Inside this Training Ground, Naruto lay collapsed beneath the stone wall, still unconscious.
Sasuke gripped his blade, staring intently ahead.
Uchiha Itachi stretched his limbs.
"I must make this quick. Step aside, my foolish younger brother, otherwise—"
"I will kill you as well!"
Sasuke gripped his blade.
His physical strength was nearly exhausted, and he could no longer run, but at this moment, his heart was filled with anger and humiliation.
Sasuke understood Uchiha Itachi.
Given the opponent's speed, it was impossible that he couldn't outrun Sasuke, who was carrying Naruto. The reason he hadn't caught up earlier was simply that he was enjoying the thrill of the hunt.
Too weak!
Sasuke's internal emotions churned incessantly—hatred, anger, despair.
The tomoe in his eyes flickered violently.
Uchiha Itachi narrowed his eyes slightly and approached step by step, his hand reaching for a Kunai in the Ninja Tools pouch at his waist. Seeing that Sasuke's emotions had reached their limit—
He used Body Flicker to vanish from his spot and appeared beside Naruto.
Just as he thrust the Kunai downward—Clang!
A broken blade blocked Uchiha Itachi's path.
The sound of ragged breathing was like a broken bellows.
After the piercing sound of the collision, water burst forth like arrows, scattering toward Uchiha Itachi.
Uchiha Itachi used Body Flicker to retreat.
After steadying himself, he looked at the man before him and frowned slightly.
Masahiko, his body half-covered in blood, was panting heavily. He stared straight ahead, his disheveled figure exuding determination and a biting killing intent.
"Just now, were you planning to give up?"
Beside him, Sasuke raised his head, staring wide-eyed at his teacher, his face a mix of astonishment, shock, and gratitude.
His lips trembled as he said, "No! I didn't give up, I was just—"
"Then take Naruto and leave. I will kill him in your place!"
Masahiko took a step forward.
Uchiha Itachi said coldly, "Masahiko Yagyu, you are indeed a remarkable Ninja—"
He watched as Sasuke hoisted Naruto onto his back, his eyelids dropping slightly.
"But in front of these eyes, your abilities are limited to this."
The next instant, the tomoe in his eyes rotated, connecting to form a special pattern.
Mangekyo Sharingan!
The next second, Uchiha Itachi used Body Flicker to move forward, his speed shockingly fast.
However.
Chakra erupted from Masahiko's body.
The Chakra flowed through his body fluids and blood, activating his physical functions and instantly boosting his speed.
Water Release: Water Wall!
A towering wall of water rose up and swirled, cutting off the distance between Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi.
Sasuke turned his head, looking worried: "Teacher—"
"You go first."
Masahiko said calmly.
Sasuke carried Naruto on his back and fled quickly toward Konoha.
At this moment, flames erupted from within the water wall, but simultaneously, the evaporating water permeated the surroundings, creating a thick, high-temperature fog.
Uchiha Itachi was forced to cease his pursuit.
He pulled back and retreated, then stood still, staring at Masahiko in the mist with a very serious expression: "Do you really intend to stand in my way?"
"They are my students; naturally, I must stop you."
Masahiko said gravely.
Uchiha Itachi was silent for a few seconds, then raised his head slightly.
He drew his blade.
"Masahiko-senpai, since you insist on blocking me, this time, I will not hold back."
The next second—
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A broken blade and a complete blade collided rapidly several times in a brief moment.
Amidst the constant exchanges, shuriken were thrown from Uchiha Itachi's hand.
However.
Masahiko flicked his finger, and Chakra Threads attached to the shuriken, sending them flying back toward Uchiha Itachi.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
A series of sharp, rapid ringing sounds echoed.
The clash of speed against speed formed a beautiful melody in that moment.
Uchiha Itachi frowned slightly, feeling that something was vaguely wrong.
Masahiko deliberately avoided making eye contact with him and did not give him the opportunity to unleash any movement-based Genjutsu.
This did not exceed his expectations.
Even Sasuke, under the other's tutelage, had mastered such techniques, let alone Masahiko himself.
He just felt that something seemed off in the battle just now.
Uchiha Itachi continued to swing his blade.
However, halfway through the swing, his Sharingan spun rapidly, and then the blade slashed violently to the side.
Clang!
The sound of blades clashing rang out in the empty air where there was no enemy.
The next second—whoosh!
Water burst forth.
Uchiha Itachi used Body Flicker to retreat, yet he was still struck by a water arrow.
Blood flowed from the wound.
He ignored the wound and stared at Masahiko, saying, "Sound Genjutsu?"
Uchiha Itachi sensed the state of his body.
"You also absorbed my Chakra?"
"Just a trivial trick. Without a Sharingan, one must explore other directions."
Masahiko said calmly.
After speaking, he suddenly frowned and quietly retreated.
The next moment, a powerful fluctuation of Chakra came from not far away.
Massive amounts of Chakra rose into the sky.
Above the forest, rain clouds gathered, obscuring the sky.
Within the cumulonimbus clouds, lightning, like a pale dragon, tore through the darkness and struck a spot in the forest.
Storm Release Secret Technique: Demon Dragon of the Storm!
Uchiha Itachi frowned.
Troublesome!
That guy Hiruko—
The next moment, Masahiko had already accelerated and charged toward that direction.
Uchiha Itachi naturally did the same.
Although he had truly wanted to kill Masahiko for a split second, it was only because Masahiko was hindering his plans.
In reality, he felt great admiration and gratitude toward the other man.
It was Sasuke's fortune to have met Masahiko.
But—
He had reasons why he had to act.
But all of this came to a halt when the incident with Hiruko occurred.
Uchiha Itachi was moving at high speed; however, a figure suddenly emerged from the ground.
Zetsu stared at him.
"Don't go any further, Uchiha Itachi. That guy is beyond saving."
"But Sasuke—he is related to my other pair of eyes."
Uchiha Itachi said coldly.
Zetsu said, "Rest assured, Sasuke won't be harmed. Let's go first."
"I will send a Shadow Clone."
Uchiha Itachi was still uneasy.
Zetsu thought for a moment and said, "I will help you."
As he spoke, he injected Chakra into Uchiha Itachi's body, and white flesh covered Uchiha Itachi's body surface.
The next second, Uchiha Itachi performed hand signs—
Another Uchiha Itachi split off.
He looked at Zetsu and the original body covered in white flesh with some surprise, then accelerated and ran toward the battlefield.
Sasuke cannot be harmed!
And on that battlefield—
Hiruko's body was in a highly unstable state; his formerly handsome face was splitting open at this moment, looking like a monster.
He opened his split mouth wide, and the Ninjutsu of surrounding Ninjas were rapidly sucked into the center, transforming into the most primitive Chakra.
Dark Release, a special Bloodline Limit capable of absorbing Chakra.
But he was clearly not in a normal state at this moment; rather, he was suffering from a rampage after a forced fusion.
Crackle!
Thunder crisscrossed in the air.
Bolts of lightning, like thunder dragons descending, bombarded the surroundings.
Sasuke forced himself to persevere and rushed forward quickly.
Boom!
Lightning struck down, carving a large crater where he had been, and the trees were immediately turned into charcoal.
What a terrifying technique!
Sasuke dared not linger and fled for his life, but carrying the unconscious Naruto, he was also reaching his limit.
At this moment, he suddenly felt as if a restriction inside his body had been released, and suddenly he had some strength again.
"Want to run?"
Hiruko roared frantically, "Only by absorbing you can I survive! I must survive!"
In an instant, he had arrived in front of Sasuke.
"You are mine! You are mine!"