Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 178: Uchiha Sasuke’s Possible Defection

This was... seriously bad.

The moment Kakashi Hatake spotted several rogue ninja inside the Konoha sweets shop, he tensed up, keeping vigilant for any movement from them.

Even though among them was Uchiha Obito—someone Kakashi cared about—he dared not act recklessly, not in a busy district of Konoha. Any conflict here could end in disaster.

After all...

These rogues weren't to be taken lightly.

While Shigen and Nagato were the greatest threats during the Chunin Exams, Konoha could no longer afford to ignore Orochimaru and Obito either. In fact, compared to them, Itachi—who once tipped off Konoha—seemed almost friendly.

Of course...

That only applied if Sasuke didn't recognize him.

Kakashi knew there was hidden truth behind the Uchiha Clan's massacre, but no one had been able to uncover it. He didn't know how to break it to Sasuke.

Fortunately...

When Sasuke arrived, the rogue ninjas seemed to sense something and silently disappeared from the shop, avoiding conflict.

However...

As a shinobi of Konoha, Kakashi couldn't just pretend those rogues didn't exist—especially Orochimaru and Obito, the two who had orchestrated the Chunin Exam disaster.

That incident...

Had cost Konoha the life of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

More importantly, the outcome had led to Shigen's resurrection. He had effortlessly destroyed the Edo Tensei-resurrected Hokages, and just his presence alone had shaken the spirit of Konoha's ninja, leaving a deep psychological scar.

Kakashi gave Sasuke a vague excuse to go train alone and quickly gathered his comrades. While one went to inform Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, the rest followed Kakashi to intercept Orochimaru and Obito.

Yet before they could find Orochimaru...

They ran into Itachi and Kisame of the Akatsuki.

This was the last thing Kakashi wanted.

He really didn't want to clash with Itachi—he'd even hoped to ignore the Akatsuki duo entirely.

But...

Itachi had been waiting for him.

"Unfortunate timing," Kakashi sighed, glancing at his two comrades, Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi. Neither of them knew the full story behind Itachi, and both looked ready to fight.

"No,"

Itachi replied with a calm smile,

"This couldn't be better timing."

He politely greeted the three Jonin:

"Mr. Asuma, Miss Kurenai... and Kakashi-san. It's been a while."

"Where's Orochimaru?"

Kakashi cut straight to the point, hinting to Itachi that they only wanted to capture Orochimaru and Obito.

"Kakashi..."

Asuma drew his twin chakra blades, eyeing the Akatsuki robes warily.

"Isn't the Akatsuki a bigger threat than Orochimaru?"

"She's right,"

Kurenai added, eyes narrowing.

Kakashi inwardly cursed. Asuma and Kurenai were ready to fight, and Kisame on the other side was clearly eager for it too.

"Looks like we're right on schedule, Itachi-san,"

Kisame grinned, brandishing Samehada.

Their mission was to stir up chaos in Konoha to distract attention while Obito and Orochimaru moved in to capture Sasuke.

"Then let's begin."

Itachi raised his gaze. His Sharingan transformed instantly into the Mangekyo Sharingan, and Kurenai fell under his genjutsu.

At the same time—

Kisame lunged toward Asuma, swinging his massive blade at a diagonal angle.

By the riverside in Konoha—

Itachi and Kakashi stood apart, facing each other.

Kakashi hesitated, slowly raising his hand to form a seal—but before he could act, Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan locked eyes with him.

"Tsukuyomi."

The world turned black and white.

This was Kakashi's second time falling to Itachi's Tsukuyomi. Last time, they had exchanged intel about Obito within that mental realm.

This time—

Kakashi was ready.

"The Akatsuki..."

"Orochimaru and Obito..."

"All of them are targeting Sasuke."

Itachi didn't hide anything.

"We've received orders from Shigen to bring Sasuke back to the Akatsuki. Orochimaru and Obito infiltrated Konoha to prevent that."

It was an impossible situation.

Whether Sasuke joined the Akatsuki or was taken by Orochimaru, both paths were equally dangerous. All Itachi could do was place his hope in Konoha—

That Konoha would protect Sasuke.

But...

He couldn't explain why.

The truth—that Sasuke might awaken the Rinnegan—would draw too much attention. Konoha's leadership must not know.

Still...

He could trust Kakashi.

Kakashi had the strength to counter Obito. He was also Sasuke's Jonin instructor. He could protect his student.

Well... it wouldn't be easy.

But Kakashi didn't refuse.

"I understand. I'll protect Sasuke," he promised.

"However..."

Kakashi pressed further.

"That child has been consumed by hatred. I know now that there's more to the Uchiha massacre than we thought. Tell me the truth, Itachi. Don't let Sasuke drown in hatred."

"At this point..."

"...there's no need for that."

"Hatred will make Sasuke's Sharingan stronger."

Itachi refused.

He wouldn't let Sasuke let go of his hatred. He had no intention of revealing his own buried past.

Maybe...

He never would.

"Go stop Orochimaru and Obito," Itachi said, interrupting before Kakashi could ask more.

"While you've been occupied with me and Kisame... they've already taken Sasuke."

"!!!"

Panic flashed across Kakashi's face.

In that moment—

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They cooperated seamlessly.

Back in the real world—

By the Konoha riverside—

Kisame and Asuma had only just begun their battle.

Itachi staggered backward, clutching his eye, as if Tsukuyomi had been countered by Kakashi again. He looked pale and exhausted.

"Kisame, we're withdrawing,"

Itachi said hoarsely.

"My Tsukuyomi was broken..."

"Itachi-san!"

Kisame retreated from Asuma, glancing back at Kakashi and then at his visibly weakened teammate. He frowned.

This... wasn't going to plan.

If he wanted to keep fighting, he'd have to face all three Jonin while protecting an injured Itachi.

"This won't satisfy either party..."

Kisame muttered.

Neither Shigen nor Obito would be impressed by such a small distraction. He hadn't even warmed up yet.

"Kakashi also has the Mangekyo Sharingan..."

Itachi reminded him.

"Mangekyo, huh?"

Kisame noticed the crimson gleam beneath Kakashi's lifted headband and immediately avoided eye contact.

Now this was serious.

As Obito's subordinate and Itachi's teammate, Kisame knew all too well what the Mangekyo Sharingan could do.

"Water Style: Exploding Water Shockwave!"

With that, Kisame formed seals and launched a massive wave, dragging himself and Itachi away swiftly.

"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

Kakashi quickly countered the wave with an earthen barrier, watching as the Akatsuki duo fled.

"We're going after them—!"

Asuma gripped his chakra blades, eager to continue. He'd barely begun fighting.

"Asuma, don't!"

Kakashi shouted.

"They've already escaped. We need to track the real intruders!"

Time was short.

He had to get back to Sasuke—fast.

Kakashi regretted sending Sasuke off to train alone. He should have kept the boy by his side, even if Sasuke had lost control at the sight of Itachi.

Now...

Even though Itachi had warned him quickly, Kakashi could only hope he wasn't too late.

But...

He was.

Even a brief delay had cost him dearly. When Kakashi arrived at the training grounds he'd assigned to Sasuke, he found only an empty field—

And...

Traces of a brief scuffle.

"Not much sign of a fight..."

Kakashi examined the terrain, his heart sinking.

"Sasuke didn't resist much..."

Even if Sasuke wasn't strong enough to fight Orochimaru and Obito, his techniques—especially his Fire Style jutsu—always left clear marks. But here, there was barely anything.

This suggested the worst possibility.

That Sasuke, obsessed with gaining power for revenge, had been deceived—maybe even willingly chose to defect and follow Orochimaru.

It was entirely possible.

Especially now that Naruto had been accepted as Jiraiya's student, growing stronger and gaining recognition. The imbalance was eating away at Sasuke.

The once-useless Naruto was now one of the Sannin's disciples, while Sasuke remained stagnant. No one guided him. Even Kakashi had been too busy to assign meaningful missions.

For someone proud and power-hungry like Sasuke...

It was too easy to be led astray.

Kakashi had noticed this change in his student, and wanted to talk with him about it—but just like his own teacher had once done, he realized now it was too late.

"Report to the Fifth Hokage..."

"Sasuke has gone missing."

Kakashi took a deep breath. Hiding his suspicions, he gave a grave order:

"Most likely, Sasuke has been taken by Orochimaru and Obito. I'm going after him. Asuma—go request backup!"

"..."

Asuma clapped a hand on Kakashi's shoulder.

He'd already seen what Kakashi had.

But years of friendship meant Asuma wouldn't say it aloud.

"Be careful..."

"If it's hopeless..."

"Just... hold on. I'll catch up after reporting in."

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