[Sponsored] Chapter 62: Land of Whirlpools

[This chapter is proudly sponsored by "Nikiforos Dakoulas." Please join me in expressing your thanks in the comments! If you're interested in sponsoring a chapter, consider joining the Patreon.]

Konoha Village, Training Ground.

"Do you want to become stronger?" Kakashi looked down at the young boy in front of him.

Early in the morning, Sasuke had asked him to come.

Sasuke clenched his fists and nodded vigorously, "Yes, I want to become stronger!"

"But you've only just learned the Chidori technique," Kakashi said softly.

Sasuke shook his head, gritting his teeth, "That's still not enough."

"Just mastering that one technique isn't enough to catch up to Naruto."

Let alone catching up to that man!

These words caused Kakashi's heart to tighten.

To catch up to Naruto?

He took a deep breath and nodded, "If that's the case, I—"

But he couldn't finish his sentence.

A special Jonin hurried over, sounding somewhat anxious.

"Kakashi-sama, the rogue ninja Itachi has appeared in the western part of the village. Asuma-sama and Kurenai-sama have already engaged him, requesting backup."

Kakashi was startled and instinctively looked at Sasuke.

On that young and handsome face, a look of shock and hatred immediately appeared.

"Sasuke, don't be reckless!" he called out, trying to stop him.

But the next moment.

Without saying a word, Sasuke dashed off, heading towards the western part of the village.

Kakashi gave chase.

When they arrived at the scene.

Asuma and Kurenai were already on the ground.

A man with a shark-like face was swinging his sword, ready to kill them.

Kakashi instantly performed a hand seal and activated a jutsu.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall."

A wall embedded with dog heads rose from the ground, blocking the man's actions.

"Another newcomer," Kisame stepped back, resting his sword on his shoulder. It was a large, deep blue blade covered in serrated spikes. "Oh? What's with this kid?"

"He also has the Sharingan, and..."

"Itachi, he looks a lot like you."

Uchiha Itachi spoke calmly, "He is my younger brother."

"Weren't the Uchiha clan all wiped out by you?" Kisame asked, his tone full of mocking amusement, "So there's still one lone survivor left."

Uchiha Itachi didn't respond further, but instead greeted his brother, "It's been a long time, Sasuke."

"Uchiha Itachi," Sasuke gritted his teeth as he shouted his brother's name, "I'm going to kill you."

He formed a hand seal.

Lightning surged in his palm, producing a sharp "chirping" sound.

Kakashi watched, his expression filled with concern.

This was...

His signature jutsu.

The technique he had taught Sasuke during the Chunin Exams.

"Lightning Release: Chidori."

Sasuke's expression twisted with rage, his anger so intense that his body trembled slightly, "I've always hated you!"

"I live only to kill you!"

He extended his hand forward.

The lightning distorted the air.

With a burst of speed, he closed the distance of several meters in an instant.

Like the tip of a blade, he charged fiercely to stab!

But Itachi only slightly shifted his stance, effortlessly sidestepping and raising his hand to catch Sasuke's wrist.

The lightning still buzzed sharply in Sasuke's palm.

They were only two or three steps apart.

Yet...

Sasuke could not move an inch further.

"How weak," Uchiha Itachi murmured softly.

Sasuke's heart tightened.

"Is that all the light Chidori can produce in your hands?" Uchiha Itachi raised his knee and slammed it into Sasuke's stomach.

The sharp buzzing gradually faded.

Itachi then extended his hand, gripping Sasuke's neck and lifting him up.

The three-tomoe Sharingan in his eyes began to spin, distorting into a shape resembling three sickles embedded in his pupils.

Sasuke's eyes widened.

It was the same eyes from that night.

Uchiha Itachi whispered, "Why are you so weak?"

"Only two tomoe..."

"It's because your hatred isn't deep enough."

As he spoke, Sasuke's senses began to dull and freeze.

The world became a negative image.

"Dojutsu: Tsukuyomi."

"You should be very familiar with this place," Uchiha Itachi spoke softly, and as he did, countless voices echoed in unison with his.

"In the world of Tsukuyomi, space, time, and mass are all under my control."

"For the next seventy-two hours, every single second, I will stab you with this sword."

Uchiha Sasuke gritted his teeth and let out a muffled groan.

The first blade had already pierced his body.

His senses were heightened.

The pain was intense and prolonged.

"This is the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan," Uchiha Itachi said softly as he moved his hand, "You have the same potential as I do."

"There is also a possibility that you could awaken the Mangekyō."

"But to obtain these eyes, there is one condition you must fulfill."

"That is, you must kill your closest friend."

"Only by doing so can you prove you have the resolve to possess the Mangekyō."

The pain made it difficult for Sasuke to think clearly, but upon hearing Itachi's words, the first name and face that flashed in his mind was the one that had been haunting him these past few days: "Uzumaki Naruto."

To gain the power of the "Mangekyō,"

Does that mean I have to become like "Itachi"?

Seventy-two hours in the Tsukuyomi world.

In reality, only an instant had passed.

Kakashi pulled up his forehead protector, his tone serious: "Let Sasuke go."

Uchiha Itachi, indifferent, casually tossed the already unconscious Sasuke aside: "I have no interest in weaklings."

His gaze shifted.

It landed on Asuma and Kurenai.

Two Jōnin.

Such pawns were enough to assert his presence.

He then raised his head, looking into the distance where the Hokage Tower loomed faintly.

"There are more and more nuisances," Uchiha Itachi turned his head back, "Kisame, let's go."

He stepped forward and instantly disappeared.

Kisame paused for a moment, glanced at Sarutobi Asuma on the ground, and sheathed his blade: "Tch, that was a pretty good catch."

"Our objective is not to fight," Uchiha Itachi said softly, "Though it's regrettable we couldn't get the information."

"But there's no point in staying any longer."

Kakashi gripped his kunai, ready to intercept.

Uchiha Itachi turned back.

His "Mangekyō Sharingan," distinct from the three-tomoe Sharingan, began to spin, with a trickle of blood seeping out.

"Dōjutsu, Amaterasu."

A strange black flame ignited wherever his gaze landed.

It had properties different from ordinary flames.

Swaying like ink, each strand was exceptionally clear.

Kakashi stopped in his tracks and performed a Water Release jutsu.

But pouring water on the flames only made them burn more fiercely.

Several figures descended.

It was Jiraiya, Might Guy, and an entire Anbu tactical squad who had arrived after receiving the alert.

"Where is Uchiha Itachi?" Jiraiya asked seriously. He had just returned to the village when he received news of "Uchiha Itachi's appearance."

Kakashi walked over and picked up Sasuke: "He fled."

"Asuma, Kurenai, and Sasuke are in bad shape. We need to get them treated immediately."

"Their objective is unclear."

"But it doesn't seem to be Sasuke."

Jiraiya took out a scroll and sealed the black flames: "Is that so?"

"Anbu, don't pursue them. Focus on securing the village."

"Once Asuma and Kurenai wake up, ask them what they know."

The Anbu complied.

Jiraiya frowned.

Ever since the Third Hokage's death, all sorts of troublemakers had begun to emerge.

What happened in Konoha had nothing to do with Naruto.

He was traveling with Karin.

In just two days, they had reached the border of the Land of Fire, near a coastal town.

Standing on the rocks, the two of them looked into the distance.

"The visibility isn't great," Karin leaned forward, "I can't see the Land of Whirlpools."

"But my mother told me."

"The Land of Whirlpools is on an island just east of the Land of Fire."

She turned her head to look at Naruto: "How are we going to get there?"

Are we going to fly?

"By boat," Naruto said softly, "I saw some boatmen in the town."