Chapter 128: Kai vs Akatsuki
Pain observed Kai closely, sensing the subtle yet potent surge of anger, yet remained composed. "You seem bothered, Kai," he commented, his tone bland, reflecting no emotion.
Kai's gaze hovered over each figure, the historical and powerful shinobi now bound to Kabuto's technique.
"Kai."
Kai's piercing gaze landed on the figure that had called out to him. The boy before him, not older than thirteen, seemed to carry the world on his young shoulders. It was Itachi, a soul bearing the wounds of familial love and betrayal. His youth had been marred by the heavy burden of a horrific duty assigned to him by the village. He was supposed to be the executioner of his own blood, but his deep love for his clan had restrained his hand. Upon revealing his feelings to his kin, he was betrayed by the elders and Obito, and the clan met a terrible fate orchestrated by Danzo.
"Itachi," Kai acknowledged, nodding towards the friend of his early years. Their friendship had been a discourse of philosophical reflections and sparring, a meeting of minds and fists in the quietude of the forest. The naive interactions had been a turning point for Itachi, shaping his decisions and altering his path. The whispered conversations and the clashes in the shadows had nurtured a change in the Uchiha, convincing him to abandon the notion of killing his kin.
Kai, with his stern visage and tempered emotions, often pondered over the twists of fate, wondering about the course of events had Itachi Uchiha not crossed paths with him. Would the philosophical boy have succumbed to the darkness? Would he have waded through the blood of his brethren?
As the silence draped the cave, Kai's thoughts were pulled back to the grim assembly around him. His sharp eyes scanned the resurrected shinobi, recognizing the presence of past Hokages and formidable foes. His gaze remained unwavering even as he faced the onslaught of emotions stemming from the reappearance of his old friend.
Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, a man revered for his unique ability to wield Wood Release and his titanic influence in establishing Konoha, looked at Kai and then to the other revived Kage. "So, this is Edo Tensei," he murmured, his voice laden with a mixture of curiosity and sadness.
Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, the creator of the Edo Tensei, had his eyes, sharp and analytical, trained on Kabuto, before shifting to Kai, "You must be a formidable shinobi to warrant such assembly against you."
Kai looked at Tobirama and said, "I must be."
Sensing the rising anger within Kai, Pain swiftly commanded, "Attack."
Almost instantly, the cave burst into chaos as everyone lunged at Kai simultaneously. The air became dense with chakra, kunai, and various jutsu techniques, all aimed squarely at the man in the middle.
Kisame, with a predatory grin, lunged with his sword, Samehada, eager to draw blood. But just as the blade was inches away, Kai phased out, causing the weapon to simply pass through him. With a swift motion, he used Kamui to teleport behind Kisame, tapping him lightly on the shoulder, forcing the shark-faced man to swing around, bewildered.
Deidara, hovering above, let loose his explosive clay, turning the cave into a minefield. Kai, with barely a second to spare, warped the space around him to dodge the multiple explosions. His eyes, akin to Kakashi's but more refined, allowed him to predict and evade any attacks that came his way.
Seeing his previous attempt fail, Kabuto wove a series of hand signs and directed a massive stream of water towards Kai, aiming to drown him. However, Kai simply countered with a lightning jutsu, turning the tide of water into a high voltage trap. Kabuto barely escaped, his feet singed from the attack.
Konan, silently and swiftly, rained down a barrage of paper bombs. Kai, predicting their trajectory, summoned a fierce gust of wind, redirecting the explosives back at their caster. She skillfully maneuvered to avoid her own attack, her eyes reflecting a mix of awe and determination.
Kai, utilizing his visual prowess, replicated every jutsu thrown his way, from Kakuzu's multiple hearts to Hidan's curse techniques. He seemed untouchable, a force to be reckoned with, deflecting and parrying each attack with effortless grace.
Pain, summoning his multiple bodies, ordered them to converge on Kai. The Deva Path levitated rocks and debris, directing them at Kai like missiles. But Kai, using Earth Release, turned the ground into a protective barrier, shielding himself momentarily. Just as the Asura Path lunged with a mechanical arm, Kai phased out, reappearing behind it, causing the Path to collide with the Human Path.
Tobirama, watching the battle with astute eyes, said, "Impressive. But, Kai, you can't win against all of us."
Kai, in the midst of the onslaught, replied, "I don't need to defeat all of you. I just need to outlast you."
Just then, the Minato figure, the Fourth Hokage, appeared behind Kai, attempting to tag him with his Flying Thunder God technique. But Kai, having seen it before, quickly side-stepped, forcing Minato to miss his mark.
Itachi, silently observing the battle, finally moved. But instead of attacking Kai, he confronted Kabuto. "Release the Edo Tensei," he demanded.
Kabuto smirked. "Why would I? This is the perfect opportunity to defeat him."
Itachi replied, "You underestimate him. You're only putting yourself in danger."
Kai, meanwhile, continued to fend off the combined might of the revived shinobi. Even the First Hokage, Hashirama, with his Wood Golem, couldn't land a decisive blow. Every time they thought they had Kai cornered, he'd simply teleport or phase through their attacks.
As the echoes of the ensuing battle resonated throughout the cavern, the once stoic silence was replaced with a cacophony of clashing powers and wills. Each formidable shinobi brought forth their signature jutsu and abilities, making every move calculated and precise.
Itachi's Sharingan whirred to life, its gaze fixed on Kai. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a flurry of shuriken, each one imbued with a subtle Genjutsu aimed to disorient Kai. Sensing the latent power within the projectiles, Kai nimbly dodged the physical threat but felt a faint tugging on his consciousness. With a sharp focus, he quickly dispelled the mental chains and darted toward Itachi.
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