Flecks of light still floated in the air, the streak of the luminous arrow that had flashed between the two seeming like nothing more than an illusion. Yet the residual heat remained, carving a deep, scorched path a hundred meters long in its wake.
Logan stood amidst the fading embers of the Railgun, like a god descended from the heavens.
"You..." Itachi was so stunned by the sudden turn of events that he momentarily froze, only realizing belatedly who stood before him.
On the other side, Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief, the murderous resolve on his face momentarily diluted by shock.
Neither could immediately comprehend Logan's abrupt appearance or the overwhelming, flame-like intensity burning in his eyes.
Distracted, their grips loosened.
Ding!
An unstoppable force erupted at the point of their clash, chakra exploding outward. Itachi and Sasuke were flung apart, both skidding backward nearly ten meters before regaining their footing.
Now that he had forced the two apart, Logan finally allowed himself to relax slightly. Fatigue crept into his mind, and his breathing grew heavier. The fiery glow in his eyes dimmed, returning to normal.
The Sage Mode has just reached its time limit as the Senjutsu Chakra has been used up.
But his goal had been achieved, he'd made it in time.
Logan glanced left at Sasuke, who is dressed in a white kimono with a purple obi, which is his early-Shippuden attire, then right at Itachi, 'Wait, why'd you take off your Akatsuki robe? That's dangerous, you know.'
"Hattori...why are you here?"
The wind howled high above, but the events unfolding below wouldn't pause so easily. The three now stood in a straight line. Itachi's voice was laced with complexity as he spoke, his gaze flickering between Logan and Sasuke, 'He's here… to stop us from killing each other?'
The kunai in his hand lowered slightly as a fleeting ray of sunlight broke through the clouds, glinting off the blades… a short sword and a long blade gleaming in turn.
Itachi also noticed the shift in Logan's pupils. As they reverted to black, his Chakra presence rapidly dwindled. Itachi understood.
"I told you not to interfere..."
"Not to interfere? So I should just watch you go at it?" Logan cut him off.
His tone was blunt, even rude, but the concern behind it was undeniable.
Itachi fell silent, 'Didn't we already settle this in Dosei City? I thought my intentions were made clear.'
Seeing Itachi's lack of response, giving no explanation and just standing there, Logan exhaled sharply. With Sasuke present, Itachi wouldn't show any emotion beyond that of the 'clan-slaying elder brother'. And Logan knew that at this stage, changing Itachi's mind would be near impossible.
But that was fine. Logan was here now. Plan A had failed, Plan B hadn't had a chance, so it was time for Plan C.
"Did you two plan to meet up like this?"
A cold voice came from the left. The lightning coursing along Sasuke's Kusanagi Sword grew more violent, his serpent-like gaze devoid of any warmth as it swept over the two figures before him… both carrying the weight of his deepest grudges.
Sasuke even smirked, turning his attention to the teacher he had once idolized, "Hattori. Perfect timing. I'll settle my debts with you and Itachi together today."
He wasn't entirely sure why Logan had appeared, nor did he care about the rumors of his disappearance and return. All that mattered was that the two were connected.
During the Chunin Exams, the truth revealed to him… Logan had lied to him.
For over three years, he had heard nothing, relying only on fragments of information from Orochimaru. Now that he had killed Orochimaru, he would treat Logan the same way he treated Itachi… with unrelenting hostility.
"Sasuke."
It had been so long since Logan had last seen him, 'Teaching him tree-walking and the Chidori felt like yesterday.'
He smiled faintly, "Three years, and this is how you greet me? So cold."
"Don't talk to me like that."
Sasuke's brow twitched, 'The casual tone, the familiarity… it was as if nothing had changed. Do you think this is a joke? Do you really think this is some lighthearted reunion?'
"I never wanted to see you." He spat, layering his voice with cold disdain, "Hattori, don't you understand the situation?"
'I'm not even calling you 'sensei' anymore. I'm using your name. So look at me the same way you'd look at an enemy… like Kakashi would.'
"If you don't want to see me, then just don't see me." Logan shrugged, "But I know exactly what's going on. I came here because of the mess between you and your brother."
A pebble rolled past his foot, the sound swallowed by the rustling leaves of the surrounding forest. Itachi, standing silently to the side, had a faint trace of concern on his face.
Logan pressed on, "I was actually planning to find you first, but someone got in my way, and I missed my chance… But I have to tell you the truth."
He locked eyes with Sasuke, "I'm not part of the Uchiha Clan, so maybe it's not my place to say this. But I've tried talking to your brother..."
"Senpai." Itachi said calmly from behind, but there was anxiety underneath his calmness.
"If you find out too late, you'll definitely regret it"
"..." Sasuke's expression remained cold and he seemed unmoved as he listened.
But for a fleeting moment, his defenses wavered. He tilted the Kusanagi Sword slightly downward, "…What are you trying to say?"
The Sharingan suddenly spun, and the three tomoe connected to form a black windmill of the Mangekyo. Itachi was ready to start a battle first regardless of the consequences.
But Logan was faster, and spoke word by word, "Everything Itachi did… was for you, Sasuke."
"…"
The air froze.
Itachi took a half step forward, then froze with his outstretched hand hanging in the air.
A few meters away, Sasuke's face twisted in slow, disbelieving horror.
Silence. Then, seconds later, his composed mask shattered.
Sasuke's eyes bulged, his chest burning as if set ablaze.
Chirp, chirp…!
Chakra erupted violently, lightning screeching as it gathered in his palm.
Logan's words clashed so violently with reality that they felt like an insult. Sasuke gritted his teeth, 'Why did I even listen? How stupid. What was I expecting?'
"You… what kind of bullshit are you spouting, you bastard…?!"
The Chidori shrieked, his Sharingan blazing with fury. He lunged forward, the ground beneath him cracking apart!
"You don't believe me? Listen..."
"Shut up!"
Sasuke was already upon him, with killing intent thick enough to suffocate.
Itachi, who was standing behind him, watched Sasuke's reaction completely and an indescribable smile appeared on his face.
In a flash, he intercepted Sasuke, standing protectively in front of Logan. His expression was calm, almost amused, as he gazed down at his younger brother's hatred-fueled assault, looking every bit the villain.
"Senpai, please get out of the way."
Bang!
Itachi blocked Sasuke's attack for Logan, and the battle began.