Susanoo

"Got him!"

The group opposite let out a cheer, their division of labor executed with practiced ease.

One person caught the collapsing Yamanaka Fu and retreated rapidly, while another stepped forward, reaching out to catch the incoming Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Their coordination was fluid, clearly the result of countless real-combat drills. The moment the mental control succeeded, the entire squad immediately moved into their pre-planned tactical positions.

Unexpectedly, before the ninja reaching out could even touch Naruto's body, a sudden flash of light erupted before his eyes. A violent current of Chakra burst forth like an invisible, colossal wall, slamming into him head-on. The ninja didn't even have time to adopt a defensive stance before he was sent flying.

The mental imprint of completing the mission was carved into the heart of every Root member. Even while airborne, the ninja forcibly twisted his body, his arm stretching out desperately, reaching to grab Naruto, who had been blown away alongside him.

But suddenly, a massive, crimson energy hand appeared, gripping him as easily as one might crush an ant, and squeezed gently.

A bone-chilling sound of shattering bones rang out. Blood spurted from between the fingers of the Susanoo, splashing through the moonlight like a vibrant flower of life blooming in the air.

As if tossing out trash, Uchiha An casually dropped the ninja's mangled corpse to the ground and reached out to scoop Naruto back.

"What is this thing!"

Yamanaka Fu spat out a mouthful of blood. He slowly regained consciousness, slumped over his companion, and stared with wide, unblinking eyes at the half-body giant skeleton that seemed to tower between heaven and earth.

His secret technique had been broken, and the backlash was severe. Had his companion not been shielding him, he would likely have been blown away by the Chakra storm as well.

"So this is the Mangekyo Sharingan!"

Uchiha An stood firmly on the earth within the ribcage of the Susanoo. Wearing the face of Uchiha Itachi, his madness fully exposed, he laughed wantonly:

"So-called Ninjutsu, when it comes down to it, is ultimately just a contest of Chakra strength!"

"Whatever secret techniques or forbidden arts you have, before the Mangekyo Sharingan, they are all just trash!"

The group looked up in terror at the red Chakra giant, the immense pressure making their breathing hitch.

As a confidant of Danzo, Yamanaka Fu knew many classified secrets, including those regarding the Mangekyo Sharingan of Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi.

However, since neither of them had ever displayed the Susanoo form within the village before, he had misjudged the true extent of this power.

Only now, experiencing it firsthand, did he realize just how vast the gap was between data on paper and witnessing it with one's own eyes.

Although it was only the first stage—the skeletal form—this power was truly an existence that defied common sense, an exaggerated force that would make any ordinary ninja despair.

Under the fearful gazes of the group, Uchiha An held the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in his left hand, pulling him close and placing him at his feet, protected by the Susanoo. With his right palm, he struck down heavily toward Aburame Ryoma, who had been blown away earlier.

The massive Chakra palm descended with destructive momentum; before the palm wind even arrived, the ground had already begun to crack and sink.

Aburame Ryoma was shocked and hurriedly released his Kikaichū to defend himself, but facing the exaggerated attack of the Susanoo, the swarm of insects he sent out offered no resistance at all.

The dark, dense swarm of insects was torn apart like thin paper before the giant palm, scattered in an instant.

The Kikaichū let out a desperate buzz before being crushed into powder under the pressure of the Chakra.

Aburame Ryoma had no choice but to abandon another Insect Clone to save his life.

Seeing Aburame Ryoma in danger, his two companions rushed over to save him.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

The combined ninjutsu unleashed its power once more, a deluge of flames sweeping forward. But this time, Uchiha An didn't even bother with ninjutsu. He simply swung his massive palm, breaking through the blockade of fire. Ignoring the searing heat, he tore through the curtain of flames, the resulting air current swirling the fire into a vortex that crashed down toward the two men.

The sheer force was terrifying. Neither dared to block it head-on and hurriedly dodged.

However, the Susanoo moved according to the user's will. With a horizontal sweep, it caught up to one of them. The giant palm opened, then clamped shut with force.

"Ah..."

Accompanied by a scream, the ninja didn't even have the chance to use a Substitution Technique before he was reduced to a pulp, dying on the spot.

"Hahaha..."

Uchiha An laughed madly, filled with endless insanity and pain, as if venting long-repressed hatred and fury.

"Do you see?"

"This is the thing bought with the lives of the Uchiha Clan!"

"This is the power that old man Danzo has been obsessed with, the power he has been dying to take for himself!"

"This is the reason why the Third Hokage and those people fear us from the bottom of their hearts, the reason they were determined to wipe out the Uchiha Clan!"

With every frantic shout, the Susanoo's assault grew more violent. The crimson Chakra churned like boiling blood, and the pinwheel pattern in his Sharingan spun with increasing madness.

He used no ninjutsu, simply striking down with palm after palm. Each blow shook the earth, driving everyone into a dead end.

Yamanaka Fu and the others scurried about like rats. Every counter-ninjutsu they landed on the Susanoo only created a faint ripple; they couldn't even break its defense.

"Damn it!" Yamanaka Fu gasped for air. "How could Uchiha Itachi be this strong?"

Aburame Ryoma was also heavily exhausted; his already unhealthy complexion had turned deathly pale.

As he continued to release insects to disrupt the enemy's pursuit, he exclaimed in shock:

"I only knew his Genjutsu was formidable. The intelligence report never mentioned he possessed something this exaggerated!"

"It seems Shisui also had a Mangekyo Sharingan. If the Mangekyo Sharingan is this tyrannical, how did the Uchiha Clan end up being wiped out?"

Yamanaka Fu glanced at him silently. He said nothing, simply shifting the topic:

"There's no point in saying these things now. Susanoo's defense is too strong; we can't break through it at all. Does anyone here have any powerful offensive ninjutsu left to use?"

Everyone shook their heads. "It's no use. Even forbidden techniques can't damage that energy giant."

Yamanaka Fu looked over at Aburame Ryoma, only to see him shake his head as well.

"If we had known this guy's defense was so strong, we should have brought Kore. His forbidden technique, the Poison Jar Technique, is a large-scale poisonous gas attack. It is extremely difficult to defend against or treat; perhaps it could have seeped inside."

"My bugs can indeed absorb a certain amount of Chakra, but Itachi's Chakra is ridiculously vast—it's practically like a Tailed Beast's. Even if all my bugs died, they wouldn't be able to drain his Chakra dry."

"However, he has been standing in the same spot the entire time, and there are no traces of the giant's Chakra beneath his feet. Perhaps we can attempt to break through there."

"Beneath his feet?" As Yamanaka Fu ran around Susanoo, he tilted his head to look. Sure enough, he saw what appeared to be a weak point, and he nodded immediately. "I'll create the opening this time. You all be ready to coordinate."

"Remember, we only have one chance. We must strike true."

"Understood!" Everyone replied in unison, squeezing the remaining Chakra from their bodies as they began to run rapidly around Susanoo.