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If chakra itself is struck directly, the destructive power of taijutsu becomes overwhelming—capable of overshadowing even many powerful secret techniques.
"Where are you looking!"
At the moment Uchiha Itachi's vision faltered for just an instant, Ye Dou struck. His kick shot upward like a cannon.
Bang!
"So fast!"
Itachi couldn't evade and had to block with his arms. Despite that, the sheer force of Ye Dou's kick launched him into the air, smashing him through the hotel ceiling.
But that wasn't the end. As Itachi reeled in pain midair, Ye Dou's afterimage had already flashed behind him like a ghost.
Itachi's reflexes were sharp, but Ye Dou gave him no room to respond. The blade in Ye Dou's hand moved like a living thing, and the bandage wrapped around it suddenly unraveled—coiling around Itachi, binding him tight in midair.
"Lianhua!"
Uzumaki Naruto exclaimed, recognizing the technique.
It was the same move Rock Lee had used in the Chūnin Exams to crack Gaara's sand armor—an extremely dangerous taijutsu technique that required both speed and power.
In the next moment, Ye Dou, holding the bandaged Itachi like a spinning axis, began rotating rapidly.
They spun down toward the ground like a drill.
The hotel below shattered completely. Guests didn't even have time to react before being thrown back by a storm-like shockwave.
"He did it… Is he dead?"
Naruto muttered in awe, stunned by the brutal display of taijutsu.
"No."
Ye Dou landed and summoned his war blade back to his hand. His strike had connected—this wasn't a substitution or illusion. But his Observation Haki (Kenbunshoku Haki) told him clearly: Uchiha Itachi was still alive. His life force was strong.
"Maybe I was wrong to use you as Sasuke's sharpening stone. You're far stronger than him," came a voice from the crater.
Boom!
A shockwave erupted, blasting away the smoke and rubble. At its center stood Uchiha Itachi, cloaked in an eerie blood-red energy. Emerging without warning was the terrifying form of Susanoo.
The red chakra behemoth unsheathed a blade and slashed forward.
Boom!
Ye Dou was hurled backward, crashing into the wall with immense force.
"Ye Dou!"
someone called out.
"I'm fine!"
Ye Dou burst from the wall, steadying himself. His gaze locked on the crimson titan before him.
He knew this form well. He had once clashed with Uchiha Shisui's Susanoo in the past and hadn't backed down then either.
"What… what is that!?"
Uchiha Sasuke trembled, knees weak as he stared at the overwhelming presence of the Susanoo.
"It's not a monster, little brother..."
Itachi finally broke his silence, blood running from his eyes, voice manic.
"Have you seen it? This is the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan—Susanoo, the ultimate defense and offense of the Uchiha!"
His laughter echoed with a mix of pride and madness, taunting Sasuke.
Ye Dou didn't react. He watched Itachi calmly, unmoving.
This version of Susanoo wasn't the partial form he'd seen before. Itachi's complete Susanoo wielded both the Yata Mirror and the Totsuka Blade—two mythical weapons. The Yata Mirror could nullify all chakra-based and physical attacks, adapting its nature instantly to the enemy's technique. Even Ye Dou's gravity-based kekkei genkai might not be effective.
His only option was to delay.
"Wait."
Ye Dou said quietly to his mongoose companion, who had materialized beside him in concern.
"That shield… Even my strongest blows won't break through that mirror, and gravity won't help either. The Yata Mirror adjusts its properties in real-time. It might cancel out my technique entirely."
He clenched his fists.
"But Itachi doesn't have the Eternal Mangekyō. Using Susanoo at this level will destroy his body."
He could feel it—Itachi was nearing his limits. His chakra was fraying, his body groaning under the strain.
Jiraiya was approaching fast. The uproar caused by their battle was too great to ignore. Once Jiraiya arrived, Itachi wouldn't be able to escape.
Itachi knew this too.
Though his Susanoo was formidable, the Mangekyō Sharingan came at a steep price. The longer he used it, the more his body screamed in pain. His cells felt as if they were tearing apart, vision dimming.
He began to retreat inward, clearly signaling the end of his assault.
He had no intention to continue this fight.
He would summon Kisame Hoshigaki and retreat.
The battle had reached its turning point.
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