Chapter 103: Itachi vs. Sasuke, The True Power of Tsukuyomi  

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The atmosphere was thick with tension as Itachi and Sasuke stood facing each other. Itachi's voice, low and steady as if it came from the abyss, broke the silence.

"Long time no see, Sasuke."

His deep eyes were locked onto Sasuke, filled with complex emotions that words could scarcely capture. Itachi had not expected to meet Sasuke here; he had originally planned to seek him out upon returning to Konoha, but fate had brought them together sooner.

Itachi's gaze briefly flicked over the two women accompanying Sasuke—one of whom he recognized as Tsunade. His heart stirred with curiosity and doubt.

Sasuke, on the other hand, did not hide the burning anger in his eyes as he stared at Itachi. The desire for vengeance had consumed him for years, and now it was burning hotter than ever. His voice, cold and laced with hatred, cut through the air.

"I didn't expect to see you here, but it's just as well. I've sworn to kill you, and today's the day I fulfill that promise. I won't give you the chance to slip away again."

Tsunade and Shizune, standing beside Sasuke, were taken aback by the icy tone of his voice. They hadn't realized just how deep Sasuke's hatred for Itachi ran.

Itachi's lips curled into a faint smile. "Is that so? Then show me how much you've improved over the years."

Without another word, Itachi's hands flashed through a series of seals with blinding speed.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Technique!"

He exhaled, and from his mouth burst forth a multitude of flames, spreading like seeds in the wind. They rapidly expanded, forming a raging inferno that advanced towards Sasuke with terrifying speed and intensity. Each flame carried enough power to incinerate everything in its path.

But Sasuke was no longer the weak boy he had once been. He had undergone a transformation, emerging as a formidable ninja. Calmly, he extended his right hand, where blue and white electricity crackled, forming a solid lightning barrier. The barrier, like an indestructible wall, effortlessly deflected Itachi's flames.

For Sasuke, this attack was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. In truth, he could have easily used his powers to evade the attack, but he chose to face Itachi head-on. He wanted to prove his strength by defeating Itachi in a direct confrontation.

Itachi, observing this, felt a surge of amazement. Sasuke had grown far beyond what he had expected. The future of the Uchiha clan might indeed rest in Sasuke's hands, and the thought brought a small measure of comfort to Itachi.

Despite this, Itachi quickly retrieved a handful of shurikens and launched them at Sasuke. Yet, these too were effortlessly blocked by Sasuke.

"Are you done playing around with these childish tricks? Get serious already!" Sasuke's voice was filled with disdain as he stared down his older brother.

Itachi slowly closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before reopening them. His gaze was now cold and determined. "Very well, Sasuke. Let me show you the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan."

With those words, Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan activated. He immediately unleashed one of its deadly techniques: Amaterasu.

Black flames erupted beneath Sasuke's feet, consuming the space around him. But to Itachi's surprise, the flames did not attack Sasuke. Instead, they burned quietly, as if they had been tamed.

"Why...?" Itachi muttered, confusion evident in his voice. He couldn't understand why his powerful Amaterasu wasn't working.

Sasuke sneered. "Mangekyō? You think you're the only one who has it?"

With that, Sasuke revealed his own Mangekyō Sharingan. The unique ability granted by his Mangekyō, Kagutsuchi, allowed him to control the shape and direction of the black flames of Amaterasu. With it, he easily neutralized Itachi's attack.

"Come on, Itachi. You've got more than just Amaterasu, don't you? Show me your strongest genjutsu—Tsukuyomi!" Sasuke taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. He was eager to see the full extent of Itachi's abilities.

Itachi narrowed his eyes. "Very well. Let me show you the true power of the Mangekyō Sharingan."

"Tsukuyomi!"

In an instant, Sasuke was pulled into the Tsukuyomi world. He found himself bound to a cross, surrounded by countless copies of Itachi. The world around him was bleak and ominous.

"In this world, I control everything—space, time, and mass," Itachi declared, his voice echoing through the Tsukuyomi space. "For the next 72 hours, I will continue to stab you with this blade."

He raised a long blade and prepared to strike. But as he looked at Sasuke, he noticed something odd. Sasuke's expression remained calm, even amused.

Itachi hesitated. Was Sasuke truly unafraid of the Tsukuyomi?

Shaking off the unease, Itachi drove the blade into Sasuke's body.

The sound of metal piercing flesh echoed through the space, but Sasuke didn't flinch. Instead, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

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