When Did You Start Mistaking Yourself for Having Used Genjutsu?

Itachi Uchiha did not believe that perfect Ninjutsu existed in this world.

No matter how flawless Kaze's Nintaijutsu was, it was bound to have a weakness.

"And your weakness is my very existence."

Itachi declared with conviction, both hands reaching into his Ninja Tool Pouch as he steadily held eight pitch-black Shuriken between his fingers.

Eyes narrowed, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan stared directly into Kaze's eyes.

"You don't honestly think something like Shuriken can keep up with my speed, do you?"

Kaze wore an amused smile.

The current Itachi Uchiha had yet to awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan.

He did not possess trump cards such as Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, or Susanoo.

At most, he was an enhanced version of Kakashi.

Even if the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's power truly had some weakness—

With Itachi's current strength, he could not possibly exploit it!

With that thought, Kaze forcefully kicked off with both feet, and dazzling blue currents flashed from beneath his soles.

They illuminated the room as brightly as day.

The next instant, Kaze charged straight at Itachi. His five fingers clenched into a fist as he viciously slammed it into Itachi's face!

Bang!

With a dull thud, Kaze's fist nearly embedded itself in Itachi's face.

It completely shattered Itachi's center of gravity and balance!

For a moment, the two flew toward the crowd, almost pressed against each other.

The surrounding Uchiha clan members were all dumbfounded. They hurriedly rose from their Round Mats to avoid being caught up in it.

Especially because Kaze's attack speed—

Was even faster than Itachi's Shuriken throw!

Only after that punch solidly crushed Itachi's nose and splattered blood did the clan members gradually react.

Fugaku's expression, in particular, became extremely conflicted.

No matter what, Itachi was his biological son.

However...

Itachi Uchiha had not been instantly defeated by Kaze.

As the two flew out together, black markings began to appear on Itachi's body.

Very quickly, the markings spread across Itachi's entire body at a visible speed.

"This is..."

Kaze swiftly scrutinized Itachi's body.

He was not unfamiliar with Itachi's little trick at all.

Because in the plot of "Naruto," Itachi had used this method more than once to deceive his opponents.

"Crow Clone Technique..."

Kaze could not help murmuring softly.

He projected his Chakra onto dozens of crows and transformed them into his clones.

Because they were tangible clones created with crows as the medium, they consumed far less Chakra than Shadow Clones.

It was quite a useful Ninjutsu.

And just as Kaze had analyzed, the moment his words fell, the splitting Itachi abruptly transformed into black-feathered crows that flapped their wings and scattered away from Kaze.

Only the crow struck by his fist immediately lost its life.

Tap.

Kaze's toes landed on the floor.

Then Itachi's voice came from behind him.

"You must be thinking that only a fraction of a second passed between your attack and your fist hitting my face."

"In such a short time, Itachi should not have had the chance to use a substitution."

As he spoke, Itachi's tone remained calm and unhurried.

As if he were merely stating something trivial.

"As expected of you, Itachi." The upturned corners of Kaze's lips did not fall. He lightly shook his head and looked toward the voice.

Indeed...

Even though Itachi had not awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and lacked trump cards such as Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, and Susanoo—

It did not change the fact that he was an exceptionally talented ninja.

"When we were at the Hokage Building during the day, you saw my Nintaijutsu."

"You had some understanding of my speed."

"That's why you prepared the Crow Clone Technique beforehand, right?"

However...

Faced with Kaze's guess, Itachi merely stood where he was and gently shook his head.

"Kaze, your speed truly surprised me."

"Even Brother Shisui's Body Flicker Technique might not be faster than you."

"Even with these Sharingan," Itachi said as he touched his left eye, "I could only barely see your movements."

"If we fought with Taijutsu, I would certainly be the one who lost."

"But..."

Itachi Uchiha gradually spread his hands.

At some point, the Shuriken in his hands had vanished without a trace.

"Just as I said at the beginning, every technique has a weakness."

"And Brother Kaze's weakness is these eyes of mine."

"Take a good look at your surroundings."

After Itachi Uchiha's reminder—

Kaze finally raised an eyebrow.

His attention had been entirely on Itachi, so he had not paid much attention to the changes around him.

"Could it be..."

Kaze's expression changed, and a trace of unease flashed through his eyes.

He hurriedly looked around.

What Uchiha clan members?

What Fugaku Uchiha?

What Naka Shrine?

They had all vanished at some point.

And the scene before his eyes had somehow turned into a boundless ocean.

A bright moon hung high in the sky.

Moonlight poured down.

Illuminating the tranquil sea.

He and Itachi in front of him both stood upon the water's surface.

"Genjutsu?"

"When?"

Kaze blinked, his mouth involuntarily forming an "O."

Itachi took in every change in Kaze's expression. "No matter how fast your Nintaijutsu is, as long as you are in this Genjutsu World, you cannot touch me."

"Even..."

"You cannot even move freely."

Itachi lowered his voice. His outstretched right arm suddenly shot forward.

Though they were at least ten meters apart, Itachi still clenched his fist as though he had seized Kaze in his hand!

The bright moon hanging in the sky turned into a blood moon at that instant, and three black Tomoe gradually emerged.

They cast the tranquil sea in a crimson glow.

The next instant, a cross-shaped wooden stake suddenly rose from the sea beneath Kaze's feet.

Black chains grew from it and lashed toward Kaze's wrists and ankles. Once they wrapped tightly around him, they violently pulled.

Cleanly and decisively binding Kaze to the cross-shaped stake.

No matter how he struggled, he could not escape Itachi's control.

Within Itachi's Genjutsu World, he was the ruler. He was everything!

His body began to split apart.

Two Itachis.

Four Itachis.

Eight Itachis.

Sixteen Itachis.

Thirty-two Itachis...

In less than a few breaths, Kaze's entire field of vision was filled with Itachis.

There seemed to be thousands upon thousands of them!

Moreover, a Wakizashi appeared from thin air in each of their hands.

They moved in perfect unison.

One after another.

Each one approached Kaze.

Splat!

One Itachi Uchiha cleanly drove his Wakizashi into Kaze's abdomen.

Then he forcefully dragged it across.

Kaze's entire duodenum spilled through the opening and into the sea.

Unprecedented agony tormented Kaze's mind.

But when the next Itachi Uchiha raised his Wakizashi, the wound on Kaze's body had disappeared.

His intact abdomen was exposed before Itachi again, only to be cut open once more.

"Kaze."

"Admit defeat."

However, Itachi Uchiha had no intention of torturing Kaze for seventy-two hours. Countless Itachis spoke in unison.

It created an eerie and terrifying feeling.

"In my Genjutsu World, it is impossible for you to defeat me."

The voices of more than ten thousand Itachis echoed beside Kaze's ears.

As though Itachi Uchiha were already the victor of this contest.

However...

Just as Itachi Uchiha was certain that Kaze's willpower could not hold out much longer, an unbelievable voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Itachi Uchiha."

"When did you start mistaking yourself for having used Genjutsu?"