Takumi roared and charged forward.
Naruto was about to rush forward too but was pulled back by Kurenai.
"Their battle is not something you can participate in. If you don't want to die, stay far away!"
As she spoke, she quickly retreated with the other young Shinobis.
Itachi, however, was in a state of shock.
This was the first time he had encountered someone immune to his Tsukuyomi.
But Takumi charging right at him forced him to quickly set aside his chaotic thoughts and rapidly perform hand seals to spit out a massive fireball.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Takumi agilely dodged and slightly retreated.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
A fire dragon spewed from Itachi's mouth, roaring towards Takumi.
"Child's play!"
Takumi snorted coldly, also performing the Great Dragon Fire Technique.
Since he hadn't activated his Flame Body, the Great Dragon Fire Technique didn't receive any boost.
The two fire dragons collided, causing an explosion, and thick smoke obscured the view.
But neither Takumi nor Itachi stayed put.
The moment Takumi moved away, several kunai shot out from the smoke, stabbing toward his original position.
And the moment Takumi dodged, those kunai suddenly collided with each other and shot off in different directions.
Takumi grabbed the kunai and crushed them with a squeeze. "Don't bother showing off such tricks."
"Who are you talking to?"
The voice came from behind.
Takumi was startled and quickly turned around.
But there was no sign of Itachi behind him.
He fell for it!
Takumi instantly understood.
He turned his head back, and Itachi's figure had already appeared, a sharp kunai in his hand.
Smack.
Takumi grabbed his wrist, preventing him from plunging the kunai into his body.
But with his hand movement blocked, Itachi still had his feet.
He sharply bent his knee, aiming a blow at Takumi's abdomen.
At this moment, with one hand gripping Itachi's wrist, Takumi couldn't dodge this move.
Since he couldn't dodge, he simply wouldn't!
Steel Skin activate!
Instantly, his body's defensive power greatly increased.
Thud!
Itachi frowned, withdrawing his wrist and retreating several steps.
That last impact made his knee feel as if it had hit an iron block… it hurt.
"Genjutsu doesn't work, Taijutsu doesn't work. It seems only ninjutsu remains."
Itachi formed hand seals with both hands separately.
This was his specialty: single-handed seals.
With both hands performing single-handed seals simultaneously, he could execute two Ninjutsu at the same time.
One as a feint, the other as the real killing move.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique."
"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Nail Crimson!"
Using the Great Fireball as cover, numerous shuriken hidden within the flames shot out at high speed.
And the shuriken coated with flames had their power greatly enhanced.
Takumi immediately formed hand seals with both hands to counter.
"Water Release: Water Wall!"
The shuriken struck the water wall, the flames extinguished, and the shuriken lost momentum and fell.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique."
"Clone Technique!"
Itachi immediately launched the next round of attacks.
A water dragon gathered and surged towards Takumi.
But this was only Itachi's feint.
His real killing move was the Clone Technique.
He wasn't using a simple Clone Technique, but the Exploding Clone.
He can create a clone that explodes upon nearing the enemy, with astonishing power.
Boom!
After the violent explosion, Itachi didn't stop, continuing to release Ninjutsu.
He knew Takumi wasn't an enemy that could be easily dealt with.
Takumi, of course, was fine.
Before the clone got close, Takumi had already discerned Itachi's intention through Observation Haki.
So, he first covered the clone with his own Chakra, then detonated it.
This way, he could precisely control the explosion's range without harming himself.
Moreover, using the smoke and dust from the explosion, he immediately relocated and quickly charged towards Itachi.
But his plan had already been seen through by Itachi.
The back-and-forth battle between the two was dizzying to watch.
"They're so strong..."
Naruto's voice was full of envy.
So far, his most proficient Ninjutsu were still only the Shadow Clone Technique and the Transformation Technique.
In other fights, he relied more on his robust physique.
Basically, brute force.
This kind of Ninjutsu barrage seemed more like a real Shinobi battle.
"Of course. That's Uchiha Itachi, known as a prodigy."
Kurenai said with a grave expression, watching the battling pair, her gaze full of worry for Takumi.
"A prodigy? Uchiha?"
Naruto was stunned. "He and Sasuke..."
"He's Sasuke's biological older brother."
Kurenai confirmed Naruto's guess. "And he is precisely the person Sasuke most wants to kill."
"Why?"
Naruto was even more surprised.
Unaware of the night of the clan massacre, Naruto couldn't understand the grudges, emotions, and hatred between the two brothers.
"That's something you don't need to know right now."
Kurenai herself didn't have much insight into the matter and felt somewhat awkward facing Naruto's question.
"I'm back."
Kakashi, who had gone for reinforcements, returned, accompanied by Guy, Shikaku, and other Jonin.
"It really is Uchiha Itachi!"
Guy's expression was grave. "He severely injured young Sasuke before, gouged out his eyes, then gave his own eyes to young Sasuke. What does he want?"
"I don't know, but I can feel that his power has probably risen another level."
Kakashi's expression was extremely grave.
At that moment, a change occurred in the battle.
"Even Ninjutsu is so proficient. It seems I can only resort to my final means."
Itachi retreated, then the pupils of both eyes transformed into the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Subsequently, as he expended a large amount of Pupil Power, a crimson giant slowly appeared.
'Finally using Susano'o? I thought it would take a bit longer.'
Takumi looked up, his expression serious.
"Wh-what is that?"
Naruto stared wide-eyed, his mouth agape.
"Is this Ninjutsu too? That's too exaggerated!"
Kiba sucked in a cold breath, wishing what he saw was just an illusion.
Otherwise, he couldn't imagine how to defeat such a powerful giant.
At this moment, Itachi's Complete Body Susano'o had fully manifested.
Its right hand held the Totsuka Blade, its left the Yata Mirror.
Offense and defense combined.
"Everyone, retreat!"
Kakashi shouted, then grabbed the stunned Naruto and quickly pulled him back.
The sight of the mountain-like giant was simply too awe-inspiring.
And its power was undoubtedly extraordinary.
Just a step could cause considerable damage.
Let alone using it for combat.
Judging by size alone, Takumi was at an absolute disadvantage.
But what was the reality?
Takumi was indeed at a disadvantage.
Facing the Totsuka Blade's attacks, to avoid being sealed, Takumi could only dodge repeatedly.
"This isn't working."
Takumi frowned. He deactivated Steel Skin and switched to Flame Body.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
An enormous fireball was summoned by him.
The onlookers let out another exclamation.
Even though it wasn't their first time seeing this, such an awe-inspiring scene would still shock them deeply, even after multiple viewings.
However.
This fireball, with a diameter of over a hundred meters, was sliced apart by a single sword.
It was Itachi's Totsuka Blade.
And after being severed, the entire Great Fireball surged into the Totsuka Blade's body.
Takumi's Great Fireball had been sealed!
"It can do that too?"
Takumi was also shocked.
He originally thought the Totsuka Blade could only seal living beings, never expecting it could seal inanimate objects as well.
Now, faced with Itachi's relentless attacks, Takumi could only dodge in a sorry state.
Even when counterattacking, he ultimately couldn't break through the Totsuka Blade's blockade.
'This won't do.'
Takumi frowned deeply, then, as if making a decision, he relaxed his brow, confidence returning to his face.
"Indeed, thinking I could defeat you without using Susano'o was wishful thinking."
"Since that's the case, let me show you what real power is."
Takumi's words sounded utterly perplexing.
At least to Itachi's ears. "You mean you can use Susano'o? Impossible!"
Itachi immediately expressed disbelief.
Takumi wasn't an Uchiha Clan's member and didn't even have the Sharingan.
Without the Sharingan, how could he activate Susano'o?
However, the Chakra rising from Takumi's body surprised him.
"It really is Susano'o?!"
Itachi watched in utter astonishment as Takumi summoned the Susano'o. This completely exceeded his expectations.
"How is this possible? He clearly isn't a member of the Uchiha Clan. Logically, he shouldn't be able to!"
"What on earth is going on?!"