Chapter 66: Showdown
Naruto stood his ground, letting the wind from the Executioner's Blade brush past him. His expression unchanged, he smiled slightly. "If you want to take me away, I'm afraid it won't be so easy here in Konoha!"
As he said this, he felt very confident inside. Even though the strength of these two was immense, having reached Kage-level, his own recent progress was also significant. While his strength might still not match a Kage's, it certainly wasn't weaker than Asuma and Kurenai's. And though his individual strength might be inferior to theirs, there were three of them here after all. Once the battle began, even Itachi and Kisame wouldn't find it easy to win.
By then, Konoha's other ninjas would likely have noticed and rushed to support.
After Naruto finished speaking, Itachi also fell silent for a moment. Before coming, he had already gathered information on Naruto's strength. He was capable of defeating Shukaku and had been entrusted by the Third to become the Sixth Hokage. His strength certainly couldn't be lacking.
However, Kisame didn't believe it and, moreover, hated Naruto's confident expression the most. He immediately grew excited. "Alright then, kid! I'll give it a try!"
As he spoke, he swung his blade at Naruto.
The whistling wind whipped painfully against Naruto's cheeks.
Naruto didn't dare to block it head-on. After all, his opponent's physical strength and chakra were immense, something his current strength couldn't match.
Therefore, he decisively dodged, avoiding the slash, drew a kunai, and engaged him in close combat.
On the other side, Itachi, seeing Kisame attack, had no choice but to move against Asuma and Kurenai.
Suddenly, a contest of masters erupted by the river's edge.
Naruto's speed and reactions in his normal state made dealing with Kisame somewhat difficult, so he immediately activated his Curse Mark mode. The dark power of the Curse Seal surged forth, instantly boosting his speed and strength. He delivered a powerful punch straight to Kisame's face.
Boom!
Kisame was sent flying over ten meters backward, crashing into the river with a splash.
Fortunately, he stopped himself in time and rose from the water, but his face was already filled with rage.
"Kid! I'm going to tear you apart!" Kisame's chakra also erupted, his aura soaring as his hands began forming seals. Being punched away by Naruto was definitely a disgrace. If he hadn't been careless and underestimated his enemy just now, he would never have let Naruto hit him. But even so, he was furious, feeling he'd lost all face by being sent flying by a brat.
At that moment, Asuma and Kurenai were also astonished. Naruto had managed to punch Kisame away—this strength was truly unbelievable! Even Itachi showed a trace of surprise.
However, by then, Kisame's technique was already complete.
"Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique!"
Boom!
The river's surface churned violently as a powerful column of water surged from the river toward Naruto on the bank.
"Watch out!" Kurenai couldn't help but warn.
Naruto's physical speed and reactions had also risen to another level under the Curse Mark's power. At this moment, his entire body emitted a golden light. Seeing the water column rushing toward him, the golden light flashed slightly, and the next instant, he had already shot past the water column, appearing right in front of Kisame!
"Rasengan!" With a swing of his right hand, a blue chakra sphere instantly formed and was pressed directly toward Kisame's chest with a fierce gust of wind!
Kisame hadn't expected Naruto's strength to reach such a level, nor his speed to be so absurdly fast. He hurriedly raised his sword to block.
Chii chii...
The violently rotating chakra energy instantly shredded the white bandages wrapped around the Executioner's Blade. But after a moment, the Rasengan's force grew weaker and weaker, eventually dissipating!
The Executioner's Blade's ability to absorb chakra!
Seizing the opportunity, Naruto kicked off the blade, using the recoil to leap backward.
Although Kisame had absorbed the Rasengan's chakra, he had also taken part of its force. His body staggered back a few steps before he steadied himself, his face full of shock. "I never expected the Nine-Tails jinchūriki to be so troublesome!"
Instead, he grew even more excited, his desire for victory ignited. His aura surged once more as he prepared to charge at Naruto again.
At that moment, Itachi from the other side suddenly appeared before Kisame, stopping him. "Leave Uzumaki Naruto to me. You go deal with those two over there! We can't drag this out any longer. Do you want to attract Konoha's reinforcements?"
"Hey, he's my opponent!" Kisame protested, but after receiving Itachi's cold stare, he could only reluctantly turn his attack toward Asuma and Kurenai. His assault was swift and fierce, as if he wanted to vent all his anger on them.
Itachi stared at Naruto and said indifferently, "You are too rash! Mangekyō Sharingan! Tsukuyomi!"
In the next instant, Itachi's eyes instantly transformed into the shape of a triangular windmill. Simultaneously, the powerful genjutsu Tsukuyomi was cast. Naruto subconsciously sensed danger and was about to close his eyes when he suddenly realized the surrounding environment had drastically changed!
The original river and village had vanished, replaced by a vast expanse—black earth, a crimson sky. A gigantic, blood-red Sharingan hung in the sky like the sun of this world. Naruto stood upon this black land, while black crows occasionally circled and flew through this bizarre space.
Suddenly, those crows abruptly descended, landing before Naruto and transforming into a figure—Itachi!
"Uzumaki Naruto, this is my Tsukuyomi space. Here, I control time, space, matter, and everything!" Itachi said lightly. "I admire your courage, but your actions are most unwise! Next, you will endure my torture for seventy-two hours!"
"Begin now!" As soon as Itachi finished speaking, a cross suddenly materialized behind Naruto. Naruto's body and hands were uncontrollably bound to the cross.
Naruto gritted his teeth, trying desperately to unleash the chakra within his body. But helplessly, his chakra seemed not to obey him; he couldn't even control his own movements. Although the Curse Mark's power was immense, it truly couldn't break free under the Mangekyō's Tsukuyomi technique. And he was utterly unskilled in genjutsu, let alone capable of dispelling it.
Itachi drew a samurai long sword and watched as he thrust it toward Naruto's abdomen!
However, just as the long blade was about to touch Naruto's body, the entire space suddenly trembled. Then, an extremely arrogant voice rang out. "Hahaha, boy, trapped in a genjutsu, are you? Need my help?"
"Huh? Kyūbi!" Naruto was stunned for a moment, then his spirits lifted. Behind Naruto, a massive cage materialized out of thin air. Inside the large iron bars, the ferocious Nine-Tails stared covetously at the two of them.
Itachi frowned slightly. This space was originally under his complete control, yet this large iron cage had appeared here without his restraint. Judging by the imprisoned appearance of the Nine-Tails, this seemed to be the jinchūriki's seal.
"Hehehe, boy, this genjutsu isn't simple. It's not so easy to break. Unless you have this old man's chakra to help you, you'll die if no outsider intervenes!" Kyūbi laughed. "However, if you die, I'll suffer a great loss too. If you promise me one condition, I can consider saving you once!"
Hearing this, Naruto smiled lightly. "Kyūbi, don't think I don't know what you're planning. You just want to vie for control of my body, don't you? Don't even say it; I'll never agree."
Kyūbi, having his intentions exposed, roared angrily. "Damn brat! If you don't agree, just wait to die! Anyway, I'll be resurrected when the time comes. You won't have another chance!"
"If I hand my body over to you, wouldn't that mean I'm dead?" Naruto retorted, leaving Kyūbi momentarily speechless.
"Roar!" After a long while, the Nine-Tails roared in fury, shaking the entire space. For a time, he could do nothing about Naruto. This guy is really stubborn, too stubborn!