"Kagenami" had been infiltrated by outsiders for the very first time since its establishment.
Breaking through layer after layer of barrier defenses, defeating foes vastly outnumbering him, and standing before the current leader of Kagenami with practically no injuries—this was the talent of Itachi Uchiha as a ninja.
"It's not my intention to belittle you deliberately, but everyone has areas they are suited or unsuited for... As for you, despite being a ninja, you've never actually participated in real combat.
So even if you're showing hostility now, it's completely meaningless. Showing determination won't bring any positive effect to the situation.
Our objective is very simple—surrender the intelligence on the Nine-Tails. That is all.
Since this organization is under your control, this should naturally be something you know. Uzumaki Yayoi."
The calmness of Itachi Uchiha felt cold-hearted toward Uzumaki Yayoi. That cold indifference chilled her deeply, but she refused to back down at this moment.
Yayoi stretched out her hand to stop Kagura, who had attempted to step forward from beside her. She understood that none of her companions stood a chance against the enemy. Then she continued speaking:
"I'm sorry, but I don't see any reason to hand over information about the Nine-Tails. That intelligence is what founded Kagenami—and has been its lifeblood ever since. Revealing it would betray everything."
Yayoi knew there were quite a few people within the clan who opposed her becoming the Uzumaki clan leader, yet ultimately, she still chose to accept the position… Since it had been the dying wish of the person closest to her, then this Kagenami became her refuge.
Whether she truly possessed leadership talent, whether accepting the title of clan head had been right or wrong, and how she could make Kagenami better—she couldn't answer any of these questions. Even so, she still understood exactly what needs to be done when facing an enemy.
"You're absolutely right. Everyone has things they are good at and things they aren't. What I'm skilled in isn't combat, but rather something else—an aspect not even worth describing as 'skill.'"
Because of her health condition, Uzumaki Yayoi always appeared physically frail, but such frailty wasn't cowardice… If Itachi Uchiha thought simple threats or torture would force her to divulge secrets, he'd be gravely mistaken.
Cruel experiences may breed fear, but they also forge strength—eventually becoming a kind of inner treasure. The countless trials Yayoi endured during her childhood were numerous. The same ordeal certainly wouldn't break her so easily.
Moving forward just one step in the face of fear is already an act of true courage.
"This might prove slightly more complicated than initially anticipated."
Itachi Uchiha didn't want to waste too much chakra here, yet Yayoi's determined gaze told him only by holding nothing back could he resolve this swiftly and efficiently.
[Tsukuyomi]
In the next instant, Yayoi already found herself in a blood-red moonlit space.
"Even the strongest Uchiha Genjutsu will be useless. You cannot break through the seals binding me."
Yayoi grew even more nervous, yet she still firmly believed in the techniques of the Uzumaki clan... Breaking through the seals in her mind wasn't something a single genjutsu could achieve.
Kagura, unaffected by the genjutsu, was confused when the two people she'd been talking to suddenly went silent—more than ten seconds passed without a word.
"It's reaching a stalemate. One side can't get the information they want, and the other lacks the strength to break free from the genjutsu." Then, a calm, light voice suddenly came from behind Kagura.
"Lord Haseo…"
"You spacing out is definitely your mistake," Haseo cast a glance at Kagura before continuing, "At a time like this, naturally someone else needs to step in and break the deadlock from the outside."
As he spoke, Haseo strode past Kagura's side.
Soon after, the entire ground began rumbling violently. Then, accompanied by a massive explosion, the surface atop the Kagenami along with all structures on it were instantly blasted away. The rising pillars of dust resembled steam bursting from a pressure cooker unable to vent properly.
Simultaneously thrown outward was also an extra-large "boiled lobster."
After the dust had slightly settled, everything except the lower three levels of the underground base was finally fully exposed. Massive chakra impacts had either utterly destroyed or disrupted the protective barriers covering the base, causing them to ripple with chaotic colors like bubbles catching sunlight in the sky.
"Hmm, your reaction time was decent enough."
Facing the surging chakra of the Susanoo, Haseo stood on the rooftop of a partially collapsed building right in front of it.
Itachi Uchiha wiped blood from the corner of his mouth—his response had indeed counted as timely; otherwise, he would have already been killed instantly.
However, Itachi avoiding such an attack wasn't particularly surprising. Although there existed a gap in strength between them, Haseo didn't need to aim for instant kills—he had never been after such things anyway.
He was getting older, no longer driven by competitiveness and pride, just a soft-spoken retired old man now.
Compared to that, Yayoi managing to maintain her resolve against Tsukuyomi had genuinely surprised Haseo. From a quick glimpse earlier, although her mental toll was severe, at least she didn't seem to require immediate hospitalization.
"You are… the Fourth Hokage."
"And you must be Itachi Uchiha? Weren't you supposed to be on a mission outside the village?
Well then, even though we're currently on opposite sides—and putting aside why you sneaked into Konoha—there's one important thing we should clarify first—you're absolutely no match for me.
How about it? Care to consider surrendering? I think it's a valuable proposal."
Undoubtedly, Itachi Uchiha, already possessing the Mangekyo Sharingan, ranked among the top-tier ninja. However, at present, Haseo operated beyond conventional limits. A nearly sixty-year-old man versus a teenager? It's like a grandfather taking on his grandchild.
"That's true... going up against someone like you sure isn't easy at all…"
Through their brief exchange earlier, Itachi had realized age hadn't significantly weakened Haseo's abilities. That immense oppressive force could only truly be felt by those who directly confronted Haseo and bared their fangs toward him.
Easier said than done, but Itachi Uchiha knew exactly how difficult the situation truly was. However, this didn't mean he would simply give up—on the contrary, he would still spare no effort to complete his mission.
So as he spoke, a flash of flame had already shot straight toward Haseo?
Fire Release? No. That was actually a massive, extendable sword gripped in the hand of his Susanoo.
Itachi naturally knew that ordinary jutsu could hardly affect Haseo at all, which was precisely why he resorted directly to his divine weapon.
The problem, however, was that such a large-scale jutsu could never hit someone as incredibly swift as Haseo.
Facing Haseo from this era, many ninja would feel the same way... They clearly had great strength—but it was crushed before they could even show it.
This was exactly what they called overwhelming dominance—the kind of gap people described as...
the difference between higher and lower.
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