Akuma quickly opened the First Gate of Opening, removing all mental inhibitions.
Then the Second Gate of Healing, flooding his body with recovery and enhanced strength.
Finally, the Third Gate of Life, igniting his physical attributes, especially his speed, to terrifying new heights.
He stopped there. His skin flushed dark red, his hair bristled skyward as raw chakra erupted from his body. The air warped, a pressure zone forming around him, and when fused with the Satsui no Hado, he no longer looked human. He was a beast.
Right now, Akuma was confident if he fought Itachi, he had an eighty percent chance of victory.
Grinning wildly, he fixed his gaze on Itachi.
"Let's begin!"
In a blur, Akuma darted forward, the ground shattering beneath his feet. Dirt and debris exploded outward as he vanished and reappeared in front of Itachi, his kick slamming into Susanoo with devastating force.
The impact tore a massive hole through the ethereal warrior's chest, the shockwave hurling both Itachi and his Susanoo across the forest. Trees splintered and toppled as they were crushed under the force.
Itachi's body jolted within the collapsing defense ribs cracking as blood burst from his lips.
When he staggered back to his feet, his eyes widened.
Akuma… had opened the Eight Gates. Not fully, but enough to make him unrecognizable. His growth since their last encounter was terrifying.
Before him stood not a boy, but a monster—fangs bared, claws flexed, his killing intent so thick it strangled the air itself.
Itachi knew. If he didn't fight with everything he had, both he and Sasuke were finished.
Already weakened from their last battle, missing an arm, his body trembling from illness, Itachi cast aside all hesitation. Susanoo's fractured form knit itself back together, growing denser and more complete. Plates of spectral armor layered over its body until a fully armed warrior stood tall, sword and shield in hand.
The Totsuka Blade a weapon that could seal anything it pierced in an eternal dream.
The Yata Mirror a shield said to nullify any attack, be it ninjutsu, taijutsu, or genjutsu.
But wielding them pushed Itachi's body past its limits. Blood streamed from his eyes, his vision blurred, his body felt as though it were aflame. He didn't have much time. If he couldn't end this quickly, his chakra would collapse.
Akuma, on the other hand, stared at Itachi's trembling frame, the blood dripping from his eyes, his fragile body barely holding together.
He laughed.
Then stopped abruptly, his grin fading into a twisted smirk.
"Did I become stupid?" Akuma muttered, his grin fading into a thoughtful scowl. "Why am I even risking a fight against you, knowing there's a chance you could kill me? When I could just wait for you to burn through your chakra… and then you'd be nothing more than a sitting duck, waiting to be slaughtered."
But then his eyes lit up, figuring out the answer, and the grin returned manic, unhinged.
"Ohh… I'm starting to love fighting." Akuma tilted his head, his eyes locked on Itachi. A twisted grin stretched across his bloodstained face.
"Well, Itachi… last time you made me run. Now it's your turn. I'm going after your brother—this time, I'll rip out both his eyes. If you can stop me, then try."
His tone dropped into a guttural growl, every word dripping with killing intent.
"I wonder… how long can you keep that Susanoo up? A minute? A few seconds? Let's find out."
Akuma burst into motion, tearing across the battlefield, moving to the direction where Kisame went his laughter echoing through the forest like a demon unleashed.
For the first time, panic and Despair flashed across Itachi's face. His calm and collected mask cracked. He pushed his body to its absolute limit, pursuing Akuma at full speed. spread
But Akuma was faster.
Itachi only needed to be close enough for Amaterasu to land. If it did, the battle would end in an instant. But no matter how hard he pushed, even with Susanoo's speed, the distance never closed.
Realizing he couldn't catch Akuma directly, Itachi shifted tactics. Susanoo's arm extended, conjuring the spinning force of Yasaka Magatama. With a flick of intent, the glowing orbs hurtled forward, cutting through the forest with blinding speed. Trees split apart, earth exploded, the very air trembling as they tore a path toward Akuma.
Sensing the deadly approach, Akuma's Absolute Dimension Ring flared with warning. He vanished in a flicker, reappearing at the side just as the magatama screamed past. They carved a swath of destruction before slamming into the ground with a deafening boom, shaking the battlefield.
Akuma had barely steadied himself when a massive fireball roared toward him, exactly where he'd teleported. Itachi had predicted his movements.
Akuma didn't slow. He sprinted forward, letting the fireball engulf him. The explosion hurled his body skyward.
Itachi seized the moment, dispelling Susanoo to conserve his dwindling chakra. With the spectral armor gone, his body felt lighter—faster. He shot upward in a blur, closing the distance.
In midair, Akuma's eyes narrowed seeing itachi Approaching him. He thrust out his hands, summoning a surging Gohadōken and hurling it straight at Itachi. The blazing sphere smashed into his chest.
But Akuma's ring screamed again. Instinct snapped his head around.
The real Itachi was behind him.
black flames burst forth. Amaterasu.
Akuma's pupils dilated. At this range, no speed could save him. This was Itachi's final gamble.
But Akuma forced everything into his focus, and with a crack of space itself, he teleported just before the black inferno consumed him.
He reappeared on the ground, panting, cold sweat on his brow.
"…Damn. If not for the ring… I'd be ash right now."
When he looked up, Itachi's body was plummeting like a broken puppet. He hit the ground with a thunderous crash, dust and rubble spraying outward. Blood poured from his lips as his body convulsed weakly. His chakra was gone.
Akuma approached slowly, towering over him.
"Well, this is the end for you, Itachi," he said softly, almost respectfully. "You know… you were one of my favorites. But now it's time for you to die."
Itachi's blurred vision met Akuma's. His body trembled. Then, with the last of his will, he flicked his wrist. A kunai shot toward Akuma.
Akuma sneered, not even bothering to dodge. "Pathetic."
But again, the ring pulsed violently. Akuma twisted aside just in time.
The kunai struck the ground, and a small flame on the kunai instantly erupted.
Amaterasu burned across the earth, devouring stone and dirt in an instant.
Akuma's eyes widened. "Tch… clever to the very end."
He realized Itachi had coated the kunai with a fragment of Amaterasu while falling, gambling that Akuma's arrogance would make him ignore such a harmless-looking throw. And it would have worked—if not for the Absolute Dimension Ring.
Akuma's smirk faded into a cold glare.
"From now on… I dodge everything. No exceptions."
He looked down. Itachi lay still, lifeless. His body had finally given out.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then Akuma extended his hand. A massive Gohadōken formed, pure destructive energy swirling violently. With a roar, he hurled it at Itachi's corpse.
The body disintegrated instantly, vaporized to ash, leaving nothing behind.
"No one will bring you back. Not Orochimaru, not anyone."
The forest grew silent again.