Chapter 130: It Seems the Victor Is MeVibration Style: Spiral Suction Sphere!On that Chakra sphere, a powerful suction suddenly erupted.Caught off guard, Kisame Hoshigaki felt as if he were being seized by an invisible giant hand, pulled toward Naruto against his will.However, this technique had just been developed; aside from this irresistible suction, the Spiral Suction Sphere itself possessed no direct lethality.Thus, at the moment the suction erupted, Narutohad already gripped his Kunai in a reverse hold. A cold, sharp light flashed through the air as he aimed for Kisame Hoshigaki's chest, prepared to deliver a fatal blow to the prey dragged before him.However, Kisame Hoshigaki was by no means someone who would just wait for death.Seeing the cold tip of the Kunai rapidly enlarging in his field of vision, stabbing straight toward his heart, not a trace of panic appeared in Kisame's eyes; instead, a flash of excitement flickered through them.He first cleanly released his grip on the sword. Freed, the Great Sword Samehada twisted its barb-covered body nimbly in mid-air, its swimming posture truly resembling a slippery fish.Chiii!A very faint sound.Naruto frowned suddenly.He felt the continuously spinning Spiral Suction Sphere in his palm vanish into thin air without warning, as if it had been drained dry, and the suction disappeared entirely."Is this Samehada's Chakra-devouring ability?"Naruto's reaction was incredibly fast; he grasped the situation almost the instant the Rasengandissipated.His gaze swept over the great sword twisting triumphantly in the air once more, and his internal alarm reached its peak instantly.In the next second, a squelching sound was heard.It was the dull sound of a blade piercing through clothing and cutting into flesh.In a life-or-death moment with nowhere to hide, Kisame Hoshigaki made the most seasoned choice.He suddenly raised his left arm, using his thick, sturdy forearm to shield his chest.Although the Kunai in Naruto's hand was incomparably sharp, the tip only sank three inches into the flesh before being firmly caught by the other's hard, sturdy bone, unable to advance even a fraction further.Crimson blood gushed from the wound, yet Kisame Hoshigaki didn't even frown.Silver Hamon Overdrive!Without hesitation, Naruto channeled the Hamonalong the Kunai and directly into Kisame Hoshigaki's body.A strange numbness washed over him, causing his body to stiffen for a moment.However, before Naruto could take his next move, Samehada in mid-air had already approached his body and twisted once again.Another soft "chiii" sound."What?!"Naruto's body suddenly went limp as he felt the power within him being drained and devoured.He naturally knew that Samehada possessed the bizarre trait of being able to devour Chakra from a distance without direct contact.But now, Samehada wasn't just devouring Chakra; it had even swallowed most of the Hamon within his body in an instant!Due to this error in judgment, Naruto failed to seize the precious opportunity to deliver a fatal blow during the opening while his opponent was stiff.And the immense, almost terrifying amount of Chakra within Kisame Hoshigaki's body played a huge role, purging the invading Hamon completely in a very short time.The moment he regained his ability to move, Kisame Hoshigaki didn't hesitate for a second, twisting his waist and delivering a flying kick straight to Naruto's chest.The force was as heavy as a sledgehammer; Naruto only had time to let out a muffled groan before being sent flying backward.As Naruto's body was flying through the air, Kisame Hoshigaki reached out and firmly regripped Samehada's hilt.Then, giving Naruto no chance to breathe, he swung the blade forward with a backhand.Flying Chain Slash!Samehada's hilt suddenly elongated, lashing out like a whip, bringing Naruto—who had already moved out of the blade's direct attack range—back into its reach.The broad blade, covered in hideous barbs, whistled as it tore through the air, biting toward Naruto's waist.The dense spikes on the blade stood upright, glinting with a scalp-numbing cold light; if struck solidly by this blade, it would be far more than just losing a chunk of flesh.Seeing Samehada's hideous edge getting closer and closer, with the strong wind already hitting his face, Naruto's eyes suddenly narrowed.Vibration Style: Spiral Repulsion Sphere!With the experience of previous condensations, the Rasengan formed remarkably fast this time.In just the blink of an eye, another deep blue Chakra light sphere appeared steadily in his palm.Although it was also a Rasengan infused with Vibration Release Chakra, the nature of the Chakraadded to the Rasengan this time was the exact opposite of before: [Repulsion].Although Samehada had once again opened its hideous mouth on the blade, frantically devouring the surrounding Chakra as it had before.But the moment the Rasengan was fully formed, Naruto chose to detonate it first without hesitation.BOOM!!!An extremely dull, loud explosion.A massive repulsive force erupted violently from the center of the Rasengan without warning, turning into a rolling shockwave that swept in all directions with destructive force.This violent shockwave exploded right between Naruto and Kisame Hoshigaki.Prepared, Naruto took the opportunity to spread his limbs and relax his body completely, like a fallen leaf swept up by a gale. Using the massive recoil of the repulsive force, he flew backward through the air, creating distance in one go.On the other side, Kisame Hoshigaki had to hold Samehada horizontally in front of him, gritting his teeth to forcefully resist the surging repulsive force.The shockwave pushed him back a long distance until the raging wave finally exhausted its power and dissipated.Kisame Hoshigaki lowered his slightly numbed arm and looked at Naruto, who had already regained his footing in the distance. Instead of being annoyed, a slow, cruel smirk appeared on the corner of his mouth.Because in the brief time they had been fighting, the Water Shockwave he had previously cast had already completely transformed the battlefield.Looking around, the entire hilltop was submerged, forming a vast area of water shimmering with ripples.For Kisame Hoshigaki, the geographical advantage was now entirely in his hands!His hands turned into two blurs as he quickly formed a series of hand seals, then slammed his palm heavily onto the water's surface beneath his feet.Water Release: Five Eating Sharks!With a dense splashing sound of breaking water, the previously calm surface at Naruto's feet suddenly exploded.Five shark-shaped water bullets leapt from the water, opening their hideous mouths full of sharp teeth to bite at him frantically from all directions, cutting off all paths of retreat.Vibration Release: Sage Way Hamon Infused Hard Wall!A dazzling golden light flashed by.A bubble shimmering with a rainbow halo emerged from Naruto, wrapping him up tightly.In the next second, the five ferocious sharks from the Five Eating Sharks lunged before him.Their sharp teeth bit hard into the seemingly thin bubble membrane, but with only a soft "pop" sound, they all slid off, leaving circles of futile ripples on the bubble's outer wall.However, in that brief delay, Kisame Hoshigaki had already caught up, striding across the water's surface.A cruel smirk was on his pale face as he swung Samehada toward Naruto.The sword didn't even need to pierce the barrier; it simply opened its greedy mouth and sucked from the air, instantly devouring all the Chakramaintaining the bubble.As the bubble shattered, Naruto's pupils constricted, and that familiar feeling of weakness surged once more.Once again, Samehada had devoured the Hamonwithin his body."It seems the victor is me."Kisame Hoshigaki keenly caught Naruto's abnormality, and the smile on his face was incredibly joyful.He raised the still-twisting Great Sword Samehadahigh, the blade trailing an afterimage as it slashed down fiercely toward the enemy before him.Naruto frowned deeply, both hands forming claws.But before he could condense his Chakra, a sudden change occurred.The cruel smirk on Kisame Hoshigaki's face suddenly froze.He narrowed his eyes, feeling an unheralded sharp pain from the palm holding the sword.Kisame Hoshigaki looked up to see that dense, sharp spikes had actually sprouted from Samehada's hilt.These barbs were merciless, piercing right through his palm. Crimson blood gushed out along the edges of the spikes, staining the water beneath his feet red.
Chapter 131: I am DyingSquelch!The sound of flesh being pierced suddenly rang out across the battlefield.The sound was faint, yet clearly audible, causing both Naruto and Kisame Hoshigaki to freeze at the same time.Naruto's eyes widened as he looked up, only to see that the Great Sword Samehada, which had been so formidable just a moment ago, had sprouted countless sharp and hideous spikes from its hilt without warning.Those cold barbs ruthlessly pierced through Kisame Hoshigaki's pale blue hand, stabbing right through his entire palm.Bright red, hot blood gushed out from the wounds caused by the spikes, dripping onto the undulating surface of the water beneath their feet and blooming into clusters of eye-catching crimson."What's going on?"Naruto furrowed his brows, momentarily dazed and completely unable to figure out what had just happened.He had already prepared to force out the Move he was conceiving, but he never expected that the one to interrupt the battle would be Kisame Hoshigaki's own sword.On the other side, Kisame Hoshigaki's pupils constricted sharply.Astonishment and alertness instantly surged onto his shark-like, ferocious face.As the master of Samehada, he understood this great sword that had followed him for many years very deeply.Among the famous Seven Ninja Swords of the Hidden Mist Village, Samehada was the most unusual one.Because it was never an ordinary weapon, but a truly living, Biological Ninja Tool with its own consciousness and emotions!Samehada has an extremely strong personality and feelings; it would never allow itself to be used casually like a dead object.It actively chooses its own master, and it shows great affinity for the Chakra it likes.As for those it does not acknowledge, Samehadawill attack them without mercy.After years of synchronization and contact, Kisame Hoshigaki was already able to give orders to Samehada and command it to cooperate with him in various complex tactical attacks.But he always knew in his heart that at its core, this great sword would always retain its gluttonous and willful instincts.And just now, Samehada unreservedly expressed its fondness for Uzumaki Naruto.More accurately, it was a fondness for the peculiar power within Naruto.It wasn't the Vibration Release Chakra, but another even purer energy of life rhythm—the Hamon that had just been poured into Kisame Hoshigaki's body and caused his movements to stiffen!Samehada developed a nearly greedy sense of affinity for this fresh and powerful energy, so when it was launched into an attack against Naruto, it displayed a will of non-cooperation.It was precisely because of this that when Kisame Hoshigaki tried to force it to cleave down at Naruto, Samehada sprouted spikes from its hilt to forcibly stop its own master.A strong sense of crisis exploded in Kisame Hoshigaki's heart.Although Samehada hadn't directly betrayed him yet, only using this method to stop him from swinging at Naruto, it was a warning that could not be ignored.With its gluttonous and willful personality, if Samehada were allowed to suck a few more mouthfuls of that fascinating Hamon, this fellow might actually turn against him for real.At this thought, Kisame Hoshigaki made a decision without hesitation—Turn around and flee.In any case, the purpose of their trip was only to test Uzumaki Naruto's true strength; as long as they collected the intelligence, they could consider the mission accomplished.Even as a straightforward person, Kisame Hoshigaki knew there was no need to fight to the death with the enemy before him just for a test.Having made up his mind, Kisame retreated with utmost decisiveness, without the slightest hesitation.Only, as he turned to sprint away, Samehada, which had just retracted its spikes, still wriggled its body a few times reluctantly in Naruto's direction.It looked just like a gluttonous shark being forcibly dragged away from a delicious school of fish.However, this little movement made Kisame Hoshigaki even more wary, and the speed at which he treaded water increased slightly.That tall figure, in almost an instant, turned into a bobbing black dot and completely disappeared into the end of the vast expanse of water.This all sounds long, but it actually happened in an instant.By the time Naruto snapped out of his surprise, he only heard the rapid pitter-patter of footsteps on water fading away quickly."Is it over?"Naruto blinked his eyes in confusion.Although even in the end, he didn't fully understand why Samehada would suddenly turn on its master.But the hard facts were right there: the incredibly strong Kisame Hoshigaki had just inexplicably run away.At this, Naruto let out a long sigh of relief.Kisame Hoshigaki's strength far exceeded his prior estimates; if he really had to fight to the end regardless of everything, he didn't have a certain grasp of victory.And, more importantly—"Pervy Sage said that members of the Akatsuki Organization always Move in pairs and never appear alone."Naruto's mind raced: "Uchiha Itachi never showed his face from start to finish. That can only mean one thing: he is currently dealing with someone else."This thought flashed by, and Naruto already understood the logic behind it.He suddenly turned around, no longer looking in the direction where Kisame Hoshigaki had disappeared, but instead strode off at his fastest speed back toward the town.If Kisame Hoshigaki ran, he ran; he wasn't the target anyway.From beginning to end, the person Naruto was truly looking for was only Uchiha Itachi!"Bastard! Just you wait!"Naruto's figure turned into a bolt of lightning skimming across the water, carrying a surge of anger as he flew away....Mudansuku Town.The bustling street that was filled with lights and people just a short while ago had now become empty, without a single soul in sight.Several of those colorful neon signs had already shattered and hung down, flickering with dim, residual light that reflected off the broken tiles and charcoal on the ground.Two figures stood atop their respective dilapidated buildings, facing each other from across the messy street.Around them, large swaths of houses had been razed to the ground during their brief but fierce exchange, turning into charred ruins emitting blue smoke.It was precisely the terrifying destructive power generated by their battle that had scared the people on the entire street into fleeing in panic, hurriedly leaving this district that could be leveled at any moment, resulting in the current deathly silence."The surrounding area should be completely cleared out by now."Jiraiya stood with one hand on his hip, his white hair blowing in the breeze.His eyes, which were usually lecherous, were now as calm as a deep pool, without a hint of a joke."Yes."Atop the broken wall opposite him, Uchiha Itachistood straight, his voice so cold that not a single ripple of emotion could be heard."Then I'll speak plainly," Jiraiya's casual expression slowly faded as his gaze sharply locked onto the other, "Why did you appear in the Village before? And why did you lay such a cruel hand on Sasuke?""The reason is simple," Uchiha Itachi fell silent for a moment before answering succinctly, "I am about to die."
Chapter 132: Stay Right There, You Bastard"I am dying."Uchiha Itachi's reply was brief to the extreme, his tone as calm as water, as if he were not discussing his own life and death, but some trivial matter unrelated to him."What?"Jiraiya's already grave expression darkened further upon hearing those words.As someone who had spent years traveling the Ninja World to gather intelligence, he had naturally heard rumors that Uchiha Itachi was in poor health.But the fact that it had reached the point of near-death was far beyond his expectations.Had this man's physical condition really deteriorated to such an extent?Yet, judging from their brief exchange just now, every one of Uchiha Itachi's movements remained sharp and elegant, and the oppressive aura of his Sharingan had not faded in the slightest; he did not look at all like a dying man in his final moments.However, Uchiha Itachi ignored the shock on Jiraiya's face and continued in that same placid tone: "My Mangekyo Sharingan places an extremely heavy burden on the body of its wielder.""Every time I use this power, it erodes my remaining life. The only way to avoid this side effect is to transplant the Mangekyo Sharingan of a blood relative."At this point, he paused slightly, and in those scarlet eyes, there was finally a trace of an almost imperceptible, near-paranoid fluctuation."Therefore, I need Sasuke to grow up quickly, even if it means using the most brutal methods to force his growth!"Before his voice had even faded, Uchiha Itachi's usually indifferent, cold face suddenly became ferocious, and the Three-Tomoe patterns in his pupils spun rapidly.His figure flashed against the broken wall illuminated by the embers, and he vanished from the spot in an instant.Jiraiya's breathing tightened abruptly.Driven almost entirely by instinct, he whipped his white hair forcefully while rapidly forming hand signs.Ninjutsu: Needle Jizo!That wild, long hair grew violently under the infusion of Chakra, wrapping Jiraiya up completely, airtight.Immediately, each strand of white hair hardened and stood up like countless sharp steel needles, forming a shield of needles filled with murderous intent, looking just like a hedgehog protecting itself.Any enemy who dared to charge head-on into this barrier would undoubtedly be pierced with ten thousand transparent holes.Uchiha Itachi, however, seemed to have foreseen Jiraiya's move and stopped steadily in front of him.He did not launch any taijutsu attacks, nor did he form hand signs; he simply opened his eyes wide, meeting Jiraiya's gaze.In those scarlet Sharingan eyes, the Three-Tomoespun crazily at an unprecedented speed, eventually blurring and merging into a pinwheel pattern.Tsukuyomi!Alarm bells rang in Jiraiya's mind, and the moment he realized something was wrong, he immediately closed his eyes.But by the time he realized it, it was already too late.Jiraiya felt his vision blur for a fleeting instant, as if the light and shadow of the entire world had been sucked away for a fraction of a second.When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the real world from just before, but in a bizarre black-and-white negative space."This is my mental space." Uchiha Itachi appeared beside Jiraiya without warning, his tone still calm and waveless. "A single instant in the outside world is a full three days here."In this pitch-black world, everything was reduced to pale outlines, looking eerie and chilling.Just as Jiraiya swallowed hard, thinking the other party had truly defected, Uchiha Itachi bowed slightly."There is likely a monitor from the Akatsuki Organization near me. Therefore, I can only convey the true intelligence to you within this mental world, Lord Jiraiya."..."Ah!!!"A moment later, Jiraiya let out a scream.The Needle Jizo that had been covering him, tensed to the limit, suddenly went limp.The head of white hair, hardened like steel needles, lost the support of Chakra and hung down weakly.Jiraiya's burly body trembled violently, he fell heavily to one knee, and panted heavily.He barely managed to raise his head, sweat dripping down his temples, and looked at Uchiha Itachi not far ahead.In Jiraiya's eyes, there was clearly discernible anger and dissatisfaction.This bastard... isn't he being a bit too cautious?To prevent any potential monitors hiding in the shadows from seeing through the ruse, after exchanging information in the Tsukuyomi space, Uchiha Itachi had actually gone ahead and mercilessly stabbed himself dozens of times!The intense mental pain was something even Jiraiya, who always prided himself on being a tough guy, couldn't withstand without screaming out.However, the effect was indeed perfect.Jiraiya's current agonizing appearance was mostly a genuine physical reaction, with only a tiny fraction being a performance to go along with the situation.If there really were a monitor watching with wide eyes, it would be almost impossible for them to find any flaws in it."Ugh!"On the other side, Uchiha Itachi was definitely not having an easy time either.Accompanied by a tightly suppressed grunt, his figure swayed, he stumbled back two steps, and then likewise fell to one knee.The color drained from Uchiha Itachi's face as if in an instant, becoming visibly pale, and his thin body trembled uncontrollably.After casting Tsukuyomi, this body, already suffering from a terminal illness, became even more precarious.The necessary intelligence had been exchanged, and his body had reached its limit; it was time to leave.Uchiha Itachi let out a long breath, leaped into the distance, and made a gesture of retreat.But just before he landed, an angry voice rang out abruptly like a thunderclap."Vibration Style: Spiral Suction Sphere!"Uchiha Itachi and Jiraiya, who was still kneeling on one knee, were both shocked.Both turned their heads abruptly, looking toward the source of the voice.They saw Naruto's figure, who had arrived at some unknown time, standing on a high ground at the edge of the ruins.His pupils were burning with intense flames of anger, his right hand raised high, and he hurled a rapidly spinning sphere of light fiercely toward Uchiha Itachi, who was in mid-air and about to leave the battlefield."A Rasengan that can be thrown? And judging by that name, this kid actually added Vibration Release Chakra into it too?"Jiraiya widened his eyes in disbelief, waves of shock surging in his heart.He remembered that Naruto's training had only just entered the third stage, and theoretically, he shouldn't be able to use the Rasengan yet.Yet this kid had not only learned it, but had even developed a nature transformation for it?At the same moment, after the azure Chakrasphere left his hand, it suddenly erupted with a violently unmatched invisible suction force.This place had already turned into a chaotic ruin from the previous battle, with broken bricks, snapped beams, and countless charred rubble scattered everywhere.At this moment, under the frantic pull of this overbearing suction, these things flew up into the air from all directions, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, converging toward the high-speed rotating sphere of light.The booming sounds of impact and friction merged into one, and in the blink of an eye, the sphere of light expanded rapidly, turning into a giant ball with a diameter of five or six meters, compressed from countless pieces of rubble and debris.This sphere flew over rapidly, not only blocking Uchiha Itachi's retreat path tight and fast, but also carrying a destructive force of immense weight, smashing over fiercely amidst the dust-filled air.At the same time, Naruto also used the continuously erupting pulling force of the Spiral Suction Sphere to sweep across the ruins at extreme speed, heading straight for the center of the battlefield."Stay right there, you bastard!"Naruto locked his gaze tightly onto Uchiha Itachi, without a half-second of deviation.Chapter 133: I'm Going to Smash That Smug Face of Yours!"Stay right here—you bastard!"Naruto's roar exploded across the ruins.Utilizing the brutal pulling force of the Vibration Style: Spiral Suction Sphere, he shot through the air like a streak of golden lightning cleaving through the smoke and dust, landing steadily in the very center of the battlefield.The massive sphere, formed by the forced compression of countless bricks and rubble, was still roaring as it rolled forward.Naruto stood atop this behemoth, looking down at Uchiha Itachi below.Facing the sphere as it barreled toward him with crushing momentum, Uchiha Itachi's expression remained perfectly calm; he had no intention of taking the hit head-on.He channeled Chakra to the soles of his feet, twisted his body in mid-air, and planted his feet firmly against the uneven surface of the sphere, moving as if he were on flat ground.Under the impact of the rapid airflow, the hem of his black cloak with red clouds fluttered violently.Uchiha Itachi looked up, his scarlet Sharingangazing indifferently at Naruto."I didn't expect you to be able to escape from Kisame Hoshigaki."There was a hint of faint, imperceptible surprise in Uchiha Itachi's voice.His gaze swept over Naruto's entire body, as if gauging the strength of the person before him.Before the operation began, Uchiha Itachi had indeed instructed Kisame Hoshigaki that this trip was merely a probe; the Akatsuki Organization's official plan had not yet started, and they were not truly there to take away the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.Yet, even so, Kisame Hoshigaki was, after all, an S-rank rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist Village, and his ferocity in battle was far beyond that of an ordinary Jonin.For Naruto to shake off that troublesome shark in such a short time, and even rush to the battlefield between him and Jiraiya without pausing, was remarkable.This alone was enough to show just how outstanding this boy truly was."Escape?"Naruto let out a scoff from his nose, his lips curling upward in disdain.His azure eyes surged with scorching flames: "I'll return those words right back to you and that shark-man! You two are the spineless cowards who only know how to tuck tail and run!"Naruto raised his hand and jabbed his thumb hard against his own chest, the anger in his tone almost sparking: "However, that shark-face can run all he wants.""But you—Uchiha Itachi—I will absolutely not let you go!""How interesting."Uchiha Itachi remained unmoved, replying in that same unchanging, indifferent tone.However, beneath his calm exterior, a trace of faint doubt couldn't help but rise in his heart.The Akatsuki Organization did indeed intend to target the Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts, but the hunting operation for the Tailed Beasts had not yet begun, and the two sides had never had a truly irreconcilable conflict. Logically, it shouldn't have been enough to make Naruto hate him to this extent.Furthermore, judging by what the boy just said, he seemed to have come specifically for him alone.Yet, in Uchiha Itachi's memory, he had never had any personal feud with him."This punch—"Naruto had no interest in wasting any more words; he clenched his five fingers tightly, his knuckles popping with a series of sharp cracks.Instantly, he turned into a rushing afterimage, stepping on the rolling surface of the sphere as he lunged straight at Uchiha Itachi.He raised his right fist high, the wind of his punch tearing through the air with a sharp hiss, but his roar struck Uchiha Itachi's face even before the punch did:"Is for Sasuke!"Sasuke?The moment this name reached his ears, Uchiha Itachi realized.That's right, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is Sasuke's classmate and teammate.So that was it; the reason this boy held such deep hostility toward him was because of his younger brother.Thoughts surged through Uchiha Itachi's mind, but the Three-Tomoe in his eyes began to spin rapidly at the same moment.He had just used Tsukuyomi on Jiraiya, and given his current physical condition, he could not use the Mangekyo Sharingan's ocular jutsu again in such a short time.Fortunately, although Naruto's offensive was fierce, it was clearly driven by an impulse to vent his anger.Therefore, he didn't use Ninjutsu, but chose to use Taijutsu to deal with him.And the advantage of the Sharingan in Taijutsu went without saying!Thus, both of them channeled Chakra to their feet, firmly adhering to the massive, constantly rotating and rolling sphere.With punches and kicks exchanged, the two figures darted and maneuvered across the uneven surface, their movements so fast they almost blurred into two colliding afterimages.In the midst of the chaotic battle, they not only had to constantly fight against the invisible pulling force beneath their feet but also had to divert their attention to dodge the debris of buildings being dragged in from all directions by the suction.The muffled sound of fists striking flesh, the explosive sound of brick and stone fragments colliding, the roaring of the rolling and rotating sphere...For a time, the sounds rose and fell, and the two were locked in a fierce, evenly matched battle.In the distance, Jiraiya knelt on a broken wall, gritting his teeth as he focused on regulating his breath, trying his best to alleviate the mental shock suffered in the Tsukuyomi space, while his eyes were wide open, staring intently at the two figures locked in fierce combat atop the giant sphere.In his heart, shock surged like a giant wave.Naruto was actually able to go head-to-head with Uchiha Itachi, who possessed the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, in a direct Taijutsu clash, and was not showing the slightest disadvantage?How many more surprises could this boy bring him?As the opponent fighting Naruto head-on, the surprise in Uchiha Itachi's heart was even more intense than Jiraiya's, who was watching from afar.However, his surprise was not just because this boy could keep up with him, a Sharingan user.It was more because there wasn't a shred of hesitation or wavering in Naruto's gaze from beginning to end.Sasuke… is he that important to him?Uchiha Itachi found it somewhat incomprehensible.Since childhood, he had worn the dazzling halo of a Genius, spending only a short year at the Ninja Academy before skipping grades to graduate.After forming a squad with two passerby teammates, within just a few months, one had died and the other had retired.The so-called camaraderie and bonds between teammates had never appeared in his life.Afterward, Uchiha Itachi entered the Anbu, and not long after, he was transferred to the Root organization under Danzo, spending his days surrounded by darkness and conspiracy.After the night of the clan massacre, he defected from Konoha and joined the Akatsuki, having since changed two partners.His first teammate, Biwa Jūzō, died in a mission not long after.And his second teammate, Kisame Hoshigaki, could be considered the companion Uchiha Itachihad spent the most time with.But he knew very well that although Kisame Hoshigaki was polite and respectful to him on the surface, he was always harboring ulterior motives deep down, and was never a companion to whom he could entrust his back.Thinking carefully, apart from Uchiha Shisui, he, Uchiha Itachi, seemed to have never truly had any friends in his life.Therefore, at this moment, seeing Naruto standing alone before him, having suffered injuries for Sasuke's sake, with scorching anger burning in his eyes, he couldn't help but feel surprised.But at the same time, Uchiha Itachi was also assessing Naruto's will during the exchange.In the end, he smiled.The smile was extremely faint and light, almost just the slight arc of his lips curving upward.Being able to have such a companion, Sasukeshould be able to live a little better after killing him.Uchiha Itachi felt comforted; being able to have such a companion, perhaps Sasuke could live a little better after killing him with his own hands in the future.However, this smile of his was keenly captured by Naruto.In Naruto's eyes, this was nothing short of mockery, so he let out a cold shout:"I'm going to smash that smug face of yours!"However, while roaring, the anger on his face completely vanished, replaced by extreme focus.Naruto gripped his hands into claws at his sides, palms facing upward, and two dazzling azure spheres of Chakra simultaneously condensed and appeared in his left and right palms.This was a Move he had conceived in his mind while fighting Kisame Hoshigaki earlier.It was just because Samehada had suddenly turned against its master, and Kisame Hoshigakihad run away so decisively, that he hadn't been able to use this Move.Now, facing Uchiha Itachi, who was more dangerous and infuriating than Kisame Hoshigaki, this was the perfect opportunity to unleash the power of this Move!Of course, this time, Naruto still couldn't manage to execute this Move.Because just as the two light spheres in his palms were about to take shape, Uchiha Itachi, having caught his breath, had already begun to focus his mind.In those eyes, scarlet as blood, the Three-Tomoespun so fast they blurred, the afterimages once again stitching together into a shuriken pattern."Tsukuyomi!"
Chapter 134: Let the World Tremble for MeTsukuyomi!Naruto, who was about to make a move, froze for a second.In front of him, Uchiha Itachi's eyes widened.In those blood-red eyes, the Three-Tomoe pattern blurred as it spun rapidly, transforming into a pitch-black Windmill Pattern.The moment he saw that, alarm bells rang in Naruto's mind, realizing something was wrong.After all, he and Sasuke were teammates, and he knew that the Sharingan could trigger genjutsu through eye contact.But Naruto never expected the opponent's genjutsu to come so quickly.He didn't even have time to react before his vision blurred for an instant.By the time the world before him became clear again, Naruto found that he had left the real world and was now in a strange space.Everything here was pitch black, as if thick ink had been splashed and soaked into the entire world.In the pitch-black space, everything seemed to be outlined in chalk, distinguishable only by pale lines, as if forced into a black-and-white negative film.Naruto instinctively wanted to turn his head to observe this strange world closely.But after a slight movement, he found that he couldn't move at all.Looking down, he realized that he had been tied firmly to a Cross at some point, with rough ropes binding his body tightly."This is my mental world." Just as Naruto was frowning and thinking about how to break free, Uchiha Itachi's figure appeared before him without warning.His tone was cold and steady: "Every factor in this space, including time, location, and mass, is under my control.""A mental space? Quite interesting." Naruto stared at Uchiha Itachi, who was close at hand, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. "But is this all you've got?"Uchiha Itachi seemed not to hear Naruto's words, continuing his explanation in a chillingly calm tone: "Here, the pain you endure is exactly the same as the pain you would suffer in the real world."Before he finished speaking, he slowly raised his right hand.A long sword with simple lines appeared in his palm and was then thrust straight into Naruto's body."Hiss—"The pain of the blade piercing through flesh surged clearly into his brain, making Naruto gasp.It had been too long since he had endured such pure, unbuffered pain.In the real world, Naruto had long been accustomed to mobilizing the Hamon in his body to alleviate pain the moment he took damage.But in this mental space, he could only use his will to endure every stab."Spending a full three days in this space is only an instant in the outside world."Uchiha Itachi continued in a despairingly flat tone, as if reading a sentence to Naruto.At the same time, another Uchiha Itachi emerged silently, also holding a long sword.Without any extra movement, the sharp blade smoothly sank into Naruto's body.A second surge of intense pain followed, stacking with the lingering pain from the first stab in his nerve endings, surging into an even more violent wave.The two sharp pains intertwined and collided within him, finally making Naruto unable to help but knit his brows.No wonder the Pervy Sage looked so physically spent just now, and even after Naruto had fought Uchiha Itachi for so long, that guy never stood up to help.Naruto thought he had been ambushed in a woman's bed and became so pathetic because he had exhausted too much energy.Looking at it now, that guy must have been here too, enduring long-lasting torture, which is why he was weakened to that state. It seems he had misunderstood him.But Naruto immediately made excuses for himself in his heart.This isn't entirely my fault. Who told that guy to always think with his lower half, looking like he'd eventually die on a woman's belly!Naruto sniffled, pushing his slight guilt toward Jiraiya, along with those distracting thoughts, out of his mind.The pain continued, but he forced himself to calm down, his mind racing as he continued to think.Uchiha Itachi possessed such powerful genjutsu, yet after dealing with Jiraiya, he didn't take the opportunity to kill him, but instead made a gesture of retreating.When fighting him, he also engaged in a long struggle before activating this move, rather than taking action at the very beginning.All this could only mean one thing: this move placed an enormous burden on the body, so great that even Uchiha Itachi had to use it sparingly.Furthermore, after Tsukuyomi ended, his own combat strength would surely be significantly affected.In that case, as long as I endure until the three days of torture end and attack the moment I regain consciousness, victory will be mine!The only problem now was how to survive these three days.Naruto gritted his teeth, calculating in his heart, while also feeling some regret.His Stand, [Sun Echo], could only be activated by relying on Hamon.The sealed space where the Nine-Tailed resided was deep within his body, which was why he could use Hamon and his Stand there.But now he was in someone else's mental space, unable to mobilize even a shred of Hamon, so naturally, there was no way to summon his Stand.Sigh, if only I could summon a Stand like Star Platinum, which possesses precise movements and heroic strength.Naruto grumbled inwardly while looking up at Uchiha Itachi.In those deep blue eyes, there was still a fiery glow, without the slightest fear or hesitation.Another long sword was thrust into his abdomen. This time, after the blade pierced through the flesh, the wrist holding the hilt twisted it fiercely.The intense pain of the blade churning in his intestines surged unreservedly into Naruto's brain.This kind of pain was enough to make even the toughest man let out a heart-wrenching scream.However, Naruto did not; he didn't even let out a grunt.From the moment the first sword pierced his body until now, Naruto had maintained this noble posture.Uchiha Itachi couldn't help but frown.If not for seeing Naruto's body trembling slightly and uncontrollably due to the intense pain.He might have been tempted to suspect that this guy was born without pain receptors.However, this discovery brought Uchiha Itachi no comfort at all.Because the trembling of Naruto's body proved that he indeed felt the pain.It was just that his will was too resilient, enough to swallow all the bone-scraping pain into his stomach, refusing to let even a sliver of sound escape from between his teeth.Of course, even as he marveled at Naruto's will, Uchiha Itachi's hands did not stop for a moment.One phantom of Uchiha Itachi after another appeared, thrusting long swords into Naruto's body one by one, mechanically and coldly.The squelching sounds of flesh being pierced rose and fell like some cruel metronome, echoing continuously in this pitch-black space.There was no sun in the Tsukuyomi world, nor any timekeeping tools.Here, the passage of time could not be calculated at all.Naruto, however, used the pain as a ruler, silently counting stab after stab.It wasn't until he had been stabbed 102,103 times that he slowly spoke.Not to beg for mercy, but to ask a question: "What did you do to Sasuke?"Uchiha Itachi was still immersed in the mechanical stabbing motion, his sword halfway in.After a moment, he finally reacted: "What did you say?""This kind of pain is indeed a massive torment to the will; I have experienced it firsthand."Naruto's voice was hoarse and low, but after enduring over a day of torture, his will had not collapsed; instead, it had become even more resilient and overbearing."But I know Sasuke. He is definitely not the kind of coward who would refuse to wake up just because of mere pain!"Naruto's voice carried fury, as if the entire world were trembling because of his anger."You said it before, didn't you? Everything in this world is controlled by you. So what exactly did you do to him? Or rather, what did you make him see?"Uchiha Itachi's expression changed slightly.Because he realized it wasn't his imagination.The Tsukuyomi Space...was really trembling!
Chapter 135: I Must Thank You for Your 'Help'Feeling the vibrations coming from all directions, Uchiha Itachi's brow furrowed.On that face, which was usually as calm as a deep well, a rare expression mixed with astonishment and confusion emerged.Since awakening these Mangekyo Sharingan eyes six years ago, he had never seen anyone capable of shaking this Tsukuyomi space.No, let alone shaking it—no one had ever even escaped it!Just what kind of power did this Nine-Tails Jinchuriki possess to be able to do such a thing?Compared to the shock churning in Uchiha Itachi's heart, Naruto, the culprit, appeared excessively calm.He remained tied to that cross, his lips curled into a faint, knowing smile as he looked over."How about an equivalent exchange?" Naruto tilted his head, his voice raspy but carrying a certain undeniable certainty. "You satisfy my curiosity, and I'll satisfy yours."Uchiha Itachi remained silent, the pinwheel patterns in his eyes spinning slowly.A moment later, feeling the vibrations grow increasingly intense, he finally spoke: "It's nothing. I'm just making him relive that night repeatedly.""That night?" Naruto frowned, his eyes filled with confusion."Heh," Uchiha Itachi chuckled low, asking coldly in return, "Hasn't he told you?""I'm not that tactless," Naruto said, pursing his lips."So," Uchiha Itachi raised an eyebrow, his crimson Sharingan locking onto Naruto with a scrutinizing gaze, "As Sasuke's close friend, you never thought to investigate his past? With your abilities, finding those things out wouldn't be difficult."Naruto shook his head, his tone simple yet powerful: "I'm waiting for him to open his heart to me on his own.""Hmph," Uchiha Itachi lowered his gaze, his voice carrying a hint of contempt, yet also a complex emotion that was hard to decipher. "In that case, your friendship with him is still only on the surface.""You really don't know how to talk to people," Naruto sighed as well, a nonchalant smile on his face. "I have no interest in 'deep exchanges' with other men; that's just disgusting."Uchiha Itachi ignored his banter and spoke in a flat tone: "On a certain night five years ago, the Uchiha Clan was slaughtered to the last person, leaving only Sasuke as the survivor and me as the murderer."He tilted his head slightly, his Sharingan full of indifference: "That is the night I have made Sasukeexperience countless times in this space.""I see..." Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Wiping out your own clan, torturing Sasuke..."He looked up, staring at Uchiha Itachi. "Do you have no human heart, you animal?""I am quite curious," Uchiha Itachi didn't answer, instead calmly posing another question. "If one day Sasuke were to defect from Konoha, what would you, who believes yourself to have a human heart, do?""That day will never come," Naruto said without a shred of hesitation, his voice calm yet decisive.His words were filled with unquestionable confidence in Sasuke.Unmoved, Uchiha Itachi continued to press: "If one day Sasuke returns, bringing hatred and power to attack Konoha, what would you do then? Would you kill him to protect the Village?"Naruto didn't hesitate, shrugging his shoulders as he said, "I'd join him."Uchiha Itachi was stunned.The answer was so blunt that it overturned his previous judgment of Naruto."Why?" he asked subconsciously, his tone wavering for the first time. "Are you not a Ninja of Konoha? You should have deep feelings for Konoha, so why would you help Sasuke destroy the Village you cherish?""A Village exists to protect people; it's just an external manifestation of the bonds people share with one another."Naruto met Uchiha Itachi's gaze without yielding. "If I have to discard the people truly connected to me just to protect the empty shell of a 'Village,' then that's putting the cart before the horse."After saying this, he broke into a grin. "Besides, I believe in Sasuke. He would never do such a thing."Believe?Uchiha Itachi slowly withdrew his gaze.He stood there in silence, expressionless, like a frozen statue."Hmph," Naruto snorted through his nose seeing that he had stopped talking. "The answer to that question just now was a free gift.""You are quite generous," Uchiha Itachi turned his head to look at him again, his tone as indifferent as before."Because," Naruto slowly lifted his face, his azure eyes shining with startling brightness, "even though I hate you from the bottom of my heart—so much that I wish I could punch you in the face right now—I also have to thank you."As he spoke, a Shockwave far stronger than before erupted violently from Naruto's body.The entire Tsukuyomi space trembled frantically, teetering as if it might collapse at any moment."Every element in this space is under your control: time, space, mass..."Naruto's voice rang out calmly, exceptionally clear amidst the vibrating space."During the day or so I've spent here, in order to resist your genjutsu, I had to deeply experience and understand them...""So thanks to you!" Naruto grinned widely, full of high spirits. "My Stand has completely matured with your 'help'!"Stand?Hearing this completely unfamiliar term, Uchiha Itachi's pupils constricted, and he instinctively wanted to ask.But before he could utter a single word, the Shockwave became even more powerful.Even the restraints on Naruto's body had been broken at some unknown point.With a thunderous boom, the Tsukuyomi space began to crumble....!!!Naruto and Uchiha Itachi both snapped their eyes open at the same instant.Having woken up, the two were still standing on the massive, constantly rotating sphere.The sound of the wind rushing past and the roar of the sphere rolling flooded back into their ears.In the distance, Jiraiya's expression shifted slightly at the sight.Though his spirit had not yet recovered, he forced himself to Stand up, gritting his teeth as he prepared to rush forward to support Naruto.Although he knew Uchiha Itachi was a spy planted by Konoha inside the Akatsuki Organization, Naruto looked ready to risk his life to keep the other party there. How could Uchiha Itachi easily make a clean escape?Moreover, that man was capable of stabbing himself dozens of times in the Tsukuyomi space just to make the act look real. To shake off Naruto's pursuit, he might not hesitate to strike Narutoruthlessly.However, in the next second, a scene beyond Jiraiya's expectations occurred.Uchiha Itachi let out a muffled groan, his body swaying violently before he fell heavily onto one knee on the sphere's surface.His face, already as pale as paper, was now devoid of any color. Sweat dripped from his chin, and his body trembled uncontrollably.While Naruto on the opposite side was also swaying, he managed to steady himself, his condition actually appearing much better than Uchiha Itachi's."Oh no! I can't let him kill Uchiha Itachi!"Jiraiya didn't have time for much else. He leaped, his tall frame cutting a blur through the air as he landed on the giant sphere, then took a quick step to move beside Naruto.He reached out his arm, making a gesture as if to support Naruto, but in reality, he used his own body to block Naruto's path.With Jiraiya blocking him, Naruto's poised offensive was forced to a halt for a beat.Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish Technique!With a dull sound of breaking earth, Kisame Hoshigaki's pale blue shark-like face burst out from the ground of the ruins below without warning.He seemed to have timed it perfectly, giving no one a chance to react. A large hand accurately grabbed Uchiha Itachi by the back of his collar, pulling him to his side.Immediately, the two of them sank into the soil together, vanishing beneath the surface in an instant.Naruto's pupils shrank, and he instinctively moved to give chase.But at that moment, an overburdened groan came from beneath his feet.The Spiral Suction Sphere, which had been maintained for a long time, finally exhausted all the Chakra within it.As the suction dissipated, the bricks and rubble that had been forcibly drawn in lost their restraint, collapsing downward with a crash.Billowing dust soared into the sky, and Naruto's pursuit was hindered by this rain of stones.By the time the floating dust had temporarily settled and his vision cleared, the two had already left the range of Hamon's perception."Dammit, I let him get away!"Naruto slapped his thigh, his face full of regret.
Chapter 136: Showing You Something Fun"Hey, I say, I'm clearly the one who should be complaining, okay? Why do you have such a long face, kid?"In the hotel room, Jiraiya slumped into a soft leather armchair. Glancing at Naruto, who stood before the floor-to-ceiling window with a face as grim as still water and arms crossed, he finally couldn't help but curl his lip and complain.His face bore clear dissatisfaction. His eyes, usually carefree, now cast an extremely resentful gaze that kept lingering on Naruto, looking much like a deeply wronged little wife.Half a day had passed since that fierce battle with Uchiha Itachi.After this brief and perilous encounter, both the battle-hardened Jiraiya and the sharp-instincted Naruto had reached the same conclusion—The duo of Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigakiwould definitely not show themselves again anytime soon.In other words, the plan to use Naruto as bait to lure Uchiha Itachi back out had, judging by the results, been a complete failure.Of course, that was only from Naruto's perspective.Jiraiya's true objective for this trip wasn't to capture Uchiha Itachi at all, but to secretly make contact with this spy lurking within the Akatsuki Organization.This was to find out why he suddenly appeared in Konoha, why he attacked Sasuke, and to gather intelligence on the Akatsuki Organization.From this point of view, Jiraiya's mission could be called a complete success; all objectives had been achieved.However, he couldn't bring himself to be happy right now, for a very simple reason: the losses from this trip were far too great.You see, after meeting Uchiha Itachi, the two had fought a half-real, half-fake battle to clear the area of bystanders as quickly as possible and create a space where they could talk freely.The scope of that brief and violent clash was so broad that it covered two blocks of Botanshu-machi. Large swaths of houses were leveled and turned into charred ruins.According to Jiraiya's usual style, he would have just greased his soles and run away after the fight. After all, given his strength and status, no one would dare come looking for him to settle such a messy account.But he never expected that after the battle, Narutowouldn't just turn and run with him. Instead, the kid stayed behind of his own accord, found the owners of the destroyed buildings, and honestly paid them compensation.Of course, paying compensation was one thing.Jiraiya told himself that if Naruto was willing to be the sucker and use his own pocket money to clean up the mess, he would have absolutely no objection.But...But when this kid was shelling out the money, why did he take out this Immortal's bankbook?!That was a lifetime's worth of savings that this Immortal had risked his life to accumulate!Inside was not just the hard-earned blood money from completing S-rank missions at the risk of his life, but also his heart's blood from royalties, written character by character at his desk through countless sleepless nights!Every time he recalled the long string of zeros that used to pack the bankbook, and then thought about the pitiful six-digit figure left now, Jiraiyacouldn't help but feel a tightness in his chest and a desire to weep without tears."A long face? Do I?"Hearing Jiraiya's grievance-filled accusation, Naruto, who had been standing by the window, finally turned around.There wasn't a hint of guilt on his face. On the contrary, he looked perfectly composed, even a bit innocent: "I was just looking at the scenery."It would have been fine if he hadn't mentioned the "scenery," but at the mention of it, the muscles at the corner of Jiraiya's mouth began to twitch uncontrollably again.They were currently in the top-floor suite of the most luxurious hotel in Botanshu-machi.Standing before that massive floor-to-ceiling window, one could take in the most beautiful night view of the entire town.This room itself didn't cost a penny, not because it was booked with money, but because it was a complimentary gift from a grateful hotel owner after Naruto compensated the merchants for their losses.However, the wool still comes from the sheep's back; in the end, Jiraiya was the one who tearfully footed the bill for everything."What's there to see?" Jiraiya rolled his eyes irritably and turned his head away. "We've been in this dump for several days now. Haven't you seen enough?"Seeing his endless nagging, Naruto blinked, walked a few steps away from the window, and spread his hands. "Are you done yet? Didn't I give you all my money to make up for it?"If he hadn't said that, it might have been fine, but hearing it made Jiraiya even more furious. He slapped the armrest in distress. "That little bit of money of yours isn't even worth a fraction of the zeros in this Immortal's bankbook!""But wasn't this whole thing clearly caused by you?" Naruto yawned long and replied listlessly. "I just did something you should have done for you. You should be thanking me instead.""It's not like that..."Jiraiya slumped moodily into the large leather chair, like a large dog with wet fur, staring dejectedly at the bright lights outside the window, no longer in the mood to appreciate any of it.Seeing his pitiful state, Naruto curled his lip and slowly strolled over to Jiraiya's side. "Alright, alright, don't be unhappy, Pervy Sage. The money's already spent anyway. It's not like we can go door-to-door and ask for it back, right?"Then, as if thinking of something, Naruto reached out a hand, patted his teacher's broad shoulder, and said with a grin, "Come, let me show you something good.""What goo—"Jiraiya feebly lifted his eyelids, but before he could finish his sentence, it was abruptly cut off by a sudden anomaly.From Naruto's palm resting on his shoulder, a strange vibration surged into his body without warning.His whole body shook violently and uncontrollably, his upper and lower teeth chattering together, forcing the rest of his words back down his throat.A moment later, the palm finally moved away.Jiraiya felt a wave of dizziness; the world before his eyes began to spin.He hurriedly reached out with both hands to steady himself against the swaying table in front of him, gasping for air. "Heh... heh... heh..."After finally recovering a bit, Jiraiya snapped his head up, his face filled with rage and disbelief. "You brat, what on earth are you doing?!""Thanks to Uchiha Itachi's Tsukuyomi," Narutowithdrew his hand, a hint of cunning and excitement in his smile. "It's a little new ability I just realized.""A new ability?" Jiraiya frowned, rubbing his still-throbbing temples as he couldn't help but press for more."That's right." Naruto nodded and tilted his head to observe him, his eyes filled with expectation. "First, tell me, how do you feel right now?""Feel?" Jiraiya shook his head vigorously. "Terrible... I want to throw up..."He weighed his words, his frown deepening. "It's like being stuffed into a giant drum and spun around for a long time. My whole body doesn't hurt, but my mind is in total turmoil."He looked up, his gaze sharpening. "This is an ability of your Vibration Release, isn't it? But if it's only to this extent, it's nothing to be surprised—""No, I didn't use Vibration Release just now," Naruto interrupted him. "This is a pure mental attack. The dizziness, discomfort, and nausea you feel all come from a mental vibration. In reality, your body hasn't sustained any physical damage.""What?" Jiraiya's eyes instantly bugged out, his resentment replaced by shock in that moment. "This... this is an ability you realized from Tsukuyomi? It's equivalent to... no, this is essentially a type of mental-shock genjutsu?""You could pretty much understand it that way." Naruto nodded, confirming his suspicion. "However, this ability has a major limitation: it must be activated through direct physical contact. It's practically useless to the extreme."At this point, Naruto lowered his head slightly, his fingers slowly clenching into a fist. A spark of hope ignited deep in his pupils. "But... if I use it to wake up Sasuke, it might be very effective."