Chapter 159: Capturing Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame

Uchiha Itachi glanced at Hoshigaki Kisame, who was still trapped in the Genjutsu and hadn't woken up yet. With his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, why couldn't he break free from this genjutsu? Itachi forced himself to stay calm and think. Kisame was no longer reliable, and his own physical condition didn't allow him to continue fighting. He had no choice but to escape alone!

After deciding to abandon Kisame, Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan began to spin rapidly.

Susanoo!

Orange-red chakra surged from Itachi's body, quickly enveloping him and forming a large warrior with a hooked nose and fangs!

"Oh?" Kazuki was slightly surprised to see that Uchiha Itachi still had the strength to summon Susanoo. To think that he had fought so many battles using a fake Susanoo created with Fire Release, yet this was his first time seeing the real Susanoo in action!

Since it was his first time witnessing the real Susanoo, Kazuki seemed quite interested in observing Itachi's manifestation of Susanoo and didn't make a move right away.

However, while Kazuki could take his time to observe, Uchiha Itachi knew he couldn't afford to wait. His rapidly depleting stamina and mental state constantly reminded him that he couldn't hold on much longer! Seizing the moment when Kazuki was watching, Itachi chose to strike without warning, attacking Kazuki!

Kazuki calmly waved his hand, and a flaming giant similar to Susanoo enveloped him, holding a similar blade as he stared at Uchiha Itachi. The two swords clashed in midair, releasing an explosion of orange-red chakra and flames!

"Susanoo?" Uchiha Itachi looked at Kazuki's imitation of Susanoo with a peculiar expression.

Was this really Susanoo?

Was he joking?

Yet, seeing how Kazuki developed his Fire Release to such an extent, even Uchiha Itachi felt a pang of inferiority. He had always considered himself unmatched in Fire Release and genjutsu. But now, seeing Kazuki's Fire Release ninjutsu, he began to doubt his own skills.

Kazuki's Fire Release Susanoo and Uchiha Itachi's Susanoo clashed in the streets of Konoha. Flames erupted, chakra exploded, and buildings crumbled! People screamed and ran in terror as they tried to escape the chaos.

Watching his Susanoo and Kazuki's Fire Release Susanoo locked in a stalemate, Uchiha Itachi felt the pressure mounting.

"A tie with Fire Release and Susanoo? Is this something a mere human can achieve?" He gasped for breath, blood-stained tears streaming down his face. He felt he was reaching his limit.

A few minutes later, Uchiha Itachi could no longer hold on. Unable to defeat Kazuki, unable to wear him down, and unable to escape! What could he do? He could only collapse and wait for the end. Uchiha Itachi fell to the ground, a look of utter despair on his face. His remaining willpower kept him conscious, but he could no longer muster any resistance.

Kazuki, seeing this, didn't let his guard down. He used a clone to knock Itachi unconscious completely and then instructed the clone to deliver him to the Root. He was sure Sasuke would have plenty to say to Itachi. Perhaps this might even awaken Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan.

After sending Itachi away, Kazuki turned his gaze to the lone figure lying on the ground—Hoshigaki Kisame. Kisame's Taijutsu and Water Release skills were impressive, he could be a useful fighter. However, Kazuki didn't need another subordinate right now. He picked up the large sword, Samehada, and examined it closely. Sharp, fish-like, and capable of devouring chakra... but it wasn't the kind of weapon that interested Kazuki.

At that moment, Konoha's Anbu finally arrived on the scene. One of them stepped forward and asked,

"What happened here?" Kazuki didn't answer. He simply tossed the weapon to him and said,

"Tell Danzo that the two ninjas who invaded Konoha have been captured. Take this one back as proof, and the other one has already been sent to the Root."

"You captured the two intruders?" The Anbu member, Tokage, was about to ask more, but Kazuki vanished before he could say another word. Left with no other option, Tokage sighed and ordered his men to secure the controlled Kisame.

"Tokage, this guy looks really strange, like he has a shark's face!" Kisame's Akatsuki robe had been removed, revealing his monstrous appearance. Even the seasoned Anbu couldn't help but shiver when they saw his face, and Tokage himself looked a bit surprised.

"This seems to be a missing-nin from Kirigakure, and the weapon he wields is the famous sword of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Samehada!"

"Does that mean he's on the level of an elite Jōnin?" "In such a short time, Kazuki-sensei defeated such a powerful opponent. His strength is truly unfathomable!"

"Exactly! Didn't you hear Kazuki address the Fifth Hokage just now? Danzo! He called him by name! Who else would dare to refer to the Hokage so casually?"

The Anbu members couldn't help but admire Kazuki, the youngest Jōnin in Konoha. What had left the Hokage perplexed was resolved in just a matter of minutes. They realized that from the time the disturbance started until now, only a short while had passed.

"Leave a team to tend to the villagers affected by the battle, and the rest of you, come with me to escort this man back!"

"Yes!"

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The fanfic is finished on p@treon/tambeerg