Chapter 9

The two travelers awoke to the singing of birds. The sun was shining brightly on the futons through the bushes of the trees. Itachi opened his eyes and noticed something strange about Hana. It was like she was having a soft dream and she was hugging someone, which made Itachi smile, because he knew she was dreaming that she was flying in the clouds, literally. Though at the moment, it wasn't the time to think about resting. Itachi followed by adding his favorite word "Heh..." still decided to wake her up. She woke up saying "Good morning" then they folded the futons back into the scroll. Itachi guessed that in time lines, one must act very subtly yet fragilely. After all, once the time line was broken, it would be difficult to restore the right time.....

Mentally he said to himself, "In the second time line... I have become even stronger in will and honor. I must preserve the timeline, for if I make a weakness or a misstep..... Who else will save the world?". Itachi thought about all of this as he jumped from tree to tree, along with Hana. Then his thoughts were distracted by Hana:

-Itachi, we've already reached the right place," Itachi nodded with a serious look after Hana spoke. They left the forest and landed in an open field, only to wait for them.

-Hana, can you feel their chakra? Do you have any sense of the scent of other people's footprints?" Itachi asked, shifting his gaze to her. Hana nodded negatively, then added after three seconds:

-There's a contact of two travelers, they're getting close-. - she replied, with a wide smile that she wouldn't have to wait long for them. She also added, -Now I see why I didn't smell them a kilometer away.... Their sensor very clearly hid the trace of their chakra as well as their partner's... It must be a very experienced Jonin. And the other one next to the sensor, he's even stronger. I can sense his incredible amount of chakra with my sniff," she finished.

-I assume they'll be dressed in ANBU gear. If they're as strong as you described them, then our mission will be a success," Itachi finished, his arms folded across his chest with a confident look. He, by the way, was also wearing his Konoha ANBU uniform.

Itachi's POV

This is where they come out of the north woods..... And we come out of the southern forest. Now that we've met, we'll head east. Toward Suna. Regarding these experienced partners, Hana described one of them as if it was Kisame.... maybe it's fate, or maybe I'll actually meet him before the deadline. It's probably really going to be him.

Following us out of the woods come both of them wearing ANBU fog masks. As they approached us, both took off their masks. One of them I recognized immediately.... I put my hands down and was even glad that my theory was true. To see my partner again, but I didn't show it. At the moment my face was still as neutral, for I know that even a possible, or even the slightest hint of predictability Can cause interference. The second time line...

-Greetings, friends of Konoha," the one I recognized began with a smile, "my name is Kisame Hoshikage," Kisame said. I looked at him and wondered if this was really Kisame yet. The version of him that hadn't met Tobi yet. Would I really get a chance to work with him in the name of village order, not in some criminal organization. This is already getting more and more interesting. Heh...

-My name is Ao, I'm a sensor," the second fog ANBU introduced himself. He had blue hair color and an unusual hairstyle. Reminiscent of Kisame's hairstyle. Ao wears a Kirigakure protector on his head. His left eye is blue and his right eye is covered with an eye patch. And seals hang from his ears. When I was in heaven, I also learned many interesting things about him. He's going to accompany the Mizukage to the Five Kage Council. I, in turn, began.

-I'm Uchiha Itachi from Konoha. It's nice to meet you, too," I said with a simple face. I made a simple face, and then looked at Hana, adding, "This is Hana Inuzuka Sensor.

-I assume we have a mission together?", Kisame asked with a smile.

-Probably," I replied with a smile. I smiled, remembering the days of Akatsuki, where we hunted down killers and maniacs. They were not in a position to deal with them themselves, so they turned to Akatsuki for help. They paid well, too. Paine sent me and him on missions like this... I was distracted from my thoughts and added, "Our goal is the east. There will be a free field, and then the Wind Country, we will have to go straight through the desert, so as not to lose too much time. And finally the hidden sand village of Sunagakura. If there are storms and visibility is blurred. That's where the sensors come in," I finished, looking at Kisame.

-I don't like deserts like this, and I don't know why I was chosen for this task. I don't like deserts like this, and I don't like why I was chosen to do it, especially in the driest place on earth," Kisame said pathetically, though it sounded nice. And Hana laughed a little, Ao smiled too.

-I didn't know sand was a problem for a tailless beast," Ao's words cheered up Kisame with a smile. Ao continued, "Even if there is a storm in the desert like Itachi said. Unfortunately, it would be a problem for me too... - I, in turn, folded my arms across my chest and listened to him. My Byakugan can't see exactly through the sandy fog.

-That's why I'm here," Hana continued, "My unique ability as a member of the Inuzuka clan allows me to navigate perfectly. I also have a keen sense of smell and intuition that allows me to determine exact coordinates. Just in case we go around in circles," Hana finished with a satisfied smile.

-While we're all here, we've all had a rest. And we have everything we need. I think it's time we hit the road. To meet our Kazekage," Kisame finished with an impatient smile.

-Really... - I added with a slight smile.

Next we headed east, with an easy run. I know Kisame's abilities, I'm sure we'll work well as a team. Ao's not a weak player either, and if there's a problem with the weather... I'm sure Hana will help us out.

The end of Itachi's POV

Continuing towards Suna, the entire team had already exited the free field. Stepping right into the sand that leads directly to Sunagakura.

***

All four travelers were running through the desert. Itachi and Kisame were ahead of the others. But the other two were trying to keep up with them as well, as long as the sun was hot, there was no problem with the weather. So there wouldn't be a storm for today either. Everything was going smoothly and perfectly so far. To kill time Ao began:

-You know... - Hana shifted her gaze to Ao, starting to listen -When I first noticed you from a distance, with my Byakugan. I didn't even want to keep going to the meeting, because when I saw Itachi's chakra, I realized that it was as powerful as Uchiha Shisui's. And his chakra is something I'll never forget. He's rumored to have the most powerful genjutsu in the Uchiha clan. It's called koto-amatsukami... Although some call it the eye of God, it's said that even Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju wouldn't be able to resist such power. If rumors of this technique are to be believed, it's so powerful that it takes 10 years to deactivate. And Itachi, with his chakra flowing like that, reminded me of Shisui," Ao finished thoughtfully, staring at Itachi's back.

-I understand... Sometimes his serious look, or his powerful flow of chakra, can scare anyone. But he's actually a good man, and many people in the village are drawn to him. You should see the way he looks at the children, and they at him," Hana finished her last sentence with a smile.

-You should know how Kisame looks at kids. Heh, he looks at them as if they were fish to be fed, all his jokes are about the sea, though I've gotten used to it in the short time I've known him..." he smiled at the end. - he smiled at the end.

-He looks like a fish sometimes," Hana smiled at her own words. She added, "How did he get those gills on his cheeks?

-When he was a kid, he wanted to become the strongest shinobi in history. That's why he was rumored to have trained to absorb chakra. To absorb chakra from humans, he thought he could master their natural elements. With the inclination of nature and all five kinds of elements. He started practicing absorbing chakra on summoned sharks, then over time he noticed how his skin began to change. The fact that gills appeared... The Irenians cured his complete transformation. But also added that some traces in him would remain, specifically those gills on his cheeks too. They also added that there is an upside to this, that he can even use the transformation to become like a real shark, while holding his breath underwater for a long time. Since he's mostly a human and not a fish, his transformation into a fish has been stopped.... - Ao finished his speech, thinking about his words and the rumors.

Then they began to discuss about their skills, to get to know each other better as sensors. Trailing off and starting to work out the fold, Kisame looked back to Itachi, who he was running alongside. He began:

-What do you think they're discussing about?", Kisame asked questioningly.

-They'll probably get to know each other better so they can fight side-by-side in the future," Itachi replied in a calm voice, shifting his gaze to Kisame.

-I see," Kisame said with a smile, and he added, "Tell me, do you ever get the feeling of de-ja-vision? Like when we first met.

Itachi turned his attention to the question and shifted his gaze to Kisame and inquired.

-What are you talking about," Itachi asked questioningly, he had a suspicion that Kisame had a suspicion about the time line.

-When we first met, I had the feeling that we knew each other before. And from the look in your eyes, you seemed to have noticed it too, or did you?" replied Kisame.

-If that were true and we knew each other. I'd definitely remember your face, Heh- - Itachi replied, with a slight smile, Kisame smiled as well.

-Maybe if they're both talking to themselves. Maybe we should get to know our own abilities," Kisame began, looking forward.

-I know a lot about you Kisame Hoshigaki," he turned his attention to Itachi with a questioning look, and Itachi continued, "according to rumors, you're one of the strongest shinobi in Kirigakura. You're a water elementalist, good with swords, your strongest technique is water release, the big shark projectile technique. You were also in the seven swordsmen of mist," When Itachi finished, Kisame smiles proudly. What does he have to say to him about his strongest techniques, well over the shark projectile though... He's still a work in progress, and hasn't fully mastered it.

-I see you know a lot about me, and I'm sure we'll make a great team," Kisame said as he looked forward, "so what are your powerful techniques?

-Mainly fire and water styles. Also wind style, shuriken and genjutsu," Itachi finished.

-I respect your seriousness and focus. Maybe I should call you Itachi-san," Kisame said jokingly.

-Many people have called me by different names, but you can call me whatever you like," the mangekyo owner smiled slightly. Smiling faintly with his left lip, Itachi remembered that familiar word.

-So what do you say Itachi-san,‖ Kisame repeated smiling again, next they continued towards the village-sand all four of them.

-I think we'll work really well together in the future. Heh... - Itachi finished. Heh...

***

Night came. All day long the four travelers ran through the sands of Suna. The weather was normal, sunny and even hot. Kisame often took out a called flask, he had many of them, as he had provided for everything. Itachi accepted it gratefully when his Akatsuki partner from a previous life offered it to him. Itachi had a flask of water himself. But Kisame's water was more economical, and he could save his own. He didn't mind. When night fell, after evening, they could already see the traces of lights and gates, of the hidden-sand village, but from far away....

-I guess we've already arrived," Kisame began, making a more serious appearance.

-Absolutely... - Itachi replied, with the same serious look.

-Careful... There are four Suna shinobi up ahead. One of them is the Kazekage of the village," Ao said. Hana realized this and drew her kunai at once.

No sooner had they reached the main gate of the sand village than four opponents from the sand stood against them. The four Suna shinobi stood opposite the four travelers at the main gate of the village. Between them was a rather spacious field, and it was also deep night.

-You are not welcome here, Shinobi Konoha and Kirigakura," the fourth Kazekage said indifferently.

-We've learned the truth. That you're trying to attack Konoha. Our first priority is to stop you," Hana answered him.

-So you did find out about it... - The Kazekage continued, his head lowered, "Yes, it's true. But it's necessary, and you'll realize it soon enough.

-I don't think so," Kisame said with a smile, entering the conversation, "After you attack Konoha, we'll be next, won't we? And even if we're not, we have an alliance with Konoha, so we're in on it too," Kisame finished his speech in a firm manner, the Kazekage gritted his teeth in response. Kisame continued to smile, following immediately running towards him. And looking back to his comrades for a moment, Kisame added," I'll deal with this red-haired man. I'll take care of that red-haired guy, and you take care of those three Jonin," everyone nodded in response.

Hana and Ao took on the two Jonins. They were fast, but the two Sensors were even faster.... And the biggest and strongest Jonin ran straight to Itachi. Itachi himself recognized this Jonin immediately, it was Baku himself. Who would become the captain of Gaara's team, he would also be the one to kill Hayate. Of course he would then become an ally for Konoha. But still, at the moment he is still an enemy.... Kisame was dealing with Kazekage himself, they started a taijutsu battle at first, but Kisame easily repulsed all his attacks and hit him with his left hand to the chest area. The blow was strong, even Kazekage was not hurt, he flew back five meters and fell to the ground.

-So are you satisfied, or do you want more?", Kisame said with a trademark smile, then pulled out his katana, from his back.

-You dare speak to me in that tone, I'm the Kazekage!" replied the Kazekage, getting up from the ground.

-If you were the Hokage, Tsuchikage, Raigake, or even the Mizukage himself. I wouldn't care even then, hehehehehe," Kisame made a serious face after he finished. Since he noticed that the fourth was doing something wrong, he summoned some strange sand technique. And it was golden in color.

-Golden Sand!" the Kazekage shouted this technique. Following it, she headed towards Kisame.

-Water Element: Bomb Sharks," Kisame said in response, quickly putting together the seals he needed. He summoned water and made sharks out of them. They in turn, headed straight for the golden sand of the fourth. It seemed like the sand was large, and the sharks were few.... But at their touch, they exploded violently, even making all the sand wet.

The fourth Kazekage had no more gold or ordinary sands left. And he couldn't use the wet ones either, as they were soaked with water.... Looking at this situation, the Kazekage wanted to gather fresh sand, breaking the ground beneath him. But Kisame wouldn't let him, following with a quick movement of his hand. He created a wall of water, Kazekage noticed it was coming towards him. And further out of the water Kisame suddenly stepped right up to the fourth. Then he struck it in the face and shoulder. Kisame pointed his katana at his throat and added with a smile, "You better give up."

Itachi also had time to deal with Baku... At the beginning of the battle, he threw kunai at him, and then Itachi drew his vakizashi from his back. The vakizashi looked like a short sword and a very long knife. Baku fended off the kunai attack by pulling out his kunai. As soon as they moved a distance away, Baku threw his kunai at him, Itachi easily repelled them with his wakizashi. Later, Itachi put his wakizashi back in his back, taking up his taijutsu. While dueling with him, he knew he was an elite jonin. He had a very long experience in wars as well, also serving Suna. But Itachi's skill was also not inferior to even ANBU, for Itachi was almost as good at taijutsu as Maito Gai himself. Especially from the knowledge he was able to gain from the first timeline. Even without the sharingan, Itachi was able to hit him with a hip kick and a kick to the ribs, then barely managed to block his attacks, when Baku countered with a right kick to his side, Itachi fought back. And when Baku with his right fist, swung at his face. Itachi also fought back with an elbow, next Baku kicked Itachi aiming to hit his stomach, but he put a block with both hands. But still went back 3 meters.

-You're pretty good at taijutsu and wakizashi," Baku began, taking a breath and continuing: - but even you can't fight off a wind sword," he quickly folded the seals after the last words. In its wake, something like an invisible tornado was heading towards the protagonist. It even managed to cut the sleeve of his ANBU uniform.

-Fire Element: Great Fireball," Itachi said as he put the proper seals together. And the wind collided with his fire. As the wind yielded to the fire, it even intensified, making the flame even bigger. It then headed back towards Baku.

Baku saw it and gritted his teeth. He barely managed to move to his left side. But suddenly he noticed Itachi jumped holding his wakizashi, looking up he saw Itachi's black silhouette right against the white moon. But what surprised him the most was that Itachi had just activated his sharingan. Baku looked into his eyes and immediately followed up by hitting his genjutsu, falling to his knees. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't remove a paralysis genjutsu of that level, Itachi calmly approached him. Pointing his wakizashi towards Baku, Itachi said "I'd kill you, but.... It's not your destiny" and that made Baku think hard.

Hana and Ao, also finished battles with their opponents. Hana used a technique, the white fang.... Her claws on her hands became bigger due to the transformation. She then began to rotate even faster than Neji's rotation. Which created a spinning speed that helped to fend off shuriken and kunai attacks. Then in close combat, she literally scratched her opponent in every direction except her face. And knocked him out with a kick to the solar plexus. Ao dealt with his opponent as well, using the taijutsu techniques of the Hyuga clan. Blocking all the chakra flows and also knocking him out with a soft palm, he flew 7 meters away and passed out.

-I see you're done, too," Kisame began with his trademark when the rest of the team reached him. And added with a grin through his teeth.

-All four of them are down. But at least they're alive, and I used my genjutsu," Itachi finished, walking over to the team with Kisame and the fourth Kazekage. And looking at the fourth... Itachi added, "For what purpose was Konoha your target? At the moment, we have no hostile relations with Suna.

-I had no intention of destroying Konoha... I just wanted to show my strength so that our country would be respected. We don't have hectares or hectares of pure forests and trees. Our Country is considered as dry, even almost without life... - said the fourth one a little sadly. Trailing off getting up from the ground to his knees. As Kisame put his katana away, "I only wanted to come to Konoha. Not to attack, but to scare them with my Shukaku. To show them that I can control my tail. So that the other countries will notice and respect it... And to help us more... - the fourth Kazekage finished his speech sadly.

-But fear only breeds hate, and not everything always works the way everyone wants it to," Itachi replied in a normal voice, adding, "Who needs to know that but the Kage himself?

-I realized I made a big mistake," he said, as if to apologize.

Their conversation was interrupted by the fact that there had been an incident in the hidden sand village. Something noisy had happened, there was a bit of panic. Itachi realized it was Gaara, most likely... Yashamaru, who had already told him he was a monster, had been ordered by the Fourth Kazekage to go on this mission. And he died. And Gaara became this Shukaku for the first time. But he hasn't become a huge tailed one yet, in the current second, he hasn't managed to destroy anything, or worse yet, kill anyone.

-This is the village... They are in danger!, I must go," said the fourth trying to get up, but immediately fell to his knees again.

-I'll go... - Itachi said confidently. They looked at him questioningly.

-But Itachi, it's dangerous One-tailed himself is there, he's tailed and you can't handle it.... - said a worried Itachi's childhood friend.

A thought ran through Itachi's mind. He remembered that Madara had once been able to control Nine-tails with ease. If the Akatsuki rumors were to be believed, Obito had controlled him too, the day he had attacked the village. During Naruto's birthday... With one mangekyo, "So why can't I control One-tailed? With two mangekyos?" was Itachi's thought.... Trailing off, he said "I'll go...". After Hana's question, Itachi looked at her and activated a sharingan, followed by a mangekyo sharingan. Everyone was surprised even the fourth, couldn't believe his eyes that he saw this legendary power....

-Gee," Kisame began, "I see you're full of surprises Itachi-san. Who would have thought you had such incredible power.

-Itachi, I'll go with you," Hana pulled herself together. You could get hurt, and I'm an irinenin.

Itachi nodded. Following them, they headed deep into the sand village. They were easily passed as the fourth Kazekage, who was running after them, nodded to the guards. Itachi, not choosing to waste any time, quickly jumped onto the nearest rooftop. Then and started climbing higher until he reached a high roof. And seeing the child who had descended into the ground, into the open field of the village. began to grow in size... Until he became One-tailed Shukaku, who was almost the size of Nine-tailed. Like the day of the attack on Konoha... and the death of the Fourth Hokage. Putting his thoughts aside for now, Itachi saw One-tailed, who had yet to kill anyone, or destroy anything, look directly at Itachi. With his eyes that resembled a golden shuriken. Itachi noticing this said, "Mangekyo-sharingan." And the tailed man quickly calmed down. As it began to shrink in size, Itachi decided to have a little talk with it as well. Once inside his mind and inside Gaara's mind, he found himself in some weird huge expanse. And there was a large cage in the front.

-Uchika!" Shukaku growled, "I didn't know there would be one that could control me. Since Uchiha Madara's time, no one has been able to...

-I'm just here to say thank you," Shukaku looked surprised, Itachi continued, "for helping Naruto, also protecting the memory of the Sage. And during the fight with Kaguya, that you saved the world, with the rest of the tailed ones, or rather for doing all of that.

-What are you even talking about?, I'm not defending these people. Who locked me up and what do you even know about the Sage?"-Shukaku replied this as if Itachi wouldn't understand him-. But Itachi guessed such thoughts of his and replied:

-I know Rikudo personally. Once I left earth, the second time. From the first time, I didn't even realize I was dead, I was in heaven thinking it was Konohe. But the second time, I immediately met the Sage of the Six Paths, he explained that I was in paradise. Also adding that I'd be there for a whole year... It's good to rest there, I spent that year learning and studying the different personalities of Shinobi, the different Countries. After a year, the destiny had already arrived. It wasn't until a year later that I realized it... Then he sent me back in time, and here I am.

-So you are the one in Gamamaru's prediction?" the One-Tailed One asked, Itachi was glad that he believed him, "but why are you telling me all this?

-I'm just saying how much respect I have for those who have seen, uh. Almost everyone in this world. And those who will save the world one day, I'm a philosopher myself, so I know how this world works..... - answered Itachi with a slight smile on his right lip. Also e Shukaku was extremely surprised by this.... Itachi added, -but I must not disturb the timeline too much. So you will forget everything I said, you will only remember during the beginning of the fourth world war. After you've been extracted from Obito. Finishing this speech Itachi looked at him and said: "Mangekyo-sharingan." And emerged from Shukaku's mind. And Gaara wasn't there, he was in his other paradise.... Having said all that, looking at Shukaku Itachi seemed to have a lot of confidence that he would fix the outcome of the event... And also what he had said... What he wanted, at least to one of the tailed ones.

When he went down to the field, he saw the body of a boy. Who had just lost Yashamaru more precisely his close relative. And all this on the orders of the fourth, Itachi also added mentally: Shukaku, in this timeline, hasn't killed or destroyed anything yet. And the only thing he's done is scare the citizens. Gaaru will only be half feared, or despised.... But he'll still be the man he was, even if he's not too vengeful. whose raison d'etre is to kill people.

And then Fourth came up to the field with Kisame, Ao, and Hana. The fourth thanked them with a smile. Hana quickly placed green chakra into Itachi's forehead in the eye area to heal the damaged vision cells, so far on a fresh wound. Since after applying the mangekyo ability the first time, the cells are not particularly damaged. Only one or three percent, but after her treatment, with the green-luminescence that flowed down her Hana's arm. Itachi's vision was 100 percent restored. As if he hadn't even applied mangekyo, the fourth suggested they stay and added that it was the least he could do. The whole team nodded and decided to sleep here. But Itachi also slept soundly, because he was always on the lookout for anything.....

***

It was a beautiful morning, Itachi slept better here than even at home. Later, dressed in his ANBU uniform, he decided to wake up the others. Going into the different rooms, he found that Hana, Ao, and Kisame were already awake. They all followed him out of Sunagakura's gates, and were escorted out by the fourth Kazekage himself, who looked at them and said:

-Thank you for your help, Uchiha Itachi of Konoha. If it wasn't for you, there would have been no casualties," the fourth man said, shaking his hand with a smile. And he looked at the others as well, continuing, "And I apologize again.

-You don't have to, we've already forgotten everything," Kisame said with a smile, and added, "But if you pull something like that. Then let's just say I still have a lot of sharks," this caused the fourth Kazekage to be slightly flustered. Trailing behind him, Kisame shook his hand as well.

-And about the food, we weren't lying, we did have a problem with the renegades," Ao said, and added, "but the renegades have already been dealt with by Konoha. Those thugs are dead, and their leader is with the Mizukage. I'm sure that if they don't interfere with us, we'll have a good relationship," Ao finished, adding a smile that he rarely showed.

-And Konoha will help too, our relationship has been good for years. Since our village is much closer," Hana replied.

-I will try to keep us on friendly terms," finished the fourth. At the end he added.... - "Have a good trip," everyone nodded with a smile, especially Kisame, and then walked off toward the desert.

***

On the way back on the launch, it wasn't so sunny anymore. And yet a big storm had started. But Hana was an excellent compose for orienteering. All three of them followed her, Ao also periodically helping with the Byakugan, in case he found the nearest path.... Next, the four travelers emerged from the desert.

They set up near an interesting field where there were grasses, a large tree, and even a small river to fill the flasks with water. And even a small river to fill their flasks with water. Itachi smiled, because this place reminded him of heaven, literally. And then he laid down on his back, near the larger tree. And the others settled down for a long-awaited rest as well. Heh...