Chapter 197: The Cycle of Death
Dust hung thick in the air of the cavernous base. For a brief moment, Sasuke allowed himself a sigh of relief as he watched the two halves of Danzō's body hit the floor. But the relief was short-lived. The corpse began to fade, dissolving into nothingness like a mirage.
It can't be! Sasuke's head snapped around. There, standing perfectly unharmed on a distant rocky outcrop, was Danzō. I severed his arm! Izanagi still activated? Ren's warning echoed in his mind: 'You must use genjutsu. Make him lose count. Confuse the activation.'
"It's useless," Danzō's voice dripped with condescension from his perch.
Sasuke's frown deepened, then suddenly smoothed away. His eyes locked with Danzō's. An illusion woven from hatred and memory began to take hold.
A cacophony of caws filled the air as a murder of crows erupted from Sasuke's body, swarming toward Danzō. The birds coalesced behind the old warhawk, forming a vague, cloaked figure that slowly solidified. The features became clear: a pale, handsome face, weary eyes, and the distinct shuriken pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Uchiha Itachi.
Danzō stiffened, a rare flicker of surprise crossing his features as he turned to face the specter of the man he had manipulated.
"Die."
The single word, cold and flat from Itachi's illusionary lips, was followed by the eruption of black flames. Amaterasu engulfed Danzō.
After a moment of panic, Danzō's expression settled into grim acceptance. "To make me fall into a genjutsu... commendable," he muttered.
But Sasuke was already moving. While Danzō was distracted by the phantom, he charged, his Kusanagi sword aimed for the old man's back.
Yet, just before the tip could pierce flesh, Sasuke's body locked up. A searing, magma-like pattern began to crawl up his legs. The Curse Mark! he realized with a shock. When he grabbed my neck... he applied it then!
Danzō didn't even bother to turn around. "It's useless. Your genjutsu was seen through. Compared to Itachi's Tsukuyomi, which could manipulate the perception of time... yours is child's play."
Sasuke strained against the paralyzing seal, but couldn't move an inch.
Confident in his victory, Danzō formed a single hand seal. "*Kai!*" (Release!)
The illusion of Itachi and the flames dissipated. Danzō turned calmly, plucking the Kusanagi sword from Sasuke's frozen grip. "Why cling to this wretched life, Sasuke? Itachi... look at him. This mess... he was your only failure, wasn't he?" He raised the sword, aiming to decapitate the helpless Sasuke.
CRACK!
A massive skeletal hand erupted from Sasuke's body, swatting Danzō away like a fly. The Curse Mark on Sasuke's body shattered under the surge of his fury. The Susano'o, reacting to its master's absolute rage, evolved further. Bones were sheathed in muscle and sinew, then encased in majestic, purple armor. In its hands, a colossal ethereal bow materialized, an arrow of concentrated chakra already nocked and aimed at the recovering Danzō.
Danzō's taunts about Itachi had sealed his fate once more.
"This Susano'o... it's completely different!" Danzō gasped, pushing himself up. He inhaled sharply and exhaled a jet of air, propelling himself sideways just as the chakra arrow was loosed. It screamed past him, gouging a trench in the stone floor.
He landed awkwardly, skidding to a halt. Looking up, he saw the Susano'o had already drawn another arrow, perfectly anticipating his landing spot. He predicted my movement! Damn, no time for seals! No choice!
Danzō's right shoulder bulged unnaturally. With a grotesque tearing sound, a massive tree trunk burst from his flesh, sprouting and growing into a thick shield in an instant. The second arrow slammed into the wood, skewering it but deflecting just enough to thud into the ground beside Danzō instead of through his heart.
Barely... changed its trajectory... Danzō wiped sweat from his brow, a sliver of fear in his heart.
He went to such lengths to dodge, Sasuke thought, his left eye burning with strain. He wouldn't have done that if Izanagi was still active. He's vulnerable now!
The Susano'o drew its bow again.
"Found out, have you?" Danzō sneered, his hands already flying through seals. "But it's too late! *Izanagi!*"
The third arrow shot forth, piercing directly through Danzō's chest—to no effect. The scene rewound. Danzō reappeared a few meters away, glancing down at his right arm. Another Sharingan had closed. Only a handful remained. He lunged forward, seizing the initiative.
Sasuke's vision swam, blood trickling from his left eye. The overuse of his Mangekyō was taking a severe toll. He shook his head to clear it, forcing the Susano'o to fire another arrow.
Danzō simply let it pass through him, the Izanagi making him intangible. "Futile," he spat, never breaking his stride. His hands formed another sequence. "*Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!*"
A scything blade of air shot from his mouth, slamming into the Susano'o's armored form with enough force to make the colossal warrior stagger.
Danzō, already calculating his next move, glanced again at the dwindling number of eyes on his arm. The endgame was approaching.
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