. "Naru, you may want to check on your headband"

"What?" he said and took off his headband only to blush from embarrassment when he noticed that the coupon was there all along. "Thank you so much, Akuma! Old man Techu, 3 miso ramen please"

"Coming right up Naruto!"

"So, Naruto… what's up with the backpack?" I asked as I noticed it at the bottom of his feet.

"Oh, Pervy Sage and I are going to find and bring the 5th Hokage!"

"I see. That is great news. You lucky knucklehead, you are going on an adventure"

I put on a small smile. I was happy for him, I truly was. However, I did feel slight jealousy since he got the opportunity to leave and do something while I was still stuck inside the village. Yet, I didn't let it show since he had his huge happy grin on his face and hated to spoil that.

"There you go Naruto!" Techu said as he placed 3 bowls of ramen in front of him.

"Do you want some Akuma?", Naru asked as he sat on a stool and grabbed his chopsticks.

"No... But thanks for the offer Naru. So, do you know who the next Hokage is?"

He started to eat but swallowed before talking, something that I had tried to teach him for years. "No, but I cannot wait to find out. I mean, I really want to return back to missions"

"There you are, kid!" a very familiar voice said and we both turned our attention towards the source of it.

"Master Jiraiya, it is good to see you again," I said and bowed.

"Akuma, good to see you too," he said and messed up with my hair. "So, ready to go kid?"

"Yeah!", Naru said as he paid for the 3 bowls that he had already emptied.

"So, when do you planning on returning him back Master Jiraiya?"

"Well, I do not know Akuma but I do not think it will take a lot"

"See you later Akuma!" Naruto said and we both hugged each other before he and Master Jiraiya exit the shop.

I left out a sigh, exited the shop after a while and head towards the training grounds. It did not take me long to reach it and when I did, a faint smile found its way on my face. I grabbed my fans, left out a sigh and started attacking a tree trunk.


I stopped my attacks in order to catch up on my breath. I smiled at the countless mark that was on the trunk. I took a deep breath and went for the final strike. I infused chakra on it and managed to cut the trunk in two. I knelt on one knee for a while and tried to slow down my heartbeat. Since I was exhausting myself too fast when I used ninjutsu; I decided to stay on taijutsu and my fans. Suddenly, my stomach growled, thank Kami no one was near or I would have blushed from embarrassment. I stood up, placed my fans back at my pouch and head towards the village.

I knew that no shop owner would accept me, so I had to stick with ramen until I found someone to buy it for me. However, that was never is going to happen because my ego was too big to let me ask anyone. I was snapped from my thoughts when I heard two very familiar voices. One was Kakashi sensei and the other was… Itachi. My eyes widened and I quickly headed towards the source. I hid behind some bushes and looked at the scene in front of me. On a small lake, Asuma and Kurenai sensei were standing behind Kakashi sensei and they had their eyes closed.

Across them, was Itachi and a man with shark-like features and a giant, of what I assumed, sword that was covered with bandages. Both of them were wearing black cloaks with red clouds on them. Kakashi sensei and Itachi were locked in a glaring contest, No, not glaring contest. A genjutsu battle in which, I assumed that Itachi had the upper hand. I wanted to help but I knew that Itachi's genjutsu was definitely much more powerful than any other was so; a simple 'release' would not help. Therefore, I decided to stay hidden and interfere if I have too.

After what seemed like a century but it was actually a few seconds, Kakashi sensei broke from the genjutsu but he was panting heavily. My eyes widened when I noticed Itachi's partner smirking before he took off some bandages from his sword and head straight for sensei. I knew and I could see that he was too exhausted to avoid or protect himself.

Now it's my time, I said to my mind as I quickly grabbed my fans, infused chakra on my feet and stood between him and my sensei. I opened my bladed fans, placed my hands on an 'X' form and blocked his attack.

"Huh?" Itachi and Kakashi sensei exclaimed together, both the same shocked.

"A kid?" Itachi's partner said as he added more pressure.

I could feel my knees bending due to the pressure and I knew that I would not hold much against him. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, focused as much chakra as I could on my hands and pushed back. I smirked as his eyes widened when I managed to scent him back. I placed my hands on my knees and tried to catch my breath. I still need to master my chakra control, I thought.

"Are you okay sensei?" I asked as my breath turned back to normal and glared at the sword wielder.

"Impressive… a kid matching my power and blocking Samerhana with a simple pair of bladed fans? How amusing"

"Hey fish face, your hands and sword off my sensei," I said as I tightened the grip on my fans.

"Who… Who are you calling fish face you little brat?"

"Are there others like you? If yes, then where? I do not see them?" I teased him and smirked as my words were affecting him completely.

"Why you!" he shouted and charged at me.

A smirk found its way on his face as he sliced me with his sword but it soon faded when I was replaced with a log. Suddenly I jumped from a branch and aimed for his head but he moved it back, resulting in me scratching his cheek instead. I landed in front of sensei and stood in position. As long as I played smart and kept him angry, I could avoid his attacks and earn time for reinforcements to arrive. At least, I hoped there were any.

"You!" he shouted as he placed his hand on the cheek and noticed that it was bleeding.

"Kisame, that's enough," Itachi said, in a calm but serious tone.

"But…"

"I said enough", Itachi said again and Fish face Kisame muttered something's under his breath but placed Samerhana on his back and took a step back.