This terrifying power had completely exceeded both men's comprehension! Seeing Kai's gaze turn toward them, instinctively, they couldn't help but step back two paces.
However, Kai clearly wasn't focusing his attention on the two of them.
His gaze finally settled on Itachi Uchiha, who had remained silent throughout. A smile tugged at the corner of Kai's mouth as he spoke: "Itachi, long time no see. I wonder if you've made any progress these past few years?"
"Please guide me, sensei." After speaking, Itachi suddenly raised both hands, and dozens of shuriken shot forth from his grasp.
The Uchiha clan's shuriken techniques were already unrivaled throughout the ninja world, and in Itachi's hands, they reached divine perfection. The incoming shuriken traced paths as elusive as a mountain goat's leap—impossible to predict.
"You two, get out of here. I'll hold him off." Itachi's cold voice reached Kakuzu and Kisame's ears like heavenly music. Without a second's hesitation, both figures retreated at high speed.
Kai paid no attention to the fleeing duo. This encounter would serve as a lesson—if they dared provoke him again, death would be their reward.
No matter how magnificent the ninja tool techniques, they were completely ineffective against Kai's ability to manipulate attractive and repulsive forces. The shuriken circled around Kai's body, all changing direction to shoot back toward Itachi at even greater speed and more cunning angles.
Before Itachi could react, he was riddled with his own shuriken from head to toe. Strangely, though, not a single drop of blood flowed from the pierced Itachi.
Poof! Itachi's body transformed into countless crows that scattered in all directions.
At the same moment!
"Fire Release: Great Flame Flower!"
A voice rang out from high above behind Kai! Three meteor-like fireballs plummeted down, crashing toward Kai on the ground!
In Itachi's hands, even a B-rank jutsu like Great Fireball Technique could unleash power comparable to S-rank techniques, let alone Great Flame Flower, which was already A-rank.
"Since it's Fire Release... Lava Release: Magma Annihilation Spear!"
A spear-like column of lava erupted from Kai's mouth. The billowing magma directly scattered the incoming fireballs, and without losing any momentum, it shot straight toward Itachi, who was airborne!
Itachi had no time to form seals for a substitution technique, and being mid-air with no foothold, he couldn't dodge either. The lava column completely engulfed Itachi, sending thick smoke billowing skyward!
Kai showed no concern whatsoever. His gaze pierced through the heavy smoke, clearly seeing what lay within!
A crimson skeletal frame wielding the Yata Mirror had blocked the lava column's attack!
Mangekyō Sharingan: Susanoo!
As the magma-stirred mist gradually dispersed, Itachi also deactivated his Susanoo state. Crimson blood trickled from the corners of both eyes.
Without pause, Itachi covered his left eye with one hand, the Mangekyō pattern spinning even more frantically!
Tsukuyomi!
Kai didn't resist Tsukuyomi's pull on his mental energy. Following its guidance, he entered the space constructed by Itachi's spiritual power.
Seeing the surrounding scene, a trace of nostalgia appeared in Kai's eyes.
Konoha Village, Training Ground Seven—the location where Kai's squad had undergone their initial assessment.
"Sensei Kai, I apologize for pulling you into the Tsukuyomi space." Itachi's figure appeared before Kai, bowing slightly as he spoke.
"It's fine." Kai smiled, then asked: "Is there something you need to tell me, Itachi?"
"Yes!" Itachi nodded and spoke directly: "Sensei Kai, you may not fully understand the Akatsuki organization yet. On the surface, Akatsuki appears to be a terrorist organization composed of S-rank rogue ninja. But after being within Akatsuki, I've discovered it's not that simple."
Pausing briefly, Itachi continued: "Akatsuki's leader, Pain, possesses the legendary Rinnegan—the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths. But behind Akatsuki, there's another figure manipulating everything—someone calling himself Madara Uchiha. Moreover, from clues I discovered on the ancestral stone tablet beneath the Naka Shrine in the Uchiha compound, I can deduce that Akatsuki's true purpose is to complete something called the Eye of the Moon Plan..."
"Summon the Ten-Tails, become its jinchūriki, then cast Infinite Tsukuyomi?" Before Itachi could finish, Kai interrupted.
For the first time, Itachi's perpetually stoic face showed expression—complete shock: "Sensei Kai, how could you possibly know this?"
"Itachi, I once told you that your understanding of the ninja world is still too shallow, and your comprehension of your teacher's power is still too limited." Kai looked at Itachi, paused, then continued: "Now, I must still say the same to you."
Kai understood Akatsuki's goals better than even Madara Uchiha. If Kai wanted to stop them, would Akatsuki have survived until now?! From the beginning, in Kai's schemes, the Ten-Tails had to be revived. Whether consuming the Chakra Fruit or becoming the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki—both were shortcuts for Kai to increase his strength.
Otherwise, with Kai's current power level, improving even slightly would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.
"Sensei Kai, then why don't you stop them?" Itachi couldn't help but ask.
Hearing Itachi's question, Kai felt somewhat troubled. He couldn't exactly tell Itachi that his teacher's goal was also to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki.
After thinking, Kai could only say: "Behind the 'Madara Uchiha' you know of, there's another force manipulating everything. I'm not confident I can defeat it."
Kai guaranteed that every sentence he spoke wasn't deceiving Itachi.
Obito Uchiha was being manipulated by Madara Uchiha, while Madara was being played by Black Zetsu. Black Zetsu's true consciousness was Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, and Kai indeed wasn't confident he could defeat her.
Hearing Kai's words, Itachi fell silent. Suddenly, he spoke: "Sensei Kai, how strong are you?"
Kai was startled, not expecting Itachi to ask this question. He smiled and spoke casually: "About the same as the Sage of Six Paths once was."
The Sage of Six Paths?!
Massive waves surged through Itachi's heart, followed immediately by deep powerlessness. If even someone of Kai's caliber—comparable to the Sage of Six Paths—wasn't confident of victory against this unseen force, what kind of terrifying power must it possess?
Itachi's eyes showed complete confusion, his voice somewhat hoarse as he asked: "Sensei Kai, then what should we do now?"
Kai stepped forward, patted Itachi's shoulder, and spoke slowly: "I will end... all the wars!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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