I've already caught up with you.

---

After Uchiha Itachi launched Tsukuyomi on Kirito, from everyone's perspective, Kirito just stood there coldly.

At this moment, Kirito, who was in the Tsukuyomi world, slowly opened his eyes.

The surrounding space was dim and pale. There was no end in sight, and the gray clouds in the sky kept moving erratically.

"Is this the world in Tsukuyomi?" Kirito's calm eyes looked around curiously.

Just when he wanted to move, he found that his body was tied to a huge cross. Countless dense black chains bound him to it.

When he tried to use the Flash Fruit's elementalization ability to break free, Kirito was surprised to find that his fruit power didn't work. Even with physical strength, he couldn't break free.

At this moment, Kirito furrowed his brows slightly, contemplating. He realized that he was now in the spiritual world, not the real world, so he couldn't use any abilities.

As he continued thinking, a figure slowly emerged from the darkness.

"This is the Tsukuyomi space," the figure said coldly. "In this space, all time, space, and quality are controlled by me."

As the figure stepped forward, its face gradually became clearer to Kirito. He spoke in a chilling tone to the figure on the cross.

Kirito, however, showed no fear or tension. He had seen Kakashi trapped in this world in the anime before, and now, experiencing it firsthand gave him a different perspective.

He calmly surveyed his surroundings.

But then, something unexpected happened. A Tang sword appeared in the hands of Uchiha Itachi, dressed in his black cloak. He walked slowly toward Kirito, his eyes cold, and without a change in expression, he suddenly stabbed the sword into Kirito's abdomen.

Blood began to flow from the wound.

"All feelings in this world are real," Itachi said coldly, "even the pain is the same. Do you feel the fear of death?"

Kirito, still hanging on the cross, didn't respond. He merely gazed at the Tang sword in his chest, his face as calm as ever.

The next second, a purple-black hand yanked the sword out, and blood spurted from Kirito's wound. But it seemed as though none of this truly affected him; he watched the blood flow without flinching.

"I control all time, space, and other qualities in this world," Itachi continued. "For the next three days and nights, I will repeatedly stab you with this blade. You won't die, but the pain will be constant."

Itachi's cold eyes lingered on Kirito, but Kirito remained unperturbed.

Then, figures began to appear around him, each wearing a black robe and holding a Tang sword. These figures resembled Itachi, and Kirito quickly realized the situation.

Itachi, silent as always, watched as the new Itachis began attacking him, thrusting their swords in and out, the motions mechanical and unyielding.

Yet, despite the blood flowing from his body, Kirito's expression remained calm. It seemed that nothing could disturb his composure.

As the Tsukuyomi world twisted, Kirito's perspective changed again. He saw an identical version of himself bound to a cross, stabbed repeatedly by Itachi clones. This scene continued, each stab reinforcing the mental torment as Kirito's mind was assaulted by the repeated vision of his own suffering.

But even with the mental strain, Kirito remained unwavering.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he slowly raised his head and locked eyes with Uchiha Itachi. His cold voice echoed in the minds of all the Itachis present.

"Have you stabbed enough?"

As his words left his mouth, a powerful, domineering aura exploded from Kirito's body, pressing down on Itachi like a force of nature.

Itachi's face changed as he felt the sudden surge of power. Meanwhile, the others outside the Tsukuyomi world could see Kirito standing there, seemingly dazed, his eyes empty. Concern filled their faces.

Kakashi, who had experienced Itachi's terrifying Tsukuyomi before, recognized Kirito's current state.

"Kirito has been trapped in Tsukuyomi," Kakashi explained with a solemn expression. "Right now, he's either suffering or fighting for his life in that world."

Yuhi Kurenai's eyes were filled with worry as she looked at Kirito, silently praying for him.

Kakashi continued, "The Tsukuyomi world is a spiritual one. Kirito can only rely on himself to escape. Any action from us might cause his world to collapse. We can only hope he comes through this on his own."

Meanwhile, Jiraiya, who had been observing from a tree, also noted Kirito's state. He had his own concerns about the power of Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan.

Despite the situation, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for the man who would be the next golden flash.

On the ground below, Naruto struggled in Itachi's grasp, shouting in defiance, but too weak to make any real progress. Sasuke, who was lying nearby, could only watch helplessly.

But then, something incredible happened.

Kirito's eyes, which had been dull and empty, suddenly regained their depth. His voice rang out again, filled with authority.

"Put Naruto down, and take another kick from me. I'll pretend this never happened."

As soon as the words left his lips, Kirito's body exploded with golden light, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished from his cross. He appeared in front of Itachi and Kisame in a flash, a gleam of determination in his eyes.

Without hesitation, Kirito unleashed a powerful golden kick that landed squarely on Itachi and Kisame.

Before anyone could react, the ground shook as a huge gap appeared, trees falling and shattering in the wake of the attack. Itachi and Kisame, who had been standing there, were instantly sent flying, their figures vanishing from sight.

The shockwave spread, leaving a massive open space where the dense forest once stood.

Sasuke, supporting Naruto, looked on in awe. The devastation caused by Kirito's kick left him speechless. His respect for Kirito, his teacher, grew even stronger.

As Kirito stood in the clearing, a sense of calm descended over him. He had done it. The danger had passed.

Kurenai, her lips parted in shock, turned to look at her teacher with admiration. Kakashi, who had witnessed everything, shook his head in disbelief, wondering if he could ever measure up to such strength.

Just then, Jiraiya, who had been watching from a distance, walked over and patted Kirito on the shoulder. His admiration for Kirito was clear.

Kakashi and Kurenai, both surprised by Jiraiya's appearance, realized who had come to observe the battle. The legendary sage of Konoha, Jiraiya, one of the three ninjas, now stood beside them.

After a brief rest, Jiraiya led the group back to Konoha Village. Kirito remained quiet, his mind still focused on the battle ahead. Once they returned to the village, he quietly left during the night, heading in the direction where Itachi and Kisame had fled.

Kirito knew that Itachi and Kisame were both injured, and they wouldn't be able to escape quickly. His purpose for pursuing them was simple: to recruit them as his subordinates. If he could have them eliminate Danzo for him, it would save him the trouble of doing it himself. Besides, it would be more convenient to have powerful allies and live a more leisurely life.

With his thoughts set, Kirito's figure blurred as he sped off into the night.

Meanwhile, Itachi and Kisame, still on the run, exchanged wary glances.

"I'm concerned that the man will catch up," Itachi muttered.

Kisame, still in pain from his injuries, asked, "Why the hurry? Konoha's Anbu won't catch us."

But Itachi's face remained tense. "You don't understand. The man we just faced—he's different."

Kisame, now understanding the weight of Itachi's words, nodded solemnly as they continued their escape.

But before they could make much progress, a voice echoed in their minds.

"I've already caught up with you."