"Fire Style!"
With a swift motion, Itsuki clasped his hands together, completing the hand signs.
"Great Fireball Jutsu!"
*Boom!*
A fireball, hundreds of meters in diameter, hurtled forward like a meteor.
Even though they'd seen it before, its size — even larger than a tailed beast — left everyone in awe.
This demonstrated Itsuki's control over the technique!
It showed the immense chakra reserves he possessed!
*Swoosh!*
The massive fireball roared towards Shisui, Fugaku, and Itachi.
The three stood together.
Shisui and Itachi instantly used their body flicker techniques to vanish.
But Fugaku remained rooted to the spot, unmoving, facing the fireball with his eyes gently closing.
*Boom!*
The fireball struck Fugaku directly.
Everyone gasped in shock.
"What's going on? Why didn't he dodge?"
Zongyi and Setsuna murmured to themselves in disbelief.
*BOOM!*
A massive explosion rang out.
Amidst the shocked gazes of the onlookers, a giant blue-black figure emerged, holding a massive sword, slicing through the fireball with ease.
Fugaku stood calmly at the center of this enormous figure.
"That's... the Mangekyo Sharingan!"
Setsuna, staring at Fugaku's eyes, muttered in disbelief.
At this moment, Fugaku's eyes had evolved beyond the usual three-tomoe Sharingan. His original three tomoe were now enveloped by three large, interlocking tomoe.
The outer tomoe were large and black, while the inner ones were smaller and white.
The pattern was both mysterious and beautiful.
"Bastard!"
Confirming that it was indeed the Mangekyo Sharingan, Setsuna suddenly erupted in anger.
With a furious snarl, he shouted, "Fugaku, you bastard!"
If Uchiha Fugaku had the Mangekyo Sharingan all this time, why did he endure so much?
For years, the Uchiha had suffered countless hardships and humiliations.
Their greatest humiliation had been when they were forced to relocate their entire clan.
It was like nailing the whole family to a pillar of shame!
After the night of the Nine-Tails attack, when a mysterious Uchiha had controlled the beast and caused the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and his wife, all the blame had been placed on the Uchiha.
Fugaku had the power to change this, but he chose to endure.
Unforgivable!
At this moment, Setsuna's eyes began spinning, the three tomoe slowly evolving into something deeper.
"Susanoo!"
Itsuki looked at the massive blue-black figure and smiled faintly. "As expected, Fugaku, you have the Mangekyo. You truly are worthy of being the leader of the Uchiha clan."
Fugaku looked calmly at Itsuki and said, "Itsuki, let's communicate with our eyes. Today, you've cut off all retreat for the Uchiha. We need to understand each other deeply, for the future of our clan and people."
He understood clearly that after Itsuki's bold words in the Hokage's office earlier today, the Third Hokage and others would now see the Uchiha as a direct threat.
Itsuki's words had essentially declared war on the Hokage.
Given any opportunity, the Hokage's side would surely seek to annihilate the Uchiha.
"You make a good point! Let's have an open and honest discussion!"
Itsuki smiled faintly, and his Sharingan began to spin slowly.
The image of an ouroboros serpent appeared, coldly locking eyes with Fugaku before its head and tail connected.
Four larger tomoe appeared on the image, resembling a windmill shuriken.
*The Mangekyo Sharingan!*
"As I thought."
Fugaku murmured, "So you've awakened the Mangekyo too? Heh."
*Boom!*
Skeletons formed!
Flesh emerged!
The shape of a Tengu crow!
Itsuki's own Susanoo appeared.
It stood tall, even larger than Fugaku's by several meters, looking down on him from above.
Moreover, it wielded a massive crossbow!
"Hm?"
After summoning his Susanoo once again, Itsuki paused briefly.
It seemed like something had changed.
But what had changed, he couldn't quite pinpoint.
He looked up at his Susanoo, momentarily silent.
Was it an illusion?
For some reason, the Susanoo felt... more real.
"Come on!"
With a wild laugh, Itsuki controlled his Susanoo and charged at Fugaku, kicking towards him.
*Boom!*
A heavy impact echoed out.
The blue-black Susanoo was sent flying.
*Boom!*
But Itsuki's attack didn't stop there. He raised his hand and fired an arrow.
"Haaah!"
With a roar, Fugaku's Susanoo raised its sword to block the arrow.
*Clang!*
The sword and arrow clashed, creating a massive shockwave that sent waves rippling across the lake.
At the same time, Fugaku's Susanoo was forced back even further.
"Is this all you've got?"
Itsuki sneered coldly, stepping forward to launch another charge.
*Zzz!*
Fugaku stared at Itsuki, his Mangekyo Sharingan spinning rapidly.
Susanoo let out a roar, punching towards Itsuki.
*Boom!*
Itsuki's Susanoo raised its hand and met the punch head-on.
Under the tremendous force, Fugaku's Susanoo continued to retreat.
"What incredible strength! It's like... a tailed beast!"
Fugaku's expression changed slightly as he swung his sword in return.
*Boom!*
Itsuki blocked with his crossbow, then followed up with a punch, sending Fugaku's Susanoo flying once again.
In the blink of an eye, Fugaku was almost knocked out of the lake.
According to Uchiha's unwritten rules, leaving the lake would be considered a defeat.
Fugaku's face darkened. He unleashed more of his visual prowess, making his Susanoo more solid and powerful.
However, it still couldn't compare to Itsuki's overwhelming strength.
"Too weak, far too weak!"
Itsuki scoffed. "Fugaku, is this really all you've got? It seems you aren't the gem of the Uchiha clan after all."
"Fire Style!"
"Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Itsuki clasped his hands together, using his Susanoo as a medium to cast a Fire Style jutsu.
Though the fireball didn't grow in size, it became far more viscous.
If Itsuki himself was casting fire, the Susanoo's flames were now more akin to molten lava.
Of course!
It wasn't actually lava, just a transformation in the chakra's nature.
But the power within it was something Fugaku didn't dare to test.
Just being near it made him feel an intense sense of danger.
It felt... like a tailed beast.
Fugaku's face completely changed at the thought.
Could Itsuki be a jinchuriki?
*Boom!*
Amidst another impact, Fugaku was sent flying again.
Itsuki was suppressing him!
Even though both of them wielded the Mangekyo Sharingan, Itsuki was displaying overwhelming strength.
*Huff... huff...*
Fugaku panted heavily, having lost too much strength. He could barely stand upright.
Using the Susanoo was already an enormous strain on a regular Mangekyo user.
*Sigh... how pathetic.*
Itsuki shook his head and sighed, murmuring, "With this level of power, how can you protect the Uchiha in the coming chaos?"
"Brother Itsuki, it's true that my father is weak. But what if you add me?"
A soft voice echoed out.
Itsuki turned his head.
Itachi had also activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, and his orange-red Susanoo stood proudly before Itsuki, holding a sword and shield.
A second Mangekyo!
"Come on, Brother Itsuki. Teach me a lesson with my Mangekyo!"
Itachi suddenly burst into wild laughter, charging towards Itsuki.
He didn't punch or kick, but rammed into him with his entire body.
*Boom!*
With that impact, Itsuki's Susanoo finally staggered backward.
"Ahahaha!"
Itachi laughed even louder, more wildly.
"What are you laughing at, kid? Let me show you how to laugh!"
"Wahahaha!"
After a cold snort, Itsuki's eerie laughter rang out.
He leaped into the air, and his massive Susanoo descended, sitting directly on top of Itachi's Susanoo, pinning him to the ground.
Then...
A left hook. A right hook...
The crackling sound of punches echoed endlessly.
(End of the chapter)