Uchiha Madara sat proudly on the stone chair, like a judge of this duel, commenting on the impending battle between the brothers, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke.
This man indeed had the qualifications to be a judge.
Even though Uchiha Madara had long left the Uchiha clan, the reputation he brought to the clan and his personal prestige in both the Uchiha clan and the ninja world left no room for objection from those present.
"You may begin."
Uchiha Madara raised his eyebrows.
A flash of dissatisfaction appeared in Uchiha Sasuke's eyes. Given his proud nature, how could he be willing to follow someone else's orders?
However, Uchiha Itachi did not hesitate!
Uchiha Itachi raised his hand and threw several shuriken at Uchiha Sasuke, quickly forming hand seals and spitting out flames.
"Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson!"
The flames attached to the shuriken!
The shuriken, wrapped in flames, flew towards Uchiha Sasuke!
Uchiha Sasuke's ninja sword danced, deflecting the flaming shuriken. His palm turned over, revealing several kunai, one of which had a Flying Thunder God mark. He threw it towards Uchiha Itachi!
"Hmm?"
Uchiha Madara, observing, immediately became curious.
Uchiha Madara's Sharingan noticed something unusual among the kunai—one bore the Uchiha clan's fan emblem, evoking some unpleasant memories for him.
"Hmm?"
Uchiha Itachi also noticed the marks on the kunai.
Having fought Uchiha Sasuke before, Uchiha Itachi was particularly wary of Sasuke leaving a Flying Thunder God mark around him!
However...
What surprised Uchiha Itachi most was Sasuke's kunai-throwing technique, a Release he thought only he and Uchiha Shisui could use. He didn't expect Sasuke to have mastered it as well!
Uchiha Itachi produced a kunai in his hand, his technique sharp and precise, striking down the kunai with the Flying Thunder God mark!
He sidestepped the other kunai with slight movements.
In the next moment!
Taking advantage of the cover provided by the kunai, Uchiha Sasuke dashed towards Uchiha Itachi with his ninja sword, prompting Itachi's first thought to be to retreat!
If it came to close combat...
Uchiha Sasuke would surely leave a Flying Thunder God mark on him!
Uchiha Itachi frowned slightly, his fingers moved lightly, and a clone instantly split off, charging towards Sasuke!
"Clone Great Explosion!"
Uchiha Itachi's clone exploded as it neared Sasuke, the blast forcing him back!
Sasuke had to retreat a few steps, raising his ninja sword, his eyes flickering: "To complete the clone jutsu in such a short time?"
The speed of forming hand seals…
It was indeed impressive!
"I've heard people say you can form six seals in a second…"
Sasuke, who had long heard of Itachi's seal-forming speed from others, coldly remarked: "Your speed should be even faster, right?"
"Seems your intel is quite thorough…"
Uchiha Itachi's expression tensed slightly, surprised that his younger brother knew even this. His hand flipped slightly, quickly forming a seal!
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive flame rushed towards Sasuke!
"So fast!"
Sasuke was shocked, quickly clasping his hands together to form the fastest defensive jutsu he could!
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
A wall carved with an eagle's head appeared in front of him!
The Great Fireball's flames instantly rendered the Earth Flow Wall into a tattered mess!
Uchiha Sasuke gripped his ninja sword, stepping hard on the ground, and charged towards Uchiha Itachi again!
Clearly…
Uchiha Sasuke was eager to close the distance with Uchiha Itachi!
Uchiha Itachi frowned slightly, activating the Mangekyo Sharingan's ability, releasing the Tsukuyomi illusion towards Sasuke at that moment!
"Tsukuyomi!"
In the next second!
Uchiha Sasuke fell into the Tsukuyomi illusion!
This time, Sasuke found himself in the Tsukuyomi illusion space, his body trapped within the illusion, and Itachi's figure appeared in the illusion space!
Uchiha Itachi wanted to use this opportunity to have a serious talk with Sasuke, at least to give his brother a wake-up call: "Sasuke, you've become a pawn of Kagura..."
"So what?"
Uchiha Sasuke sneered, showing no kindness to Uchiha Itachi: "What's the point of saying these things now? If becoming a pawn means I can avenge you and save the Uchiha clan, then I'm willing!"
For Uchiha Sasuke, Akihara Kagura is certainly more trustworthy than Uchiha Itachi, because Akihara Kagura saved many Uchiha on the night of the clan's massacre, taught him many ninjutsu, and even arranged for others to teach him.
Moreover...
Akihara Kagura also allowed him and Karin to compete for the future leader position of the Root, paving a way for the revival of the Uchiha clan!
If it weren't for Akihara Kagura, Uchiha Sasuke wouldn't have understood his future direction, wouldn't have found his life's goal, and might have gone to any lengths for revenge, thus becoming estranged from his former companions...
But now...
He is living well.
In his life of vengeance, Uchiha Sasuke always believed himself to be in darkness, but the appearance of Akihara Kagura and the Root brought a glimmer of light to his life.
The Root...
is Uchiha Sasuke's new home.
Akihara Kagura is the head of this home.
If Uchiha Sasuke were to say, as Naruto often liked to put it, his mentor Kakashi was like a lackluster father, while Akihara Kagura was the most promising older brother in the family.
"..."
Uchiha Itachi hesitated for a moment, unable to say more.
Because his younger brother didn't understand the dangers of Akihara Kagura well enough, Uchiha Itachi had vaguely heard some information from Uchiha Obito...
Akihara Kagura...
seems to have colluded with the Akatsuki organization.
That former opponent certainly has a huge conspiracy.
"..."
Uchiha Sasuke ignored Uchiha Itachi, quickly raising his fingers. His crimson eyes glowed red in the Tsukuyomi space as he tried hard to break the Tsukuyomi illusion!
"Uchiha Itachi..."
A contemptuous smile flashed at the corner of Uchiha Sasuke's mouth as he coldly said, "The stronger the person you pull into your Tsukuyomi, the harder it is for your mind to sustain, right?"
The next moment!
A mass of flowing liquid suddenly appeared on Uchiha Sasuke's body!
"..."
Uchiha Itachi immediately felt a headache.
Originally, Uchiha Itachi's body was seriously ill, and his mental state was not good. At this moment, he was unable to sustain it any longer, and the Tsukuyomi space was about to be shattered by Uchiha Sasuke!
However...
Uchiha Itachi could not stop it.
Because if it continued, to avoid blindness, he would be unable to use other Mangekyo Sharingan techniques.
The Tsukuyomi space suddenly shattered!
Uchiha Sasuke broke through the Tsukuyomi illusion with his Three Tomoe Sharingan!
Uchiha Itachi's eyes lowered, his hand tightly covering one eye!
"Ha, not bad..."
Uchiha Madara noticed this, chuckling lightly in praise.
Although Uchiha Madara didn't think much of Uchiha Itachi's Tsukuyomi, this illusion was still quite troublesome for Uchiha Sasuke with his Three Tomoe Sharingan!
"Uchiha Itachi!"
Uchiha Sasuke wielded his sword and charged towards Uchiha Itachi, shouting fiercely: "You are no longer my match!"
Clang!
Uchiha Itachi raised his kunai to block the sword, but he didn't want to have any contact with Uchiha Sasuke, fearing the Flying Thunder God mark would be placed on him!
Uchiha Itachi's kunai danced back and forth in front of Uchiha Sasuke, forcing his body to retreat constantly!
"Lightning Release Chakra Mode!"
A burst of strong chakra erupted from Uchiha Sasuke's body, with streaks of electricity flashing within the chakra!
Uchiha Sasuke rushed towards Uchiha Itachi again!
Uchiha Sasuke's figure was as fast as lightning, catching Uchiha Itachi off guard, a look of surprise flashing across his face!
A streak of lightning flashed!
The sword in Uchiha Sasuke's hand crossed paths with Uchiha Itachi's body in mid-air, about to leave a wound on Uchiha Itachi's body!
The next second!
Uchiha Itachi's body dissipated into a flock of crows!
"Terrifying..."
Uchiha Itachi's body slowly reformed in place, turning to look at his brother, unable to help but praise: "You have become very strong..."
This speed...
was not much slower than the Flying Thunder God technique's movement speed!
If he hadn't been alert and used the Crow Clone technique in advance, if his speed had been slightly slower, his body would have been cut open by Uchiha Sasuke's sword!
"Hmph..."
Uchiha Sasuke sneered, slowly turning to look at his brother: "I told you, you are absolutely no match for me now!"
As Uchiha Sasuke finished speaking, he swung his sword again, charging towards Uchiha Itachi, his eyes filled with murderous intent!
"You can't escape forever..."
Uchiha Sasuke's face even carried a hint of madness, his body transforming into a bolt of lightning again: "Uchiha Itachi, I have countless chances to attack you, and you have only one chance to make a mistake. If I get close to you once, you will die under my blade..."
Uchiha Sasuke...
now believed he was strong!
And indeed, now, he really was strong!
~~~
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— Ending + Extra Chapters!
Read upto Chapter 348: End! + Extra Chapters of Sasuke's Rebirth where the world Akihara Kagura is not around. Thank you!