Hello, Drinor here. I'm happy to publish a new Chapter of The Purple Flash of Kumo.
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Chapter 49, Chapter 50, Chapter 51, Chapter 52, Chapter 53, Chapter 54, Chapter 55, Chapter 56, Chapter 57, Chapter 58, Chapter 59, and Chapter 60 are already available for Patrons.
Time seemed to slow as Naruto charged, his body wrapped in the crimson shroud of the Nine-Tails' chakra. Two tails of pure energy lashed behind him, carving grooves into the bridge's surface with each wild swing.
Itachi stood perfectly still, Sharingan tracking every minute movement of Naruto's approach. "Control in the Two-Tails state," he observed quietly. "Impressive for someone your age."
Naruto didn't respond with words. His lips had pulled back in a feral snarl, revealing elongated canines, but his eyes—though crimson with vertical slits—retained their focus.
"RAAAAAAHHH!" Naruto thrust the lightning bolt forward, aiming directly for Itachi's chest. The purple-red energy crackled and expanded, forming what looked like the head of a roaring fox at its tip.
Itachi's hands flashed through signs faster than most eyes could follow. "Fire Style: Great Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
A massive dragon of concentrated flame erupted from Itachi's mouth, meeting Naruto's lightning bolt head-on. The collision sent a shockwave rippling across the bridge, cracking concrete and sending everyone nearby staggering backward. Steam and smoke billowed outward, temporarily obscuring both combatants.
Through the chaos, Naruto sensed movement to his right and pivoted sharply, the chakra cloak around his right arm hardening into a shield just as Itachi's kick connected. The impact still sent him skidding backward, his clawed feet digging furrows into the bridge to maintain balance.
"Your sensory abilities have improved," Itachi noted. "The Nine-Tails' chakra enhances your perception."
Naruto flexed his clawed hands, the purple lightning now dancing between his fingers like living things. "Don't talk like you know me, Uchiha."
"But I do know you, Naruto Yotsuki." Itachi's voice remained calm, almost gentle. "Better than you might expect."
The comment sent a fresh surge of anger through Naruto, making the chakra cloak bubble more intensely. The tails behind him lashed harder, sending chunks of concrete flying with each swing. "Shut up and fight!"
Naruto formed a familiar cross seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Five clones materialized, each wrapped in the same crimson shroud, each with the same purple lightning crackling around their forms. They moved in perfect synchronization, spreading out to surround Itachi.
"Interesting application," Itachi commented. "The chakra cost must be substantial."
"Worth every drop to take you down," one of the Narutos growled. All six began weaving hand signs simultaneously. "Purple Lightning Style: Thunder Network!"
The clones slammed their palms into the ground. Immediately, lines of purple-red electricity shot between them, forming a pentagon with Itachi at its center. The lightning rose from the ground in jagged pillars, creating a cage of crackling energy.
Rather than looking concerned, Itachi appeared almost pleased. "Creative. But predictable." His body dissolved into a flock of crows just as the lightning cage contracted.
"Behind you!" the real Naruto shouted to his clones, but too late.
Itachi reappeared in their midst, moving with blinding speed. Each strike was economical, precisely targeting vital points. Three clones dispelled in clouds of smoke before they could even react.
The remaining two attempted to grab Itachi, their chakra cloaks extending like grasping hands, but he flowed between them like water. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu."
Unlike the standard version of the technique, these fireballs were enormous, each one detonating with enough force to dispel a clone and crater the bridge further. Through the flames, Itachi emerged, heading straight for the real Naruto.
Naruto dropped into a defensive stance, chakra cloak thickening around his vital points. "Purple Lightning Style: Armor!"
The electricity integrated with the Nine-Tails' chakra, creating a layered defense that made the air around Naruto shimmer with heat and electrical discharge. When Itachi struck with a palm thrust, the armor repelled the blow, sending visible ripples through the air.
"That actually stung," Itachi admitted, flexing his fingers. Small electrical burns marked his palm. "Your Thunder Armor isn't just for show."
Naruto grinned, though on his transformed face it looked more predatory than triumphant. "Learned that one from watching the Raikage. Here's another!"
He vanished in a burst of speed that surprised even Itachi, reappearing directly behind the Uchiha. "Purple Lightning Style: Thunderclap Arrow!"
A javelin of concentrated purple-red lightning materialized in Naruto's hand. He thrust it forward with all his strength, aiming between Itachi's shoulder blades.
Itachi twisted at the last possible moment, the javelin grazing his Akatsuki cloak and burning a hole straight through it. Even that glancing blow was enough to make him grimace. "Your speed has improved dramatically."
"The benefits of having a bijuu," Naruto replied, already forming another javelin. "And a hell of a lot of training!"
This time, Naruto didn't attack directly. Instead, he threw the javelin high into the air, where it exploded into dozens of smaller bolts that rained down on Itachi's position.
The Uchiha's hands blurred through signs. "Fire Style: Flame Wall!"
A barrier of intense flames erupted around Itachi, vaporizing the lightning bolts before they could reach him. The heat was so intense that parts of the bridge began to soften and melt.
Through the flames, Itachi's voice carried clearly. "You've learned to harness the Nine-Tails' power without losing yourself to rage. A rare achievement for a jinchūriki your age. But—"
"Save the lecture!" Naruto cut him off, crouching low as the chakra cloak around him began to pulse rhythmically. "I'm just getting started!"
He slammed both palms into the bridge, channeling chakra deep into the structure. "Purple Lightning Style: Rising Thunder!"
Electricity surged through the entire bridge, following the metal reinforcement rods within the concrete. The strategy was clear—Itachi couldn't avoid touching the bridge itself.
Itachi leaped high into the air, momentarily escaping the electrical field. "Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Drawing moisture from the mist and the sea below, Itachi formed a dragon of water that plunged down toward Naruto. The water conducted the lightning from the bridge, creating a feedback loop that threatened to overwhelm Naruto's technique.
"Not gonna work!" Naruto shouted. The chakra cloak around him expanded suddenly, forming a protective dome. Inside it, he began channeling chakra differently, changing the nature of his lightning. "Purple Lightning Style: Negative Charge!"
When the water dragon struck the dome, instead of conducting the electricity, it was repelled violently. The water scattered in all directions, some droplets literally being pushed away as if by magnetic force.
Itachi landed lightly on a portion of the bridge now free from electrical discharge. "Manipulation of electromagnetic polarity. Not many lightning users master that level of control."
"You can thank Yoruichi-sensei for that," Naruto replied, the chakra dome receding back into his cloak. "Three months of getting my ass kicked taught me a few things."
For the first time, genuine surprise flickered across Itachi's face. "You trained with Yoruichi Shihōin? The Purple Lightning Master from the western continent?"
"What can I say?" Naruto's grin was feral. "I'm full of surprises."
"Indeed you are." Itachi's expression returned to its usual calm. "Show me more."
Naruto charged forward, but this time his movement pattern was erratic—zigzagging, changing directions unpredictably. The chakra cloak extended from his right arm, forming what looked like a massive claw.
"Nine-Tails Purple Lightning Style: Thunder Claw!"
The technique was unlike anything Itachi had seen before—a perfect fusion of bijuu chakra and lightning nature. The claw swept toward him with enough force to displace the air in its path, creating a visible distortion.
Itachi didn't dodge. Instead, he countered with pure taijutsu. He slipped inside the range of Naruto's attack, one hand striking a precise point on the chakra claw that disrupted its flow.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere." Itachi expelled several small balls of compressed air from his mouth, each striking with incredible concussive force.
The attack hit Naruto point-blank, sending him tumbling backward. The chakra cloak absorbed most of the impact, but he still felt like he'd been hit by Killer Bee in a training session.
"Wind beats lightning," Itachi reminded him calmly. "Basic elemental principles."
Naruto snarled as he regained his footing. "Basic, huh? Try this on for size!"
He formed another cross seal, this time creating a dozen shadow clones. Each one began channeling purple lightning in a different configuration. "Let's see how you handle this!"
The clones attacked from all directions, each using a variant of Naruto's Purple Lightning techniques. One wielded whips of electricity that cracked through the air. Another compressed lightning into orbs that exploded on impact. A third created arcs of lightning that tracked Itachi's movements like living things.
Itachi easily avoided the attacks; his Sharingan predicted each attack before it came. A spinning kick dispelled two clones. A precisely thrown kunai eliminated a third. A complex sequence of hand signs produced a fire technique that engulfed two more.
"Your arsenal is impressive," Itachi commented, dispelling another clone with a palm strike. "But repetitive patterns are easy to predict, even with variations."
The real Naruto, hanging back and observing, smiled slightly. "Who said anything about being unpredictable?"
Itachi's eyes narrowed as he realized what was happening. The clone attacks weren't meant to hit him—they were herding him toward a specific spot on the bridge. A spot where the concrete had been subtly marked with tiny scorch marks from previous lightning strikes.
"Purple Lightning Style: Thunder Prison!"
The scorch marks on the bridge lit up, revealing an intricate circuit pattern that had been gradually etched into the concrete throughout their battle. Lightning erupted from each point, forming a cylindrical cage around Itachi.
"When did you—" Itachi began, genuinely surprised.
"From the beginning." Naruto's crimson eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Every attack had a purpose. Every lightning strike left a mark. My clones just completed the circuit."
For the first time, Itachi looked truly impressed. "You are quite smart. Not just power, but planning several moves ahead."
The lightning cage began to contract, the energy growing more intense. "This technique was designed to contain bijuu chakra," Naruto explained. "Let's see how you fare against it!"
Rather than attempting to counter the lightning directly, Itachi closed his eyes briefly. When they reopened, his Sharingan had changed, the three tomoe merging into a complex pinwheel pattern.
"It seems I underestimated you," he acknowledged. "You've forced my hand."
A spectral ribcage of energy formed around Itachi, glowing with crimson light. "Susanoo."
The lightning cage collided with the spiritual armor, creating a blinding display of energy. Cracks appeared in the Susanoo ribs, but they held, protecting Itachi from the worst of Naruto's technique.
"What the hell is that?" Naruto growled, the chakra cloak around him bristling defensively.
"Susanoo," Itachi replied simply. "A technique unique to those who have awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan."
The demonstration was clear—Itachi had been holding back significantly.
Naruto felt a surge of frustration, then determination. The chakra cloak around him intensified, becoming denser, more defined. The two tails behind him lashed with renewed vigor.
"So you've got special eyes. Big deal!" Naruto's voice had taken on a deeper resonance, the Nine-Tails' influence growing stronger as his emotions intensified. "I'll just have to hit harder!"
He slammed his palms together, channeling massive amounts of chakra. The purple lightning around him began to spiral inward, concentrating between his hands. "Purple Lightning Style: Thunder King's Judgment!"
A sphere of lightning formed, so dense and powerful that it bent light around it. The air crackled with ozone, and small arcs of electricity jumped between molecules in the air.
Itachi watched with genuine interest, the Susanoo ribcage still protecting him. "That level of chakra compression... dangerous for the user as well as the target."
"Worth the risk to take you down!" Naruto thrust the sphere forward, releasing it toward Itachi.
The Thunder King's Judgment struck the Susanoo with devastating force. The spiritual armor cracked further but held just long enough to absorb the worst of the blast before shattering completely. The resulting explosion blew out a section of the bridge, sending debris raining into the water below.
When the dust cleared, both combatants were still standing, though on separate sections of the damaged bridge. Naruto's right arm hung limply at his side, burned from the backlash of his own technique. Itachi's Akatsuki cloak was in tatters, and he was breathing heavily from the strain of maintaining the Susanoo even briefly.
"Impressive," Itachi acknowledged. "Few have broken through a rib cage Susanoo."
Naruto's breathing was heavy, but the chakra cloak was already healing his injuries. "What the hell are you?" he demanded. "These techniques... they're nothing like what they taught us about the Uchiha clan."
"There is much about the Uchiha that remains secret," Itachi replied. "As there is much about your own heritage that you've only begun to discover."
The comment sent fresh anger coursing through Naruto. The bubbling chakra around him intensified, and a third tail began to form at the base of his spine.
"Don't talk like you know me!" Naruto roared, the sound no longer entirely human. The bridge beneath his feet began to crack from the pressure of his chakra alone. "YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME!"
As the third tail solidified, Naruto's features became more bestial. His fingers elongated into proper claws, and his face elongated slightly into a more muzzle-like shape. The purple lightning around him turned almost completely crimson, with only traces of its original violet color remaining.
Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan focused intently on Naruto. "Three tails," he observed quietly. "The threshold of conscious control for most jinchūriki. Your mind is beginning to blur with the Nine-Tails' instincts."
Despite this assessment, Naruto's eyes still held recognition, still focused on Itachi with purpose rather than mindless rage. "I'm still... me!" he managed, though his voice was deeper, rougher. "Enough to... finish you!"
As the third tail solidified, Naruto's features became more bestial. His fingers elongated into proper claws, and his face elongated slightly into a more muzzle-like shape. The purple lightning around him turned almost completely crimson, with only traces of its original violet color remaining.
Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan reverted to the standard three-tomoe Sharingan as if he no longer needed its power.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Naruto roared, the bridge cracking beneath his feet from the pressure of his chakra. "YOU WON'T ESCAPE ME!"
One moment, Itachi stood before him—the next, he was behind Naruto, moving with such speed that even Naruto's enhanced senses couldn't track him.
"You're not as powerful as you think you are," Itachi stated calmly.
Before Naruto could even turn, Itachi's foot connected with his face in a devastating kick. The sound of cartilage breaking echoed across the bridge as Naruto's nose shattered. Blood sprayed from his nostrils, only to sizzle against the chakra cloak.
"RAAAAAAAGH!" The pain and humiliation sent Naruto into a deeper rage. The purple lightning that had been his primary weapon faded entirely as he gave himself over more completely to the Nine-Tails' power.
Massive arms of pure chakra extended from his cloak, swiping at Itachi with enough force to shatter concrete. The bridge groaned under the assault as chunks were torn away with each missed strike.
Itachi weaved between the attacks without using a single jutsu. Every swipe of Naruto's chakra arms missed by millimeters. Each time Naruto thought he had him cornered, Itachi would slip away as if he could predict the future.
"STAND STILL AND FIGHT ME!" Naruto bellowed, his frustration mounting.
"As you wish," Itachi replied.
In a blur of movement, he appeared at Naruto's side, a kunai slicing across the right side of Naruto's neck. Despite the chakra cloak, the blade bit deep, opening a gash that immediately began pouring blood.
Naruto clutched at his neck, momentarily shocked by the injury. His healing factor kicked in, but the blood loss was significant. He staggered, looking down as he tried to regain his balance.
That's when he saw them—ten explosive tags arranged in a pattern beneath his feet, carefully placed during Itachi's impossibly fast movements.
Naruto's eyes widened. "Shi—"
The tags detonated simultaneously. The explosions combined into one massive fireball that engulfed Naruto completely. When the smoke cleared, he lay in a crater, his body mangled and burned. The chakra cloak flickered weakly as it struggled to heal the extensive damage.
Somehow, Naruto pushed himself up to his hands and knees, blood dripping from multiple wounds. "How?" he growled, glaring up at Itachi, who stood unscathed at the edge of the crater. "HOW ARE YOU SO POWERFUL?"
"You rely too much on raw power," Itachi explained, his voice oddly gentle despite the brutality of the fight. "You think that because you can access the Nine-Tails' chakra, you're invincible, because you can use Purple Lightning that makes you better than the others. But power without skill, without discipline, is meaningless. Your father understood this. Your mother too."
The mention of his parents sent a fresh wave of rage through Naruto. The chakra cloak surged, the wounds on his body closing at an accelerated rate. At the base of his spine, a fourth tail began to form.
"I'LL SHOW YOU POWER!" Naruto's voice had become almost unrecognizable, a bestial roar that contained barely any humanity.
Itachi's eyes immediately shifted back to the Mangekyo pattern. "No, you won't. Not today."
"Tsukuyomi."
Naruto's eyes widened in shock as reality warped around him. He gasped once, then collapsed face-first onto the bridge floor. The crimson chakra cloak dissipated like mist in the morning sun, leaving only his battered human form behind.
A trickle of blood ran from Itachi's right eye, evidence of the strain Tsukuyomi placed on even its wielder. He straightened up, turning his attention back to where Kisame was battling Darui.
"Kisame," he called. "We should—"
His words were cut short by a sudden explosion of chakra so violent it made the entire bridge shudder. A pillar of blue flame erupted from where Yugito had been lying unconscious.
"What the hell?" Kisame growled, turning from his fight with Darui. "The Two-Tails is waking up!"
Yugito's body was enveloped in a shroud of blue-tinted chakra, similar to Naruto's but with distinct differences. Where Naruto's had been fox-like, hers took on distinctly feline characteristics. Her eyes snapped open, revealing vertical pupils in yellow irises.
"You... hurt... Naruto..." Her voice was distorted, layered with an inhuman growl. Two chakra tails formed behind her, whipping through the air with enough force to slice through concrete.
Kisame grinned savagely, hefting Samehada. "Even more Chakra! Samehada's gonna feast!"
He lunged toward Yugito, his sword unwrapping itself to reveal the scaled, mouth-like blade beneath. "Come here, kitty-cat!"
Yugito's response was a roar that contained no human language, only primal fury. Blue fire erupted from her mouth, forcing Kisame to dodge aside. The flames melted through the bridge where they struck, leaving perfectly circular holes.
"That's not normal fire," Kisame observed, his grin widening. "That's real bijuu fire!"
Yugito dropped to all fours, her movements becoming more cat-like. Her fingernails extended into proper claws, and her teeth elongated into fangs. "Where... is... Omoi?" she demanded, the words barely intelligible through her transformation.
"The annoying sword brat?" Kisame laughed. "Don't worry about him. Worry about yourself!"
He swung Samehada in a wide arc, aiming to absorb Yugito's chakra cloak. The sword connected, its scales eagerly drinking in the Two-Tails' energy. But unlike with Naruto, something unexpected happened.
Samehada recoiled violently, its scales smoking. Kisame's eyes widened in surprise. "What the—? It burned Samehada!"
Yugito hissed, pleasure evident in her feral expression. "Two-Tails... fire... burns... everything..."
She pounced forward with incredible speed, her chakra-enhanced fist connecting with Kisame's chest before he could bring Samehada around to block. The impact sent him crashing through a section of the bridge's railing.
Kisame recovered quickly, rolling to his feet with a grimace. "This is getting interesting! The kitty's got claws!"
He formed hand signs rapidly. "Water Style: Great Shark Bullet Jutsu!"
A massive shark made of water formed and rocketed toward Yugito. She countered with another blast of blue fire that turned the water to steam on contact. Through the resulting cloud, she charged at Kisame again.
"You're fast," Kisame acknowledged, parrying her claws with Samehada's hilt. "But I fought Itachi twice. You're not on his level yet, Two-Tails!"
"Don't... need to be..." Yugito snarled. The chakra around her intensified, her form shifting further from human. Her face elongated into a distinctly feline muzzle, and her body began to grow in size as the blue flames surrounding her took on the distinct shape of a giant cat. "Just... need... to kill you!"
Kisame's eyes widened slightly. "Well, shit. She's starting to actually transform into the Two-Tails."
He glanced toward Itachi, who was watching the development with calculated interest. "Itachi! This is getting complicated!"
Across the bridge, Itachi nodded slightly. The situation was indeed deteriorating rapidly. Naruto was temporarily incapacitated by Tsukuyomi, but Yugito was now turning into a mini version of her Bijuu, and he could sense another presence approaching rapidly—one with a familiar chakra signature.
"Incoming," Itachi warned Kisame, gesturing toward the far end of the bridge where a figure was racing toward them, surrounded by a visible aura of green chakra.
Kakashi Hatake advanced with a speed that would have been impossible for him normally. His skin had taken on a reddish hue, and the veins on his forehead bulged prominently. His Sharingan blazed with intensity as he formed hand signs.
"Second Gate: Gate of Healing, open!" he called out. "Third Gate: Gate of Life, open!"
The green aura around him intensified, and his silver hair stood straight up from the sheer force of chakra emanating from his body. His exhaustion from the earlier battle seemed to have vanished, replaced by raw, dangerous power.
"Kisame," Itachi called, his voice calm despite the chaos. "We need to leave. Darui is not dead yet, and Nibi is getting out of control."
Kisame looked between the Mini Bijuu Yugito and the Gate-enhanced Kakashi, who was approaching rapidly. "Retreat? Really? Just when it's getting fun!"
"We've confirmed the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki's abilities," Itachi replied, one hand moving to his bleeding eye. "And discovered the Two-Tails is more formidable than reported. Our mission is complete."
Yugito stalked toward Kisame, blue flame licking around her claws. "You're... not... leaving..."
Kisame chuckled, bringing Samehada up defensively. "Sorry, kitty. Playtime's over for today."
He leaped backward, landing beside Itachi just as Kakashi arrived, positioning himself protectively in front of Naruto's prone form.
"Going somewhere?" Kakashi asked, his voice strained from the Gates' pressure on his body.
Itachi regarded his former ANBU captain with something almost like respect. "The Eight Inner Gates. You've always been full of surprises, senpai."
"So have you, Itachi," Kakashi replied. "Though I can't say I approve of your career choices."
A ghost of a smile touched Itachi's lips. "We all make our choices." His gaze moved to Naruto's unconscious form. "Some have more significant consequences than others."
"Enough philosophy," Kisame growled. "If we're leaving, let's go."
Itachi nodded, but paused. "One moment." He glanced toward where Sasuke lay unconscious, guarded by an exhausted Haku.
"What are you—" Kakashi started, stepping forward.
"Just a parting gift for my foolish little brother."
Before anyone could stop him, Itachi's Mangekyo activated once more, briefly locking onto Sasuke's unconscious form. Whatever genjutsu he cast took only a second.
"What did you do to him?" Kakashi demanded, the chakra of the Gates flaring brighter.
"I gave him a memory," Itachi replied cryptically.
He turned his attention back to Naruto. "And as for you, Naruto Yotsuki..."
His Mangekyo focused on Naruto one last time, but not to harm—to adjust the Tsukuyomi already in place.
"Remember what I tell you in there," he said quietly, then turned to Kisame. "Now we can leave."
"About time," Kisame muttered. He formed a quick hand sign. "Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
A thick, impenetrable mist engulfed the bridge, far denser than Zabuza's version of the technique. By the time it cleared moments later, both Akatsuki members had vanished without a trace.
Yugito stumbled forward, her chakra cloak flickering as she struggled to maintain control. "Naruto..." she whispered, her voice becoming more human as the immediate threat disappeared. She collapsed beside his still form, her own transformation receding.
Naruto drifted in a world of crimson clouds and black skies. The bridge, the battle, his friends—all gone. Only emptiness surrounded him, a strange limbo where time seemed meaningless.
Then, gradually, a landscape formed. He found himself standing in a field of tall grass, swaying gently in a breeze he couldn't feel. The sky above was the color of fresh blood, with a black moon hanging impossibly large on the horizon.
"Where am I?" His voice echoed strangely, as if traveling across a vast distance before returning to his ears.
"Inside Tsukuyomi," Itachi replied, appearing before him. Gone was the battle-worn Akatsuki member.
"The genjutsu." Naruto instinctively tried to summon his chakra cloak, but nothing happened. He reached deeper, seeking the Nine-Tails' power, but found only silence. "What did you do to me?"
"Nothing permanent," Itachi assured him. "I just want to talk with you."
If you want to Read 12 More Chapters Right Now. Search 'patreon.com/Drinor' on Websearch