Chapter 195: The Dance of Izanagi
Danzo's words, a twisted justification of "sacrifice," only served to twist the knife deeper into Sasuke's heart. The memories of Itachi—the loving brother, the tortured soul, the vilified hero—flooded his mind, mingling with the cold, hard truth Ren had provided. Grief and rage became a torrent, and the Susano'o responded, its form solidifying from a skeleton into a fully armored, colossal warrior of purple chakra. It was a manifestation of his pain, a god of vengeance made real.
Danzo's weak voice cut through Sasuke's torment, dragging him back to the grim present. "Self-sacrifice... that is the essence of a shinobi. A hero who operates in the shadows. That is the truth. Not only Itachi, but countless ninjas have died this way. The world cannot be sustained by pretty words alone. It is their sacrifice that maintains the peace. If you cannot understand Itachi's will, you will never—"
"*Enough!*"
A sickening crunch echoed through the chamber. The Danzo held in Susano'o's mighty grip was pulverized into a fine red mist. Sasuke could no longer bear to hear this man's voice, especially his final, venomous slander of Itachi. Itachi was Sasuke's sacred ground, his untouchable scar.
"People like you are not qualified to speak his name," Sasuke muttered, letting the spectral hand dissipate.
"Troublesome. It seems we must speak the language of the eye."
Sasuke spun around, his Sharingan flaring. Danzo stood behind him, perfectly unharmed, a kunai in his hand as he lunged forward with speed belying his age. There was no sign of the feeble old man; this was a predator.
Sasuke twisted, instinctively positioning the Susano'o to block the attack. The kunai shattered against the impervious chakra armor.
"Heh. As expected, using the Susano'o for defense is quite effective," Danzo noted, a hint of grudging respect in his tone.
BOOM!
Sasuke didn't waste words. The Susano'o's massive fist slammed down where Danzo stood, pulverizing the stone platform into dust. Danzo, however, had already leaped into the air, navigating the falling debris with acrobatic grace.
Sasuke's mind raced, recalling Ren's briefing. 'Izanagi... a forbidden jutsu that alters reality itself. With ten Sharingan on his arm, he can use it ten times. Each time he does, one eye will close. Your goal is to force him to expend them. Use your strongest attacks. Use genjutsu to make him lose count. Then, strike the killing blow.'
This was the power he was facing. A cheat against death.
Pushing off the Susano'o's shoulder, Sasuke propelled himself upward to meet Danzo in mid-air. His left Mangekyō Sharingan blazed.
"*Amaterasu!*"
Black flames, hotter than the sun, erupted from nothingness, engulfing Danzo before he could react. A scream of agony was cut short as the figure was incinerated into ash.
Sasuke landed lightly, his eyes fixed on the falling cinders. As expected, within a breath, the ashes vanished. The event was rewritten. It never happened.
Hmph.
Sasuke turned coldly. There, standing unscathed a distance away, was Danzo. But a keen observer would note that three of the ten Sharingan on his right arm had now shut, leaving only seven staring blankly.
"*Wind Release: Vacuum Jade!*"
Danzo didn't give him a moment's respite. He finished a series of hand seals and exhaled, firing a rapid, machine-gun-like volley of compressed air bullets.
Sasuke's Sharingan analyzed the trajectories. He moved with fluid, dance-like grace, weaving through the storm of invisible blades. But the onslaught was relentless. As he leaped, momentarily airborne, a razor-sharp gust came from a blind spot. Sasuke twisted, but not enough. The wind blade sliced deep into his right shoulder.
He landed, gritting his teeth against the pain, his left hand clamping over the wound as blood seeped through his fingers. His breathing was ragged. Despite seemingly having the upper hand, the psychological and physical toll was immense.
Danzo watched him, a cold glint in his eye. "Amaterasu... It's been a long time since I've seen it. You are indeed Itachi's brother."
The battle was a deadly game of resource management. Sasuke had to bleed Danzo of his ten lives. And Danzo knew it. The real fight had just begun.
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