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In the desert oasis.
Hatake Kakashi continued tracking the Akatsuki with Team 7 and Elder Chiyo, leaving Uchiha Itachi to the Root ninja.
Although the Root ninja bravely took on the task of confronting Itachi, Elder Chiyo was somewhat displeased with the Root ninja's surveillance.
"What scheme does Akihara Kagura have this time?"
Elder Chiyo had a very poor impression of Akihara Kagura and spoke in a deep voice: "That guy sent Root members to follow us. It can't possibly be just to help us…"
"Maybe he really is here to help…"
Hatake Kakashi found keeping secrets exhausting.
As a Jonin, Kakashi should have been accustomed to keeping secrets, but it was particularly strenuous to keep the identity of that Root ninja a secret.
Because…
Uzumaki Naruto, typically insensitive, was acting somewhat perceptive, while Haruno Sakura, usually keen, hadn't noticed anything amiss.
Perhaps…
Because such a thing was too improbable?
A comrade who became a rogue ninja after breaking ties for power had actually been secretly working as a Root ninja?
In the forest.
The Root ninja stared at Uchiha Itachi before him, slowly grasping the ninja sword in his hand, his eyes filled with killing intent towards Itachi.
"No need to wear that mask anymore."
Uchiha Itachi gazed at the Root ninja standing before him, slowly closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, they revealed a pair of scarlet eyes.
"Sasuke."
Uchiha Itachi's single word revealed the other's identity.
If there was still one person in this world who harbored such intense and fierce killing intent towards him, it had to be his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke.
"Hmph, figured it out?"
Uchiha Sasuke extended his hand and removed the cat-faced mask, revealing an angry face: "I was wondering! If even you couldn't recognize me, I'd think you were underestimating me…"
"…"
Uchiha Itachi shook his head lightly and continued speaking: "I didn't expect you to join Root, just like I did…"
If Uchiha Itachi had any doubts when he first heard of Sasuke's defection, all those doubts were now resolved.
After all…
Given Akihara Kagura's malicious nature, he wouldn't have allowed Sasuke to defect; and Sasuke wouldn't have chosen to follow Orochimaru, who had lost to Akihara Kagura, instead of joining him.
So…
Everything from the past made sense now.
Uchiha Itachi thought of the recent news of Orochimaru being killed by Sasuke and broke the past truth to himself: "It seems infiltrating Orochimaru to assassinate him was a mission you undertook…"
"Indeed."
Uchiha Sasuke raised his hand, proud of his achievement: "Infiltrating Orochimaru and waiting for a chance to assassinate him was my first mission after joining Root. I heard your first mission for Root failed…"
"…"
Uchiha Itachi recalled his first mission.
At that time…
Root's leader was still Shimura Danzo.
Danzo ordered him to assassinate Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nono, but he failed that mission and ended up forming a grudge with Akihara Kagura.
"Uchiha Itachi…"
A cold smile appeared on Sasuke's lips as he suddenly drew his ninja sword, pointing it at his brother who killed their parents: "I have now surpassed you!"
"You gained power from Root and killed our parents. Now I've gained power from Root, and it's time for my revenge!"
"This time…"
"Leave your life here!"
Here and now, at this very moment!
Sasuke felt as if fate was on his side, using his power to kill Itachi here and now, then reuniting with Team 7 to reveal the whole truth and embrace a new life!
"…"
Itachi remained silent.
For him, this was also an opportunity.
Because this body was merely a clone with thirty percent of his strength, it might be a good chance to test Sasuke's growth in preparation for their final battle.
"Let me see then…"
Itachi slid his fingers into his sleeve, his expression turning serious: "How much you've grown now!"
The next moment!
Itachi raised his hand and threw a shuriken!
Uchiha Sasuke's hand pressed onto a shuriken, which suddenly grew larger and was directly thrown out by him!
"Shuriken Enlargement Technique..."
Uchiha Itachi glanced in surprise, quickly clasping his hands together: "Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
Dozens of shurikens flew towards Uchiha Sasuke!
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
A contemptuous smile flashed at the corner of Uchiha Sasuke's mouth as dozens of large shurikens flew towards Uchiha Itachi!
The shurikens from both sides collided immediately!
The combination of the Shuriken Enlargement Technique and the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique was clearly superior. After all of Uchiha Itachi's shurikens were knocked down, several of the large shurikens continued their momentum and struck Uchiha Itachi!
The next moment!
Uchiha Itachi's figure turned into a swarm of crows!
Uchiha Itachi was somewhat shocked in his heart. He had never had any rivals in shuriken throwing techniques, not even Uchiha Shisui who once taught him had reached his level of perfection.
However...
Uchiha Sasuke was still progressing!
Using the Uchiha clan's shuriken throwing techniques, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen's Shuriken Enlargement Technique, and the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, Uchiha Sasuke managed to defeat him in this aspect, even if it was just the simplest part!
"A crow clone, huh..."
Uchiha Sasuke snorted lightly through his nose, throwing out a row of lightning: "Chidori Senbon!"
The senbon formed from lightning hit Uchiha Itachi's crow clone continuously, pinning the crows to the ground, their fate uncertain!
The next second...
The bodies of the crows turned into feathers, slowly floating up and reassembling into Uchiha Itachi's form!
"Genjutsu and cloning..."
Uchiha Sasuke's eyes turned crimson as he instantly identified the location of Uchiha Itachi's real body, swinging his ninja sword and charging forward!
Clang!
Uchiha Itachi pulled out a kunai to block!
The two Uchihas fought fiercely in the oasis of this desert!
Uchiha Itachi realized that his brother's growth in swordsmanship made him a formidable opponent, and that this puppet body might not be able to surpass Sasuke in swordsmanship!
Uchiha Sasuke grew braver as he fought!
However, Uchiha Sasuke had his own tricks up his sleeve.
Watching Uchiha Itachi retreat step by step, Uchiha Sasuke showed a contemptuous smile, created an opening with his sword, and took the opportunity to place a Flying Thunder God mark on Uchiha Itachi's shoulder!
As long as the Flying Thunder God mark was placed...
This battle was already won!
Uchiha Sasuke was convinced of his victory, moving even faster with his ninja sword, his superb swordsmanship forcing Uchiha Itachi to leap back to evade!
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Uchiha Itachi retreated and spat out a fireball!
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Uchiha Sasuke formed a seal and spat out a fireball at the same time!
The two fireballs collided instantly, turning into a wall of fire and creating a sea of flames around them!
However...
In Fire Release ninjutsu, Uchiha Sasuke seemed to have the upper hand!
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Uchiha Sasuke spat out another flame!
As a subordinate of Akihara Kagura, Uchiha Sasuke naturally had no shortage of benefits. Besides what he learned from Orochimaru, Akihara Kagura also provided him with some ninjutsu scrolls!
"It seems Akihara Kagura taught you quite a bit..."
Uchiha Itachi could only retreat, knowing that Sarutobi Hiruzen could not have taught Uchiha Sasuke these techniques, which could only have come from Akihara Kagura.
"Trying to escape?"
Uchiha Sasuke's figure disappeared from his original spot, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear beside Uchiha Itachi, punching towards his chest!
"So fast!"
Uchiha Itachi suddenly sensed something amiss!
Uchiha Sasuke's Body Flicker Technique was even faster than Shisui's in the past!
"Flying Thunder God Technique, huh?"
Uchiha Itachi immediately recognized the technique Uchiha Sasuke was using. He had seen Akihara Kagura use the Flying Thunder God Technique before and was well aware of its terrifying nature. The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, had made a name for himself in the ninja world with this very technique!
It seemed Akihara Kagura had taught Sasuke quite a bit.
Just from the techniques Uchiha Sasuke had learned, he now possessed enough power to challenge the Kages of other villages and even had a good chance of killing Itachi himself!
"It looks like you've really grown stronger..."
Uchiha Itachi raised his hand to block Sasuke's punch, but in the next moment, Sasuke's figure disappeared again, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport behind him!
"This time, I will definitely kill you!"
Sasuke kicked Itachi in the waist, but Itachi's body turned into a flock of crows that scattered and then reformed into his body in the air.
"Maybe next time..."
Uchiha Itachi shook his head calmly and said softly, "Your progress is too fast, Sasuke. It seems that next time we meet, I must kill you..."
"Are you finally afraid?"
Uchiha Sasuke sneered coldly.
Is this guy actually afraid? The same Uchiha Itachi who slaughtered the Uchiha clan and killed their parents—is he now afraid? If not for Akihara Kagura's help, the Uchiha clan would have been annihilated that night...
Is this bastard afraid of his growth too?
"If you had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan..."
Itachi looked into Sasuke's eyes, which still held the three tomoe pattern. "Perhaps I really wouldn't be your match..."
"Even without the Mangekyo Sharingan, I can still kill you!"
Sasuke was confident in the power he had gained. He hadn't even used the curse seal given to him by Akihara Kagura, which would ensure Itachi's defeat even faster!
"Perhaps."
Itachi had gauged Sasuke's strength.
If they fought with their true bodies next time, Sasuke could indeed pose a significant threat. Even if he used his full strength, the outcome was uncertain. The Flying Thunder God Technique was too powerful an enhancement for any ninja...
However,
The biggest gain this time was...
It seemed Sasuke had found a place to settle.
But Itachi didn't want Sasuke to stay in the darkness of the Root organization, as its leader, Akihara Kagura, knew the truth and might not always be willing to protect Sasuke in the future.
Just as Itachi was contemplating this, Sasuke appeared behind him again and stabbed him through the heart with a sword!
"Also, there won't be a next time..."
Sasuke stood behind Itachi, gripping the ninja blade tightly, his face showing a cold and ruthless intent, as if he was relishing his revenge. "Uchiha Itachi, do you think you can escape this time?"
"You always say 'next time'..."
Sasuke pulled the ninja blade out of Itachi's body, watching as his brother clutched his chest and nearly fell to the ground. He coldly said, "I've always hated it when you said that..."
When they were young, Itachi always said that.
Now that he sought revenge, Itachi still wanted to say that!
"Sorry, Sasuke."
Blood trickled from Itachi's lips, yet he stubbornly spoke his final words: "This isn't the last time. This is just a puppet to test your strength..."
"Next time..."
"Make sure you give it your all..."
"I won't let you continue to grow."
After saying this, Itachi's body stiffened and fell to the ground. At the moment of his death, his body began to change, revealing the appearance of another person.
It was someone Sasuke didn't recognize.
Clearly, this person had been used as a sacrifice to perform some puppet technique!
"A puppet?"
Sasuke's face darkened, realizing it was only a puppet, yet Itachi now knew his greatest trump card, the Flying Thunder God Technique!
Although he still had the curse seal and other techniques as trump cards, Itachi's cautious defense against the Flying Thunder God Technique would make fighting him more troublesome...
"Forget it."
"I can still kill him next time."
Sasuke let out a cold snort, his ninja blade slicing through the air before he sheathed it, his eyes resolute. "Next time, I'll still be able to kill this bastard!"