Chapter 263: Itachi vs. Sasuke

Sasuke never anticipated this.

The blond who appeared out of nowhere had given him a thorough beating, and his ultimate goal, it turns out, was to warn Sasuke to stay away from Karin.

Karin?

For a moment, Sasuke was bewildered, a mix of laughter and tears.

Was he... suddenly confronted by a mysterious "love rival"?

As he regains his composure, bearing the acute pain, Sasuke asks with difficulty:

"Who are you, exactly? What's your relationship with Karin?"

"Would you run to Karin and tattle on me for bullying you if I don't tell you?"

Naruto's gaze is filled with disdain as he coldly says, "Uchiha Sasuke, if you want to know my name, defeat me in a fair fight first."

He knows, given Sasuke's nature, it's highly unlikely he'd mention today's events to Karin because this guy's pride runs deep.

And indeed, that's the truth.

Sasuke's pride is stronger than anyone's; he'd never stoop to complaining to a woman about being overpowered.

He gazes at Naruto and slowly declares:

"You might be misunderstanding something; Karin and I are merely friends. But this humiliation you've given me today, I will definitely reclaim it."

Naruto shakes his head, a look of pity on his face:

"Empty boasts are useless, Sasuke. Even if you awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, even if you obtain the Eternal Mangekyō, you're still far from being my match. In this lifetime, you're doomed to look up to me, chase after me, and then despairingly realize that I am the mountain you'll never be able to cross."

These words make Sasuke clench his teeth and fists, his nails digging deeply into his flesh, drawing blood.

Suddenly—

"Really? Who's the one making empty boasts?"

A cold voice emanates from behind Naruto in the woods. And at almost the same time—

Sssss.

Accompanied by temperatures over ten thousand degrees, a mass of pitch-black flames appears out of nowhere on Naruto, enveloping him completely and burning furiously.

Amaterasu.

Hmm?

Naruto reacts quickly, silently using a sealing technique to absorb a large portion of the Amaterasu on his body.

Then, he rips off his clothing, discarding it along with the last remnants of the Amaterasu's black flames to the ground.

He turns around, facing the figure emerging from the woods, and calmly calls out the name:

"Itachi Uchiha."

"Brother!"

Sasuke, upon seeing that familiar figure, is both shocked and elated, then feels an intense shame and lowers his head.

Itachi's expression is grave.

He had attempted a sneak attack using Amaterasu, hoping to take down the opponent in one fell swoop.

But to his surprise, it was casually resolved by the blond youth in front of him.

Did the opponent use some kind of sealing technique?

But Amaterasu is not an ordinary Fire Release, and the fact that it could be sealed so easily indicates the blond youth's unfathomable strength.

As for why Itachi is here.

Naturally, it's because he left a special mark on his younger brother Sasuke, which allows him to sense danger and arrive in time if Sasuke is in peril, as long as he's within a certain distance.

Whoosh.

While Naruto is distracted by Itachi, Sasuke manages to escape to the side.

Then, enduring the pain, he shouts to Itachi:

"Brother, be careful! This blond is very strong, possibly a Kage-level fighter, and his abilities are strange. He can absorb ninjutsu, repel my attacks, and even illusions are useless against him!"

Itachi keeps his eyes fixed on Naruto and, after hearing this information, says:

"I understand. Sasuke, leave this place and inform Father. Leave the rest to me..."

Before he finishes speaking.

Naruto suddenly raises a hand, his palm facing Itachi.

Buzz buzz.

As a mass of pitch-black energy appears in Naruto's palm, it acts like a miniature black hole, exerting a strong gravitational pull on Itachi from a distance.

Universal Pull.

Hmm?

Itachi is taken aback and finds himself uncontrollably lifted off the ground and flying towards Naruto.

During this, his body is tightly bound by the gravitational force, unable to move or even form hand signs.

"Brother!"

Sasuke cries out in alarm at the sight, but there's nothing he can do, injured as he is, except watch anxiously.

Itachi gets closer and closer to Naruto.

Ten meters, five meters, three meters, one meter.

Swoosh.

Just as they are almost within reach, Naruto's other hand suddenly extends a black rod, stabbing into Itachi's body like lightning.

But the next second.

Boom.

Itachi's body explodes violently, turning into a blazing inferno that engulfs Naruto.

Ninjutsu: Shadow Clone Explosion.

As it turns out, the Itachi facing them was merely a crow clone from the very beginning.

Under Sasuke's surprised gaze, the real Itachi emerges from the woods, appearing beside his brother.

"True to form, brother. Was your mission a success?"

Sasuke can't help but feel jubilant as he looks toward the clearing.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple," Itachi shakes his head.

Indeed, as Itachi predicted.

Once the explosive light and smoke dissipate, Naruto is still standing there, astonishingly unscathed.

"Itachi, I must say, you're far stronger than your pathetic brother. But such clever tricks are still useless against me."

Naruto casually dusts off his clothes, stating indifferently.

Itachi, upon hearing this, remarks:

"Indeed. After all, you're Naruto Uzumaki, the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails. I didn't expect such a tactic to defeat you."

What?

Sasuke is taken aback, his eyes widening as he stutters:

"Brother, are you saying this blonde is... the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Naruto Uzumaki?!"

At that moment, the image of a foolish, pitiable yellow-haired kid called the 'demon fox' by the villagers merges in his mind with the young man before him.

That little demon, scorned by the village years ago, is this very person?

"Oh? So you've figured it out, huh? Not bad, Itachi Uchiha, your insight is as sharp as ever."

Naruto smiles in response, dropping the pretense and revealing his Rinnegan.

The Rinnegan, indeed.

Upon seeing this, Itachi's expression grows even more serious.

He deduced the identity of the young man with yellow hair through his abilities and his appearance.

"The Rinnegan..."

Sasuke's shock intensifies as he stares at Naruto's purple eyes, murmuring, "Those eyes... are they the ultimate form of our Uchiha clan's Sharingan? But why would it appear in Naruto Uzumaki..."

His mind is in turmoil, struggling to keep up.

"This was something you were bound to learn sooner or later, so I might as well tell you now."

Itachi glances at his brother, explaining slowly, "Naruto's Rinnegan belonged to Nagato, the former leader of Akatsuki who died. Nagato's eyes were actually transplanted from Uchiha Madara's Rinnegan. There's a grand conspiracy behind this, too complex to explain in a few words.

It seems our uncle was right. After Naruto was abducted by Akatsuki years ago, he didn't die; instead, he joined them and inherited Nagato's legacy.

Uncle predicted that Naruto would return to Konoha one day, and it turns out he was right."

As Itachi speaks, Naruto does not interrupt, listening attentively before giving a round of applause:

"Impressive, so Uchiha Dan had already anticipated this. However..."

He pauses, his tone shifting, his gaze sharpening:

"Even if Dan has seen through everything, right here, right now, he cannot rush here in time to save you two, can he?

I thought this would be a dull journey, but it turns out I've met an interesting opponent. So...

Before I defeat Dan, let's see the true strength of the Uchiha clan's finest."

With that said.

Naruto raises both hands simultaneously, forming seals at lightning speed, then slams his palms onto the ground.

Summoning Jutsu.

Boom.

After a massive puff of smoke clears, a gigantic, brown, winged, three-headed Cerberus appears in the clearing.

This hellhound, summoned by Naruto's enhanced summoning technique, has been endowed with the trait of "infinite splitting and multiplication upon being attacked."

Undying and ever-increasing.

Swoosh.

Naruto leaps onto the back of the three-headed dog, steering the frenzied beast toward the Uchiha brothers.

"Sasuke, quickly get behind me."

Itachi utters sharply, his piercing gaze locked on Naruto.

The holder of the Rinnegan, combined with the power of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, makes Naruto unimaginably formidable.

Itachi knows he has only one chance.

He must decisively unleash his trump card, taking advantage of Naruto's carelessness, before full strength is used, to end the battle swiftly.

Thus, without hesitation, Itachi clasps his hands together.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle.

A substantial, massive surge of orange-red chakra erupts from within him.

Bones, meridians, flesh form in succession, culminating in the donning of an imposing Tengu armor—Susanoo's third form makes its grand entrance.

"Roar!"

The hellhound bellows, opening its drooling, gaping maw wide to ferociously bite at Susanoo.

Even Susanoo shall be torn and devoured.

Boom.

A vast red shield materializes in Susanoo's left hand, warding off the hellhound's fierce assault.

Yata Mirror.

This is a spirit weapon without physical form, capable of altering its properties to nullify the enemy's attacks.

It represents the "absolute defense" that reflects all tangible assaults.

As Susanoo and the hellhound find themselves in a brief deadlock.

Hiss.

In Susanoo's right hand, a sword formed of golden flames suddenly appears. Under Itachi's control, it strikes like lightning towards Naruto on the back of the hellhound.

"Futile."

Naruto's face is devoid of emotion as he raises a hand and coldly commands, "Shinra Tensei!"

However.

The golden flame sword is not repelled by his Shinra Tensei. Instead, to Naruto's astonishment, it pierces through his body.

"This sword, called Totsuka-no-Tsurugi, is a spirit weapon residing within my Susanoo, formed of chakra. Its strike is not of the physical realm, but... genjutsu."

Itachi watches Naruto, speaking calmly.

No matter how strong Shinra Tensei's repulsive force is, it can only affect the physical world and cannot fend off an attack on the spirit.

The power of the Totsuka-no-Tsurugi is to ensnare the soul of those it pierces into a dreamlike illusion, sealing them away forever.

Then.

A translucent soul is forcibly extracted from Naruto's body, struggling and roaring as it is sealed within the sword.

Following this.

The three-headed dog Naruto summoned lets out a reluctant howl and dissipates into a puff of smoke.

"Brother, did you win?!"

Sasuke's face is a picture of shock, finding it unbelievable.

Brother is too strong.

Even the one possessing the legendary Rinnegan and the power of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was effortlessly dispatched by Itachi.

"Don't celebrate too soon."

Itachi, however, shakes his head and sighs, "I still underestimated Naruto Uzumaki. Look."

Following his gaze, Sasuke hurries to look ahead, only to see that the body on the ground isn't Naruto Uzumaki.

It's a ninja with the Leaf Village headband, features twisted, emaciated as if a mummified corpse.

What is this...?

Sasuke is taken aback.

Itachi approaches the body, frowning as he inspects it, and slowly analyzes:

"It must be some sort of clone technique, projecting one's chakra onto a living human sacrifice... consuming the sacrifice's body and spirit, how cruel.

As for Naruto's actual body, it's probably not in the Leaf Village but hidden far away."

So even a mere clone is this powerful?

Sasuke falls silent.

This means that earlier, he was thoroughly outmatched by one of Naruto Uzumaki's clones, utterly defenseless.

No wonder that man said Sasuke could never defeat him, not even if he tried his whole life.

Seeing Sasuke's dejection, Itachi pats his brother's shoulder, consoling:

"The one to face Naruto is neither you nor me, but our uncle, Uchiha Dan. In this world, only the Hokage can contend with him directly. So whatever Naruto has said to you, don't take it to heart, understand?"

"Yeah, I got it."

Sasuke nods, but his expression shows it's hard for him to deceive himself and get over this hurdle.

"Let's go back for now. Your injuries are severe and need immediate treatment. Also, we must inform the Hokage right away. Naruto's appearance could mean that the Akatsuki is making a comeback."

With a grave expression, Itachi finishes speaking, then supports his brother as the two quickly leave the place.

Deep within the forest outskirts of the Leaf Village.

Inside that massive paper tree.

Naruto, sitting cross-legged, slowly opens his eyes.

"Is it over? Did you find the information you were looking for?"

Konan asks softly, the process quicker than she had anticipated.

"I've seen the stone tablet left by the Sage of the Six Paths, Teacher Konan."

Naruto turns to Konan, relaying the content of the tablet he deciphered with his Rinnegan, including Uchiha Madara's conspiracy and the truth about the Rinnegan.

"Sage of the Six Paths, Rinnegan, Ten-Tails Jinchūriki..."

Upon hearing this, Konan murmurs to herself. She, who has been kept in the dark for years, finally has an epiphany.

All along, this was a setup.

Nagato's Rinnegan, the establishment of the Akatsuki, the actions to collect the Tailed Beasts, all were schemes laid out by the deceased Uchiha Madara.

To revive himself, to become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki.

Yahiko's death, and Nagato's death, all ultimately because of Madara.

Uchiha.

Again, Uchiha.

From Obito, to Dan, and finally Madara.

Konan realizes that the ones who brought misfortune to her, Nagato, and Yahiko were all from the Uchiha clan.

Her expression grows darker, her gaze more piercing.

The flames of revenge, fueled by her rage, burn ever more fiercely.