Taking Advantage

Ming Jing watched as a little white snake fell from the Eight-Branched Serpent's severed tail, but he did not make a move against Orochimaru. He had something more important to do.

"That means your Sharingan will be mine." Itachi panted, looking as though he could collapse at any moment, yet he still forced himself to stand. "I'll take it slowly, then! Urgh, cough, cough, cough..."

Sasuke was still flustered when Itachi unexpectedly crouched down first. Seeing Susanoo's armor dissipate, Sasuke immediately drew a Kunai tied with an Explosive Tag and hurled it at him. With a boom, Sasuke looked closely and saw that Itachi had blocked the Explosive Tag with the Yata Mirror.

Like that, Itachi staggered toward Sasuke beneath Susanoo. Sasuke refused to give up, throwing Explosive Tags at him by the handful. Yet every single one was deflected by the Yata Mirror, unable to harm Itachi in the slightest.

"My eyes... mine..." Watching Itachi draw closer, Sasuke could not help drawing his sword. He leaped high and thrust down, only to be sent flying back by the Yata Mirror as expected. By the time he got back on his feet, Itachi was already standing before him.

Ming Jing pressed his palms together and waited in silence. Itachi struggled to reach Sasuke, then tapped his younger brother's forehead with two fingers and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Forgive me, Sasuke. This is the last time." The instant he collapsed, Ming Jing activated his Genjutsu.

Then, with a Flash Step, he appeared beside Itachi and replaced him with a prepared Uchiha Zoku corpse. As for its appearance, Mirai had long since finished the cosmetic alterations. With that done, only the final step remained. Ming Jing gave a bitter smile. He was not like Madara,