"What?!"
The Asura Path was obliterated under the relentless assault of Yasaka Magatama, its body reduced to fragments drifting through the air.
"Has Itachi discovered my secret? Is this just a coincidence, or did he figure out my ability?"
A trace of blood dripped from Nagato's lips.
Aside from the obvious abilities of the Asura Path and the Animal Path, he had carefully hidden the powers of the other Pain bodies. But why did Uchiha Itachi target the Naraka Path first—the one that could revive the others?
Could Itachi's tactical mind truly be so terrifying? To pinpoint the keystone of the Six Paths of Pain after only a brief skirmish?
"No. Itachi must not leave here alive!"
Nagato made his decision. Even if it meant further damaging his body, Itachi had to die today. This battle had already exposed much of the Six Paths' abilities. If Itachi survived and escaped to Konohagakure, leaking his findings to the Leaf—or worse, the entire shinobi world—Nagato's position would become perilous.
In the shinobi world, battles were often won by intelligence. Once stripped of his aura of mystery, Nagato could be countered in countless ways.
With these thoughts racing through his mind, the Deva Path's body slowly ascended into the air. It was time to go all out.
Sasori, noticing the shift in the battlefield, immediately realized that Itachi's attack was a feint. His true target had always been Nagato. Without hesitation, Sasori manipulated the chakra threads attached to the Third Kazekage puppet, commanding it to form seals.
Black iron sand swirled around him like a tempest. Some of it coalesced into a massive cone, hurtling toward Itachi's Susano'o.
Behind him, Konan's wings of paper folded, unleashing countless explosive-tagged paper shuriken that filled the air, aiming directly at Susanoo. Explosions reverberated one after another.
Orochimaru, biting his thumb, summoned an endless swarm of venomous snakes. Each was infused with chakra that allowed them to detonate, spraying corrosive toxins.
The massive iron sand cone struck first, slamming into the red chakra giant. After trembling under the impact, the Susanoo retaliated with a sweep of the Totsuka sword, shattering the cone into a rain of iron grains.
(T/N: The Totsuka Sword is an ethereal weapon whose blade, emerging from a sake jar, is enchanted with a sealing jutsu. Those stabbed by the sword are swiftly drawn into the jar and trapped in a genjutsu-like "world of drunken dreams" for all eternity.)
Next came Konan's relentless barrage of paper shuriken. The attacks were so widespread that even the Yata Mirror couldn't provide complete defense. Cracks spread rapidly across Susano'o's form, and the strain became evident.
Then came Orochimaru's venomous snakes. Exploding beneath Susanoo, they released a deluge of toxic liquids, akin to acid melting into metal. Blackened scars etched themselves into Susanoo's surface.
"Crack."
A fissure split across the chakra armor. Itachi's face turned grim as he watched the Susanoo begin to fall apart.
From above, the Deva Path was ready. To maximize the power of his next move, Nagato had redirected all the chakra from the other Pain bodies to the Deva Path.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Under the midday sun, the Deva Path descended like a god. The Rinnegan's divine glow amplified the scene as his hands lifted slightly, releasing an immense, invisible repulsion force.
BOOM!
The shockwave shattered Susanoo entirely. Cracks spiderwebbed across the crimson giant before it disintegrated. The ground beneath Itachi caved, forming a massive crater. Even the roaring waterfall nearby was reduced to scattered puddles.
In less than three seconds, Susanoo was annihilated.
Itachi collapsed to one knee, his Mangekyo Sharingan trembling violently as blood streamed from his eyes. His body convulsed, and he spat a mouthful of blood, gasping for air.
"Now's my chance!"
From within the maw of a summoned serpent, Orochimaru emerged, his body encased in a crystalline red shell. The instant he appeared, his pale hands lunged toward Itachi, who could only widen his eyes in shock.
Squelch!
The sickening sound of flesh tearing echoed through the battlefield.
Itachi groaned in pain as blood gushed from his empty eye sockets. Orochimaru, with a triumphant grin, retreated swiftly, the red crystalline shell flaking off as he clutched his prize: two freshly plucked Mangekyo Sharingan, still warm and glistening with blood.
"I've finally obtained them!" Orochimaru's long tongue slid across his lips, trembling with glee. He could hardly wait to transplant the eyes into himself.
But Itachi's ordeal was far from over. With the Sharingan in Orochimaru's hands, Konan, Sasori, and the Deva Path all rushed forward, intent on finishing him off.
Having witnessed Itachi's unexpected strength and his knowledge of the Six Paths' abilities, Nagato and Konan wouldn't let him escape alive. Sasori, on the other hand, was eager to turn Itachi into one of his human puppets.
"Is this the end for me?"
Kneeling in the rubble, blood dripping from his hollow sockets, Itachi looked battered and broken. Yet, his face betrayed no fear.
In that moment, two figures flickered in his mind.
"I can only entrust this to you, my friend. Protect the village and the Uchiha name for me."
"These are my eyes—my Mangekyo Sharingan. Treat them as my final gift to you. Carve a new path forward, Itachi. I'll be watching."
Shisui's final words rang in his ears. His friend had entrusted everything to him.
Another figure surfaced—his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke.
"You foolish little brother… If you wish to kill me, hate me, detest me, and survive in disgrace. Run, cling to life, and when you have the same eyes as me, come and face me. Only then will your life have meaning."
"Before killing you, Itachi, I'll never allow myself to die!"
The memory of Sasuke's anger-filled eyes during the Uchiha massacre flashed before him. And yet, intertwined with that hatred were recollections of their carefree childhood.
"Brother, play with me!"
"Forgive me, Sasuke. Next time, I promise."
Itachi's fingers clenched against the ground. No, he couldn't die here. He wouldn't.
The desperation to live rekindled a spark of determination. Shisui had entrusted him with the ultimate genjutsu—Kotoamatsukami, housed within his left eye.
If his own Mangekyo Sharingan had been stolen, then he would survive with Shisui's power.
All of this transpired in a fleeting instant.
With newfound resolve, Itachi performed a summoning technique. A black crow materialized in front of him, cawing sharply.
As the deadly trio closed in, the crow turned, revealing its left eye—a Mangekyo Sharingan, shaped like a shuriken.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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