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In the tavern across the street, Shin had watched the entire incident unfold.
“Itachi Uchiha is quite ruthless. No wonder he could kill his own clansmen, even his own father,” Tsunade commented, taking a small sip of sake.
“He actually did Sasuke a favor. If Itachi hadn’t intervened, Kisame would have killed him.” Shin said, shaking his head slightly.
If Kisame had intervened, he would have likely killed Sasuke instantly with his Samehada. Itachi’s seemingly cruel action had actually saved Sasuke’s life.
‘Acting harshly… Itachi really wants Sasuke to hate him completely.’
The Sharingan’s power was amplified by strong emotions, and hatred was a powerful catalyst. Itachi was paving Sasuke’s path for him.
“If you have the guts, kill me! Otherwise, I swear I’ll kill you!” Sasuke roared hatefully at Itachi.
Sasuke didn’t understand why Itachi had done this, why he had wiped out the Uchiha Clan, even killing their parents—Sasuke desperately wanted to demand answers, but seeing Itachi, he couldn’t control his impulsive rage.
“YOU?” Itachi’s expression was flat, his eyes showing little emotion, only a hint of disdain.
Yes, disdain. In Sasuke’s eyes, Itachi clearly looked down on him…
“Do you know why you’re still alive?” Itachi asked calmly.
Without waiting for Sasuke’s reply, Itachi continued, “Because you’re too weak. I don’t even consider you worth killing. You’re beneath my notice.”
“Let me show you the Uchiha Clan’s ultimate dōjutsu. Without these eyes, you wouldn’t even have the right to stand before me.”
Itachi activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
The ocular pressure emanating from it forcibly deactivated Sasuke’s newly awakened Sharingan.
“In my presence, you can’t even keep your eyes open. Pathetic.”
This dismissive attitude deeply wounded Sasuke’s pride. Though weak, Sasuke’s pride was immense.
“I WILL KILL YOU!” Sasuke used his remaining good hand to attack Itachi.
However, before Itachi, Sasuke truly was like an infant, easily toyed with, utterly vulnerable.
Sasuke collapsed to the ground, his hatred for his own weakness consuming him.
He wanted power… He needed power…
Just as his despair threatened to overwhelm him, the Cursed Seal Orochimaru had placed on his neck began to throb, causing veins to bulge on his forehead.
Itachi looked at Sasuke, frowning slightly.
“<Tsukuyomi!>”
He activated the Tsukuyomi dōjutsu, pulling Sasuke into the illusionary world.
Within this realm, Itachi showed Sasuke visions of the Uchiha Clan massacre—not the true events, but a fabricated version where Itachi alone wiped out the clan, with no mention of Konoha’s involvement.
Sasuke, unaware it was fake, watched the scenes flash before his eyes, his hatred for Itachi intensifying.
Under the intense mental stimulation, Sasuke’s one-tomoe Sharingan successfully evolved into the two-tomoe Sharingan.
Though a long time passed within the illusionary world, only an instant had passed in reality.
Seeing the fleeting two-tomoe Sharingan, Itachi nodded inwardly.
Sasuke had already fallen unconscious. Even though Itachi had held back, Sasuke was still severely traumatized.
“Itachi, are you alright?” Kisame Hoshigaki asked Itachi with some concern. The bleeding eyes made Itachi look quite unwell.
This was the price of using the Mangekyō Sharingan’s abilities.
His vision blurred slightly, but Itachi felt fine. His current physical condition should hold until Sasuke grew stronger.
“Why use the Mangekyō Sharingan against a Genin?” Kisame didn’t quite understand Itachi. A simple Genjutsu would have sufficed.
Itachi, of course, wouldn’t explain to Kisame.
“Leave Konoha immediately,” Itachi said to Kisame.
“What about the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki? Shouldn’t we continue our investigation?” Kisame asked.
Their main mission was to investigate the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
“We’ve already alerted the Konoha ninja. They’re probably on their way now. If we don’t leave, we won’t be able to,” Itachi said gravely.
“<Leaf Whirlwind!>”
Just as Itachi finished speaking, a ninja clad in a green jumpsuit—a kappa—kicked towards Kisame.
Kisame reacted quickly, instantly blocking the kick with Samehada, though the force still pushed him back a considerable distance.
“Who are you?” Kisame looked at the strangely dressed ninja with thick eyebrows.
“Konoha’s Sublime Green Beast of Prey, Might Guy!” Might Guy introduced himself proudly, giving Kisame a thumbs-up and flashing his dazzlingly white teeth.
“Might Guy?” Kisame frowned. He’d never heard the name before; likely just some nobody.
Alright, Might Guy was being underestimated by Kisame, who had no idea Guy was his lifelong rival.
In the original story, Kisame Hoshigaki was ultimately defeated by Might Guy and committed suicide.
“Kisame, don’t underestimate him.” Itachi warned Kisame. He sensed a dangerous aura from the seemingly ordinary, even comical, Might Guy. This person possessed power capable of putting Itachi himself in danger.
Indeed, if Might Guy opened all Eight Inner Gates, a single kick could kill both Itachi and Kisame.
However, that depended on not falling victim to Itachi’s Genjutsu first.
Of course, Might Guy wouldn’t use the Gate of Death. It was a technique that traded life for power; no matter how strong, it wasn’t meant to be used lightly.
Kisame glanced at Itachi, then nodded. Remembering the force of the earlier kick, it was indeed stronger than his own.
“Missing-nin Itachi Uchiha, what is your purpose in Konoha?” Might Guy ignored Kisame, directing his question to Itachi.
“Let’s end this quickly. We attack together.” Itachi said to Kisame, ignoring Guy’s question.
“Attack together? Aren’t you overestimating him?” Kisame grinned, revealing rows of sharp teeth.
Honestly, Kisame looked exactly like a shark, almost like a reincarnated shark-man. If this were the One Piece world—he’d definitely be classified as a Fish-Man. His natural appearance was truly unique.
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