It's a well-known truth of shinobi life that from time to time missions will take a turn for the worst. Whether poor intel, lacking resources or unfavorable circumstance is to blame is beside the point. There are missions that simply go wrong.
But as Itachi is finding more and more the longer he serves alongside the rest of Team Ro, sometimes missions will take that turn for the worst and just keep veering right off course, spiraling out of control with one unfortunate mishap after another until the mission objective hardly seems salvageable anymore. In such instances achieving any approximation of success without racking up casualties becomes something of an art form. And he has had numerous occasions already to observe true masters of the craft.
It's worth noting this is not a mark against the members of Team Ro themselves. Even among the ANBU they are the elite of the elite. Each individual is highly capable—an asset to the village itself. And yet the worst of luck seems to seek them out with a vengeance.
Case in point, their latest assignment seems straightforward enough. Normally retrieving a simple scroll from the Land of Rice would not even fall within the scope of ANBU's operations, however, given the sensitive nature of the scroll's contents more digression than normal is called for.
Still, such a task is hardly considered a challenge by the ANBU. And so only two of their squad are sent to complete the mission, and seeing as Itachi is still a relatively fresh face among the ranks it comes as no surprise when he receives the orders. It is but another opportunity to further acquaint himself with his new role, after all.
His captain is a similarly clear choice. More than capable of taking point on the mission and showing a rookie the ropes, Kakashi is also an adept tracker with a penchant for noting details most might miss—a skill often proven invaluable in the field. By all accounts the odds seem stacked in their favor for a perfectly routine assignment.
That is, until they run into the ambush.
Their twist in fortune comes when least expected, as it most often does. One moment they're on their way back to the village, scroll in hand, hoping between hardy branches still laden with snow despite the swift approach of spring. The next Kakashi is tensing up ahead of him, coming to an abrupt halt that has his faded green scarf snapping over his shoulder with the motion. Silently he holds up a fist level with his chest, the fingers slightly splayed.
Itachi complies with the signal to hold his position and with a quick burst of chakra the world around him bleeds red. His perception quickens, the Sharingan drawing out the moments as he scans their surroundings and finds multiple chakra signatures glowing hot against the underbrush of the forest. There's something else as well, but before he can discern anything of more detail a line of wire snaps.
A flashbang goes off without further warning, lighting up the area with a blinding intensity he perceives all the more acutely through his Kekkei Genkai and leaves his ears clogged with white noise. The next several heartbeats are spent both blind and near deaf, surrounded by enemies.
But not alone. Two thunks, distinctive of kunai bouncing off steel, sound off just over the din of ringing in his ears from where he'd last known his captain to be. Kakashi would've had at least one of his eyes covered during the flashbang detonation; he's likely in a better position to defend against incoming attacks.
"Get down," comes the garbled order and Itachi can feel the displaced air as another kunai sails over his head. Not only that but he can sense the wind whistle and the clash of the kunai against an enemy's guard, giving away their position behind him. His hearing is returning already it seems.
The massive white spots that dance across his vision are another story. But he doesn't have much time to dwell over the state of his Sharingan. He twists, kicking his legs out from his crouch to hook around the enemy's ankle and pulls. Switching their positions, he unsheathes his sword and goes for the man's throat. It's a killing strike he doesn't need his eyes to execute flawlessly and with a gurgling cry the body beneath him goes still as more of the enemy shinobi move to enter the fray.
He can just make out their blurred figures with burning eyes as they spring into the trees. A barrage of kunai follows and Itachi performs a quick substitution, trusting his captain will escape similarly. He switches places with a frost covered log from the forest floor but under the lingering effects of the flashbang his balance is regrettably lacking and the snow is slick. He stumbles back a step, and it's as he feels the press of wire stretched taut against the back of his leg that he begins to piece together what sort of mess they've fallen into this time.
The second flashbang is no less bright or loud. But with a split-second of warning Itachi is sparred the added agony of witnessing it through the Sharingan. It's still a strain on his already taxed senses. If he's exposed to much more of this he may risk permanent damage to his sight and hearing.
As it is he almost misses the slight tremor beneath his feet as a shadowy blur rushes forward, leading with their fists. Itachi ducks beneath the first jab swinging for his head. Flitting just outside the enemy's reach he whirls, blade at the ready, and attempts to hamstring his opponent. However, without the benefit of clear sight he comes up short. Blood is drawn but the damage is too shallow to be anything more than superficial.
He disengages to leap over a pair of kunai that embed into the frozen ground where he'd stood the moment before. Pivoting midair, he kicks out against an incoming assailant at his back and brings his sword arm around to catch the dual trench knives of the second bearing down on his right. Half blind he manages to deflect the first strike, but the second slices an ugly gash up the middle of his thigh. The pain registers sharply as he senses more enemies converge on his position and he focuses on molding his chakra for a hasty Katon.
Powerful fire style jutsu are not typically advised for use in the middle of the forest or when one suffers less than optimal vision. But the snow and ice too stubborn to yet relent to the change of season ought to mitigate the danger of losing control, while also providing another benefit. The enemy shinobi hesitate when his hands blur through the necessary signs but he isn't necessarily aiming for them. He instead directs his Fireball Jutsu toward the largest patch of white he can make out. The result is a heavy screen of steam created from the rapidly evaporated winter slurry.
This tactic buys him only a small margin of breathing room. It's enough to find cover and briefly consider his wound. What he finds isn't the most encouraging. The bleeding is bad—dyeing the snow a deep russet color—though not so substantial as if he'd nicked an artery. For now the leg holds his weight.
But the scent of his blood on the battlefield is not without consequence. Itachi feels the spike in his superior's chakra just before the roar of Chidori cries out in a screeching mimicry of bird song that consumes all other sound in the forest, its bright afterimage imprinting fresh spots in his abused vision. Not unlike an Inuzaka war hound, Kakashi closes in on Itachi's assailants with uncanny speed and undeterred by the steam, his nose and lone Sharingan to guide him.
In a blink the trench knife wielder goes down, a lightning filled fist puncturing her heart. With one smooth motion Kakashi slips free of the corpse and twists to face who would be his next victim if not for the kunai that rain down from the tree tops.
Anticipating their purpose, Itachi intercepts three with kunai of his own but the fourth finds it mark, slicing through a wire hidden in the brambles underfoot. Another flashbang assaults their senses and the light burns Itachi's retinas even through the backs of his eyelids. Immediately after Kakashi's Chidori fizzles out as his Sharingan can no longer be relied upon, his signature technique harnessing more speed than can be safely utilized without precise direction from the Dōjutsu.
It's an ingenious trap they've fallen into, one uncommonly suited to counter his clan's Kekkei Genkai. Itachi has to wonder if that's by design or simply unfortunate coincidence, but he finds a kunai held at his back much sooner than he finds answers.
He stills, silently admonishing himself for not sensing the enemy's approach sooner. And when the sharp point between his shoulder blades presses threateningly he complies, dropping his sword to the ground.
"Well, look at who we've caught in our web," a voice purrs over his shoulder in the tense standstill that follows. Itachi imagines it might sound smooth like silk if not warbled in his ears by the aftermath of the latest flashbang. He tries to catch the woman's gaze without moving but the angle is poor and he can't yet force his eyes to focus.
"Leaf ANBU certainly fetch a finer price than our usual fair," she continues, a cold edge to her words as sharp as the blade pressed to his back, "but to snare the one they call Friend-Killer-Kakashi, now that is an unexpected treat."
"Ma, so you know of me," Kakashi replies with deceptive calm. "But I don't believe we've been properly introduced."
She huffs, the warmth of her breath hitting the back of Itachi's neck. "Oh, doubtless we're no one you will have heard of. Money is of more value to us than making a name in this world."
"Mercenaries then," Kakashi confirms.
"We prefer the term equal opportunists," she corrects, tone slipping back into something more playful. "And we'd be fools not to take advantage of such an opportune meeting."
To take her at her word would imply this group holds no knowledge of their mission or the highly classified scroll they carry, just as they've heard no reports of rogue mercenaries operating in the area with traps uniquely effective against Sharingan users. They've encountered each other entirely by chance. Itachi's head spins at the odds.
To make matters worse Kakashi's been recognized, though that's hardly uncommon. As a rule, the identities of ANBU operatives are kept anonymous. Their work is sensitive and far too vital to the village's security for anything less than the upmost secrecy. However, between the flashy nature of Kakashi's signature jutsu and his dying clan's characteristic silver hair he's gained a reputation even from within the anonymity of the organization—one that proceeds him here.
"You know, this is the part I'd offer to let the brat run along in exchange for your cooperation. But if you're as cold blooded as they say I doubt this one's life means much to you, so I won't waste our time." Itachi frowns as the mercenary turns her attention to him instead. "What about you, little ANBU? I can't imagine who you must have ticked off in the Leaf to wind up partnered with a known comrade slayer, but to tell you the truth faceless children aren't worth much to us dead."
Perhaps not when they aren't carriers of valuable Kekkei Genkai, nor when compared to the bounty that rests on Kakashi's head. It's hardly the only time Itachi's been confronted with the unkind moniker. He vividly recalls a conversation in the ANBU barracks, just before his first mission alone with his new captain. He'd been warned to watch his back, that "Friend-Killer-Kakashi" won't hesitate to put down a comrade if the mission calls for it. At the time it's just as likely an extension of the hazing he experienced shortly after joining ANBU as any kind of friendly advice.
Since then he's begun to see past the rumors, or at least he likes to think so. He can't quite claim to know Kakashi, he doubts many among the living still can. What he does know is the way several of the younger members of ANBU can't seem to help but look up to the last Hatake—sees for himself the way his captain habitually places himself between threats and his team—and can't help but think the truth of things is far removed from the gossip off the streets.
After a moment where he says nothing the mercenary leans in. "Come now, why act so noble. You know as well as I do your teammate over there would cut through you in a heartbeat to get to me or anything else that stands in his way. So why not let me cut you a deal instead, hmm? All I ask is that you step aside and carry on your merry way. You didn't see us and we didn't see you. Simple enough, right?"
The offer is more generous than expected—not that Itachi is foolish enough to believe it's genuine. They know he's injured and won't be able to get far on his own, at least not very quickly. They surely plan to track him down as soon as they've secured Kakashi. Faceless or not, whatever intel they might beat out of an ANBU agent holds value.
At least this all but confirms the mercenaries hadn't recognized his Sharingan earlier. Otherwise they'd never let him step foot outside their clever trap. He looks over to where Kakashi is surrounded by the rest of the mercenaries. The talking has gone on long enough now that Itachi's eyes have had a chance to recover and he gets his first good look at who they're up against, notes that they're all wearing protective googles with dark tinted lens and some kind of ear coverings that must serve to muffle the effects from the flashbang traps but still allow for some communication between them. The mercenary that's spoken to them seemingly has no issue hearing them after all.
Kakashi himself looks no worse for wear beyond that his ANBU mask has disappeared at some point—his typical cloth mask still perfectly in place as always—and a single shallow scrape along his bare shoulder. Itachi's leg throbs in jealousy. Giving nothing away, his captain appears perfectly bored as he catches Itachi's eye and asks, "What do you say? Wanna skip out on the fun and take the deal?"
In spite of the act there's a weight to Kakashi's gaze, urging him to accept, if for no other reason than to remove himself from the immediate danger.
Strategically speaking, taking the deal does have merit. Kakashi is highly skilled, even at such a disadvantage he's not to be taken lightly. Itachi doesn't know if his captain can win this fight but he might just buy enough time for Itachi to disappear. The scroll is already in his possession. He could tend to his wound and have a chance at completing the mission alone.
"Well, kid?" the mercenary at his back presses, patience spent. "Come on, there's no need for both of you to die."
"You make a compelling offer," Itachi finally acknowledges, even knowing that accepting will mean Kakashi's death, or worse. And, well, it truly would be such a shame to break Team Ro's quite frankly astounding no casualty record. "But I must decline."
He reactivates his Sharingan. And ANBU mask or no, up close it's too much to hope they'll miss the sudden red glow to his eyes. "The boy's an Uchiha! Kill 'em both," comes the warning, but by then it's too late to stop him. Itachi has already identified the trip wire locations for the remaining flashbang traps.
"Shield your eyes, Captain," he gets out just before the mercenary's kunai stabs into his back with vindictive force, dispersing his Kage Bunshin in a puff of smoke as his plan is set in motion.
Itachi abandons his true hiding spot in the branches above, springing into a well-practiced spinning flip and with a flick of his wrists he fires off seven shuriken. In the next breath the forest explodes into chaos as the last of the flashbangs go off all at once.
Senses reeling in the aftermath, the landing on his injured leg is far from his usual grace and, feigned or not, whatever mercy the mercenary intended for him is long spent now. He's barely found his feet before a hard blow connects solidly with the back of his skull and he crumples to the ground. Thanks to their protective gear the flashbangs haven't affected the mercenaries. But that was never his intent.
The last thing he knows as everything fades to black is the chirping shriek of Chidori. He trusts Kakashi to handle the rest.