"Hey, Itachi, what's going on?" Kisame Hoshigaki asked in shock, glancing at Uchiha Itachi beside him. "Is this guy really your uncle?"
"This... what's happening?" Itachi was genuinely caught off guard by Linton's appearance. How could there still be someone from the Uchiha clan? Everyone was supposed to be... gone. But Itachi couldn't deny what his eyes were telling him — Linton definitely had Uchiha blood. At least, that's how Itachi judged it.
"Who exactly are you?" Itachi asked, unable to maintain his usual calm demeanor, his tone tinged with urgency.
"I already told you, I'm your uncle. Even if not by blood, I'm still your second uncle. Calling me 'uncle' won't hurt you," Linton replied.
"I... have never seen you before," Itachi quickly said.
"I just haven't been home in over a decade," Linton explained. "I didn't expect to come back and find the Uchiha clan annihilated — by one of their own, no less. How interesting."
"Over a decade?" Itachi started to believe him. He had indeed never seen Linton in the Uchiha clan, and if Linton had been away for over ten years, Itachi might have been too young to remember, or perhaps not even born yet. That was likely how he had escaped the massacre.
Now that he understood where Linton came from, Itachi felt a bit relieved. Otherwise, the sudden appearance of an unknown Uchiha would have been too alarming.
"So, one of the survivors..." Kisame Hoshigaki muttered from the side. "Itachi, looks like your mission isn't complete yet."
"Perfect, I'll finish it now," Itachi responded immediately. He had promised the leader to leave only Sasuke alive, but now Linton's sudden appearance could cause complications. If the leader found out, it could endanger Sasuke's life. Compared to his brother, this man claiming to be his uncle wasn't nearly as important. To prevent any risks, Itachi decided to kill Linton right away.
"These nephews are really one after another, so unlovable," Linton waved his hand dismissively. "If I don't teach you kids a lesson, you'll never learn to respect your elders..."
"What's your purpose here?" Kakashi finally found the right moment to interject.
"We're just looking for something..." Itachi answered.
"So, your target is the tailed beasts?" Kakashi said bluntly.
Itachi didn't respond verbally but instead extended his hand.
"Water Style: Water Wall!" Kakashi quickly formed hand seals. Suddenly, several water-like projectiles appeared, only to be blocked by Kakashi's defense. If Kakashi hadn't reacted so quickly, he would have been hit.
"His hand-seal speed is too fast to see," Kakashi muttered, feeling a lingering sense of fear. Without his Sharingan, he would have been caught.
"Not bad, Kakashi. Quick reaction," Itachi acknowledged with a nod. "You've done well to use the Sharingan to this extent, but your body lacks Uchiha blood. It's not suited for that eye. I don't have time to waste on you, so let me show you the true power of the Uchiha."
Kakashi was alarmed and quickly shouted, "You two, close your eyes! Don't look at him!" He immediately shut his right eye, using only his Sharingan to observe Itachi. Kurenai and Asuma, without hesitation, followed suit and closed their eyes.
"Whatever you do, don't open your eyes. Only a Sharingan can resist this technique," Kakashi warned again.
"You're right, the Sharingan can resist to some extent. But I'm using a special genjutsu called Tsukuyomi. It's not just any genjutsu — only those with the same eyes as mine can hope to defeat me." As Itachi finished speaking, his Mangekyō Sharingan spun, and in the next moment, Kakashi collapsed to the ground. Linton knew that Kakashi was trapped in the Tsukuyomi world, enduring three days and nights of torment, though in reality, only a second had passed — a true one-second defeat.
"Haha... this is truly a classic moment," Linton couldn't help but laugh. "I can't take this! It's too much!"
Kakashi, who hadn't expected to lose so quickly, realized how terrifying the Mangekyō Sharingan was. But then he heard Linton's laughter and remembered that Linton also had a Mangekyō Sharingan. If only a Mangekyō could resist this technique, then Linton...
At that moment, Itachi turned toward Linton. "Your name is Linton, right? Your appearance has surprised me. Originally, I came here just to find something, but now you've disrupted my plans. You must die here."
"Hey, hey, is that how you talk to your uncle?" Linton replied. "Aren't you only 17? You're way too cocky. How about you act cute for your uncle, and I promise not to kill you?"
"Sharingan has different levels. You probably don't know that yet... Let me show you the true power of the Sharingan," Itachi said, still underestimating Linton. Despite seeing Linton's Sharingan, Itachi, with his Mangekyō, believed in a clear superiority. He couldn't imagine Linton wielding a Mangekyō Sharingan — if someone like that existed, surely Itachi would know. Unfortunately, Itachi didn't realize that Linton had been declared dead, a missing-nin long forgotten.
"Tsukuyomi!"
"You're really too adorable, nephew," Linton chuckled. "Tell you what, that line's pretty good. Let me borrow it..."
"Hmm?" Itachi was momentarily puzzled.
Linton waved his hand. "Sharingan has different levels. You probably don't know that yet... Let me show you the true power of the Sharingan!"
As he spoke, Linton's eyes changed. First, the Mangekyō Sharingan appeared, spinning before glowing with a purple hue, slowly transforming into concentric rings of light. The Rinnegan had awakened.
"What?" Itachi's face paled. In the next instant, he spat out blood, his eyes shedding bloody tears. He could barely contain his shock as he trembled, staring at Linton. "How... how is it possible? How could you have those eyes?"
"Trying to show off your little Mangekyō in front of your uncle? You're adorable," Linton said calmly. "I had the Mangekyō thirteen years ago when you were still a four-year-old kid. What, you thought I'd be stuck at that level after all this time? You really underestimate the Uchiha family's hacks."
"That's impossible. Those eyes should only..." Itachi had seen the Rinnegan before, but he couldn't comprehend how Linton had them.
"You still don't understand how deep the Uchiha's power runs, do you?" Linton remarked. "I have no idea why you're running around playing spy and double agent, but have you ever heard our Uchiha clan's motto?"
"Huh?" Itachi was completely thrown off. Double agent? How did he know? How much did this guy know? And a clan motto? What?
"When you can't win, activate your cheat codes. That's how the Uchiha have always done things. Why bother with all the extra nonsense?" Linton said casually. "Now, be a good nephew and bow your head to your uncle. I'll even take you in."
"Retreat! We have to retreat!" Itachi's mind was in chaos. He had no idea what was happening, but he knew one thing for certain — he had to escape immediately. There was no way he could win against this man.
Sensing the danger, Kisame quickly nodded, and they both prepared to leave using Body Flicker.
"As if I'd let you run so easily," Linton said, extending his hand toward Itachi. "Universal Pull — the feeling of being cool is awesome."
With an immense force, Itachi, who had just gained some distance, was pulled back instantly. His face twisted in desperation. He realized that escaping wouldn't be as easy as he'd hoped.
Mid-air, Itachi adjusted himself and glanced at Linton, his eyes flashing red. "Amaterasu!"
"Amaterasu!" At almost the same moment, Linton also released Amaterasu. The two black flames collided in the air, burning fiercely against each other.
"Damn it," Itachi panicked. He had intended to use Amaterasu to force Linton back and make his escape, but Linton had countered with the same technique. There was no time to think. If he didn't go all out, he wouldn't make it out alive.
Clenching his hands, Itachi prepared to unleash another technique, but suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him. A knee strike hit his chin, nearly knocking him out. Gritting his teeth, Itachi twisted in midair, landing on the ground while panting heavily and glaring at Linton.
"Almost forgot about this," Linton sighed, realizing that his automatic combat mode had been triggered by Itachi's attack. "No, seriously, Combat AI, could you leave this fight to me? We're having a mage duel here, and your sudden hand-to-hand attack is ruining the vibe."
Predictably, the Combat AI ignored Linton's plea, ready to charge again. But just as It
achi clasped his hands together, he murmured, "Susano'o..."
A red skeleton began to form, slowly donning crimson armor. Itachi's Susano'o was much smaller than Linton's, and using it drained nearly all of Itachi's energy, leaving him kneeling on the ground, gasping for breath.
"Well then... let's do this." Linton's eyes gleamed as a massive black giant materialized. Unlike before, this Susano'o had not only a torso but also legs and wings — a fully formed Susano'o.
However, instead of immediately attacking, Linton's Susano'o grabbed Linton's body from the ground, holding it in its hand.
"Finally, I've caught you!" Linton said with satisfaction.
"Please, host, do not interfere with combat," the Combat AI finally spoke up, now that it had been physically restrained by the Susano'o.
"I knew this was going to drain a ton of mana," Linton muttered, checking his mana levels. Sure enough, maintaining the fully formed Susano'o consumed far more mana than its regular form. "No choice then, I'll have to finish this quickly."
(End of the Chapter)