It had to be said that Itachi Uchiha's ocular technique, known as Tsukuyomi, was indeed incredibly powerful.
Even with Simu's currently terrifying soul strength, he was unable to remotely force his clone to break free from it. This was vastly different from ordinary Genjutsu.
Fortunately, the one currently caught in the Tsukuyomi was merely a clone.
If the main body had been struck by such an illusion, it would likely be difficult to break free in a short amount of time.
However, Simu was different from humans. His current main body was a sea of blood and did not possess sensory organs like eyes. It was likely unrealistic for Itachi to use the Sharingan to cast Genjutsu on him.
Even if he did fall under the Tsukuyomi, given his current vitality, Itachi would not be able to destroy his mind or body in a short period.
Furthermore, with Simu's caution, whether anyone could find his main body was another matter entirely, let alone launch an attack.
Even a boy like Hidan could not determine his true self. This was the extent of Simu's prudence.
Back at the Konoha battlefield, once Simu determined he could not remotely dispel the Tsukuyomi, he immediately severed the connection between their souls. He allowed the soul fragment remaining in the clone to operate on its own, minimizing the possibility of exposing his main body.
This also meant that this clone had lost all ability to resist before Itachi Uchiha.
As a special ocular technique born alongside the Mangekyo, the discovery of Tsukuyomi had only happened a few days ago.
This was the first time Itachi Uchiha had used it in formal combat, and the results were indeed remarkable.
His ocular power frantically invaded the enemy's body, penetrating the soul.
Inside the illusion, one Itachi Uchiha after another appeared. Each held a ninja blade and surrounded Simu, who was bound to a wooden post.
Then, they all raised their blades, stabbing down again and again.
After every instance of agonizing pain from the stabbings, the wounds on Simu's body would instantly heal. Then, more blades would fall, bringing more pain in an endless cycle.
In the real world, at the edge of the battlefield, a man wearing a vortex mask appeared quietly and watched the fight.
Seeing Simu, who had been dominating the fight just moments ago, subdued by a single move from Itachi's Genjutsu, he couldn't help but remark: Truly a terrifying ocular technique.
Beneath the single eye hole on the mask, a complex Mangekyo Sharingan quietly unfolded.
As a fellow owner of the Mangekyo Sharingan, the masked man was considering a question.
If he were Itachi Uchiha's opponent, could he withstand this Tsukuyomi?
The answer was uncertain.
Logically, as long as the ocular power of the Sharingan was strong enough, it could break any Genjutsu.
The problem was that the masked man could not be sure if his own ocular power was superior to Itachi's!
This is the kind of talent the Akatsuki needs.
As for the brat codenamed Yi?
Although his strength was also good, he was, after all, something Orochimaru and that guy researched together and sent to Danzo's side. The masked man felt he wasn't very reliable.
On the battlefield, Itachi did not seem prepared to kill his opponent.
After using Tsukuyomi to instantly defeat him, he waited quietly.
A few seconds later, the fallen Simu finally opened his eyes again.
As the soul reconnected with the main body, all the pain and memories endured by the clone were instantly transmitted. This caused another storm to surge within the main body's sea of blood.
Simu slowly opened his eyes, his body trembling. Sweat weighed on him like a massive mountain, and he didn't even have the strength to stand up.
This was the terrifying power of the Mangekyo.
What was only a brief moment in the real world felt like two or three long days to Simu.
During those days, he had endured those painful slashes at every moment.
If it were an ordinary person, their mind would have likely collapsed, turning them into an idiot.
The outcome of the battle was quite clear.
The Mangekyo in Itachi's eyes gradually faded, returning to a normal Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
It was evident that using Tsukuyomi was a significant burden for him as well.
Under the moonlight, Itachi Uchiha's cold voice rang out.
"Do not approach Sasuke again. Do not try to challenge my bottom line. Otherwise, even at the risk of starting a war between the clan and the village, I will be the first to kill you."
This was a warning from Itachi Uchiha.
At this moment, Yi, who had just endured a hit from the Tsukuyomi, could not speak at all. He could only lie on the ground gasping for air as he watched Itachi Uchiha leave behind a cold silhouette.
Although he lost the battle tonight, as a clone, Yi's mission was partially completed.
That mission was to test Itachi Uchiha's true strength.
For example, the ocular techniques contained within his Mangekyo Sharingan.
Ninja battles are won through intelligence. Only by obtaining enough information can one devise a strategy against an opponent's weaknesses.
If Simu had known beforehand that Itachi's eyes contained such a powerful ocular technique, there was no way he would have looked directly into them.
This was the importance of intelligence.
Besides obtaining information on the Uchiha, Simu also needed this battle to let others know that Itachi Uchiha had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Within a minute after the battle ended, Tenzo appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Lord Hokage, the results of the battle between Yi and Itachi Uchiha are in," Tenzo reported respectfully.
"Who won?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, puffing on his pipe.
He had anticipated this situation ever since Simu provoked Itachi.
The reason he didn't intervene was that he wanted to see what level of combat power Itachi and Simu, the Wood Style ninja, could reach.
"Itachi won. It is confirmed that he has awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan. He easily defeated Yi with a powerful Genjutsu at the end."
When he said this, Tenzo himself found it hard to believe. After all, he couldn't imagine how powerful Itachi had become to easily defeat a monster like Yi!
Even the Third Hokage was surprised by the description.
To be honest, Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't have been surprised by either man winning, as their strengths were originally comparable.
However, the "instant defeat" description really caught his attention.
What kind of ocular technique did Itachi's Mangekyo awaken to be able to defeat a powerful Wood Style ninja like Yi in one move?
How did it compare to Shisui's Kotoamatsukami?
Furthermore, how would the Uchiha Clan react once they learned Itachi had awakened the Mangekyo?
The unknown was what worried the Third Hokage the most.