Chapter 203: 203. Konoha Barbershop!
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Naruto's Water Wall Jutsu dissipated, revealing the enemy who had launched the attack. Perched atop a strange bird was a tall, thin man with a gaunt face and three lines of purple paint across his forehead.
The straight lines reminded Naruto of the insignia worn by the captain of a scout troop from long ago.
'I don't know his name, but he's clearly obsessed with birds,' Naruto thought. 'Let's call him Birdman for now.'
Birdman stood confidently on the strange bird's back, his voice dripping with arrogance. "That was just a greeting. The real show is about to begin. Now, which of you will be the first to offer your blood in sacrifice?"
Naruto's sharp perception kicked in, detailing the situation for the team. "There are four enemies in total. This guy in front of us, two others approaching one of whom is likely Hiruko and another presence that feels like a ninja beast."
Naruto couldn't help but admire their audacity. "Four people challenging Konoha? They're crazier than Nagato. At least Nagato brought backup with Konan and the Six Paths of Pain. Even Orochimaru had the backing of the Sand and Sound villages. And Shennō brought an entire army. But these four? They're either stupidly brave or just stupid."
Itachi, unwilling to let Sasuke leave his field of vision for too long, launched the first attack. He threw several kunai into the sky, aiming for Birdman.
Birdman smirked, deftly manoeuvring his strange bird to dodge the projectiles. "Is that all?" he sneered just as pain flared in his shoulder. "What?!"
Before he could process what had happened, Itachi followed up with his Phoenix Flower Jutsu, sending a barrage of small fireballs, while Naruto unleashed Tobirama's Water Cutting Blade, a high-pressure water jet capable of slicing through anything.
Birdman panicked, steering his bird frantically. One of Itachi's fireballs struck the bird, destabilizing its flight. Meanwhile, Naruto's water jet grazed Birdman's head, shaving a clean strip of hair down the middle of his scalp.
Naruto blinked, momentarily stunned. 'Did I just give him a bald spot?'
Recovering quickly, Naruto shouted, "Congratulations! You're our first customer at Konoha Barbershop! How about a membership card? Prepay 100,000 ryo and enjoy a lifetime discount on trims!"
"Shut up, brat!" Birdman roared, flinging a barrage of explosive feathers.
Naruto smirked. With a Lion Mane Jutsu, his hair extended outward, forming a massive umbrella that shielded everyone from the explosion.
The feathers detonated harmlessly against his golden hair, leaving the team unscathed.
When the umbrella retracted, Naruto patted his hair nervously. Good thing I didn't turn it into an afro. That would've been a disaster.
Itachi, wasting no time, threw three more kunai. Birdman dodged easily this time, glaring down. "Do you really think I'd fall for the same trick twice?"
At that moment, a Rasengan slammed into his face courtesy of Naruto, who had teleported to one of the kunai Itachi had thrown.
Birdman screamed as he fell from the sky. Naruto landed gracefully on the strange bird's back. "You know," he mused, "anyone using Flying Thunder God should really team up with a Uchiha."
Before the strange bird could react, Naruto planted a Big Ball Rasengan into its back. "Rest in peace, weird… flying… manta ray thing." The bird screeched before disintegrating in a flash of chakra.
Naruto teleported back to Sakura. "Sakura, can you check if Birdman is still alive? If he is, maybe give him a couple of your signature punches."
Sakura, cracking her knuckles, grinned. "With pleasure." After a quick "check," she delivered two devastating punches to the unconscious Birdman. "He's definitely out now."
"Great timing, Sakura!" Naruto pointed five meters ahead. "Hit that spot next!"
Without hesitation, Sakura leapt forward, slamming her fist into the ground.
"Sakura Rush!"
The earth shattered like a cherry blossom blooming, sending shockwaves rippling outward. The precision of her chakra control was unmatched, leaving a crater that exposed a writhing mass of snakes beneath the surface.
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The team tensed as a cloaked figure emerged from the snakes. The man's forehead bore the same purple markings as Birdman, but his appearance was far more sinister. His left arm transformed into a massive snake that coiled protectively around him.
"Damn… they have a sensor ninja," Snake Man muttered, his face twisted with annoyance.
Before anyone could respond, two mechanical dogs bounded to his side. A woman with a commanding presence and a leather whip followed closely behind.
"Guess they're done sending us enemies one by one," Naruto quipped. "That's disappointing. Don't villains usually follow the 'attack in waves' rule?"
Sakura cracked her knuckles. "Good. Saves me the trouble of waiting."
"Agreed," Itachi said, stepping forward. "The snake's mine."
Sakura glanced at Kakashi, smirking. "Hey, sensei, that woman seems to train dogs like you. Should we call Pakkun and have a competition?"
Kakashi sighed, exasperated. "You're going to make Pakkun hate you. Let's just deal with this."
Itachi engaged the Snake Man, starting with a Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu. Snake Man dodged effortlessly, countering by extending his serpent-like arm to ensnare Itachi.
The massive snake bit into Itachi's shoulder, but instead of blood, a flock of crows erupted, scattering into the air.
"Genjutsu," Snake Man hissed, realizing too late. The crows reformed behind him, revealing Itachi, who drove a kunai into his back.
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