How Kurama Leads Naruto Astray

Kakashi's expression grew a bit more serious, but his tone remained relaxed. "Do you think Konohagakure is called the number one ninja village because others respect us?" 

Honestly, Kakashi was a little nervous, but not too much. Just as he said, Konohagakure didn't earn its title out of respect—it was built through countless battles. 

In the First Ninja War, they fought multiple villages at once. Aside from some help from the Uzumaki Clan and a few allied nations, Konohagakure was basically fighting alone. The result? The other nations were completely overwhelmed. 

In the Second Ninja War, they fought against four major villages at the same time. Konohagakure paid a price, but in the end, they secured a decisive victory. 

In the Third Ninja War, it was a three-way battle—then midway through, Iwagakure shifted its focus to Kumogakure. The Mist Village tried to take advantage of the chaos but ended up suffering a huge loss. Meanwhile, the Sand Village got crushed by Konohagakure, which then cleaned up the remaining mess. 

This war was even bloodier than the Second. Konohagakure took heavy losses, but the gains were huge. The Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and sealing master, Uzumaki Kushina. The legendary White Fang, Hatake Sakumo. All of them earned their fame on the battlefield. 

Not to mention the old-generation powerhouse, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Three Sannin, and the elite clans of Konohagakure. With all that, Konohagakure firmly secured its position as the strongest village. 

Sure, the village's strength declined due to some questionable decisions later on. But after Hiruzen's death, with two of the Sannin, Tsunade and Jiraiya, returning, and the new generation growing stronger with the support of major clans, Konohagakure's current battle strength was no joke. 

And it wasn't just one or two strong individuals carrying the village—it was a collective strength where nearly everyone was a capable fighter. 

Kakashi didn't think the Akatsuki could break through Konohagakure's defenses so easily. At most, a surprise attack might catch them off guard, but once the village adjusted, they'd wipe out the Akatsuki in no time. 

Kisame could tell exactly what Kakashi was thinking just from his expression. Unfortunately, Kakashi had the wrong idea about the Akatsuki. 

With a cold smirk, Kisame stared at Kakashi and spoke in an icy tone. "You're right, Konohagakure is strong. Sage Jiraiya, Medical Legend Tsunade—both are tough to deal with. At the very least, it would take two or three of us just to keep them occupied." 

"What are you trying to say?" Kakashi asked in a low voice. 

"Heh..." Kisame suddenly chuckled, a strange glint in his eyes. "Oh yeah, I haven't—" 

"—introduced you to the Akatsuki, have I? I'm the Akatsuki's South, an S-rank rogue ninja from the Mist Village, Hoshigaki Kisame." 

As he spoke, Kisame raised his hand, pointing the ring on his finger toward Kakashi. 

His smirk deepened as if he had just remembered something. "Oh, right. My partner is the Akatsuki's Red, an S-rank rogue ninja from Konohagakure… Uchiha Itachi." 

Kakashi: "…" 

!!! 

Kakashi, who had been somewhat calm, suddenly widened his eyes in shock. "Don't tell me—!" 

Kisame laughed in delight. "That's right, you guessed it. Every single member of the Akatsuki is an S-rank rogue ninja. In other words, every one of us is on the same level as your village's Kage." 

"This is—!" Kakashi was starting to feel the pressure. 

"Even the legendary Sannin, Tsunade and Jiraiya, wouldn't be able to handle seven S-rank rogue ninjas at once. Do you really think anyone outside the village could stop them?" Kisame gripped Samehada and burst into laughter.

Kakashi gripped his kunai tightly. He wasn't just thinking about the battle in front of him. 

The enemy clearly knew information about Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama, while Konohagakure knew nothing about them. Even if there were records, they wouldn't be able to find them quickly. In a surprise attack like this, the side with more intel had a clear advantage. 

If the enemy really consisted of all S-rank rogue ninjas, then the crisis facing Konohagakure was even more terrifying than the Tailed Beast attack fifteen years ago! 

No, I have to get this information back as soon as possible! 

Kakashi's pupils suddenly contracted as he swiftly dodged. Samehada slashed through the air in an arc, smashing into the spot where Kakashi had just been. Kisame sneered at him. "Did you really think I'd let you leave that easily?" 

"Damn it!" Kakashi landed on the ground. "This guy is strong." 

Kisame stood where Kakashi had just been, resting Samehada on his shoulder. "You have two choices—either I kill you, and you get to watch Konohagakure be destroyed from hell, or you kill me and take the intel back. What do you think? Sounds fun, doesn't it?" 

Kakashi didn't respond, but the killing intent on his face became even stronger. 

"That's more like it." Kisame swung Samehada. "Don't disappoint me, Copy Ninja Kakashi." 

Naruto formed a Rasengan in his hand and slammed it into a Root ninja's chest. A powerful explosion sent the ninja flying, crashing through a large tree blocking the path. The impact left a huge crater in the ground, and the ninja's head tilted to the side as he passed out. 

Naruto landed beside Sakura and frowned at the five remaining Anbu, who showed no concern for their fallen comrade. "Their fighting style is weird. It's like they don't care about each other at all." 

Sakura tightened her gloves and nodded seriously. "I think I finally understand what Kakashi-sensei meant by his last words." 

"What a hassle!" Kurama scoffed in Naruto's mind. "I already told you these Root ninjas aren't even human anymore. My advice? Just finish them off for good. If you went all out, this fight would've been over already." 

With Naruto's full strength, these Root ninjas wouldn't even last three minutes before they were all dead. 

But instead, he kept holding back. So far, he had taken down five of them, all knocked out and unable to fight anytime soon. 

Naruto remained silent. 

Sakura noticed his expression and gave him a small, gentle smile. "Did Kurama say something again?" 

"Yeah." Naruto nodded. "He said the Root ninjas aren't human and told me to go all out." 

Sakura couldn't help but chuckle. She glanced at the five remaining Root ninjas. "They're still breathing just fine. They're definitely alive." 

"That's just their bodies," Kurama sneered. 

"Kurama…" Naruto sighed. 

"Am I wrong?" Kurama puffed out his chest and stared at the five ninjas through Naruto's eyes. "Naruto, your sense of good and evil comes from me. I can feel it, and I know you can too. Those guys don't have a single trace of emotion. How are they any different from a life-sized doll?" 

"They show pain when they get hurt, they make noise when they feel good, they shake when they're excited, and even when they calm down afterward, they still feel something." Kurama spoke without hesitation. "But can you sense anything from them?" 

"They don't react to pain, they don't feel pleasure, they don't get excited. It's like they're stuck in some kind of permanent shutdown mode. The only difference between them and a doll is that they can move." 

Naruto's face darkened. "I'm fifteen. You don't think I understand what you're saying? Are you seriously talking about those five guys, or are you just messing around?"