A muffled thunderclap exploded.
Itachi's spirit jolted—cracks began to splinter across the realm of Tsukuyomi (Moon Illusion)!
In the next instant, the Tsukuyomi space shattered.
Back in reality—
A thread of blood trickled from Itachi's left eye socket and ran down his cheek.
He paid it no mind. Instead, his gaze, tinged with astonishment, fixed on Yuto.
That chakra just now—was a tailed beast!
No… wrong!
The other party clearly wasn't a Jinchūriki (tailed-beast host)!
Through his slightly blurred vision, Itachi focused on the small turtle perched on Yuto's left shoulder.
"Th—Three… Tails!"
His hoarse voice trembled as he forced out the words.
Perched on Yuto's shoulder, the Three-Tails Isobu flicked its tail, cast Itachi a sidelong glance, and then withdrew its gaze—
Its expression reeked of disdain.
The chakra of the Uchiha—truly repugnant, Isobu thought to itself.
A tailed beast, sitting docilely on someone's shoulder—
If Itachi hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, he would never have believed it.
Since when did beings that inspired terror across the world become so obedient?!
Even Pain might defeat a tailed beast, but to make one show this side of itself—almost impossible.
There were only two explanations: either the person had an exceptionally good relationship with the tailed beast…
Or he was someone even tailed beasts feared.
The first seemed plausible on the surface, yet Itachi dismissed it first.
Whether tailed beasts were good or evil, he could not say—but after so many years of war, and after being captured and forced into hosts again and again—
No matter how gentle a beast's nature, after all that, it could not possibly place complete trust in humans!
As for the second… in this shinobi world, were there truly people who could terrify tailed beasts?
Suddenly—
Itachi's body trembled, as if some memory had slammed into him.
If anyone in this world could truly instill fear in a tailed beast, there were only three:
Hashirama, Madara, and the First Mizukage of the Mist—Yuto!
As for that man in Akatsuki who called himself Madara, Itachi had never believed it. He'd been investigating that man's identity for some time.
As the former clan head's son and once a genius among the Uchiha, Itachi had access to intelligence far beyond what ordinary shinobi—or even most clansmen—could reach.
For example: that in those days, the First Mizukage, Yuto, had not died, but had merely been sealed…
Itachi lifted his head toward the front. Yuto stood there with a faint, almost playful smile. Itachi suddenly twisted around toward Kisame, who was battling Ranmaru, and shouted, "Withdraw!!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Itachi turned and fled in the opposite direction!
Yes—fled!
That the First Mizukage, Yuto, had returned to life—and no one had noticed until now!
And the entire Mist seemed intent on hiding it. There had to be a massive conspiracy behind this.
As for Sand and Mist attacking the Leaf together, Itachi didn't yet know the motive—
But it was definitely a crucial piece of that larger plot.
This had to be reported!
Once news of the First Mizukage's return spread across the shinobi world, any grand scheme against the Leaf would collapse on its own.
At that point, aside from the Mist, the other four great villages would surely join forces—and even Akatsuki might lend a hand.
This new era has no place for remnants of the old!
"It seems you've noticed. In that case… do you really think you can leave alive?"
A lazy voice drifted from behind Itachi.
He didn't look back—he just poured on more speed.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The air split with sharp reports behind him!
Several massive chains—pure chakra wrought into Kongo Fusa (Adamantine Sealing Chains)—surged from the rear.
The thick chakra chains lashed against Itachi's Susanoo (Guardian Avatar).
They didn't break Susanoo's defense, but they did make Itachi stumble, nearly pitching him to the ground.
Compared with the chains' first strike, these Kongo Fusa—both in power and speed—had multiplied several times.
Clearly, at the start, Yuto hadn't even been using his full strength.
Soft footsteps approached from behind. Face grim, Itachi turned to see Yuto strolling toward him.
"Killing a shinobi like you would be a waste. But now that you've uncovered the secret, you no longer have the option of living."
Yuto's gaze was indifferent, his voice flat.
No escape—
Itachi drove Susanoo to stand against Yuto.
"In that case, as the junior, I want to witness the strength of one who was once hailed as one of the 'Three Greats'!"
His Mangekyō Sharingan (Kaleidoscope Sharingan) spun wildly—he was ready to stake everything!
Complete Susanoo!!
Susanoo's form swelled larger and larger; two colossal wings began to take shape upon its back.
"Compared to Madara, you're too slow."
Watching Susanoo grow, Yuto spoke calmly.
As the final syllable fell, his figure vanished.
Boom!
Like a thunderclap, the sound detonated in an instant!
Susanoo, still ascending toward its complete form, had its lower body smashed apart by Yuto's single punch.
Cold sweat drenched Itachi. If not for his quick reaction—forcing the just-formed wings to heave Susanoo upward—
He, who stood around where the chest would have been, would've been obliterated by that punch.
Seeing Itachi dodge his first blow, Yuto's lips curled.
"Good battle sense. But what about the next punch?"
Yuto's body vanished again. Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan spun to its limit—he could only barely make out the faint blur of Yuto's afterimage.
So this was the power of the "Three Greats" back then?
That feeling of staring death in the face, every hair on end—
It let Itachi truly grasp the scenes described in those records of that ancient battle.
Can't dodge!
Facing Yuto's incoming punch, Itachi knew—there was no avoiding it. He could only take it head-on!
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