Up to this point, Uchiha Itachi's full strength had not yet been completely exposed before the eyes of the Akatsuki. Even Zetsu had only heard of that terrifying black Fire Release, never actually seen it.
But even based only on the strength he had shown, Itachi was already powerful enough. Especially if that strength were strictly limited to the field of genjutsu, it would not be an exaggeration to call him the strongest.
After all, the genjutsu genius stronger than him had already died.
However, this did not mean Itachi could go head-to-head with Yagoromo. In reality… clashes between pay-to-win players were a little more brutal than clashes between free-to-play players. After all, they were competing to see who had spent more.
"Itachi-san, have you really decided to deal with the White Yaksha alone?"
A certain tall shark-faced man, walking half a step behind, asked the slender, long-haired young man ahead of him.
At this moment, Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame were preparing to forcefully insert themselves into the chaos, intercepting Yagoromo's group of four before Sasori and Deidara's half-dead squad could be reached.
As for exactly how strong Yagoromo was, these two clearly had a better understanding than Sasori and Deidara. Doing everything possible to deal with the White Yaksha was the obvious choice. But… as the two sides drew closer, Itachi decided that he would deal with Yagoromo himself, while Hoshigaki Kisame would remain on standby.
However, at a time like this, if Kisame was really only being made to hide nearby and shout "666," he was genuinely somewhat unwilling.
In terms of age, Hoshigaki Kisame was much older than Uchiha Itachi. Yet in the former's tone, there was an unusually respectful element toward Itachi, as though he considered himself the junior… Although, in terms of the order they joined the Akatsuki, Kisame was indeed Itachi's junior, it was obvious that he could not possibly respect this young man so much for that reason alone.
…Putting aside certain factors, Uchiha Itachi truly was a mature and profound person. He possessed a charm worthy of others' respect.
"Against that person, genjutsu is the most suitable method. As for your direct frontal attacks… they probably won't have much effect. Instead, you would become a target he prioritizes eliminating," Uchiha Itachi explained.
These words seemed to make some sense. After all, whether in ninjutsu or taijutsu, Yagoromo was stronger than Hoshigaki Kisame. But if one said that what Itachi had just said was unreasonable, then in truth, it really was unreasonable. Taijutsu could apply to the vast majority of combat situations. One could even say that extremely high-level taijutsu would be more effective than genjutsu when dealing with an enemy like Yagoromo.
Although Hoshigaki Kisame's physical abilities clearly could not reach the level of fundamentally threatening Yagoromo, if he participated in the battle, he would absolutely be able to play a positive role.
Yet Uchiha Itachi excluded him from the very beginning.
"Are you planning to use that genjutsu? I've had several brief contacts with the White Yaksha before. His ninjutsu, sealing techniques, and taijutsu are all top-level. Although I have never formally fought him, even back then, his strength already made people feel that he was extremely troublesome. After his invasion of Kumogakure, his power finally gained true public recognition and consensus. Moreover, for a shinobi like him, it is impossible that his strength has not improved after all these years. The current him can only be stronger than the past him…"
There were two main benchmarks for measuring Yagoromo's strength. First was his perfect invasion of the heavily defended Kumogakure several years ago, after the Nine-Tails incident in Konoha, when he had been in an extremely weakened state, and his act of killing the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki. Second was after he became active again, when he successively killed the Three-Tails and Seven-Tails without suffering any personal damage.
For the Akatsuki, there was actually an even simpler benchmark, but very obviously, Nagato would not tell his subordinates that he had been unable to do anything to Yagoromo.
"So… although your genjutsu is very difficult to counter, as someone who came through that era of war, the White Yaksha should understand the Sharingan's dōjutsu quite well. No matter how strong your genjutsu is, if he guards against it, it won't work," Kisame continued.
No matter how strong Uchiha Itachi's genjutsu was, if the other party avoided it, it would not be worth a damn.
Itachi raised one hand and brushed aside the hair on his forehead that had been disturbed by the breeze, revealing a pair of scarlet Sharingan whose form had already changed.
That was his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"I know, acknowledge, and remain vigilant of the White Yaksha's strength. But… leave this matter to me. This is not a question of forcing myself. In truth, I have a corresponding reason."
"A reason?"
Kisame naturally did not understand what Uchiha Itachi meant.
"Back when I was still in Konoha, he once told me that only when I could freely use these eyes would I have the qualifications to fight him. And now, that time has arrived."
At this moment, Itachi's tone became much more indifferent. However, Kisame's confusion still did not disappear.
In his impression, Uchiha Itachi did not seem like someone who placed so much importance on "returning what was owed."
"Moreover, there is one point you seem not to have considered—only the White Yaksha when he is alone is the most terrifying. Right now, he has three genin with him. Increasing the number of companions will not increase his combat power in the slightest. On the contrary, those three will undoubtedly become burdens to him."
This sentence was truly reasonable. Even Kisame had no way to refute it.
With White Zetsu, the annual best lead-the-way party member, present, Uchiha Itachi intercepting Yagoromo was not a problem. It was practically inevitable.
Moreover…
"Yagoromo, a new enemy has appeared. He is coming straight toward us at high speed… The other party should already have detected us. Perhaps he is a powerful sensor-nin."
On Yagoromo's side, he received another warning from Mirai.
At this time, they were in the middle of reconfirming Sasori and Deidara's tracks.
"One person?"
Only one person had rushed over. If the other party already knew that the one pursuing them was Yagoromo and still dared to come alone to intercept him, this had to count as an act of courage.
Could it be that Nagato had personally come after him?
Unfortunately, Nagato was genuinely crippled and could not possibly possess such mobility.
"What do we do?"
"We meet him."
Yagoromo naturally had no intention of avoiding him. He made this decision without even thinking. Since the other party's intent to intercept them was so obvious, then he would see whether that person could actually stop him.
After temporarily giving up the pursuit of Sasori of the Red Sand, Yagoromo's squad and the independently acting Uchiha Itachi changed to moving directly toward one another. With both sides moving at high speed, their encounter happened almost in an instant.
Then, Yagoromo's four-person squad—whose art style was consistent and whose secondary sex characteristics were unclear—and Uchiha Itachi, who wore the chūnibyō black cloak with red clouds, appeared in each other's field of vision.
In Yagoromo's eyes, the young Uchiha shinobi's expression and the aura he gave off had not changed at all from several years ago…
So, should he test his current strength?
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