Chapter 298: Karmic Retribution Never Fails
Third "Enlightened's" body heavily slammed into the ground, smashing a massive crater. Dust flew everywhere. Shattered rocks scattered.
He struggled upright from the ground. Not a single wound marked his body. But this monstrous frame swayed unsteadily, barely standing.
Just now inside the Tsukuyomi genjutsu space, Third "Enlightened" had endured countless skinnings and dismemberments, carved repeatedly. His spirit had sustained tremendous trauma.
Countless years of endless torture extended every second's pain into eternity, making his already shattered sanity increasingly fragmented.
Unfortunately, two negatives don't make a positive. Continuous spiritual trauma only drove him madder, unable to restore normalcy from the void.
Reason had long since burned away completely. Only instinct-driven savagery remained, plus numbness to pain.
He flapped his back wings, attempting to soar skyward. But a vine suddenly burst from underground, coiling around him before massively absorbing his chakra.
Originally Third "Enlightened" possessed danger sensing abilities. But previously in the genjutsu space, he'd continuously suffered Itachi's killing intent assaults for who knows how many years—long since growing accustomed to such killing intent.
Continuous alarms ultimately became white noise. Lethal threats were dissolved into background through endless repetition.
Now outside the genjutsu space, he temporarily hadn't recovered properly—allowing Itachi to strike successfully.
"Roarrr..."
Third "Enlightened" roared loudly, struggling desperately. Sharp limbs slashed across vines covering him, cutting branch after branch into fragments.
But under Itachi's chakra infusion, increasingly more Wood Release branches grew out, binding his body tighter and tighter.
And under Wood Release branches' chakra extraction, Third "Enlightened's" struggles grew weaker and weaker. Finally he was wrapped layer upon layer into a verdant sphere with lush foliage.
All commotion abruptly ceased. Only that massive green sphere remained—suspended in midair like a giant lantern, awaiting Itachi's ignition.
"Farewell, Lord Third."
Itachi silently lowered his head, paying final respects to his most respected elder. Then changing hand seals, Wood Release branches suddenly contracted inward—like wringing a cloth—twisting Third "Enlightened's" body into a pretzel.
Crack crack...
A dull, dense sound rang out—like winter's snapping dead branches. The sound of shattering bones.
Blood like waterfalls sprayed from branch crevices—like a sprinkler truck—drenching the entire surrounding area. But immediately absorbed by underground roots without leaving half a trace.
Moments later, the green sphere parted. A tattered corpse slowly slid down from midair.
After losing life, Third finally separated from that "Enlightened" monster form, transforming back into his original kindly old man appearance.
Only now this old man had broken bones and torn tendons. Eyes wide open. Death unreconciled.
"Hahahaha..." Yasushi, who'd been watching from afar, immediately laughed loudly. "Died wonderfully!"
"Itachi killed excellently too!"
"Previously killing Third with one strike felt too cheap for him."
"Now bringing him out, first torturing him painfully inside the Box of Ultimate Bliss, then transforming into a monster before being personally slaughtered by Itachi—this truly befits this Hokage-sama's status!"
"Murder deserves death, debts must be repaid. He tacitly approved the Uchiha Massacre, so this is his deserved fate!"
"Karmic retribution never fails—having Itachi do this proves absolutely right!"
"Hahahaha..."
Yasushi laughed while dancing, jumping around in place. After ages, he finally turned his head puzzled, asking nearby Zetsu:
"Hey, if we Edo Tensei him again, think he'd emerge as human Third or Third 'Enlightened'?"
"This..." Zetsu considered carefully before answering hesitantly: "Perhaps should be Third 'Enlightened'. After all, spiritual trauma doesn't heal just from dying."
"I see!" Yasushi nodded thoughtfully. His eyes rolled wildly—obviously plotting more mischief.
Meanwhile within Konoha Village, defeat now cascaded like collapsing mountains.
Original defense positions were successively breached by "Enlightened." Many village areas descended into slaughter.
"Stop!"
Itachi roared loudly, eyes splitting with fury while charging toward a temporary shelter.
But by the time he arrived, all "Enlightened" here had already fled like birds and beasts—escaping far away. Only massive severed limbs and blood-soaked ground remained.
Some lucky surviving shinobi and ordinary villagers suffered tremendous fright. Seeing Itachi arrive, they immediately treated him as their anchor.
"Lord Uchiha, please save us!"
"Itachi, team up with us and establish a defense line here!"
"We can support you!"
But screams currently transmitted throughout the village. How could Itachi possibly stay stationary here?
"I must rush everywhere putting out fires. Can't stay here. You quickly join Lord Kazuma and them, following Lord Kazuma's orders!"
After speaking, Itachi rapidly rushed toward another temporary shelter.
"Don't abandon us!"
Without Itachi's protection, skyborne "Enlightened" immediately grew restless again. Frightening those people into chasing after Itachi—not daring to distance themselves even slightly.
The second temporary shelter's situation proved no better than the first—corpses littering the ground identically.
These "Enlightened" differed completely from enemies shinobi previously encountered. They absolutely refused direct combat, instead relying on superior mobility for constant ambushes.
Once breaching openings, they immediately slaughtered massively.
But if one strike missed, they'd float away elegantly without lingering.
Compared to shinobi fighting like warriors, these "Enlightened" resembled assassins more.
"Damn it!"
Itachi rushed through several locations consecutively without managing direct combat against "Enlightened"—only being led around like a dog by them.
Watching village situations grow increasingly critical, Itachi's heart immediately grew anxious.
He looked at the increasingly numerous people following behind him, considering stopping to establish defenses.
But those "Enlightened" tailing him also picked on the weak—seeing him stationary here, they immediately scattered in swarms, attacking other village people.
Itachi's side had quite a few people. But compared to the village's scale, still far too few.
And if he didn't provide rescue everywhere, those scattered small strongholds facing "Enlightened" concentrated attacks couldn't possibly hold long—sooner or later being breached and slaughtered completely.
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