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"Sasuke!!" Itachi's name tore from Sasuke's throat, pure panic in his voice.
Kabuto's face twisted into a delighted grin. "This jutsu can give life to things that should be lifeless… and lets me control them!"
"It's completely different from ordinary chakra manipulation."
"Pretty insane, huh?" he added smugly.
Itachi had thrown up Susanoo to shield Sasuke, but hadn't dodged in time himself.
"Don't worry," Kabuto said, voice full of mock sympathy. "I won't hurt him. He's my most valuable experiment."
"Now then," he hissed, "let's rewrite that mind of yours."
The snake tail behind him opened its jaws, spitting out a kunai engraved with strange runes.
"Let's see what happens to you now."
Seeing Kabuto charge, Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan spun violently, blood running down his cheeks.
"Amaterasu!!!"
Black flames roared to life, surrounding both him and Itachi in a blazing barrier. Kabuto froze in his tracks.
"So even the strongest offensive eye technique can be used for defense…?" he mused. "The heat is insane—it's even restoring the cave formations!"
Slowly, Itachi's body began knitting itself back together, almost like paper folding in reverse.
"I'm sorry, Sasuke," he murmured.
Kabuto glared at the brothers like a predator ready to strike. "Sorry? Don't bother. This time, I'm the one who wins."
"I'm closer than ever to completing everything—to controlling everything!" His voice grew wild with mania. "I can't even imagine myself losing!"
"Orochimaru-sama's research into the laws of nature, all his knowledge—it's all inside me now."
"I've evolved—from man to snake, and from snake to dragon!"
"I'm the one closest to the Sage of Six Paths!"
He sneered. "Compared to that, what are the Uchiha, really?"
Sasuke snapped, "Say whatever you want—you don't understand the Uchiha at all!"
Itachi raised an arm, stopping his brother from charging. "Kabuto… seeing you now, it's like looking at my old self."
"That's why you'll lose."
...
[Bullet Comments]
Natsu (Fairy Tail): "This Kabuto guy's really feeling himself. Bro, you're a snake—stop calling yourself a dragon!"
Jiraiya (Naruto): "Didn't expect Kabuto to go Sage Mode… he's more full of himself than ever."
Sasuke (Naruto): "You? Compare yourself to the Uchiha? Pathetic."
Dracule Mihawk (One Piece): "The more arrogant they are, the faster they die."
...
On Screen
Kabuto smirked. "Remember this—I'm no side character anymore."
"I'm the true center of this war now!"
"I've manipulated the Akatsuki and turned the entire battle to my advantage!"
"And I've cornered the Uchiha brothers completely!"
Sasuke glanced at Itachi. "Is Izanami ready yet? He's about to attack!"
"I'm preparing it," Itachi replied calmly, "but I need a little more time."
Kabuto's body suddenly split apart, forming another figure.
"Jirōbō—Earth Style: Earth Shore Return!!"
The ground before them warped violently. The black flames of Amaterasu vanished, leaving a deep, bottomless ravine between them.
"Kidōmaru—Spider Nest Open!!"
A massive web shot out toward the brothers.
Sasuke shouted, "These threads can't be cut!"
Both their eyes flared in unison.
"Amaterasu!!!"
The black fire devoured the web instantly.
Kabuto darted through the steam. "Kimimaro—Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch!!"
Countless white bones erupted from the earth. Sasuke turned and saw the cavern behind them covered in spider webs too.
"I'll handle the back, you take the front!" he shouted. "Can you still use Susanoo?"
Itachi nodded. The brothers split up.
Sasuke summoned his Susanoo. "Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi!!"
Itachi's crimson Susanoo swung its Totsuka Blade, shattering the bone forest beneath them.
Kabuto's clone shifted form again. "So you ran inside? Pointless!"
"Tayuya—Demonic Flute: Dream Sound Chain!!"
A haunting flute melody echoed through the cave. Sasuke and Itachi both staggered, vision blurring—then everything went white.
When their eyes opened again, the floor was covered in bones. White snakes coiled around their bodies, binding them tightly.
"A genjutsu?" Sasuke hissed.
Kabuto's voice echoed from all around. "Your precious Susanoo can't block sound."
"I knew it." He chuckled darkly. "Now that your movements are sealed, it's time to let Orochimaru-sama absorb you both."
Before their eyes, Kabuto's form twisted—becoming Orochimaru himself.
Then Orochimaru transformed again, his body swelling into the enormous White Phosphorus Serpent.
"How about it, Sasuke?" Kabuto mocked. "Recognize this form?"
Sasuke's eyes widened. "That's…!"
Kabuto smiled proudly. "Thanks to you killing Orochimaru-sama, I was able to fully absorb him!"
"Yes—this is my true form now!"
Hidden behind a stone pillar, Itachi spoke quietly. "Kabuto, you're not Orochimaru. It's fine to respect someone… but don't lose yourself trying to become them."
Kabuto's grin faltered. "Most people start by imitating others," he said. "Just like Sasuke once imitated you."
...
[Bullet Comments]
Orochimaru (Naruto): "Kabuto, that's a bit much. Trying to replace me now?"
Kabuto (Naruto): "Orochimaru-sama, please! I swear I don't know what's going on in this future—I'd never betray you!"
On Screen
Itachi's voice was calm but firm. "Imitation can help you grow… but not when it's just a disguise."
"When you tie your worth and identity to something that isn't truly yours, you lose yourself."
"In the end, you'll find nothing."
"And one more thing—don't lie to yourself."
"Those who can't accept who they are… are doomed to fail."
Kabuto's composure finally cracked. "You say I'm destined to fail? How?!"
The white serpent lunged at Itachi with a roar.
Itachi glanced at Sasuke. "Sasuke—look into my eyes."
Sasuke instantly understood.
"Sharingan!"
"Tsukuyomi!!"
Their genjutsu collided and synchronized, shattering Tayuya's illusion in an instant.
The red and purple Susanoo appeared together, crushing the charging serpent under their might.
"It's over," Itachi said quietly. "Izanami—activate."
He released his Susanoo and began forming seals.
Suddenly, Kabuto burst out of the serpent's mouth in Sage form, his chakra scalpels flashing. One swipe, and Itachi's body was sliced clean through.
Sasuke's eyes went wide.
Kabuto sneered. "Of course a born genius like you wouldn't understand."
"All I ever wanted was to become myself! And no one—no one can stop me!"
Then Itachi's voice echoed faintly. "Sasuke…!"
Kabuto raised his kunai, runes glowing faintly. Sasuke threw his sword, but Kabuto's snakes blocked it effortlessly.
Sasuke's Susanoo flared up again—the giant purple hand smashed down with earth-shaking force.
BOOM!
Both Kabuto and Itachi were blasted apart. Kabuto landed on the ceiling, claws digging into the rock.
Sasuke's hands flashed through seals. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!!"
A massive fireball roared upward toward Kabuto.
Kabuto countered instantly. "Water Style: Great Waterfall Jutsu!!"
A torrent of water surged out, colliding with the flames. Steam exploded through the cavern, turning everything into a blinding white fog.
Kabuto scanned the haze carefully, searching for Itachi's chakra.
Then, suddenly—Itachi appeared right in front of him. Kabuto thrust his blade forward, impaling him clean through.
But the Mangekyō in Itachi's eyes began to turn pale white…
Kabuto froze—then the body he'd stabbed burst into a storm of black feathers.
Itachi had vanished, leaving behind only a cloud of cawing crows.
"..."
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