Chapter 370: Fate, Part Four
"Thank you," Rasa said, attempting to express his gratitude for Itachi Uchiha's intervention, but Itachi raised a hand, cutting him off.
"Stand back. This is my mission now."
The interruption left Rasa's face flushed with embarrassment. As a former Kage, he wasn't used to being addressed like this, but he was painfully aware that he was outmatched by Sasori. Reluctantly, he retreated from the battlefield.
"So, you're Itachi Uchiha... the prodigy who seems to have captivated Orochimaru," Sasori muttered. "Looks like you might live up to the hype."
Neither side made the first move; each was sizing up the other, gathering as much information as possible. But the deadlock was broken abruptly as they launched into intense combat.
Though Susanoo was powerful, it wasn't invincible. Itachi quickly realized that even with his talent, facing a seasoned adversary like Sasori was no easy feat. Sasori's techniques were more dangerous than he'd anticipated, and several times, Itachi narrowly avoided being caught off guard.
Meanwhile, Rasa found he wasn't completely idle. As he withdrew from the primary battle, he intercepted someone on their way to the battlefield.
"Lady Chiyo, you understand this situation, don't you? You know it would be unwise for you to engage now. If he escapes, it would be a problem for both of us." He paused, looking intently at the elderly woman. "Our priority is ensuring he doesn't escape. Even if he's your grandson. Do I make myself clear, Lady Chiyo?"
Chiyo, her white hair showing signs of age but her eyes still sharp, opened her mouth to respond, a complex mix of emotions flickering across her face before she sighed.
"I understand, Rasa. Let's work together to cut off his escape route," Chiyo agreed, showing an unexpected clarity. Though her grandson's life was at stake, she could not prioritize him over the village she had protected for so long.
Back on the battlefield, Itachi was growing increasingly adept at countering Sasori's attacks, his mind racing with observations. This was Itachi's prime, a time when he was neither ill nor burdened by chronic ailments.
"The primary objective, One Tail, is still unaccounted for. I need him alive," Itachi mused as he analyzed Sasori's moves. "This chakra flow pattern... He's left his core exposed in such an obvious place what an arrogant flaw."
With the unique powers of his Sharingan, Itachi could track chakra flows with precision and read even the most intricate details of Sasori's combat style. In just a few exchanges, Itachi had deduced most of Sasori's techniques.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Itachi unleashed a massive wave of fire that engulfed Sasori's puppet army. But Sasori, no stranger to fire style techniques, quickly summoned the Third Kazekage puppet to block the flames with a barrier of iron sand.
However, unbeknownst to Sasori, Itachi had created a Shadow Clone. As the clone launched another fireball from a different angle, Sasori realized that this time, his defenses wouldn't be able to intercept the attack in time.
Sasori scowled. Fire style jutsu posed a serious threat to his puppets, and even though they weren't exactly flammable, they could still suffer critical damage to essential components. Luckily, he had prepared for such situations.
Without needing to form any hand seals, Sasori raised his right arm, and a small tube extended, releasing a torrent of water that clashed with Itachi's fireball. The resulting steam filled the air, temporarily obscuring the battlefield.
"Since when?!" Sasori muttered, shocked. Itachi had slipped behind him undetected, exploiting the chaos caused by the steam.
No matter how intricate Sasori's puppets were, the ultimate weakness of a puppeteer was always their own body. In a split second, Itachi drew his blade and made several precise cuts, dismantling Sasori's puppet body. But Itachi knew this wouldn't be enough. As a puppet himself, Sasori's body wouldn't be affected by ordinary attacks.
Itachi activated his ultimate weapon.
"Susanoo: Totsuka Blade!"
Sasori's eyes widened in disbelief. He had heard of this weapon in legends the Totsuka Blade, a part of the Kusanagi Sword series, was said to contain a powerful sealing jutsu that could trap anyone it pierced within an eternal illusion. Just as he began to plan a counterattack, he felt the blade pierce him. The power of the blade sent him into a world of endless dreams, sealing him away permanently.
"Objective achieved. S rank rogue ninja, Sasori of the Red Sand, neutralized," Itachi said calmly. At just thirteen, Itachi demonstrated a maturity that was rare even among seasoned ninjas, showing neither arrogance nor excitement over his victory.
As Itachi turned his attention to the still raging battle between Jiraiya and Orochimaru, he dispelled his clone, instantly receiving a flood of battle data on Orochimaru. Without hesitation, Itachi moved forward to assist.
Orochimaru, who was already feeling the pressure, suddenly sensed an unsettling chill. He glanced at the approaching figure, initially dismissing him, but then he recognized the face Itachi Uchiha. Orochimaru's gaze shifted toward the remains of Sasori's puppet army, and he quickly pieced together the situation.
The sight of Itachi brought a surge of desire to Orochimaru's heart, but he knew better than to let his guard down. The chill intensified as Orochimaru realized the odds were stacking against him.
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