Itachi couldn't explain why, but after setting aside their hostility, he always felt an indescribable sensation whenever he was around Akagi Shinji.
It was like facing an elder of his own clan.
What made it even more uncomfortable was the strange, faint urge he felt to get closer to the man. He must be going crazy!
This feeling was extremely unsettling for him.
(Shinji: Ever heard of the [Sharingan Specter]? It was forged by sacrificing your entire family and clan!)
So far, both Itachi and Sasuke had felt this way. Everyone except Tobi.
Before Itachi could say anything, a strange sound like boiling steam erupted. He turned his head and saw a petite figure charging forward like a runaway train, its momentum absolutely massive.
Samehada: Severing Slash!
Kisame immediately stepped in front of Itachi, swinging his blade with all his might.
BOOM!
Kisame and Samehada were sent flying together. He was completely unable to halt her furious charge.
Shinji, who had been ready to intercept, immediately dodged out of the way.
If he still had his Kubikiribōchō, he might have tried to block it, but unfortunately, the sword was broken... again.
He had tossed it aside earlier, planning to repair it later.
Itachi, however, did not move back. He simply widened his eyes and activated his technique: "Look me in the eye, you bastard!"
Moxi, now sporting a face resembling a horse, stared right back at Itachi without the slightest fear.
Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan instantly activated. He attempted to control her just as one would control a Tailed Beast.
Moxi froze immediately. Her horse-like eyes drooped shut, her body went limp, and she crashed face-first into the ground, smashing everything in her path.
"So, dealing with Tailed Beast-types really is easier with the Sharingan?"
Shinji, who had wisely bailed on Itachi earlier, stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Then he watched as Itachi got kicked square in the face!
That's right. The enemy, who had just face-planted, suddenly woke up in a rage and delivered a devastating kick.
Itachi looked genuinely surprised and didn't dodge in time—taking the hit directly.
But of course, it was only a Crow Clone.
The steam emanating from Moxi didn't just boost her raw strength; it gave her linear acceleration that was virtually unmatched.
Sure enough, as soon as Kisame returned and charged in again, convinced he could do it, he was sent flying once more.
It was hard not to suspect he was just doing this to avoid getting hit directly.
Curious, Shinji decided to test it himself... and was immediately sent flying backward. Okay, so he hadn't been wrong about how strong she was.
Her power had reached truly terrifying levels.
Even Itachi frowned. "We can't let her unlock any more power. Create an opening for me. I'll use Tsukuyomi to restrain her."
"Damn it, I said no cooperation! Why are you still giving me orders? Do all you Uchiha folks just refuse to listen?"
Shinji complained, but ultimately decided to cooperate anyway.
He too could sense that things were starting to spiral out of control.
This wasn't just an ordinary Special Grade curse spirit. She was even more unique than natural element types like Dagon.
At least other Special Grades didn't possess such a vast arsenal of abilities, each one devastatingly powerful!
"Come on, little pony! Look over here!"
Shinji took off his jacket, acting like a matador, essentially baiting her to charge straight into Itachi's effective range.
"You think you can just talk trash?! I'm gonna kick your kidneys out!"
The steam behind Moxi grew thicker. She began to accelerate, faster and faster.
Shinji was convinced that given enough runway, not even the Raikage could outrun her.
"BIND!"
The moment the [Curse Speech] left his mouth, Shinji frowned sharply. The chakra consumption and the backlash were far more severe than he had anticipated.
This meant her true strength was likely even greater than he imagined!
Just what kind of monster was this?!
Moxi, with her five tails and horse face, came to an abrupt halt right in front of Shinji.
Itachi didn't waste this golden opportunity. He instantly appeared between them and cast Tsukuyomi directly onto that horse face!
One second later, Itachi looked visibly exhausted.
"Did it work?" Shinji asked.
They watched as the enemy collapsed to the ground once more.
"It should have worked... but I'm not sure..."
Before he finished speaking, Moxi's original little girl face suddenly snapped open.
"You guys just won't quit, will you?! Fine! Today I'm going to finish this once and for all!"
Her head spun a full 360 degrees again. The horse face vanished, replaced by the face of a slug.
Looking closely, a sixth tail had appeared behind her—a soft, purple tail.
Then, from that slug mouth, she spewed out a massive volume of corrosive acid.
SUSANOO!
At the critical moment, Itachi finally resorted to this technique. Though it was only the first stage—a partial skeletal form.
And then... his Susanoo started melting like ice cream.
"Hey! Are you helping me or trying to kill me?!"
Shinji, who had been pulled inside the Susanoo along with Itachi, looked at the dissolving armor and was utterly defeated.
Itachi hadn't expected her acid to be this terrifying, capable of eating through even a first-stage Susanoo.
He immediately poured more chakra into it, reinforcing the structure.
Even though it was still only an upper body, flesh and armor materialized fully.
Yet horrifyingly, the acid that splashed onto it continued to corrode the shell relentlessly.
This was absolutely absurd!
Even Itachi was starting to feel a headache coming on.
"What are you waiting for?! Use Amaterasu and burn her to a crisp!"
Itachi gave him a blank look. Right, because it's not your eyes that are going to be blinded, idiot.
But Itachi stayed silent, and Shinji just stood there, stubbornly waiting to see who would cave first.
In a battle of attrition like this, Itachi was guaranteed to lose.
Left with no choice, he activated Amaterasu.
Shinji felt secretly pleased. Serves you right! You used me as a human shield earlier. Now I'm gonna make you go blind in one eye!
Jet-black flames instantly engulfed the enemy. No matter what she did, they couldn't be extinguished.
Moxi let out cries of pain. The faces on the back of her head frantically switched—from tanuki to slug—but none could put out these black flames.
The horse face that had been hit by Tsukuyomi didn't reappear at all.
In her agony, her seventh tail emerged.
But it wasn't the insect tail of Chomei. It was an octopus tail!
To resolve the immediate crisis, she had skipped the Seven-Tails and unlocked the Eight-Tails power first!
"Tailed Beast Spell: Detach and Regenerate!"
The newly formed octopus tail was instantly severed. Meanwhile, Moxi—now wearing an ox face—was completely engulfed by the flames of Amaterasu!
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