Itachi Uchiha knew what Root was.
That scene from two years ago had once made him think the ANBU were slaughtering each other—but as he learned more, he realized that hidden beneath Konoha's ANBU was an even deeper, darker organization.
An organization his father clearly didn't want to talk about.
Yet Itachi could feel it—his father harbored deep dissatisfaction toward it.
So this guy came from that place…
The thought barely finished forming before Itachi had no time left to dwell on it.
Ren's fist came crashing toward him once more!
For a moment, Itachi could only retreat in disarray, forced into constant evasion as Ren blurred into afterimages, relentlessly pressing the attack.
"Nii-san…"
Sasuke watched his older brother being overwhelmed, worry filling his face. No matter how much his mother tried to comfort him, it did little to help.
"Shisui, he—"
Uchiha Fugaku's expression darkened. Seeing his eldest son completely suppressed with no chance to counterattack made his mood sink even further.
Especially as the cheers from the crowd grew louder—each sound felt painfully grating to his ears.
"Ren… is still holding back."
Though slightly awkward, Shisui remained calm.
He had gone through brutal missions with Ren—he knew better than anyone that this was restraint.
If Ren truly went all out, that suffocatingly massive earth dragon would already be tearing across the field.
"…"
Fugaku fell silent.
Before he could say anything else, a wave of shocked cries erupted from the arena.
Turning sharply, he saw his son sent flying by a single kick from Ren, and his heart clenched with alarm.
Finally created some distance…
But on the battlefield, Itachi felt none of that panic.
Though he'd been suppressed badly in close combat, he'd already found a solution.
Trading blows in taijutsu with Ren was outright foolish.
Ren was too fast—fast enough that Itachi could see his movements, yet his body couldn't keep up.
Worse still, Ren never once looked into his eyes, making genjutsu impossible.
How is he this familiar with the Sharingan…?
With no choice left, Itachi seized an opening and deliberately borrowed Ren's momentum to kick himself away.
That blow had been intentional.
"Pretty smart."
Ren raised an eyebrow, clearly seeing through the tactic.
He didn't pursue.
Instead, he stood calmly and drew several kunai at leisure.
His two tasks conflicted slightly—don't injure Itachi, yet teach him a lesson.
After some thought, Ren settled on a single solution.
Total suppression—end it with overwhelming power he can't resist, and force him to surrender.
After widening the distance, Itachi also drew multiple kunai.
But when he saw Ren standing still, not chasing, his heart sank.
That confident…?
Still, this was his chance.
Without hesitation, Itachi hurled his kunai.
Clang—!
Clang—!
Clang—!
Dozens of kunai collided midair.
At first glance, it looked like a mistake—but with those impacts, every blade changed trajectory.
In an instant, a dense net of steel unfolded across the sky, covering Ren from every angle.
"Nii-san!"
"Itachi, go!"
Sasuke and Izumi shouted excitedly. This was a signature Uchiha throwing technique—no matter how many times they saw it, it was breathtaking.
"So amazing…"
"You can do that with kunai?"
"Of course—this is an Uchiha-exclusive throwing art."
The spectators buzzed with admiration. The display alone was dazzling.
Yūgao shook her head quietly.
Shisui sighed inwardly as well.
Still a far cry from Sasori's carpet-style coverage…
Ren didn't bother dodging.
Instead of defending, he casually threw his own kunai straight toward Itachi.
They were wildly off-target—so much so that they didn't seem aimed at Itachi at all.
A chance!
Itachi's hands flew through seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball roared forth, surging toward Ren.
Kunai from above. Fire from the front.
Ren appeared completely surrounded.
"Ren—"
Tenzō frowned, hesitating whether to use Wood Release to help.
"He might be underestimating him…"
Kakashi tilted his head. He knew Ren was strong—but even strength had limits, didn't it?
"Relax. Ren has this."
Yūgao remained calm.
"Compared to taijutsu, his ninjutsu is even more terrifying."
"Is that so—?"
Kakashi scratched his head—then suddenly his gaze snapped to Ren's thrown kunai.
His pupils shrank violently.
This kid… he's holding back way too much.
On the best viewing platform, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched intently, shaking his head.
He understood Ren's strength.
He wanted Ren to avoid injuring Itachi—but this level of restraint was excessive.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, his body stiffened.
His eyes widened in shock.
"Impossible!"
Gasps erupted across the arena.
Every single person froze in disbelief.
Even Uchiha Fugaku. Even Shisui.
All wore expressions of pure shock.
"Looks like you've already lost."
Ren's voice sounded—behind Itachi.
"What?!"
Itachi's mind went blank.
Before he could react, a kick sent him flying.
Disoriented, he instinctively tried to stabilize himself midair to continue fighting—
Then he saw it.
A kunai gliding beside him.
In the next instant, Ren appeared like a phantom—and struck him with another punch.
Boom!
Itachi slammed into the ground.
Ren had perfectly controlled his strength—Itachi wasn't badly hurt.
But when Itachi looked up, Ren was gone.
Instead, a chill ran along his neck.
At some point, Ren had moved behind him again.
A kunai rested lightly against his throat.
The arena fell into dead silence.
Countless eyes stared at Ren in stunned disbelief.
Because they all knew—
They had just witnessed that technique.
And in Ren's figure, many of them saw the shadow of a golden flash that once made every enemy on the battlefield tremble.
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