Kaito's panic cost him dearly. His fingers stumbled over the seals, and the jutsu fizzled uselessly. He tried again, correcting the hand signs but nothing came.
Every Ninjutsu attempt collapsed before it could form.
The Red and White Fiends crept closer in the Genjutsu forest, their grotesque procession unbroken. Only then did Kaito realize the truth—he was trapped in illusion. He scrambled to dispel it, hands slamming together—
....but far too late.
Itachi was already upon him, short katana flashing. The blade slid through Kaito's chest, straight into his heart.
"Cough—cough—!"
Blood bubbled from his lips as the haze of Genjutsu shattered. He looked down in disbelief at the steel jutting from his chest, emotions twisting across his face: shock, rage, despair.
Itachi pulled the blade free, stepping aside as crimson spurted into the snow. His expression remained calm, almost cold, killing left no ripple in his eyes.
Kaito collapsed. His life drained out with the spreading stain in the snow, scarlet blooming like a cruel plum blossom around him.
And he was not alone in the illusion. Gen's auditory Genjutsu had washed across the battlefield, ensnaring every Cloud shinobi save the Raikage and Yugito.
The two leaders snapped their comrades out of it as quickly as possible, but fear lingered on every face.
"This level of Genjutsu… this isn't something a mere child should be able to use," the Raikage muttered, scowling.
Gen's lips curved faintly. "The feeling is mutual."
He had expected their vigilance against the Sharingan, so he'd given Shisui and Itachi tools beyond the eyes: auditory Genjutsu. Less direct than ocular illusion, yes, but far more insidious.
With their cunning, the brothers could seize any opening.
"Time for the next round," Gen said smoothly. "Or are you planning to forfeit before you even appear?"
"Hmph. The next bout, we will win." The Raikage's voice was iron. He glanced aside. "Darui."
"Yes, Raikage-sama."
"It's up to you."
Darui's usual lazy drawl was gone. His face hardened, posture straightening as though carved from stone. "I won't disappoint you. Nor bring shame to Kumogakure."
The tall man stepped forward, dark-skinned, long white hair hanging over one eye, tattoos of "Lightning" and "Water" etched across his shoulders, and the great sword strapped to his back.
"Shisui." Gen tilted his head slightly.
"I won't lose," Shisui answered, leaping from the cloud. He nodded once to Itachi, then advanced with the same solemn weight Darui carried.
Itachi's lips quirked.
"Don't feel pressured. I'll be here after you."
Gen's voice followed, calm and precise: "This opponent wields swordsmanship, Lightning Release, Water Release and Storm Release."
"Understood."
The two duelists unsheathed their blades, closing the distance step by step. Slow walk, quickened stride, jog, sprint until their swords clashed in a blur.
Clang!
Sparks burst in every direction as steel struck steel.
The exchange was a storm of blades—fast, relentless, dazzling enough to leave even Jonin struggling to follow. Shisui's Sharingan spun, dissecting every motion, memorizing every rhythm. Stroke by stroke, he not only unraveled Darui's style but mirrored it.
And then he turned that knowledge back on its owner.
Darui faltered for the first time, caught off guard by the reflection of his own technique.
"As expected of Shisui-niisan… he's incredible!" Itachi breathed, Sharingan whirling as he studied every movement, committing the duel to memory.
"Don't get excited," the Raikage growled. "This alone won't defeat Darui."
The words steadied his men.
And indeed, Darui adapted swiftly. He shifted to defense, weathering the copied swordplay with patience born of experience. His ability to adjust under pressure was why the Raikage trusted him.
But Shisui wasn't finished. He blurred into motion, weaving seals.
"Body Flicker Technique: Illusions!"
Seven figures burst into being, each identical, each armed with a Chakra blade. Their movements were flawless, indistinguishable—even the Sharingan struggled to pinpoint the real body.
Darui's eyes narrowed. Engaging directly was suicide. He leapt back, hands flashing into motion.
Eight kunai flew out, each tagged with explosives—not aimed at Shisui, but at the battlefield itself.
Boom! The chain of detonations ripped into the earth, walling Shisui off with fire and smoke. The clones couldn't push through without risk.
Darui had his chance. He slammed his hands into seals—
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
A torrent gushed from his mouth, cascading forward.
Shisui countered instantly. "Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
A sea of orange flame surged out, colliding with the waterfall.
Ssshhhhhh—!
Steam exploded outward, billowing around them until sight was useless.
Neither faltered. Both adapted.
"Fire Release: Hiding in Ash and Dust Technique!" Ash and embers spread thickly from Shisui's mouth, hot particles filling the mist.
"Lightning Release: Lariat!" Darui extended both arms, discharging twin surges of lightning that raced through the water vapor. The storm leapt from mist to ground, even through the ash.
The feedback shocked Shisui's body, pain jerking across his nerves. He grimaced but forced through it.
Darui pressed, knee striking forward, but Shisui abandoned his blade and retreated in a blur, evading the strike by inches.
Gen's amused voice rang out from above. "Tsk, tsk… sealing Tailed Beast Chakra inside a man. Kumogakure truly treats trickery as honor, doesn't it?"
The Raikage smirked back. "And your Uchiha are any different? Ninja are deception incarnate. Victory justifies everything."
"True," Gen admitted with a shrug. "But don't celebrate yet. Shisui—enough holding back."
Shisui nodded, bitten finger pressing against the ground. "Summoning Technique!"
Boom!
Smoke burst, clearing to reveal a gleaming blade spirit.
Gen shook his head with a faint sigh. Fortune hadn't aligned—it wasn't Shuryu, the spirit most suited for Shisui. The summoning was random, after all. But even so, the weapon before him would cut deep.
"Itachi," Gen commanded, "summon as well. My brothers have answered, let the eldest not remain absent."
"Yes, Gen-nii."
Itachi performed the seals, palm slamming into the earth. Another burst of smoke erupted.
From within coiled Shuryu, a magnificent fire dragon over twenty meters long, crimson scales shimmering as it circled above, flame clouds wreathing its form.
The Cloud shinobi gaped. Even the Raikage's jaw tightened. So, they weren't the only ones prepared for deception.
The Raikage's laugh boomed. "Hahaha! So the proud Uchiha cheat as brazenly as we do. Excellent!"
"The feeling is mutual," Gen replied with his usual smile. "Though if we're comparing, perhaps Kumogakure still holds the crown for shamelessness."
"Darui—finish it!"
Darui's hands blurred. "Lightning Release: Black Panther!"
Black lightning erupted, forming into a roaring panther that charged forward with savage speed.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
Shisui's answer was three flaming dragons, twisting skyward to meet the panther head-on. At the same time, his summoned blade spirit unleashed three searing arcs of blue-white lightning.
Boom!
Fire and lightning slammed together. The explosion thundered through the canyon, blasting snow and earth into the air.
Darui withstood the shockwave behind his cloak of Tailed Beast Chakra, unflinching. His hands moved again—
..but the sword spirit's lightning crashed down, forcing him to break off and dodge.
Shisui reclaimed his blade, Body Flicker illusions scattering as he charged.
Darui grimaced, bracing himself. Then...
"Storm Release: Laser Circus!"
Nine streams of condensed light and lightning spiraled outward—seven at Shisui, two at the blade spirit.
Shisui's clones dissolved under the assault, but his real self met the barrage with burning precision.
"Uchiha Flame Leap Sword!"
His blade ignited, slashing arcs of flame that cut through the lasers, Sharingan guiding his every movement.
The duel stood on a knife's edge—until the Raikage suddenly raised a hand.
"Enough!"
Both paused.
Gen tilted his head. "What's this, Raikage-dono? Advice to share?"
The Raikage's expression was stiff, mouth twitching slightly. "They've fought long and hard. They're evenly matched, each holding trump cards. If they continue, both could be crippled—or worse. Then neither of us gains. Let it be a draw."
Gen laughed, deep and booming. He even wiped the corner of his eye, though no tears had fallen. "Raikage-dono, your abacus is clinking so loudly I can hear it from here."
"Right now, yes, they seem even. But if the fight drags on, the balance tips. How much Tailed Beast Chakra does your man truly have left?"
The Raikage's glare sharpened. "Darui's reserves surpass your boy's."
Gen only smirked. "Shisui's chakra is running thin, true. But my sword? It consumes no chakra, no seals. And it hasn't even shown its true thunder. If they continue… your man is the one who falls."
Darui spoke without flinching, eyes hard. "Even then, I can take him with me."
"Possibly," Gen corrected with a faint smile. "But certainty? That you don't have. Who do you think Shisui is?"
He thought, though not aloud—and Shisui has yet to awaken the Mangekyō. If he did… Darui would already be finished.
"So tell me, Raikage," Gen's voice dropped to a low hum. "Do you truly want to gamble?"
The Raikage's face hardened into stone. "Or are you afraid, Uchiha, and hiding behind words?"
Gen chuckled softly. "Provocation? Do you truly think I'll fall for something that cheap?"