"That would be the most peaceful method, though I haven't ruled out killing the entire Konoha Leadership!" Sasuke made no attempt to hide his intent.
"Kotoamatsukami... a power that can silently alter another's will! With it, I can dismantle the resistance of the Konoha Leadership without shedding blood and clear the obstacles to the Uchiha's revival! This is power left behind by Uchiha ancestors; it is only right that I use it!"
"And then what?" Itachi finally spoke again, his voice low.
"Is an order built by manipulating everything with a false will really the 'true order' you want, Sasuke? What meaning would there be in a revival of the Uchiha like that?"
"Shut up!" Sasuke barked.
"You have no right to judge! You, the murderer who personally destroyed the Uchiha—what right do you have to talk about meaning?! You don't understand the pain of losing everything, or the taste of simmering in hatred! I will walk my own path! Using power to clear obstacles and establish rules—that is the true logic of the Ninja World! Just as the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara used power to pacify the chaotic era! Only this time, it will be the Uchiha who stand at the summit!"
His words were full of skewed logic favoring the strong and a one-sided interpretation of history, yet they also reflected his deep-seated faith in power and his despair toward reality.
The air in the passage seemed to freeze, leaving only the crackling of the lightning dancing on Sasuke's body.
Hinata knew that at this moment, Sasuke was beyond reasoning; hatred and obsession had clouded his judgment, and the power of the Mangekyo was likely to exacerbate this fanaticism.
Sasuke's sword was fully unsheathed, the lightning condensing into a sharp Chidori Sharp Spear pointed directly at Hinata.
"Give the eyes back to me!"
Before his voice had even faded, his figure had already transformed into a bolt of lightning, lunging forward! He was incredibly fast, and his target was Hinata.
Hinata was speechless; Second Pillar really needed some tough love, actually daring to hiss at her.
Almost simultaneously, Itachi moved. His figure arrived first despite starting later, as if he had anticipated Sasuke's move. His Kunai blocked the kusanagi sword, while his other hand formed a blade with his fingers, slicing toward Sasuke's sword-wielding wrist with sharp Chakra.
"Your opponent is me, Sasuke." Itachi's voice was cold and clear.
"Until you have the ability to defeat me, don't point your blade at irrelevant people."
Clang!
The sound of clashing metal rang out as the collision of lightning and Chakra exploded into a shockwave.
The two brothers were instantly locked in combat. The Kunai and kusanagi sword became blurs, the afterglow of Lightning Release and Fire Release flickered in the narrow space, and the ocular power of the Sharingan and Mangekyo collided fiercely in the air.
Hinata watched the two in their fierce struggle. Sasuke's offensive was wild and full of malice, every move ruthless. Itachi's defense, however, was impenetrable, his movements concise and precise, neutralizing lethal strikes at every critical moment, yet he didn't seem to be attacking with full force.
He's holding back again.
As the battle intensified, the cave could no longer withstand the strain and began to collapse.
The explosions from the attacks, coupled with the sounds of Orochimaru's facility detonating, spread out. Accompanied by the roar of the structure's complete collapse, dust and smoke swept in.
Hinata's figure vanished as she left the area.
Amidst the thick dust, the fighting Itachi and Sasuke were also forced apart.
Itachi glanced at Sasuke, then peeked toward where Hinata had disappeared, his body dissolving into crows that scattered in all directions.
Sasuke grit his teeth in frustration, but the massive stones collapsing from above were already crashing down. He had no choice but to manifest the ribs of his Susanoo for protection while heading toward the exit that wasn't yet completely blocked, using Susanoo to clear the way.
Rumble—!
From an outside perspective, the ground suddenly bulged up and then caved in significantly. Dust shot into the sky, mixed with fire and thick smoke.
Orochimaru's base was completely reduced to ruins by the self-destruct sequence and the aftershocks of the battle.
In the forest, the air rippled, and Hinata's figure appeared.
She raised her wrist, and Little White poked its head out from her sleeve, hissing and flicking its tongue.
"The immediate trouble is resolved, but the problem has only gotten bigger," Hinata whispered to herself, touching the container. Sasuke's extreme ideas and Itachi's complicated stance made the future situation even more unpredictable.
Orochimaru and the others should have evacuated long ago by now.
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