Chapter 297: Third's Day of Suffering
Itachi's body flew through midair, blood spraying wildly. But the pain in his heart proved a hundred times more intense than physical pain.
'This is all my fault!'
'My stupidity and ignorance harmed those village comrades!'
'My self-righteousness harmed Lord Third!'
Itachi's body heavily struck the ground. Like skipping stones, he bounced repeatedly before crashing into a shop.
"Ah, fighting again? Quick, run outside the village!"
People inside the shop fled in alarm. But Itachi collapsed limply against the wall, unwilling to move at all.
In this moment, Itachi's heart filled with utter despair, consumed by self-destructive thoughts.
'Why resist anymore?'
'Just let Lord Third kill me!'
'How does trash like me deserve living in this world?'
'Better to die as atonement for comrades killed by 'resurrected' ones...'
But this thought existed only momentarily before immediately being dispelled by Third "Enlightened" appearing again.
Customers who'd just fled outside collided head-on with Third "Enlightened" pursuing Itachi. Within an eye blink, Third tore them to shreds, tossing them back into the shop like garbage.
"Stop!"
"If you must kill, kill me! Don't harm other villagers!"
Itachi struggled upright, spreading both arms, attempting to trade his life for others' survival.
But Third "Enlightened" laughed eerily while striking like wind, killing all those fleeing in panic.
Blood splattered everywhere, transforming the fine shop into a slaughterhouse.
"Everyone must die!"
Third "Enlightened" shrieked hoarsely. Those massive monster eyes filled with killing intent and hatred.
"Stop!"
Itachi ultimately couldn't tolerate watching villagers killed before his eyes. Clapping both palms together, he activated Wood Release.
Amid earth's roar, vines burst from underground. But Third "Enlightened's" reaction proved far faster—directly shooting skyward, smashing through the room's roof and flying into the sky.
Wood Release's growth speed couldn't possibly match Third "Enlightened's" flight speed.
Itachi's gaze swept across those just-killed people. The pain in his heart deepened further.
"These people—all died because of me!"
After silently shedding two lines of bloody tears inwardly, Itachi walked miserably from the shop. Looking up at Third "Enlightened," he discovered the entire sky filled with flying demons—at least over a dozen.
And rampaging through the village on the ground? Countless more.
The village had now descended into hell. Screams transmitted from all directions.
Itachi's pupils contracted sharply. The regret in his heart increased dozens of times.
He'd originally thought only Third had transformed into such a monster. Who knew absolutely all "resurrected" had become monsters?
"No, don't..."
Itachi clutched his head with both hands, wailing miserably.
"Kehehe..."
Seeing Itachi emerge from the room, Third "Enlightened" laughed eerily while diving down again.
"Ahhh..."
Itachi screamed madly. Chakra around him fluctuated violently. A new Susanoo condensed out again.
After receiving intense stimulation, Itachi's Yin Release chakra quantity increased further. The newly condensed Susanoo now wore armor—no longer that skeletal frame appearance.
Boom!
Third "Enlightened's" attack struck Susanoo, tilting it sideways. But Itachi quickly straightened Susanoo's body, swinging fists while bombarding Third "Enlightened."
But like a giant swatting flies, Susanoo swung dozens of punches, smashing surrounding terrain into chaos without even grazing Third "Enlightened's" edge.
Third "Enlightened" flew circles around Susanoo, constantly clawing and ramming wildly, yet unable to breach Susanoo's defense.
Seeing this proved a thick turtle shell, Third "Enlightened" flew skyward again, wanting to change targets.
But Itachi refused letting him leave. His right eye's Mangekyō Sharingan rotated madly. Third "Enlightened's" body suddenly stiffened before plummeting from the sky.
"Genjutsu: Tsukuyomi!"
The black-and-white genjutsu space rapidly expanded, swallowing Third "Enlightened."
That massive beast body hung suspended in midair, bound to a cross. Uchiha Itachi stood opposite with a dark expression, holding a long blade.
"Lord Third, I'm sorry."
Itachi wept while stabbing the blade into Third "Enlightened's" body.
"Ahhh..."
Third "Enlightened" roared, struggling. But lacking dojutsu power with mediocre chakra, he completely couldn't break free from the genjutsu space.
"Lord Third, I carefully reconsidered words you once spoke."
"You lived many years in that Box of Ultimate Bliss's empty world, lost yourself in endless void, then lost human emotions and grew to hate humanity."
"I think perhaps letting you re-experience human joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness could restore your humanity."
"But I have no way to construct an illusory world for you to regain sanity. I can only make you feel boundless pain."
"Pain can awaken people. Perhaps after enduring years of physical suffering, you can rediscover yourself."
"If this still cannot awaken you, then... I can only kill you."
Wherever pain existed, his blade went there.
Third "Enlightened" resembled a pig for slaughter, firmly fixed to the cross, allowing Itachi to butcher him without any resistance.
"Ahhh..."
Third "Enlightened" screamed miserably, glaring at Itachi like a mortal enemy.
"Itachi, you damned bastard!"
"I should have killed you long ago, you evil Uchiha!"
"Danzo was right! Everyone in the Uchiha clan deserves death!"
"After the Uchiha clan's extermination, I should have eliminated all roots, leaving none!"
"And this damned Konoha Village! I devoted my entire life to the village, yet they torment me like this after death. I won't spare anyone!"
"Everyone in the village should come down and accompany me!"
Third "Enlightened" cursed loudly. But Itachi wore a wooden expression, completely ignoring his cursing. Merely raising the blade again, he stabbed it into Third "Enlightened's" mouth, ripping out that long monster tongue by the roots, discarding it like garbage at his feet.
"Mmm... mmph..."
Third "Enlightened" opened his gaping maw, mumbling something incoherently—probably cursing filthily—but completely unable to affect Itachi anymore.
Itachi merely lowered his head, silently carving flowers across Third "Enlightened's" body—like immersing himself in human sculpture art.