Red and purple Chakra bodies engaged in combat across these desolate ruins.
Every clash of fist and sword erupted with thunderous roars; the shockwaves of Chakra tore the earth apart and ground the remaining stone structures into dust.
Inside the purple Susanoo, Sasuke was bleeding from all seven orifices, his vision blurring from the excessive consumption of ocular power and the blood staining his eyes.
Yet the flames in his eyes burned even more fiercely, even more coldly.
He manipulated the purple Susanoo, completely abandoning sophisticated tactics for only the most primitive and violent assaults.
However, these attacks were all completely defended against by Itachi using the Yata Mirror.
However, Itachi's situation was equally dire; maintaining a Susanoo of such scale was an unbearable burden for his already exhausted body.
He could feel his vitality rapidly fading away along with his Chakra and ocular power, the crimson in his vision beginning to waver as waves of dizziness washed over him.
Yet he still steadily controlled his Susanoo, neutralizing most of Sasuke's attacks with exquisite defense, his occasional counterattacks sharp and precise, always maintaining a stance that did not fall behind, while the Sword of Totsuka in his Susanoo's hand remained controlled, not yet having been put to use.
He was waiting—waiting for the moment of exhaustion that would inevitably appear amidst Sasuke's frenzied offensive, waiting for the opportunity that would allow him to unleash his final resort and seal the outcome.
That technique, capable of "correcting" everything and pulling his younger brother back from the abyss of hatred, was like a peerless blade hidden in its scabbard, waiting only for the perfect moment to be drawn.
Finally!
After a full-power volley of lightning arrows, the movements of Sasuke's purple Susanoo showed a clear delay; the Chakra arm forming the bow and arrow even trembled slightly, and a momentary opening appeared in his defense—it was a sign of depleted strength and unstable ocular power connection!
Now is the time!
Itachi controlled the crow hiding Kotoamatsukami to fly over, preparing to complete this mission.
(It's over, Sasuke...)
Just at the moment when that gaze, containing the special ocular power, was about to be completed—
Itachi's heart sank abruptly.
Something was wrong!
He saw that Sasuke, inside the purple Susanoo, had suddenly raised his head.
On that blood-stained, young face, there was only a kind of nearly indifferent calm; even the corners of his mouth, tightly pressed from pain, seemed to twitch upward ever so slightly.
He is still watching me. No, he is waiting for me! Waiting for me to complete a move he had anticipated!
That's it! Back when Sasuke was at Orochimaru's place fighting for Shisui's eyes, he learned their function; he must have guessed that the other eye was with me. He had guessed long ago what I would do!
This thought was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, causing the special ocular power that Itachi had condensed to its peak to suddenly stall and be forcibly interrupted.
"What's wrong, Nii-san? Are you reluctant to lay a hand on me?" Sasuke asked calmly, seeing Itachi stop his movements.
Itachi looked at Sasuke, took a few deep breaths to calm his chaotic Chakra, and then spoke slowly.
"Sasuke, you guessed that I was going to use Kotoamatsukami, didn't you?"
"Heh heh... What are you talking about? Itachi, I don't understand."
Sasuke said with a faint smile.
Itachi stared at Sasuke inside the Susanoo and exposed him directly.
"No need to pretend, Sasuke. The one inside this Susanoo is your Clone, right?"
Sasuke fell silent. A few seconds later, with a "poof," the Sasuke inside the Susanoo dissipated. Immediately after, a figure emerged from the ruins beneath the Susanoo—it was Sasuke himself, and he returned to the Susanoo.
Sasuke's expression was not very good. He had used the aftermath of the battle and the dust to hide his form, hoping to bait out that decisive blow, but things had not gone according to his plan. Itachi had not been fooled by him, and now he was still at a disadvantage, having to be constantly on guard against that terrifying Kotoamatsukami.
"You have grown quite a bit, Sasuke."
Itachi praised Sasuke, just like when he was a child, but Sasuke felt not even a shred of happiness in his heart.
Sasuke did not know why, but his attacks could never truly strike Itachi. That shield was like a chasm he could not cross by even half a step, and that sword also seemed not to have truly unleashed its power.
Damnable Itachi, still acting even now? Had he grown to such a point, yet still could do nothing against him?
Sasuke gritted his teeth, feeling his own battered state, and was about to launch another attack while enduring the discomfort, but just then, Itachi spoke to stop him.
"That's enough, Sasuke."
Sasuke frowned and stopped his movements, wondering if Itachi was planning some trick.
"Your power, your hatred, have already proven much, but on this path, there is only deeper darkness ahead. Turn back, Sasuke. I do not want to use that technique on you."
"Darkness?" Sasuke twitched the corners of his mouth.
"I originally came from the darkness, and you... *cough, cough*... what has the light you chose brought about? The Family destroyed, hands stained with blood. I will not follow your old path, Itachi."
Sasuke remained on guard, constantly wary of Itachi, wary of the potentially existing Kotoamatsukami.
Itachi's eyes narrowed, and the Sword of Totsuka in his hand was about to swing.
Seeing this, Sasuke immediately gathered his remaining Chakra onto his arrow, preparing to resist this unknown blow.
But just as both sides were poised for action, Itachi lowered the Sword of Totsuka, and his Susanoo slowly dissipated, revealing Itachi's figure. He spoke to Sasuke, and the words he said surprised Sasuke.
"I... will not kill you, Sasuke. You may go."
Sasuke's brow furrowed even tighter, completely unable to understand what Itachi was trying to do now.
"Itachi, what do you mean? Are you playing with me?!"
"No, I am serious." Itachi looked directly at Sasuke, indicating that he was not joking.
Just a moment ago, he had changed his mind.
Sasuke already knew everything; the darkness he carried had lost its meaning, and he also knew about Kotoamatsukami, so using it again might not necessarily land, as evidenced by the fact that Sasuke had used a Clone to evade him and lure him into a trap.
"Go, I will not use any means... to forcibly change your will."
He looked deeply at Sasuke; in those eyes surged extremely complex emotions—fatigue, sorrow, guilt, and perhaps a trace of relief.
He had manipulated Sasuke's entire life; now that Sasuke had the power and his own will, and wanted to choose his own path, what reason did he have to stop him?
Itachi said slowly, "I... will always be watching, watching where this path you have chosen, which is diametrically opposed to mine, will ultimately lead."
"Heh... heh heh..." Sasuke was stunned for a few seconds, then began to chuckle. The laughter tugged at his weak body, bringing more pain, but he felt exhilarated.
"Very well... Itachi, you just keep watching... use those eyes of yours..."
"I will walk to the end, and let you see with your own eyes just how ridiculous and fragile everything you protected, and the path you chose, really is."
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