Time flew by, and two days vanished in the blink of an eye.
On the morning of the third day, just as the rising sun cast its golden glow upon the earth, Itachi, clad in the black cloak with red clouds of the Akatsuki, finally appeared on the far side of the valley.
Compared to a few months ago, he seemed exceptionally gaunt and frail, yet his eyes remained piercing and full of spirit.
"You've finally arrived!"
Sasuke stood up, shaking off the dust and bits of grass that had clung to his clothes.
"Indeed. For the moment that decides the fate of this world is drawing near. Besides, your eyesight must have deteriorated significantly by now, hasn't it?" Itachi asked, his tone that of one who had already walked that path.
"It's manageable. At least, it's in much better shape than yours," Sasuke responded with a look of complex emotion.
It must be said that if one were unaware of the true circumstances, simply listening to the conversation between these two brothers would feel incredibly awkward and jarring.
Karin, in particular, being of a straightforward temperament, felt as though her skin was crawling with goosebumps. If Allen hadn't strictly instructed her before disappearing that no one was to interfere with their duel, she would have turned and left immediately rather than stay here and suffer through the tension.
By contrast, the onlookers from the Akatsuki, or rather, the witnesses, merely stood upon the high ground, silently watching the duel that had already been decided before it even began.
Anyone with even a sliver of understanding regarding Itachi knew that, as the elder brother, he had no intention of winning, nor was it even possible for him to do so.
Sasuke was clearly aware of this as well. He slowly drew his blade and said bluntly, "Since you're here, let's get this over with. I can't wait to send you to see Father, Mother, and our innocently slaughtered kin, to see how exactly you intend to explain your actions to them."
"I have never expected forgiveness, so naturally, there is no need for explanations. Come, show me your full strength. Avenge Father, Mother, and the fallen clan. For that is the burden you must carry!"
As he spoke, Itachi activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and unleashed a Genjutsu upon his brother.
Regrettably, Sasuke, who also possessed the Mangekyō, easily reflected the illusion back at him.
In the next instant...
Both moved simultaneously like arrows released from a bowstring, their blades clashing together.
Clang!
Sparks flew in every direction!
Before the spectators could even react, the brothers activated their Susanoo at the same time.
As the purple and red giants rose from the ground, Kisame couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "The Uchiha's Kekkei Genkai, the Sharingan, is truly formidable. It was true for Madara and Obito, and it's the same for Itachi-san and Sasuke."
"They are direct descendants of Indra, the eldest son of the Sage of the Six Paths; such strength is hardly surprising. Compared to these brothers, I am more interested in the Sage and his mother. As the goddess who swallowed the fruit to become the progenitor of chakra in this world, just how powerful must Kaguya be?" Kakuzu stroked his chin, showing a rare expression of concern.
"Who knows? But judging by the battle between Madara and Hashirama, it will surely be terrifying. I wonder if Allen can truly kill her as he promised," Sasori added, his voice laced with doubt.
"Aren't you all being a bit too pessimistic? Don't forget, Allen holds that ultimate art capable of leveling dozens of kilometers in a single strike. I believe he will succeed! At the very least, hasn't everything followed his script so far?" Deidara retorted with great interest.
Ever since witnessing the spectacular sight of a nuclear explosion, he had become a die-hard fan of Allen, even expressing multiple times his desire to learn the method of crafting such bombs.
Unfortunately, when Allen seriously began explaining the principles of nuclear fission and fusion, the idiot, who had never been much of a student, was left completely bewildered.
Left with no choice, Deidara took a different path, experimenting with his clay compositions. Eventually, he created a new material ten times more powerful than his previous ones.
Thus, he looked forward to the final battle more than anyone else in the Akatsuki! He intended to fully showcase his "art" during that climactic moment.
Kisame nodded in agreement. "True. That fellow Allen hides too many trump cards. Moreover... he secretly finished forging an artifact, the Sulfuras Sword. It's said that Konan saw it once and believed that even a god could be slain by that blade."
"That sword must have utilized some very specific metals and materials."
Sasori instinctively touched his new body, crafted from Thorium, Mithril, and Dark Iron.
He was quite satisfied with these raw materials he had never seen before. Combined with the Engineering taught by Allen, the former genius puppet master of the Sand had now constructed a true "Gundam."
Should he wish, he could release those behemoths at any time to provide comprehensive, multi-dimensional fire coverage against his enemies.
Having tasted the power of thermal weaponry, Sasori no longer cared for inferior cold steel, poisons, or mechanical traps. Instead, he was racing down the path where "range is truth and caliber is justice."
As the other half of the "Artist Duo," Deidara was well aware of what his old partner had been up to lately. He teased with a smile, "Sasori-danna! It seems you've finally begun to understand my art, haven't you?"
"No. Explosions are merely a means. The eternity of the puppet itself is the only art!" Sasori emphasized, shooting him a sideways glance.
When it came to the pursuit and faith of art, he would never yield.
While the group chatted, Sasuke and Itachi had already exchanged dozens of fierce blows in the valley.
The destructive force unleashed by the collision of their Susanoo had torn apart almost all the surrounding trees, rocks, and soil, leaving behind nothing but a scorched, barren crater.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
"Sasuke, you truly have grown."
A hint of relief flickered in Itachi's panting eyes. He could already feel that, without using his ultimate hidden cards, he was no longer a match for his younger brother.
"Hmph! That's only natural. Do you have any idea how much I've suffered and how many beatings I've endured for this day?"
As he spoke, "Young Master" Sasuke didn't forget to glance out of the corner of his eye at Karin. Whenever he saw that violent woman's fist, his stomach, face, and chest would ache phantomly.
It couldn't be helped. He had been hit so many times that it had become a conditioned reflex.
Of course, he would rather die than admit such an embarrassing thing out loud.
"Heh, but it was all worth it, wasn't it? Furthermore, I am glad to see you have made true friends." Itachi raised his arm, gently wiping away the blood and tears streaming from his eyes.
As his chakra was consumed in vast quantities, he could feel his body collapsing. Death would arrive as scheduled in a matter of minutes.
However, to die here, by Sasuke's hand, for a sinner like him, it was perhaps a form of redemption.