"Fire Release - Great Dragon Fire!" Sasuke continuously exhaled several dragon-shaped flames, while Itachi intentionally burdened his body by using Amaterasu multiple times. He always controlled his strength to appear somewhat equal to Sasuke; only this way would it be difficult to detect any vulnerabilities.
Although Itachi managed to dodge the consecutive dragon-shaped flames, his sleeve got scorched. Fortunately, he didn't sustain any significant damage. However, after using so much dōjutsu, his body, which was already near its limits, began to deteriorate. Blood started flowing from the corners of his mouth and his eyes.
"You should know that the Sharingan can perceive chakra. You have very little chakra left. Don't persist. Your ability to evade Amaterasu earlier was due to Orochimaru's Body Replacement Jutsu. It's hard to see through. But this technique consumes a lot of chakra."
Although he said this, Itachi had also seen through Orochimaru's Body Replacement Jutsu from earlier. He could have easily used Amaterasu to incinerate Sasuke directly. Yet, he didn't. He was focused on cultivating and teaching Sasuke. Thus, he deliberately attributed Sasuke's evasion of Amaterasu to Orochimaru's Body Replacement Jutsu to avoid any abruptness.
"You're right. The Fire Release jutsu I used earlier nearly depleted my remaining chakra." Sasuke didn't hide anything, especially when faced with the Mangekyo Sharingan. Concealing was impossible.
"However, did you think that I'd waste them without any follow-up? Afterward, my jutsu will only last a moment. It's similar to Amaterasu—difficult to dodge. Unless you're faster than it, the only options are to block it or be killed by my jutsu."
Sasuke revealed a confident smile, but his emotional fluctuations were intensifying. It seemed as if something unbelievable would happen after killing Itachi. He had a strange feeling—his Mangekyo Sharingan was about to awaken soon. However, there was an inexplicable pain in his heart regarding killing his own brother, even though Itachi was his enemy.
The conflicting emotions of impending joy from gaining the Mangekyo and killing an enemy, coupled with the sorrow of killing his dearest brother, tormented his heart, causing him excruciating mental agony.
"He said a jutsu that's hard to dodge, much like Amaterasu? What could it be?" White Zetsu also felt a hint of excitement, especially as rain began to fall, and intermittent lightning snakes added an eerie atmosphere to the battlefield.
"I get it. So, the Fire Release earlier was for this purpose—to heat the atmosphere rapidly by using the Great Dragon Fire towards the sky. The power amplification, coupled with the still-burning Amaterasu, raised the temperature, generating an updraft and creating thunderclouds. Sasuke's intention isn't to use his own chakra, but the vast atmospheric energy." Black Zetsu's analytical ability was indeed remarkable; he instantly deduced Sasuke's technique.
"I won't be using my Chidori, but the lightning in the sky. Next, I'll guide it over to your side." Sasuke leaped onto a large rooftop stone and raised the chittering Chidori.
"Indeed, I guessed right. He really intends to manipulate the lightning in the sky." Black Zetsu expressed his approval, appearing as if his assumptions were correct.
"This ninjutsu is called Lightning Release: Kirin. Now, you shall vanish along with the roar of thunder!" Sasuke aimed the lightning in his hand towards the sky. A creature entirely composed of lightning materialized, exuding the pressure of the heavens and earth. Gazing at Itachi, even he felt a shiver. He understood that this aura wasn't just Sasuke's jutsu; it held the might of nature, unrelated to Sasuke himself.
"Boom!"
A sound echoed, whether it was the roar of the beast or the thunder's rumble. A terrifying bolt of lightning, brimming with a mournful aura, descended directly from the sky. It annihilated everything it touched, including the structures and the very ground it struck. The earth was upheaved, and the entire environment, along with the battlefield, underwent a transformation.
"What's that? Lightning?" Kakashi, not too far from the battlefield where Itachi and Sasuke fought, widened his eyes. That bolt of lightning was undoubtedly intentionally summoned, not a natural phenomenon. It had been deliberately brought forth. Additionally, the nearby dark flames, unmistakably Amaterasu, indicated that the location was the battleground of Sasuke and Itachi.
"Naruto, over there!" Kakashi pointed at the spot. To be honest, the battle between Sasuke and Itachi had been quite brief. Most of it had taken place within a genjutsu, so while it appeared a significant amount of time had passed, in reality, it hadn't been long at all.
"Damn it, I didn't plan on using it this soon. Since you're obstructing me, you have only yourself to blame. I don't believe you can maintain this intangible form indefinitely. Sage Mode, activate."
Naruto had already roughly guessed that Tobi's ability had a time limit. He also noticed that Tobi was intentionally stalling for time and seemed not to attack when he entered that state.
In other words, either Tobi couldn't attack in that state, or he was intentionally refraining from doing so. The former was more likely. As the Sages of the Six Paths had said, there were no perfect beings in this world, whether in ninjutsu or in people.
"All of you, step back. The attack range is extensive. I refuse to believe you can evade this technique again. Let me show you my new technique, Sage Art: Wind Release Rasen Shuriken Storm."
A colossal Rasengan-shaped shuriken appeared in Naruto's hand. He threw it at Tobi. As it reached Tobi, it immediately unraveled into a storm that spanned hundreds of meters, incessantly swirling and releasing countless wind blades within the tempest.
Within the storm, an unending barrage of wind blades assailed those caught inside. Moreover, Naruto, in Sage Mode, could manipulate the storm created by the Rasen Shuriken. Thus, no matter where the enemy fled, as long as Naruto maintained the chakra to sustain the storm, their demise was assured.
"It's your turn now." Just then, another Naruto appeared on the opposite side, dashing towards the spot where the lightning had struck earlier. Kakashi and the rest of the group followed closely.
"Oh no, he's using Sage Mode with Shadow Clone." Tobi's expression darkened. His intangibility ability lasted only five minutes, the longest duration. At this point, he was unaware that Naruto had severed his connection to the Nine-Tails. So, he didn't believe that Naruto, as a Jinchuriki, could be lacking in chakra. If that were the case, Tobi was in danger. It seemed he had taken a significant gamble this time.
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