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Itachi spewed out a terrifying blast of flames, and in an instant, the entire battlefield was engulfed in a sea of fire.
As the blaze slowly died down and the thick smoke began to fade, Sasuke's silhouette appeared through the haze—he had used the giant hands on his back, formed by the Curse Mark, to shield himself from the flames.
"That kind of attack won't even scratch me," he muttered coldly.
Not far away, both brothers raised their hands and formed the same seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Twin torrents of flame erupted from their mouths, colliding violently in midair. The two fireballs clashed, roaring and twisting as each tried to overpower the other.
Gradually, Sasuke's fire began to surge higher and hotter, pushing Itachi's back little by little.
(Showtime.)
For the first time, blood trickled down from Itachi's tightly shut left eye.
"Amaterasu!"
His Mangekyō Sharingan snapped open, and black flames shot forth from his eye.
The black fire slithered along Sasuke's fireball, consuming it piece by piece, until the red-orange flames were swallowed whole. Slowly, the black inferno crept toward Sasuke.
Zetsu gasped. "It's here!"
Just as the fire was about to reach Sasuke, Itachi deliberately shut his eye, cutting it off.
Sasuke felt a chill crawl down his spine.
Zetsu was speechless. "That's insane! He actually used fire to devour fire! That technique—once the user locks eyes on a target, the black flames appear right where they're looking. And they won't vanish until the target's completely reduced to ash!"
Sasuke darted to the left, but Itachi's gaze followed him immediately.
"Amaterasu!"
The black flames appeared again, chasing Sasuke relentlessly. He dashed at full speed, but the flames kept coming, faster and faster—until finally they caught him.
A scream tore across the battlefield as Sasuke was swallowed by the black fire.
Zetsu murmured, "Looks like Itachi wins again. He's stopped the flames... probably going to take the eyes now."
...
[Live Chat Comments]
Kisame: "Nah, he stopped it 'cause he didn't want to roast his little brother alive."
Itachi: "Foolish little brother."
Back on the screen, Itachi's expression froze. The body burning in front of him suddenly cracked open like dry skin. Beneath it, a wide gash ran across the ground—Sasuke had already escaped.
Sasuke emerged unharmed, smirking. When Amaterasu hit me, I used Chidori to split the ground and shed my skin with Orochimaru's molting technique. Worked like a charm.
"I've been waiting for this moment."
He unleashed the second stage of his Curse Mark, hands moving fast.
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
A massive dragon made of flame erupted from his mouth, tearing through the ceiling. Itachi leapt back instantly as another two or three fiery dragons shot upward after it.
The heat distorted the air, and the sky above began to swirl with dark, heavy clouds.
Itachi dropped to one knee, clutching his Mangekyō eye, breathing hard. He looked pale.
Sasuke wasn't in much better shape, panting heavily from the rapid succession of jutsu.
"Looks like Amaterasu took a toll on you too," Sasuke taunted.
Zetsu eyed the two brothers. "Both of them are completely spent… their chakra must be nearly gone."
The markings of the Curse Mark faded slowly from Sasuke's body. "Guess this'll be my last move."
Itachi frowned. "The Sharingan can see chakra, Sasuke. Don't bluff—you're empty."
"I know you've got no chakra left. That Orochimaru-style shedding technique—impressive, but it takes a lot of power."
Zetsu suddenly realized, "Right! And he sealed Orochimaru, so he couldn't have much left to draw from!"
Thunder rumbled overhead.
Sasuke tilted his head back, eyes reflecting the storm. "You're right. I've got no chakra left."
"I used it all up in those Fire Style attacks."
"But what makes you think I came to kill you without a plan?"
Rain began to pour, splattering across the scorched battlefield.
"This next technique… just like Amaterasu, it's impossible to dodge."
Lightning flashed across the sky.
Zetsu's eyes widened. "Wait… those Fire Style attacks—were they to heat the air?"
"He wasn't aiming at Itachi at all! He was heating the atmosphere, forcing hot air upward to form… cumulonimbus clouds!"
Sasuke extended his hand, lightning gathering into a crackling Chidori. The sound of chirping birds echoed through the rain. He leapt onto the highest platform.
Thunder boomed above, and black flames from Amaterasu burned below.
Zetsu's realization deepened. "He even used Amaterasu's heat to strengthen the updrafts! That's why he lured Itachi outside!"
Standing on the high platform, Sasuke raised his arm toward the heavens. "This jutsu calls down lightning from the sky. I just direct it where I want it to strike."
"I call it… Kirin!"
Electricity surged wildly in his hand. "Come on!"
The sky exploded in light. Silver bolts danced wildly among the clouds—and from within them, a beast of lightning took shape.
With a thunderous roar, the Kirin emerged—its body made entirely of lightning, claws tearing at the sky as its power shook the earth.
"Vanish with the thunder!" Sasuke shouted.
...
[Live Chat Comments]
Fourth Raikage: "Using Lightning Style to control natural lightning? That brat's terrifying. Uchiha Sasuke… I'll remember that name."
Naruto: "Sasuke's gotten that strong, huh? I won't lose to you. I'll be the Hokage, believe it!"
Natsu: "Lightning power, huh? Now that's my kind of fight!"
Taichi: "Sasuke and Naruto are from the same world, right? Both total monsters."
Naruto: "Hey! I'm not a monster! I just… didn't have any friends growing up."
Puppetmon: "Then I'll be your friend!"
Vegeta: "You noisy brats—quiet down! Watching these two fight pisses me off. I'd beat both of them into the dirt myself!"
Back on the battlefield, the Kirin dove back into the clouds. The heavens roared in response, thunder shaking the world as the lightning beast reemerged, howling toward the sky.
Then, with a deafening roar, it descended—fangs bared, lightning writhing—straight toward Itachi.
The world went white.
A blinding flash and an earth-shattering boom tore through the Uchiha compound, leaving nothing but ruin in its wake.
As the smoke cleared, Sasuke appeared first, barely standing, his body twitching with leftover sparks.
On the ground ahead, Itachi lay motionless.
Zetsu emerged from the shadows, stunned. "Unbelievable… to think he had that kind of power. Is Itachi… really dead?"
"..."
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