When Shigeo pictured that scene in his mind, he frowned slightly.
It wasn't that Itachi couldn't beat Sasuke; it was that he would always hold back for his little brother. Even if it cost him his life, he'd still be willing to give everything to Sasuke.
With that thought, Shigeo handed the documents in his hand to Tsunade beside him.
"Tsuna-sensei, I've got something to take care of. If I can come back early, I will. For now, I'm leaving this to you."
The air twisted around him, and he vanished.
Tsunade opened her mouth to stop him, but it was already too late.
In the office, Gaara, Ohnoki, and the Fourth Raikage all looked up. Ohnoki shook his head slightly.
"I really don't understand what you people are thinking. You actually chose him as commander. With an attitude like that toward his duties, he'll get everyone killed."
By this time, Mei had already escorted the daimyō and top leaders of the major countries away in secret. They were each nation's final insurance; if Akatsuki captured them, every village would be on the back foot.
…
On the mountain ridge thirty li outside Ink Village.
Sasuke stood facing the wind, waiting for battle.
He had already sent his challenge. Now, he was waiting for Itachi to arrive.
Behind him, the leaves rustled lightly. Sasuke turned.
Itachi was there.
Itachi's gaze trembled for a moment. After two years apart, his little brother had grown a lot taller…
"Sasuke…"
The air slowly grew heavy with a chilling aura.
Sasuke turned fully to face him. Fragments of the past flickered through his mind—warm scenes, merciless memories, confusion, doubt, everything tangled together.
He had once had so many questions he wanted to ask.
Why did you slaughter the clan?
Why did you leave only me alive?
But the moment he saw Itachi again, all those questions vanished.
In his heart, Itachi was the murderer who had wiped out his entire clan.
A man like that didn't need to be understood or forgiven.
He only needed to die.
With that thought, Sasuke flicked his fingers. A massive shuriken spun out toward Itachi.
"Give me your life!"
Itachi's brows knit slightly as he leapt aside to dodge.
In that instant, the giant shuriken split in two. One of them was actually Sasuke himself transformed with a basic transformation technique, while the other was attached to a thin silver wire. Sasuke yanked hard, and the shuriken he had already thrown spun back around, slicing toward Itachi's back.
At the same time, Sasuke drew the Kusanagi no Tsurugi (Kusanagi Sword) and drove it straight into Itachi's chest. Blood ran down the blade, and behind him, the giant shuriken slammed into Itachi's body as well.
With a sharp clang, metal bit deep into flesh.
Blood spilled from the corner of Itachi's mouth. He looked at Sasuke and whispered,
"Little brother…"
Itachi died.
An indescribable feeling welled up in Sasuke's chest.
Was he really this weak?
That thought lasted only a heartbeat before his vigilance spiked.
The air rippled. Sasuke looked up to see Itachi standing about ten meters away, expression cold and serious, staring straight at him.
"Genjutsu?"
"That's right," Itachi replied calmly. "You can't break my Mangekyō Sharingan."
His eyes glowed red, as if blood might spill from them at any moment.
Sasuke rushed forward again.
"I don't believe that. If once isn't enough, then twice. If twice isn't enough, then three times. No matter how many times it takes—I'll kill you!"
The two brothers locked each other in genjutsu, illusions colliding again and again.
Meanwhile, Shigeo—who had left the Allied Forces headquarters—did not return directly to Ink Village. He was Itachi's friend. Naturally, he understood how Itachi thought. Itachi could choose death for himself—but as his friend, Shigeo refused to simply stand by.
Shigeo's blue Rinnegan flared to life, the pattern within blooming into a nine-tomoe state. He focused all his will and performed Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Technique).
On the cliff above, the Gedō Mazō (Demoniac Statue of the Outer Path) erupted into existence.
Seeing this, Shigeo relaxed slightly. He turned and leapt onto the massive statue's shoulder. The cold wind whipped past, his cloak snapping loudly. A natural, chilling aura of domineering presence spread from him in all directions.
He did possess the chakra of the nine tailed beasts that the statue craved—but at this moment, Shigeo's power stood far above that of the Gedō Mazō, utterly suppressing it. The nine tailed beasts within him had long since fused into a single Ten-Tails.
After more than a year of constant chakra feeding, his "Little Ten" was no longer what it had been at the start. It had already grown into a young, vigorous divine tree. Though it lacked the savage, monstrous appearance of the Gedō Mazō, it radiated life. The leaves of its divine-tree body trembled gently, and after more than a year of Shigeo's guidance, it had gained a bit of human warmth and a sense of right and wrong.
Compared to the Gedō Mazō, its consciousness was far gentler and more approachable.
The Gedō Mazō was ferocious, yes—but it held only the chakra of seven tailed beasts. Little Ten inside Shigeo, on the other hand, contained the chakra of all nine tailed beasts. In terms of raw power, Little Ten crushed the Gedō Mazō. Because of that, even though Shigeo sat atop the statue with tailed beast chakra coursing through him, the statue's subconscious didn't dare make a single reckless move.
The air twisted again. Obito appeared.
"Shigeo, what are you trying to do?"
"Today, I have only one demand," Shigeo replied. "I want two Sharingan. I know you have them. If you refuse… you know what happens next."
His tone didn't change as he continued,
"If it weren't for Otsutsuki Kaguya, I would've destroyed this thing already and made sure you never had the chance to start a Fourth War."
Obito's brows furrowed. He had no idea how Shigeo knew he had Sharingan in his possession. He examined the man standing on the Gedō Mazō's shoulder, then looked at the statue beneath him. Shigeo's Rinnegan had already evolved into the nine-tomoe state. His own Rinnegan couldn't compare.
"All right. I'll get them for you. I hope you keep your word."
With that, Obito disappeared.
On the way, he couldn't help feeling unsettled.
What was this "Otsutsuki Kaguya" Shigeo had mentioned? He had never heard of it.
And Shigeo was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Shinobi Forces—the representative chosen by the Six Kage—so why would he just let the Gedō Mazō go like this? Something about it felt very wrong.
Even with his doubts, time was pressing, and he was afraid Shigeo might suddenly change his mind. Obito decided not to dwell on it. He retrieved the Sharingan and handed them over.
Shigeo kept his word. After receiving the Sharingan and carefully checking them over, he returned the Gedō Mazō to Obito and vanished.
Obito was left standing in a haze of confusion, doubt gnawing at him.
At his side, Black Zetsu emerged.
"Madara, Kabuto is here to see you."
Ever since Uchiha Madara's death, Black Zetsu had addressed Obito this way.
Kabuto's visit this time brought a great gift—something that delighted Obito. Their army had gained yet another powerful force.
…
With war looming, every front was making preparations.
Shigeo, carrying the two Sharingan, appeared in Ink Village.
Following the information relayed by his clones, he headed for the peak on the southern coast.
This time… would be the last.
(End of Chapter)
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