68 chapter 60~Itachi is dead

Sasuke's unyielding gaze was fixed upon his brother, the weight of their shared history palpable in the charged air between them.

Words were rendered unnecessary by the intensity of their mutual desires: Sasuke's thirst for vengeance and Itachi's longing for his brother's hand to deliver him from his tormented existence.

In a flurry of motion, Sasuke lunged forward, his blade poised to strike. Itachi responded in kind, producing a short blade to meet the impending assault.

The clashing of steel echoed through the forest as their weapons collided, their opposing forces locked in a fierce struggle for dominance. With a calculated twist, Sasuke's blade deflected off Itachi's weapon, inching perilously close to its intended mark – Itachi's chest.

Reacting with instinctive agility, Itachi executed a fluid backpedal, narrowly evading Sasuke's lethal strike. The intensity of the confrontation left no room for hesitation as Sasuke continued his unrelenting pursuit.

His sword whistled through the air in a relentless assault, aimed at severing his brother's neck. Itachi managed to evade the attack by gracefully ducking beneath the swing and launching himself backward, creating a necessary distance between them.

Itachi's Sharingan eyes flared to life, locking onto Sasuke's own crimson gaze. The two brothers stared into each other's eyes, the powerful ocular prowess of the Uchiha clan bearing witness to their emotions and determination.

Sasuke's assertion filled the air, "My Sharingan is stronger than yours." A blur of movement followed as he once again surged towards Itachi, his speed and ferocity mirroring a tempestuous whirlwind.

Recognizing the futility of this relentless exchange, Itachi deftly leaped back, his hands weaving intricate hand signs.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!" he shouted, placing his index fingers near his mouth. Inhaling a large breath of air, he released a massive fireball that was at least 10 meters wide. Witnessing the approaching fireball, Sasuke replicated the same hand signs and expelled a large fireball from his mouth. With a resounding 'boom,' the two fireballs collided, creating a substantial crater upon impact.

The surroundings illuminated with intense heat as the clash occurred, and soon Sasuke's fireball began to overpower Itachi's.

His fireball was more potent, containing a significant amount of heat. Infusing more chakra into his jutsu, Sasuke's fireball gradually eradicated Itachi's, its superior energy prevailing. Observing the oncoming fireball, Itachi placed his left hand over his left eye.

And his eyes transformed into Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Amaterasu," he said, and a vortex of black flames shot out from his eye. The obsidian flames started to engulf Sasuke's fireball and surged toward him. Witnessing the approaching black flames, Sasuke leaped and landed on the other side.

The black fire began to relentlessly consume the surroundings. Sasuke didn't allow his brother a moment's respite. He dashed towards him; Itachi was on one knee, the use of Amaterasu had drained him and blurred his vision. Sasuke plunged his sword into Itachi's chest, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

Itachi's back hit the ground while Sasuke stood over him, the sword embedded in Itachi's chest. Itachi lifted his right hand, attempting to reach Sasuke, but midway, he twisted his hand to the right.

Sasuke followed his gesture and tilted his head to the right, and suddenly, a new Itachi was standing near a tree, gazing at him. Sasuke glanced downward, and the Itachi he had been stabbing erupted into a murder of crows.

"Genjutsu," Sasuke muttered under his breath. Now, Itachi stood leaning against a tree, a sword piercing through his chest from his back.

He looked ahead, and the Sasuke he had been observing gradually faded away.

"You're not the only one who can use genjutsu," Sasuke's voice emerged softly from behind him.

However, Itachi merely smiled, his eyes transforming into Mangekyo Sharingan. His form fragmented into countless crosses, only to reform a few meters away from Sasuke. "You've grown strong, little brother," Itachi spoke to him.

Sasuke remained silent, his hands weaving through a series of intricate signs.

"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!" he shouted, and a literal sea of fire burst forth from his mouth, engulfing his opponent.

However, his gaze soon fixed upon an orange skeletal structure forming around his brother, rendering him completely impervious to the flames. Sasuke observed it closely, sensing an immense concentration of Yin chakra radiating from the skeleton.

Itachi, who had summoned his Susano'o, now teetered on the precipice of exhaustion.

Coughing up blood, the weight of his illness resurged, and the immense chakra demand of the Susano'o began to take its toll, further impairing his vision.

Itachi channeled more chakra into his Susano'o, causing the skeletal framework to gradually be covered with flesh.

Soon, he transitioned into the second stage of Susano'o. Confronted by the humanoid figure before him, Sasuke enshrouded his sword with Chidori, the distinctive crackling sound resonating from the blade.

Springing into the air, Sasuke plunged his sword into the Susano'o with all his might. The force behind his attack was tremendous, and upon impact, a resounding boom reverberated throughout the surroundings.

However, the Susano'o remained unscathed; after all, it was the ultimate defense of the Uchiha clan.

Sasuke wore a slight frown as he registered that his assault had failed to breach the humanoid form. Yet, he wasn't disheartened.

He lifted his sword high into the sky and struck again, achieving the same outcome. Leaping back from the Susano'o, he directed his gaze toward the orange-hued figure.

"Let's see how long you can endure," Sasuke spoke to his brother.

He started to do some hand signs, causing the sky above them to darken. Lightning crackled within the clouds, accompanied by deafening echoes reverberating through the atmosphere.

Day turned into night as the landscape was engulfed in an azure luminescence, the only discernible presence amidst the darkness.

Sasuke concluded his hand signs, his right palm raised toward theskies, poised as if to grasp something intangible.

Suddenly, a lightning-formed dragon descended from the sky, its massive form encircling the surroundings. Streaks of lightning crackled around the dragon as it emitted a furious roar, its electric vitality palpable.

Itachi widened his eyes, uncertainty gnawing at him regarding whether his Susano'o could withstand this perilous jutsu and emerge unscathed.

He began infusing every ounce of his chakra into his Susano'o, fortifying its resilience. Sasuke locked eyes with his brother.

"Kirin," he pronounced, prompting the lightning dragon to roar once more.

Sasuke lowered his hand, directly aiming for the Susano'o, and with lightning-like speed, the electrifying beast collided with the ethereal form.

A colossal boom resonated, the sound echoing far and wide. A brilliant flash of light enveloped the vicinity, momentarily obscuring everything in its radiance.

The ground vaporized upon the dragon's impact, and as the brilliance subsided, Sasuke beheld his brother, blood seeping from his eyes, his form now kneeling.

Itachi's vision was blurred, the haze of his surroundings exacerbated by his infusion of all chakra into the Susano'o, leaving him teetering on the precipice of blindness.

Amidst the fog, he perceived a figure approaching, wielding a sword. Although his sight was distorted, he recognized the silhouette – his brother.

Gradually, pain bore into his chest, and he gazed ahead. Sasuke had driven his sword into Itachi's chest.

Itachi's lips curved into a faint smile, blood trailing from his mouth and chest. He raised his fingers and gently tapped Sasuke's forehead.

"You've finally accomplished your goal," Itachi spoke softly to him. The smile on his face remained, and soon his vision began to fade, the darkness overtaking him. He glanced at his younger brother one last time before closing his eyes.

Sasuke's gaze remained fixed on his brother's lifeless form.

Itachi was truly gone this time; it wasn't a trick or a genjutsu.

The realization hit him hard. He had achieved his revenge, fulfilling his mission to avenge his clan and parents. Yet, an inexplicable emptiness pervaded his being.

Despite the pain Itachi had caused, Sasuke couldn't deny the love he felt for his brother.

Looking at the lifeless body, tears welled up in his eyes. A profound ache settled in his heart. The weight of what he had done, killing his own brother with his own hands, was overwhelming. Loneliness crept in, and in the midst of the anguish, he felt a surge of intense pain in his chest.

"Why... why... does it hurt so much?" he screamed, his hand clutching his chest as if to alleviate the agony. The pain was excruciating, a reflection of the emotional turmoil he was enduring.

The memories of every moment spent with his brother flooded his mind, a montage of their shared experiences.

In the midst of his torment, he was unaware that his eyes were undergoing a transformation. From Sharingan to Mangekyo Sharingan, to even the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, his eyes evolved,

Eventually, his chakra flowed into his eyes, unknowingly initiating their transformation into the Rinnegan.

Despite this, Sasuke remained on his knees, the force of his grief compelling him to pound the ground.

His tears were unceasing, a testament to the pain he was experiencing. Yet, a comforting touch found its way to his shoulder.

Lifting his head, he found his best friend gazing at him. Naruto had arrived on the battlefield, having concluded his own battle.

Sasuke turned his gaze to Naruto, his voice quivering as he spoke, "Why am I feeling so much pain?" Naruto met his eyes, delivering an honest response,

"Because you loved him. Despite the fact that he wiped out your clan, you still loved him. Losing someone you care about hurts more than anything else."

Heeding Naruto's words, Sasuke absorbed the truth in them.

His emotions had been complex, but Naruto's perspective was simple and genuine.

"But don't feel sad," Naruto continued, his expression earnest. "You know your brother wanted to die by your hands. He loved you, Sasuke.

Your revenge is complete, and there's an entire world ahead of you."

Sasuke observed his friend, wiping his tear-streaked face. He responded in a soft voice, gratitude resonating in his words, "Thanks."

Naruto's understanding was what he needed at that moment. The burden of his emotions began to lighten; he didn't feel as isolated.

In Naruto, he found a friend who comprehended him, someone akin to a brother. As his heart gradually calmed, he recognized the guilt lingering within.

Yet, he understood that he had to forge ahead. Time would heal the wounds on his heart. Naruto's presence dispelled the loneliness that had gripped him, serving as a reminder that he wasn't alone.

With renewed determination, Sasuke vowed silently to safeguard all he cherished. Though unspoken, the oath was etched into his resolve.

Unbeknownst to him, his eyes radiated a purple luminescence when he looked at Naruto.

Naruto gazed at Sasuke's eyes, now adorned with rings in them.

Sasuke had awakened the Rinnegan.

Naruto understood that it was inevitable, given Sasuke's possession of both Indra and Asura's chakra.

The Rinnegan's emergence had been a matter of time. However, the process had left Sasuke utterly drained.

His chakra had been wholly consumed in the awakening. As his eyes reverted to their normal state, Sasuke's body faltered, rendering him unable to walk.

The initial awakening of the Rinnegan had sapped his chakra, but Naruto knew that in due time, after days of rest, Sasuke's chakra levels would be revitalized to extraordinary levels.

For now, though, Sasuke needed to stabilize his body to accommodate the power of the Rinnegan. Exhaustion claimed Sasuke's consciousness; his last sight was Naruto catching him as he fell, placing him gently onto his back.

"Just rest for a few days." A faint smile graced Sasuke's lips as he closed his eyes.

Naruto, carrying Sasuke on his back, set his sights on Konoha.

Yet, before he headed there, he had a promise to fulfill—to Kurama, the Nine-Tails fox.

Naruto had promised Kurama to complete him and, if Kurama desired freedom, to grant it.

Naruto began walking towards Konoha, Sasuke's unconscious form resting against his back, a testament to their enduring bond.

[an~ gauss whose Naruto gonna meet in next chapter…

Give me your power stones man…]