Team 7 finished burying Bukai and the others.
"That guy's trick to steal the Sharingan was despicable," Sasuke said, his voice laced with a strange respect. "But he was more determined than most ninja in the world."
Naruto nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you don't meet many people like him."
Sakura patted her chest, letting out a dejected sigh. "I was really looking forward to a nice hot spring bath in the Village of Hot Water. Instead, we almost lost our lives tonight."
"It's my fault," Sasuke said, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth. "I'm still too weak. When we get back to the village, I'm finding Granny Cat and asking for Brother Shisui's Body Flicker training method. I won't be defeated by an enemy like that again!"
The burly Cloud ninja's speed had been overwhelming. Even though Sasuke's Sharingan could track his movements, his body just couldn't react fast enough. If he could master Shisui's Body Flicker Technique, he knew his speed would finally be able to match his opponent's.
"You're not weak, Sasuke," Naruto said, patting his teammate's shoulder. "You just haven't found the right jutsu for you yet."
He handed him a scroll. "I found this on one of the Cloud ninjas. It's some kind of nin-taijutsu that uses Lightning Release to boost speed. I thought it might work for you."
"...Thanks," Sasuke said, lowering his head as he took the scroll. He paused, then asked, "By the way, that jutsu you used to defeat him… was that something new you developed?"
"Nah, it's just another failed experiment," Naruto replied, shaking his head with a frown. "I'll try to refine it when I get back. For now, it's barely a nin-taijutsu move. I guess I'll call it… Spiral Punch!"
Sasuke: "..."
This guy's brain definitely isn't normal, Sasuke thought.
Both the Spiral Shockwave and the Spiral Punch were powerful enough to be considered A-rank, maybe even S-rank forbidden jutsu. If a "failed" jutsu was this strong, how powerful would the finished version be? Just what kind of terrifying technique was this guy trying to create?
"Okay, okay, can we please go back now?" Sakura urged, shivering slightly. "It's getting late. Kakashi-sensei will be worried if he gets to the inn and we're not there!"
"Yeah," Naruto and Sasuke agreed.
Sasuke needed to rest. He'd taken a hard kick to the chest while trying to delay their attacker. Naruto, covered in minor cuts he'd hastily bandaged, was starting to feel them itch—a sign that his accelerated healing was already kicking in. By the time they reached the village, his injuries would probably be gone.
-----
After Team 7 had left the forest, a figure dropped down from a large tree. He stood in the moonlight, watching them disappear into the distance. Once the three genin were out of sight, he turned and walked deeper into the forest, where a tall man was waiting for him.
As the moonlight illuminated his shark-like features, the tall man watched his partner return. "Well now, Mr. Itachi," he said with a light chuckle. "Thinking of making a move on your little brother?"
"It's not time," Itachi replied coldly, looking at his partner. "Kisame, I told you to wait for me in the Village of Hot Water."
"Ah, I guess I got impatient," the tall man—Kisame—replied with a distinct lack of sincerity. He reached into his robes and pulled out a small bag. "I bought some sticky rice dumplings. They should still be warm."
Itachi looked at Kisame, speechless.
"Heh. I had them add extra sugar," Kisame Hoshigaki continued, seeing his partner hadn't taken the bag. "These are the limited-edition ones from the festival, made with the best seasonal sticky rice from the village."
Given his partner's insistence, Itachi reluctantly took the bag. "That stall was crowded," he noted. "How did you manage to buy them?"
"Well... some guy was causing a scene, harassing women, so most of the people in line ran off to chase him down," Kisame explained, his smile turning subtle. "Turns out, the guy is a legendary ninja himself. Lucky for us it was me in line and not you, Mr. Itachi. Running into him could have caused a bit of trouble."
"One of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya?" Itachi asked, swallowing a dumpling. "He's our mission target, isn't he?"
"The mission's been called off," Kisame nodded. He watched his partner eat with surprising focus. "So, how is it? Worth the long wait, right?"
"Not as good as the ones from the Land of Fire," Itachi said, shaking his head slightly before getting back to business. "The reward for this mission was generous. Did they send someone else to take over?"
"No. The client's dead," Kisame said, his expression briefly souring before turning interested again. "Latest news says the client, Gato, was killed by our old friend Zabuza."
Like Kisame, Zabuza Momochi was a former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and a rogue ninja.
"It seems we'll be free for a while," Itachi said, finishing the last of the dumplings, his eyes growing distant. "In that case, I need to go to the Cat Fortress to restock on some ninja tools."
"Just for ninja tools? That's a long way to go," Kisame said, shaking his head. "I get the feeling you just miss the food from your hometown, Mr. Itachi. The desserts in the Village of Hot Water are famous. They can't be that bad, can they?"
Itachi's expression was hidden in the shadows. "The shuriken from the Cat Fortress are best suited for the Uchiha throwing style. I can't afford any mistakes in future battles." He then added in a low voice, "And the sticky rice dumplings here are just average."
Kisame glanced at the empty bag, then at the crumbs stuck to the corner of Itachi's mouth. He sighed and handed him a napkin.
After his partner wiped his mouth, Kisame looked down at him. "Are you sure you don't want to kill your brother now, Mr. Itachi? He may not be a threat now, but he could become a powerful enemy. And with the hatred between you, he won't show you any mercy when the time comes."
Itachi slowly raised his head, his eyes turning red, three black tomoe spinning within them. "Kisame, do you think I would lose to him?"
"No, Mr. Itachi would definitely win," Kisame grinned, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth. "It's just that blond kid with him... he's already showing signs of immense power. If we let him grow, he'll be a real handful for me to deal with. After all, if you want a one-on-one duel with your brother someday, I'll be the one stuck holding back his teammates. If we get rid of him now, it saves me the trouble."
Itachi's Sharingan faded. He adjusted his cloak, signaling the end of the conversation. "Let's go. First, to the Cat Fortress."
-----
Bonus: "The Best Teammate in the Shinobi World — Hoshigaki Kisame"
Kisame: "I waited forever in line to get these dumplings! Quick, eat them while they're still warm!"
Itachi: "Did they add sugar?"
Kisame: "Of course! I told them to put in extra sugar!"
Itachi: "...I don't like sweet things."
Kisame: "Then just have a little. Think of it as a late-night snack?"
Itachi: "Fine."
Kisame: "So? How is it?"
Itachi: "Mediocre."
Kisame: "…Right. Guess I'll buy more next time."
Black Zetsu & Obito: "Kisame, do you not understand human speech?"
Kisame: "And do you not understand 'Itachi language'?"