"Poof!"
Another masked monster burrowed into Kakuzu's body.
This time, it was an Earth Style technique!
Kakuzu slowly got up, glaring fiercely at Hidan.
"Lightning Style: False Darkness!"
"Fire Style: Head Searing Pain!"
"Wind Style: Pressure Damage!"
The three attacks sent Hidan flying.
Itsuki raised an eyebrow.
He had to admit, the members of the Akatsuki were all geniuses.
They were rogue ninjas, their hands stained with blood. Many people despised them, yet no one could deny their exceptional talents.
Just like now!
Kakuzu first used Wind Style to blow Hidan away, forcing him out of the ritual circle.
Only then did the Lightning and Fire Style masked monsters launch their attacks, burying Hidan.
Did Kakuzu really make such a precise decision in such a short time?
It must be said, Kakuzu really lived up to his reputation as someone who claimed to be as old as the heavens and earth.
"Poof!"
Blood splattered everywhere!
It was Kakuzu again!
His heart had been pierced once more.
Akatsuki members: "..."
Even the younger Deidara felt he couldn't bear to watch.
Damn!
Kakuzu's expression twisted in fury to the extreme.
He was about to lose it!
One after another—would this ever end?
He slowly turned his head to look at Itsuki, who was standing behind him.
That bastard was standing behind him, going in and out.
With a kunai!
Going in and out of his heart with the kunai!
"Cough, cough!"
Itsuki cleared his throat and said, "You won't blame me for sneaking up on you, right? After all, this is our fight, and whatever I do to you is fair game, right?"
As he spoke, the kunai in his hand kept stabbing in and out.
"No blame at all!"
Kakuzu grinned viciously.
Once again, the Fire and Lightning Style attacks came crashing down.
Shwoosh!
Itsuki vanished.
The Wind Style masked monster entered Kakuzu's body.
Kakuzu struggled to stand up, glaring at Itsuki and also watching out for Hidan.
Itsuki remarked in surprise, "You're tough. Three times your heart's been pierced, and you're still alive. Impressive!"
Kakuzu's face darkened.
Five masked monsters, plus his own heart, gave him a total of six lives—and in the blink of an eye, three of them were gone.
Impressive?
Who are you mocking?
"But..."
Itsuki smiled as he looked at the Fire and Lightning Style masked monsters.
"What if I take out these two? Can you still survive?"
Kakuzu's face remained grim, saying nothing.
Facing the opponent who had killed him three times, no words were necessary.
The members of the Akatsuki standing by were also shocked.
Kakuzu was one of the veterans of the Akatsuki, and everyone knew this guy had a bad temper but incredible strength.
He hunted high-ranking rogue ninjas in the shadows.
Rogue ninjas were dangerous.
But Kakuzu was their predator.
He was so ruthless that he even killed his own partners!
His previous partner had been taken down by Kakuzu himself.
But now...
This dangerous man had been easily killed three times.
Uchiha Itsuki!
The Akatsuki members silently repeated that name in their minds.
From now on, that name would be forever etched in their memory.
"Flying Thunder God!"
Orochimaru was even more deeply shaken.
He would've never guessed in his wildest dreams that Uchiha Itsuki had actually mastered the Flying Thunder God technique!
Years ago, he had personally handed over the Flying Thunder God scroll to Itsuki, doubting the boy would ever learn it.
This special jutsu was something Orochimaru had tried to learn himself, without success.
The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was undoubtedly a genius ninja.
Not only did he master the Flying Thunder God, but after realizing its complexity, he split it apart and created the Flying Thunder Formation!
He even had his guards each learn part of the technique.
The three of them together could recreate the Flying Thunder God.
Throughout the entire ninja world, there had only been two people who learned the Flying Thunder God.
The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju!
And the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze!
Now, there was a third person—and the only one still alive.
"This is bad!"
Orochimaru muttered to himself.
He handed over the Flying Thunder God technique to Itsuki, just so he could reveal the secret to the Third Hokage later.
He believed that when the Third Hokage found out that the Uchiha clan had the Flying Thunder God, his expression would be priceless.
But!
Once Itsuki mastered it, the situation was far less amusing.
Itsuki was skilled in genjutsu (illusionary techniques), which already put Orochimaru at a disadvantage.
And now, he had also mastered the Flying Thunder God technique!
Even Cold Lord couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
Was it a mistake back then?
Should I never have taken on an Uchiha as a student?
Who would've thought that in just a few short years, the guy would grow to this level?
And to top it off, many of the techniques he learned weren't even ones Orochimaru had taught him—he'd only mentioned them in passing, and Itsuki had figured them out!
"No way, seriously?"
Hidan's exaggerated shout echoed out.
He held his head, staggering as he walked, and said, "What's going on with me? It's like I had a dream where I killed Kakuzu."
"Huh?"
Itsuki was slightly surprised.
Orochimaru's reincarnation technique had weakened his own resistance to genjutsu.
The same applied to Hidan.
That immortal jutsu of his—Itsuki still couldn't figure out what the deal was with that technique.
But!
Hidan's resistance to genjutsu was also notably weak.
That much was undeniable!
And yet!
Hidan had actually broken free from Itsuki's genjutsu!
Was it extreme pain? Kakuzu's attacks? Or maybe the pierced heart?
Whatever it was, Hidan had escaped. Itsuki made a mental note to watch out for these factors in the future.
Itsuki stroked his chin, glancing over at the rest of the Akatsuki members.
Immediately.
Everyone looked as if they were facing a deadly threat, becoming highly alert.
Especially Orochimaru, who even resorted to using a substitution technique.
Why?
Because Uchiha Itsuki's genjutsu was just too terrifying.
Hidan wasn't weak, yet with just a glance, he was completely under control. That was scary.
"Alright!"
Pain stepped in, calling out, "You two can stop now."
Itsuki was surprised and asked, "We're not fighting anymore?"
Pain responded, "Do we really need to fight until someone dies?"
Kakuzu's face turned dark.
He had, in fact, been killed three times already.
Itsuki glanced at Kakuzu and said, "Pain, your words have depth. No, you're absolutely right, spot on!"
Screw you.
Pain's brow twitched.
"Alright, who's next?"
Pain scanned the remaining members, and when his gaze passed over Hidan, he said, "Hidan, you don't need to participate anymore. We've seen enough of your abilities."
Though Hidan had been under Itsuki's control…
He was still immortal!
With the Curse Jutsu: Death Controlling Possessed Blood!
Those abilities alone were enough for Hidan to become a full-fledged member of Akatsuki.
"Hey, hey, hey, what's going on here?" Hidan couldn't help but shout, "Was that dream real or not? Kakuzu, did I really kill you?"
"Shut up!"
Kakuzu roared angrily, "From now on, you're on my team."
Hidan, unhappy, asked, "Why?"
Kakuzu gave him a terrifying look and said, "Because you can't die."
Itsuki raised his hand and said, "How about you team up with me? I can't die either. Don't believe me? Try it."
Damn it!
Veins bulged on Kakuzu's forehead.
Whether you can die or not, I don't know. But I feel like you're trying to kill me.
Dream on!
I absolutely won't let you have your way.
...
In the village of Konoha.
Itsuki opened his eyes with a smile.
This was another ability of his Mangekyō Sharingan: Sharing!
With normal shadow clones, you'd only know what the clone experienced once it was released. But Itsuki could switch between his original body and his clones at will.
"Bang!"
There was a loud thud as the funeral parlor's door was kicked open.
"What the hell?"
Itsuki, puzzled, opened the coffin lid, sat up, and walked out.
The first thing he saw was Itachi's grim face.
"What's up?" Itsuki asked curiously, "Weren't you attending the peace talks between the Hidden Cloud and Konoha with your dad? Why do you look like your father just died?"
Itachi glared at Itsuki, his expression twisted.
"No way. Did I actually guess right? Did your dad—"
Itsuki was stunned, and only one thought ran through his mind: "Could this really be happening?"
"Big brother Itsuki!"
Itachi gritted his teeth and said, "Tell me the truth."
"What?"
Itachi snarled, "What did you do behind the scenes during these peace talks?"
"What are you talking about?"
Itsuki was completely confused.
"Do you know what terms the Hidden Cloud demanded?"
Before Itsuki could ask, Itachi continued, "Uchiha Mikoto—my mother!"
"The Hidden Cloud really asked Konoha to hand over my mother!"
Upon hearing this, Itsuki let out an earth-shattering roar: "Hidden Cloud, you sons of b*****s, I'll kill you all!"