Born To Be A King.

After Uchiha Itachi used Tsukuyomi on Kirito, everyone saw him standing there, cold and unmoving. In the world of Tsukuyomi, Kirito slowly opened his eyes. The surrounding space was dim and pale, with gray clouds in the sky, constantly shifting.

"Is this the world of Tsukuyomi?" Kirito's calm eyes scanned the area, curiosity flickering in them.

As he tried to move, he realized his body was bound to a large cross, with numerous black chains restraining him. When he attempted to use the elementalization ability of his Flash Fruit to break free, he was shocked to find that his fruit abilities wouldn't work here. Even his physical strength couldn't break the chains.

His mind raced as he realized he was in the spiritual realm, not the physical world, meaning his usual powers couldn't help him.

Just as Kirito pondered his situation, a figure emerged from the darkness.

"This is the Tsukuyomi space," the figure said coldly. "In this space, I control all time, space, and qualities."

The face of the figure gradually became clearer, revealing Uchiha Itachi. He stood before Kirito, his face emotionless.

Despite the threat, Kirito remained calm. After all, he'd seen Kakashi trapped in this world in the past; experiencing it firsthand gave him a unique perspective.

Then, Itachi drew his sword—a black-tipped Tang sword—and walked slowly towards Kirito. Without a change in his expression, he stabbed the sword into Kirito's abdomen. Blood flowed from the wound.

"All sensations in this world are real," Itachi said coldly. "Even the pain is real. Do you fear death?"

Kirito did not speak but watched the sword in his chest with an almost detached calmness. Then, Itachi yanked the sword out, causing more blood to spill, but Kirito's expression remained unchanged.

"I control all time, space, and other qualities in this world. For the next three days and nights, I will continue to stab you with this blade. You will not die, but you will be in endless pain."

Itachi's cold gaze remained fixed on Kirito, but Kirito did not respond. His face stayed calm, his mind still working through the situation.

Suddenly, several more figures emerged around the cross. All wore black cloaks and wielded Tang swords, each resembling Itachi. It became clear to Kirito that these figures were mere extensions of Itachi's will. Without a word, they began stabbing Kirito with their swords, repeating the motion endlessly.

Despite the continuous onslaught, Kirito remained unfazed. His body bled, but his expression stayed neutral, as though it wasn't happening to him.

The world of Tsukuyomi began to shift again, and Kirito saw more figures of himself, each tied to a cross, being stabbed repeatedly by identical versions of Itachi. This repeated scene seemed designed to break his spirit, but Kirito stood resolute, unaffected by the constant cycle of pain.

Finally, his calm voice echoed through the minds of all the Itachis in the Tsukuyomi world.

"Have you stabbed enough?"

His words were followed by an overwhelming surge of domineering willpower. Kirito's aura exploded outwards, and the Tsukuyomi space seemed to tremble under the force.

Itachi's expression changed in response to this powerful pressure. Outside the Tsukuyomi world, everyone in Konoha watched with worry, unsure of what was happening. Kirito's eyes seemed distant and empty, and the onlookers felt a growing sense of dread.

Kakashi, who had experienced Tsukuyomi before, understood what was happening. He explained to Yuhi Kurenai, "Kirito is trapped in Tsukuyomi right now. He's likely fighting Itachi inside that world."

Yuhi Kurenai, deeply concerned, asked, "Is there anything we can do to help him?"

Kakashi shook his head in frustration. "The Tsukuyomi space is a mental construct. Kirito can only rely on himself. Any interference from us could destroy him mentally."

Jiraiya, who had been watching from the trees, understood the gravity of the situation. However, he believed that Kirito, like the legendary Golden Flash, would overcome the illusion.

Meanwhile, Naruto, who had been captured by Itachi, struggled weakly in his grip, still defiant despite his injuries. Sasuke, seeing the situation unfold, was determined not to let his teacher lose to the "devil" Itachi.

Then, the unexpected happened. Kirito's vacant eyes suddenly sharpened. His voice rang out, "Put Naruto down, or take another kick from me, and I'll pretend none of this ever happened."

With his words, Kirito snapped out of the mental hold of Tsukuyomi. A faint smile appeared on his face, and his eyes gleamed with renewed strength.

Without hesitation, he launched himself toward Itachi, his body a blur of golden light. Sasuke, seeing Kirito wake up, found his own resolve and rushed to Itachi's side to rescue Naruto.

In an instant, Kirito appeared in front of Itachi and Kisame. Without a word, he unleashed a devastating kick aimed at the two.

The sound of the impact was deafening. Itachi and Kisame were sent flying, their figures vanishing from the battlefield. A massive crater formed in the ground, trees collapsing in all directions as if swept by an invisible force.

The onlookers were stunned. Sasuke held Naruto in his arms, his expression a mixture of relief and awe.

Kurenai and Kakashi exchanged looks of disbelief, while Jiraiya nodded in approval, impressed by Kirito's power. "Now that's what I call a comeback."

The battle was over. The threat had been eliminated, and Konoha was safe for now. But Kirito wasn't finished yet. That night, he left the village, following Itachi and Kisame's trail. He had plans to use them for his own purposes. After all, a tool like them would be useful in taking down Danzo without drawing attention to himself.

As he disappeared into the night, Itachi and Kisame, still recovering from the brutal attack, fled toward their base, knowing full well that the storm wasn't over yet.