211-215

Chapter 211: Testing the Waters

“Those Uchiha guys still haven’t given up, huh...”

Kaneki stood in front of the ANBU surveillance monitors, watching the caravans constantly entering and leaving the Uchiha clan grounds, making this observation.

“Oi, watch your words.”

Standing beside Kaneki, Tenzo discreetly tugged at his sleeve. After all, accompanying them on this surveillance mission was none other than the Uchiha clan prodigy, Uchiha Itachi.

Although this Uchiha genius was also serving in the ANBU, speaking ill of his clan in his presence was, at the very least, rather inappropriate.

Kakashi, overhearing the remark, also chimed in with a reminder:

“It’s quite impolite to speak like that in front of a colleague, Oi.”

However, Itachi, the person in question, showed no reaction whatsoever—not even a change in his expression.

Such comments were something Uchiha Itachi had long grown accustomed to. They didn’t stir him in the slightest.

Compared to Kaneki’s contempt for the Uchiha clan, Itachi was more concerned about the deeper implications of his behavior.

Itachi was well aware of who Kaneki and Tenzo really were.

They were the secret weapons prepared by the Foundation to deal with the Uchiha clan.

Both wielded the powerful Wood Release of the First Hokage. The loudmouthed one, codenamed Oi, was very likely the one who had assassinated Shisui.

Based on the intel Shisui had provided, this guy’s Wood Release was exceedingly powerful, capable of utilizing several of the First Hokage’s strongest techniques.

So why would a ninja this strong be transferred from the Foundation to the ANBU?

Had they genuinely pledged loyalty to the Third Hokage? Or were they spies planted by Danzo within the ANBU? Or perhaps this was some kind of arrangement by the higher-ups of the village?

And why were they assigned to monitor the Uchiha alongside him? Did this reflect a lack of trust in him?

Furthermore, what was the intent behind their frequent provocations of both him and the Uchiha in recent days? Were they trying to escalate tensions between the village and the Uchiha?

A flood of questions surged through Itachi’s mind.

It wasn’t that he was overly sensitive; it was simply that the current situation between the Uchiha clan and the village was precariously delicate. One wrong step could lead to utter disaster.

Not only could the Uchiha face annihilation, but a weakened Konoha might also find itself plunged into a Fourth Great Ninja War.

For this reason, he had to exercise utmost caution.

Protecting the village—that was his ideal and the wish of his friend Shisui.

Kaneki scoffed at Kakashi’s criticism and continued speaking:

“If we already know that the Uchiha clan is stockpiling resources for a coup, why doesn’t the old man strike first?”

“If it were Lord Danzo, the Uchiha clan would’ve been wiped out long ago!”

Kakashi rubbed his forehead in frustration. Why had the Hokage assigned this guy to his team?

But to prevent Kaneki from pressing the issue further, Kakashi reluctantly responded:

“The Uchiha may not see eye to eye with the village, but they’re still a part of it. Until they make an overt move, the village can’t take preemptive action against them.”

As he said this, Kakashi subtly observed Itachi’s expression.

The mission the Hokage had given him wasn’t just about guiding Kaneki and Tenzo; it also included monitoring Itachi to assess his loyalty.

Unfortunately, Itachi’s face remained as calm as ever, as if they weren’t discussing his clan at all.

Kaneki wasn’t convinced by Kakashi’s reasoning.

“Hmph. If we already know the Uchiha plan to rebel, we should strike first. Anyone who opposes Lord Danzo should be sent straight to hell!”

Kakashi sighed.

“Striking first might give us an advantage, but the higher-ups also have to consider the sentiments of other clans. If the village acts preemptively against the Uchiha now, what’s to stop them from doing the same to other clans later?”

Following this roundabout reasoning clearly didn’t suit Oi’s personality, so Kaneki simply exploded in frustration:

“This is so annoying!”

“All I know is, anyone who stands in Lord Danzo’s way will be eliminated!”

Kakashi massaged his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

But Kaneki wasn’t done. He immediately turned to Itachi and smirked.

“I hear you’re the Uchiha clan’s genius. How about a fight? Let’s see if your Sharingan is stronger than my Wood Release!”

“The last Uchiha I fought didn’t end so well...”

Before he could finish, Itachi finally snapped, coldly reprimanding him:

“That’s enough. Shut up.”

To everyone’s surprise, Kaneki didn’t get angry. Instead, a look of excitement crossed his face.

“What’s this? Are you finally willing to fight me?”

For days, Kaneki had been deliberately provoking Itachi. Apart from hoping to escalate tensions between the Uchiha and the village, he also wanted to test Itachi’s strength and learn about his Mangekyo Sharingan abilities.

If he could force Itachi to reveal his Mangekyo, it would further diminish the Uchiha clan’s “advantage.”

Unfortunately for Kaneki, Itachi didn’t take the bait. He quickly regained his composure.

Seeing this, Kaneki suddenly appeared in front of Itachi in an instant, thrusting a kunai at him like a bolt of lightning.

Kakashi moved to intervene, but without uncovering his Sharingan beforehand, he couldn’t keep up with Kaneki’s speed. He could only watch helplessly as the kunai sped toward Itachi’s eyes.

If Itachi were killed here, the conflict between the Uchiha and the village would spiral out of control!

This terrifying thought exploded in Kakashi’s mind like a thunderclap. But all he could do was watch as it unfolded.

To everyone’s shock, Kaneki stopped his kunai at the last moment.

The blade hovered a mere centimeter from Itachi’s pupil.

Even when faced with such a sudden, life-threatening attack, Itachi’s eyes remained as calm and unmoving as still water.

“If your goal is to provoke a war between the village and the Uchiha, I suggest you abandon that idea,” Itachi said calmly.

His composed response left Kaneki feeling bored.

“How dull. I didn’t expect the so-called genius of the Uchiha to be such a coward.”

Before Kaneki could continue provoking him, Kakashi revealed his Sharingan and sternly warned him:

“Oi, your actions were extremely dangerous just now!”

“I need to remind you—any ANBU member who attacks their comrades will be treated as a rogue ninja.”

And how are rogue ninja dealt with?

By being executed, of course.

“I doubt even Lord Danzo would want one of his operatives to be labeled a rogue ninja,” Kakashi concluded.

This last remark seemed to strike a chord with Kaneki. He snorted coldly.

“If it weren’t for Lord Danzo, this kid would already be dead.”

With that, Kaneki used the Body Flicker Technique to vanish.

“My apologies, Itachi,” Tenzo said, seamlessly stepping in to apologize on Kaneki’s behalf.

Itachi simply shook his head lightly. “It’s fine.”

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 212: Tobi’s Identity

Dark, foreboding clouds loomed over Konoha, shrouding the entire village in an oppressive atmosphere.

Even the kids playing ninja games on the streets could sense that something wasn’t right in the air—something big was about to happen.

After wrapping up a troublesome surveillance mission, Kakashi made his customary visit to the Konoha Cemetery.

This was the resting place of many Konoha shinobi who had fallen in battle, including two of his closest friends: Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara.

The former had been a much-maligned underachiever, while the latter was a talented medical ninja.

A genius, an underachiever, and a skilled medic—this classic trio was not uncommon in Konoha’s teams.

Kakashi approached Rin’s grave and gently placed a bouquet of flowers on the ground.

His gaze, softened with an uncharacteristic tenderness, would have surprised anyone who knew Kakashi.

This gaze—overflowing with warmth yet tinged with guilt—seemed as if it could pierce through the stone and soil to reach Rin, her face still painted with war paint in his memory.

“Rin, I wonder if you’re doing well in the Pure Land,” Kakashi murmured.

“A lot has been happening in the village recently. The tension between the Uchiha clan and the village has reached an irreconcilable point. If this keeps escalating, it might lead to something catastrophic.”

“I don’t know what to do anymore. If Sensei were still alive, I don’t think any of this would’ve happened.”

“And then there’s Obito…”

“With his personality, if he knew the Uchiha clan was planning a coup, he’d do everything in his power to stop it. After all, he always wanted to become Hokage…”

As the light grew dimmer, Kakashi continued speaking, as though every word he hadn’t spoken over the years was now pouring out to Rin.

Half an hour later, he sighed deeply.

“Rin, that’s enough for today. I should go check on Obito’s grave now.”

With that, he turned and walked to Obito’s memorial.

Unlike Rin’s grave, Obito’s was an empty cenotaph.

Back then, Obito had sacrificed himself by pushing Kakashi out of harm’s way, only to be crushed by falling rocks. His body was never recovered, so they had used some of his belongings for the burial instead.

Unlike Rin’s grave, Kakashi brought nothing to Obito’s. He said nothing, simply standing in silence for a moment before turning and leaving.

With Kakashi gone, the cemetery returned to its tranquil state.

The late hour, combined with the overcast skies threatening rain, meant there was little chance of anyone else coming to pay their respects. The only sounds came from small animals rustling in the grass and soil.

Suddenly, the air in front of Rin’s grave began to twist like a vortex.

A man in a black cloak and a spiral-patterned mask emerged from the swirling air, appearing in the exact spot where Kakashi had stood moments ago.

The masked man looked in the direction Kakashi had left and scoffed coldly.

“All these years, and you’re still as insufferably arrogant as ever, Kakashi…”

“What’s this nonsense about how if I were alive, I’d stop all of this? As if you know me so well!”

“I’m not the person I used to be.”

Clenching his fists tightly, the man’s thoughts turned inward.

The spirited young man who once dreamed of becoming Hokage and was willing to sacrifice everything for his comrades and village had died alongside Rin.

The masked man slowly turned to look at Rin’s grave.

For a moment, his cold, detached gaze melted into an ocean of tenderness.

“Rin, don’t worry. I will change this cursed shinobi world. I’ll create a perfect world with the Moon’s Eye Plan—a world where you can exist again!”

Though his voice was not loud, it carried a resolute conviction.

Then, like a petulant child, the masked man kicked away the bouquet Kakashi had left in front of Rin’s grave, replacing it with one of his own.

…

Watching this unfold, Kaneki couldn’t help but feel speechless.

He hadn’t expected Tobi to be so childish.

Kaneki clicked his tongue, but his curiosity quickly reignited.

Although he didn’t understand why Tobi and Kakashi liked to pour their hearts out at gravesites, the exchange between them had provided plenty of clues.

For example…

Tobi’s identity.

Based on what Kaneki had gathered, several pieces of evidence pointed to a specific conclusion.

1. Tobi had a close relationship with Kakashi and Rin.

2. He harbored resentment toward Kakashi and loved Rin.

3. He was deeply obsessed with resurrecting Rin.

4. He likely only had one eye.

After cross-referencing Konoha’s ninja records using his black insects and analyzing today’s events, Kaneki was confident:

Tobi was none other than Obito Uchiha.

As their former teammate, Obito perfectly fit the first criterion of having a close relationship with Kakashi and Rin.

According to Kaneki’s research, during the Third Shinobi War, Rin had been forcibly turned into the Three-Tails’ jinchūriki and had ultimately died by Kakashi’s hand during a desperate moment.

This traumatic event had left Kakashi guilt-ridden to the point where he avoided using Lightning Release techniques to kill for years.

Given this, it made perfect sense that Obito, who had entrusted his eye to Kakashi and asked him to protect Rin, would harbor a deep resentment toward him.

Third, Obito’s affection for Rin was no secret, and his desire to bring her back was a strong motivation.

And lastly, there was no denying the significance of Tobi always showing only one eye—the opposite of the one Kakashi now bore.

This evidence led to one undeniable conclusion: Obito Uchiha hadn’t died during the mission at Kannabi Bridge.

Instead, he had survived by some unknown means, adopted a mysterious new identity, joined the Akatsuki, and initiated the Moon’s Eye Plan to bring Rin back—or perhaps to create a world where she could exist.

Clearly, this plan differed greatly from Nagato’s ambitions of becoming the Ten-Tails’ jinchūriki and using its immense power to impose peace on the shinobi world.

“So, how exactly did you survive? And what is this Moon’s Eye Plan?”

Kaneki pondered with interest. The shinobi world’s secrets ran deeper than he had ever imagined.

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 213: The Masked Man’s Invitation

The masked man never imagined that his painstakingly hidden identity would be exposed simply because he spoke a little too much in front of Rin.

After leaving the cemetery, he once again utilized a space-time ninjutsu to appear within the Uchiha clan's territory.

“Who’s there?”

Uchiha Itachi’s Sharingan instantly activated, three pitch-black tomoe spinning in his crimson eyes as he fixed his gaze on a nearby thicket, his expression solemn.

He could sense a faint but extremely dangerous presence.

“As expected of the Uchiha clan’s renowned prodigy. You’re the first to notice me so quickly.”

From within the woods, the air twisted like a vortex. Amid the dizzying spatial distortion, a figure wearing an orange, spiral-patterned mask emerged.

Dressed in a black cloak with red clouds, he radiated an ominous aura.

“A space-time ninjutsu, is it…?”

Space-time ninjutsu was an exceedingly complex form of ninjutsu.

The most common example was summoning jutsu, a relatively basic application of space-time techniques.

Only the most elite ninjas could master advanced space-time ninjutsu. The most famous example was Konoha’s Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, known as the Yellow Flash.

If this individual could infiltrate Konoha undetected, his strength must be extraordinary.

Itachi quickly assessed the situation, his expression becoming even more serious as he prepared to activate his Mangekyō Sharingan at any moment.

Sensing Itachi’s tension, the masked man chuckled softly. “Relax, I mean no harm, Itachi.”

But Itachi wasn’t about to lower his guard. This man clearly wasn’t here with good intentions.

Calmly, Itachi asked, “Who are you? Why are you here in Konoha?”

In response to Itachi’s questioning, the masked man tilted his head slightly and replied playfully, “You can call me Tobi. As for why I’m here in Konoha…”

His tone shifted suddenly as he countered, “How do you know I’m not from Konoha?”

Itachi narrowed his eyes, a hint of danger flickering within. “Speak the truth.”

Seeing Itachi’s growing impatience, the masked man laughed nervously and said, “Just joking! The real reason I’m here is to…”

“Invite you!”

“Invite me?”

Itachi furrowed his brow, puzzled.

“That’s right. I’m here to invite you, Itachi, to join our organization: Akatsuki.”

The masked man—calling himself Tobi—spread his arms wide as he continued, “Our Akatsuki organization is dedicated to achieving peace in the ninja world. We’re in urgent need of talented, idealistic individuals like you, Itachi.”

Itachi’s frown deepened.

While it was true that he had both the power and the ideals to work toward peace in the ninja world, he wasn’t foolish enough to trust this man’s words without evidence.

A kunai slipped silently from his sleeve, landing perfectly in his palm.

“You should know that trespassing in Konoha carries severe consequences.”

Without further discussion, the kunai in Itachi’s hand shot forth like a bolt of lightning.

If this man couldn’t even block such a simple attack, there was no need to discuss the lofty goal of peace in the ninja world.

To Itachi’s surprise, the masked man didn’t even flinch. He stood motionless as the kunai pierced his chest, continuing until it embedded itself in the tree behind him.

However, Itachi quickly realized something was wrong. The kunai hadn’t left a single wound. In fact, it hadn’t even felt like it hit anything solid.

His instincts were correct. The kunai had passed clean through the masked man’s chest without resistance.

“My, my! Itachi’s attacks are as sudden as they are precise.”

The masked man exaggeratedly patted his chest before his tone shifted again. “If you want to test my strength, Itachi, feel free to attack again.”

This confidence and composure made Itachi even more cautious.

Since the masked man had invited him to try again, Itachi saw no harm in probing further.

Four shuriken flew from Itachi’s pouch, aligning perfectly into a straight line as they passed through the masked man’s body.

“Not just instant immunity… but sustained immunity?”

Itachi analyzed the situation.

The shuriken had passed through the masked man with no interruption, suggesting a continuous ability to nullify physical attacks.

But that wasn’t enough to satisfy Itachi’s doubts.

In the next moment, a massive fireball engulfed the masked man, unleashing a blistering heat that distorted the air and turned the surroundings into a sea of flames.

Itachi’s eyes reflected the blazing inferno.

Let’s see if you can withstand this attack.

But as the flames roared, the masked man emerged from the fire with an almost lazy gait.

The relentless flames seemed utterly ineffective against him.

Perhaps to demonstrate his strength, the masked man remained within the inferno for two whole minutes without using any ninjutsu for defense or evasion.

Seeing this, Itachi ceased his attacks. The fire in his mouth dissipated, and he lowered the fingers he had raised to his lips.

The masked man whistled lightly. “It seems Itachi’s testing has come to an end.”

Itachi said nothing, but his Mangekyō Sharingan activated silently.

If ninjutsu was ineffective, then it was time to try genjutsu.

The moment his Mangekyō Sharingan appeared, the masked man froze briefly before speaking again. “It seems you’re not ready to join us yet, Itachi. That’s fine. I’m confident you’ll change your mind soon enough.”

The space around the masked man began to distort, centering on the eye of his mask.

“I’ll be watching you, Uchiha Itachi.”

With those words, the masked man vanished.

“What a troublesome ability,” Itachi muttered, his expression grim as he stared at the empty space where the man had stood.

The masked man’s strange space-time ninjutsu had rendered Konoha’s defenses as vulnerable as a backyard playground. He came and went as he pleased.

If the man hadn’t revealed himself intentionally, Itachi might have only sensed a faint presence without pinpointing his location.

What’s more, if the masked man kept his distance, even Itachi wouldn’t have been able to detect him.

On top of his extraordinary mobility and stealth, the masked man also possessed a near-absurd level of attack immunity.

I wonder if genjutsu could work on him…

(Chapter End)  

*Chapter 214: My Wood Release Surpasses Yours!*

No matter what, this matter must be reported to Lord Hokage and that mysterious organization as soon as possible!

The spatial ninjutsu of that man made Itachi feel wary.

With this thought in mind, Itachi rushed back home at top speed. He needed to consult with his father first.

As soon as he opened the door, a delicate-looking child ran toward him.

"Big brother!"

Sasuke, who had just started his first year at the ninja academy, wore a pure, innocent smile as he leapt into Itachi’s arms.

Seeing his younger brother, Itachi’s face softened with a rare smile.

He extended two fingers and gently flicked Sasuke’s forehead as the boy approached.

"Ouch, big brother, you flicked me again!"

Sasuke winced and muttered with a trace of complaint.

Itachi’s eyes curved with joy.

"Sasuke, how’s your homework coming along today?"

As the son of the Uchiha clan leader, Sasuke’s talent as a ninja was similarly extraordinary.

However, compared to Itachi, Sasuke still appeared immature and innocent.

After all, at Sasuke’s age, Itachi had already followed his father onto the battlefield of the Third Great Ninja War and personally ended the lives of enemies.

Of course, Itachi didn’t want Sasuke to follow his path. What he cherished most was Sasuke’s innocence.

"I finished everything! I was the first in my class to master the Transformation Jutsu!"

Sasuke tilted his head slightly, his tone full of pride.

Hearing Sasuke’s confident response, Itachi reached out to tousle his younger brother’s hair. "Amazing, Sasuke. You're truly the man of our family."

Sasuke beamed with delight at the praise.

Suddenly, as if recalling something, he hurriedly pulled a wooden model from his pocket.

It was a lifelike wooden carving of a crow.

"Big brother, this is a gift I bought from the shop after school today! I thought it would be perfect for you!"

Sasuke handed the wooden crow to Itachi, his eyes brimming with anticipation.

Because he knew his brother loved crows the most!

The moment Itachi took the crow, his expression flickered slightly before quickly returning to normal.

But Sasuke, sharp as ever, caught that fleeting change.

"What’s wrong, big brother? Don’t you like the gift?"

Sasuke asked in confusion, sure that his brother loved crows.

Itachi shook his head with a faint smile. "No, I like it very much."

Hearing this, Sasuke brightened again. "Then, can you teach me shuriken techniques today, big brother?"

"I have other matters to attend to today," Itachi said apologetically, rising to his feet.

Sasuke pouted, clearly displeased. "You always say that!"

Before Sasuke could continue sulking, he felt two fingers flick against his forehead again.

"Forgive me, Sasuke. Next time, I promise."

Leaving this apology behind, Itachi walked out of the house with the crow model in hand.

The moment he left, Itachi’s face turned as cold as ice.

He loosened his grip on the wooden crow and, with a flash of his kunai, sliced it cleanly in half.

Amidst the broken pieces of the crow, a slip of paper fell to the ground.

"Training Ground #8, Forest of Death."

Reading the words on the paper, Itachi’s expression darkened.

He had sensed the chakra imbued in the wooden crow the moment he touched it.

It was Wood Release chakra, and it bore that man’s signature!

This enraged Itachi.

He could accept others targeting him, the Uchiha clan, or even Konoha.

But Sasuke was the one untouchable line.

For someone to target Sasuke—Itachi would never forgive it!

Itachi appeared at the location mentioned on the note in the blink of an eye. The man, Kaneki, was already waiting.

Seeing Itachi arrive, Kaneki mockingly glanced at his empty wrist and said, "Fast as always, Itachi."

Itachi looked at Kaneki, his eyes glinting with uncharacteristic killing intent.

"I’m warning you—stay away from Sasuke. Or you’ll die a miserable death."

"Tch…"

Kaneki leapt down from the tree, a hint of mockery in his voice. "I didn’t think even Shisui Uchiha’s death could anger you. Yet the moment I make contact with Sasuke, your reaction is this intense."

Ignoring Kaneki’s taunts, Itachi got straight to the point. "What do you want?"

Facing Itachi’s cold questioning, Kaneki spread his hands openly. "I just want to see how strong you are. That’s all."

With that, Kaneki clapped his hands together.

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

The training ground shook violently as though an earthquake had struck.

Immense vitality surged from the ground as countless massive tree branches erupted, tearing apart the earth. Like countless giant hands, they reached toward Itachi.

The dramatic scene even made the seasoned Itachi falter for a moment.

He had anticipated Kaneki’s attack but hadn’t expected him to act so quickly!

Still, Itachi, bearing the name of the Uchiha, recovered instantly and countered.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique!"

Chakra surged as Itachi formed hand seals, unleashing a ferocious fire dragon from his mouth.

The blazing dragon pierced the forest, instantly setting it ablaze.

"As expected of an Uchiha genius," Kaneki said, his eyes gleaming with fighting spirit as his chakra surged.

"But if this is all you’ve got, you’re far inferior to Shisui!"

"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"

From the burning forest, massive tree branches coalesced into a colossal wooden giant.

Itachi’s eyes flickered as he gazed at the towering figure.

"Shisui…"

Narrowing his eyes, Itachi asked coldly, "Did Shisui die by your hand?"

The wooden giant stepped out of the flames, unscathed by the burning fire.

At Itachi’s question, Kaneki nodded. "Yes, Shisui Uchiha died by my hand. To be precise, he was defeated and robbed of one eye by Lord Danzo before I killed him."

Kaneki’s tone carried a hint of regret. "I didn’t get to fight Shisui at his full strength, so I couldn’t prove Wood Release’s superiority over the Uchiha."

His fighting spirit burned even brighter.

"That’s why I must defeat you here!"

With those words, the wooden giant raised a massive fist, the size of a house, and brought it crashing down toward Itachi!

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 215: Tsukuyomi*

A massive fist, as large as a house, came crashing down. The ground, overwhelmed by such terrifying power, shattered like fragile glass. Countless cracks spread out like a spider’s web.

In an instant, a surge of destructive energy erupted, sending shockwaves that pulverized the ground entirely. Massive chunks of rock were hurled through the cracks, accompanied by a piercing, deafening screech.

“So this is the power of Wood Release? Truly terrifying,” muttered Itachi.

Faced with the legendary Wood Release—and the man who personally defeated Shisui—Itachi dared not let his guard down. The moment his opponent attacked, Itachi activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.

Thanks to the extraordinary dynamic vision of the Mangekyō, Itachi was able to react in time, narrowly avoiding the colossal strike before the fist could land.

Standing atop the massive wooden golem, Kaneki looked displeased. “Uchiha Itachi, stop scurrying around like a rat! Show me your true power!”

With that, Kaneki clapped his hands together again.

Itachi’s eyes narrowed slightly, the three-bladed design of his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning gently as he focused intently on his opponent’s every move.

The next moment, an enormous wooden dragon sprouted from behind the wooden golem, emanating an overwhelming and oppressive aura.

“One seal, and he can unleash such a terrifying jutsu?”

Itachi had lost count of how many times he had marveled at this mysterious man.

Before Kaneki, Itachi constantly found himself discovering things he had never encountered before.

“But since you’ve delivered yourself to me, I’ll make you pay, at least a little, for killing Shisui.”

A glint of determination flashed across Itachi’s face.

Shisui’s death had not left Itachi unmoved. On the contrary, it had ignited a deep well of anger and hatred toward the Root, Danzo, and the Wood Release user standing before him, known by the codename “Beta.”

Yet for the sake of the village, the clan, and his friend’s dying wishes, Itachi had buried his rage deep within his heart.

Now, with Shisui’s killer standing right before him as his opponent, Itachi saw no reason not to vent his suppressed fury.

As this thought crossed his mind, the flow of chakra within Itachi’s body quickened.

Sensing the battle spirit rising from Itachi, Kaneki nodded in satisfaction.

“That’s more like it. Come, show me your true power, Itachi!”

The colossal wooden dragon descended from the sky with terrifying momentum, its fierce eyes brimming with savage intent.

Determined to teach his opponent a lesson, Itachi grew serious. Once again, he formed seals, and a torrent of chakra transformed into a blazing inferno.

*“Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique!”*

The dazzling flames illuminated the night sky as a roaring fire dragon soared upward, clashing with the imposing wooden dragon in mid-air. The collision erupted with a deafening roar.

Although the *Great Fire Dragon Technique* was classified as a B-rank jutsu, in Itachi’s hands, it unleashed power far beyond its rank, holding its own against Kaneki’s Wooden Dragon Technique.

The two forces struggled for dominance for several seconds before finally breaking apart in a massive explosion.

Under the force of the blast, burning branches scattered like meteors, raining down in all directions.

“Not enough—this isn’t enough!”

Kaneki urged the giant golem beneath him forward, charging at Itachi with terrifying speed, stepping through the fiery debris with earth-shaking strides.

“The sheer size of this thing renders most tricks useless. As expected, I’ll have to target the main body,” Itachi analyzed swiftly.

Forming seals with both hands, he summoned two shadow clones to his sides.

“Scatter.”

As the wooden giant charged, the three Itachis dispersed in different directions.

Kaneki directed the golem to punch the Itachi directly in front of him with full force.

Another earth-shaking blow split the ground apart, and this time, the wooden giant’s attack landed squarely.

But in the instant of impact, the Itachi in the front dissolved into a flock of black crows, dispersing into the air—a simple Crow Clone.

The next second, the Itachi on the left formed seals and spat out a massive fireball toward the wooden giant.

The fireball blazed brightly against the night sky.

Despite its massive size, the wooden giant was far from sluggish. With a slight movement, it dodged the fireball, allowing it to pass harmlessly by.

But Itachi’s assault was far from over. As the fireball brushed past the giant’s chest, a stream of water surged from another direction.

The combination of fire and water instantly produced a thick veil of steam.

Kaneki frowned, realizing his vision had been completely obscured by the sudden mist.

Suddenly, a shadow emerged from within the mist.

A rapidly spinning Fūma Shuriken sliced through the haze with a sharp whistle, heading straight for Kaneki’s head!

*“Wood Release: Wooden Shield Wall!”*

Thick wooden panels sprouted from the golem’s head.

Infused with Kaneki’s chakra, these wooden panels were far stronger than steel. The Fūma Shuriken thrown by Itachi embedded itself in the shield but could go no further.

After deflecting the shuriken, Kaneki looked up.

A flock of crows had silently gathered above him amidst the mist, converging into Itachi’s form.

Without hesitation, Itachi launched another massive fireball directly at Kaneki’s position.

The flames painted the top of the wooden golem a fiery red, radiating intense heat as they descended.

“As expected of the Uchiha prodigy—such Fire Release techniques are truly impressive,” Kaneki remarked.

Fire Release techniques varied greatly in strength.

Ordinary Fire Release couldn’t threaten Kaneki’s Wood Release. But the intensity of Itachi’s flames was so great that even his wooden shield could be reduced to ashes if he wasn’t careful.

This time, instead of relying on Wood Release, Kaneki employed one of its elemental components.

*“Water Release: Water Formation Wall!”*

A wave of water surged forth, intercepting the fireball and creating another dense cloud of steam.

As the steam billowed, the Fūma Shuriken lodged in the wooden shield suddenly transformed into Itachi, who appeared right in front of Kaneki with a kunai in hand.

With lightning speed, Itachi plunged the kunai into Kaneki’s abdomen.

Yet, despite the apparent success of his strike, Itachi’s expression remained calm. Something felt off.

Sure enough, the moment the attack landed, Kaneki’s body turned to wood.

“A Wood Clone!”

“Figured it out, huh?”

Realizing he’d been deceived, Itachi prepared to retreat, but his feet were suddenly ensnared by tree roots growing from the golem’s head.

“Damn it,” he muttered.

His Mangekyō Sharingan’s intricate patterns spun rapidly, analyzing the situation.

Itachi refrained from cutting the roots with his kunai, knowing Kaneki had likely prepared a follow-up attack. Acting impulsively could lead to defeat.

“You’re surprisingly composed, Itachi,” Kaneki’s voice echoed as he emerged from the wooden floor in front of him.

At the same time, a sharp wooden spear shot toward Itachi’s head with lightning speed!

---

"Or perhaps… that wasn’t a clone, but instead, I’ve fallen under a genjutsu?"

Kaneki considered another possibility.

He raised his head. At some point, a blood-red moon had appeared in the sky. The crows that had scattered earlier now gathered before the crimson moon, reforming into the figure of Uchiha Itachi.

“Tch, as expected of a genjutsu cast by Uchiha Itachi,” Kaneki muttered with admiration.

To think that Itachi could place him under genjutsu without his knowledge—Itachi's mastery of genjutsu had truly reached the pinnacle of perfection.

However, genjutsu was ultimately meaningless against a clone.

A surge of chakra erupted from within Kaneki's body, instantly disrupting all the chakra within him, including the genjutsu-infused chakra Itachi had unknowingly planted.

With his internal chakra thrown into disarray, Itachi's genjutsu naturally unraveled, and Kaneki regained his clarity.

All the wooden spears Kaneki had been controlling were now frozen about half a meter from Itachi's body. The scene of the spears piercing through Itachi had been nothing more than an illusion created by the genjutsu.

In that moment of realization, Kaneki noticed a flicker of surprise cross Itachi's face. However, Itachi's movements were swift and decisive; a kunai shot straight toward Kaneki.

The sharp tip of the kunai grew larger and larger in Kaneki's view, threatening to pierce through his skull.

Kaneki hurriedly retreated, transforming his arm into wood just in time to block Itachi's attack.

The sharp kunai struck Kaneki’s wooden arm, producing a dull thud. Using the momentum from the kunai, Kaneki leaped backward to put some distance between them.

Meanwhile, Itachi stared at his opponent with a mixture of surprise and wariness.

“A jutsu without hand signs?”

Not only did this person wield the powerful Wood Release—abilities once exclusive to the First Hokage—but he had also swiftly broken free of Itachi’s genjutsu and could perform jutsu without hand signs.

Performing jutsu without hand signs and using jutsu that inherently require no hand signs are two entirely different concepts. The former signifies unparalleled mastery over jutsu, rendering hand signs unnecessary, while the latter simply involves techniques that naturally do not require hand seals.

The difference between the two is enormous.

This meant that during the fight, Kaneki had been holding back all along.

Itachi's gaze grew heavier with unease.

The formidable figure standing before him wasn’t just an enemy of the Uchiha—it represented the Root, and by extension, Danzo.

Itachi couldn't help but wonder just how many more individuals like Kaneki existed in the shadows of the Root.

In such a precarious situation, the arrogant and naive members of the Uchiha clan still believed they could succeed in a coup with only their clan's strength. It was laughable.

“That was close. If I hadn’t dispelled your genjutsu in time, I might’ve actually died at your hands,” Kaneki said, patting his chest and feigning a relieved sigh.

Discarding his dulled kunai, Itachi drew a sharp one and said coldly, “As long as I kill you, Danzo’s plan to destroy the Uchiha will crumble, forcing the clan and the village to negotiate.”

Hearing Itachi's words, Kaneki sneered. “I know you’re trying to get information out of me, but I don’t mind telling you: in the Root, the strongest is never someone like me. It’s the great Lord Danzo.”

Kaneki’s eyes were filled with reverence, awe, and even a hint of fear.

“If Lord Danzo acts personally, the Uchiha would be nothing more than an afterthought!”

Could Danzo really be that powerful?

Itachi’s heart sank slightly. He tightened his grip on his kunai and charged silently toward Kaneki.

Kaneki wasted no time. He drew a wooden spear and met Itachi head-on.

As their weapons clashed, their gazes collided like lightning.

In that instant, an overwhelming surge of ocular power erupted from Itachi’s eyes.

*[Tsukuyomi]*

Accompanied by Itachi’s icy voice, a crimson glow blossomed from his Mangekyō Sharingan.

In a heartbeat, the world turned scarlet. A sinister, ominous moon hung in the sky, casting its eerie light.

Kaneki found himself bound to a cross, unable to move.

Far away, deep within a sea of blood, something trembled violently. However, under the control of his true body’s will, it was quickly subdued and returned to calm.

“Is this a unique ocular technique born from the Mangekyō Sharingan, like Kotoamatsukami?”

Kaneki marveled at the power. Such immense strength—it was enough to affect his true body’s consciousness, even from a great distance. Impressive.

Of course, by the time that power reached him, its threat to his true body was negligible.

---

(End of Chapter)