Feeling the powerful killing intent emanating from Itachi Uchiha, both Mikoto Uchiha and Izumi Uchiha found their breathing constricted, as if their hearts were being tightly squeezed.
This was the terrifying aura cultivated from countless killings!
In the original story, Orochimaru merely had to look at Sasuke to immobilize him with killing intent. Standing beside Kakashi made the latter break out in cold sweat.
At this moment, Mikoto and Izumi were merely feeling uncomfortable. Their reaction was already commendable.
"You two handle the one with the Executioner's Blade."
"I'll take care of Itachi Uchiha."
Since Itachi had murderous intent, Shishou stepped forward beside Mikoto and Izumi, not wanting the two women to take further risks.
Itachi had many lethal weapons; even a slight mistake could cost them their lives.
Mikoto and Izumi pursed their lips but eventually nodded in agreement.
"Hmm?"
"It's you!"
Seeing Shishou's distinctive stubble and his 180 cm height, both Itachi Uchiha and Zabuza Momochi were taken aback.
The killing intent from Itachi subsided.
He recognized Shishou as the user of the Flying Thunder God and Wood Release techniques.
Since that was the case, Shishou couldn't possibly be a member of Root.
Danzo would never tolerate subordinates stronger than himself.
"Water Release: Exploding Water Shock Wave!"
Without explanation, Shishou launched a water jutsu, charging towards Itachi and Zabuza.
Seeing Itachi and Zabuza separate, Shishou rushed towards Itachi while Mikoto and Izumi charged at Zabuza.
"Who are you?"
"Why does your subordinate have Sharingan?"
"What is your goal?"
Because Shishou possessed the Flying Thunder God and Wood Release, Itachi was uncertain whether he was a friend or foe.
Itachi had learned from Akatsuki's intel that Shishou wielded deadly poisons and venomous insects, along with the Flying Thunder God and Wood Release techniques.
Thus, Itachi immediately distanced himself from Shishou, maintaining a gap of over twenty meters and never staying in one spot for more than five seconds.
Boom, boom, boom!
At the same time, Itachi continuously tested Shishou with shurikens attached to explosive tags, causing a series of explosions.
Shishou pursued while Itachi evaded.
In their chase and retreat, Itachi and Shishou gradually moved away from the battlefield of Zabuza, Mikoto, and Izumi.
"What the hell..."
Seeing Itachi constantly keeping his distance and refusing to engage directly, Shishou was a bit baffled.
Had he become so powerful that even Itachi needed to employ a kiting strategy against him?
"Wood Release: Wood Bind Technique!"
Shishou pressed his hands to the ground, causing countless vines to sprout and quickly span the twenty-meter distance, aiming for Itachi's feet.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Itachi leaped high, using the opportunity of a backflip to unleash a fire jutsu that incinerated the pursuing vines.
Then, with a flick of his right hand, he planted a shuriken with an explosive tag on Shishou's path to hinder his advance.
Swish, swish, swish!
As Itachi landed, three shurikens flew towards him.
"Got you!"
In the next second, Shishou appeared behind Itachi, reaching out to grab him.
Itachi dove forward, narrowly avoiding Shishou's grasp.
While diving, Itachi twisted his body and lifted his right foot, using the sturdy sole of his shoe to push Shishou into the air.
Then, Itachi formed hand seals with one hand.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Seven or eight fireballs spewed from Itachi's mouth, engulfing Shishou in midair.
"Impressive! No wonder he could go head-to-head with Sage Mode Naruto."
These fluid movements were truly remarkable!
But no matter how skilled you are,
I will overcome with raw power!
"Water Release: Super Water Dragon Bullet!"
A massive water dragon materialized in front of Shishou, blocking Itachi's fire jutsu and charging towards Itachi with unstoppable momentum.
Infused with Shishou's immense water chakra, his water dragon bullet was several times larger than the one used by Mei Terumi.
Yes, Shishou's innate chakra nature was water, and after awakening the Uchiha bloodline, he gained fire nature as well.
Boom!
Facing the roaring water dragon, Itachi naturally wouldn't confront it head-on. He dodged while simultaneously throwing ten shurikens with explosive tags, which hit the water dragon and exploded.
Boom!
The water dragon shattered, causing a light rain to fall.
In the drizzle, Itachi kept retreating and moving quickly, always wary of Shishou's Flying Thunder God technique.
Swish, swish, swish!
Ten shurikens flew towards Itachi, only to be deflected by an equal number of shurikens thrown by him.
However, against the Flying Thunder God and venomous bugs, no amount of skill or tactics could prevail.
In the next moment, Shishou appeared beside Itachi again, reaching out to grab him.
During their earlier contact, Shishou had marked Itachi's shoe sole with the Flying Thunder God seal, and the shurikens were just a distraction.
Finding no way to avoid it, Itachi turned to look at Shishou, his Sharingan spinning.
"Genjutsu: Shackling Stakes Technique!"
In the next second, Itachi's genjutsu had no effect on Shishou and backfired, causing Itachi to become paralyzed.
"Genjutsu: Reflection of the Inner Mind!"
Itachi quickly recovered but was grabbed by Shishou's right hand in that instant.
After several swift leaps away, Itachi took out a kunai, ready to sever his own hand, but noticed the poison on his hand had stopped spreading and turned into bugs that flew back to Shishou.
Itachi looked at Shishou's Sharingan in confusion and said:
"You are an Uchiha!"
If he weren't an Uchiha, he wouldn't have been able to reflect the genjutsu back at him.
Moreover, Itachi knew those eyes weren't ordinary Sharingan.
Wood Release, Flying Thunder God, strange poisons, Sharingan.
Just how many secrets did this person have? Who was he?
"Itachi, interested in a chat?"
Shishou's Sharingan spun rapidly, finally forming a pattern as he looked at Itachi.
Until Itachi's value was fully exploited, Shishou had no intention of killing him.
Even if Itachi were destined to die, it should be at the hands of Mikoto or Izumi, allowing one of them to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan.
So, Shishou decided to take a page from Naruto's book and employ the "Talk-no-Jutsu."
After all, the Uchiha clan's emotional vulnerability was notorious.
Madara was talked down by Hashirama, Obito was talked down by Madara, and Itachi was talked down by the Third Hokage, Danzo, and Obito.
Sasuke had it the worst, being talked down by Orochimaru, Itachi, Obito, Naruto, and even Hashirama, repeatedly switching sides, making it quite laughable.
As expected, Mangekyou Sharingan!
Seeing Shishou's Mangekyou, Itachi squinted and nodded.
He did want to know Shishou's purpose in seeking him out.
"Let's go check on their fight."
"Hopefully, Zabuza isn't dead yet."
As one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Zabuza was an elite jounin, but he wouldn't fare well against the combined forces of Mikoto and Izumi.
"Don't worry about that."
"Zabuza is quite skilled at handling multiple opponents."
Itachi glanced at Shishou and followed from a distance, maintaining a gap of over twenty meters.
Upon reaching the battlefield of Mikoto, Izumi, and Zabuza,
Shishou found the area shrouded in thick mist, with the occasional clash of weapons ringing out.
In the center of the mist, Mikoto stood on a stone pillar, keeping a vigilant eye on the fog below, obviously preventing Zabuza from escaping.
Standing in the shadow of the high ground, Shishou pointed to Mikoto below and said to Itachi beside him:
"That's your mom!"
Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 300 at patreon.com/Betek.