Chapter 66 – A Diversion and An Attack
"Talk"
'Think'
Flashback
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei.
"First, we do not know for sure that they (Akatsuki) are coming for us" said Kakashi "It could be a coincidence that they need to use the same path we are using. To be certain, Naruto and Noriko will produce sixty kage bunshin each, which will Henge into five copies of us; altogether, both of them will make ten copies of four teams"
"Sixty? Isn't that a bit too much for a genin?" asked Kurenai.
"They can" answered Kakashi confidently before continued "Then, each copy including us will disperse into all direction. We will move into that direction" he pointed to a direction "It will be a bit detour but it will lead us to Hi no Kuni"
"If they are after us, they will chase the copies which will buy us some time while wasting their chakra" continued Kakashi.
"What will happen when they caught us?" ask Hamaki.
"We fight-" said Kakashi "-as a team" while looking directly into Hamaki's eyes.
"What are you looking at?" asked Hidan to his partner.
"Lists of blackmarket items. Altogether our targets have 3 sharingan and 4 byakugan" answered Kakuzu.
"That again?" grumbled Hidan "You-"
"Hidan" warned Kakuzu. He detected a raise in the number of chakra presence in front of them before they moved in different directions.
"Oh man" complained Hidan "I just don't feel like chasing them"
"You don't have to" said Kakuzu. He unbuttoned his cloak, revealing four masks with water, fire, lightning and wind designs that were attached on his back. Two figures emerged under the fire and the wind masks and they combined; resulting in one figure with fire and wind masks. Both mask opened their mouth and released what resulted in a combination of fire and wind jutsu which was aimed in all directions. The fire attack was made more powerful by the wind which burnt everything in its path.
Noriko gasped at the sheer power she's witnessing.
Flashback (Training/Mission with Kakashi and Itachi)
"Described what you've seen" asked Itachi. He had just finished sparring with Kakashi while Noriko watched with both byakugan and sharingan activated.
Noriko complied; she recounted from the moment Kakashi and Itachi started attacking each other- "… … …then both of you performed Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu which was quite interesting; Itachi's chakra transformed into fire element easier and at smaller amount of chakra than Kakashi sensei's and … … …"
"Sharingan can see the nature of chakra, but not to the extent of amount; that must have been the effect of byakugan" said Itachi before he proposed another round of sparring with Kakashi albeit this time, at a distance, where Noriko's vision (dōjutsu-less) is obstructed by the dense forest.
Before began, Itachi asked if Kakashi mind using jutsu that has never been shown in front of Noriko.
Kakashi arched his eyebrow and asked why; to which Itachi replied "I want to confirm a theory".
After their sparring, Itachi asked Noriko to recount their sparring, which she complied.
"I see" said Itachi (inwardly, he was excited at this new-found knowledge but outwardly, he remained composed) "Sharingan's advantage was limited when your vision is obstructed, but that seems to be overcome by the byakugan…"
Kakashi caught on what Itachi was trying to say; his face transformed from indifference into attentiveness whiles his mind already thinking different scenarios to put this new-found ability into its full advantage.
Once the fighting strategy was laid out, Kakashi turned to Noriko and said "We need your eyes"
Noriko nodded and activated her dōjutsu. Since she had to focus on the two members from Akatsuki, it was impossible for her to move and focus on her surroundings thus Kakashi had to carry her (to her embarrassment, to which Naruto put on his 'evil' smile).
While running/being carried, Noriko gasped at the sheer power she's witnessing "We need to make barrier!" She cried "Incoming fire! Now!"
Tenzō immediately jumped into action "Mokuton: Mokujōheki!". Wood pillars emerged from the ground and form a half-dome.
Meanwhile, Kakashi said "Doton: Tajū Doryūheki". A number of thick, earthy walls emerged from the ground, surrounding Tenzō's dome.
Moments later, a powerful fire attack passed through. Despite of multiple layers of walls, they felt the heat.
Kakuzu smiled. His attack has obliterated what appears to be a diversion and now, he sensed only one location where a group of chakra congregated.
"You think you could hide?"
End Chapter 66
Dōjutsu – Eye Techniques
Doton: Tajū Doryūheki – Earth Release: Multi Mud Wall
Henge no Jutsu – Transformation Technique
Hi no Kuni – Land of Fire
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu – Shadow Clone
Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu – Fire Release: Grand Fireball Technique
Mokuton: Mokujōheki – Wood Release: Domed Wall Technique