"What a despicable brat."
A strand of venus flytrap emerged from the ground at Obito's feet. White Zetsu poked out half his body, his tone carrying a hint of schadenfreude. "I originally thought Itachi would definitely win this fight, but with him this worn out now, it's hard to say who'll win."
Black Zetsu added in a low voice, "That kid's goal is the Sharingan. If he steals Itachi's eyes, it might cause some trouble... is that alright?"
"It doesn't matter."
Obito's tone was indifferent.
His gaze swept over the young figure in the center of the battlefield, the corners of his mouth curving into a faint arc. "It's not like he's Sasuke. Even if he installs Itachi's Sharingan, he can't evolve it into an Eternal Mangekyo. Besides, Itachi's eyes are practically ruined."
He paused, his meaningful gaze sweeping over Kakashi, who was locked in combat with the Otogakure's Ninja in the distance. "That kid isn't from the Uchiha Clan. Even if he gets the eyes, he won't be able to use their true power."
The insinuation was palpable.
On the battlefield, Itachi suddenly formed hand seals.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Technique!"
Dozens of small fireballs erupted from his mouth, shooting toward Makoto like scattered petals.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
Waves surged from beneath Makoto's feet, instantly forming a cylindrical water wall that enveloped him.
The Phoenix Sage Flowers crashed against the water wall, evaporating into thick white mist as sharp 'pfft' sounds echoed one after another.
The next instant, several kunai shot out through the water wall.
From the runes inscribed on their handles… all Flying Thunder God kunai.
Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan locked onto the trajectory of those kunai.
He knew all too well what these kunai meant… if even one got close to him, the consequences would be unimaginable.
He flicked several shuriken in response.
With precision, he intercepted all the Flying Thunder God kunai ten meters away.
However—
Poof!
One of the kunai that had fallen to the ground suddenly burst into white smoke. Makoto emerged from it, instantly closing the distance to Itachi.
A fresh scratch had appeared on his face, but his fighting spirit remained undiminished.
'He had transformed himself into a kunai? And with his real body, no less?!'
Indeed… if it had been a Shadow Clone, it would have vanished the moment it was struck down.
In Makoto's right palm, a Rasengan spun at high speed.
But unlike a normal Rasengan, this Chakra Sphere had four blade-like wind edges extending from its perimeter, slicing through the air at odd angles with a piercing shriek.
"Try blocking this one."
He aimed this new Rasengan at Itachi.
The fierce whistling sound would make anyone's blood run cold… an ordinary Susanoo shield definitely wouldn't stop it.
Wind Release: Rasenshuriken (Unfinished)!
In the distance, Obito's expression changed slightly.
This was the same technique that had killed Onijuro.
A stream of blood tears ran down Itachi's right eye.
At this close range, he wouldn't miss this time—
"Amaterasu!"
But in that instant, Makoto suddenly lifted his leg, kicking something toward Itachi in a high kick motion.
Something flew through the air.
A Flying Thunder God kunai!
He had used Chakra to stick this kunai to the sole of his foot, hiding it in his blind spot.
'Damn... too late to use Amaterasu!'
Itachi's pupils contracted sharply.
Gritting his teeth, he abandoned the technique. An orange-red skeletal frame instantly materialized, enveloping him completely.
Clang!
The Flying Thunder God kunai struck the Susanoo shield and was deflected.
But with a flicker of an afterimage, Makoto appeared right in front of the Susanoo shield.
His right hand thrust forward.
The Wind Release: Rasenshuriken slammed into the orange-red skeleton.
Boom—!!!
The deafening explosion tore through the arena.
A hemispherical shockwave composed of countless wind blades erupted violently. The ground cracked, and debris flew in all directions.
Makoto retreated rapidly to avoid being caught in the blast.
In the distance, Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai watched in stunned silence.
"Could Minato-sama's Rasengan... really be this powerful?"
Kurenai murmured, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Asuma sucked in a breath. "With that, Uchiha Itachi's finished, right? This Rasengan is on a completely different level from before."
"Roar—!!!"
As if in response to his words, a bestial roar like that of a primordial monster came from the center of the explosion.
An orange-red skeletal giant tore through the Rasenshuriken's energy sphere from within, revealing its fearsome visage.
Though countless cracks from the wind blades scarred its frame, it had indeed… blocked the attack.
"Susanoo?!"
In the distance, Hiruzen, locked in combat with Orochimaru, snapped his head around. His pupils contracted violently.
The orange-red skeletal giant stood at the arena's center like a war god descending from myth.
'What was Uchiha Itachi trying to do? Why had he returned to Konoha? Why was he unleashing this kind of power?'
"Sarutobi-sensei, please don't get distracted while fighting me."
Orochimaru's sinister laugh came from across the battlefield. He pressed his hands together. "Don't waste the gift I specially brought for you."
As he spoke, two coffins rose from the ground, their lids marked with [One] and [Two].
"Ninja Art: Edo Tensei!"
As the third coffin began to rise, Hiruzen gritted his teeth and used his Shadow Clone Shuriken Technique to seal it shut.
His hand unconsciously touched the Flying Thunder God kunai in his Ninja pouch.
'Makoto, hurry...'
All he could do was stall for time, waiting for reinforcement from his most trusted disciple.
"You finally brought it out, Susanoo."
Makoto looked at Itachi, now enveloped by the orange-red skeletal giant, and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips instead.
Itachi was in dire straits.
Blood tears streamed from both eyes. The earlier Rasenshuriken had shredded his outer clothing, cut through his flesh, and exposed large patches of bloody skin.
"..."
He panted heavily, but his gaze grew even fiercer. "Killing you will be enough."
Chakra Veins extended from the skeletal giant's frame, rapidly forming flesh.
Susanoo: Second Form.
But it didn't stop there.
The fully-formed Susanoo surged with even greater Ocular Power, coalescing into massive armor that transformed it into a heavily-armored giant.
A shield in its left hand, a sword in its right.
Susanoo: Third Form.
And what it held were the divine artifacts: Yata Mirror and Totsuka Blade.
The arena's high walls had largely collapsed due to the earlier Rasenshuriken. Even the players who had retreated far away could clearly see what was happening inside.
When the orange giant, descending like a god, came into view, even the players who had witnessed modern weapons of mass destruction widened their eyes in shock.
Mrs. Yukinoshita covered her mouth. "Wh-What is that thing...?"
Sayuri managed a weak smile. "Is this also Ninjutsu? Eriri, can you do it?"
"Don't joke around at a time like this!" Eriri's voice trembled.
"Damn it! Makoto!"
Airi gritted her teeth and prepared to charge forward.
"No, Airi!"
Marina grabbed her sister's arm, wrapping her other arm tightly around her waist.
"Let me go! Let me go!" Airi struggled fiercely.
"What can you do by going there? You'll only distract Makoto!"
These words finally calmed Airi down.
Did Marina want to help? Of course she did. But she knew… if she went, she wouldn't be able to do anything.
On the battlefield, Itachi raised the Totsuka Blade in Susanoo's right hand high.
"That Wind Release: Rasenshuriken must have consumed a lot of your Chakra."
His voice came from within the giant, tinged with hoarseness. "The effective range of the Flying Thunder God must be quite limited now."
"With this next strike… no matter how far you run, I'll hit you."
It was true.
The Flying Thunder God's movement distance depended on the user's Chakra Reserves.
A Rasengan of such immense power would definitely have consumed most of Makoto's Chakra.
Unless he was from the Senju or Uzumaki Clan, even if he wanted to escape with the Flying Thunder God now, he wouldn't get far.
And yet,
Makoto remained standing where he was.
That confident smile still graced his face.
That smile gave Itachi a sense of foreboding.
But it was too late to turn back now.
The next instant.
The Third Form Susanoo swung its blade.
A colossal sword capable of splitting a mountain came down in a vertical slash. Before it even landed, its earth-shattering pressure had already torn apart the arena floor, heading straight for Makoto at the center.
"MAKOTO—!!!"
Several players in the distance screamed.
In that critical moment—
Makoto suddenly spoke.
His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears with perfect clarity—
"Megumi, do it. Now, right here."