"Itachi, I'm being sincere."
As Sarutobi Hiruzen watched Itachi prepare to leave, he spoke once more.
"Hm, I know. But it's too late now. Too many things have already happened, and there's no turning back."
Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Itachi didn't turn back and spoke softly.
At this point, saying these things... what's the point?
"Is there truly no room for negotiation…?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's aura shifted upon hearing Itachi's resolute words.
A sharp presence emerged, like an unsheathed sword.
His chakra surged and rippled.
…
Sensing Sarutobi Hiruzen's chakra surging, Itachi stopped in his tracks.
"Are you planning to fight me, Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
Itachi spoke calmly, addressing him by name.
Since Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to drop all pretenses, Itachi no longer felt the need to call him "Hokage."
"After everything absurd that has happened, now you want me to return? I can't even see the road back anymore…"
Itachi slowly turned his head and looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen as he spoke.
A silver glow began to rise.
Silver and red burst forth.
It enveloped Itachi, and the phantom of a massive red serpent emerged, its tongue flicking incessantly.
It coiled around Itachi's body.
…
"What is this?"
Watching the overwhelming chakra erupt from Itachi and his strange appearance, Sarutobi Hiruzen was shocked.
The silver serpents slithering in Itachi's eyes, the silvery eye shadow that looked almost solid, and the sinister, crimson, horned serpent exuding malice…
"I know Orochimaru very well… Sarutobi Hiruzen."
After finishing his sentence and seeing the stunned look on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face, Itachi's figure appeared right in front of him.
He threw a punch at the old face he had long found displeasing.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was sent flying by Itachi's punch, only to crack in midair and transform into a block of wood.
"Itachi, come back with me. Stop associating with that traitor Orochimaru."
Sarutobi Hiruzen reappeared not far away, speaking earnestly to Itachi.
A certain image flashed in his mind—Orochimaru…
…
Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's conflicted words, Itachi remained unfazed.
The silver serpents in his eyes flickered momentarily.
Then, Itachi's eyes turned a deep, blood-red.
His rebellious shuriken and pinwheel-like pattern rotated like gears.
Curved lines connected to tomoe spun, their design slightly unconventional.
The silver serpent elongated, coiling around the pinwheel as if trying to replace the unsightly curves. The serpent bit its own tail, forming an elegant circle.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was a powerful opponent with techniques that posed challenges even for Itachi.
To avoid any mishaps, Itachi immediately activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
Better safe than sorry.
…
Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen tore off his Hokage robe.
Beneath it, he wore a black, form-fitting combat suit.
A ninja hat sat atop his head, with green-layered shoulder guards attached to the sides. The back of the hat had an extended protective sash.
His shoulders bore silver armor connected to a backplate inscribed with the kanji for "fire."
He carried two vertical ninja tool pouches on his back, secured with a purple sash at his waist.
His forearms and calves were covered with mesh bracers, and his right arm had green-layered armor.
He was fully prepared for battle.
"So, were you planning to fight me all along, or do you just wear combat gear every day?"
Itachi looked at the well-prepared Sarutobi Hiruzen with a hint of sarcasm.
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't reply; his eyes were fixed on Itachi's lower body.
The overwhelming chakra emanating from Itachi made him realize he had underestimated him.
He hadn't expected Itachi to grow this strong.
Now, Sarutobi Hiruzen, no longer in his prime, had to avoid making eye contact with Itachi, which made him even more cautious.
He couldn't afford any distractions to speak.
…
Looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who seemed full of openings yet offered no viable targets, Itachi fell silent.
Truly a seasoned veteran.
Despite all the apparent flaws, there was no clear opportunity to strike.
--- After some thought, Itachi waved his arm, his sleeve flowing with the motion.
A storm of snake shadows surged toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
This was meant to disrupt Sarutobi's composure and serve as a warm-up.
Seeing Itachi employ a technique reminiscent of Orochimaru, Sarutobi's expression turned solemn.
Doubts naturally arose in his mind. He began speculating about the nature of Itachi's connection to Orochimaru.
While Sarutobi was momentarily distracted, he suddenly realized that Itachi's move was astonishingly fast, forcing him to suppress his thoughts immediately.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu."
Sarutobi hastily performed hand signs. As the swarm of snakes closed in, he could only execute a relatively weaker, lower-tier ninjutsu with fewer seals.
Though it was merely a C-rank jutsu, Sarutobi, a seasoned expert in ninjutsu, wielded it as if it were a high-level technique, augmenting it with his mastery of elemental and form manipulation. However, given the urgency of the situation, he couldn't refine its shape further.
The swarm of snakes collided with the fireball. To Sarutobi's astonishment, his Great Fireball proved no match.
Quickly ceasing his jutsu, he began forming new hand signs.
The flames dissipated swiftly, while the snake swarm seemed even more invigorated.
The densely packed, dual-colored snake horde was enough to make one's scalp tingle.
Just as the snakes were about to reach Sarutobi, Itachi halted his attack.
However, Sarutobi had already used the Substitution Jutsu, leaving only an empty shell in his place.
Itachi stepped lightly and moved away from his position.
As soon as Itachi left, a hand emerged from the ground where he had just been standing.
Sarutobi's harmless and seemingly nonlethal jutsu left Itachi deep in thought.
Without hesitation, Itachi opened his mouth and unleashed a massive fireball.
Compared to Sarutobi's earlier fireball, this one was overwhelmingly stronger.
The outstretched arm failed to grab Itachi's foot and instead faced the onslaught of a powerful flame.
Under Itachi's gaze, the arm turned into a puddle of mud.
This left Itachi momentarily stunned, making him feel as though he had been toyed with.
The precision with which Sarutobi, a veteran, timed his jutsus truly amazed Itachi.
It was so masterful that Itachi's Sharingan almost hurt from witnessing it.
Itachi landed and, without hesitation, charged toward Sarutobi, who stood at a distance where Itachi had ceased his attack.
However, just as Itachi activated the Body Flicker Jutsu, a deafening crack of thunder erupted near his ears.
"Lightning Style: Thunder Strike."
Sarutobi's voice came from behind him.
Itachi froze in confusion.
A sharp lightning spear, accompanied by scattered bolts, was unleashed from Sarutobi's mouth, shooting toward Itachi.
Itachi immediately recognized the jutsu. This was Sarutobi using the Shadow Clone Jutsu to summon a clone, which continuously gathered lightning chakra and channeled it into the ground, triggering a massive explosion.
For Sarutobi to perform this right under Itachi's nose left the latter thoroughly impressed and slightly unnerved.
"Damn that crafty Tobirama…"
After a brief silence, Itachi cursed Tobirama under his breath.
The ferocious lightning engulfed Itachi's body.
"Bang!"
A swarm of crows scattered in all directions.
Using the opportunity, Itachi maneuvered behind Sarutobi.
However, the figure in the shadows turned out to be yet another shadow clone of Sarutobi, which redirected its path at the last moment, forcing Itachi to act hastily.
"Impressive reflexes."
Sarutobi's faintly approving voice lingered in Itachi's ears.
The Sarutobi clone pierced through by Itachi dissolved into a pool of water yet again.