Chapter 40: A Costly Fight
Takahashi didn't answer immediately. Instead, he scanned the room, his expression pained. He confirmed it—everyone was dead.
Uchiha Itachi was a master of timing and efficiency. His arrival was perfectly synchronized with their departure.
But his goal was to kill Orochimaru, and Takahashi couldn't allow that. At least, not yet.
While Orochimaru might be useful for future plans, he wasn't irreplaceable. However, he currently held knowledge Takahashi absolutely needed: the Impure World Reincarnation and the Living Corpse Reincarnation techniques.
These jutsu were too powerful, too game-breaking. In the wrong hands, they were like giving a nuclear weapon to a madman. Takahashi didn't necessarily need to use them himself, but he had to understand them and know how to counter them. Until he mastered that knowledge, Orochimaru had to live.
Furthermore, the advanced version of the reincarnation technique could truly resurrect the dead—an ability that defied heaven itself, though its development path was fraught with difficulty.
Uchiha Itachi's motives were simpler. Unaware that Sasuke had already awakened his Sharingan after seeing Danzo's arm, he was still searching for a way to trigger it. He planned to make Sasuke hate him, to make him feel enough pain to awaken the Uchiha power. He was prepared to bear his brother's hatred; it was the heavy fate of the Uchiha, a burden he was willing to carry alone.
But these complex, self-sacrificing thoughts were incomprehensible to an outsider. This kind of "love" was too heavy, too twisted.
Itachi's gaze remained locked on Takahashi. If he refused to step aside, the next second would bring an attack.
Takahashi spoke calmly. "I won't let you pass. But—"
He only got those two words out before Uchiha Itachi struck, catching Takahashi off guard.
"Damn it! Let me finish!" he yelled.
He had intended to explain Sasuke's current situation, but Itachi gave him no opening. His attacks were direct and relentless.
It had to be said, Itachi was immensely powerful. Even with Takahashi's speed, the Sharingan provided just enough predictive ability to react. However, this was tied to the user's chakra and stamina. If Takahashi's physical power ever reached the level of the Eighth Gate of Death, even Madara Uchiha might have to tread carefully.
Takahashi was wary of Amaterasu, the black flames that never extinguished. A single touch would mean being burned alive. The two began a fierce, close-quarters battle in the confined space.
For a while, they seemed evenly matched. But Takahashi had one advantage: his incredible stamina, thanks to the Super-Soldier Serum. It was no wonder they said the rich relied on technology, and the poor on mutation.
Just as the stalemate continued, a change occurred. The system's voice chimed in his mind.
"Your Awesome Shiny Little Frog has brought you a gift."
Takahashi quickly accessed it.
"Congratulations on obtaining the Six Powers (Rokushiki). Do you wish to learn?"
"Learn!"
A smirk touched Takahashi's lips. This was perfect timing. While he was fast, he lacked agile, close-combat techniques and sometimes felt stiff when changing direction.
The Six Powers were fundamental physical skills. Mastering them would not only strengthen his entire body but also improve his balance, coordination, and stealth capabilities. More importantly, they provided new methods of attack and defense, moves that could be adapted and transformed into his own style.
The key was that the Six Powers didn't rely on chakra; they were pure physical mastery. Using chakra was merely a way to enhance the body to perform these techniques. They were incredibly practical.
Uchiha Itachi didn't know why Takahashi was smiling. He immediately formed hand seals.
Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!
Dozens of fiery shuriken shot toward Takahashi. He decided to test his new skills.
To Itachi's astonishment, Takahashi performed a move that defied human limits. He kicked off the air itself, dodging the flaming projectiles, then shot forward with a sharp "Shigan!" (Finger Pistol). This was one of the Six Powers, Moonwalk (Geppo).
Then, spinning 360 degrees mid-air, he kicked rapidly, compressing the air into a vacuum blade—Tempest Kick (Rankyaku).
The attack wasn't aimed to kill. After landing, he immediately used Flying Finger Gun (Sagan Shigan), an advanced version that fired compressed air bullets from his fingertips, blocking all of Itachi's potential escape routes.
Cornered, Itachi had no choice. An orange, skeletal rib cage erupted around him, deflecting Takahashi's attacks. A massive skeletal arm formed and swung a powerful punch.
Takahashi barely dodged, the force of the punch blasting a huge hole through the wall. It seemed he had truly pushed Uchiha Itachi to his limit. In his excitement, he'd forgotten about this ultimate defense: Susano'o.
Takahashi emerged from another room, pointing an accusing finger at Itachi.
"What's the big idea? Can't we just have a friendly spar?!" he shouted.