Chapter 183: Mangekyo, Activated! (Fifth Update)

Yes, the main reason for coming to Konoha this time was to assassinate Uchiha Akira!

They had even planned this far in advance, with the help of Iwagakure to gather intel on the Jonin exams and pick the right moment to strike!

Moreover, looking at Deidara and Sasori causing chaos outside, only to be stopped by Jiraiya and Tsunade, Pain decided it was time for a quick and decisive strike.

But wasn't this a little too quick?

With just one Shinra Tensei and a few black rods thrown, Uchiha Akira died while trying to save Uchiha Sasuke?

Sure, in the ninja world, many high-ranking ninjas had been unexpectedly killed by lower-ranking ones.

But for Uchiha Akira to be killed so easily, even Pain found it hard to believe!

"Akira, he, he actually..."

As the black rod pierced through Uchiha Akira's chest, countless people froze, staring at the screen in disbelief.

His chest had been pierced—his heart was likely impaled too, right? Certain death!

The genius known as the greatest prodigy in the ninja world—Uchiha Akira—was killed just like that?

"Akira-kun, Akira-kun..." Hinata, with tears streaming down her face, ran over and held Uchiha Akira tightly, sobbing uncontrollably!

"This kid, he's just dead like that?" Hiashi Hyuga looked at his daughter crying over Uchiha Akira, his expression grim.

In his heart, he already saw Uchiha Akira as his future son-in-law!

"This can't be! How could this kid be killed so easily? Even if that guy is strong!" Fugaku was stunned, finding it hard to believe!

"My grandson, my grandson, he..." The old man, upon seeing this, felt his breath catch, and everything went black as he almost fainted!

At the same time, many others, including Keiko, Naruto Uzumaki, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Ino-Shika-Cho, and many others from Konoha, watched the screen in disbelief that Uchiha Akira had died, sacrificing himself to save Uchiha Sasuke.

The child who became famous in the ninja world at seven, who severed the Third Tsuchikage's leg—was he really dead at the age of fourteen?

The death of the Fourth Hokage was already considered a tragic loss at a young age.

But who would've thought Uchiha Akira's death would come even sooner, like a brilliant meteor streaking across the night sky?

"Sasuke, are you okay?" Uchiha Akira, his face pale, looked at Sasuke and asked.

"Why, why, Akira, why did you..." Sasuke felt like the entire world had lost its color.

"Do I need a reason? If it were you in danger, I'm sure you would've done the same to save me. Cough, cough..." Uchiha Akira said as if it were only natural, coughing up blood as he spoke.

Sasuke fell silent after hearing these words.

"Akira-kun..." Hinata held Uchiha Akira tightly.

"Hinata, I... I'm a little tired... I want to rest," Uchiha Akira said weakly to Hinata.

"No, Akira-kun, you can't rest, you can't!" Hearing Akira's words, Hinata quickly shook her head.

She knew full well that if Uchiha Akira really closed his eyes to rest, he would never wake up again!

Byakugan allowed Hinata to clearly see Uchiha Akira's condition: his heart had indeed been pierced by the black rod!

"Can I leave now?" Feeling somewhat confused by how smoothly the mission had gone, Pain muttered to himself.

Yes, the mission was to assassinate Uchiha Akira, not to destroy Konoha.

Now that Uchiha Akira was dead, there seemed to be no reason for him to stay any longer.

Sasuke was in shock, staring at Uchiha Akira, feeling as if the world had lost all its color.

All he could see was Uchiha Akira's body!

His arms went limp, and his eyes slowly closed.

Akira died? Right in front of his eyes? And for saving him?

Sasuke felt like he was dreaming, but the pain in his heart was real, as if someone were drilling into his chest with a power drill!

A surge of heat flowed into his eyes from nowhere!

Suddenly, the three tomoe in Uchiha Sasuke's Sharingan began to spin rapidly.

Then, the crimson Sharingan transformed into a six-pointed star shape!

The Mangekyō Sharingan had awakened!

As the Mangekyō Sharingan activated, Sasuke could feel his vision and abilities greatly enhanced!

At any other time, Sasuke would have been overjoyed to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.

But now, he couldn't feel any happiness at all!

Hatred. At this moment, Uchiha Sasuke's heart was filled with nothing but hatred!

The resolve to avenge Uchiha Akira consumed Sasuke!

"I'm going to kill you!" Sasuke glared at Pain, his voice cold with each word.

"Mangekyō Sharingan? It seems he was very important to you," Pain said as he noticed Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan staring at him.

Without another word, black flames appeared around Sasuke, and they moved toward Pain as if they were alive.

Amaterasu's flames, unlike Itachi's, which could only lock onto targets through sight, Sasuke's Amaterasu could be controlled with Kagutsuchi, not just by staring at his target.

The black flames quickly surrounded Pain, closing in.

Shinra Tensei!

As the black flames of Amaterasu approached, Pain raised his hand, using Shinra Tensei to repel all the flames!

One move, endlessly useful—this phrase perfectly described Pain.

Whether it was Shinra Tensei or Bansho Ten'in, no one could do anything about him!

After repelling the flames, Pain charged at Sasuke, exchanging a few blows with him using taijutsu.

With a single strike, followed by another Shinra Tensei, Sasuke was sent flying a hundred meters away!

Though Sasuke had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, officially stepping into the ranks of Kage-level shinobi, he had only just unlocked its power and wasn't yet familiar with it.

In terms of power levels, Sasuke was likely just above 10,000—just at the entry-level of Kage-tier—but Pain's strength was near the 100,000 mark.

Even with the Mangekyō, Sasuke's power posed little threat to Pain!

Moreover, after enduring several Shinra Tensei attacks, Sasuke's injuries were now very serious. He struggled to get up but failed several times!

"Everyone, use all your strength to break this barrier!" Fugaku shouted, seeing Uchiha Akira dead and his son also close to death, not caring anymore about Deidara and Sasori's chaos.

Though Sasuke's awakening of the Mangekyō Sharingan was a joyous event, the situation had taken a drastic turn for the worse. Even with the Mangekyō, Sasuke could change nothing!

"The Mangekyō Sharingan... yet another threat!"

Though his target had been Uchiha Akira, seeing Sasuke unlock the Mangekyō, Pain now had the urge to kill him as well, thinking it best to eliminate him before leaving.

Otherwise, once Sasuke mastered his Mangekyō Sharingan, who knew what kind of trouble he might cause?

With that thought, Pain raised his hand, another black rod appearing as he quickly approached Sasuke.

As the rod was about to strike, Sasuke tried to dodge, but his injuries made it difficult to move!

Even at full strength, the gap in their powers was vast. In his current wounded state, there was no way he could withstand it!

Clang!

Just then, a sharp sound rang out. Another black rod intercepted Pain's attack!

It was Uchiha Akira.

He had pulled out the black rod from his chest and used it to block Pain's attack!

"Akira?! But you..." Even Sasuke, who had just been saved, was wide-eyed in shock, staring at Uchiha Akira.

His Mangekyō had already activated, but Akira wasn't dead?

Was this some kind of joke? Did I just unlock my Mangekyō for nothing?

"Akira-kun, you're okay!" Hinata didn't care about any of that. Seeing Uchiha Akira alive again, she felt overwhelming joy at his return!

"I never said I was dead, did I? I just said I was tired and needed a little rest. Now I'm all rested up!" Uchiha Akira smiled at Hinata as he spoke.

Sasuke, however, felt a bit annoyed.

After everything that had just happened, and after seeing that situation unfold, you said you were just resting? No normal person would believe that!

Though Sasuke felt like he had been played, seeing that Uchiha Akira wasn't dead, he couldn't help but feel relieved.

"Wow, I really am a good guy, huh? I haven't even unlocked my own Mangekyō yet, but I helped someone else awaken theirs!" Uchiha Akira thought to himself, glancing at Sasuke with a

Akira thought to himself as he glanced at Sasuke.

Then, turning his attention back to Pain, Akira took a deep breath.

A blue-green chakra, like flames, ignited around Akira's body—his Sage Mode had activated.

"The warm-up is over. Let's start the second round."

*********Announcement**************

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