Sasuke sneered, his voice full of contempt.
"Hmph, so you still remember Shisui-nii, huh? I once went to him, asking if he thought he could beat you. He said no... but I was wrong! It's only after learning Shisui's Shunshin Shunten (Instant Body Shift Technique) that I understood—he was the real genius! You were just taught by him. There's no way you could be stronger than him!"
Itachi nodded, a rare sign of agreement.
"You're right. I could never surpass Shisui."
But Sasuke's face twisted with growing emotion.
"And yet you used Shisui's trust to ambush and kill him, didn't you?! When the clan confronted you, you still had the gall to deny it!"
Itachi remained silent. He didn't explain—because explanations were meaningless now.
But Sasuke's emotions were boiling over. The memories triggered something deep inside.
In that moment, his Sharingan evolved.
The third tomoe formed.
For the first time, he raised his head and met Itachi's gaze directly.
Even through the tinted glasses, Itachi could feel the searing hatred behind his brother's eyes.
Yes… That's right, Sasuke. Hate me. Despise me.
"Shunshin Gen'ei! (Body Flicker Illusion Kill!)"
Sasuke and his afterimages lunged forward together.
Itachi swiftly parried—but his kunai pierced only illusions. He quickly spun around to block an attack behind him, managing to deflect one strike. But the real Sasuke had already repositioned. His next slash came from a blind spot and—shhk!—cut across Itachi's shoulder.
Blood splashed.
Sasuke clicked his tongue in frustration.
"Tch. Close. I almost severed his arm. His reaction speed is insane."
"Natsuki was right… I still can't unleash the full potential of Shisui-nii's technique. I only landed a hit because my Sharingan just awakened to three tomoe. My speed still isn't enough. Otherwise, there's no way Itachi would be able to keep up with me."
Determined, he pushed his speed even higher, but his guard remained tight.
He knew Itachi wasn't done. The real threat would come now.
Especially the Genjutsu.
And sure enough, just as Sasuke managed another cut, Itachi suddenly looked up—his three tomoe spinning, a strange pressure radiating from them.
"I've been waiting for this! I won't fall for your illusions again!"
Sasuke shouted as he pressed his fingers to his temple.
"Taiyōken! (Solar Flare!)"
A blinding flash burst out from Sasuke's body.
Natsuki looked to the heavens, exasperated.
"Did this guy really learn my Solar Flare too? Did he even pay tuition for that? Guess Itachi won't be ready for this, especially with how he just used it one-handed."
Sure enough, Itachi was caught off guard. He clutched his eyes and staggered back.
He had been moments away from activating a Genjutsu, eyes fixed on Sasuke's own—and that proximity made the sudden light unbearable. His vision blurred and burned. No bleeding, but his sight wouldn't recover for a while.
Off to the side, Fu and the other two also covered their eyes.
"Wah! What was that?! So blinding! No wonder you all wear sunglasses!"
Natsuki: "...Well, when you put it like that, yeah."
Even Kakashi and Kisame were affected.
Fortunately, Kakashi still had one eye shielded under his forehead protector. He quickly lifted it, regaining vision and eliminating Kisame's summoned sharks with a single kunai. Without hesitation, he darted toward Kisame.
Kisame cursed loudly, "That damned Solar Flare again! Natsuki, you bastard!"
Natsuki: "Hey! I'm not even the one who used it! I just invented the thing! Why are you blaming me?!"
Kakashi answered Kisame's complaints with a strike. Leaping from the water's surface, he thrust Chidori straight for Kisame's chest.
But Chidori was too loud. Despite his impaired vision, Kisame sensed it coming and quickly blocked with Samehada, absorbing the brunt of the blow.
Meanwhile, Sasuke saw his chance.
With a flash, he unleashed Chidori Eikō (Chidori Sharp Spear)—his blade suddenly extending with lightning chakra, aimed directly at Itachi's heart.
Zzztt!
But just as it was about to hit—bang! The spear was stopped.
A red skeletal arm blocked the attack.
Itachi, now encased in crimson bones, stood firm. The lightning was completely ineffective.
Sasuke froze.
"No way... What is that? That red skeleton armor?!"
Itachi's eyes reopened. His three tomoe had transformed into a three-bladed pinwheel.
Calmly, he spoke:
"You still don't understand the true power of these eyes."
"This is Susanoo. It is the ultimate defense born from the Mangekyō Sharingan's dōjutsu—a divine armor. No matter your clever tricks, your attacks cannot penetrate Susanoo."
Susanoo…
So this is the secret of the Sharingan...
Sasuke stared at Itachi's Mangekyō, stunned.
No matter how hard he tried, no matter what technique he used—even Shisui-nii's—he couldn't defeat this man.
Do I need Mangekyō Sharingan too?
But no. He didn't want to walk the same blood-stained path as that man.
He'd find his own way to avenge his family.
"…That's enough, Sasuke."
Natsuki finally stepped forward.
"I said I'd let you go first—to see for yourself the gap between you and your enemy. Now you've seen it. So... mind if I take over?"
Sasuke was silent. His lips moved slightly before he replied, voice hoarse:
"…Yeah. Your turn. I can't do it yet."
He stepped back, disappointed but resigned.
Natsuki, however, grinned.
"Then you'd better watch closely. 'Godly power'? Hah! I'll shatter it!"
With a thunderous clap, he activated his chakra.
The earth trembled.
A massive earth dragon surged upward, its body twisting and coiling as it latched onto Susanoo's skeletal frame. The grinding sound of stone against bone echoed ominously.
Sasuke's eyes lit up, staring at Natsuki with renewed awe.
He knew Natsuki was powerful. But if he could actually break Susanoo, then Sasuke had to memorize every move, every detail.
Inside Susanoo, Itachi tried to tear the dragon away with a skeletal arm—but the creature's coils were incredibly tight and durable.
It wouldn't budge.
"…You never cease to surprise me, Natsuki."
Itachi's voice was different now. Respectful, almost wary.
But he wasn't done.
With a surge of chakra, his Mangekyō flared—and Susanoo expanded.
The skeletal giant exploded in size—reaching dozens of meters tall. Its shape remained bony, but now partial armor wrapped its limbs, and two massive legs formed beneath it.
Itachi stood inside its ribcage, gazing down on Natsuki like a god.
"…Now. How will you handle this?"
The question carried visible pride and confidence.
Sasuke was frozen, mouth agape.
Even Kisame, Kakashi, and Fu—now recovered—stood dumbstruck, gazing at the towering colossus.
It was like witnessing the descent of a divine titan…
(End of Chapter)
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