Chapter 155: A Battle Beyond Dimensions
Whether Zabuza could be trusted was truly a matter worth pondering.
At least for now, he seemed anything but reliable.
And honestly, Uchiha Obito was beginning to feel cursed.
"Why is it them again?"
Staring at the two familiar white-haired figures, Obito's fists clenched instinctively. These guys were like ghosts that never disappeared—no matter where they went, they ran into them.
"What now?" Kisame asked in a low voice, a bit embarrassed by the situation.
He didn't realize that Itachi had already clenched his fists.
"Sasuke... Has he already graduated?"
The moment Itachi spotted Sasuke, he was momentarily dazed. He never expected to run into his younger brother in such a place.
Seeing Sasuke so relaxed, laughing at Zabuza's missteps alongside Kakashi and the others, Itachi took a deep breath.
"He's too relaxed. That's not the mindset of a true avenger."
From Itachi's perspective, Sasuke couldn't afford any moment of peace. He needed to constantly fuel his hatred to evolve—especially to develop his eyes.
He had already mapped out Sasuke's path.
"Let's make our move."
Itachi suddenly spoke.
"Didn't expect to see Uchiha Sasuke here... Regardless, I need to test him. He's my backup pair of eyes."
"Oh?"
Obito raised a brow, glancing at Itachi with disdain hidden behind his mask.
Itachi remained calm, speaking to the battered Zabuza who was getting back on his feet.
"Besides, isn't Zabuza someone you wanted to recruit? If we don't do something now, that's going to fall apart."
"Got a plan, Itachi?" Kisame asked reluctantly. Truth be told, he didn't want to fight—this wasn't a winnable situation.
"I'll go test Sasuke. Stall them for a minute—that's all I need."
Itachi said quickly, his gaze falling on Obito.
"Besides, if I deal with the kids, it'll draw attention and make retreat easier."
"Fine. Let's move."
Obito nodded, not objecting.
"Troublesome," Kisame muttered, but he immediately began forming hand seals.
"Water Style: Exploding Water Shockwave!"
A massive surge of chakra burst forth. Water gushed out like a lake being unleashed, roaring toward Kitagawa Gen and the others!
"What the hell?!"
Naruto and Sasuke were both startled by the sheer scale of the torrent.
But Kakashi remained calm. He quickly formed seals and pressed his hands to the ground.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
Boom!
A massive wall of earth rose up in front of them, giving the team just enough time to regroup.
"Stay sharp," Gen warned, his eyes narrowing on Sasuke.
"Especially you, Sasuke."
"Me?" Sasuke was confused, but Gen was no longer looking at him—his system had just triggered.
[Side Quest: "The Bonds of Uchiha Brotherhood"]
[Help Sasuke face Uchiha Itachi]
[Accept? Yes/No]
Gen sighed. So the real missions only start once these brats become ninjas, huh?
"Looks like someone's here for you," he said.
Sasuke turned sharply—and the moment he laid eyes on the approaching figure, his fists clenched tightly.
"Uchiha Itachi!"
With a roar, Sasuke charged forward without hesitation.
"Sasuke!" Naruto called, hesitating for just a second before dashing after him.
Itachi didn't hesitate either—he rushed straight toward Sasuke.
"Hey, be careful!" Kakashi shouted, alarmed by Sasuke's impulsiveness.
But Obito suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Your opponent is me, Kakashi."
"Damn it..."
Kakashi cursed internally. Gen might've been right after all—these missions were cursed.
First a C-rank mission ran into Akatsuki. Now this C-rank mission brought them to the Land of Waves—again.
"And now we run into them... again!"
But there was no time to dwell on it. He had to fight. Thankfully...
Gen's here.
"Sakura, protect Tazuna."
Gen cracked his neck, eyes locking onto Kisame and Zabuza. Then he grinned.
"Well, well. Familiar faces."
"Zabuza, your mission conflicts with his. I suggest we team up," Kisame said grimly.
"Otherwise, none of us are leaving. This guy's terrifying…"
"You don't have to tell me."
Zabuza shook his head.
"You should be worrying about yourself—he's coming!"
Before Zabuza finished, Gen had already vanished.
Zabuza cursed. This guy's insane!
Both he and Kisame drew their blades to defend—but they were too slow.
Buzz—
Gen appeared right in front of Zabuza. His short blade sliced across Zabuza's chest—
Splash!
A water clone.
But Gen's blade immediately turned toward Kisame.
"Damn it!"
Eyes wide, Kisame raised his blade in a desperate block.
"Ninja aren't about brute strength," Gen said—and vanished.
Crash!
He reappeared behind Kisame and kicked him flying!
"And using Water Style against me?"
He pressed his hand to the water—instantly freezing the entire surface!
"Ice Release?! How is that possible?!"
Zabuza, hiding beneath the surface, panicked. He leapt up—but Gen's white-bladed tanto was already swinging.
"Lord Zabuza!"
Haku's voice rang out, and an ice wall formed just in time.
"Too bad... It wasn't enough."
Gen's blade pierced the wall and stabbed into Zabuza's shoulder.
"Damn it—"
Zabuza was struck by a burst of purple lightning. His body went numb—only his jonin-level endurance kept him conscious.
Haku quickly grabbed him and retreated.
But Gen vanished again—this time reappearing beside Kisame.
"What?!"
Kisame broke out in a cold sweat, only now noticing a kunai had been placed near his feet.
"Shit!"
Too late. Gen's blade slashed—
Slash!
Blood sprayed. Kisame rolled and jumped back, trying to escape Gen's kunai teleportation.
But Gen was already back beside Zabuza and Haku.
The battlefield was total chaos—but oddly, Sakura and Tazuna were the safest people there.
Sakura was stunned. It was her first time witnessing Gen fight—his ghost-like speed, his overwhelming presence... it didn't seem human.
"So this... is Gen-senpai's true power?"
Tazuna, meanwhile, was frozen in place.
"All I wanted was to trick Konoha into protecting me while I built a bridge…"
He shivered as he recalled something Gen had once said—
"Did he say… he'd kill my whole family?!"
Now he was truly terrified.
---
Meanwhile, Kakashi and Obito were evenly matched. Kakashi held the edge in technique, but Obito's ocular powers made it a deadlock.
"Looks like your goal is to recruit Zabuza."
Kakashi muttered as he blocked Obito's blade.
"Hmph. What good does it do to ask, you weakling?" Obito sneered.
"If it were just about recruitment, I'd have taken Zabuza and left. Why do you think I stayed?"
"Stayed...?" Kakashi's eyes narrowed.
"Your target—is it Sasuke or Naruto?"
"Who do you think Itachi would be interested in?"
Obito laughed coldly.
"Face it, Kakashi—you've already lost."
He wanted Kakashi to realize it was over. With Zabuza compromised, their intel was exposed. And if Itachi moved on Sasuke, it could serve as a distraction.
"So it is Sasuke…"
Kakashi's expression turned cold.
"Are you planning something for the Chūnin Exams?"
"!!"
Obito flinched ever so slightly.
His face was hidden, but the tension was unmistakable.
"What are you talking about?"
Dodging Kakashi's Chidori, Obito feigned disinterest—but Kakashi wasn't fooled.
"Don't pretend. We've already picked up signs that Orochimaru's making a move. You gonna keep denying it?"
Orochimaru...?
Hadn't he already abandoned them?
What's he doing tangled up in this?
And if Orochimaru was eyeing the Chūnin Exams too...
Obito couldn't help thinking of Danzo.
That bastard... Did he not tell them anything?
"What an idiot."
Obito forced a cold laugh.
"Orochimaru's a traitor. Whatever he does—it's none of our business."
"Already left, huh?"
Kakashi frowned—but Obito didn't give him time to process it.
"Instead of worrying about him, you should ask yourself something else... Can you save Sasuke, Kakashi?!"
"Probably not," Kakashi muttered.
"But don't forget—we still have Gen."
The moment he said it, Obito saw Gen suddenly appear behind Itachi.
Oh no.
Obito panicked for real this time.
---
Gen had been keeping an eye on Sasuke even while fighting three enemies at once.
Sasuke's too hotheaded. He needs this beatdown.
That's why he hadn't intervened.
Besides, he and Naruto trained under Jiraiya. It's time they got tested.
Itachi beating down Sasuke wasn't the worst thing.
But now—
"It's about time."
Gen turned toward Kisame, Zabuza, and Haku. His eyes sharpened.
"Watch out!"
He made a single hand seal. Instantly, the ground erupted with countless ice spikes.
"Crap!"
Haku was the first to react, warning the others. All three leapt away.
And at that moment—Gen launched himself forward.
His thunder-infused blade aimed straight for Zabuza—
"Lord Zabuza!"
Haku didn't hesitate. He blocked with Ice Release—
Boom!
But Gen's blade shattered the ice—and Haku's mask.
"Haku!"
Zabuza rushed forward to catch him, watching helplessly as blood spilled from Haku's mouth.
But Gen had already vanished again—this time striking at Kisame!
"Damn it!"
Kisame swung Samehada, but Gen dodged with ease—and landed a powerful kick to Kisame's gut.
Crash!
Kisame flew backward, coughing blood.
And again—Gen disappeared.
Buzz—
This time, his blade was aimed at Zabuza and the wounded Haku.
"Lord Zabuza…"
Haku, barely conscious, still tried to protect him.
"Stay back..."
Kisame's eyes lit up as he saw an opening. Without hesitation, he quickly began forming hand seals, intending to use a Water Style jutsu to stall for time.
"Hurry up over there! Why isn't it done yet?!"
He growled internally, but before he could finish the jutsu, he froze.
Kitagawa Gen had already appeared in front of him—silent and ghost-like—before Kisame could even react from being knocked backward.
"Your hand seal speed is too slow."
Gen's voice was light, almost casual, as he reached out and grabbed Kisame's fingers mid-seal—and twisted them violently.
Crack—
The sound of bones snapping echoed through the air as Gen ruthlessly broke Kisame's fingers.
A sharp wave of pain surged through Kisame's nerves, but he didn't let out a single scream. He merely gritted his teeth and endured it.
There was only one thought repeating in his mind:
This isn't even a battle in the same dimension!
He had encountered Gen several times before, but this was the first time he was clashing with him head-on. Only now did he truly understand the vast gap between them.
"So stubborn, huh? Not bad."
Gen looked at Kisame, then nodded with a calm expression.
"I'm sure Konoha's interrogation squad will really appreciate someone with your kind of... resilience."
---
Meanwhile, on the battlefield...
"It seems you two have grown."
Uchiha Itachi watched calmly as Sasuke and Naruto launched a coordinated attack toward him.
Their teamwork was solid, their abilities impressive—but still far from what he hoped for.
"So this is how you've been living all these years?"
Itachi's crow clone evaded Naruto, who had transformed into a giant Fūma Shuriken to flank him while Sasuke tried a close-range surprise. As he dodged, Itachi spoke coldly:
"Looks like you've forgotten everything from back then. Even the hatred you once held for me."
"You bastard!"
Sasuke roared in fury, his Sharingan glowing crimson. But even his fully activated Sharingan was nowhere near Itachi's level.
"Damn you! Die!"
Naruto, seizing the opportunity, lunged at Itachi again—but just as he was about to land a hit, Itachi turned and locked eyes with him.
In an instant, Naruto froze mid-motion—and the next moment, he was wildly punching at empty air.
"No! Naruto's caught in a genjutsu!"
Sasuke instantly realized what happened and rushed in to help.
But Itachi was already beside him, his movements ghostlike. He slammed a heavy punch straight into Sasuke's abdomen.
"Gah—!"
Sasuke vomited blood and collapsed to the ground, convulsing in pain. But even then, he drew a kunai and tried to stab Itachi.
Thud—
Itachi kicked him hard in the stomach, sending him crashing into a tree.
Without pause, Itachi appeared in front of him, grabbed him by the throat, and pinned him against the trunk.
"Why are you so weak?" he asked coldly.
His Sharingan began to spin rapidly, morphing into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Because your hatred isn't deep enough. Not nearly enough. Looks like I need to... reinforce your memories."
"Memories..."
Sasuke could barely breathe, but he understood exactly what Itachi was about to do.
He struggled, but Itachi's grip was unbreakable. Slowly, his consciousness faded—dragged into the genjutsu realm.
---
"This is our home."
Itachi's voice echoed as the illusion unfolded. In the distance, he stood holding a sword above their parents, preparing for the kill.
He slowly raised the blade, a chilling smile spreading across his face.
"For the next 24 hours... you'll be trapped in this moment."
"No!!"
Sasuke screamed as he saw the blade fall—but he couldn't move, couldn't stop it. He could only watch helplessly.
---
Crackle—
Suddenly, the sound of thunder roared through the black-and-white world. A brilliant purple flash tore through the illusion.
The next moment, time seemed to freeze, the purple lightning growing even more blinding.
"What... is this?" Sasuke murmured.
That violet lightning struck and shattered Itachi's body within the illusion, tearing the entire genjutsu realm apart.
Everything collapsed—and then, the real world came rushing back.
In that moment, Sasuke saw a white-haired figure, wielding a ninja blade, strike down with overwhelming force.
Blood splattered.
But this time—it wasn't his parents who fell.
It was Uchiha Itachi.
---
[Side Mission Completed: "The Bonds of Uchiha Brotherhood"]
[Reward: Partial Yin Release (Special Ability) from Uchiha Sasuke Unlocked]