Itachi Uchiha's left eye widened again.
Blood vessels filled the white of his eye, and a trickle of blood ran down his cheek.
The trembling illusionary world stabilized instantly.
No matter how Musashi tried to mobilize his mental energy, he couldn't shake it.
As expected, Itachi's mental power is still above mine. I can't break Tsukuyomi with mental control alone.
But I've confirmed it: if one's mental power is strong enough, Tsukuyomi can be resisted.
"Don't waste your energy, Musashi."
"This is a Dojutsu based on the Mangekyo Sharingan, the supreme power of the Uchiha clan."
"With your talent, it is impossible to break."
"You shouldn't have come today. But to die under the power of these eyes... consider it an honor."
Musashi scoffed. "Heh. Such absolute confidence in your power, Itachi."
"I admit, the power of a Kekkei Genkai is strong. Enviable, even."
"But I don't believe there exists an unbreakable jutsu. The Sharingan is no exception."
A trace of pity appeared in Itachi's eyes, like a god looking down on the ignorance and arrogance of an ant.
But in the next moment, the Tsukuyomi space shook violently.
Like a shattered mirror, cracks began to spread.
Shock flashed in Itachi's eyes.
"Nani!?"
Almost instantly, the cracks filled the Tsukuyomi space.
The perfect illusionary world was no longer flawless.
Crack-crack...
The sound of shattering echoed, and the entire illusion broke apart in his mind.
"Impossible!" Itachi lost his composure.
"Nothing is impossible."
In the real world, Itachi, who had been approaching with a kunai raised, suddenly froze.
The shattering of the Tsukuyomi world sent a stabbing pain through his brain!
Blood tears streamed from his eyes.
Tonight, he had already consumed too much ocular power on his clansmen.
"It seems your so-called 'supreme power' is a bit watered down. And your 'instant' wasn't all that fast," Musashi grinned.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His face twitched unnaturally from pain.
"Itachi, your genjutsu is indeed strong."
"But not unbreakable."
"As long as the body and mind are impacted by a new energy, one can break free from the illusionary world. Am I right?"
Tyrannical chakra surged within him, and his mental space trembled from the impact of Yin energy.
Long before he rushed in to save Izumi, he had sealed massive amounts of Yin-Yang Release energy within his body and mental space.
This energy was held back solely by the seals he constantly maintained.
The moment his mind slipped out of control, the suppressed energy would backlash, impacting his body and consciousness.
Knowing Itachi had powerful methods, how could he come unprepared?!
"You were... suppressing your chakra all along." Under the Sharingan, Itachi saw the clues.
Musashi had prepared a countermeasure for his genjutsu from the start.
"A very good countermeasure."
"That's right," Musashi said.
"You Uchiha all share one thing in common: blind confidence."
"Itachi, remember this: don't act tough until you've actually finished your opponent. Cough, cough~"
Because he respected Itachi's genjutsu too much, the energy Musashi suppressed was overly powerful. The sudden impact had damaged his own body.
The severe pain in his meridians and brain wouldn't fade immediately.
"Itachi, I'll say it one more time. Let us leave."
Itachi said, "Musashi, I acknowledge it. Your talent."
"It exceeds my expectations."
"But it's useless. Everything you do is a meaningless struggle."
Musashi grinned, wiping the blood from his mouth.
"Words from a murderous maniac are predictably unpleasant to hear."
Itachi's voice was low. "'Maniac' is just your judgment. Someone like you, Musashi, can never understand... my capacity."
Veins bulged on Musashi's forehead as he roared in rage.
"CAPACITY! FUCK YOUR CAPACITY!!!"
Majestic chakra erupted.
Dense chakra formed visible waves around his body.
As his aura rose, lightning began to flicker around Musashi.
The sudden surge in chakra fluctuation made Itachi's gaze turn serious.
"Such astonishing chakra..."
Eight Gates Released Technique... First Gate: Gate of Opening, OPEN!
Second Gate: Gate of Healing, OPEN! Third Gate: Gate of Life, OPEN! Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain, OPEN!
Fifth Gate... Gate of Limit... OPEN!!
"Itachi! Did I ever tell you... I've wanted to kick your ass... FOR A LONG TIME!!"
---
Root Headquarters, Office.
Danzo stood quietly by the window, his exposed eye gazing toward the Uchiha district.
One hand unconsciously rubbed the top of his cane.
"Lord Danzo, should we send more personnel to be ready?" Fu Yamanaka, standing beside him, suggested.
"No need," Danzo said.
"Half of Root's forces are already deployed. We don't need more."
"What we need to do is just the cleanup work."
Fu asked, "Can Itachi Uchiha really eliminate everyone by himself?"
"He can."
"Itachi possesses the same eyes as Shisui Uchiha."
"In the village, aside from myself and Hiruzen, only the Sannin could withstand him."
"The so-called 'proud Uchiha'... to ordinary ninjas, they are powerful and unreachable. But before a true powerhouse, they are merely lambs to the slaughter."
Fu was still worried. "What if someone stops Itachi?"
Danzo affirmed, "They won't."
"Before the Mangekyo Sharingan, numbers are meaningless."
"Until his chakra runs out, no one in the Uchiha clan can stand against him."
"If someone actually manages to inflict heavy damage on him, then good. Let the entire Uchiha name vanish into smoke."
His gaze pierced the void, seemingly seeing a remarkably clean future for Konoha without the Uchiha.
---
"Itachi! Did I ever tell you... I've wanted to kick your ass... FOR A LONG TIME!!"
Musashi roared.
His figure vanished from the spot instantly!
The ground where he stood cracked and shattered violently.
The sonic boom was quickly drowned out by the dull thud of a heavy impact.
Musashi aimed his fist squarely at Itachi's left cheek.
The ferocious punch seemed to vent all his inner rage.
WHAM!!~
Itachi only had time to cross his arms in front of his chest.
The massive force made his arm bones groan under the strain.
Carried by the kinetic energy, Itachi was launched backward like a cannonball.
Trees and walls shattered along his path. Dust and debris filled the air.
The sound of the impact echoed through the skies above the Uchiha district.