The decisive battle between the two brothers was witnessed by the other members of Team 7, Kakuzu, Kisame, and Jūzō.
Since the undercover identities had been revealed, everyone was on the same side, so naturally, there was no tension. They stood together to watch the battle.
Sasuke, having undergone Kageyama Kogetsu's special training, didn't counter Itachi in every aspect, but most of Itachi's techniques were rendered ineffective.
Both brothers were proficient in the basic techniques of the Uchiha clan. Having inherited them from the same ancestors, they couldn't break each other's moves.
Even if they added their own understanding and could break the moves, given their adaptability and foundation, it wouldn't be a deciding factor.
Itachi's Amaterasu was countered by Sasuke, who had learned the Lightning Release Armor.
Although Sasuke's Lightning Release Armor couldn't compare to the Third and Fourth Raikage's, with a significant gap in power, his fine chakra control was even stronger.
When Amaterasu hit the Lightning Release Armor, before it could burn through, Sasuke could strip away the part hit by Amaterasu, shedding it like armor.
Tsukuyomi was a powerful genjutsu, but Sasuke had undergone years of genjutsu training, the bitterness and pain of which were indescribable.
Let's put it this way: the evolution of Sasuke's Sharingan from one tomoe to two, and from two to three, was all carefully designed by Kageyama Kogetsu, transforming in environments that felt real.
Actually, it couldn't be entirely called an illusion. Kageyama Kogetsu had Sasuke repeat his experiences from the original story.
Seemingly illusory yet not, seemingly real yet not, it took Sasuke quite a while to walk out of it. Because he felt fortunate, he developed a heartfelt respect for his godfather, Kageyama Kogetsu.
Against Susanoo, Sasuke didn't choose to fight head-on but chose to use hit-and-run tactics to delay time.
Susanoo was too great a burden for most users because their chakra volume and dōjutsu power were not up to standard.
Clad in Lightning Release Armor and entering the first stage of Sage Mode, Sasuke was extremely fast. Forget the mobility of a half-body Susanoo; even if it grew legs, it would be hard to hit him.
Although Itachi had the two divine weapons, the Sword of Totsuka and the Yata Mirror, what use were they if they couldn't hit anyone?
In the original story, if Orochimaru hadn't shown off by emerging from the mouth of the Eight-Headed Serpent, even if the serpent was sealed by the Sword of Totsuka, Orochimaru could have calmly escaped or even turned defeat into victory.
After delaying enough time, Sasuke used the groundwork laid in the previous battle to draw lightning from nature, transforming it into Kirin to strike down, fighting the half-armored Susanoo to a mutual destruction.
This time, Itachi's body had reached its limit. Although he didn't die immediately, he couldn't stand up even by forcing himself. He fell to the ground, blood flowing from his mouth and nose.
With the boost from Sage Mode, Sasuke still had strength left. He walked up to Itachi...
Drenched in the cold rain, Itachi recounted his mental journey to Sasuke.
He hid nothing, including his original intention to sacrifice the entire clan to save Sasuke alone. Finally, he entrusted his Mangekyō Sharingan and Shisui's Mangekyō to Sasuke.
Although Sasuke, educated by Kageyama Kogetsu, didn't approve of Itachi's actions, he was inevitably moved.
For the sake of Itachi's imminent death and their mother, Sasuke called Itachi "brother" one last time.
Hearing the address he wanted to hear most, the tension in Itachi's heart relaxed. With a smile on his face, he calmly walked towards death...
Itachi's death left Kakuzu, Kisame, Jūzō, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura sighing with emotion. They stood quietly in place, not interfering too much.
Sasuke stood in a daze for a while, then crouched down and carefully removed Itachi's eyes, carrying Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan on him.
Then, he slowly closed Itachi's eyelids, picked up his body, and finally greeted Kakuzu, Kisame, and Jūzō before leaving.
After returning to Konoha together, Team 7 parted ways. Sasuke carried Itachi's body back to the old Uchiha clan residence.
Mikoto, accompanied by Kageyama Kogetsu, returned to the old residence. Seeing Itachi's body, she inevitably burst into tears, but she didn't blame Sasuke.
After Mikoto composed herself, Sasuke went out and gathered all the relatives of those killed by Itachi. Mother and son apologized solemnly.
The relatives accepted it.
They had to accept it. After all, the Uchiha clan did have thoughts of a coup back then. Although it hadn't been launched, strictly speaking, they were in the wrong.
The Uchiha clan members had also seen the performance of the mother and son over the years.
Plus, with Kageyama Kogetsu, who didn't discriminate against the Uchiha clan and treated everyone equally, even showing a little favor, endorsing them.
For various reasons, not forgiving them would be ungrateful.
Kageyama Kogetsu took the opportunity to announce that Sasuke, who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, would become the head of the Uchiha clan and take office as the vice-captain of the Police Force. In the future, he would definitely succeed to the position of Police Force captain and be qualified to compete for the position of Seventh Hokage.
Although the Police Force wouldn't be the Uchiha clan's private domain even with Sasuke as captain, they had a broader and brighter future.
The Uchiha clan members were very satisfied with this. After all, the Police Force had long ceased to be their private domain.
With a powerful and capable clan head backed by the Hokage, perhaps in the near future, the Uchiha clan could return to the position of the number one clan in Konoha.
Currently, the number one clan in Konoha was the Hyūga clan. The losses back then meant the Uchiha clan still hadn't recovered its vitality.
After everyone dispersed, Kageyama Kogetsu had Sasuke bury Itachi's body in the Konoha cemetery.
Itachi's situation was obviously not suitable for burial in the Uchiha clan cemetery. To Konoha, he could be considered a hero.
A grand funeral for Itachi was definitely not suitable. It would be held low-key, with friends and family paying their respects.
Ninja funerals were always simple. Generally speaking, only a Kage's funeral or a collective funeral could be grand.
...
In mid-November of Konoha Year 66, a secret letter from Amegakure was delivered to the Hokage's office through special channels.
Kageyama Kogetsu opened the scroll and saw that Konan had completely taken control of Amegakure and was asking how to sign the alliance treaty.
The relevant treaty had long been prepared by the two elders. Kageyama Kogetsu left a shadow clone to handle administrative affairs, took the treaty from the drawer, and left secretly...
Land of Rain, Amegakure.
The weather was not cooperative today. A thunderstorm was raging near Amegakure, which was already constantly shrouded in rain.
The sky was dim, as if dusk had fallen. Thick black clouds covered the sky, pressing extremely low, a vivid picture of "black clouds bearing down on the city, threatening to crush it."
Torrential rain fell from the clouds. Visibility was even lower under the mist. The ears were filled with either the rushing sound of rain or the sound of rain hitting various buildings. Amidst the noise, there was a unique charm.
The architecture of the Land of Rain might be average elsewhere, but its drainage capacity was second to none in the ninja world. No place dared to claim second place.
Even the buildings in the Land of Water couldn't compare. Although there was some accumulated water in the towns, there was no waterlogging anywhere. It all drained into the complex and grand sewer system.
In mid-air, a black-red vortex appeared. Kageyama Kogetsu stepped out. Releasing a little chakra, it was as if he were wearing an invisible raincoat; the dense rain all slid off...
After sensing for a moment, he determined Konan's location, flew over directly, pushed open the closed window, and flew in.
Konan's residence was still in the tallest building in Amegakure, next to the room where Nagato used to stay.
This room was a suite, part work area, part living area.
In the room, Konan was handling Amegakure's administrative affairs. The style of the clothes she wore was very similar to the black robe with red clouds, but the base color was sky blue.
In addition, the clothes were embroidered with exquisite patterns of dark clouds and rain threads, which fit the situation of Amegakure quite well...
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