Elsewhere.
"Who's there!"
Outside Konoha, in the forest.
A patrolling Konoha's Shinobi was suddenly startled.
Two people had abruptly appeared before him, and one of them actually had the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan.
He immediately realized who this person was.
'Damn! I must get this message back!'
He threw two kunai, wanting to hold off the other.
But...
Squelch!
He stared blankly at the hand that had pierced through his chest, the light in his eyes slowly fading.
Itachi glanced at the dead Konoha's Shinobi and at Obito who had killed him.
"You're too ruthless."
"Don't forget, we agreed. You absolutely must not harm my brother."
"Relax, I keep my word."
Obito shook the blood off his hand, and then the two of them quietly infiltrated Konoha.
Soon.
They found Sasuke, who had just finished fighting and was letting out wild laughter.
Obito gave Itachi a strange look. "Your brother is really... unique."
"Hmph."
Itachi didn't speak, but he also involuntarily furrowed his brow.
'What's going on?'
'After such a long time apart, why does my brother seem to have turned into an idiot?'
"Since we've found him, let's get down to business."
Obito didn't want to waste time either… after all, this was Konoha's territory, so staying too long was prone to complications.
"Everything according to plan. I will appear at the critical moment."
Obito said, "Go on, Uchiha Itachi. Let me see your performance."
"No need for you to say more. I know what to do."
Itachi said, forming hand seals.
"Huff... huff..."
In the forest.
As if somewhat tired, Sasuke stopped his maniacal laughter, panting continuously.
At that moment, several crows flew past before him.
"Hmm?"
He frowned, a strong sense of foreboding suddenly welling up in his heart. "What's with these crows?"
However, a shocking scene unfolded before him.
Those crows flew to the opposite side and finally coalesced into a person.
The person he longed for day and night, the person he wanted to kill.
"Long time no see, Sasuke."
Itachi's face was expressionless, his words carrying no warmth.
"Uchiha... Itachi!"
Sasuke's eyes widened, filled with disbelief.
But immediately after, gnashing his teeth, he shouted Itachi's name, swiftly gathering Raikiri in his hand.
"You dare show yourself before me! Today I will definitely kill you!"
The three-tomoe Sharingan appeared in his eyes.
This surprised Obito, who was secretly observing: 'He already has three tomoe? Truly surprising. But this will also allow the plan to proceed smoothly.'
"You seem to have gained some power."
Itachi was also somewhat surprised, but his face remained impassive. "But it's not enough. It's still far from enough."
"What about this!"
Sasuke's eyes burned with extreme hatred. Ignoring his body's fatigue, he forcibly activated the Eight Gates. "Gate of Opening, open! Gate of Healing, open! Gate of Life, open! Gate of Pain, open!"
"The Eight Gates?"
Itachi finally frowned. "Still not enough."
"Die, Itachi!"
Sasuke transformed into a streak of lightning, stamping forcefully on the ground, causing the entire surface to crack under his power.
The tremendous force became propulsion, instantly shooting him forward like a bullet.
The screeching Raikiri in his hand flashed with white electrical currents.
The originally powerful penetrating force, combined with the extreme speed provided by the Eight Gates, made this technique's power incredibly strong.
But...
"Child's play."
Itachi didn't even move, standing in place facing Sasuke's attack.
Thump.
Sasuke was repelled by a powerful force. He stared in shock at the Chakra-condensed form enveloping Itachi, resembling ribs. "What... is that?"
"You don't need to know yet, because you are not worthy."
Itachi looked at Sasuke, a look of disappointment in his eyes. "Is your capacity only this much? My foolish little brother, you disappoint me."
"Damn it!"
How could Sasuke endure Itachi's mockery?
He stood up, once again gathering Raikiri in his hand, and charged at Itachi!
"What's going on?"
Kakashi looked on, shocked. Beside him, Guy was the same.
After leaving, they had heard the tremendous noise coming from the training ground and had turned back.
That was precisely when Sasuke and Lee were fighting.
By the time they arrived, the battle between Sasuke and Lee had long ended.
But what they hadn't expected was that the person Sasuke was fighting now was the one Sasuke longed for day and night.
"What do we do now? Sasuke is completely outmatched. What is that thing around him? Its defensive power is incredible."
Guy's expression was grave. "Even I probably couldn't easily break through that defense."
"I don't know."
Kakashi, with only one eye, naturally couldn't perceive the Susano'o. "But if we don't intervene, Sasuke will definitely be killed by him."
"Alright, I'll charge in to hold him off. You take Lee and young Sasuke and get away first."
Guy said, about to rush out.
"Wait!"
Kakashi grabbed Guy's arm. "He's a Genjutsu master. What if you get caught in one? Leave the delaying to me. You get them to safety."
"Alright."
Guy nodded gravely. "You better not die. The outcome between us hasn't been decided yet."
"Don't worry, I won't die so easily."
Kakashi smiled, though somewhat strained.
However, at that moment, an unexpected change occurred in the field.
"If your capacity is only this much, how can you be of use to me?"
Itachi stepped closer and closer to Sasuke.
Sasuke was now terrified, slumped on the ground, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
His attacks were completely ineffective, utterly unable to breach the defense of the Susano'o surrounding Itachi.
"Don't... don't come any closer..."
Sasuke helplessly crawled backward, his face full of fear.
Squelch.
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared ahead.
In his line of sight.
A hand pierced through Itachi's chest. The hand holding the kunai was clearly stained with blood, and the astonishment in Itachi's eyes seemed equally genuine.
"Ita... chi...?"
A light exhalation escaped Sasuke's lips, one he himself couldn't believe.
He couldn't believe that such a powerful Itachi could be killed so easily.
The uncontrollable sadness welling up in his heart caused tears to fall involuntarily from the corners of his eyes.
And the three tomoe in his eyes seemed to undergo some change, yet also seemed unchanged.
"Who is he?"
Kakashi was utterly stunned. "He's also wearing the Akatsuki's robe, but why did he ambush Uchiha Itachi?"
"Internal strife? But why at this moment?"
Guy was equally puzzled.
They were still thinking about how to save Lee and Sasuke, never expecting such a turn of events.
"Uchiha Itachi, I never expected you to be a spy who infiltrated our organization. Luckily, I discovered it in time."
Obito wore a sinister smile. "But I am merciful enough. Letting you see your little brother before you die should make up for the regret in your heart, shouldn't it?"