Naruto World, Akatsuki Organization.
"?"
Deidara looked at Uchiha Itachi with a confused gaze, as if to say: 'Are you freaking kidding me?'
'You're the strongest combatant in the Akatsuki Organization besides Pain; how could you lose to an enemy like this?'
"A test?" Sasori, on the other hand, helped Itachi smooth things over, since there are battles where one resolves the enemy right from the start.
Across the video, the members of the Akatsuki Organization remained silent. In fact, they could all sense that Itachi seemed to be intentionally testing Sasuke's strength.
It was just that Itachi got stabbed right at the start, which really left the Akatsuki members not knowing what to say for a moment.
"Let's keep watching."
Pain spoke up; he was, one could say, extremely confident in Itachi's strength.
Within the entire Akatsuki Organization, there weren't many people who could make him wary. 'Madara' was one, and Uchiha Itachi was another; everyone else was just... ordinary.
Naruto World, Konoha Village.
"Serves you right, Itachi!" Sasuke's emotions were very agitated. Compared to fighting Naruto, he didn't feel much, at most marveling that his future self would be so powerful.
But that was it, because his relationship with Naruto was currently quite good. If he were to fight Naruto, it would likely be over some specific matters.
However, those matters were of no use to him, so Sasuke directly ignored the content of No. 1.
But this time was different. This time, the people appearing were himself and Itachi, and he had even killed Itachi once right at the start.
This really made Sasuke's emotions very excited. His Two-Tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly, as if they were also being stimulated.
"..."
Kakashi, however, gave Sasuke a somewhat puzzled look. He seemed to be thinking that even with testing factors involved, Itachi couldn't possibly be that weak.
One must remember that Itachi was a super genius who became an Anbu Squad Leader at the age of 13. Kakashi had once performed missions alongside Itachi, so he was quite clear on Itachi's strength.
Though somewhat puzzled, Kakashi didn't think too much of it and continued to watch.
Inside the video.
Uchiha Itachi, pinned to the ground, looked at Sasuke and said, "You've grown stronger."
Sasuke looked down at the Uchiha Itachi he had pinned to the ground and spoke slowly, "Itachi, I have one last thing I want to ask you."
"..."
Itachi didn't speak. He tremblingly extended two fingers, seemingly wanting to touch Sasuke.
Seeing this scene, Sasuke's body trembled slightly.
In the next second, Itachi silently gave his two fingers a slight turn, pointing in a certain direction.
This caused Sasuke to frown slightly, then he looked in the direction Itachi was pointing. Behind him... he saw another Itachi.
The other was sitting there, as if he hadn't moved from the very beginning.
This scene was somewhat eerie. Then, Uchiha Itachi's Three-Tomoe Sharingan continued to gaze at him calmly.
However, Sasuke seemed to have anticipated this. He looked down at the 'Itachi' he had killed, only to find the body turning into Crows and dissipating into the room.
Seeing this scene, those who knew of Itachi's strength felt that this was right; this was how it should be.
People from other worlds who didn't know Itachi's strength were somewhat dazed, not quite understanding what was going on in this battle.
They were currently in desperate need of a commentator and narrator like the one from the previous ranking!!!
Sasuke slowly stood up. A scene flashed through his mind, and he mocked, "The exact same words and Crows as before. Is this your most skilled Genjutsu farce?"
"What do you want to know?" Uchiha Itachi ignored Sasuke's sarcasm and said in a calm tone, "Though it's not yet the end, I'll listen anyway."
"I'll say it one more time!"
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan appeared in Sasuke's eyes once again.
In the next second.
"Stab!"
The kusanagi sword pierced through Uchiha Itachi's chest. Sasuke appeared behind Itachi like a phantom.
He delivered a backstab.
As for the Sasuke who had been in front, several white snakes fell from his body.
Just like the Uchiha Itachi who had previously turned into Crows.
The techniques used by the two brothers felt quite similar.
Seeing this scene, although Uchiha Itachi spat out blood, he still said faintly, "Genjutsu."
Maintaining his posture, Sasuke said in a cold voice, "I have one last thing to ask you, that's what I said! You bastard!!!"
"Answer my question. Until you do, the Pain in your chest will continue!"
"..." Uchiha Itachi remained composed and said, "Did you intentionally avoid the vital spots?"
"You said it back then."
As Sasuke spoke, that scene from years ago surfaced in his mind.
Itachi looked at Sasuke and said, "As long as you also awaken your eyes, there will be three people, including myself, who can use the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"In that case, hmph—you'll have a reason to live."
The flashback ended, and Sasuke said in a cold tone, "The third person—who exactly is the other person in the Uchiha Clan with the Sharingan?"
"Why do you care about such a thing?" Uchiha Itachi's tone seemed somewhat puzzled.
Sasuke said with great determination, "So that after I kill you, I can kill that guy as well!"
"..." Uchiha Itachi's eyes shifted slightly as he said in a subtle tone, "Kill him?"
"Back when you killed all our clansmen, you said there was another person in existence—an Uchiha you didn't kill."
"In other words, that guy is your accomplice. Even you couldn't possibly have wiped out the Police Force alone."
Listening to Sasuke's words, Uchiha Itachi seemed to show a rather gratified smile and said, "So you noticed."
"Who is he!"
Hearing Uchiha Itachi's words, Sasuke's expression became quite serious. He wanted to know who that guy was.
Although Itachi had to die today, he wouldn't let that other guy go either!
Uchiha Itachi fell silent for a moment, seemingly not intending to reveal the other's name.
This made Sasuke's expression look somewhat impatient. Without a word, he pushed the kusanagi sword further, deepening the wound and causing Itachi to feel even greater Pain.
Then, Itachi spoke slowly, "Uchiha Madara."
"!!!!" Uchiha Sasuke's pupils dilated in shock, as if he had heard something unbelievable.
Outside the video.
"Kill him! Kill Itachi!!! You already knew Uchiha Madara was still alive, didn't you?!!"
Sasuke roared, his body trembling. In the video, he had already driven Itachi into a corner; how could he not be excited?
"This is an image from the future. This future might not be yours," Jiraiya said slowly as he looked at the agitated Sasuke. "The video creator likely only observed our world without the multiverse projection."
"In other words, you at this time aren't yet aware that Uchiha Madara is still alive."
Kakashi, who was saying this, narrowed his eyes slightly, a light of hatred appearing in them.
It was that Uchiha Madara, who was still alive in this world, who had released the Nine-Tailed, causing his master and master's wife to meet their end.
This grudge was something he could never possibly forget.