"Kazama, watch out! Uchiha Itachi's way stronger than Kisame!"
Seeing Itachi prepare to strike, Kakashi shouted a warning to Kazama. While Kakashi had faith in Kazama's abilities, he also knew just how terrifying Itachi could be. Just moments ago, a single glance from Itachi had trapped Kakashi in the Tsukuyomi, subjecting him to three days and nights of mental torment—a pain that still lingered.
"You're something else. Not only can you absorb ninjutsu, but you can counter with an even stronger version of the same technique. Konoha's produced a once-in-a-century genius!" Itachi remarked.
"Not bad, Uchiha Itachi. You've seen right through my abilities," Kazama replied.
Kazama knew Itachi was a member of the Akatsuki, but in truth, he was an undercover agent sent by the Third Hokage. Because of this, Kazama had no intention of going all-out against Itachi like he did with Kisame. Instead, he planned to pull Itachi into his own Tsukuyomi world and lay everything out in the open.
"I'm not like Kisame. Dealing with you won't take long. And this next technique? You can't absorb it," Itachi said coolly.
"Kazama, be careful! He's about to use Tsukuyomi!" Kakashi yelled.
"Too late!"
The moment Kakashi's warning rang out, Itachi had already cast Tsukuyomi on Kazama.
"This technique can only be resisted by the body of an Uchiha!" Itachi declared.
Surrounded by an endless void, Kazama didn't panic. Instead, he felt a spark of curiosity. This was his first time inside someone else's Tsukuyomi world.
"Next, I'll drive this blade into you, over and over, for three days and three nights!" Itachi said, brandishing a sword.
"Three days and nights? Itachi, aren't you being a bit too hard on yourself?" Kazama quipped with a grin.
"What?!"
As Kazama's laughter echoed, Itachi suddenly found himself bound to a wooden stake, surrounded by countless copies of Kazama.
"This is…"
"Illusion Reversal!" Kazama announced.
"How is this possible?! How could Tsukuyomi be reflected?!" Itachi gasped, stunned.
"With my Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, nothing's impossible!"
Kazama released Itachi from the stake, and the surrounding clones vanished.
"What are you doing? Shouldn't you finish me off while you have the chance?" Itachi asked, puzzled by Kazama's actions.
"Because I know you're the Third Hokage's undercover agent in the Akatsuki!" Kazama revealed.
"What?! You…"
Itachi's eyes widened in shock. This was a secret mission entrusted to him by the Third—how did Kazama know so much?
"With Konoha under attack, you're pretending to be here on Akatsuki's orders to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. But in reality, you're checking to make sure Sasuke is safe," Kazama continued.
"Who are you? How do you know so much about me?"
To Itachi, Kazama was an enigma, shrouded in mystery.
"It's a long story how I know. But since we're both shinobi of Konoha, there's no need for us to fight to the death. Right now, the priority is stopping Orochimaru's scheme. His attack on Konoha has another goal: capturing Sasuke to take over his body!"
"Orochimaru? Damn it, I should've killed him when I had the chance!"
The thought of Orochimaru targeting his little brother sent a surge of rage through Itachi.
"I can deal with Orochimaru. In return, I want you to inform me in advance about the Akatsuki's plans to collect the Tailed Beasts," Kazama proposed.
Kazama knew absorbing Tailed Beast Bombs could quickly unlock his otherworldly flames and even allow him to transform into higher-level Tailed Beasts. To stay one step ahead, he needed to harness their power before the Akatsuki could.